Unwavering Devotion in Patronage

Lying on her cotton-and-linen bedding, Ye Mian laughed and buried her face into the quilt.

Thinking of her own bold move just now and Jiang Chen's expression, she laughed even more uninhibitedly.

It was the first time she had ever seen the usually calm Jiang Chen blushing down to the tips of his ears.

But she liked it so much!

Ever since returning to Wencheng, for over ten consecutive days, Ye Mian and Jiang Chen had dinner dates together.

During this time, she had subtly asked about Dong Yulian. Jiang Chen answered readily, saying he hadn't given her the house; he had simply hired people to scare her away.

Ye Mian was somewhat skeptical, yet she figured Jiang Chen wouldn't do anything too extreme to Dong Yulian.

His upbringing was simply too proper.

Besides, if he had intended to do anything severe, he wouldn't have waited until now to exact revenge.

Growing tired of dining out, Ye Mian suddenly realized she hadn't cooked for a long time.

So, on a bright and breezy afternoon, Ye Mian bought a bundle of groceries from the vegetable market and invited Jiang Chen over to have dinner at her place.

As it turned out... the drain clogged.

Ye Mian squatted on the kitchen floor wearing a pair of rubber gloves. The moment she touched it, she discovered that the water pipe was still leaking, making a steady drip-drop sound.

Well...

Ye Mian wrinkled her nose in disgust.

And it smelled a little, too.

The odor was so off-putting that she almost wanted to give up on fixing it herself, yet she was equally reluctant to let a stranger into her home.

After hesitating back and forth, she accidentally turned on the faucet and got splashed all over with water.

Chilly water droplets slid from her hair down to her jawline, then dripped straight onto the floor.

After calming herself for a few seconds, Ye Mian wiped the water from her face and took several deep breaths.

Just as she opened an app on her phone to search for a repairman, the doorbell rang.

Looking completely bewildered, Ye Mian took off her gloves and went to open the door.

Jiang Chen was standing in the brightly lit hallway, dressed in a crisp, tailored suit.

Standing a meter away, looking at the young woman's disheveled appearance, he spoke in a clear, deep, and unhurried voice: "Did you just take a shower?"

Taken aback by his question, Ye Mian paused for three seconds before calmly replying, "Jiang Chen, do you know how to fix a drain?"

Although she was prepared for a refusal, ten minutes later, Jiang Chen had already taken off his black overcoat, rolled up his sleeves, and was squatting in the kitchen. His expensive leather shoes were stepping in the wastewater, yet he didn't mind in the slightest. His slender, well-defined fingers reached under the cabinet, deftly repairing the leaking pipe.

The sight was truly miraculous.

Ye Mian would never have imagined it.

A finance tycoon was fixing the drainage system in her kitchen.

It was utterly mind-blowing.

The most crucial part was that even when fixing a drain, Jiang Chen looked wonderfully pleasing to the eye.

Ye Mian simply stood to the side, watching and occasionally showering him with exaggerated compliments.

"Is there anything you can't do? You are simply amazing."

"President Jiang, having a little bit of good looks is plenty, you don't need to be perfect at literally everything!"

"You are practically the goddess Nüwa's masterpiece, showing off her skills."

Her flowery words were delivered with a deadpan, earnest expression.

Flattery was pouring out of her mouth as if it cost nothing.

The man helplessly straightened up, turning his smoky-gray, profound gaze back toward her.

"It's done. Go wash up, and don't catch a cold."

For some inexplicable reason, she didn't want to leave just yet. Ye Mian walked at a snail's pace, though the bathroom was quite close to the kitchen, so no matter how slowly she moved, she would reach it eventually.

Uncertain whether the liquid on her clothes was clean water or sewage, Ye Mian thoroughly washed up with a proper bath.

Figuring that the day was still early and Jiang Chen would need time to fix the drain anyway, she even took the time to blow-dry her hair.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, several dishes were already arranged on the dining table.

?

Needless to say, Jiang Chen must have made them.

Ye Mian instinctively looked toward the kitchen, and sure enough, Jiang Chen was standing inside, rearranging the serving plates.

