I See Roses

I See Roses – Chapter 23

The moment Ming Si saw those words, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Then, she felt a bit puzzled again, so she held back and asked him:「Where are the remaining 299 times?」

Liang Xian replied quite quickly:「In installments.」

It was the first time Ming Si heard of the idea of copying a penalty in installments. She turned around with her phone in hand and leaned against the dressing table:「How many installments?」

Liang Xian:「300.」

Ming Si: “…”

300 days to complete the penalty, is he crazy?

He doesn’t mind sending it out every day, but she minds receiving it every day.

Ming Si snorted:「When you were studying, did your teacher allow you to submit the homework in separate installments?」

Liang Xian’s reply was quite serious:「When I was in school, I never submitted homework.」

Never copied texts? Who would believe that?

Ming Si remembered that this person was always careless even during high school, not to mention that he never wore the school uniform properly, which had earned him countless admonishments from the class teacher.

If he hadn’t consistently ranked first in the class, he would have been taken to the flag-raising platform for a school-wide self-criticism long ago.

However, didn’t he receive many small punishments in between?

She was about to retort when she saw a new message.

Liang Xian:「My class teacher usually likes to punish by making students stand.」

Ming Si:「……」

The little peacock was probably taken aback by his response. After a moment of silence, she sent an emoji that said: You figure it out yourself.

Even through the screen, Liang Xian could imagine her annoyed expression. He curled his lips, exited the chatbox, and after a while, clicked back in.

For people he frequently contacted, he never needed to write a nickname. So, on the chat page, it still displayed Ming Si’s own nickname, using the simplest pinyin, Ming Si.

Liang Xian clicked on her profile picture.

Ming Si’s profile picture was her own photo, taken in a café beneath a snow-capped mountain.

She was wearing a light purple thin sweater, holding a small deer-patterned coffee cup and smiling at the camera. The soft daylight outlined her delicate face, and beside her, the glass window reflected her side profile. The light and shadow intermingled with the distant snow-capped mountains, creating an artistic atmosphere.

Liang Xian long-pressed the picture and chose to save it.

He exited and went to the nickname editing page. His finger hesitated over Ming Si for a moment before changing it to Ming Fairy.

In the blink of an eye, September was coming to an end. According to the calendar, it should be early autumn, but in Pingcheng, summer always lingered. It occupied the preceding ten days and encroached on the next half month, squeezing the spring and autumn seasons almost to non-existence.

These days, the temperature was still high enough to make people evaporate on the streets.

Wearing sunglasses, Ming Si went straight to the back seat from under the servant’s umbrella. The driver took her small suitcase to the trunk, and when everything was ready, they drove towards the airport.

Her upcoming itinerary was quite full. First, she would go to Shanghai to meet Mrs. Yu and visit the jewelry exhibition. Then, she would fly to Paris to try on that red pear-colored dress and do some shopping. After that, she would attend a friend’s piano debut in Versailles. Ten days later, she would return to Pingcheng to attend Cheng Yu’s birthday banquet.

“Yu Yu wants that LV bag,” just a second before boarding the plane, Cheng Yu was still persistently emphasizing to her, “It’s the limited edition in China…”

“I know,” Ming Si interrupted him impatiently, “You’ve said it eight hundred times already, I remember.”

And this person, supposedly called her to bid farewell, but every word he said revolved around that LV bag.

Cheng Yu seemed to turn his head and say something to someone, his voice gradually becoming unclear; then he turned back, and Ming Si heard him say, “Brother Xian wants to talk to you.”

Ming Si casually replied, “Then give the phone to him.”

“No need, he asked me to convey the message,” Cheng Yu cleared his throat and suddenly he used a nasal and coquettish tone, “Xian Xian also wants a LV bag.”

Ming Si: “…”

Of course, she knew that Liang Xian’s original words couldn’t be like this. Most likely, Liang Xian heard Cheng Yu talking about wanting the bag and casually responded that he wanted one too.

But now, with Cheng Yu’s imitation of Liang Xian’s voice, Ming Si couldn’t help but imagine Liang Xian saying this. Goosebumps quickly formed on her skin.

Her scalp tingled, and before hanging up, she blurted out, “Tell him to buy it himself!”

The plane landed at Shanghai Airport. Ming Si pulled down her eye mask and yawned as she got up.

She lifted the sun visor, and the sunlight outside was still bright and dazzling. She took out a small mirror from her bag and carefully touched up her lipstick. As she walked out of the cabin onto the jet bridge, she put her sunglasses back on.

After walking a few steps, Mrs. Yu’s call came in. While answering, Ming Si continued to walk towards the exit without looking around.

