Chapter 41

Xu Zhiyi immediately defended herself, “I’m not distracted!”

Whenever people speak, they naturally pause whatever they’re doing without realizing it.

In that crucial moment, her abrupt stop left Jiang Sixun caught in a frustrating limbo.

Taking a deep breath, he continued to soothe her, “You’re not distracted. I misspoke.”

His hot, unsteady breath landed on the tip of her nose as his lips lightly teased hers, brushing against them without fully connecting.

Xu Zhiyi had no resistance to his voice—deep, magnetic, and especially gentle when he was trying to comfort her. She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze.

In a husky murmur, he asked, “Are you tired?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been playing sports since I was a kid. My wrists are pretty strong.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she leaned her forehead against his chest, embarrassed by her own remark. Why did she even say that?

Jiang Sixun chuckled and kissed her hair.

Not wanting her to get too tired, he placed his hands over her slender, soft fingers, guiding her movements with his own.

Pressed against his chest, Xu Zhiyi could hear the rapid pounding of his heart.

His heavy, seductive breaths were deeper than usual, and it made her blush. She had never seen this side of Jiang Sixun before, and to her surprise, it made her feel shy.

Suddenly, he cupped her face and kissed her forcefully.

Her dress didn’t escape unscathed.

Xu Zhiyi couldn’t believe she was sweating so much. Strands of hair clung to her damp face, and her back was drenched—it was no exaggeration to say she was soaked through.

She reached behind and touched the wet fabric. The back of her dress was completely damp.

It shouldn’t be me sweating this much, she thought. It should be him.

Jiang Sixun turned off the faucet, and the tight space gradually quieted down.

The mirror was still fogged up from the heat, making it impossible to see who was looking at whom.

Jiang Sixun seemed to remember something, turning the faucet back on. He grabbed her right hand and rinsed it under the water, squeezing a bit of minty cool hand soap into her palm.

Xu Zhiyi pulled her hand away, “I can do it myself.”

Jiang Sixun wet a clean towel, wrung it out, and gently wiped her forehead.

She truly was afraid of the heat, sweating as much as she did.

Xu Zhiyi opened the door without drying her hands and nudged him out, embarrassed to look at him. “You go out first. I’ll take a shower.”

On the back of his deep blue shirt were two handprints—her handprints. On closer inspection, his shirt, aside from the water stains she left, was also soaked through with sweat.

With a ‘thud,’ the door closed behind him.

Jiang Sixun smoothed out his wrinkled shirt. Her hands were wet when she pushed him, soaking a large portion of his back. Feeling disheveled, he didn’t bother heading back to the main cabin. Instead, he stayed in the lounge, opened the porthole, and gazed out at the layered clouds.

He suddenly craved a glass of red wine, but there was none in the room.

On the bed, there were a few dresses Xu Zhiyi had tried on earlier and hadn’t had the chance to put away.

With nothing else to do, Jiang Sixun neatly folded each dress, one by one, stacking them at the foot of the bed.

About ten minutes later, a voice came from the bathroom. “Jiang Sixun?”

“Did you forget to bring clothes?”

“…Yeah.”

Helping with this sort of thing didn’t require much thinking, but it certainly left one feeling mindless. She hadn’t even brought a change of clothes when she’d jumped into the shower.

Jiang Sixun grabbed one of the folded dresses, took a few steps, then paused, calling out toward the bathroom, “Just the dress? What about your undergarments?”

Xu Zhiyi couldn’t help but laugh, embarrassed. “What do you think?”

She couldn’t possibly wear a dress without anything underneath.

Suddenly, she turned off the shower, realizing she’d had a complete lapse in judgment. Why didn’t I just ask him to leave earlier? She raised her voice and called toward the door, “Never mind, don’t bother. I don’t need anything. Just go to the main cabin.”

As long as no one was in the lounge, she could just wrap herself in a towel and come out. No need to make a big deal about him bringing her underwear.

Jiang Sixun stood outside the bathroom door. “…Too late. I already brought it. Are you going to put it on, or should I leave?”

Xu Zhiyi: “…”

An awkward silence hung in the air for a solid ten seconds.

The bathroom door cracked open just a sliver, and a pale arm reached out. “Just give me the clothes.”

