Chapter 37

Having gotten what he wanted, Ji Jing was uncharacteristically well-behaved afterward.

Still, no matter how she looked at it, Tang Ruan felt he was getting ahead of himself. He claimed to be pursuing her, but he hadn’t even properly started before he began getting handsy.

That wasn’t how courting was supposed to work!

Blushing, she cast a glance at Ji Jing behind his computer, then sighed and decided not to fuss over it too much.

The evening sunset was breathtakingly beautiful.

High-level executives’ offices were often on the top floors, and Ji Jing’s was no exception. His office boasted floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.

When Ji Jing was quietly working, Tang Ruan didn’t bother him. She kept herself occupied, reading, wandering around, or simply relaxing. She actually enjoyed his office space—it was large, spacious enough for practically anything. If Ji Jing wanted to install a treadmill, there would be plenty of room for it.

With her phone in hand, she occasionally glanced his way but remained at ease.

When the workday ended, Ji Jing walked over to her and spoke in a low voice. “Let’s go.”

“Huh?” Tang Ruan looked up in surprise. “Go home?”

He chuckled quietly, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Did you forget what I mentioned this afternoon? We’re heading to the next city.”

“Now?”

“Yes,” he nodded, “The flight’s at nine. We’re going to the airport first.”

Hearing that, Tang Ruan instinctively looked down at herself. “But… I didn’t bring any clothes or anything.”

Ji Jing hummed, his tone relaxed. “We’ll buy some when we get there.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

Well, that was typical of the rich. After thinking it through, though, she realized there wasn’t enough time to go home. It was rush hour, and traffic would definitely be bad.

She had completely forgotten to ask what time the flight was earlier, let alone plan for packing.

–

When they left the office, most of the other employees had already gone home, sparing Tang Ruan any awkwardness.

Thinking about her little performance in the lobby earlier, she couldn’t help but chuckle to herself.

Ning Ming accompanied them to the airport. The three of them got into the car, with the driver quietly focusing on the road while Ning Ming sat in the front seat, occasionally discussing work matters with Ji Jing. Tang Ruan listened for a bit but quickly gave up when she couldn’t follow the conversation.

She rested her head against the car window, gazing outside, feeling a bit sleepy and dazed.

…

The voices in the car gradually faded.

Ji Jing glanced at Ning Ming and spoke softly, “We’ll talk more when we get there.” He reached out to support Tang Ruan’s drooping head, guiding it gently to rest on his shoulder.

Tang Ruan frowned and shifted uncomfortably before finally settling against his neck, falling into a peaceful sleep.

A fresh, clean scent filled her senses, soothing and pleasant. Realizing it was Ji Jing beside her, she relaxed further, no longer resisting sleep.

Ji Jing lowered his eyes, trying to ignore the weight of her head resting on his neck. Her hair occasionally brushed against his skin, tickling and pricking him. He watched her quietly for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Then, he draped one side of his jacket over her shoulders.

…

Tang Ruan slept all the way to the airport. Traffic during rush hour was stop-and-go, and it took an hour and a half to reach their destination.

Ning Ming went to handle the baggage check-in while Tang Ruan and Ji Jing waited nearby.

She was awake, but her mind was still foggy. Her whole demeanor was drowsy and sluggish.

Ji Jing found it amusing. Tang Ruan always seemed her softest at times like this.

He reached out to tousle her hair and asked gently, “Hungry?”

“Not really.”

“What do you want to eat?”

Tang Ruan’s eyes lit up, and she glanced at Ji Jing. “What do you want to eat?”

Ji Jing: “…”

Tang Ruan giggled mischievously. “I want KFC.”

She wasn’t particularly fond of KFC, but she loved their egg tarts. She could get them to go and let Ji Jing eat something else. However, since he’d already claimed several “benefits” from her under the guise of pursuing her, she figured he could indulge her a little—

Eating KFC with her shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?

It wasn’t that demanding.

–

Sitting in the KFC restaurant, they were surrounded by people of all ages. Yet, despite looking around, Tang Ruan couldn’t shake the feeling that the sight of Ji Jing, dressed impeccably in a suit, seemed completely out of place.

She chuckled to herself and reached out to poke his calm, expressionless face. “Are you okay with this?”

Ji Jing glanced at her and shoved a warm cup of milk tea toward her mouth. “No big deal.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She took several sips of the tea, feeling its warmth spread through her before asking, “Did you used to eat this kind of food?”

“It’s been years.” Ji Jing had eaten it during middle school. The Ji family was strict about their children’s upbringing, especially during elementary and middle school. While his allowance was far greater than that of most kids, it was barely enough by the standards of the rich.

Attending a regular school also meant adapting to the environment, where night market barbecues and fast-food chains like KFC and McDonald’s became staples.

However, Ji Jing never developed a particular fondness for fast food. After transferring to a private, elite school, he hadn’t touched it again—until now.

If not for Tang Ruan’s suggestion, Ji Jing probably wouldn’t have set foot in a fast-food place for the rest of his life.

It tasted fine, but it wasn’t healthy.

Tang Ruan watched him eat with a normal appetite and chuckled softly. “I thought you wouldn’t like it.”

Ji Jing glanced at her. “It’s unhealthy. Don’t eat too much.”

Tang Ruan froze for a moment, then silently drank more milk tea to calm herself.

They sat in a corner, and two girls at the next table kept sneaking glances at Ji Jing, giggling softly as they whispered about how handsome and sophisticated he looked.

Tang Ruan caught snippets of their conversation and, curious, looked at Ji Jing. She couldn’t deny it—

In terms of appearance, Ji Jing was indeed exceptional. His striking features, tall stature, and refined demeanor could easily outshine 95% of male actors in the entertainment industry. His chiseled features and innate grace were occasionally accompanied by a commanding, CEO-like aura.

