Chapter 57

Jiang Sixun could barely hold himself back. The tension was unbearable, but the person nestled in his arms hadn’t fully calmed down yet. She clung to him tightly, her face buried in his neck.

The soft puffs of her breath tickled his skin, warm and teasing like a blade of grass brushing gently, making his neck itch.

“I’ll grab some clothes for you, so you can change out of your nightdress,” he offered.

But Xu Zhiyi still hadn’t let go. “No rush,” she whispered.

It was her first time experiencing such intensity. Her body still tingled, overly sensitive, and she needed something to anchor herself.

Jiang’s throat felt hot, like he was trying to reel back the arrow from a drawn bow, but the tension had hit its breaking point—he couldn’t hold it any longer.

He reached up and pulled the shade down over the window. In an instant, the room plunged into darkness, and neither of them could see the other.

Xu Zhiyi lifted her head, about to say something, but before she could speak, his lips captured hers again.

By the time she realized what was happening, she was already lying on the pillow.

Her nightdress was damp—too wet to wear. But if she lay on the bed like that, her sweat would soak into the sheets. Changing the sheets would mean calling the flight attendant, something she wasn’t keen on.

Jiang removed his dark pajama shirt and dressed her in it. The discarded nightdress landed on the small couch beside the bed.

With his shirt acting as a barrier, the sheets wouldn’t get wet.

He wrapped her in his arms. “Why are you so afraid of the heat?”

“I told you before, I can’t stand the heat or sweating,” Xu Zhiyi replied. Wearing nothing but his shirt made it even warmer.

She could endure her own discomfort—it was nothing a shower couldn’t fix—but she felt the tension in him. His kind of heat wasn’t something a shower could solve.

Xu Zhiyi cupped his sharp, chiseled face. “Need some help?”

In the dim light, Jiang Sixun met her gaze. He made a mental note to keep a few boxes stocked at home and on the plane. “No need for your hands,” he murmured.

He leaned into her legs instead.

Before proceeding, he paused at the entrance.

Xu Zhiyi gripped his arm, the shivers in her fingertips passing into him.

He hovered above her, still, his gaze locked on hers.

This was completely different from his earlier touches and kisses. He was hot, solid, as though all his strength and heat had concentrated in that one spot.

It was their first time touching this closely. Maybe it wasn’t entirely intimate, but it was close enough.

His eyes were dark, filled with an intense possessiveness.

Finally, he held himself back, never letting the arrow fly.

Her legs pressed together as the heat from his body moved against her.

His hair was damp with sweat. In the end, he held her close, finding his release.

Xu Zhiyi slept soundly afterward and woke with an hour and a half left before landing in Beijing.

After freshening up, she changed into a shirt and trousers to leave the cabin.

The marks Jiang Sixun had left on her body meant she had to cover up.

Jiang had woken up earlier than her and was sitting at his laptop, finishing the work he hadn’t completed before bed.

She glanced at him. He seemed reasonably satisfied, not fully satiated, but composed.

He pointed to the breakfast on the nearby table. “Eat up. You’ll be heading straight to the office for a meeting after we land, and there won’t be time to grab lunch.”

Xu Zhiyi sat down at the table. “What about you? Are you going to the office too?”

“I’ve got a meeting with someone and an elder to visit. I won’t make it back to the office today,” he replied. Then, he added, “Tomorrow, I’ll be heading to Hong Kong.”

Xu Zhiyi’s heart sank at how early he was leaving. “That soon?”

“There are some things I need to take care of, and I’ll be going with your brother,” he explained.

Even with her brother, Xu Heng, going along, Xu Zhiyi could only feel half-relieved. The other half still held a deep sense of unease.

She had heard her parents mention the messy divorce between Jiang’s aunt and Uncle Lu. Lu Jianliang was a man with no limits—just like Shen Qingfeng—who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

Sometimes It’s Impossible to Be Prepared.

After landing in Beijing, Jiang Sixun headed to Jinyun Group for a meeting with Shang Yun.

Shang hadn’t expected Jiang to visit his office in person. He had his secretary prepare some coffee, unsure of Jiang’s preference, and decided to brew it the way Xu Zhiyi liked it.

Jiang, of course, didn’t receive the same treatment Xu did. Shang didn’t wait for him downstairs, merely standing by the door of his office to greet him.

