Chapter 10 : “You’ve fallen for someone else, haven’t you”

His tone was gentle and courteous, making it easy for others to lower their guard. 

Shen Nanzhi paused and met Jiang Jinnian’s gaze. 

There was indeed no such deep connection between them. 

Even if they took ten thousand steps back, even if their families did not form an alliance through marriage— 

She had still grown up in the Jiang family for the past ten years. 

“Then what should I call you?” she asked him. 

She used to call him “Big Brother,” but he had forbidden it. 

“Just call me by my name,” he answered. 

“Have you had dinner yet?” Jiang Jinnian draped his coat over the armrest of the sofa. Compared to her, the actual owner of the apartment, he seemed more like the true master of this small space. 

Shen Nanzhi glanced toward the kitchen, hesitating. 

“Not yet.” 

She rarely cooked. Only on a whim would she personally prepare a meal. 

There weren’t many ingredients in the apartment today. She had originally planned to order takeout and make do with a simple meal.

Now that Jiang Jinnian was here, she couldn’t possibly make him eat takeout with her, could she? 

Just as Shen Nanzhi was trying to come up with a solution, Jiang Jinnian’s voice interrupted her thoughts. 

“I had someone order food—private home-style dishes from Lao Fu Ji in the south of the city. I remember you used to like it. Do you still?” 

Shen Nanzhi was a little surprised. Snapping back to her senses, she nodded. “It’s still good.” 

Zhou Lin was quick. 

Less than two minutes after they entered the apartment, the food Jiang Jinnian had ordered in advance was delivered. 

Zhou Lin still vividly remembered how, earlier in the evening inside the car, his boss had been shrouded in a cold, oppressive aura as he ordered an investigation into Chi Zheng. So now, after delivering the food, the perceptive assistant Zhou wasted no time lingering and swiftly left with his men, making sure not to be an eyesore. 

Though Shen Nanzhi hadn’t spent much time with Jiang Jinnian despite growing up in the Jiang family, they had still shared meals on occasion. 

Most of those were at the end-of-year reunion dinners or at the birthday banquets for Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang, as well as the Jiang family patriarch’s celebrations.

Back then, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, along with the rest of the Jiang family, were always present. A scene like tonight—where she and Jiang Jinnian dined alone—was a first. 

Throughout the entire meal, the atmosphere at the table remained quiet. 

After dinner, seeing that Jiang Jinnian had no intention of leaving immediately, Shen Nanzhi brought up the engagement matter she had been contemplating for the past two days. 

“About the engagement…” 

She had barely spoken a few words when Jiang Jinnian lifted his gaze toward her. 

Under his stare, Shen Nanzhi inexplicably felt a bit nervous. 

She tightened her grip around the glass of water in her hands, pretending not to notice his gaze as she continued with the rest of her sentence. 

“I’ve thought it over carefully these past two days. Maybe… we should just call it off.” 

Jiang Jinnian tapped his fingers lightly on the table, studying her expression. He neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, he asked in return: 

“Nanzhi, do you dislike me that much?” 

Shen Nanzhi was stunned. She hadn’t expected him to ask that. 

She instinctively shook her head. “No.” 

“Then… you’ve fallen for someone else, haven’t you?” 

“Would you mind telling me who it is?” His tone remained as gentle and courteous as ever, effortlessly putting people at ease. 

Shen Nanzhi shook her head again. “No, I haven’t.” 

She spent her days buried in coursework, earning credits, and working on research projects. Any spare time she had was spent staying up late, analyzing current financial trends. Where would she find the time for romance? 

The deep, unreadable darkness in Jiang Jinnian’s eyes faded slightly. He leaned back lazily against the chair, his gaze still fixed on her. 

“Then why must we call off the engagement?” 

“…” 

Shen Nanzhi found herself momentarily speechless. 

Just as she was trying to come up with an answer, she heard Jiang Jinnian speak again—his voice steady and composed, just like he had always been. Through all these years, he had never been one to act hastily. He carried himself with a measured pace, always maintaining control over every situation. 

“Nanzhi, I’ve spent most of these years abroad. I rarely returned to the country. It’s true that we don’t know each other well.”

He attributed the reason to himself, never once mentioning how, over the years, every time he returned, she had always kept her distance—deliberately avoiding him and never taking a step closer. 

“But as long as we spend more time together, we’ll gradually come to understand each other.” 

“Besides, this engagement was arranged twenty years ago. Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen were very pleased with the marriage between our families. If we cancel it so abruptly, wouldn’t that go against their wishes?” 

“And moreover—” 

He paused slightly. 

The subtle break in his words made Shen Nanzhi instinctively look over. 

Meeting her gaze, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table and stated his final point. 

 
“From a pragmatic standpoint, our marriage is the best outcome for both the Jiang and Shen families, isn’t it?” 

Especially for the Shen family and Shen Corporation. 

A scenario with nothing but advantages.

Twenty years ago, a marriage alliance between the Shen and Jiang families was already an unquestionably advantageous arrangement. Now, with the current state of the Shen Group, that advantage was even more pronounced. 

Shen Nanzhi understood the benefits perfectly. She also knew that Jiang Jinnian held complete control over Tiancheng Group and had even founded the industry-leading E.R Group. Marrying Jiang Jinnian would, without a doubt, be a shortcut for the Shen family—an opportunity to ascend in one swift move. 

She just didn’t know how to process the sudden reality of marrying Jiang Jinnian. 

It was like a bolt from the blue, descending without warning—impossible to digest all at once. 

Jiang Jinnian understood how she felt. 

For most of her life, everyone had tacitly assumed that she would one day marry Jiang Tingxu. Now, with the unexpected change of fiancé, it was only natural that she would struggle to accept it. 

So, he was willing to give her time to adjust. 

“Think it over carefully.” 

Then, meeting her clear and unguarded gaze, he added in a gentle, accommodating tone, “Or rather, if you have any requests, feel free to bring them up.”