Lu Ruolan sighed, “Did we make the right decision? After all, we don’t know Pei Jingyan that well.”

Su Zhen replied, “Since leaving the engagement dinner yesterday, I had someone look into his background. Do you remember Xiao Hao? Coincidentally, he works at Pei Jingyan’s company, so I managed to learn quite a bit indirectly. Pei Jingyan’s background is impeccable. He’s humble, steady, and has a clean reputation. But his only flaw is that he’s rather reserved.”

“Ranran’s personality is lively, so they might complement each other,” Lu Ruolan thought for a moment. “But it still feels too soon. I keep thinking there’s no need to rush.”

Su Zhen pinched the bridge of his nose, “I’m worried about Jiang Chenlin.”

At the mention of Jiang Chenlin, both Lu Ruolan and Su Zhen’s expressions grew heavy.

Since the two families moved closer, Su Qingran had loved playing with Jiang Chenlin. Lu Ruolan still remembered how Su Qingran’s eyes sparkled the first time she mentioned this friend.

In recent years, even though she hadn’t said it aloud, Su Qingran always thought of Jiang Chenlin, including him in her plans for the future without considering anyone else.

But this very person trampled on Su Qingran’s dignity, delivering a devastating blow to her heart.

“It’s not that I don’t have faith in Ranran,” Su Zhen said, “I believe she won’t look back, but I can’t guarantee she won’t be hurt by him again.”

Today, Pei Jingyan seemed to present company shares, all his premarital assets, but in truth, it was a statement of commitment.

The document clearly stated that if Su Qingran ever wanted to end the marriage, all of Pei Jingyan’s premarital assets would be hers—no questions asked.

Though the Su family wasn’t lacking financially, this asset statement represented Pei Jingyan’s sincerity.

Sometimes, knowing someone for years doesn’t mean you truly understand them—Jiang Chenlin is an example.

So, they left the decision to Su Qingran.

If she chose Pei Jingyan, she’d have the support of both the Su family and Pei Jingyan, ensuring she’d never be hurt by Jiang Chenlin again.

If she didn’t choose him, they would continue to shower their daughter with all their love and support.

*

For the next two days, Su Qingran didn’t see Pei Jingyan.

According to the arrangement with Su Zhen, he refrained from showing up or influencing her decision.

In these two days, Su Qingran remained at her workshop.

Under the lights, she wore a dust-stained waterproof apron. Tiny streams of water flowed from the machine in front of her as she used a larger-tipped electric engraving pen to sketch out rough outlines.

Time ticked by, and Xiaoyun noticed her tea had cooled, so she warmed a fresh pot.

In the room, only the sound of the electric carving tool and the running water could be heard.

After a while.

Su Qingran stretched her sore neck and set down the multicolored material from Loulan in her hand.

She took off her apron, drank her tea, and stood to stretch, feeling momentarily dazed.

In the past, Jiang Chenlin would have interrupted her like a nagging caretaker, urging her to take a break.

But he, who had barged into her life, burned brightly and boldly during her youth, only to vanish abruptly, leaving her scarred.

To this day, she didn’t understand why he abandoned her that way. Even if he had fallen for Xu Yin, he could’ve told her—why end it so cruelly?

The same person who used to panic at the slightest scratch on her hand now no longer cared if she was in pain.

Su Qingran tilted her head back, fighting the moisture in her eyes.

Just then, perhaps due to the lack of noise from the carving tools, Xiaoyun entered the room.

“Ranran, Mr. Pei is here.”

Surprised, Su Qingran looked outside.

In the reception room, Pei Jingyan, likely just coming from work, sat on the sofa in a dress shirt and slacks, holding a document he was reading through.

This was an image Su Qingran had never seen in her reception room before.