Chapter 70

Xu Zhiyi had prepared two birthday gifts for Jiang Sixun. The first one had already been given to him before they went to register their marriage that morning, but the second one, a small surprise, was still left to be presented.

Her hand reached behind her, fingers brushing the tie of his bathrobe, intending to untie it. But before she could, his large hand pressed down firmly on hers.

Jiang Sixun tossed his phone aside, which had been buzzing with messages, and his other hand wrapped around her, gently securing the robe once again in the half-light of the room.

Xu Zhiyi blinked in surprise, thinking he was helping her undo it, only to realize that he was tightening it even more.

She chuckled, “I’m going downstairs to get your gift.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t you already give it to me?”

“Good things come in pairs.”

She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Today’s a double celebration, so of course the gifts have to come in two.” She smiled, adding, “From now on, for every birthday of yours, I’ll give you double the gifts.”

Jiang Sixun’s smile deepened. “Now that you’ve said that, I’m already looking forward to my birthday next year.”

With that, he untied the bathrobe.

“Just so you’ll look forward to your birthday,” Xu Zhiyi teased as she slid off his strong thigh, feeling the lingering warmth from where their legs had been pressed together.

Jiang Sixun rose from the couch, following her as she walked toward the dining area. He casually tied his bathrobe in a loose knot as he did so.

Xu Zhiyi crouched down, placing the gift on the bottom shelf.

It wasn’t anything extravagant—after all, he didn’t lack for luxurious things.

Jiang Sixun opened it and found a pair of coffee cups.

He recalled how he had once been bothered by her accepting a cup from Qi Zhengchen, and they had even argued about it. That memory still lingered in his mind.

Xu Zhiyi pointed to the cup on the right. “This one’s mine.”

“And the other?” Jiang Sixun asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just for me.”

“One cup, one lifetime,” she added with a smile.

Without hesitation, Jiang Sixun said, “Then I’ll gift you the other one.” He then asked, “How much did you spend on these?”

As he spoke, he walked back to the couch, reaching for his phone.

Xu Zhiyi glanced at his broad back, teasing, “Are you really going to transfer the money to me?”

“I gave this to you, of course I need to buy it myself.”

“No need for that,” she replied, smiling. “You’ve given me cups before.”

“That was different. Today, we registered our marriage,” Jiang Sixun said, bending down to pick up his phone. He asked again, “How much was it?”

Xu Zhiyi retrieved the payment record and told him the price.

“How much pocket money do you have left?” she asked playfully.

Jiang Sixun chuckled, not answering. “My pocket money is part of my pre-marital assets, so I’ll use it to buy you gifts from now on.”

The money transferred, he took her hand and led her back toward the bedroom. “No more talk about pocket money. Let’s just go to bed early.”

Xu Zhiyi glanced at the time, “Too late to sleep now…”

“It’s still early, it’s only 9:30.”

He replied, “Then we’ll just sleep later.”

By 12:30, she whispered, “I’m tired.”

Mostly, she was exhausted—her whole body aching.

Jiang Sixun watched the woman beneath him, pausing for a moment, then softly coaxed, “It’ll be over soon.”

Her hand was held tightly in his, lifted to rest against the pillow. When she cried out his name, her voice trembling, he shuddered inexplicably. Lowering his head, he kissed her deeply, swallowing her whimpers.

The kiss lingered until they were both nearly out of breath. He pulled away just long enough to let her catch her breath, only to sink deeper once again.

Xu Zhiyi’s head was pressed against the headboard, her body retreating nowhere, unable to escape.

Jiang Sixun released her hand, his grip shifting to her waist, pulling her closer.

Her leg, draped over his right shoulder, slid down, but with one hand on the bed, he hoisted her back up, her leg returning to his shoulder once more.

She was wearing his dark bathrobe, soaked through.

---

Three days after they registered their marriage, Jiang Sixun received a message from his nephew.

Jiang Baichuan: “I’m free on December 31st.”

A second message followed shortly after: “Su Yang’s schedule is already full before the New Year. That day was originally for her to celebrate with me, but you know how it is between us.”

Without a second thought, Jiang Sixun sent a red envelope over. The reply came almost immediately, so quickly it made him wonder if there was an AI handling the transactions on the other end.

He set his phone down, unlocked it, topped up his water bottle, and returned to the treadmill.

After running five kilometers, he jumped into a hot shower.

---

The woman in bed hadn’t yet woken. Last night she had a video conference with the Manhattan office and had only gone to sleep late. He hadn’t called her, and after changing, he quietly closed the bedroom door and left.

At 8:20 a.m., Jiang Sixun arrived at his office building.

