Chapter Forty-Six: The Forceful Kiss

"You..." Ruan Mianmian stared in panic, her eyes wide, but all she could see was his handsome face mere inches away. Every word she wanted to say vanished between her lips.

He had actually kissed her—fiercely, possessively, not allowing her the slightest refusal.

Dazed and bewildered, she felt his breath ravaging her lips, seductive and wild. Without thinking, she slowly closed her eyes.

"Who—who—" After a while, her lips were finally freed for a moment, and Ruan Mianmian took two deep gulps of fresh air.

"Are you stupid? You can't even breathe when kissing?" Jiang Ce teased her with a smile, his voice brushing against her ear. "Looks like you'll need to practice more often in the future."

Ruan Mianmian stiffened and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Did Jiang Ce have a lot of practice already? When? With whom?

Jiang Ce couldn't help but laugh. "Men are naturally gifted in these things."

"This..." This wasn't the car to the kindergarten...

Ruan Mianmian's eyes flickered, but Jiang Ce noticed. At this moment, her mind was muddled, and he knew he had to seize the opportunity.

With that thought, Jiang Ce hesitated no longer. His hand wrapped around her slender waist, and with a swift movement, he flipped her beneath him, pinning her down on the seat.

The next moment, an overwhelming tide of kisses swept over her.

Ruan Mianmian's cheeks flushed as she fell into Jiang Ce's embrace, unable to resist, yielding completely to his lips.

Their breaths tangled, and Jiang Ce inhaled her alluring fragrance, as though invisible hands were stirring the most restless corners of his heart.

Years of suppressed longing, desire, and the urge to possess, erupted within him all at once.

"Ruan Mianmian, you provoked me first this time. From now on, you won't be able to escape!" Jiang Ce's low, husky voice echoed through the car.

...

Outside the car.

Shen Qing and Ah Kuan, returning slowly, stared at the silhouettes entwined inside, suddenly questioning their own existence.

Ah Kuan gnawed at his fingertips and muttered blankly, "Did we miss out on something good?"

Shen Qing glanced at him, "You call this missing out?"

Are you dumb?

Ah Kuan looked back at the car. How should he put it? The scene was passionate and intense, even a bit fiery—it was actually quite spectacular.

"Tsk!"

Shen Qing clicked his tongue and shook his head, sighing, "After all these years, the boss finally found his happiness. Honestly, if I hadn't seen it for myself, I'd have thought the boss had some problem in that department."

After all, what kind of business magnate—whose influence could shake the local economy—has never had a woman near him? And in previous years, the boss wouldn't even tolerate the female dog next door, Ah Huang.

If he didn't have some issues, then...

Ah Kuan frowned, staring at Shen Qing in a daze. "Brother Qing, if the boss heard what you just said, he'd skin you alive."

"Hmm? Which part?" Shen Qing feigned ignorance.

Ah Kuan repeated, "That part where you said the boss had a problem!"

"Oh." Shen Qing shot him a faint glance, "Weren't you the one who said it?"

"..." Ah Kuan shut his mouth instantly. He shouldn't have spoken! No, he shouldn't even have a mouth!

Minute by minute, time passed. To give Jiang Ce and Ruan Mianmian their first private moment after 'breaking the ice', Shen Qing and Ah Kuan squatted by the garage for over twenty minutes.

"How long do you think we'll have to squat here?" Ah Kuan asked Shen Qing.

Shen Qing rolled his eyes, "Why don't you go ask the boss?"

Ah Kuan shook his head vigorously—did he want to die?

"Then that's that!" Shen Qing looked at him, exasperated.

Inside the car, Ruan Mianmian let out a soft whimper, "My hand's gone numb..."

Reluctantly, Jiang Ce released her from his grip.

Earlier, Ruan Mianmian had instinctively pressed her hand against his chest, but Jiang Ce, displeased, had pulled her arm up above her head and held it firmly in place.

Forced to tilt her head back, she responded to his deep, thrilling kiss.

Silence fell inside the car. Ruan Mianmian shrank into a corner, quietly massaging her reddened wrist.

The scabs on her wrist had almost disappeared, but upon closer inspection, faint traces still remained.

Jiang Ce glanced at it, his expression awkward, his voice stiff. "Don't worry. I'm still investigating the kidnappers. I’ll make sure you get justice."

"Oh." Ruan Mianmian’s reply was nasal, like someone with a cold, tinged with grievance.

Jiang Ce realized inwardly that his actions had been excessive, but he was at a loss, unable to find the right words.

Suddenly, rhythmic knocks sounded inside the car, breaking the awkward silence.

Jiang Ce pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen—a string of unfamiliar numbers flashed.

"Hello? Who is this?" Jiang Ce deliberately lowered his voice, his gaze wandering to Ruan Mianmian, watching for any change in her expression.

A polite greeting came from the other end of the line.

"Hello, are you the owner of Morning Star Group? This is Qian Lei."

Qian Lei?

Hearing that name, Jiang Ce immediately looked at Ruan Mianmian. She stared back, startled by his gaze.

"What is it? Who is it?" Ruan Mianmian asked in a low voice, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

A smile flickered at the corner of Jiang Ce's eyes as he replied, "Qian Lei? Hello."

Ruan Mianmian's eyes brimmed with delight.

Qian Lei had called—he actually listened to her.

At that moment, Jiang Ce's mind replayed her lively words at the Western restaurant.

"The boss of Morning Star is a good man, this is his number... I hope you’ll give him a chance before making your decision..."

Suddenly, Ruan Mianmian felt her wrist no longer hurt. She gazed at Jiang Ce, listening to him arrange a meeting with the caller.

When the call ended, Ruan Mianmian burst out in excitement, "That's wonderful, Jiang Ce!"

Jiang Ce pressed his lips together, his eyes shining as he looked at her, a subtle but genuine smile blooming.

Knock, knock!

The sound of tapping on the car window drew their attention.

Ruan Mianmian looked outside to see Shen Qing and Ah Kuan standing there, eyes fixed on them with a curious, suggestive gaze.

She suddenly realized what must have happened, quickly lowered her head, pretending to be indifferent, but the hot blush had already crept onto her cheeks.

"Get in, we're going back to Star Bay."

"Alright!"

At Jiang Ce's command, Shen Qing and Ah Kuan opened the doors and climbed in.

Ah Kuan started the ignition, while Shen Qing couldn't help but glance back again and again.

"Boss, how does it feel?"

Ruan Mianmian was mortified...

Jiang Ce said nothing, merely shot a cold glare, and Shen Qing immediately straightened up, sitting upright, not daring to make another sound.

The car slowly pulled out of the garage, and only then did Ruan Mianmian realize—

She was supposed to be at work!

How could she go to Star Bay?

"Wait, I need to go back to Han Hai for work!" Ruan Mianmian signaled Ah Kuan to stop.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ce leaned in, his voice deep, "Say it again—where are we going?"

Instantly, Ruan Mianmian plastered a fake smile across her face. "To... to Star Bay."