Chapter 52

Rong Qi’s tone was calm and composed as he spoke—not deliberately affectionate, just particularly earnest.

But sincerity is always the most powerful weapon.

It easily pierces through a person’s defenses, drawing out emotions they had no intention of revealing.

After a long moment, Cheng Li spoke in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible. “I’ll take you seriously.”

“That’s exactly what I want,” Rong Qi said, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he reached out and pinched her cheek. “If you don’t, I’ll be upset.”

It was the first time he had ever mentioned being upset with her.

But Cheng Li didn’t take the “threat” seriously at all. Instead, she pulled at his hand with exasperation and said, “Why are you so fond of pinching my face lately?”

“It’s soft,” Rong Qi replied.

Although Cheng Li was no longer a teenage girl with baby fat, her skin was smooth and delicate, like the finest mutton-fat jade. It was impossible not to want to pinch it.

Cheng Li let out a couple of hums in protest and joked, “Alright then, if my face swells up and people ask what happened, I’ll just tell them Rong Qi pinched me. That way, everyone will know that Mr. Rong, when he’s at home, likes to pinch people’s faces for fun.”

“Is there anyone else?” Rong Qi raised an eyebrow, his tone playful. “Clearly, it’s just you.”

“…”

Cheng Li felt that Rong Qi was becoming more adept at handling her, to the point where he could say such things with ease.

Thankfully, she quickly remembered something important.

“By the way, how exactly did you solve the issue with the banquet?” Cheng Li asked. She knew that finding a banquet hall at this time was practically impossible. If there had been availability, the hotel would’ve accommodated them earlier.

So how was it that after Rong Qi intervened, the impossible became possible?

Surely his influence couldn’t be so great that the hotel magically added three extra tables just for them?

Rong Qi explained matter-of-factly, “Our company was originally scheduled to sign a contract here today, followed by a celebratory banquet tonight.”

Cheng Li’s jaw dropped. “Don’t tell me you gave up your company’s celebratory banquet for my family’s event?”

Rong Qi tilted his head slightly, watching her stunned reaction, and nodded with a light chuckle.

“That’s unacceptable!” Cheng Li was nearly frantic. Sacrificing the company’s banquet for their family issue was something she could never agree to. “This was my mom’s oversight. You didn’t have to go to such lengths to make up for it. Let’s explain everything to her—she wouldn’t agree to this either.”

She started pulling Rong Qi back toward the lounge.

But Rong Qi clasped her hand, stopping her. “I haven’t finished explaining yet.”

Cheng Li stared at him, her expression saying, Let’s hear what kind of explanation you have.

“I called Jiang Zhe earlier and asked him to arrange a venue at his family’s private club for our company’s banquet,” Rong Qi said.

Cheng Li frowned. That still didn’t seem right.

Even if her family changed locations, it wouldn’t make sense for the company’s banquet to be relocated instead.

Rong Qi continued calmly, “I also had He Zhuoyuan inform everyone that, because I’m especially pleased with how smoothly the signing went, I’m personally covering the cost to host the banquet at an even better venue.”

Cheng Li froze.

“You think Jiang Zhe wouldn’t charge me for this?” Rong Qi smirked. “I needed the arrangements done quickly, so he didn’t hold back. But the club is indeed better than the hotel—it offers dining and entertainment. He Zhuoyuan already told me that everyone’s very happy with the change.”

Cheng Li’s brows remained furrowed.

“Think about it,” Rong Qi said, stepping closer to her and gently massaging the spot between her brows. “If you worked hard and your boss was planning to treat you to something modest, like xiaoyangshengjian (small steamed buns), but suddenly upgraded it to a top-tier private dining experience, wouldn’t you be happier?”

Cheng Li couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you insulting someone here? This is a five-star hotel, you know—it’s much better than xiaoyangshengjian.”

“It’s just an analogy,” Rong Qi replied.

“Besides,” he added, “the club isn’t too far from here.”

