Chapter 11: Not Very Familiar

When Wen Yan entered with Jiang Zhixuan, several people stood up to greet them. Although he belonged to a branch of the Wen family, sharing the Wen surname gave him some standing, which was considered quite favorable. Accustomed to such attention, Wen Yan handled it with ease. Jiang Zhixuan, standing beside him, also benefited from this glow.

Jiang Mian glanced briefly before withdrawing her gaze. Someone nearby handed her a glass of water, speaking softly. “Miss Jiang, sometimes you don’t need to care so much about external factors.” She accepted the water, turning slightly to smile at Xu Zhu. “Thank you.”

Before she could take a sip, Jiang Zhixuan approached her. “Sister, why don’t you greet anyone?” Her voice was loud enough that most people turned to look.

Jiang Mian’s knuckles tightened around the glass as she slowly lifted her chin to meet Jiang Zhixuan’s bright smile. She stood upright, her face radiant. Lowering her eyes, Jiang Mian placed the glass on the low tea table before her. The room was brightly lit, but it did little to hide the ambitious glints in some eyes.

She leaned back slightly, her shoulders sagging. “Not very familiar.” The three words fell softly. Wen Yan looked over, his brows furrowing. Before he could speak, Jiang Mian spoke again. “After all, unlike you, I don’t ride on others’ coattails.”

“Jiang Mian!” Wen Yan’s irritation showed. Since the engagement had been reassigned, he felt Jiang Mian’s words had grown sharper—she wasn’t like this before.

Unmoved, Jiang Mian sat quietly as she watched Jiang Zhixuan entwine her arm with Wen Yan’s. “Sister, Ah Yan only wants me to make more friends, that’s why he brought me here. It’s not what you think.”

“What do you think I’m thinking?” she retorted. What exactly could she be thinking?

Jiang Zhixuan faltered, lightly shaking Wen Yan’s arm. Wen Yan immediately understood and led Jiang Zhixuan away, his tone laced with displeasure. “Xuanxuan, it’s pointless to talk to her; she simply can’t appreciate your kindness.”

Oh really? She herself had no clue what Jiang Zhixuan’s kindness even was.

No one around made any comments, and Jiang Mian lowered her gaze again.

***

“Who is that?” A man in a suit stepped forward. Following his gaze, Wen Yan looked toward Jiang Mian.

“She’s my fiancée’s sister.”

The man nodded, a smile tinged with ambiguous meaning playing on his lips. Jiang Mian heard it but only glanced briefly before losing interest. With Wen Yan and Jiang Zhixuan present, her mood had already darkened.

Xu Zhu glanced over, then quietly spoke to Jiang Mian. “That’s Senior Zhou Jin, the organizer of today’s dinner gathering. He’s currently a rising star in the legal field.”

“I know him.” Jiang Mian was familiar with the name. Zhou Jin’s law firm played a significant role in Jiang Zhouyi’s control over the Jiang Corporation.

She sneered inwardly but showed no expression, lifting the glass Xu Zhu had given her and taking a small sip.

“Miss Jiang, hello.” Someone stopped before her. Jiang Mian looked up to see Zhou Jin smiling warmly. This man was skilled at hiding daggers behind his smile.

“Hello.” Seeing his outstretched hand, she set down her glass and slowly stood. She shook his hand briefly before releasing it.

The man was unfazed, his gaze lingering on Xu Zhu for a moment before returning to Jiang Mian’s composed face.

“I’ve heard of you before, Miss Jiang, but seeing you today, you’re quite different from the rumors.”

“Lawyer Zhou, which Miss Jiang did you hear about—me or that one over there?” She raised her eyes, a faintly detached smile playing on her lips as she stood tall.

Though he was half a head taller, she didn’t feel inferior in terms of presence.

Knowing full well Jiang Mian’s current situation, he still deliberately made small talk. She wondered what exactly he was after. Or was he simply hoping to grab all of Jiang Zhouyi’s money and hers?

“Of course you. You’re known throughout Jingjiang as a design prodigy, quite famous even in our law school.”

“Oh? So what did Lawyer Zhou hear about me? Arrogant and aloof, looking down on others?”

Jiang Mian had heard such descriptions during her university days—mainly because she had turned down several clueless suitors, which had ironically spread her reputation far and wide.

Zhou Jin laughed aloud, clearly unprepared for her characterization, waving his hand dismissively.

“Miss Jiang, you jest. What I’ve heard is only that you are stunningly beautiful and extraordinarily talented.”

“That’s quite flattering,” she narrowed her eyes, her gaze slipping past Zhou Jin’s shoulder to catch Jiang Zhixuan’s wary look. Afraid she might strike some deal with Zhou Jin? That was needless worry. After all, she looked down on such profit-driven lawyers.

Even if he was a rising star in the legal world now, what of it?

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” With a nod to Zhou Jin, Jiang Mian grabbed her bag and left the room.

The corridor smelled faintly of cool chrysanthemums, calming her restless heart slightly.

Entering the restroom and facing the mirror, she saw her own cold, somber reflection. She was becoming ever more adept at feigning composure, growing increasingly like the person she had once despised.

“Oh, sister, feeling uncomfortable in the room?” Jiang Zhixuan appeared beside her, smoothing her hair with a sharp tone.

“If you’re here to mock me, it’s unnecessary.” Jiang Mian’s voice was cold as she stared at Jiang Zhixuan in the mirror.

“After all, I don’t like to compare myself with those inferior to me.”

The implication was clear: no matter what Jiang Zhixuan said, it was mere itching—nothing worth her attention.

Jiang Zhixuan gritted her teeth, a slow smile spreading. “Is that so?”

“Sister, I’ve been tidying up at home recently and found some interesting things.”

“Those necklaces really suit my taste!”

She turned, smiling at Jiang Mian, but her eyes held resentment.

Jiang Mian’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered that after Jiang Zhouyi moved into the villa, she had taken all her own belongings away.

Noticing her hesitation, Jiang Zhixuan laughed. “Looks like you don’t really care about the things in the attic either.”

The attic! Suddenly it dawned on her—those were old keepsakes stored there when their mother was alive. The necklaces were limited editions back then, priceless, and would fetch a fortune at auction now.

“Those are my things. I advise you not to touch them.”

Her warning only made Jiang Zhixuan laugh heartily. After a moment, she covered her mouth and winked at Jiang Mian.

“But what can I do? I like them so much!”