Chapter 156: What Do You Think?

"Jiang Yao... Has she left?"

Xiang Nuan looked at the empty seat beside her and suddenly chimed in weakly.

Ruan Mianmian and Xiang Kui fell silent along with her. Thinking of the scene earlier in the lounge, a trace of lingering awkwardness remained on everyone's face.

Ruan Mianmian then looked at Xiang Kui and said, "You should still give her a call to check, just in case something happened."

"Yeah."

Xiang Kui pulled out her phone and only then noticed an unread message on the screen.

A moment later, Xiang Kui looked up and said, "She sent me a message saying she went back first."

"Alright."

Ruan Mianmian nodded without speaking.

Xiang Kui also felt a somewhat strange sensation in her heart.

However, soon after the concert began, Xiang Kui was swept into the screaming and sing-alongs that echoed throughout the venue.

Ruan Mianmian was not a fan of any idols, and this was her first time attending a live concert in her life. The lighting, stage design, and explosive music were all stirring up the burning hormones deep within people's bodies.

The entire crowd was jubilant, accompanied by waves of echoing cheer slogans.

It had to be said that a live concert possessed a unique infectious charm that naturally drew people into deep immersion.

Ruan Mianmian and Xiang Kui screamed and cheered together until their throats finally felt a bit dry and hoarse.

There was no denying that the OS group's popularity was truly extraordinary.

The climax of the concert was pushed to its absolute peak during the solo performances delivered by each member.

The concert lasted for a full three hours. Originally, it was only scheduled for two hours, but due to equipment delays, an extra hour was specially added to make up for the previous wait and ensure the fans felt their trip was worthwhile.

The enthusiasm of the fans could be described as intensely passionate, with wave after wave of cheers endlessly filling the air. Even as the crowd dispersed, Ruan Mianmian still felt the exhilarating shouts and cheers ringing in her ears.

Xiang Kui was completely spent. Having shouted her heart out earlier, she was now dead tired.

Originally, Le Chen had indeed asked Ruan Mianmian if she wanted to join them for a gathering, but because of the extended performance today, everyone was in a state of exhaustion.

Therefore, after offering a few words of caution, Ruan Mianmian declined the invitation to the gathering.

Le Chen probably anticipated this as well, so he did not insist further.

However, after hanging up his call with Ruan Mianmian, he dialed another person's number.

Jian Yanzhi sat alone in his office, having not gone home despite the late hour.

Seeing the name displayed on his phone screen, he picked it up and smiled, "How was the concert?"

"It was pretty good. Sister Mianmian and the others have already left."

"Mm, that's good."

After a long silence, Le Chen suddenly spoke up:

"Brother, she doesn't even like you anymore, why bother trying to please her like this? You won't even reveal your name, insisting on making me play the good guy."

Jian Yanzhi fell silent again for a moment.

"I can't be bothered to meddle in your affairs; just make sure you've thought it through yourself."

Hearing someone calling him from behind, Le Chen hung up the phone on his own accord.

Listening to the busy tone on the line, Jian Yanzhi wore a bitter smile.

Ruan Mianmian and Xiang Nuan supported Xiang Kui on either side as they headed toward the parking lot. Just as they reached the roadside, Ruan Mianmian spotted a few familiar figures standing not far ahead.

Her eyebrows twitched, and a bad premonition instantly arose from the bottom of her heart.

As they drew closer, Ruan Mianmian helplessly curled the corners of her lips—she hadn't expected Jiang Cewould actually be here!

"No way, you secretly followed us here too?"

Ruan Mianmian teased.

Hearing Ruan Mianmian's voice, Xiang Kui instinctively looked up and saw Jiang Ce standing blankly before her with a bland expression.

And beside Jiang Ce stood yet another person.

Looking dazedly at Chen Ci, Xiang Kui asked, "Why did you come too?"

Looking exasperated, Chen Ci took Xiang Kui from Ruan Mianmian's hands, hoisted her directly onto his shoulder without a word, and strode away without looking back toward a specific spot in the parking lot.

"Sister Mianmian, I'll be leaving first too."

Acting like a luggage-carrying little maid, Xiang Nuan hurried after them.

Right here, Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce were left abruptly facing each other.

A silence hung between them as they exchanged glances, until Ruan Mianmian finally asked with a guilty conscience, "You didn't wait here for three hours, did you?"

"..."

Jiang Ce gave her a silent, dark-eyed glance before replying, "Get in the car, let's go home."

With that, he turned and got into the flashy Maybach parked behind him.

Ruan Mianmian swallowed hard and quickly followed.

Akuan sat in the driver's seat smiling brightly. Before getting into the car, Ruan Mianmian specifically blinked at him, her expression practically screaming malicious glee.

Thus, the very first thing Ruan Mianmian did upon getting into the car was raise a finger and reward the back of Akuan's head with a sharp flick!

"Ouch!"

Akuan muffled a cry while clutching his head, though he didn't dare complain out loud, turning to shoot a resentful glance at the rearview mirror.

However, the air pressure radiating from a certain someone in the back was simply too overwhelming, so Akuan wisely turned his head back and smoothly started the car.

Ruan Mianmian's head felt somewhat dizzy, likely due to a mild lack of oxygen caused by all the excessive cheering earlier.

She leaned sideways directly onto Jiang Ce's shoulder and, seeing that he offered no reaction, took the initiative to wrap her arms around his.

Jiang Ce slanted a sideways glance at her, then withdrew his arm and pulled her into his embrace.

A smile instantly bloomed across Ruan Mianmian's closed-eyed face.

Throughout the journey, Jiang Ce maintained a calm and breezy demeanor, acting as though those three hours had been completely inconsequential, causing Ruan Mianmian to throw the matter to the back of her mind as well.

It wasn't until night fell and they were getting ready to sleep that Ruan Mianmian truly experienced just how strong a grudge a jealous man could hold.

The night was deep and dark, yet Jiang Ce's movements were fierce and relentless, leaving Ruan Mianmian with no choice but to firmly cling to his shoulders.

A sinister voice belonging to a certain someone sounded right beside her ear, asking, "Do you still dare?"

"Ugh..."

Surely this wasn't a matter of daring or not daring, right?

"Mhm?"

Seeing her grow distracted, Jiang Ce playfully pinched her waist—using just enough force not to hurt, yet entirely provocative. "Still daring to let your mind wander?"

"I didn't... Go easier on me!"

"Hmph!"

Jiang Ce let out a cold snort before finally easing his pace.

That night dragged on exceptionally long...

Ruan Mianmian did not regain her senses until well into the next morning. Seeing the full array of marks left on her body by a certain someone last night, a mouthful of old blood instantly surged up into her throat.

"Such a petty miser! Hmph!"

Meanwhile, completely abandoning his gloomy mood of yesterday, Jiang Ce sat in the downstairs lobby laughing and chatting with everyone, looking precisely like an old fox who had successfully stolen a meal.

He was smiling with complete and utter satisfaction.

Akuan was still a bit curious and asked, "Boss, how come Brother Ruan still isn't coming down?"

With a cool gaze, Jiang Ce slowly swept his eyes over Akuan and said meaningfully, "What do you think?"

Everyone chorused again, "Eww~"

At that moment, Jin Jiu hurried in from outside, strode up to Jiang Ce, and reported:

"Boss, we tracked it down! The phone call made to Fang Xiaoyan last night came from Zunyuan!"

"Zunyuan?"

Jiang Ce's expression turned stern, flashing with a hint of a sneer. He curved his lips and said, "Interesting. Keep digging."