Cheng Li’s heart ached with both sourness and gratitude. He had thought of everything, arranging things so seamlessly and speaking so casually, just to make sure she wouldn’t feel burdened.

In a quiet voice, she said, “Sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

She didn’t want to act distant, but it was the truth.

If not for this mishap, he wouldn’t have had to go to so much trouble over such a trivial matter.

Rong Qi couldn’t bear the look on her face. “It wasn’t any trouble—just a few phone calls.”

“But now you owe Jiang Zhe a favor,” Cheng Li pointed out.

Rong Qi chuckled. “Don’t worry about troubling him. If I’d known your family was organizing the banquet, I should’ve contacted him directly from the start.”

Cheng Li was curious. “Does he invest in the food industry?”

She had met Jiang Zhe at a previous event and knew his company focused on tech startups.

“No, his father built their fortune in the restaurant industry,” Rong Qi replied.

Cheng Li was surprised. “He’s a second-generation heir?”

Rong Qi nodded. “His family’s restaurant group is huge. They’ve expanded into high-end private clubs in recent years, so he has plenty of resources.”

Cheng Li chuckled. “I thought he was self-made, like you.”

She didn’t know much about Jiang Zhe, so his background hadn’t been obvious to her.

Rong Qi, seeing her interest, didn’t mind elaborating. “He used to say all the time that he just wanted to be a carefree second-gen heir, but life had other plans.”

Cheng Li laughed. “He really is impressive. He could’ve lived an easy life as a typical second-gen heir, but instead, he ended up being a genius—he even got into the elite youth program.”

Getting into a top-tier university was achievable with enough effort, but being accepted into a youth program? That was reserved for bona fide prodigies.

“Don’t say that in front of him, or he’ll get even more full of himself,” Rong Qi scoffed lightly.

Cheng Li finally felt the weight lift off her chest.

“Let’s treat Jiang Zhe to a meal sometime,” she said. “After all, this did trouble him.”

Rong Qi’s brows relaxed as he said, “He’s been wanting to meet you, but I’ve stopped him.”

“Why?” Cheng Li asked.

Lowering his head slightly, Rong Qi’s eyes lifted with a naturally roguish charm. “With my marriage being this happy, wouldn’t he go mad with jealousy? We’ve been friends for so many years; I couldn’t bear to see that.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Great.

To be able to say something so shameless with such calm composure… you’re still the same.

*

The two didn’t stay idle afterward. They moved to a different private room, and the dishes were also adjusted accordingly.

Fortunately, the hotel’s kitchen was well-stocked, and Cheng Li simply finalized the menu.

However, she deliberately called Ms. Ling to step out for a moment.

As soon as Ling Shuanghua arrived, she anxiously asked, “Is something wrong again?”

Seeing the usually confident Ms. Ling so on edge, Cheng Li couldn’t help but feel sorry. She immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders and reassured her, “No, nothing’s wrong. I just thought you wouldn’t want to stay in that lounge with Grandma and the others, so I brought you out for some fresh air.”

Ling Shuanghua let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “Exactly. The moment you left, your aunt and little aunt wouldn’t stop prying about Rong Qi.”

“Don’t mention anything about Rong Qi’s work,” Cheng Li reminded her immediately.

Ling Shuanghua replied, “Relax. Do you think I’m the type to carelessly blurt things out? Am I one of those people who can’t wait to broadcast every little detail about their son-in-law’s family to the world?”

That remark was clearly directed at her little aunt.

Ever since Cheng Li’s cousin started dating a wealthy second-generation heir, her little aunt had been particularly smug, to the point of bragging even about a chandelier in the boyfriend’s house that cost three million yuan.

“Honestly, your grandparents both have backgrounds as officials; they shouldn’t act so unsophisticated. Your grandma, at least, maintained her composure and only asked how long you and Rong Qi have known each other.”

Finally finding a moment to relax, Cheng Li asked, “Why did you all arrive early?”

