Request

With Zhou Qishen acting as a cover, Chen Zhijing’s attitude underwent a change. Even upon subsequent meetings, he maintained a friendly demeanor and kept an appropriate distance, effectively resolving a matter that had been troubling Jiang Xiao.

Many years had passed, and Jiang Xiao had long forgotten some details. How could she remember someone she had only met once?

If not for returning to the original location and the reminder from the other party, she might not have remembered at all. Fortunately, Zhou Qishen remembered it so clearly.

Suddenly, Jiang Xiao thought of something. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of obvious surprise coloring her face as she looked at the person in front of her and asked, “Then you recognized me from the beginning?”

Zhou Qishen lowered his eyes and smiled. Looking into her eyes filled with tenderness, he said, “Otherwise, why would I have bothered with you back then?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiao was first stunned, then couldn’t help but lower her head to cover her smile with her hand, teasing, “Does it mean you wouldn’t care if it was someone else?”

“Hmm?” Hearing her words, Zhou Qishen’s smile deepened, seemingly amused by her knowingly asked question. He stared into her eyes and said in a low voice, “I’d leave it to the police.”

This remark reminded Jiang Xiao of their first encounter in the parking lot—or rather, their reunion that day. Indeed, it was something worth calling the police about. At that time, Zhou Qishen had softened and agreed to take her home, which had seemed strange to her then.

Now thinking about it, who would randomly take a stranger home? It turned out Zhou Qishen had recognized her long ago.

Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but marvel, “Honestly, when we first met, I really didn’t think we had met before. I also didn’t expect that after so long, you still remembered me. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have…”

Pausing for a moment, Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but smile again, covering her forehead. She really embarrassed herself—calling Zhou Qishen her boyfriend the first time they met, and her husband the second time.

One couldn’t deny that the fate between them was truly inexplicable.

Zhou Qishen’s gaze settled on the shallow dimples at the corner of her mouth, gradually becoming obscure.

Of course, he remembered her. After all, she was a star with high exposure, whether it was advertisements seen everywhere or private gatherings of celebrities, intentionally or unintentionally, he could notice news about her.

But this was only his one-sided understanding of her. For Jiang Xiao, she might know of his existence in the circle, but there weren’t many ways for her to understand and know him. Moreover, according to common sense, she had no reason to learn about a stranger in detail.

Zhou Qishen understood this principle very well, so he didn’t blame her for not remembering him. No one is obligated to keep someone in their memory; forgetting is also acceptable. However, the deeper his feelings for her grew, the more he sought from her.

He hoped she would remember him, but unfortunately, reality often defied expectations.

That she could remember a part of it already made him happy.

Zhou Qishen’s eyelids drooped slightly for a moment, but then he began to smile again, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Beautiful and interesting people are always memorable.”

Jiang Xiao leaned against the door, tilting her body slightly, and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “So, when you proposed the marriage agreement back then, was it because I was beautiful and interesting?”

As the words fell, Jiang Xiao paused for a second, recalling something, then answered her own question, “Oh wait, I almost forgot. You said recently that your family was urging you, so in your eyes, I should just be a tool for emergencies. You also said that marrying anyone would be the same.”

Upon hearing this, a complex expression flickered across Zhou Qishen’s face. “Xiaoxiao, when I said those things, it didn’t mean I would actually marry someone else. If I had such thoughts, I would have been married long ago. How could I still be single?”

Jiang Xiao pretended to pout in anger, with no real emotion in her voice as she asked, “Oh, is that so?”

Seeing that she didn’t catch the meaning behind his words, Zhou Qishen’s tone faltered for a moment. After a silence, he spoke in a hurried voice that gradually softened into a casual inquiry, “Of course. I said that just to get you to let your guard down.”

He had only taken advantage of her situation at the time, making excessive demands. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for her to marry him.

Jiang Xiao’s expression became blank as she remembered what Liang Cheng had said in Hengdian—Zhou Qishen had been interested in her for a long time…

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiao touched her nose, unable to say anything.

After a brief standoff, Zhou Qishen suddenly said, “Do you not need me to stay tonight?”

This topic was too sensitive. Jiang Xiao’s eyes widened slightly as she remembered how she had begged him to stay when she wasn’t feeling well, like a scene of clinging wings. A hint of embarrassment flashed under her thick eyelashes, but she quickly composed herself.”Well, that’s not necessary.”

Using someone and then disregarding them—turning against them.

Perhaps thinking that saying only a few words would make her seem heartless, Jiang Xiao added, “Aunt Huang prepared a room for you, right? It’s just one night; there’s no need for you to stay.”

“Alright, okay,” Zhou Qishen responded with a surprised chuckle, saying several words in a row.

He added, “In that case, I should go in and get my luggage.”

Jiang Xiao pursed her lips, surprised that he hadn’t taken his luggage to his own room earlier. She stepped back and said, “Then come in.”

Just as Zhou Qishen was about to act, a deep and powerful voice came from nearby. “What are you two doing standing at the door?”