“Jiang, what an honor! You’ve truly brightened up my humble space today.”

Jiang replied dryly, “If it’s such an honor, then maybe cut back on the sarcasm.”

Shang chuckled, gesturing for him to come in. Dropping the formalities, he got straight to the point, “What made you think of meeting me today?”

“Didn’t I say last time that I’d drop by for a visit?” Jiang settled into the chair opposite Shang’s desk, crossing his legs casually.

With Xu Zhiyi absent, both men were more relaxed and informal.

Though he hadn’t gone downstairs to receive Jiang, Shang personally brought over the coffee, adding, “It’s made the way Zhiyi likes it. Apologies if it’s not to your taste.”

Jiang’s expression remained neutral as he accepted the cup. “No need to apologize. I drink my coffee the same way as Zhiyi.”

Even in subtle ways, there was always an undercurrent of competition between the two men.

Shang wasn’t shy about his intentions either. When he went on a blind date with Xu Zhiyi, he hadn’t known about her past with Jiang.

To Shang, that date hadn’t just been a casual meal, though it might have been for Xu. If it were only about dinner, he could’ve eaten with anyone—no need for a blind date. But his mother had shown him a photo of Xu Zhiyi before the meeting, saying it was the one that looked most like her.

She had captivated him at first glance—there was no need for a second. Almost as if driven by fate, he agreed to the date.

In the days that followed, he did his homework on her and discovered that she had led every AI medical investment at Yuanwei Capital, showing exceptional business acumen.

On the date itself, instead of a typical conversation starter, he had abruptly asked, “What are your expectations for marriage?”

In truth, he had wanted to ask, “What are your expectations of me?”

Returning to the present, Shang asked, “You’re not here to propose a partnership, are you? If we teamed up, one of us would probably have a heart attack.”

The truth was, it wouldn’t be easy for either of them to make it work.

Jiang replied, “No, I’m not here for a partnership. I came to acquire a portion of your shares—to gift them.”

“For Zhiyi?”

Jiang nodded. “Yes.”

Shang didn’t need to ask which project he meant. “That project involves Shen Qingfeng. Do you think she’ll let you get involved?”

When the two companies signed the cooperation agreement, Shen Qingfeng had made sure to block all possible ways for Xu Zhiyi’s funds to flow into the project.

Shang added, “Zhiyi is interested in this project too. She’s still figuring out how to invest. I have no real solution for her either. Shen is serious about this, and I’m not about to risk my company’s interests.”

Jiang took a sip of the coffee and asked, “Do you have any sugar?”

Shang looked at him in disbelief. “You’re adding sugar to an espresso?”

“Zhiyi does. Just half a packet.”

Jiang stood up, walked over to the coffee station, and returned with a full packet of sugar.

He emptied the entire packet into his cup and stirred it.

Shang quipped, “Didn’t you say Zhiyi only uses half a packet? Shouldn’t you follow her lead?”

Jiang responded, “She uses half. The other half is mine. There’s no problem using the whole packet.”

Shang chuckled, momentarily caught off guard. It seemed this round of banter had left him on the losing side.

Returning to the main topic, Jiang continued, “Your project requires a lot of funding for research and development, essentially a bottomless pit. If I were to invest through R&D, it wouldn’t be difficult to arrange.”

“Then you really have no chance.”

Shang poured himself another cup of coffee, adding two packets of sugar this time.

“What you’re thinking of, Shen Qingfeng has already anticipated. Even if Professor Shang were open to working with you, he’d still have to consider his daughter, Xu Ningwei. As long as she’s unhappy, no matter how profitable the venture, he won’t get involved.”

There was no way Xu Ningwei would agree to work on a project where Xu Zhiyi held shares. Shen Qingfeng knew this, which was why he had gone to such great lengths to recruit her. Not only did it block Zhiyi’s potential investment, but it also leveraged Xu Ningwei’s resources.

As a father, Professor Shang was exemplary.

Now that Xu Ningwei had settled into her research, there was no way Professor Shang would let her be unhappy. All his decisions revolved around her.

“Shen Qingfeng isn’t the type to make a bad deal,” Shang commented as he took a sip of his coffee. “And by the way, she goes by ‘Shang Ningwei’ now. Shen spared no effort in bringing her to the research center—ensuring you and Zhiyi couldn’t quietly take over the project through R&D. KEVE Technology taught her that lesson well.”

