Chapter 21: Wanting to Keep You Part 1

Miao Zhu couldn’t respond to Jiang Jingjing’s shock because she found it exaggerated too.

Mu Shanyi’s long hair was loosely tied back, and her gemstone earrings swayed slightly, refracting dazzling fiery colors with every Angel.

It was just a warm, elegant, and noble profile, yet it draped a captivating cinematic filter over this ordinary summer night because of her appearance.

The slightly rundown old street, the bustling crowds, the colorful lights… everything served as backdrop, with Mu Shanyi naturally becoming the most eye-catching focal point.

Lu Zheng got out of the car to open the doors for Miao Zhu and Jiang Jingjing. Miao Zhu smiled at her by way of greeting.

Jiang Jingjing unhesitatingly slipped into the front passenger seat. Miao Zhu bent down to enter the back seat and, upon looking up, met the clear eyes of the person inside the car.

“Hello, sister. I’m Mia’s colleague.” Jiang Jingjing was outgoing. She didn’t wait for Miao Zhu to introduce her and twisted around from the front seat to speak, though she felt a bit shy facing this stranger whose first impression was of wealth and beauty. “Thanks to Mia, thank you for giving us a ride back to the hotel~”

“You’re welcome. I’m very glad to meet you.” Mu Shanyi’s tone was steady and soothing, like a spring breeze.

Wealthy, beautiful, and poised—Jiang Jingjing happily gave Mia’s sister an A+ rating.

Lu Zheng was the last to get in. Jiang Jingjing helpfully assisted her in adding the hotel address to the navigation.

The car turned around at the intersection and followed the navigation route. Miao Zhu silently sipped her milk tea through the straw. Mu Shanyi’s lips curved up slightly, and in the sealed, quiet space, her soft voice rang out: “Did Aunt Miao make you drink herbal medicine?”

Jiang Jingjing didn’t turn around. From the rearview mirror, she saw Mia’s sister’s deeply contoured profile. The other woman wore a strapless top, her exposed shoulders, neck, and collarbones all striking.

She was talking to Mia.

The next second, Mia turned toward her too. As their eyes met, Mia seemed aggrieved, her mouth turning down as she replied with a soft “Mm.”

The light in the car was dim. They sat one on each side, separated by the center console—a distance apart. Their tone and words weren’t flirtatious at all, but when their gazes collided, it was as if they formed a unique barrier. It was a very subtle stickiness. Jiang Jingjing’s face heated up, and she quickly looked out the window. Her instincts told her it would be impolite to keep watching.

“Is it sweet?” Mu Shanyi asked with a half-smile.

Herbal medicine? Sweet? What was this culprit talking about?

Miao Zhu’s surprise showed too obviously. Mu Shanyi let out a low chuckle and pointed at the milk tea in Miao Zhu’s hand. “That’s what I’m asking.”

Miao Zhu: “…Oh, it’s sweet. Half sugar.”

Mu Shanyi: “None for me?”

Miao Zhu: “Do you want some?”

Jiang Jingjing had pulled her eyes away, but her ears were still on. She perked them up waiting for Mia’s sister’s answer, but heard nothing.

Unable to resist, her eyes sneaked back to the rearview mirror on their own.

—Mia’s sister slowly leaned down and took the straw into her mouth from Mia’s hand.

“…” Jiang Jingjing felt like she was sleepwalking. Next, she heard Mia softly ask where her sister had come from. The sister said from a charity gala—she hadn’t eaten much that evening. After a pause, Mia asked where she was headed. The sister said an elder in the clan had a birthday tomorrow, so she had to go pay respects, then head back to Cloud City in the afternoon—someone from the overseas company was waiting for her.

Mia fell silent. The sister asked when she would return to Cloud City. Mia said tomorrow or the day after, not sure.

The driver was like a block of wood, focused solely on the road. But Jiang Jingjing lost control of her expression, burying her face as she stifled laughter until her cheeks ached. This back-and-forth dialogue, with both of them clearly distracted, was driving her crazy.

She wanted to hear more but didn’t dare listen too much, afraid Mia and her sister would treat her like an outsider—or worse, not treat her like one at all.

Her mind waged a little war all the way to the hotel. The driver parked the car, and Jiang Jingjing reluctantly pushed open the door. “Mia, I’m heading back to my room first. Xie Dasu is still waiting to video call me.”

“Your sister didn’t eat much tonight and rushed here on an empty stomach to see you. Why don’t you take her for some late-night snacks?”

Before Miao Zhu could react, Jiang Jingjing was on a roll: “Sister, Mia made the itinerary—there’s a great wonton shop in the nearby residential area. It’s supposed to be really, really good. Mia and I were planning to go tomorrow morning. The owner does breakfast but also late-night stuff.”

Miao Zhu: “…”

Mu Shanyi listened and smiled at Miao Zhu before saying to Jiang Jingjing, “Sounds good. We’ll go try it later. Thanks for the recommendation.”

Jiang Jingjing held the car door: “Our group is heading back to Cloud City the day after tomorrow together, but after exchanging with the local symphony orchestra tomorrow morning, the schedule ends. If you have personal business, you can leave tomorrow afternoon.”

Miao Zhu: “…………”

Mu Shanyi smiled again: “Got it. Your info is very helpful.”

“Mm!” Jiang Jingjing finally got out of the car and vanished in a blink.

Miao Zhu was caught off guard by Jiang Jingjing’s barrage, and seeing Mu Shanyi remove her jewelry as if she really planned to go to the place Jiang Jingjing suggested, she blurted out in disarray: “…Are you really going to eat wontons?”

What Miao Zhu really wanted to ask was, ‘Are you willing to go to a street-side wonton shop?’ Mu Shanyi never had to settle for anything—not even when Miao Zhu had the flu and she brought private chef dishes to the hospital room; those had been repackaged in rose celadon plates.

It would have been fine if she’d just said it casually to brush off Jiang Jingjing, because from Mu Shanyi’s life trajectory, she really didn’t seem like someone with that kind of experience.

“Why not?” Mu Shanyi smiled back. “I want to see how good it is.”