Chapter 146: Something Is Wrong!

"Huh? Who are you talking about?"

A-Kuan anxiously scratched the back of his head and asked, "Brother Ruan, can you stop speaking in riddles?"

Ruan Mianmian grinned but offered no further explanation. Yet, even from those two chuckles, A-Kuan detected a hint of something strange.

Soon after, Ruan Mianmian received a text message from Jiang Ce.

[I'll be back soon.]

"Hmph!"

Ruan Mianmian shot a sideways glance at the phone screen, shoved it into her pocket, and headed straight for the second floor.

A-Kuan stood behind her, completely baffled. He felt that there was something off about Brother Ruan today, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Risking a sound thrashing from Ruan Mianmian, he decided to tip off Jiang Ce.

[A-Kuan: Boss, I think Brother Ruan is acting a bit strange! Good luck!]

Jiang Ce, who had just sat down inside his car, paused, staring at the screen with a look of surprise.

[Jiang Ce: What's wrong?]

[A-Kuan: I can't explain it, but something is definitely wrong. I've already started praying for you in silence.]

[Jiang Ce: ......]

Upon returning to Starfish Bay, Jiang Ce didn't say a word; he strode with his long legs directly toward the second floor. He had originally intended to go to his own room, but then he recalled that whenever Ruan Mianmian was sulking, she would hide away in her own room.

With that thought, he changed direction and headed for Ruan Mianmian's room. He pushed the door open, but it was empty. Jiang Ce raised an eyebrow and quietly retreated. Standing on the second floor, he looked down at the hall and signaled to A-Kuan with his eyes, silently asking: *Where is she?*

A-Kuan pointed toward the room at the far corner and smiled. "Go ahead. Good luck."

"......"

Jiang Ce retracted his gaze and walked, step by step, toward his own room. Something was off—definitely off. He stood at his door for two seconds, wondering if some sort of ticking time bomb was waiting for him inside. After a moment, he quietly pushed the door open, just a crack.

Good, still empty. But Jiang Ce heard a flurry of noises coming from the adjacent bathroom.

Once he entered the room, he realized that Ruan Mianmian was humming a tune in the bathroom. Jiang Ce stood outside the bathroom door and couldn't help but lick his lips. When was the last time Ruan Mianmian had hummed in the shower? Never. It had never happened before.

Jiang Ce quietly stepped forward and knocked on the bathroom door. The humming stopped abruptly.

"Who is it?"

Ruan Mianmian peered toward the door. Because it was tightly shut, she couldn't see anything, but through the light and shadows, she could make out the tall, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted silhouette projected onto the glass door.

"Jiang Ce? Is that you?" Ruan Mianmian asked tentatively.

"Mm." Jiang Ce's deep voice sounded, like the plucking of a cello string—low and magnetic. He asked, "Can I come in?"

*What?* Ruan Mianmian froze. She looked down at her own naked body and shook her head vigorously. She quickly realized, however, that shaking her head was useless since Jiang Ce couldn't see her.

"No! You can't!" she shouted, her voice sounding unnatural.

Jiang Ce’s fingers, which had been resting on the doorknob, froze for a moment before slowly pulling back. "I want to see you."

Hearing this, Ruan Mianmian suddenly panicked. "If you want to be a pervert, just say so, but I won't allow it."

"......"

The sound outside ceased, and the silhouette on the glass door slowly vanished. Ruan Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to continue rinsing off the shower gel. Unexpectedly, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock behind her.

Ruan Mianmian turned around in a daze, forgetting to even cover herself, fully exposed to his view. The air before Jiang Ce’s eyes was filled with swirling mist, and through the haze, Ruan Mianmian became increasingly clear. He stood silently at the doorway, his eyes fixed intently on her face, as if confirming something.

"Jiang Ce!"

Blushing with shame, Ruan Mianmian immediately turned her back to him, covering herself with her arms. "Why did you come in? Didn't I tell you you couldn't?"

Jiang Ce could hear the grinding of her teeth. His gaze drifted downward, his eyes darkening with a longing that was becoming hard to control. Finally, he swallowed hard and said calmly, "I'll go outside and wait for you."

*Thud.*

The door closed with a moderate sound behind her. Ruan Mianmian glanced back, still not having fully processed what happened. She no longer had the heart for a leisurely shower; she just wanted to finish quickly so she could go out and give that shameless man a sound beating.

A while later, Ruan Mianmian stood before Jiang Ce with a flushed face. Jiang Ce swept his gaze over her. She was now wearing loose, childish pajamas that completely concealed her delicate figure. Recalling the scene from moments ago, his gaze darkened involuntarily.

Ruan Mianmian walked up and pinched his cheeks. "Stop looking!"

"Is there something wrong with me looking at my own person?" He was clearly, unabashedly smug.

Ruan Mianmian’s cheeks flushed even redder. She let go, tossed a towel at him, and pouted. "Dry my hair!"

Jiang Ce obediently picked up the towel, stood from the bed, and began to gently wipe the water from her hair.

"Is there nothing you want to ask me?" Jiang Ce suddenly asked.

Ruan Mianmian rolled her eyes behind his back and replied, "With a big mouth like A-Kuan around, is there anything that actually requires me to ask?"

"Tsk!" Jiang Ce clicked his tongue, expressing his dissatisfaction.

Ruan Mianmian fell silent. She hadn't figured out how to tell Jiang Ce about the things she had seen. To Jiang Ce, even if he didn't have any special feelings for Fang Xiaoyan, she was at least a significant presence in his life. Fang Xiaoyan’s behavior was undoubtedly a form of deception with an ulterior motive. Although Ruan Mianmian didn't know the full story, she could vaguely sense that something was wrong with her. Therefore, until she knew Fang Xiaoyan's exact goal, she wasn't prepared to tell Jiang Ce what she had seen.

Seeing the person in front of him fall into silence, Jiang Ce asked again, "What's wrong with you today? Why do I feel like you're acting so strangely? If you're angry, you must tell me. I'll find a way to make you happy."

"Are you a typical 'straight man'?" Ruan Mianmian turned back and looked at him with disdain.

If everything had to be spelled out clearly, there wouldn't be so many misunderstandings between couples. Besides, some emotions were inexplicable; not everything could be explained away.

Jiang Ce finished drying her hair and pulled her back against the cushions on the headboard. "Did you have a good time out today?"