Seeing her hands still wet, Jiang Sixun grabbed her hand and wiped it dry on his shirt sleeve before handing her the clothes. He pressed the underwear into her fingers, making sure she had a good grip. “Hold on tight. Don’t drop it on the floor.”

Xu Zhiyi gently closed the bathroom door, her hands—both palms and backs—completely dried by his shirt. She suddenly remembered their first business trip to London, and the half packet of sugar he had added to her coffee.

He was always so attentive to her.

After the shower, she felt refreshed, though her face burned red from her ears down. She touched her cheek—it was scalding.

In the small bathroom, no more than a few square feet, she stepped out just as Jiang Sixun went in.

The room was still warm and humid, filled with the same floral-scented body wash they had both used.

Xu Zhiyi sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at the neatly folded dresses. From the bathroom, she could hear the faint sound of running water. Her mind wandered back to the sink moments ago—when Jiang Sixun had held her so tightly, like he wanted to merge her into himself. That force was still etched in her thoughts.

Before she knew it, Jiang Sixun had finished his shower. He walked out, dressed in a set of black loungewear.

Satisfied and relaxed, his usually cold expression was softened, almost refreshed.

Xu Zhiyi turned her face toward the window, refusing to look at him.

Jiang Sixun let out a faint chuckle, not teasing her about her awkwardness. Instead, he asked, “How about I give you a proper hug? Do you want that?”

If she didn’t, he’d head to the main cabin to grab a glass of wine and leave her in peace.

Xu Zhiyi turned to him. “I want it.”

Barefoot, she slipped off the bed, and he, leaning against the bar in the room, pulled her into his arms.

The fragrances from their different body washes mingled together in the air.

Lowering his head, his voice deep and magnetic, he murmured seductively, “Do you need anything else?”

For a moment, Xu Zhiyi didn’t understand, blinking up at him in confusion. What else?

He chuckled, “Something that doesn’t require much thinking. Just your mouth is enough.”

“…” Xu Zhiyi rested her forehead against his chest, unable to respond.

Jiang Sixun kissed her earlobe. “Whenever you want, I’m here.”

Xu Zhiyi didn’t meet his gaze, covering his lips with her hand. If he kept talking, she’d break into a sweat again, and she really didn’t want to take another shower today—two was more than enough.

Jiang Sixun gently removed her hand and pressed her head against his chest. “Take a nap.”

Xu Zhiyi teased, “How can I sleep standing up?”

Jiang Sixun, sensing her earlier awkwardness, playfully retorted, “You could sleep through a thunderstorm, and now you’re worried about your sleeping position?”

Xu Zhiyi laughed and, in mock annoyance, stood on her tiptoes to bite his lip.

It took effort to reach him on tiptoe, so Jiang Sixun leaned down, letting her do as she pleased—whether to kiss or bite. She nipped at him a few times, but then, slowly, her bites softened into kisses.

Her heart pounded too fast, so Xu Zhiyi pulled away from the kiss.

She leaned back into his chest, hugging his waist tightly. “I’ll take a nap.”

Jiang Sixun lowered the window shades to dim the light. “Sleep. I’ll carry you to bed when you’re out.”

Truth be told, falling asleep like this wasn’t really possible. Sure, she could sleep through thunder, but that didn’t mean she didn’t care about her position. Just as she closed her eyes and inhaled the familiar scent of him, she felt an arm slide around her waist, then slip under her legs. In one swift motion, Jiang Sixun lifted her into his arms.

He gently laid her on the bed, and soon, her eyelids grew heavy.

When she woke up, six hours had passed.

Jiang Sixun, having slept only four, was already dressed and working in the main cabin.

After washing up, Xu Zhiyi wandered over to him, noticing his crisp white shirt. “Did you schedule a meeting after we land?” He only wore that for important occasions.

Jiang Sixun glanced up. “No meeting.”

Xu Zhiyi raised a brow. “Then why the white shirt?”

He handed her a glass of warm water. “Meeting your parents. Can’t dress too flashy. I’ll save the bright colors for when we’re out having fun.”

She sipped the water, leaning against the table. “My mom says we look more like siblings. Says we can pull off any color.”