Jiang replied, “If I wanted shares in the project, Shang Ningwei wouldn’t side with Shen Qingfeng. She’d consider whether or not to involve Professor Shang.”

Shang raised an eyebrow. “Shang Ningwei likes you?”

“To her, I’m the same as I am to Xu Heng.”

Shang nodded. “It seems you’ve treated her well enough that she’d take your side.”

“It’s Acceptable.”

Jiang Sixun spoke about how to approach his investment. “I’ll need your help to keep Shen Qingfeng in the dark. I won’t ask for a free favor. You can choose the project or the resources, or I can owe you a favor.”

Shang Yun took a sip of his coffee, gazing thoughtfully at Jiang. “Let’s put the favor on hold for now. Also, don’t interfere with my collaboration with Zhiyi. Your marriage and children are of no concern to me.”

Jiang’s response was a silent stare.

Shang continued discussing the project, warning him not to get too optimistic. “Xu Ningwei might consider your proposal, but the odds aren’t high. Her resentment toward Xu Zhiyi outweighs her gratitude toward you.”

If Xu Ningwei could set aside her grudges, it would be a win for everyone. But given Shen Qingfeng’s talent for manipulation, it wouldn’t be easy for Xu Ningwei to let go.

“That’s my concern now,” Jiang replied.

They fell into silence, savoring the coffee. The beans were exceptional—likely handpicked by Shang for Xu Zhiyi, and today, Jiang was lucky enough to enjoy them too.

The only topic of interest between them was Xu Zhiyi, and Shang wanted nothing more than to discuss her. “Are you going through all this trouble for an engagement gift?”

Jiang looked up. “It’s not for a gift. If she wants it, I’ll do my best to provide.”

Shang couldn’t help but smile. “If Zhiyi wanted two homes, one here and one abroad, would you put in the effort?”

Finishing his coffee, Jiang set the cup down. “It’s not what she wants; it’s what you want, isn’t it?”

Shang burst into laughter. “I can’t deny it.”

After wrapping up their conversation, Jiang prepared to leave.

Shang insisted he couldn’t let Jiang leave empty-handed and gifted him a small bag of coffee beans.

Once outside Jinyun Tower, Jiang called He Yi’an to check if she was at the branch office and whether she was free.

On the plane, he had told Xu Zhiyi he needed to meet an elder, and that elder was He Yi’an.

He Yi’an had plans that evening but was still at the office. “How long until you arrive?” she asked.

“About fifteen minutes,” Jiang replied.

Looking at the clock, He Yi’an knew they had time. “Come on over; I’ll be at the company.”

He arrived three minutes earlier than expected.

He Yi’an had prepared black tea for her future son-in-law. In the last couple of days, she had noticed a distinct cheerfulness in her daughter’s voice during their phone calls.

It seemed their trip to Buchun had brought them closer.

“From now on, just call if you need anything; there’s no need for you to make a trip,” she said.

“That won’t do. If it’s important, I’ll come,” Jiang insisted.

Suspecting He Yi’an might be heading out soon, he got straight to the point. “I’d like to get a copy of Zhiyi’s clothing sizes and her ring size.”

As for the ring size, even Xu Zhiyi might not remember it, but Aunt Xu surely knew—she often bought jewelry for Zhiyi, picking out gorgeous rings whenever she could.

He Yi’an chuckled, realizing the importance of his request. No wonder he had come all this way.

She was easygoing, but not without her boundaries. “I’ll send you all her sizes, but for the proposal, you need to get Uncle Xu’s approval first.”

Jiang smiled. “Of course.”

He had limited taste, hoping to choose something special for the wedding ring, and wanted He Yi’an’s help to narrow it down. “I’ll select a few options and then get you and Uncle Xu to weigh in.”

He Yi’an thought to herself that he was truly trying to get into the good graces of a husband.

Jokingly, she said, “No problem. Let’s have a family meeting with Xu Heng as well.”

Jiang could already envision that if Xu Heng were present, he’d be nitpicking at every suggestion.

He Yi’an then asked, “Are you and Xu Heng heading to Hong Kong tomorrow?”

“Yes, our flight is in the morning.”