In her seven-centimeter high heels, she walked effortlessly, the slender heels tapping the ground rhythmically, making a subtle sound.

Along the way, the passengers on the same flight couldn’t help but sneak glances at her.

With her face concealed by sunglasses, they couldn’t see her features clearly. However, her excellent figure and elegant temperament were undeniable. Even in a simple white shirt dress, she looked both beautiful and chic.

She seemed like a celebrity, but she had an indescribable air of nobility that most celebrities lacked.

Just as she picked up her luggage, a figure appeared from the side, blocking most of the light, “Miss Ming?”

The voice sounded unfamiliar; Ming Si glanced sideways, using a finger to hook the edge of her sunglasses and pulled them down slightly, “Who are you?”

The man smiled and introduced himself, “I’m Zheng Yizhou, a friend of Yu Niannian.”

He was wearing a blue shirt, quite tall, and had a good appearance. However, maybe it was because his skin was too fair, Ming Si couldn’t help but feel that he looked a bit insipid.

“Hello!” She took off her sunglasses and nodded slightly.

Yu Niannian was Mrs. Yu’s niece, and they were based in Shanghai. During this trip to Shanghai, Mrs. Yu would be staying at her place before as they attend the jewelry exhibition in Shanghai. Zheng Yizhou had come to pick her up.

Zheng Yizhou bent down to pick up her luggage and smiled, “Let’s go this way.”

“You’re not bad. You actually managed to find the person. I was worried for nothing!” When they got into the car, Yu Niannian turned from the front passenger seat and reached out to shake hands with Ming Si, saying, “Hello, I’m Yu Niannian!”

She had a pair of smiling eyes that were very endearing. Ming Si smiled as she shook hands with her. She then heard Zheng Yizhou say, “I saw the photo you gave me and recognized her at first sight.”

Yu Niannian clicked her tongue at him, “I think you just recognize beautiful girls quickly.”

Zheng Yizhou just chuckled, “You’re just making things up.”

After a while, his gaze swept over to Ming Si’s side.

Ming Si had no interest in chatting and rested her chin on her hand, looking out the window at the towering buildings whizzing by.

When they got off the car, Zheng Yizhou came over to help her with her luggage. As he bent down, a gust of wind blew, and Ming Si caught a whiff of the cologne on him, subtly scrunching her eyebrows.

Bleu de Chanel, commonly known as the cologne of a playboy.

The effect of this cologne depended on the temperament of the person using it. When used well, it naturally had an attractive effect. But on someone like Zheng Yizhou, who appeared refined and restrained on the surface, it gave off an inexplicable sense of discord and greasiness.

Mrs. Yu had no knowledge of men’s cologne, but her opinion of Zheng Yizhou coincided with Ming Si’s.

After the three of them had dinner at a garden restaurant in Shanghai and returned home, when Ming Si went upstairs, Mrs. Yu assumed an interrogative posture, “Niannian, tell me honestly, is that Zheng Yizhou your boyfriend?”

Yu Niannian’s eyes widened, “How is that possible! My boyfriend is in Pingcheng. Zheng Yizhou is just a high school classmate, I only have a good friendship with him!”

“It’s good if that’s the case,” Mrs. Yu looked at her and paused for a moment before saying, “He doesn’t seem very reliable.”

“How did you figure that out?” Yu Niannian was curious and leaned over the sofa, “Most people would think he looks quite refined and restrained at first sight.”

Only those who had been in contact with him for some time would know about his notorious reputation.

“It’s just based on experience,” Mrs. Yu half-joked with a smile, “Although the Zheng family has a big influence in Shanghai, our Yu family is not at the level of seeking alliances with anyone. This person is not suitable for deep friendship.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we’re just ordinary friends playing around,” Yu Niannian said, but then she remembered something, “However, it seems like he’s quite interested in Ming Si.”

She said this to remind Mrs. Yu to advise Ming Si to be careful, but unexpectedly, Mrs. Yu smiled and said, “Then you should advise him to rein in his enthusiasm. Ming Si is the only daughter of the Ming family, and next month, they are holding an engagement ceremony between her and the Crown Prince of Jinghong. You’re invited to attend as well.”

Among the upper-class families, there was an unspoken secret——if the marriage was arranged in a relatively short time, a formal engagement ceremony would be arranged before the wedding ceremony.

Although it was called an engagement, in reality, both parties had already obtained their marriage certificate, and they were legally husband and wife. Otherwise, there would be no guarantee that one party wouldn’t suddenly change their mind.

“The Crown Prince of Jinghong Group?? Oh my goodness!” Yu Niannian widened her eyes, covering her mouth in shock, and after a while, she said, “Then Ming Si really has nothing to fear!”