“I’ve never thought about being your brother.”

“Not even in the beginning?”

“Never.”

Jiang Sixun set his pen down and motioned for her to sit, pointing to the tie at the back of her neck. “You’ve tied your hair into your dress string. Let me fix it.”

She glanced at the single seat he was in. Where was she supposed to sit?

Jiang Sixun gave a subtle nod toward his lap, already raising his hand to help with the tie.

After what they’d shared last night, playing coy would be unnecessary. Xu Zhiyi sat down with the water cup in hand, outwardly composed but aware of how tense her body was. She barely let her weight rest on his lap.

Jiang Sixun chuckled softly, untying the delicate strap and gently freeing the strands of her hair. “How much do you weigh?” he asked, half-teasing.

“I haven’t weighed myself in a while. No idea.”

“You can’t be more than ten pounds, can you?”

Xu Zhiyi burst out laughing, recognizing his playful jab. With the way she was sitting, barely putting any weight on him, she probably didn’t feel much heavier than that.

She took a few more sips of water and finally relaxed, settling her full weight onto his lap.

Jiang Sixun expertly tied her dress string back together, then wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. With his free hand, he grabbed the two blue ties and adjusted them while his other hand settled firmly on her waist, moving her from his knee to sit deeper against him.

Even through their layers of clothing, the rising heat between them was unmistakable.

Xu Zhiyi remained still, hands wrapped around her cup, thankful for the distraction.

After finishing with her dress, Jiang Sixun didn’t make any other moves. He simply picked up his half-read business proposal and continued reviewing it.

Xu Zhiyi shifted slightly, inching forward to put some distance between his waist and hers. With that small gap, the heat between them eased.

While Jiang Sixun worked, she sat on his lap, resting her chin in her hand as she gazed out the window, watching the clouds roll by.

A flight attendant arrived with fruit and bread. Trained to be discreet, she noticed their intimacy without batting an eye, maintaining a polite smile. “Miss Xu, the plane will be landing in about forty-five minutes. Is there anything else you need?”

Xu Zhiyi kept her composure and smiled. “This is more than enough, thank you.”

As the flight attendant left, Xu Zhiyi couldn’t help but note the shift in how they addressed her. She used to be called “President Xu” during work trips. Now, it was “Miss Xu.”

Work mode: President Xu. Romance mode: Miss Xu. It must be tough for them to constantly switch between the two.

She finished the fruit and bread just as the plane touched down.

It was a bright, clear morning, just like the first time she had brought Jiang Sixun home.

The only difference now was that when she saw her parents, the nerves were gone. She broke into a run and threw herself into He Yian’s arms.

He Yian handed the bouquet of flowers she was holding to her husband and wrapped her arms around her daughter, smiling warmly. “Tired?”

“Not at all. I slept on the plane, so the jet lag worked itself out.”

Xu Xiangyi passed the bouquet to Jiang Sixun, waiting his turn to hug his daughter.

After a long embrace with her mother, Xu Zhiyi finally turned to look at her father.

With a stretch of his long arm, Xu Xiangyi pulled his daughter into a gentle hug.

“I’ve decided to step back from the business, semi-retire.”

Xu Zhiyi raised an eyebrow, not believing him. “You’re joking.”

Xu Xiangyi let go of her. “What’s the point of joking? I’m leaving the day-to-day operations to your brother. I’ll still oversee major strategic decisions, but that’s about it. Semi-retired. Now I’ll have time to follow you wherever you fly off to.” He laughed, adding, “Might as well make myself useful and help you out when I can.”

Jiang Sixun chimed in at the perfect moment, “Uncle Xu, you don’t need to step back. I’ll take care of Zhiyi.”

The four of them walked and chatted casually. Xu Xiangyi smiled, “I was hoping to spend more time with Zhiyi now. You have a girlfriend, so focus more on your own little family from now on.”

Jiang Sixun replied confidently, “It won’t affect anything.”

Xu Xiangyi waved off his modesty. “No need to be so polite with us.”

Jiang Sixun: “…” He wasn’t being polite.

On the drive back, Xu Zhiyi sat with her mother while Jiang Sixun and her father took the seats in the back of the business car.

