Chapter 38: The Past Part 2

Jiang Nuan caught her second swinging hand, gripping the wrist tight. Lin Wei struggled hard; her wrist reddened under Jiang Nuan’s hold. Her eyes bulged red, face flushed. Her shrill voice pierced Jiang Nuan’s eardrums.

Footsteps hurried outside. Secretaries heard the commotion and wanted to enter but hesitated.

Jiang Nuan clamped a hand over Lin Wei’s mouth.

“Mmph! Mmph!” If looks could kill, Jiang Nuan would have been minced into meat paste at that moment. Lin Wei’s breathing was muffled as Jiang Nuan leaned in close and said, “President Lin, do you want me to call the police for you?”

Lin Wei’s body stiffened.

Jiang Nuan continued, “Or maybe I should just call the police anyway. Let the whole company know, let your entire family know—that you, Lin Wei, were forcibly kissed by a woman.”

With that, she released Lin Wei.

While Lin Wei was still stunned, Jiang Nuan pulled out her phone from her pocket.

Without thinking, Lin Wei snatched the phone from her hand and smashed it against the floor.

Bang!

The phone screen shattered.

Accompanied by Lin Wei’s scream: “Get out!”

Jiang Nuan walked away from her side and picked up the phone from the ground. She looked back at Lin Wei, who picked up her cup and hurled it at her!

Then the keyboard!

Then the files on the desk!

Then everything within reach!

She even tried to lift the computer monitor.

Jiang Nuan listened to Lin Wei’s crazed screams behind her as she sauntered out of the office door. The secretary watched her curiously. Jiang Nuan was just about to speak when a mouse flew past and smashed into the doorframe behind her.

The sound was deafening!

The vibration at the door made Jiang Nuan’s body jolt slightly. She gave a wry smile. “President Lin has quite the temper.”

The secretaries all bit their lips, not daring to make a sound.

As she passed by the doorway, Jiang Nuan thoughtfully closed the office door for Lin Wei.

Lin Wei had gone mad.

She couldn’t believe what Jiang Nuan had done.

A mad dog!

She was nothing but a mad dog!

How dare she kiss her?

The thought of that moist touch on her lips, the scent of Jiang Nuan filling her nostrils, made Lin Wei uncontrollably want to scream and throw things. Like someone infected with madness, she shouted and rampaged around the office.

At lunchtime, Shi Sui glanced at Jiang Nuan’s profile. The slap mark was obvious. Shi Sui asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Nuan looked up and saw Shi Sui staring at her cheek. She touched it. “It’s nothing.”

Shi Sui didn’t believe her. She frowned. That slap had been vicious; it was already swollen. She said, “What exactly happened?”

Jiang Nuan shrugged. “President Lin hit me.”

Shi Sui said, “You went to provoke her again?”

Jiang Nuan replied, “I just went to watch the show.”

Shi Sui didn’t buy it. This woman’s mouth was too sharp for it to be just that. Still, Lin Wei hadn’t held back. Whatever happened today must have pushed her over the edge. Shi Sui took a sip of hot soup. “Come to my office later. I have some medicine in my bag. Help yourself.”

Jiang Nuan smiled. “How do you even have medicine for this?”

Shi Sui shot her an annoyed glance. Jiang Nuan shrank back.

Jiang Nuan said, “By the way, now that Lin Wei’s withdrawn from the Q4 Project, will she leave Shangjing?”

Shi Sui didn’t look up. “Do you want her to leave?”

Jiang Nuan was stunned and looked at Shi Sui. “Of course I want her gone. I’m telling you, seeing her get humiliated today was so satisfying!”

Shi Sui tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Then you’ll be disappointed. My mom won’t let her go.”

Jiang Nuan sighed.

After lunch, they returned to the office. Shi Sui handed Jiang Nuan the medicine and added, “Go find a phone.”

Jiang Nuan didn’t catch it. “Huh?”

Shi Sui said, “Get me a new number.”

This time, Jiang Nuan understood.

She immediately fetched a spare phone and handed it to Shi Sui.