“When I paid the deposit, the hotel gave us vouchers for their famous afternoon tea. Since it’s for your grandma’s birthday, I gave her the vouchers, knowing she’d bring your aunt along. But when they arrived, your little aunt casually asked how the birthday preparations were coming along, only to be told there wasn’t any event planned for today.”

Cheng Li rubbed her forehead. “So, we have my aunt’s big mouth to thank for catching the mistake?”

“Exactly,” Ling Shuanghua sighed. “Your little aunt called me immediately. By the time I got here, your aunt happened to be nearby shopping, so she came along too.”

Three women make a scene; all four women of the Cheng family were now gathered.

“Good thing we caught it early. Imagine if we’d only found out after arriving tonight—that would’ve been a real disaster.”

Cheng Li nodded. It was a blessing in disguise.

“Don’t mention this to your dad, though. Today is your grandma’s birthday, after all,” Ling Shuanghua said, now visibly calmer and no longer as panicked as before.

Cheng Li felt a pang of sympathy. “You always end up enduring the hardest part.”

Ling Shuanghua had long made peace with it. “What choice do I have? That’s just how life is. Blood ties can’t be severed. I can’t ask your dad to cut off his entire family just for my sake. Besides, it’s not like they’ve ever really mistreated me—just a few snide remarks here and there.”

Cheng Li found it infuriating. If the relationships were truly terrible, they could simply stop interacting.

What made it worse was the awkward middle ground where things were neither close nor entirely estranged.

Not long after, her aunt called to say that Grandma wanted to head home and rest for a while since there were still a few hours before the banquet.

“Don’t make her go back and forth. I’ll book a room upstairs for her,” Cheng Li offered.

She quickly arranged for an executive suite at the front desk and had her little aunt escort Grandma upstairs to rest.

Meanwhile, Cheng Li took Ms. Ling to the hotel’s Western restaurant.

“This hotel’s afternoon tea is indeed famous,” Cheng Li said as they took their seats. “Why did you give the vouchers to Grandma, knowing she’d bring Aunt along?”

Ling Shuanghua replied, “Why should I care? I have my daughter to bring me here instead.”

Cheng Li laughed.

Soon, the afternoon tea was served. It was beautifully presented, and with the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a great view, it was perfect for taking photos.

“Where’s Rong Qi?” Ling Shuanghua asked after some time, noticing his absence.

“He’s busy and will only join us tonight,” Cheng Li explained.

After the successful signing of the contract, there were follow-up tasks he needed to handle.

He had only made a brief trip over to help.

“Isn’t it too much trouble for him?” Ling Shuanghua asked apologetically.

This time, Cheng Li avoided teasing her and simply said, “Not really, it’s no big deal. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Ling Shuanghua sighed. “Getting older really does make your mind slower. How could I mess up something so simple? They double-checked with me several times, and I still managed to get it wrong.”

Cheng Li comforted her, “It’s fine. Everyone makes mistakes.”

“All right, enough about that. Let me take a couple of pictures for you. This afternoon tea looks so exquisite—perfect for posting on your social media,” Cheng Li said, quickly changing the subject.

As someone who was quite active on social media, Ms. Ling instantly perked up at the suggestion.

Cheng Li spent the rest of the afternoon accompanying Ms. Ling at the hotel, waiting until evening.

Around six o’clock, relatives began arriving one after another.

These were all close family members, so everyone was soon chatting away.

By the time the banquet officially began at seven, Rong Qi still hadn’t arrived.

“Where’s Rong Qi? Is he too busy to come?” Ling Shuanghua asked, concerned.

Cheng Li quickly reassured her, “He said he’s on his way. He had to pick something up last minute and got caught in traffic.”

“No rush. Remind his driver to take it slow,” Ling Shuanghua instructed.

At this moment, most people at the table had already taken their seats.

The other relatives were seated at two separate tables, while this table was reserved for their immediate family.

