Jiang Nuan watched her leave behind that ambiguous remark and frowned slightly.
Then she turned and headed back to the private room.
At the corner.
Jiang Ruoning clutched her phone, standing in place. Jiang Qin had just called to say she was safe, so she had stepped out to take it—and ended up witnessing quite the show.
A show that involved her name.
Shi Sui, Jiang Ruoning.
A month ago, she wouldn’t have imagined any connection between those two names.
Two days ago, she would have thought Shi Sui was head over heels for her, using her brand to prop her up.
She would have called Qin Zheng, vanity bursting, saying, “See how charming I am!”
Then told Shi Sui it wasn’t okay—she didn’t like mixing business and personal.
But now, this tangled mess left her like a headless fly, bouncing around blindly.
At the entrance, Jiang Ruoning hadn’t even considered that Shi Sui was Less’s chief agent.
But once she accepted it, so many things made sense.
Less inviting her to shoot, to be the winter show lead model, to grace the Jiaren magazine cover—every step paving her way. Even Wu Jie had said the negotiations were suspiciously smooth.
Except for tonight’s dinner with Less’s chief agent and Ai Wen.
The puzzle Wu Jie couldn’t figure out?
Jiang Ruoning had it now.
Because Lin Wei was negotiating with Ai Wen.
So this was no banquet to pressure her into deciding quickly.
It was Shi Sui avenging her.
Jiang Ruoning’s usually slow brain was oddly sharp right now. Lin Wei was also a Less chief agent, Shi Sui’s cousin, and mortal enemy.
Wu Jie had dug up all that during Less negotiations.
But Jiang Ruoning had forgotten to ask the chief agent’s name back then.
Who could have guessed it was Shi Sui?
Who could have guessed it was the woman who said good morning to her over the phone that morning, flirted with her, hugged her, kissed her?
Enough!
Way too much!
Zhao Miaomiao came out of the private room looking for Jiang Ruoning and saw her standing at the corner. She called out, “Ning-jie.”
Jiang Ruoning turned her head.
Zhao Miaomiao said, “Ning-jie, what are you doing standing here?”
Jiang Ruoning replied to her, “It’s fine, I’m just taking a call.”
Zhao Miaomiao asked, “Is your aunt feeling better now?”
Jiang Ruoning smiled. “She’ll be home soon.”
On the phone, Jiang Qin’s tone was very cheerful, probably related to that new friend she’d made. Jiang Ruoning was delighted to see it happen. Jiang Qin had come to Shangjing during her sophomore year and struggled to find suitable work at first. She started as a cleaner, then Zhou Man introduced her to a receptionist job at a law firm—high pay, short hours, stable. It was that job that allowed Jiang Qin to support her through university graduation.
In the past couple of years, because of her illness, she’d voluntarily quit.
Jiang Ruoning knew Jiang Qin didn’t want to put Zhou Man in a difficult spot, so she’d resigned proactively.
After that, she’d stayed home and hadn’t looked for work much. Jiang Ruoning had been the cash cow at Del, earning plenty—enough to buy a house and a car, with some left over for Jiang Qin’s retirement.
Jiang Ruoning felt very satisfied.
Her only worry was that Jiang Qin got too bored alone at home.
Fortunately, Lin Mei occasionally dragged her out to square dance and community events, keeping her from shutting herself away. Deep down, Jiang Ruoning wanted Jiang Qin to meet more new friends, which was why she’d signed her up for the tour group.
Who would have thought.
She’d actually made a friend.
Hearing the delight in Jiang Qin’s voice on the line.
Jiang Ruoning was pretty happy too.
Even though she herself was currently overwhelmed.
What a farce.
Jiang Ruoning downed a glass of wine in frustration and heard Li Jinyan ask, “What’s wrong? Bad mood?”
Wu Jie, afraid Jiang Ruoning might drink too much and say something wrong, quickly smoothed things over. “Ruoning’s definitely worried about her mom.”