The next day, before six in the morning, Jiang completed a ten-kilometer run, showered, and headed downstairs for breakfast, with his driver set to pick him up for the airport in half an hour.

Ten kilometers didn’t quite exhaust his energy, and he planned to wake up later that night for another round of exercise.

Just as he took a couple of sips of milk, he noticed a car coming into the yard, but the floor-to-ceiling window on his side blocked his view of the parking area.

“Whose car is that?” he asked Auntie.

She peeked outside and replied, “It’s Miss Xu’s car.”

In the yard, Xu Zhiyi stepped out, cradling a vase.

Auntie had prepared slippers for her, and she quickly changed before entering.

Jiang looked at her in surprise. “What are you doing up so early?”

“I came to see you off,” she replied.

“I’ll be back in a week.”

“Not a week; it’s nine days.”

Xu Zhiyi placed the vase on the dining table, then walked over to Jiang, who picked up a piece of fried dough and dipped it in sweet sauce, bringing it to her mouth.

It had been a while since she’d had fried dough, and she opened her mouth to take a bite.

He pulled out a chair beside him. “Sit down and eat something.”

Xu Zhiyi shook her head. “I’ve already eaten.”

She picked up his glass and took a sip, discovering it wasn’t soy milk. “Fried dough is best with soy milk.”

“The fried dough was meant for my mom, but Auntie remembered she wasn’t home when she bought it.”

Jiang nodded toward the vase on the table, silently questioning her reason for bringing it.

Xu Zhiyi replied, “I’m going to take a few peonies since Auntie isn’t home. No one will appreciate the flowers otherwise.”

“Once my mom picks a house, I’ll have someone plant more flowers for her,” Jiang said.

Xu Zhiyi rested her chin on her hand, keeping him company as he ate.

Her hair was still damp from washing, and she playfully reached out to tousle it.

Jiang Sixun instinctively caught her hand. “Don’t mess it up,” he said, holding it firmly.

Xu Zhiyi assured him she wouldn’t touch his hair again, but Jiang didn’t let go. He offered her reassurance: “The board meeting won’t go awry. Focus on your remote work; don’t worry about it.”

Xu Zhiyi had come over today specifically because she was anxious about this issue.

Lu Jianliang was unpredictable, and when Uncle Lu divorced Aunt Jiang, it was Uncle Lu’s fault, but Lu Jianliang played a significant role in it too.

“Lu Jianliang didn’t want Uncle Lu to marry Aunt Jiang, and he certainly doesn’t want you to marry someone of equal status, whether that’s me or Yu Rui.”

Last night, she had sorted through many things, including Yu Rui’s past scandal involving a fund aimed at pursuing someone, and she wondered if Ning Yun, her uncle, was merely being used as a pawn.

“Is it possible that your uncle is stirring the pot, sabotaging your chance to unite with the Yu family? The Yu family is the card he wants to play. If you marry Yu Rui, how could the Yu family continue to support him?”

Jiang Sixun nodded. “That’s a possibility.”

“Then have Secretary Cai reach out to Yu Rui.” He looked her in the eyes.

“Secretary Cai?” Xu Zhiyi questioned.

“Yeah. Right now, only she might be able to remain calm enough to listen.”

Xu Zhiyi pulled out her phone and opened the chat with Secretary Cai, typing as she spoke. “Is Secretary Cai really that effective?”

Jiang shrugged. “If you trust her, then why not?”

That was the allure of personality.

This solidified Xu Zhiyi’s determination to recruit Secretary Cai as her assistant. “I need to make some serious money and hire Secretary Cai for remote work.”

At that moment, Jiang Sixun set down his chopsticks; the driver had arrived.

In the next nine days, they wouldn’t see each other, so before leaving, he pulled her into a heartfelt embrace.

“Aren’t you already going to video call me tonight on WeChat?”

Releasing her, he took the vase from her, and they walked together to the yard.

As they neared the car, Jiang said, “Honestly, you don’t have to take me to the airport. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.”

Xu Zhiyi laughed. “I’m not just taking you to the airport. I’m just seeing you to the car and then picking some flowers.”

“…”

Jiang chuckled, “So you came by to see me under the pretense of flower picking?”

Xu Zhiyi smirked. “You could imagine that I came here just for you, and the flowers are just an excuse.”