Cousin Duan Yuling brought her fiancé, Qi Leyang, along. As soon as they walked in, they were showered with compliments, with relatives eagerly asking about their wedding date.

Duan Yuling clearly relished the attention, clinging to Qi Leyang’s arm and beaming with joy.

After they were seated, Duan Yuling glanced at the solitary Cheng Li and, with feigned concern, asked, “Where’s my future brother-in-law? Didn’t you say he’d be coming?”

“He’s on his way,” Cheng Li replied flatly.

Duan Yuling let out an exaggerated “Oh, he’s late? I almost ran late myself, but our little Qi was so attentive about grandma’s birthday banquet that he kept urging me to get ready early.”

Cheng Li pressed her lips into a thin smile, barely concealing the mockery in her voice as she replied, “Oh.”

Her cousin’s wealthy fiancé, dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, had a vibrant personality and a sweet tongue that effortlessly charmed Cheng Li’s grandparents, making them laugh repeatedly.

In contrast, Cheng Li’s older cousin and his family remained much quieter, which earned them several sharp glances from their aunt, silently urging them to flatter the grandparents as well.

However, Cheng Li’s parents, Cheng Dingbo and Ling Shuanghua, didn’t pressure her to join in.

Cheng Li was never the type to curry favor deliberately. Ever since she was a child, her parents had never made her do such things just to gain a little favor from her grandparents.

As the food started arriving, Ling Shuanghua leaned in to whisper, “Should we ask them to hold off serving for a bit and wait for Rong Qi?”

“No need. Otherwise, they’ll just find another excuse to start gossiping,” Cheng Li shook her head lightly.

After all, the star of this banquet was Grandma, and it didn’t seem appropriate to delay the meal for a younger family member.

Fortunately, the family meal progressed harmoniously enough.

Midway through, Ling Shuanghua’s phone rang from inside her bag. She picked up the bag she had placed beside her earlier and answered the call.

After finishing the conversation, she put the bag back and returned to her seat.

Duan Yuling’s gaze lingered on the bag for several moments before she smiled and asked, “Second Aunt, that new bag of yours is gorgeous! Did you just buy it?”

Ling Shuanghua chuckled. “Someone gifted it to me.”

“You’d better be careful with it,” Duan Yuling said with a faux-concerned tone. “Bags like that are incredibly expensive. Normal people wouldn’t casually give one away. What if the person gave you a fake? You’d end up carrying a counterfeit and feeling grateful for it!”

With a loud clunk, Cheng Li slammed her chopsticks onto the table, causing everyone to look her way.

“Duan Yuling, if you don’t have anything constructive to say, no one will think you’re mute for staying silent.”

Her tone wasn’t particularly loud, but it carried an unmistakable sharpness, making it clear she had no intention of sparing Duan Yuling’s feelings.

Duan Yuling put on a pitiful expression, feigning innocence. “Sis, I’m just trying to be helpful, okay? That bag Auntie has costs at least a few hundred thousand. You tell me, who would casually gift someone such an expensive bag?”

This time, even Ling Shuanghua looked genuinely shocked.

She had known the bag was expensive, but she hadn’t realized it was outrageously so.

Cheng Li had bought her bags worth tens of thousands before, so she assumed this one was in a similar price range.

After all, for most people, spending tens of thousands on a bag was already an absurd luxury.

“Lingling, don’t make baseless assumptions,” said their younger aunt, glancing nervously at the bag on the table.

Duan Yuling continued, “I wouldn’t say it if I weren’t sure. This brand, especially with crocodile leather and gold hardware, costs a fortune. Between the bag’s base price and the additional matching items required to purchase it, it would be impossible to get one for less than several hundred thousand.”

Seeing the stunned expressions around the table, Duan Yuling turned to her fiancé for backup. “Little Qi, don’t you think this bag is worth that much?”

Though reluctant, Qi Leyang nodded. “I’ve never owned one, of course, but I do know a bit about luxury brands. That price sounds about right.”