Li Jinyan raised her glass. “Her mom?”
Wu Jie said, “Yeah, her mom was admitted to the hospital this afternoon.”
Li Jinyan was surprised. “Is it serious?”
Wu Jie replied, “Hypoglycemia—not too serious, but at her age, she does need more attention.”
Li Jinyan seemed to relate deeply. In fact, she’d heard about it that afternoon; an assistant at the studio had told her about Jiang Ruoning’s family situation, which led to this dinner. Li Jinyan said, “You have to be careful with family health.”
Wu Jie nodded repeatedly. “Exactly, exactly. But these days in Shangjing, even booking a full-body checkup at the hospital means a long waitlist.” She changed tack. “I heard Director Li’s family works in a hospital—any chance you could help?”
Li Jinyan’s family ran a private hospital.
Everyone knew it.
Li Jinyan smiled. “No problem, I can make a call.”
“Hey!” Wu Jie flattered. “That would be perfect! Your word is enough.”
It was as if they weren’t discussing a checkup anymore, but some other collaboration project.
Li Jinyan ate it up.
Wu Jie seized the chance to bring up Fengshang’s endorsement change at year’s end. Li Jinyan said, “That’s not set yet.”
“Isn’t it just a word from you?” Wu Jie signaled Jiang Ruoning, who got the hint, poured a glass of wine, and said to Li Jinyan, “Sorry to trouble you, Director Li.”
She tossed it back in one gulp.
Li Jinyan pretended to hesitate. “You…”
Wu Jie grabbed Li Jinyan’s hand. “Ruoning’s young and clueless. Come on, let’s drink—our turn.”
She took a sip.
Li Jinyan then raised her glass and took a shallow sip too.
The dinner ended.
They hadn’t finalized the endorsement switch for year’s end, but they did lock in Jiang Ruoning’s center position this time—even for a magazine inner spread, there was a center spot. The original center for this spread was Fengshang’s current endorser, but Wu Jie first floated the endorsement change, then the center swap. Li Jinyan weighed both, plus her existing dissatisfaction with the current endorser’s attitude, so they quickly reached an agreement.
Both sides left the dinner very satisfied.
Li Jinyan got a call saying she had to head back to the company for a meeting. Wu Jie could tell she was reluctant—if not for the call, they could’ve gone for round two right then.
No rush.
She had plenty of patience.
Jiang Ruoning stayed by Wu Jie’s side to see Li Jinyan off, rubbing her temples—she felt dizzy. She’d drunk too much of that frustrated wine earlier, and now her stomach was bloated. Wu Jie noticed her pallor and asked with concern, “Feeling unwell anywhere?”
“No.” Jiang Ruoning waved it off, about to speak when Wu Jie looked past her shoulder with surprise. “President Shi.”
Jiang Ruoning didn’t want to turn around.
But she sensed a gaze fixed on her from behind.
A probing stare piercing through her.
Jiang Ruoning turned helplessly and saw Shi Sui standing there as expected, with a woman beside her. Wu Jie called her Assistant Jiang.
Lin Wei had called her Jiang Nuan earlier.
Was she the one who’d become friends with Shi Sui abroad?
They looked like superior and subordinate, but Jiang Nuan’s exchange with Lin Wei showed their relationship was anything but ordinary.
Jiang Ruoning didn’t want to speculate.
But she couldn’t stop her mind from wandering.
Wu Jie stepped up beside her, smiling. “Has President Shi finished too?”
Shi Sui’s gaze shifted from Jiang Ruoning to her, tone flat. “Just now. You too?”
“We just wrapped up.” Wu Jie glanced behind her—no Ai Wen or Du Youran. She wasn’t sure how Shi Sui’s chat with them had gone and probed, “I remember President Shi hasn’t been in Shangjing long.”
Shi Sui furrowed her brow slightly. “Not long, no.”
Jiang Ruoning awkwardly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, exposing it.
She kept glancing around, checking her watch now and then.