Mr. Xu slowly walked up the stairs, his suspicious gaze sweeping between the two of them. “Didn’t you say you were going to wash up and rest?”

Jiang Xiao looked over and a strange guilt flickered across her face. She hurriedly explained, “He’s here to get his luggage.”

Mr. Xu showed an understanding expression and glanced at Zhou Qishen, who was about to enter the room. When he spoke again, there was a hint of warning in his tone. “After you get your luggage, go back and rest quickly.”

“Okay, teacher,” Zhou Qishen obediently replied.

Seeing this, Mr. Xu finally went back to his room with peace of mind.

After Mr. Xu left, Jiang Xiao signaled to Zhou Qishen with her eyes to come in and get his luggage.

The room was brightly lit, with two suitcases quietly placed in the corner. Zhou Qishen took the black suitcase and was about to turn around and leave when his gaze inadvertently swept across the back of Jiang Xiao’s neck. He frowned slightly. “What’s wrong with your neck?”

Jiang Xiao instinctively raised her hand to touch it, feeling puzzled. “What’s wrong with it?”

Zhou Qishen took a couple of steps closer to her, fixed his eyes on her, and found a red bump on the back of her neck. It looked like a mosquito bite, standing out vividly against her fair skin.

“It looks like a mosquito bite,” Zhou Qishen guessed truthfully.

Although she had been bitten, it didn’t itch, so Jiang Xiao didn’t pay much attention to it. She was about to speak to dismiss him when she lifted her eyes and met Zhou Qishen’s deep, ink-like eyes.

He looked at her and sighed softly, “Xiaoxiao, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

“Hmm?” Jiang Xiao was a little puzzled.

It had indeed been some time since they had last seen each other—about a week since they parted ways in Beijing, if she recalled correctly. But what did that have to do with anything?

Zhou Qishen reached out, his strong arms wrapping around her slender waist, his palm covering her cheek. His thin lips curved up slightly as he spoke slowly, “So, do you really not need me to accompany you tonight?”

The force around Jiang Xiao’s waist suddenly tightened, and she realized what his sudden remark meant—he was referring to what had happened in Hengdian before.

“I was sick back then, but I’m fine now,” Jiang Xiao pushed his arm away, invoking Mr. Xu’s name to restrain his impulse. “Besides, my grandfather said we should sleep separately.”

It was natural for husband and wife to share a room, but due to their previous concealment from their elders, her grandfather temporarily couldn’t accept the idea of his granddaughter sharing a room with his student. She could understand that. Separate rooms were separate rooms; she didn’t think it was a big deal.

Initially, she thought Zhou Qishen would agree with her and follow the elders’ wishes. Who would have thought he wanted to defy her grandfather?

“Alright, I’ll ask you a question. If you answer truthfully, I’ll leave.” Zhou Qishen held her waist tightly, refusing to let go, as if determined that she would only leave after answering his question.

Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh at his childish behavior, but she could only go along with his words. “Go ahead, ask.”

“Why did you agree to marry me under our agreement? I don’t believe it was just to get back at Zhou Wenting,” Zhou Qishen asked.

Jiang Xiao widened her eyes in surprise. She hadn’t expected this question, and it not only caught her off guard but also left her with no way out. At that moment, she felt frozen, unable to move.

Well, agreeing to marry him just to retaliate against her ex-boyfriend was really insulting her intelligence.

Speechless, Jiang Xiao sighed as if deflated. “Alright, alright, so you never believed what I said.”

“Well, your words have to be convincing,” Zhou Qishen chuckled lightly.

“And what if I didn’t say it? As long as the result is satisfactory, isn’t that enough? Does the reason really matter? Although I did have another purpose, I would never do anything harmful to you.”

Even if she were beaten to death, Jiang Xiao wouldn’t reveal the existence of the system. So, besides brushing it off, she couldn’t say a word to Zhou Qishen.

Zhou Qishen sensed her hesitation to speak and understood that she might have something difficult to disclose. But from her reaction, he could at least confirm that she hadn’t agreed to marry him just to spite Zhou Wenting. Once he confirmed this, other hidden matters seemed less important.

“I can ignore whatever reasons you have, and I won’t ask further, but…”

He paused for too long, and Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but ask, “But what?”

“I just want it to be me by your side. Can you understand what I mean?” Zhou Qishen’s eyes met hers intensely.

“Hmm?” Jiang Xiao’s surprise gradually turned into confusion, then into incredulity.

“From the moment we met again, I didn’t want to miss you, nor did I want to let you go to someone else.” Zhou Qishen leaned closer, staring at her, and spoke each word deliberately. “Just as you said, I want the outcome between us to be to my liking.”

As they locked eyes, Jiang Xiao involuntarily held her breath. His deep black eyes were like the night, impenetrable.

In the next moment, his forehead and nose touched hers, a faint warmth spreading like an electric current through her limbs. She heard him say, “I never want to divorce in this lifetime.”

At the same time, Jiang Xiao heard the long-unheard prompt from the system in her mind.

[System 003: Congratulations, Little Mistress, you’ve completed 75% of the traffic plan.]