Lu Kaijing was waiting in the lounge on the first floor. After nearly twenty minutes, his tall, well-groomed figure finally appeared, his secretary in tow.

He seemed different—since they had registered their marriage, his eyes held a warmth that wasn’t there before. But when it came to her family, he remained as ruthless as ever, a far cry from the man she saw now.

He had his own elevator, and she stepped forward to follow.

“Been busy the past few days, haven’t had a chance to congratulate you on your wedding,” she said as she stepped into the elevator with him.

As the doors closed, cutting them off from the outside world, the smile on her face faded instantly. Her tone turned sharp, “Jiang Sixun, I suggest you always keep an escape route open. Don’t push things too far.”

Jiang Sixun ignored her completely, giving his secretary a simple instruction, “Clear my schedule for December 30th and 31st.”

The secretary had already…

He had perfected the art of ignoring the world outside: “Understood, Mr. Jiang.”

Lu Kaijing let out a deep breath, pressing the button for the 26th floor—the floor where her office was.

Eyeing him with fury, she nearly ground her teeth as she spat out, “Remove all the suppliers related to our family from the group’s supplier database, Jiang Sixun. Why go so far?”

She could barely contain her rage, knowing that Shen Qingfeng had already been taken down because of him. For Xu Zhiyi’s sake, he wouldn’t even spare her family.

Jiang Sixun glanced back at her, unhurried, calm, but his eyes were colder than before. “I’ve spent six years positioning myself for this moment. You really think I did all this just to become your ally?”

The elevator reached the 26th floor, but Lu Kaijing was still talking as she pressed the door open button. His gaze was tranquil but icy, devoid of the slightest warmth he had shown earlier.

She suddenly felt like saying anything was pointless. The words caught in her throat, and she stepped out of the elevator without looking back.

Jiang Sixun’s voice rang out, addressing her retreating back, “From now on, don’t provoke Zhiyi, whether it’s business or personal. All past accounts are cleared today. When you have time, visit Grandpa more often.”

Lu Kaijing paused for a moment, but when she turned back, the elevator door had already closed.

---

In the midst of their busy lives, December 30th came without them noticing.

Xu ZhiYi’ and Jiang Sixun had arrived in Manhattan at the beginning of the month. Normally, she was busier than him. With the third uncle running things at the Lu family, Jiang Sixun didn’t often need to step in. He only attended a few senior meetings. The branch of the Lu family here saw him only once or twice a month, while the rest of the time, he was at Yuanwei Capital.

Now, he held no shares in Yuanwei—he had transferred everything to her, leaving him with only an investment advisor title.

The office on the 20th floor’s southernmost corner remained his, filled with memories—especially of the six months when she worked as his assistant.

Every morning, they would pass through the security gate together—he would scan his face, and she would follow right behind him.

The bodyguards always wondered why she didn’t use her own face scan to enter through another gate. Every time, she seemed to time it perfectly, rushing to catch up with him.

On the 30th at noon, they packed their bags and boarded a flight to Hawaii to meet Jiang Baichuan and the others.

While on the plane, Jiang Sixun received a call from Jiang Shenghe.

“My dad asked me to check, will you and Zhiyi be back for New Year’s?”

“No, we won’t be back this year.”

“Not even for Christmas and New Year’s?”

“We’ve got a wedding shoot tomorrow, and we’ll be celebrating the New Year there.”

“Where’s the shoot?”

“By the seaside in Hawaii. Su Yang is taking our photos—she’s only available tomorrow.”

Jiang Sixun smiled at the thought. The waves crashing on the shore, the golden light of the setting sun—the wedding shoot and the celebration felt just right, a beginning they would treasure.

“Chuan will be there too. Are you coming?”

Jiang Shenghe asked his wife if they were going to Hawaii for New Year’s.

Without hesitation, Luo Qi answered, “Let’s go.”

She had interned at Yuanwei Capital while studying abroad and was quite familiar with Jiang Sixun.

Jiang Shenghe messaged Jiang Sixun: “Luo Qi and I will be there. We’ll arrive on the evening of the 31st.”

After hanging up, Jiang Sixun instructed his secretary to book another suite.

Xu Zhiyi lay on the couch, her head resting on his leg, flipping through the electronic album of their wedding photos, looking for styles she liked.

Jiang Sixun had told the secretary to put the phone away after the call. He gently took the phone from her hand. “Stop looking. You can take it however you want. Su Yang brought her entire team.”

Xu Zhiyi sighed with anticipation. “I wonder if there’ll be a fire-colored sky tomorrow.”