Underneath the table, he tugged at Duan Yuling’s sleeve, subtly signaling her to stop creating tension.

As someone who was deeply familiar with luxury goods and now dating a wealthy boyfriend, Duan Yuling had firsthand knowledge of these high-end brands. Naturally, her claim was convincing to everyone present.

“It’s fine if the bag’s fake,” Duan Yuling added with an air of condescension. “But Second Aunt, you should distance yourself from whoever gave it to you. They clearly have ulterior motives if they’re gifting counterfeit items.”

Cheng Li took a deep breath, her tone icy. “So, you think you’re the only one here with any knowledge of luxury brands? Do you want me to take you to a boutique and have it authenticated?”

“Alright, alright. It’s just a bag. Who cares if it’s real or fake? As long as it looks nice, that’s what matters.”

Sensing tension from the relatives at the neighboring table, their eldest aunt quickly tried to mediate.

Even Duan Yuling’s mother, for the first time, didn’t side with her daughter. Instead, she scolded her quietly, “It’s your grandmother’s birthday today. Why are you bringing up nonsense like this?”

“Mom, even you—”

Before she could finish her complaint, a knock came at the private dining room’s door.

Everyone assumed it was a server delivering more food.

To their surprise, the person who stepped in was Rong Qi, dressed in a sleek black overcoat.

Cheng Li immediately stood up as Rong Qi walked in and said in a low voice, “Apologies for being late.”

Those who hadn’t met Rong Qi before looked at him with curiosity.

Without hesitation, Cheng Li walked over, took his arm, and introduced him to everyone. “This is my husband, Rong Qi.”

Her introduction was delivered in the exact same manner as Rong Qi’s earlier introduction in the lounge.

Rong Qi nodded slightly. “Sorry for the delay. I stopped to pick up something on the way.”

Cheng Li noticed that the driver who followed behind him was holding a wooden box. Rong Qi gestured toward the driver, signaling him to bring the box over.

The relatives seated at the adjacent table, seeing how well the two complemented each other, began showering them with compliments.

Meanwhile, Duan Yuling looked at her newly revealed future cousin-in-law with a complicated expression.

Even though her mother had told her beforehand that her cousin’s boyfriend was very handsome, she hadn’t taken it seriously, assuming the older generation’s standards were unreliable.

When the man appeared, he immediately captured everyone’s attention.

The black oversized coat he wore emphasized his presence, making him look like the leading actor walking out of a television drama—strikingly charismatic and effortlessly elegant. He wasn’t someone whose appeal depended solely on his attire. His striking features were even more remarkable: sharp and prominent, with well-defined brows and a high-bridged nose. Most captivating were his deep black eyes, exuding an aloof detachment. Yet, when he glanced at Cheng Li beside him, those cold eyes softened with a hint of warmth.

The driver opened the wooden box he was holding and then left the banquet hall.

“I brought a few bottles of wine to celebrate Grandma’s birthday,” Rong Qi said with a light smile.

Grandma graciously replied, “Your presence alone is enough; there’s no need to go to such trouble.”

Just then, a server entered the room. Rong Qi gestured toward the box. “Could you please open one bottle for this table and send the other two to the neighboring tables?”

“Certainly, sir,” the server responded.

As the server lifted a bottle, Qi Leyang, sitting at the table, exclaimed in shock, “Whoa, Romanée-Conti!”

Although most of those present didn’t know much about wine, they could tell from Qi Leyang’s reaction that it must be expensive.

Unable to resist her curiosity, the aunt asked, “How much does this wine cost?”

“Around a hundred thousand yuan per bottle,” Qi Leyang replied.

The room fell into stunned silence. Tonight’s series of shocks seemed endless.

At that moment, the usually quiet cousin’s wife glanced at Duan Yuling and smirked. “Could it be that Cheng Li’s boyfriend was the one who gave the bag to Auntie?”

Duan Yuling’s face instantly darkened.

Her long-winded tirade earlier now felt like a slap in her own face.