Shi Sui looked at her.

Jiang Nuan gave her an ambiguous smile before leaving the office. Shi Sui stared at the spare phone, pondered for a moment, and then directly called Jiang Ruoning.

Jiang Ruoning was sitting at the table, eating hand-torn chicken.

Besides her, there were Jiang Qin, Zhang Zhilan, and Zou Nian.

After entering, Zou Nian returned the novel she had borrowed yesterday. “I finished it.”

Jiang Ruoning’s eyes widened. “That was too fast.”

Zou Nian said, “I’ve always read quickly.”

Jiang Ruoning laughed and took the novel, placing it on the table in the room. Then Jiang Qin called her out for lunch. Perhaps because she had talked things out with Zou Nian yesterday, meeting today wasn’t as awkward. But facing the subtle matchmaking from both families still made Jiang Ruoning’s scalp tingle.

What made her scalp tingle even more was that Shi Sui had clearly seen her taking Zou Nian out to eat yesterday, had seen them holding hands.

Yet Shi Sui had still made that request last night.

What was Shi Sui thinking?

Did she want to be the third wheel?

Hadn’t she told Shi Sui that things with Zou Nian were fake?

Or did she want to be her lover?

Damn…

That was kind of thrilling.

Jiang Qin asked, “What are you thinking about instead of eating?”

Jiang Ruoning glanced up to see three pairs of eyes on her. She blinked. “Nothing.”

She picked up a chicken leg and said to Zou Nian, “You eat too.”

Zou Nian smiled. “You’re pretty good at taking care of people.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Learned from my mom.”

Jiang Qin patted her shoulder.

Why wasn’t Jiang Ruoning shy at all around Zou Nian?

She used to blush so easily.

Was this what it meant to not be into someone?

That morning, while buying groceries, Jiang Qin had run into Zhang Zhilan, who mentioned she was heading home to cook for Zou Nian alone at noon. So Jiang Qin simply invited her over, secretly hoping Jiang Ruoning and Zou Nian could spend more time together.

Now it seemed…

No chance.

Zhang Zhilan maintained the same attitude as yesterday, amiable toward Jiang Ruoning. During the meal, she even asked about her work, if she was busy. Jiang Ruoning instantly thought of the gossip about herself online and felt her heart sink. “It’s okay, not too busy.”

“That’s good. Unlike my Niannian, who disappears when she gets busy.” Zhang Zhilan complained. Zou Nian picked up a piece of chicken for her. “Mom, I need to make money too.”

Jiang Qin said, “It’s good for young people to have ambition. Ningning gets busy with work too, and she has a shoot next week.”

She spoke up for Zou Nian.

Cold sweat dripped down Jiang Ruoning’s back.

Fortunately, after that incident, Jiang Qin didn’t go online much anymore. Her eyesight had worsened over the past two years, so she mostly watched TV dramas and listened to audiobooks. Thus, she didn’t know about Jiang Ruoning trending last night.

But Zou Nian knew.

When returning the book earlier, she had even asked if she needed help.

Jiang Ruoning said the company was handling it and politely declined. Now, she was afraid they’d discuss work over lunch. She stood up. Jiang Qin looked at her. “What are you doing?”

“Getting more soup.” Jiang Ruoning replied, carrying the soup bowl to the kitchen. Zhang Zhilan watched her back and quietly asked Jiang Qin, “What’s wrong with her neck?”

Jiang Qin let out an “oh.” “She slept funny. Put on some ointment.”

She chuckled helplessly. “She’s always restless in her sleep.”

Zhang Zhilan laughed too.

When Jiang Ruoning returned, her phone vibrated. Jiang Qin said, “Phone call.”

She set down the soup bowl and saw an unfamiliar number. She almost didn’t answer, but for some reason, she picked up.

Jiang Qin ladled her a bowl of soup. Jiang Ruoning held the phone. “Hello.”

From the other end: “Ruoning.”

Jiang Ruoning hung up with a snap.

Jiang Qin watched her curiously. “Who was it?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Scam call.”