Jiang Sixun smiled, “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

She turned over, resting her head on his leg, while the window shade on the opposite side was pulled up, revealing layers of clouds and sea.

Jiang Sixun took the suit from the back of the sofa and draped it over her. He leaned against the armrest, closing his eyes to rest. Xu Zhiyi held his hand and closed her eyes as well.

When they woke up, they had arrived at their destination.

After dropping their luggage at the hotel, Xu Zhiyi changed into a beach dress.

While she was touching up her makeup and changing, Jiang Sixun went out for a moment. When he returned, he was holding a spicy beef taco.

Xu Zhiyi took it from him and, with one hand, wrapped her arm around his waist. “Thank you.”

Jiang Sixun pulled her into his embrace, “Anything you wanted during those six years, I’d have bought it for you.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled softly, “I’ve always wanted the taste of this taco and tomato bread.”

“I’ll take you for the bread tomorrow.”

After Jiang Sixun had changed too, the two of them left the hotel. He held her hand as they walked towards the beach to meet Jiang Baichuan and Su Yang.

The sea breeze brushed the hem of her dress, lifting it and brushing against his legs.

Xu Zhiyi glanced at him. “During that team-building six years ago, my dress brushed your pants. I wanted to keep my distance, but I couldn’t bring myself to.”

Jiang Sixun nodded, “I know.”

“What do you know?”

“I know your dress brushed against me.”

Back then, he had wondered whether he should pull away, but in the end, he had given in to his feelings, not only not pulling away but even closing the distance between them.

As he finished speaking, Xu Zhiyi shifted closer, pressing against him as they walked.

Jiang Sixun glanced at her for a few seconds, then lowered his head to kiss her.

Six years ago, he had walked here, and the thought had crossed his mind—he had barely managed to resist.

On their way to the beach, they walked even slower than before.

Under a beach umbrella, Su Yang was busy taking photos of someone on the opposite side.

Jiang Baichuan, watching with a smile, teased, “Not enough yet?”

“Not yet,” Su Yang replied, glancing at him through the camera lens as she pressed the shutter. “I could never take enough of you.”

After a few more shots, Jiang Baichuan glanced at his watch. By now, they should’ve reached them, even if they were walking in reverse.

He turned his head, scanning the distant beach. Finally, he spotted the familiar figures. He told Su Yang, “They’re here.”

Su Yang waved at them, signaling with a cheerful grin.

Jiang Baichuan reached out for the camera. “Give it to me.”

Su Yang raised an eyebrow. “What for?”

“I’ll take a few shots for them.”

Handing him the camera, Su Yang got up from her lounge chair, leaning on his shoulder, as they both watched through the lens. “Tilt it a little to the left. This way, doesn’t it feel completely different?”

She adjusted the lens with his hand, while Jiang Sixun, on the opposite side, saw the camera raised toward them. He quickly slipped his phone into his pocket, bent down, and wrapped his arms around Xu Zhiyi’s legs, lifting her high into the air.

Xu Zhiyi quickly grasped his shoulders. “Are we starting to shoot already?”

Jiang Sixun smirked. “Not yet.”

It was the perfect excuse to lift her up, and he carried her all the way to the shade of the umbrella.

After greeting everyone, he gently set her down.

Su Yang slid half of her lounge chair over. “Come on, come see the masterpiece from our family photographer.”

Xu Zhiyi grabbed a bottle of water, sitting down to admire the images of herself and Jiang Sixun through the camera.

Jiang Sixun took the water from her hand, unscrewed the cap, and handed it back. Without missing a beat, he continued talking to Jiang Baichuan. “Jiang Shenghe’s coming tomorrow night.”

Jiang Baichuan raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t that make it three short, or two short?”

Jiang Sixun thought for a moment. “Let’s invite another family.”

Jiang Baichuan would represent the eldest uncle’s family, Jiang Shenghe the third uncle’s, leaving just the second uncle’s family to complete the gathering.

Jiang Sixun dialed his cousin from the second uncle’s side, Jiang Chengyu. The phone rang for over ten seconds before it was picked up.

Jiang Chengyu, still groggy from being woken up in the middle of the night, blinked at his phone. It was 5 AM, and his first instinct was: “What happened to Aunt?”

He dreaded receiving late-night or early morning calls from Jiang Sixun, especially since his aunt had been hospitalized twice during the night.

Jiang Sixun’s calm voice came through, “Mom’s fine. Are you coming to Hawaii for New Year’s? Jiang Baichuan and Jiang Shenghe will be here. Xu ZhiYi’and I are taking wedding photos. We thought we’d snap a few more with the families. You coming?”