On the contrary, she had to quickly remind Zheng Yizhou, this fool who actually set his sights on a married woman backed by two powerful noble families!

Does he have a death wish?

Ming Si also felt that there was nothing to fear.

After taking bath, she sat on the dressing stool, thinking about what Liang Xian had said the day before she left Pingcheng. She walked to the window and pulled back the velvet curtains, and sure enough, she saw two black-clad bodyguards standing downstairs, one on the left and one on the right.

The tall and sturdy bodyguards in the dark night gave Ming Si a great sense of security——

If Zheng Yizhou dared to do anything, hmph, she would break his arms and legs.

“Have you heard? Our President has been replaced.”

During the lunch break, several female employees of Jinghong Films were sitting leisurely in the downstairs café.

In such a serene environment, with soothing music and a few close colleagues, how could they not chat about some gossip? It would be a disservice to the world and themselves.

“Who is it?”

“It’s that handsome Young Master Liang, the Crown Prince of Jinghong. He was promoted from Director to President; the personnel appointment letter was circulated yesterday morning.”

“What?! I actually missed the moment when our President Liang got promoted. I’m guilty! I shouldn’t have taken a leave. Quickly tell me, catch me up on the details!” A female employee held the hands of her female colleague opposite, shaking them excitedly.

“Oh my, I don’t know the specifics, but as soon as the Crown Prince took over the position of the President of Jinghong Films, he swiftly fired a large group of people, including two senior executives,” the female colleague glanced around and lowered her voice, “And Assistant Chen, you know him, right? He just submitted his resignation letter, and the new assistant came in right after. When the old and new locked eyes, Assistant Chen looked so embarrassed and hurriedly left.”

Another colleague said in an even softer tone, “I heard Vice President Wang wanted to confront President Liang, but he ended up getting beaten and thrown out by the security guards. Tsk tsk, it’s really a disgraceful situation.”

“Wow…” the female employee had no sympathy for her former boss, who often harassed subordinates. She held her face with satisfaction and fangirled, “Just thinking about it makes me happy. President Liang is truly the man I admire.”

“Wake up! It seems like he has a fiancée.”

“Tch, can’t I still admire him a little?”

……

While they were gossiping about him, the Crown Prince Liang Xian himself was sitting in his spacious and bright President office, listening to the new assistant’s report on the schedule.

“President Liang, these are the materials for this afternoon’s meeting. Also, tomorrow night, you have a dinner appointment with Mr. Wei from Chen Ding International. They just called to inquire if it can be rescheduled to six o’clock tonight.”

Liang Xian took the tablet and casually glanced over the contents before responding with a casual En.

“Okay, I’ll make the call right away,” the assistant took a few steps back and left the office.

A few minutes later, the newly appointed Director of Film and Television knocked on the door with a project proposal in hand.

He was 36 years old, a whole zodiac cycle older than Liang Xian, but he showed respect as if he were Liang Xian’s grandson. After all, everyone knew that this seemingly careless young master was actually quite capable. During his time as the director, he seemed to be idling around, but in reality, he thoroughly investigated Jinghong Films from top to bottom.

The wailing of Vice President Wang from yesterday was still ringing in their ears, and nobody wanted to repeat the same mistake. So, even though Liang Xian took the position of the President of Jinghong Films just a day ago, everyone in the company had already become submissive.

After the Director of Film and Television left, Liang Xian finally had a moment to rest.

He looked at some financial news, opened his WeChat to browse through some updates, Then returned to the chat page where he saw a message from Ke Lijie.

Ke Lijie:「Your wife.」

Liang Xian replied with a question mark.

Ke Lijie:「Damn! The video wasn’t sent yet.」

After a moment, a video appeared.

Liang Xian opened it to watch.

A strange girl was smiling and waving at the camera, then the view shifted to a restaurant. Ming Si was sitting next to her, looking up when called and then propping her chin with her hand, smiling.

Today, she wore a French-style floral dress, her dark curls falling to one side, giving her a unique sweetness when she smiled.

The camera then turned to the opposite side, showing a man in a suit placing his hands on the edge of the table and also waving at the camera.

Ke Lijie had circled the man’s face with a red pen and added a big question mark:「Who’s this? Looks like they’re having fun.」

「Brother Xian, do you know him?」

Liang Xian stared at that face, his gaze gradually turning cold.

He knew him too well.

This was the second son of the Zheng family in Shanghai, the backup marriage candidate for the Ming family.

“President Liang, I’ve already spoken with Mr. Wei…”

The assistant came in after making the call but stopped mid-sentence.

He saw the young master stand up and walk out, leaving a remark, “Cancel the dinner tonight. Book a ticket to Shanghai for me.”