No wonder the young girls couldn’t take their eyes off him.

“What are you thinking about?”

Tang Ruan blurted out, “You.”

Ji Jing paused, then laughed softly.

Embarrassed by his amused gaze, Tang Ruan turned her head and cleared her throat. “I mean… those girls are checking you out. They’re saying you’re really handsome. I don’t agree.”

“Oh?” Ji Jing raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at the corners of his lips as he waited for her to continue.

“You’re… average. Not that handsome,” she lied with a straight face.

Ji Jing chuckled, his voice low and coaxing. “Mm, not as good-looking as my wife.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She averted her eyes, fighting to suppress the grin tugging at her lips. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help it—she felt a little too happy.

–

They didn’t linger long and soon boarded the plane. Ning Ming accompanied them, sitting directly behind Ji Jing.

Tang Ruan, expecting business matters to be discussed, planned to rest as soon as she boarded the plane, hoping to be well-rested for a day of sightseeing tomorrow. While waiting at the gate earlier, hunger had prompted her to search online for information about the developing tourist city they were visiting. She discovered it offered many unique, nature-filled attractions that looked quite appealing.

The city’s fresh air and natural beauty made it an ideal place to live. No wonder Ji Corporation had invested in real estate here—their foresight had secured a winning investment.

The flight to the neighboring city took only about an hour and a half.

By the time Tang Ruan and Ji Jing walked out of the airport, it was already quite late. A driver had arrived early to pick them up, and they headed straight to the hotel.

Once they reached the hotel, Tang Ruan and Ji Jing sat to rest while Ning Ming, Ji Jing’s assistant, handled the check-in with his usual efficiency.

She looked up at Ji Jing and asked, “Are you tired?”

Ji Jing shook his head. “I’m fine.”

He was used to this kind of lifestyle. Glancing down at Tang Ruan, he gently pinched her cheek. “And you?”

“I’m good too.” She had slept enough earlier and was full of energy.

When the check-in was complete, Ning Ming handed them a room key. Tang Ruan blinked, surprised to see there was only one key. She thought about it briefly but kept silent. If it were just her and Ji Jing, she could have requested separate rooms. However, since the assistant was present, she refused to make such a statement.

There was no need for the world to know she and Ji Jing were still sleeping apart.

After all, given Ji Jing’s wealth, their room was likely a luxurious suite with multiple rooms, so she didn’t need to worry.

Or so she thought—

Things didn’t go as planned.

–

“Let’s head up.”

“Alright.”

Ning Ming smiled as he said, “My room is two doors down. Young Master, Young Madam, rest early. Let me know if you need anything.”

Ji Jing nodded. “Understood.”

With that, Ning Ming left, and only Tang Ruan and Ji Jing remained in the hallway.

They entered the room.

This hotel had been chosen for its proximity to the ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow, so it wasn’t particularly luxurious. Although Ning Ming had booked a suite, it was more like a cozy apartment with a small kitchen and a living area. The only problem?

There was just one bed.

The suite had two rooms, but the second one was set up with a tatami mat for tea-drinking or reading, not for sleeping.

Tang Ruan did a quick loop around the room and paused in confusion. This wasn’t what she had expected at all.

She cleared her throat to get Ji Jing’s attention as he unpacked.

“Do you want to shower first?”

Tang Ruan hesitated, then pointed at the bed. “There’s only one bed.”

Ji Jing: “…”

He froze briefly, then turned to look at her, amusement flickering in his eyes.

He hadn’t realized Ning Ming had booked this kind of suite. After a moment’s silence, he said, “You can take a shower and rest. I’ll go downstairs and get another room.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She looked at Ji Jing. He was calm, as if this arrangement were perfectly normal. His expression was composed, showing no sign of discomfort or finding her suggestion unreasonable.

After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “Okay.”

Grabbing a bag with their airport purchases—clothes and cosmetics—Tang Ruan went into the bathroom with her makeup remover and facial cleanser. When she finished, she stepped out and saw Ji Jing rolling up his sleeves.

“Ji Jing.”

“Hmm?”

She pointed toward him and said naturally, “You don’t need to get another room. It’s unnecessary.”

Ji Jing raised a brow, gazing at her.

“Tang Ruan.”

After a pause, he asked, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Of course she did. They were married, even if they hadn’t progressed to that level yet. Booking two separate rooms in the middle of the night would be inappropriate no matter how one looked at it. Embarrassed under his scrutiny, she avoided his gaze and mumbled, “We’ll use separate blankets.”

Ji Jing chuckled. “Alright.”

“There’s no need to get another room,” she repeated before retreating to the bathroom with her pajamas.

Ji Jing watched her fleeing figure, a silent smile tugging at his lips.

–

When Tang Ruan came out after her shower, her face was freshly moisturized, and she climbed into bed with her phone while Ji Jing showered.

The bathroom was inside the bedroom, and from her spot on the bed, she could hear the intermittent sound of running water.

Tang Ruan clutched her phone and burrowed under the covers. Her mind wandered, conjuring vivid, all-too-real images.

She recalled reading novels where the author spent paragraphs describing the male lead’s physique—broad shoulders, chiseled muscles, water cascading down from his jawline, tracing every defined line of his body…

The thought alone made her cheeks burn.

She smacked her face lightly, trying to dispel the mental images and focus on anything but the sound of water in the bathroom.

Suddenly, the water stopped.

Tang Ruan stiffened and gave herself a pep talk before peeking out from under the covers. She quickly smoothed her hair and composed herself.

Before she could finish, Ji Jing stepped out—shirtless.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Sensing her gaze, Ji Jing turned to meet her eyes. His lips curled into a restrained smile as he asked, “Wife, why is your face so red?”