[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner":3,"chapter-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-65":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm Not Crazy—This Is the Emperor's Banner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291405,4480,"Chapter 65","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-65",65,"\u003Cp>“Huh, Hongzhuang, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During work hours, you must use my title.” Ruan Hongzhuang glared at Jiang Taozhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m not on duty right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it’s still work hours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I took leave!” Jiang Taozhi said dumbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang burst into laughter and reached out to pinch her cheek again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Taozhi dodged away with a look of disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes she even doubted she kept Jiang Taozhi as her assistant just so she could pinch her face—it was truly stress-relieving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang sat down opposite Jiang Taozhi, waved over a server, and ordered herself a coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she noticed a bouquet of flowers still on the table—not roses, but tulips, sunflowers, and baby’s breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did he send this?” Ruan Hongzhuang asked, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hadn’t arrived yet, but the flowers were already here—clearly, he’d put thought into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi chuckled, “He not only ordered my coffee, but had the staff transfer the flowers they were holding for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He really does seem thoughtful,” Ruan Hongzhuang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t know what he’s like—but since Wenxin-jie introduced him, he’s probably reliable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the flowers, Jiang Taozhi now felt a little anticipation for this date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did he say when he’d arrive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wenxin-jie said he’d be here by six-thirty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since companies in Haibin usually end work at six, Ruan Hongzhuang guessed, “He works nearby?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi nodded. “Yeah, same company as my cousin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your cousin’s old company, or that new game company?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin was a dispatched accountant and not officially part of Glory Animation, which was why she’d phrased it that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably the game company?” Jiang Taozhi said uncertainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang frowned slightly—Glory Animation was Haibin’s largest game company, but compared to others, its strength and scale were pitiful, even inferior to her own company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Jiang Wenxin had introduced him, she kept her opinion to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Jiang Wenxin’s status, she wouldn’t trick her own cousin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have a photo? Do you know what he looks like?” Ruan Hongzhuang asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t Wenxin-jie send you his WeChat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nope.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you know nothing?” Ruan Hongzhuang said, exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do I need to know all that? I’ll find out when I meet him,” Jiang Taozhi said confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang was momentarily speechless—she had to admit, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he’s ugly, I won’t meet him? But this is Wenxin-jie’s introduction—I have to give her face, so it doesn’t matter what he looks like or whether he’s nice. Honestly, none of it matters, because I can’t dodge it—I just need to meet him once to satisfy Wenxin-jie, not because I actually want to date him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…” Jiang Taozhi fixed her gaze on Ruan Hongzhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Jiang Taozhi well, Ruan Hongzhuang was sure the next words wouldn’t be good, so she stared her down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi grew uneasy under Ruan Hongzhuang’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang had phoenix eyes, naturally exuding authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raised as a favorite child at home, she developed a dominant personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an adult, she built a formidable career and ruled her company with absolute authority—her demeanor and bearing shaped by status and comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over time, her authority grew even stronger, like a queen seated high above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her piercing gaze held immense intimidating power—most people couldn't withstand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But clearly, Jiang Taozhi wasn’t most people—first, she had a carefree nature; second, having worked with Ruan Hongzhuang for so long, she was routinely glared at every few days and had long since become desensitized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So though slightly flustered, she still said, “Why are you more anxious than I am? Why do you care so much? Are you secretly craving a man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impudent!” Ruan Hongzhuang snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, we’re not at work now. Let me remind you—I’m older than you. Call me sister,” Jiang Taozhi crossed her arms and puffed out her chest defiantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stared at each other like roosters in a standoff, neither willing to yield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the server brought Ruan Hongzhuang’s coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang’s gaze softened at last. “I’ll let you off this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe~” Jiang Taozhi beamed triumphantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang sipped her coffee, glanced at her, and said coolly, “We’ll settle this tomorrow at work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gah~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi’s laughter cut off abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, you can’t do this! You promised we’d be best friends forever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right—we’re best friends now, so I’m indulging you. Tomorrow we’re boss and subordinate, so I won’t let you off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I quit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not allowed,” Ruan Hongzhuang put down her coffee and smiled sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dirty capitalist—you should be hanged from a lamppost!” Jiang Taozhi fumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the compliment. Any more? I’m listening,” Ruan Hongzhuang said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing she hadn’t angered Ruan Hongzhuang, Jiang Taozhi instantly did a 180-degree turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hongzhuang, I’ll tell you—there’s a cake shop nearby with amazing flavor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, really?” Ruan Hongzhuang bit back a smile, indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Their tiramisu is delicious,” Jiang Taozhi drooled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added, “And your favorite baked cheesecake—do you want some? I’ll go buy it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she immediately stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—you’re on a date! What if he arrives and doesn’t see you? That’s rude!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem—it’s right next door. I’ll be back in a second, no delay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Ruan Hongzhuang could respond, Jiang Taozhi grabbed her phone and ran off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch my bag!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her retreating back, Ruan Hongzhuang finally realized—Jiang Taozhi hadn’t come to buy her baked cheesecake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just wanted the tiramisu. Ruan Hongzhuang had once called her lazy and gluttonous—and she wasn’t wrong. This girl was a total food fiend; her bag never held makeup, only snacks. She ate wherever she went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, she was one of those people who never gained weight—if she weren’t, she’d have been fat to death by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing she wouldn’t return, Ruan Hongzhuang had no choice but to keep sipping her coffee and wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she waited and waited, and Jiang Taozhi still didn’t come back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang grew anxious, wondering whether she should call to check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi hadn’t returned because she’d arrived at the wrong time—the tiramisu had just sold out, but a fresh batch would be ready soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unwilling to leave, Jiang Taozhi decided to wait inside the shop, which was why she was delayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the company was nearby, Shen Siyuan rode his electric scooter directly to Sunset Coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He parked the scooter by the roadside, pulled out his phone, and checked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Jiang Wenxin had sent him a photo—a bouquet of flowers—telling him the owner was his date tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunset Coffee was an outdoor café, but surrounded by a small fence and planted with flowers and plants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan walked in and immediately noticed the girl seated on the right—her beauty stunned him, and her aura surprised him even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he notice the bouquet on her table, and he felt a pang of astonishment—could Jiang Wenxin’s cousin really be this beautiful and elegant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, Shen Siyuan walked toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang also noticed Shen Siyuan approaching, so she set down her coffee cup and met his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then she suddenly realized—he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned in confusion—behind her was only an empty table.\u003C\u002Fp>",1205,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","898d088d02071024a2f11b41f9a24242ecaae6d08b6924b0394161a8c448c075","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-66","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-64",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]