He Yian glanced at her daughter. No red eyes, no dark circles—she must have slept well on the plane.

“If you don’t need to adjust to the time zone, how about shopping with me this afternoon?”

“Sure, and we can grab some snacks too,” Xu Zhiyi happily agreed.

Over the past six years, He Yian had been shopping more than in the previous twenty. Whenever she had free time, she’d leisurely browse malls, picking out clothes and accessories for her daughter.

She didn’t just love shopping. She was also a regular at all the major high-fashion shows. In the past, if work clashed with the shows, she’d always prioritize work. Now, she made sure her secretary scheduled time for the shows in advance.

With Zhiyi’s tall figure and striking looks, everything looked good on her. Add in her mother’s lingering guilt from the years apart, and it felt like He Yian wanted to buy her every beautiful dress she laid eyes on—trying to make up for the twenty years of lost time.

Back at the house, Jiang Sixun insisted on carrying both his and Xu Zhiyi’s suitcases upstairs, not letting anyone else help.

Xu Zhiyi trailed behind him, speaking softly, “My parents don’t suspect anything between us.”

Jiang Sixun set the suitcase down at her door but didn’t enter. He glanced at her and asked, “Should we wear matching colors when we go out this afternoon?”

“You’re coming too?” she asked, surprised.

“Mhm. I’ll go with you.”

“Whatever,” she answered his earlier question.

Jiang Sixun, ever composed and well-mannered at home, didn’t linger. He returned to his room downstairs.

He had lived here for two years before, so he had his own room. As he unbuttoned his shirt and headed to the bathroom, it was perfectly normal to take a shower and change after a flight. So when he came downstairs wearing a navy blue shirt, both Xu Xiangyi and He Yian asked why he wasn’t resting in his room.

He Yian had just cut fresh flowers from the greenhouse and was arranging them for her daughter. She looked up and asked, “Sixun, aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine,” he said, casually serving tea to everyone like he had always done.

Xu Xiangyi turned to his wife, “Since Sixun’s free this afternoon, he can take a nap here after lunch while I go shopping with you two.”

Jiang Sixun quickly cut in, “I’ll go with you.”

He Yian chuckled, “There’s no need for you to come with us. You and Xu Heng both hated shopping as kids. We couldn’t even drag you into a store to buy clothes.”

They knew him too well, having raised him like their own.

But Jiang Sixun calmly replied, “I wouldn’t say it’s to keep you company. I need to learn how to shop with a girlfriend in the future.”

“Oh, how could I forget you have a girlfriend now?” He Yian teased as she snipped a pale blue hydrangea and added it to the vase. She looked fondly at the young man she had watched grow up. “Well then, this afternoon, I’ll teach you how to pick out gifts for a girl.”

Mentioning his girlfriend sparked curiosity, and He Yian couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have a picture? Your Uncle Xu and I are dying to know what she looks like.”

Jiang Sixun shook his head. “No photos. She’s like Zhiyi—doesn’t take selfies or post on social media.” He made sure to block any potential sources of discovery.

He added casually, “She’s about the same height and build as Zhiyi.”

“Who has the same height and build as me?” came a voice from the stairs, interrupting the conversation.

All heads turned to see Xu Zhiyi descending. He Yian smiled, “Your brother Sixun’s girlfriend.”

“Oh, I’m sure President Jiang’s girlfriend is far prettier than I am,” Xu Zhiyi said lightly, glancing briefly at Jiang Sixun.

Meeting her gaze, Jiang Sixun replied evenly, “Not prettier than you.”

Xu Zhiyi’s heart skipped a beat, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

He Yian assumed they were simply complimenting each other as they often did during family meals.

Xu Xiangyi, however, focused on the formality of her words. He patted the seat next to him, inviting his daughter to sit. “Why are you still calling him ‘President Jiang’ at home? Is it that hard to call him brother?”

Xu Zhiyi sat down beside her father, throwing the blame on her actual brother. “Xu Heng doesn’t let me.”

Xu Xiangyi scoffed, “That’s ridiculous. I’ll talk to him when he gets back.”

“He’ll never admit it,” Xu Zhiyi said with mock seriousness.

She snuggled against her father’s shoulder, laughing, while successfully shifting the blame onto her brother.

