Jing Mian held his breath slightly.
… He was too close.
The powerful aura and inexplicable sense of intimidation seemed to indirectly affect him as well. Jing Mian clutched the brim of his cap, unable to move or speak.
But he soon realized that this gentleman, whom he had never met, was helping him out of a difficult situation.
It turned out that the concept of an overwhelming presence wasn’t just a myth.
That brief sentence alone was enough to make even the person involved feel rooted to the spot, let alone himself.
Though they were strangers, the slightly intimate gesture of adjusting his cap might have led the other person to mistake them for old acquaintances, thus naturally preventing any further unwanted attention.
Jing Mian thought to himself, indeed, one shouldn’t judge a person by their appearance.
The initially cold and aloof figure had unhesitatingly come to the aid of a stranger, providing a sense of security that was almost overwhelming.
“Uh… I’m, I’m sorry,” the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a mix of embarrassment and apprehension in his voice. He turned his head, his tongue feeling numb as he said, “I overstepped my bounds.”
The elevator dinged and slowly came to a stop on the fifth floor.
The man picked up his briefcase and quickly left.
For a moment,
The dimly lit, enclosed elevator was left with only Jing Mian and the man.
Jing Mian removed his cap, and the obstructed view became bright and expansive. The man was much taller, so Jing Mian had to look up when speaking. He handed the cap to the man, politely thanking him:
“Thank you.”
“…”
However, for some reason,
As soon as the words left his mouth, the air became strangely quiet and silent.
Jing Mian vaguely heard the man repeat something, his voice low and deep, almost inaudible: “You?”
Jing Mian was puzzled.
So, he politely reminded him again: “Yes, sir… your cap.”
The elevator arrived at the top floor at that moment.
After a brief moment of contemplation, the baseball cap was taken from Jing Mian’s hand by the man.
The door opened.
Jing Mian, somewhat surprised, stepped into his original destination—the top-floor restaurant that his childhood friend had reserved exclusively.
The style was completely different from the rest of the building. It felt like stepping into a unique, small world. The chandeliers in the restaurant were opulent and dazzling, casting light on every corner and edge. The walls were designed with exquisite detail, creating a vintage and luxurious atmosphere.
And outside the window, the enchanting night view of the city was breathtaking.
No wonder this was the hardest restaurant to reserve in the city, Jing Mian marveled inwardly.
To reserve the entire place… Jing Mian pursed his lips, silently feeling a bit sorry for his fiancé.
There was still half an hour before the agreed time, and Mr. Ren was probably still on his way. Following the waiter’s guidance, Jing Mian chose a seat by the window.
However, just as he had barely sat down, the chair opposite him was suddenly pulled out, and a tall figure blocked part of the light, casting a dark shadow over Jing Mian’s face.
Their eyes met unexpectedly.
This time, it was more distinct than the brief glance in the elevator.
The man was tall and imposing, with a prominent nose that looked exceptionally handsome in the light. His black hair was soft and slightly tousled, and his eyes, a lighter shade, gave him a lazy, carefree look. His long, thick lashes added an elegant touch, while his thin lips balanced it out, creating an undeniable sense of pressure.
Cold and restrained.
Jing Mian: “…”
Was this the gentleman who had helped him in the elevator?
Despite his doubts, Jing Mian took the initiative to speak: “Are you waiting for someone?”
The man was tall, and even when sitting, his eyes were inevitably lowered. After a two-second pause, he nodded.
Jing Mian realized.
No wonder the man hadn’t left the elevator on the first floor and hadn’t pressed any buttons for the floors they were going to.
But wasn’t the top-floor restaurant reserved exclusively?
Seemingly sensing Jing Mian’s confusion, the man’s long fingers rested on the edge of the table, and his thin lips parted: “Your reservation is after six o’clock.”
In other words, before six, anyone else could still freely enter the restaurant.
Ah, Jing Mian thought, that made sense.
But… why was he sitting opposite him?
Jing Mian was silent for a few seconds, as if he had been hesitating to speak. After a brief internal struggle, he gently said: “Are you… Ren Congmian?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jing Mian clearly felt the man’s gaze pause, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and an unusual expression that quickly vanished.
Jing Mian thought he had probably guessed right.
Even as someone who rarely paid attention to the entertainment industry, he knew that Ren Congmian’s name was often seen on billboards and in trending topics. In recent years, it seemed no one didn’t recognize Ren Congmian.
With few works but a mysterious and controversial background, his status was solid and irreplaceable, making him a true industry mogul.
Jing Mian suppressed his surprise. The vague sense of familiarity he had felt earlier was likely due to this.
However, he always thought celebrities were too distant, so he hadn’t dared to recognize him.