The distance wasn't far, and the lights were quite bright, but wisps of steam were rising, blurring his expression.

She could only see her newly bought cookbook lying open beside his hand. With his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he was cooking by following the recipe step by step. His temperament was gentle and serene, rigorous yet earnest, while still exuding a touch of noble elegance.

Had she not known about Jiang Chen's past, she would truly have believed that this was simply what he was meant to be.

He was meant to be a person gentle down to his very bones.

Walking over to the table without disturbing that tranquil scene, she peeked at the dishes—which looked indistinguishable from the pictures in the cookbook—and secretly stole a bite. Her eyes lit up instantly.

Unable to resist, she reached out to sample something else.

A pair of pale, cool hands entered her field of vision.

A plate of salt-baked shrimp was placed onto the tabletop.

A detached yet gentle voice came from directly above her, carrying a hint of amusement.

"Where did this little mouse stealing food come from?"

Ye Mian's hand froze mid-motion. She immediately turned around, smiled brightly at Jiang Chen, and retorted, "Where did this fairy-tale snail-boy come from? Oh, right, he belongs to my house!"

A low rumble of laughter escaped Jiang Chen, and he said softly, "Wait a moment longer. It's not quite ready yet."

Withdrawing her hand, Ye Mian sat down by the dining table and waited patiently.

Jiang Chen not only cooked to a high standard and at a fast pace, but the food also tasted exceptionally delicious.

Ye Mian even suspected that he measured his seasonings down to the exact gram.

She truly admired him.

Accompanied by those dishes, Ye Mian ate an entire bowl of rice.

After the meal, Ye Mian took the initiative to wash the dishes.

As the sound of running water splashed against the ceramic bowls, Ye Mian suddenly recalled Jiang Chen mentioning a little over a month—and there were only a few days left now.

A wave of melancholy suddenly washed over her.

Quickly finishing the dishes, she strode back into the living room. The moment a bold thought crossed her mind, she put it into action.

Walking over to Jiang Chen, she unexpectedly flung herself right onto his lap.

As if afraid she might fall off, although surprised by the young woman's sudden move, Jiang Chen still reached out his large hands to steadily support her soft waist.

Raising his eyebrows, Jiang Chen asked, "What is it?"

Ye Mian pressed her hands against his chest. At such an intimate distance, she could feel her heartbeat accelerating.

Yet, reminding herself that they were a couple, she quickly lost her sense of pressure.

She quietly gazed into Jiang Chen's eyes, as if trying to etch his entire being into her memory.

The last time Jiang Chen had returned, his condition had been far too shocking, subconsciously making her feel that whatever he was doing abroad was immensely dangerous.

With him heading back there again, her chest felt as though it were being pressed down by a massive boulder, suffocatingly tight.

Staring into Jiang Chen's face, Ye Mian asked softly, "How long are you going to be abroad?"

Seeing her expression, Jiang Chen slowly relaxed his grip and sat up straighter, giving her room to sit securely.

"Very soon."

Ye Mian pondered for a moment before asking, "What would happen if you didn't go?"

Jiang Chen looked up at her, his gaze direct: "Bankruptcy."

Ye Mian's breath hitched. It was indeed a severe consequence.

Yet she still couldn't help probing further, "Perhaps you have other choices."

Jiang Chen stared at her for a long while. Finding the suggestion absurd, he couldn't help laughing softly, "Become a male model and live off a woman?"

Ye Mian added, "You'd be utilizing your unique traits."

Jiang Chen scrutinized her expression closely, his fingertips trailing to the outer corner of her eye, gently caressing it.

"In this lifetime, I still want to pursue a respectable profession."

After mid-February, school started again for Ye Mian.

Early in the morning, Jiang Chen drove his car down to her residential building. He no longer wore a formal suit, having casually changed into a relaxed woolen sweater.

Ye Mian climbed into the passenger seat, also wearing a loose white sweater. Her hair was gathered up neatly behind her ears, and her straight legs looked dazzling under the sunlight.

She was naturally beautiful and possessed a sweet temper. Back in the day, students had even hailed her as having a "first-love face." If she hadn't usually kept a low profile away from campus, she probably would have received flowers and gifts every single month.