Chapter 127: Is Tonight Possible?

"Yes, yes, yes, let me do it! Let me do it!"

A-Kuan slapped the back of his head and reached for the scissors, ready to take over the task from Ruan Mianmian.

Unexpectedly, Ruan Mianmian snatched them away, laughing. "You guys really don't understand women. Isn't half the fun of online shopping in the act of opening the package? I have to do it myself!"

Old Zhang gave her a helpless look.

A-Kuan chuckled then. "Brother Ruan, you don't understand Old Zhang either. He’s just worried you might get hurt, and the Boss would be heartbroken. Hahaha!"

A-Kuan wore a guileless expression, as if he had seen right through the truth.

"Oh, pish!"

Ruan Mianmian beamed, her face radiant. "Old Zhang, I’ve decided the first gift goes to you."

With that, she began to dismantle the package with nimble fingers. The half-meter-high box was tightly sealed with tape, but thanks to the scissors, she sliced through it in no time.

A-Kuan leaned in to help, looking expectant. "I really want to see what's in there."

As the box opened, A-Kuan’s face froze instantly.

He stared blankly. "What on earth is this?"

Ruan Mianmian replied with a grin, "Considering how hard you’ve all been working, I personally selected a batch of handmade bedding—sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, the whole lot!"

"No way."

A-Kuan shook his head in total rejection, pulling out a set of pink bedding adorned with tiny strawberry patterns. "You aren't actually planning on making us all use this stuff, are you?"

"I sure am!" Ruan Mianmian said, looking perfectly sincere.

A-Kuan’s hands went limp, and the bedding fell back into the box. His face was a picture of resistance.

"I’d rather die than sleep under this! It’s so girly!"

Ruan Mianmian ignored his protests, pulled out a set, and shoved it into Old Zhang’s arms.

"Old Zhang, it's pure cotton. It's incredibly comfortable. Don't be shy!"

Old Zhang held the bedding with trembling hands, torn between laughing and crying.

Seizing the moment, A-Kuan prepared to slip away.

Unexpectedly, Ruan Mianmian, while busy rummaging through the bedding, called out, "A-Kuan, go call everyone else over. Don't say I'm playing favorites—everyone gets a set!"

A-Kuan put on a fake smile. "Brother Ruan, that’s really not necessary."

"Are you going or not?"

"I’m going, I’m going!"

Helpless, A-Kuan eventually rounded everyone up.

When every cool, sharp-looking man in a suit was standing there holding a set of bedding covered in tiny pineapples, bananas, or strawberries, A-Kuan finally burst into uncharitable, cackling laughter.

He even whipped out his phone to take photos, sharing them to his social media feed and inviting the 'envy' of all his friends.

After distributing everything, Ruan Mianmian kept one set of each pattern for herself.

After ordering everyone to make sure their beds were changed by tonight, Ruan Mianmian happily scurried off toward the second floor with the remaining sets.

A sudden spark of mischief flared in A-Kuan’s heart. He wondered how the Boss would react when he saw these things. He secretly followed her, and the moment Ruan Mianmian opened the door, he squeezed inside ahead of her.

Jiang Ce was sitting upright on the sofa, a computer placed beside him.

A-Kuan quickly realized that their Boss was in the middle of a video conference.

Jiang Ce didn't speak; he glanced toward them, his gaze resting quietly on Ruan Mianmian’s bright, smiling face before shifting to the colorful things in her arms.

*What is that?*

Jiang Ce frowned, his expression one of confusion.

A-Kuan already had his phone out, the camera app open.

Ruan Mianmian hopped over to Jiang Ce’s side and, without a word, threw herself into his arms, asking softly, "Jiang Ce, do you like the little strawberries, the little bananas, or the little pineapples?"

She looked at him with large, sparkling eyes, brimming with excitement.

Jiang Ce, however, cast a suspicious look toward A-Kuan behind her. The look seemed to ask: *How does a perfectly normal girl go to open a package and come back acting so incomprehensible?*

A-Kuan silently held up his phone, suppressing a laugh.

"Well? Why are you looking at him? Look at me!"

Ruan Mianmian reached out and firmly pinched Jiang Ce’s chin, forcing him to look at her.

"What is all this?"

"Little bananas, little pineapples, and little strawberries."

Ruan Mianmian repeated, her eyes curving into crescents. "Pick one."

Jiang Ce paused, examining the items in her arms and vaguely identifying the cartoon patterns before pointing reluctantly at the one in the middle.

"This one, I suppose."

"The little pineapples?" Ruan Mianmian continued, "I thought you’d like the little strawberries best, just like me!"

"They’re all fine."

Jiang Ce shifted his gaze away from the items in her hands and moved slightly, pulling Ruan Mianmian into his lap.

"Hm? What’s wrong?" Ruan Mianmian hadn't noticed anything amiss.

Jiang Ce had already freed one hand, tapped a few keys on his keyboard with his other, and said, "Carry on."

"Right, right! Boss, enjoy your little pineapples and little bananas!"

"Hahaha, exactly."

"Go on, leave the rest to us!"

Seeing such a suggestive scene, everyone’s voices were filled with teasing and suppressed laughter.

"..."

Ruan Mianmian stiffened, then turned her head to the side.

Just before the screen went dark, she saw her own startled, slightly bewildered face reflected perfectly on the monitor.

Then, the screen went black. Ruan Mianmian fell silent, and the things she had been holding slid to the floor.

"Should I have developed the good habit of knocking before entering?"

Jiang Ce squeezed her waist and whispered with a low laugh, "This is your room. Why would you need to knock?"

"..."

A-Kuan, armed with his firsthand material, made a swift exit. Before anyone could react, he had already slipped away and quietly closed the door behind him.

"So embarrassing!"

Ruan Mianmian looked dazed, as if she hadn't yet come back to her senses.

"What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Jiang Ce was perfectly calm. He continued, "You’ll have to meet these people eventually anyway."

"But..."

She didn't want to appear before them in such a state every time.

Jiang Ce lowered his gaze, smiling silently. "It doesn't matter. You are mine; it doesn't matter how you appear."

Ruan Mianmian buried her face in the crook of Jiang Ce’s neck, breathing in his familiar scent, which finally brought her some comfort.

Feeling her warm breath, Jiang Ce was suddenly stirred.

He leaned in and whispered, "Can we tonight?"

"What?"

Ruan Mianmian asked instinctively, then blushed furiously once she realized what he meant.

"No!"

She refused reflexively.

Jiang Ce wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, and coaxed in a low voice, "How long do you intend to keep me waiting?"

"..."

"You said it still hurt a couple of days ago. What about now?"

Ruan Mianmian pursed her lips and silently shook her head.

The corners of Jiang Ce’s mouth quirked upward. "Alright, I understand."

He held her tighter, one hand gently stroking her back.

"Don't be afraid. I love you."

"Mhm."