“What’s so funny?” Xu Xiangyi asked, ruffling her hair.

Jiang Sixun handed her the cup of tea he’d been drinking. “Zhiyi.”

Xu Zhiyi froze. “…”

He had just taken a sip from it! How blatant could he be?

She accepted it reluctantly, muttering, “Thank you, President Jiang.”

Meanwhile, He Yian finished arranging the flowers and placed them on the coffee table. She turned to her daughter. “How does it look?”

“Like something a professional florist would create.” Xu Zhiyi nodded approvingly, snapping a few pictures with her phone. Then she pulled up a photo of the first bouquet her mother had ever arranged for her. “Dad, look at this. Don’t you think it’s hard to believe the same person did both?”

Xu Xiangyi glanced at the old photo and commented, “No, it’s definitely not on the same level,” pointing to the picture from six years ago. “You arranged this one?”

“Yep,” Xu Zhiyi nodded, scrolling down on her phone. “And these too.”

He Yian leaned over to look, surprised and delighted. “You saved all these?”

“Mhm.”

The three of them—father, mother, and daughter—began reminiscing over old photos. Sitting nearby, Jiang Sixun quietly snapped a picture of the family and sent it to Xu Zhiyi.

As she scrolled through the flower arrangement pictures, a notification from Jiang Sixun popped up. Even though she knew he wouldn’t send anything inappropriate, her breath still caught in her throat for a second. She tapped the message, only to find the family photo he had just taken.

“This one’s good,” Xu Xiangyi said. “Send it to me.”

He Yian admired the candid shot. “Send it to me too.”

“Not bad, Sixun. You’ve got a good eye for angles,” Xu Xiangyi praised him.

Jiang Sixun smiled. “Amateur photographer in my spare time.”

He Yian saved the photo. Over the past few years, her photo albums had slowly begun to fill up again, though she still regretted never having a single picture with her daughter from her younger years.

“Zhiyi, what do you want for dinner? Let your dad book it in advance.”

“Are we eating out?”

“Mhm. Sixun’s coming with us for shopping, and we’ll grab dinner afterward.”

Xu Zhiyi glanced briefly at the man across from her, who was already looking her way. Quickly turning away, she replied to her mother, “I feel like Cantonese food.”

After a short rest following lunch, the family headed to the mall.

By nature, Xu Zhiyi wasn’t a huge fan of shopping. But she enjoyed spending time with her mother, which made the experience something she cherished.

At the mall, she linked arms with He Yian and strolled ahead. Behind them, Jiang Sixun and Xu Xiangyi walked at a leisurely pace, chatting softly as they trailed a bit behind. The bodyguards dispersed once they entered the mall, keeping a low profile.

They moved through the crowd unnoticed.

Xu Zhiyi didn’t like being the center of attention or walking under the gaze of countless strangers. This quiet, low-key approach suited her just fine.

Inside a women’s clothing store, Jiang Sixun caught up to them. “Auntie,” he said, stepping forward, “let me carry your bag so you can browse more comfortably.”

Having practically raised him like a son, He Yian handed over her bag with a smile. “Thank you, then.”

Jiang Sixun took the bag and, without saying a word, held out his hand to Xu Zhiyi.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually passed him her bag too.

Turning back, she linked arms with her mother again and headed to the fitting room.

Xu Xiangyi joined them, asking casually, “Do you want to pick something for your girlfriend too? Your aunt could help you choose.”

Jiang Sixun smiled slightly, “I was thinking of having Zhiyi help me. She’s met her before.”

The two men moved to the lounge area, sipping tea while waiting for the mother and daughter to try on clothes.

Just as Xu Xiangyi raised his teacup, his phone buzzed. With one hand, he swiped it open to see a message from his adopted daughter.

Xu Ningwei: Dad, my conference is over. I’ll be flying back tomorrow. I’ve changed my flight to Shanghai. I’ve missed you and Mom. Could I come see you both?

She had hesitated for days, but finally sent the message.

After hitting send, her heart pounded anxiously. She didn’t know what to expect, torn between hope and fear. She locked her phone, tossing it aside, and moved to the window, staring out at the street below.

