Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

Ji Linzhou looked at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. "I've already sent someone to look for her. She's an adult; she wouldn't do anything rash." He walked over, glanced down at her, and gently pressed down a stray strand of her hair. "Go wash your face and change your clothes first. I'll take you to school later."

She nodded, turned, and went into the bathroom. As she closed the door, she saw herself in the mirror; her hair was a little messy, and her cheeks still had a rosy glow from just waking up.

She bent down, turned on the tap, and splashed a handful of cold water on her face.

When she came out after changing her clothes, Ji Linzhou was already waiting in the entryway. His phone rang again, he answered it, listened for a few words, frowned slightly, and then hung up.

"Found it?" she asked.

"Hmm." He picked up his car keys. "At her own home."

Lin Qingmian paused for a moment as she changed her shoes in the entryway: "She didn't move out?"

"Her agent said she's kept that house all along." Ji Linzhou opened the door to wait for her. "It has nothing to do with me anymore. She said she's fine and will go to work tomorrow." His tone was indifferent, as if he were relaying something he didn't care about at all.

Lin Qingmian changed her shoes and came out, standing beside him. As the elevator doors closed, she looked at the silhouettes of the two of them reflected in the metal doors, and suddenly reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

He turned his head to look at her: "What's wrong?"

She released her grip and lowered her eyes: "It's nothing."

But he felt that the force with which she tugged at his sleeve was very light, as if she just wanted to confirm that he was right next to her. He didn't call her out on it; instead, as the elevator doors opened, he naturally extended his hand, palm up, and offered it to her.

She paused for a moment, looking at the hand, and then placed her own hand on it.

When Ji Linzhou's car stopped at the school gate, the morning light was already seeping out from the gaps between the tall buildings to the east.

Lin Qingmian unbuckled her seatbelt, placed her fingers on the car door handle, paused for a moment, and then glanced back at him.

"I can go back by myself this afternoon, you don't need to pick me up."

Ji Linzhou rested his hands on the steering wheel, turning his head to look at her: "Are you sure?"

She nodded and opened the car door. After getting out, she bent down and leaned half her body in through the window: "You don't need to contact Su Tingwan's company anymore. Her affairs are none of your business. Let her agent and she handle it themselves."

Ji Linzhou looked at her, his face, outlined by the morning light, was expressionless, but something subtle flickered in his eyes: "Okay. I'll listen to you."

She straightened up, closed the car door, and turned to walk towards the school gate. After walking a short distance, she couldn't help but glance back; the black sedan was still parked on the side of the road, not yet driven away. She pursed her lips, turned back, and continued walking, her steps a little lighter than before.

The morning classes were professional courses. When Lin Qingmian arrived at the classroom, Yao Yingyu had already reserved a seat and waved to her as she entered. As soon as Lin Qingmian sat down, Yao Yingyu leaned closer and whispered, "You're finally here. The group chat is buzzing! Did you see what happened last night?"

Lin Qingmian was taken aback: "What is it?"

"That engagement party!" Yao Yingyu lowered her voice, "Someone took pictures and posted them online, but they were deleted quickly. But I saw them; you were standing next to that President Ji, and he was holding your hand—"

She paused, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Qingmian: "So all those things online saying you're a kept woman or some kind of mistress are fake, right? You're his wife?"

Lin Qingmian paused for a second, then nodded: "Yes."

Yao Yingyu gasped, then quickly covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock: "My God... my God... you actually... why didn't you say so before?"

"Because he doesn't like being in the public eye." Lin Qingmian opened her textbook. "And it still is. After that incident last night was posted online, he's already had it dealt with. The posts you saw that could be deleted have probably all been deleted."

Yao Yingyu paused for a few seconds, then nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I couldn't find it when I refreshed the page later. So, are you saying it's public now?"