“Yes.”
The man didn’t deny it.
A waiter appeared at the table, pouring tea for both of them at the right moment.
Jing Mian held the teacup, the warmth gradually spreading to his palms and fingertips. He thought his current reaction was textbook-level calm.
If it were any of Ren Congmian’s fans or even a casual observer, the restaurant would have been in a frenzy, with people so excited they might have flipped the roof.
After all, that was Ren Congmian.
“Who are you waiting for?”
Before Jing Mian could continue the conversation, Mr. Ren suddenly asked. His voice was low and magnetic, revealing no emotion.
The young man’s Adam’s apple moved as he honestly replied: “My… fiancé.”
Jing Mian’s voice was always soft and gentle. When he said these words, even he didn’t realize that the inherently ambiguous words, when spoken with his earnest tone, carried a subtle, lingering warmth.
It was like a soft, padded paw gently scratching the heart.
Mr. Ren’s throat tightened.
His expression remained unchanged, but his gaze darkened slightly as he stared at the young man.
“Have you been together for a long time?”
At this distance, Jing Mian could faintly smell the man’s scent—faint and fragrant, strangely familiar, yet soothing.
Jing Mian shook his head: “Not yet. We haven’t seen each other for over ten years. Today is our reunion.”
“Marriage to someone you haven’t seen for over ten years.” Mr. Ren was silent for a few seconds, his gaze returning to Jing Mian. His shallow breaths were long and drawn out, and his thin lips parted: “Do you like him?”
“…”
This question caught Jing Mian off guard.
Mr. Ren seemed more inquisitive than he had imagined, even delving into emotional matters. Jing Mian thought to himself that although the celebrity appeared cold and reserved, he was actually quite interested in gossip.
Jing Mian felt a bit uncomfortable and hesitated before answering: “Well, I used to like sticking around him when I was a child. He was very beautiful and had a gentle personality.”
“Such a beautiful older brother, even after many years, I should still like him,” Jing Mian said honestly and objectively.
“…”
For some reason, the man fell silent.
The atmosphere suddenly became strangely quiet, perhaps because the restaurant had no other guests, making it feel peaceful and serene.
“Who is Mr. Ren waiting for?”
Jing Mian tried to avoid an awkward silence and threw the topic back: “Is it your lover?”
“Um.”
The man’s thin lips curved slightly, his light-colored eyes seeming indifferent as they glanced at Jing Mian. His index finger tapped the edge of the table as he slowly said: “Fiancé.”
Jing Mian stood in front of the mirror in the restroom.
He leaned over, cupped a handful of water, and splashed it on his face.
He had just made an excuse to go to the bathroom. With only ten minutes left before the agreed time, he didn’t want to be the one to ask the man to leave.
If he said he was going to the bathroom, the man would probably be gone by the time he returned, avoiding the awkwardness of a three-way meeting when his childhood friend arrived.
However,
Even if he was a bit slow, he could sense that the atmosphere earlier was… off.
Despite both having fiancés, the conversation had somehow become increasingly heated. It wasn’t just ambiguous; it felt more like… something that made his face flush and heart race.
Would a normal conversation be like this?
Or was it because the other person was a celebrity?
Something was off, off.
This was one of the reasons Jing Mian felt an urge to leave.
Jing Mian wiped the water from his fingertips, lost in thought. He felt there were many strange little details, but when he tried to pinpoint them, they eluded him. Rationality and imagination seemed to be in a tug-of-war.
But no matter what, there were still ten minutes before the agreed time.
He needed to return to the restaurant.
Jing Mian wasn’t sure where the man had gone, so he took out his phone and called Ren Xingwan.
The phone rang with a “beep, beep—”
Jing Mian held his breath slightly.
The subtle vibrations in his eardrums felt like they were plucking at his heartstrings. Despite being prepared, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
As he entered the restaurant, his fingertips gripped the edge of the phone, slowly tightening.
Because,
He heard a sound from nearby.
Jing Mian’s figure froze.
The closer he got, the clearer the sound became, and the absurd premonition he had earlier was gradually becoming reality. This strange feeling made Jing Mian’s neck and back tingle, and his steps faltered.
Ren Xingwan was sitting in the same chair, his tall figure leaning back. He picked up his phone, the screen showing Jing Mian’s incoming call, facing him.
“…”
His heart pounded uncontrollably.
The young man’s eyelashes trembled, his pupils slowly constricting.
“MianMian.”
The man’s eyebrows lifted slightly. Despite his usual cold and powerful aura, the overwhelming pressure didn’t diminish. This time, however, there was a hint of a smile that was hard to detect.
His low, deep voice spilled from his lips:
“Did you call me?”