Her remark also caught Rong Qi’s attention. He glanced at Cheng Li, who subtly shook her head, signaling for him not to worry.

Unlike Duan Yuling, Cheng Li didn’t find petty satisfaction in putting down her relatives just to make herself look better.

Rong Qi chose not to comment further and simply followed Cheng Li to their seats.

Naturally, everyone at the table was curious about Cheng Li’s newly revealed partner.

“How did you and Cheng Li meet?” her cousin asked.

“We were high school classmates,” Rong Qi replied.

The aunt laughed. “No wonder when I asked your mom earlier, she wouldn’t tell me anything. Could it be that you two have been together since high school?”

Suddenly, her cousin cleared his throat loudly.

The aunt glanced at him and then remembered—Cheng Li had a previous boyfriend. There was no way she and Rong Qi could have been together since high school.

Rong Qi, unfazed, smiled and clarified, “We didn’t meet again after high school until this year.”

Everyone nodded in understanding—a reunion of old classmates.

“You wouldn’t happen to be a J University alumnus too, would you?” Duan Yuling suddenly interjected.

Even Cheng Li’s aunt glared at her, unable to hold back her frustration. Everyone at the table knew Cheng Li’s ex-boyfriend was from J University, making Duan Yuling’s question a deliberate provocation.

Rong Qi responded with calm courtesy, shaking his head. “No, I’m not.”

Just as Duan Yuling was about to smirk, the man raised his gaze, his cold and detached eyes meeting hers. It was as if he could see through her intentions in an instant.

She quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

“I graduated from Tsinghua,” Rong Qi said, turning to Cheng Li. Under the table, he gently held her hand in his. With a slight smile, he added, “But I don’t compare to Cheng Li—she has a master’s degree, while I only finished my undergraduate studies.”

If Cheng Li’s hand wasn’t already in his grasp, she would have covered her face in embarrassment. How could this man say such things with a straight face?

He wasn’t just showing off; he was clearly showing off her.

Cheng Li silently vowed she hadn’t prepped Rong Qi or told him about her rivalry with Duan Yuling.

Rong Qi’s casual comment didn’t overly surprise most of the family. After all, with such a generous demeanor, they had already assumed he must be a highly accomplished young man. Graduating from a prestigious university like Tsinghua seemed only fitting.

Her cousin then asked what Rong Qi currently did for a living.

“Internet,” Rong Qi answered briefly, deflecting the question.

The cousin nodded knowingly. “Ah, that explains it. Internet companies do make a lot of money. I have a friend in the industry who’s earning over a million yuan a year before turning thirty.”

Though Rong Qi had some degree of fame, he wasn’t yet a household name. Only a select few would recognize him as the founder of Qiyu.

As such, the cousin mistakenly assumed he was merely a high-earning tech professional.

On the other hand, Qi Leyang found it hard to believe. How could an internet professional be more generous than him, a second-generation rich kid? He hadn’t even bought his mother-in-law a crocodile leather handbag worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Meanwhile, both the aunt and Cheng Li’s younger aunt couldn’t help but recall the scene they had witnessed at the hotel earlier. Rong Qi, surrounded by reporters and escorted out like a celebrity, had left a lasting impression.

Just as everyone seemed ready to ask more questions, Cheng Li quickly interjected, “The star of the evening is Grandma. Let’s not keep interrogating him. Let’s raise our glasses to Grandma first!”

Her diversion worked, and everyone lifted their glasses.

As the banquet drew to a close, the family began presenting their gifts to Grandma.

Her cousin’s family gifted a custom-made qipao from an old Shanghai tailor, which brought a broad smile to Grandma’s face. The younger aunt’s family gave her a pair of gold bracelets.

Duan Yuling and her fiancé offered a jade Buddha statue, which they placed on Grandma on the spot.

Cheng Li glanced at Rong Qi.

He smiled reassuringly, got up, and walked to the side table.

It was then Cheng Li noticed that, beneath the case of wine, there was another box.