She folded her arms, gripping herself so tightly that her fingers dug into her skin.

During the past two days of the conference, she hadn’t absorbed much. Every time she tried to focus, her mind would wander.

She could no longer deny it—her nerves had been frayed since meeting Shen Qingfeng.

Their first meeting had been two months ago on a Saturday night. She had dressed up carefully before the dinner. Ever since returning to her biological parents, she hadn’t bought any expensive clothes. Partly because she could no longer afford the luxury, and partly because her life in the lab called for simple, comfortable attire. So she had pulled out a dress that He Yian had bought for her years ago.

It was a classic piece from a fashion show—timeless in both fabric and design.

When they met, Shen Qingfeng immediately complimented her dress. “This dress is a rare find,” she said, pausing as if trying to recall something. “My memory’s not great, but I’m sure it’s from one of the spring/summer collections. A friend of mine wanted it, but her membership level wasn’t high enough. The brand wouldn’t give her a spot.”

With a faint smile, she added, “You’ve got quite the life. Adopted parents found their real daughter and still spoil you. They didn’t hesitate to buy such an expensive dress.”

Xu Ningwei opened her mouth to explain that the dress had been purchased before the truth came out, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Since the mix-up had been revealed, He Yian had, of course, stopped ordering such extravagant outfits for her.

“And you didn’t even change your surname, still keeping ‘Xu.’ Chairman Xu must have wanted you to come home so you could follow in your biological father’s scientific footsteps, right?”

But that wasn’t the reason. She had no choice but to return. Keeping the surname Xu had been her own decision.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, she nodded in agreement.

“Not bad,” Shen Qingfeng said lightly. “After all, twenty years of bonding can make you closer than blood relatives.”

But what did it matter? Xu Zhiyi would never accept her. She insisted on keeping everything separate.

Shen Qingfeng, not waiting for her to respond, continued on with her story. “Just the other day, I ran into Xu Zhiyi at a Sichuan restaurant. Same as you—wearing a dress worth hundreds of thousands like it was an everyday outfit. Her dress was probably even more expensive, a custom-modified haute couture piece from this year’s spring/summer collection, complete with gemstone embellishments.”

“People usually save haute couture for fancy galas, but not her. She was casually wearing it to eat spicy food, not even worried about getting oil stains on it.”

“They say fathers spoil their daughters, but honestly, He Yian is the real enabler here. She buys both her daughters haute couture and jewelry without batting an eye. And on top of that, she’s so invested in nurturing you.”

Gripping her fork tightly, she couldn’t find a way to respond. There was nothing she could say.

Shen Qingfeng raised her wine glass, clinking it against hers. “You’ve got a mom like He Yian. Be real with yourself—you should appreciate her.”

Then, Shen Qingfeng’s eyes fell on her necklace. “I’ve never seen that design before. Is it a high-end jewelry piece that hasn’t been released yet?”

Where could she afford high-end jewelry now? It was a piece from a past collection, something out of season.

Forcing a smile, she replied, “It’s an old one. My mom bought it.”

“Old or new, it doesn’t matter,” Shen Qingfeng remarked. “It matches perfectly with your dress.”

Jewelry and dresses from six or seven years ago did indeed make a fine match.

That evening, when she left the restaurant, she wasn’t even sure how she managed to get home.

Once she reached the complex, she didn’t go straight to her parents’ place. Instead, she headed to the apartment where she kept her clothes.

It had been almost two years since she last visited this place, ever since starting her new project. She hadn’t dared to face this part of her life, and normally, the housekeeper and Shang Tongxu handled the cleaning and upkeep.

Standing before the closet filled with designer dresses and haute couture, she realized it all belonged to the past.

That night, she stayed alone in the apartment until the early hours, drowning in the pain of lost love, the imbalance in her life, the once-gentle care of He Yian, and the indulgent affection from Xu Xiangyi. Now, all that remained was the distant, cold relationship she shared with her biological mother, Xiao Meihua.

It was as if a giant black hole had formed inside her, slowly consuming everything she was.

Xu Ningwei snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at her watch. It felt like an eternity had passed, but in reality, only a minute had gone by since she sent that message.

Her heart raced.

She had no idea how her father would respond.

All she wanted was to see them again.