Zhang Zhilan said, “These scammers nowadays are endless. Last week, a friend of mine lost over a hundred thousand.”

Jiang Qin agreed. “Yeah, I heard…”

Jiang Ruoning had no mood to listen. She quickly finished her soup, hugged her phone, and sat on the sofa. She saw a message from the missed call: [Can you pick up?]

What tone.

As if she owed her.

Jiang Ruoning wanted to roll her eyes. Just then, she saw Zou Nian walking over. She made some space, hugged a pillow, and sat on the other side. Seeing Jiang Qin and Zhang Zhilan still chatting, Jiang Ruoning said, “Thanks.”

Zou Nian hummed. “For what?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Thanks for not telling my mom about the online stuff, and for yesterday—”

Zou Nian said, “And yesterday, about Miss Shi, right?”

Jiang Ruoning gave an awkward laugh.

Zou Nian said, “Don’t worry. I promised Miss Shi I wouldn’t mention her to Auntie for now.”

Jiang Ruoning’s expression shifted slightly. “You promised her?”

Zou Nian nodded. “She asked me yesterday to hold off on telling Auntie about her.”

Jiang Ruoning paused, then slowly said, “Oh.”

Zou Nian teased, “And…”

Jiang Ruoning looked at her. “And what else?”

Zou Nian smiled. “Ask her yourself.”

Jiang Ruoning watched her stand. “Hey!”

Zou Nian grabbed her bag from the sofa and said to Zhang Zhilan and Jiang Qin, “Mom, Auntie, I have something to handle at the firm. I’ll head out first.”

Jiang Ruoning jumped up too. “I’m leaving too!”

Jiang Qin thought they were going together and was about to smile, but then heard Jiang Ruoning say, “Zhengzheng is downstairs. Yun An’s back today; we’re going to pick her up from the airport.”

Jiang Qin’s smile froze, and she huffed. “Your girlfriend’s back, and you’re going to the airport? Why?”

Jiang Ruoning stuck out her tongue. “To be the third wheel!”

Jiang Qin laughed in exasperation.

Zhang Zhilan said, “Let them go. You’re free this afternoon; let’s go shopping. I saw a dress yesterday that would suit you.”

Jiang Qin said, “Suit me? I don’t look good in dresses.”

“How not…” Their intermittent chat faded as the door closed. Jiang Ruoning and Zou Nian went downstairs together. Zou Nian drove herself and asked Jiang Ruoning, “Need a ride?”

Jiang Ruoning shook her head and pointed to the side. “Zhengzheng’s really here.”

Zou Nian looked over. Qin Zheng was waving at her.

She smiled. “Alright, I’ll go then.”

Jiang Ruoning waved goodbye, then walked to Qin Zheng’s side. Qin Zheng pinched her nose. “What’s up with you?”

Jiang Ruoning stiffened her neck. “What?”

Qin Zheng said, “What’s that on your neck?”

Jiang Ruoning: “Ointment.”

Qin Zheng eyed the circle of it. “Didn’t your stiff neck get better? What’s wrong now?”

Jiang Ruoning touched her neck unnaturally. “It’s not fully better. It still hurt when I woke up today.”

Qin Zheng: “But you don’t need to plaster a whole circle.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “This way it heals faster.”

Qin Zheng: …

She was done.

After getting in the car, Qin Zheng remembered. “What song did you ask me about today?”

Jiang Ruoning scratched the edge of her eyebrow. “The song I liked in high school.”

Qin Zheng turned. “Why ask that?”

“Nothing.” Jiang Ruoning said, “Zhengzheng, back in high school, did Shi Sui and I ever go to some farmstay together?”

Qin Zheng slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the curb. She turned to Jiang Ruoning, her expression stunned. “You remembered?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “A little.”

Qin Zheng asked, “How did you remember?”

Jiang Ruoning met her probing gaze, discomfort crawling over her skin. Her fair face gradually flushed red.

How did she remember?

From making love.

Jiang Ruoning blinked, somewhat despairing.

What a good person, getting into ABO fiction.