Chapter Two: The Art of Feigned Retreat

Jian Yanzhi’s face darkened even further after being rebuffed for no apparent reason, but his eyes betrayed a trace of doubt. He couldn’t fathom what scheme Ruan Mianmian, whose demeanor and actions were so unlike her usual self, might be plotting at this moment.

Cheng Wan and Guan Lin exchanged a discreet glance at the back of the group—Ruan Mianmian truly seemed like a different person.

“Mianmian, we were just worried about you earlier, that’s why we spoke out of turn. Please don’t take it to heart,” Song Chenxi stepped forward, her voice gentle as she played the role of the considerate friend.

If someone else had spoken, perhaps Ruan Mianmian would have believed it. But she knew all too well what was in Song Chenxi’s heart. The original Ruan Mianmian had done plenty of things to benefit herself at Song Chenxi’s expense, so even if Song Chenxi appeared well-meaning, it was nothing but empty words—definitely not to be trusted.

Since the two had long been enemies, there was no reason for Ruan Mianmian to put on a pleasant face.

“Are we that close? Do I need your concern?”

Ruan Mianmian gave her no face at all. Song Chenxi’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she could only curse inwardly.

Seeing Song Chenxi put in her place, Jian Yanzhi couldn’t contain his emotions any longer.

“Ruan Mianmian, Chenxi came to see you out of kindness. If you can’t appreciate it, fine, but how dare you throw a tantrum at her! Honestly, you’re just asking for trouble. Wouldn’t it have been better if the kidnappers had just finished you off?”

Jian Yanzhi’s words were like a venomous needle, striking straight into Ruan Mianmian’s heart. She truly felt chilled on behalf of her predecessor. While it was true the original Ruan Mianmian had done things she shouldn’t have, Jian Yanzhi didn’t have to be so vicious! He actually wished the kidnappers had killed her!

Ruan Mianmian was instantly fuming. Looking at the people before her, she felt a suffocating tightness in her chest.

“Doctor! Nurse! These people are disturbing my rest—please get them all out!” She sat up and shouted toward the door.

Jian Yanzhi and the others were stunned by her sudden outburst.

At the same time, her agitation tugged at her injuries, and Ruan Mianmian fell back onto the bed, gasping for breath. Clearly, she had wounds beyond just the one on her wrist.

“Ruan Mianmian, are you trying to play hard to get again?” Jian Yanzhi’s scornful voice rang out as she winced in pain, but she could only roll her eyes helplessly.

After catching her breath, Ruan Mianmian lifted her head. “Jian Yanzhi, don’t you think you’re overestimating yourself? What makes you think you’re worth the trouble for me to play hard to get?”

At these words, everyone was left stunned once more. It truly seemed that Ruan Mianmian no longer cared about Jian Yanzhi at all—her attitude was worlds apart from before!

Cheng Wan muttered softly, “Something’s off about Ruan Mianmian. Did she really get her head knocked loose?”

Guan Lin nodded. “It does seem that way!”

Ruan Mianmian had no interest in their wild guesses. At this moment, something far more important came to mind. In the story, the person who saved Ruan Mianmian was the villainous boss Jiang Ce—who also happened to be a possessive tycoon deeply in love with her! Handsome, wealthy, and, above all, far more reliable than the male lead.

Looking at the seething Jian Yanzhi, Ruan Mianmian suddenly made up her mind. Since Jian Yanzhi was so unreliable, she’d have to rely on herself and find a way out of this misery—the only person who could truly help her now was Jiang Ce!

She had to cling tightly to this rare and precious flower that was the villain Jiang Ce!

At this thought, her blood surged with excitement, and even her wounds seemed less painful.

Without hesitating, Ruan Mianmian climbed out of bed, ignoring everything else as she headed straight for the door. The others stared after her in utter disbelief.

Enduring the pain, Ruan Mianmian made her way to the hospital’s front desk and asked the nurse, “Excuse me, is there a patient named Jiang Ce currently in surgery here?”

She remembered that, in the story, Jiang Ce’s injuries were far more severe than her own. When she awoke, he was still in the operating room.

The nurse looked up and, to her surprise, asked, “Are you Miss Ruan Mianmian?”

“You know me?” Ruan Mianmian asked in astonishment.

The nurse smiled, “Mr. Jiang Ce has already been picked up by his bodyguards, but he left a note for you, Miss Ruan.”

A note? What note? Ruan Mianmian couldn’t recall this plotline at all.

Still, she nodded her thanks and took the paper from the nurse’s hand.

Unfolding it, she found only a single line: “What I owed you is repaid in full—henceforth, we have nothing to do with each other.”

What?! Nothing to do with each other?!

Ruan Mianmian nearly stomped her foot in fury. She’d just resolved to abandon the darkness and follow the villain’s path, yet Jiang Ce wanted to sever all ties!

No, no, no—a hundred, a thousand times no. Just thinking of the miserable fate that awaited her, she knew she couldn’t let this happen.

She had to win Jiang Ce back!

“Ruan Mianmian, have you had enough? I don’t have time to play these childish games with you!” That irritating voice sounded again.

The more Jian Yanzhi thought about it, the angrier he became, so he chased after her. If it weren’t for the fact that the Ruan family was a business partner of his own, he wouldn’t have bothered to deal with her at all.

But if word of this incident got out, the Jian family’s reputation would suffer as well, so he had to warn her—otherwise, she’d just stir up more trouble in the future.

“Ruan Mianmian, you’d better behave yourself and stop this game of playing hard to get. No matter what you do, I will never like you,” Jian Yanzhi said again, this time in deadly earnest.

Ruan Mianmian glanced back at him with a roll of her eyes. “Are you done? If so, I’m leaving.”

With that, she didn’t spare him another look, brushing right past him on her way out.

Song Chenxi, who had followed after them, looked on in disbelief. She simply couldn’t accept that Ruan Mianmian had suddenly changed her ways.

As expected, Ruan Mianmian’s steps suddenly halted.

Song Chenxi’s eyes flashed with mockery—so Ruan Mianmian was going to play hard to get after all.

Seeing Ruan Mianmian turn back toward Jian Yanzhi, Song Chenxi marched forward in high heels, boldly linking her arm through Jian Yanzhi’s as if to declare her territory.

Ruan Mianmian let out a cold laugh and said casually, “By the way, would you mind paying my hospital bill? Think of it as me collecting a little interest. From now on, we have nothing more to do with each other!”

With these cutting words, she turned and strode out, not looking back until her figure disappeared from view. Only then did Jian Yanzhi and the others realize—she really had left just like that!

“Lunatic!” Jian Yanzhi cursed furiously.

Song Chenxi sneered, “Enough, why get angry? Don’t you know what Ruan Mianmian is like? In a couple days, she’ll come crawling back as shameless as ever.”