The gift had been buried under the wine box earlier, so no one noticed it.

When Rong Qi opened the box and brought it over, everyone was stunned.

Including Cheng Li.

“Grandma, we wish you blessings as vast as the East Sea and a life as enduring as the Southern Mountains. This is a special gift from Cheng Li and me to celebrate your birthday,” Rong Qi said warmly.

Cheng Li stared in disbelief at the pure gold longevity peach inside the transparent glass case. As Rong Qi placed it beside her grandmother, Cheng Li realized the peach was enormous—almost as big as half of her grandmother’s head.

Extravagant.

It couldn’t be worn, eaten, or used in any practical way.

Cheng Li bit her lips to suppress a smile. Now she understood why Rong Qi had chosen such a gift.

The awe and shock brought on by the gold longevity peach lingered until the banquet was over.

As everyone left the banquet hall, Cheng Li’s grandparents got into the car of her eldest uncle’s family to head home.

Meanwhile, Duan Yuling’s boyfriend arrived in a flashy sports car, its engine roaring loudly as it pulled up to pick her up.

“Wait,” Duan Yuling said after getting into the car, stopping the valet from driving off.

Qi Leyang sighed helplessly. “What now?”

Duan Yuling kept her gaze fixed on Cheng Li’s family, who were still standing nearby. In a low voice, she said, “I just want to see if her boyfriend is all show and no substance.”

If he were really rich, his car wouldn’t be ordinary.

Qi Leyang rolled his eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”

Just then, a sleek black Maybach pulled up to the hotel entrance. Duan Yuling watched, dumbfounded, as Rong Qi opened the car door and helped Cheng Li and her parents into the vehicle one by one.

He then got into the front passenger seat.

They didn’t even need a valet—there was a professional driver waiting for them.

After Cheng Li and her family got into the car, the driver headed directly toward Jiayuan Residential Complex.

Midway through the drive, Cheng Li heard a sudden laugh beside her.

She turned her head, as did Cheng Dingbo, to look at Mrs. Ling, who was seated in the middle.

Father and daughter exchanged glances, silently asking each other: What’s going on? What triggered this?

Mrs. Ling, however, kept laughing as she spoke in a leisurely tone, “Rong Qi, that gift you prepared was perfect. The gold longevity peach is truly something.”

She chuckled even more and added, “You can’t eat it, wear it, or use it—it’s only good for looking at.”

The more she thought about it, the more amused she became, laughing uncontrollably.

Cheng Dingbo finally understood the reason behind her joy.

After dropping off Cheng Li’s parents at their home, the driver took Rong Qi and Cheng Li back to their own place.

As soon as they stepped into the entryway, Cheng Li suddenly lunged at Rong Qi, who quickly caught her and held her tightly in his arms. “Can you give me a heads-up next time? I’m worried you’ll fall,” he said softly, his voice filled with helpless affection.

Cheng Li lightly ran her finger along the bridge of his nose and said, “I used to think you were just a little smarter than me. But now I realize—you’re ridiculously clever.”

Rong Qi held her tightly, his gaze lifting slightly to meet hers as a mischievous smile played on his lips. “Clever is fine, but let’s skip the ‘ridiculously.’”

Taking advantage of being in his embrace, Cheng Li reached up to ruffle his short black hair before leaning down to plant a kiss on it. “Even if you are the ridiculously clever Rong Qi, I’d still love you.”

Rong Qi could only smile, helpless against her playful teasing.

But the next moment, Cheng Li wrapped her arms around his neck and, with a teasing tone, murmured, “Brother Rong Qi, what kind of reward would you like this time?”

Whoa.

Rong Qi nearly lost it on the spot.

He was only a year older than Cheng Li, but never in his life had he imagined hearing her call him that.

“What kind of reward?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Cheng Li’s tone became soft and slow, like an enchantment. “Pick whatever you want most.”

Under her gaze, Rong Qi answered.

“You.”