“I can’t imagine that. You’ve had your eye on those peonies in my garden for days. The moment my mom left, you pounced.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled, refusing to admit it. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Safe travels.”

As the car started, Jiang glanced back at the girl in the garden, clipping flowers. Like his mother, she loved peonies, but while his mother preferred a single stem in a vase, Xu Zhiyi liked to gather them in vibrant bunches.

Soon, the car hit the main road.

Jiang sent a message to Jiang Shenghe: [I plan to tell my mom and uncle about Zhiyi and me.]

Jiang Shenghe replied: [Why the early morning announcement? What happened?]

Jiang Sixun answered: [I’m heading to Hong Kong today.]

Jiang Shenghe: [You’re going this early?]

Jiang Sixun: [See? You’re reacting quite strongly too. Zhiyi is just as worried as you are. I want to avoid any complications.]

Jiang Shenghe: [My parents might not believe it.]

Jiang Sixun: [As long as you believe, and my mom believes, that’s what matters.]

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, the evening light was still glowing.

Jiang Yueru struggled with her jet lag, feeling drowsy. After shopping at a mall, she had the driver load her purchases into the car, then headed to a nearby café for an iced coffee to perk herself up.

Before reaching the café entrance, her family group chat buzzed with notifications, and her rebellious child had @-mentioned her.

[Zhiyi and I are together now.]

Second Uncle: [No one’s forcing you to get married; what are you doing?]

Third Uncle: [Sixun, can’t you act responsibly? Do you think this is a game? I haven’t settled things with you regarding Ning Yun, and now this! You can’t just use someone as a shield!]

…

The chat erupted with messages; no one believed he was truly dating Zhiyi.

Jiang Yueru didn’t believe it either and chose to ignore it.

Jiang Sixun sent another message: [This isn’t a shield. Once I return from Hong Kong, I plan to get our marriage certificate. I’ve already started picking out the ring.]

Jiang Shenghe chimed in: [Aunt, everyone knows about Yuanwei Capital.]

Jiang Yueru: [Sixun, are you out of your mind? Qi Zhengchen likes Zhiyi; you know that. He’s still…] seeing a therapist.

[He hasn’t moved on yet. You can’t just marry anyone! If Lu Jianbo wants you to marry, let him talk to me!]

So focused on her messages, she wasn’t watching where she was going and bumped into someone’s shoulder.

“Sorry!” she exclaimed, then realized she was abroad and quickly switched to English, repeating her apologies.

The man wore a dark gray shirt and towered over her, their bodies brushing past each other. She only caught a brief glance of his profile.

Lu Jianbo stood frozen, unable to find his voice or even lift his feet.

Thirty years had passed, yet in the crowd, he recognized her immediately—the unique charm, her striking bone structure, and the beauty that had passed on to their son.

Her voice remained unchanged, a rich, cool quality that still resonated, her short hair framing her face, her attire still in shades of pale moonlight.

She was thinner than he remembered.

Watching her walk by from a distance earlier felt surreal, as if he were waiting for her to finish work thirty years ago, her eyes sparkling with joy as she hurried towards him.

But now, she couldn’t recognize him at all.

After the brief encounter with the passerby, Jiang Yueru shook off the moment and looked down at her phone, scrolling through the group chat messages.

Jiang Sixun replied to his mother: [I’m not crazy. It’s not a marriage of convenience; I genuinely want to get married. I like Zhiyi. What can I do about that?]

Jiang Yueru read the last part of his message again, word for word. With over twenty hours of sleeplessness weighing on her, her mind felt ready to explode. She texted back: [What do you mean?]

Jiang Sixun responded: [I’ve liked her for six years. I know Qi Zhengchen is hurting, but Mom, these past years haven’t been easy for me either.]

Jiang Yueru paused at the café entrance, her vision blurring with emotion. She glanced across the street, took a deep breath, and replied: [I must be slow on the uptake. You’ve hinted at this for a while, and I’ve been treating you both like siblings. I’ll help Qi Zhengchen; let’s talk to him. I haven’t really cared for you these past years, thinking you were just being rebellious.]

A heavy silence hung between them, filled with unspoken feelings and years of misunderstandings. As she waited for her son’s response, she realized that the heart often sees what the eyes refuse to acknowledge.