Chapter Three: Seizing the Initiative

Ruan Mianmian paid no mind to the commotion behind her, dragging her sickly body slowly to the hospital’s entrance. Faced with the bustling road ahead, she felt utterly lost. The original Ruan had defied her family to follow Jian Yan to Jiangcheng, just to be close to him. Now, with no family or friends in this city, she found herself utterly stranded.

Jian Yan and Song Chenxi were likely somewhere waiting to see her humiliated. In the past, whenever she found herself in such situations, Ruan Mianmian would storm out in anger, only to return later, begging Jian Yan not to be upset with her.

“What a miserable way to live!” she fumed inwardly, determined not to let them look down on her again.

At this moment, the only person she could rely on was Jiang Ce. No matter what, she had to find him.

Jiang Ce should have returned to his private villa at Starfish Bay. If she wanted to see him, she would have to go there. But she didn’t know the address, and she had not a single coin to her name. Getting there was a problem she couldn’t solve.

“So much for transmigrating into a novel! The plot just had to lead me to such a dead end,” she grumbled helplessly, truly at a loss.

She looked herself over and realized she hadn’t even brought her purse. “Did I leave it in the hospital room? Should I go back and look for it?” But the thought of running into Jian Yan and the others made her hesitate; she could imagine their ridicule and refused to give them the satisfaction.

Her attention suddenly fell on her ring finger—a delicate diamond ring nestled there. The original Ruan had secretly bought it to match Jian Yan’s couple rings. Ruan Mianmian’s heart leapt; fate hadn’t abandoned her after all—this sparkling ring could be pawned for travel expenses!

Jian Yan would probably be furious if he found out that this ring worth tens of thousands had been traded for a taxi fare, but Ruan Mianmian had no time to care.

“Driver, to Starfish Bay!” she hailed a taxi at the roadside.

As the car sped off, the scenery outside swept past, and the fresh wind brushed her cheeks. Ruan Mianmian inhaled deeply, as if reborn.

“Jiang Ce! I’m coming!” she shouted excitedly out the window, her heart soaring with anticipation.

Fortunately, Starfish Bay was not far; within half an hour, she arrived. Before her stood a grand, elegant villa, its architecture reminiscent of a cathedral from a Western film, solemn and imposing.

Yet below, a charming Chinese-style garden sprawled, blending East and West in a display of classical beauty.

With excitement stirring her heart, Ruan Mianmian moved toward the entrance, only to be stopped by a gatekeeper who suddenly appeared.

“Miss, this is a private villa. You can’t enter without an invitation,” the old man kindly reminded her.

So, one needed an invitation to enter! She had none.

But Ruan Mianmian, unfazed, replied confidently, “Sir, I am the owner’s girlfriend… no, no, his fiancée. I am Jiang Ce’s fiancée.”

Surely such a status wouldn’t require an invitation?

“Miss, don’t joke with me!” the old man laughed. “If you have business, leave your calling card. If Young Master Jiang agrees, you’ll be let in. If not, you’d better leave.”

He turned to go.

Ruan Mianmian panicked; she had to see Jiang Ce today!

“Wait, please! Sir, I really am his fiancée. If you don’t believe me, just go in and announce me!” She blocked his path, refusing to let him leave.

“You little thing, why are you telling such tall tales?” The gatekeeper cast her a sidelong look. Seeing her insistence, he sighed, “Let me tell you, I’ve been guarding this gate for seven or eight years. Never has a woman come here. You’re the first. If Jiang Ce had a fiancée, how could I not know?”

His certainty was clear; he must be close to Jiang Ce.

Ruan Mianmian frowned, recalling the loyal old steward from the novel who kept unwanted visitors at bay. This must be him.

“If you won’t let me in, fine. But claiming you’ve never seen a woman here? How could that be?” she muttered under her breath.

Jiang Ce, as the charismatic second male lead, couldn’t possibly have no women around him. She’d never believe it.

Since the old steward refused her entry, she had no choice. She simply sat by the roadside to rest and regroup.

She was weak; she’d barely managed the journey, and with the sun beating down, she soon felt herself flagging.

She sat on the grass nearby for an hour.

The steward returned after reading his newspaper, surprised to find Ruan Mianmian still waiting.

Seeing her pale, bloodless face, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy and brought her a bottle of water.

“Miss, why put yourself through this? Have some water,” he offered.

Ruan Mianmian raised her head and took the water with trembling hands. “Thank you,” she said.

“Don’t mention it. Listen, you should go back,” he urged.

Ruan Mianmian closed her eyes, took a deep breath, glanced at the villa, and then shook her head with determination.

“No. I must see Jiang Ce. I must!”

No matter what the steward said after that, she didn’t respond, burying her head in her arms to conserve her strength.

“You stubborn child!” the old man sighed, helpless. With her injuries, he dared not leave her here, so at last, he relented.

“Fine. I’ll go in and report to Young Master Jiang, but whether he sees you is not up to me.”

Ruan Mianmian looked up, a faint smile breaking through her pallor. “Thank you,” she whispered.

The old steward sighed and headed inside.

Ruan Mianmian straightened, facing the villa, anxious for news. Time dragged on, and she felt she could barely hold on.

Driven by desperation, she leaned on the wall and managed to stand, but saw no movement from within.

“Is Jiang Ce really planning to cut me off? In the book, this was when he grew disheartened with Ruan Mianmian,” she recalled, biting her lip.

She couldn’t let this drag on. She had to take the initiative, at least see him once.

Leaning against the wall, she suddenly thought of a solution and began to walk along it, seeking another way in.

Unfortunately, just after she left, the steward hurried over—only to find her gone.

“Huh? That girl actually left?”