Wu Jie wasn’t thrilled with her behavior and deliberately stepped in front to block her.
She looked up again.
Sure enough, Shi Sui’s expression wasn’t as pleasant as before.
Wu Jie quickly said, “President Shi must not have tried all of Shangjing’s cuisine yet. Next week, Ruoning’s shooting at LESS—afterward, does President Shi have time?”
Shi Sui looked at her.
Wu Jie smiled. “We’ll treat President Shi to some local specialties.”
Shi Sui’s gaze moved from her face to Jiang Ruoning’s.
She nodded impassively. “Sure, I’m not too familiar with Shangjing. If it’s no trouble for Ms. Wu, you can give me a detailed rundown then.”
Wu Jie beamed. “Absolutely!”
Shi Sui was polite. “Appreciate it.”
Jiang Nuan smirked at her hypocritical pleasantries. After clashing with Lin Wei, she’d returned to the private room, growing more suspicious the more she thought. Once she’d finally dealt with Du Youran and Ai Wen, she asked Shi Sui, “What’s your deal with Jiang Ruoning?”
Shi Sui paused at her words. Jiang Nuan saw it and connected it to Lin Wei’s comments, incredulous. “You… you two…”
“We dated in college.” Shi Sui dropped the bomb with one sentence, leaving Jiang Nuan stunned in place. Then she reacted. “Whoa!”
She’d previously speculated about Jiang Ruoning and Ye Yu.
Jiang Nuan blurted, “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa whoa whoa!!”
Shi Sui snapped irritably, “What are you whoa-ing about?”
Jiang Nuan: …
This woman.
Hiding her relationship with Jiang Ruoning and acting so righteous about it!
Jiang Nuan clenched her fists, itching to act, but Shi Sui glanced up at her. Jiang Nuan held back, then punched her own palm twice. “So she’s the ex you mentioned?”
Shi Sui said, “Yeah.”
Jiang Nuan roared, “You should’ve told me sooner!”
Shi Sui eyed her. “Why?” She asked, “You crushing on me or her?”
Jiang Nuan: …
Crushing my ass!
She just didn’t want to lose ground to Lin Wei!
Jiang Nuan said, “Lin Wei knows too?”
Shi Sui nodded.
Jiang Nuan said, “That explains it.”
Shi Sui asked, “Explains what?”
Jiang Nuan replied, “I’ve been wondering why she gave up on Ying Jinan so easily. Now it makes sense—she’ll definitely use your thing with Jiang Ruoning at the winter show.”
Shi Sui looked at her.
Jiang Nuan touched her cheek under the stare. “What?”
Shi Sui rarely praised her. “You’ve gotten smarter.”
Jiang Nuan: …
It really felt like praising a puppy.
No, that wasn’t the point.
The point was Shi Sui had anticipated it.
Jiang Nuan asked, “So what’s your plan?”
Shi Sui looked at her. “Wanna know?”
Jiang Nuan nodded eagerly. Shi Sui eyed her thirsty-for-knowledge expression, beckoned her closer mysteriously. Jiang Nuan leaned in, and Shi Sui said, “One condition.”
Jiang Nuan frowned. “What?”
Shi Sui said, “Help me land the winter show collab with Jiang Ruoning, and I’ll tell you.”
Jiang Nuan took a deep breath. While Shi Sui and Wu Jie exchanged pleasantries, she stepped forward. “Ms. Wu, anything after this?”
Wu Jie hesitated and glanced at Jiang Ruoning.
She herself had nothing.
But Jiang Ruoning was rushing home.
Jiang Nuan saw the dilemma and quickly said, “Here’s the thing—our car broke down on the way here, no ride. If you’re heading back and free, could you give us a lift?”
Jiang Ruoning wasn’t happy at the suggestion and tugged Wu Jie’s sleeve.
Wu Jie thought she was urging her to agree and nodded enthusiastically to Jiang Nuan and Shi Sui. “Of course! Absolutely!”
Jiang Ruoning gritted her teeth.
