Chapter 21: Does Wen Jinhai Like You?

“Senior Brother, you get a perfect score!”

The stir-fried carrots with pork still carried the flavor Jiang Mian loved. After a bite, she couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

Xu Mu had been abroad for about five or six years now. Judging by his cooking skills, he could easily open a restaurant.

Caught off guard by the compliment, Xu Mu raised his chin proudly, basking in the praise.

“Right? I told you it’s delicious, but Chen always has something to pick at!”

Jiang Mian chuckled quietly and fell silent, focusing intently on her meal.

Xu Mu and Qin Mingchen had always respected each other, though their relationship hadn’t been great when they first met.

Qin Mingchen had entered the school with the prestigious title of top scorer in the national exams but insisted on switching to study design.

Jiang Mian learned about this from Xu Mu’s teasing. At that time, Xu Mu believed someone like Qin Mingchen should study engineering, yet she stubbornly pursued design.

His opinion of Qin Mingchen changed during an internal design competition. Having studied less than three months, she won first place purely on her talent.

It was then Jiang Mian began to notice her. Later, Qin Mingchen was introduced to her by Xu Mu when they went out to eat together.

Still, Jiang Mian’s relationship with Qin Mingchen remained neither close nor distant.

After finishing the meal, Jiang Mian rubbed her round belly with satisfaction. If she ate like this at Xu Mu’s place for much longer, she’d surely gain weight.

She stood to help Xu Mu clear the dishes, letting little Li play by herself in the living room.

The sink gurgled as Jiang Mian pumped some dish soap into the water; bubbles soon frosted the surface.

Suddenly, Xu Mu leaned toward her, a hint of hesitation on his face.

“Mianmian, could it be… Wen Jinhai likes you?”

Perhaps it was just a man’s intuition, but Jiang Mian suddenly turned her head sharply, eyes wide with surprise.

Her hands, still covered in bubbles, brushed over her fingers before lowering her gaze to continue washing the dishes.

Though her eyes fixed on the sink, her vision blurred.

She parted her lips, dazed.

“Senior Brother, Wen Jinhai and I have barely met. Why would you think that?”

Xu Mu let out a long “Oh” and leaned away, a playful, gossiping smile spreading across his face.

His eyes narrowed slowly, lips curling.

“If you’re not close, why would he be helping you get opportunities with me?”

Surely, Xu Mu and Jiang Mian’s relationship wasn’t at the point where outsiders needed to intervene.

***

“What?” Jiang Mian was momentarily stunned.

After hearing Xu Mu’s words, she couldn’t quite gather her thoughts.

Why would Wen Jinhai speak up for her?

Hadn’t he just suggested she consider joining the Wen Corporation?

Seeing her confusion, Xu Mu’s mind began to scheme, though some things were better left unsaid for now.

He washed his hands, dried them on a towel, and gently patted Jiang Mian’s shoulder.

“Mianmian, don’t overthink it. Maybe he truly values your talent.”

“Besides, I am considering having you represent our domestic business.”

XG’s overseas operations were thriving; even without domestic involvement, the impact would be minimal.

Still, no designer wanted their work to remain unseen—Xu Mu was no exception.

He had asked Qin Mingchen if she wanted to return to develop the domestic market but was turned down.

Besides Qin Mingchen, the only person Xu Mu trusted enough was Jiang Mian.

Had Jiang Mian still been the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Xu Mu might not have broached this subject.

But now, with her lacking funds and resources, it was the perfect opportunity to help him expand domestically.

Jiang Mian was speechless after Xu Mu’s candid confession.

He trusted her completely, unafraid to speak openly or worry about offending her.

“Senior Brother, aren’t you afraid I’ll spread these words around?”

“What is there to fear? You wouldn’t do that.”

He opened the fridge, pulling out a bottle of cold milk for her, then one for himself.

Jiang Mian looked down at the chilled milk in her hand and smiled softly.

This was undeniably a golden opportunity.

Her own studio was currently stagnant and needed fresh momentum.

The only concern was that XG’s reputation in China was considerable, and helping Xu Mu might close the door for her own studio.

She rubbed her temple and shook her head gently.

The two walked side by side toward the living room, their slippers whispering softly against the floor.

Sitting on the sofa, Jiang Mian tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Watching little Li engrossed in the television, she felt as if trapped in some quagmire of emotion.

After a long moment, she glanced at Xu Mu, who was watching quietly.

“If Senior Brother isn’t worried about me stealing business, I’m willing to help.”

A slight smile played on her lips as she tilted her head lightly, her expression serene.

***

Xu Mu was momentarily taken aback, as if he had glimpsed the girl who once laughed with him beneath the wutong tree years ago.

Snapping back to reality, he lowered his head and smiled.

“Alright, let’s see what you’re capable of.”

This little junior sister was always full of ideas. If she could truly take business away from XG, it would be through her own hard work.

After spending a little more time at Xu Mu’s place that afternoon, Jiang Mian left with little Li.

She had planned to take Li to a nearby art gallery—she couldn’t just lounge around at Xu Mu’s place forever.

As evening approached, more people gathered in the square.

A street musician played the violin, surrounded by a small crowd.

The pigeons resting atop the sculptures seemed listless.

Little Li wrinkled her nose and covered it with her hand.

“Mianmian, isn’t this city supposed to be the City of Romance? Why does it smell so bad here?”

Jiang Mian shook her head, relaxing her shoulders.

“Don’t believe rumors blindly. You have to see and feel things for yourself to understand.”

Besides, a thousand people make a thousand Hamlets.

A notification popped up on her phone; she glanced down.

It was a message from Jiang Zhixuan—a wedding invitation.

She blinked, as if she hadn’t seen it, and closed the chat window.

Another message appeared, this time from Wen Yan.

“Jiang Mian, it’s my and Xuanyuan’s engagement banquet. She’s your sister, so as her elder sister, you have to come. Don’t be so stubborn.”

Stubborn?

She looked up at the pigeon-covered sculpture. Six or seven white pigeons perched on the outstretched arm of the statue.

One pigeon shook its shoulder then tucked its head back in.

Suddenly, she felt drained. No matter how many times she said otherwise, Wen Yan still thought she was being difficult.

Was she really so unreasonable in his eyes?

Or perhaps, after falling in love with Jiang Zhixuan, Wen Yan’s mind had been kicked by a donkey and he no longer saw right from wrong.

She exhaled, feeling the latter explanation fit the situation better.

Jiang Mian lowered her head, quickly deleted Wen Yan’s messages, and turned off her phone, feeling much lighter.