After dealing with Chairman Luo, Jiang Yuyan accompanied Jing Rui as they mingled around the event, engaging with various business figures, building connections, and networking. Everyone praised him for having such a smart and tactful secretary.

While everyone was full of praise, Jing Rui lowered his head and teased her. “These people only know that you’re efficient and skilled in socializing. They don’t know that you can also act, play dumb, and deceive people so well that they’re completely fooled.”

“Oh? Do you have a problem with that?” She felt tickled by his whisper in her ear and lightly dodged away.

“How could I? I’m deeply honored.”

“Honored?”

“For hiring such a good secretary for just a little salary, this deal has been worth every penny.”

Was he really evaluating her like an object?

She shot him a warning look.

He smiled faintly, but the smile wasn’t on his lips; it was deep in his eyes, like stars shining in the night, glowing just for her.

Yes, this man rarely smiled. Apart from necessary social pleasantries, he always wore a poker face. Only with her did that icy demeanor naturally melt away.

This was her most private happiness, and she had no intention of sharing it with anyone.

Jiang Yuyan smiled sweetly.

“What are you smiling about?” Jing Rui was busy fending off a woman who had approached him, but he still noticed and captured every one of her expressions.

“Why do you care what I’m smiling about?” She teased him. “That beautiful lady just asked you out for dinner.”

He shrugged and gave her a disinterested look, then turned his head and promptly rejected the woman’s advances without hesitation.

“Hey, why did you refuse so bluntly? What if she’s some distinguished lady—”

“So what?” he retorted, cutting her off.

True, it didn’t matter to him. He was used to the admiration of elegant ladies, and those who were of no use to him didn’t even get a second glance.

He was, at his core, somewhat contemptuous of women.

At this thought, Jiang Yuyan felt a subtle sensation spread in her chest. While she was glad he wasn’t the type of man easily seduced by beauty, after all, she was still a woman—

“Boss,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “Today I helped you accomplish a big task. Don’t you think I deserve a reward?”

“No problem,” he agreed immediately. “What kind of reward do you want?”

“Let me think about it…”

She didn’t answer right away, leaving him hanging for the rest of the evening. It wasn’t until they left the banquet hall and walked along a quiet path that she tilted her face up to catch the fine drizzle falling from the sky. Suddenly, her mood brightened.

“Come on, let’s dance!” she suggested enthusiastically.

“What? Here?” He was taken aback.

“Yes, right here.” She bent down and gracefully lifted her skirt. “Your Highness, would you do this lady the honor of a dance?”

“Stop messing around; it’s raining.”

So what if it’s raining? It’s perfect. Didn’t he remember that they first met on a quiet, rainy night? That encounter changed her life.

From then on, she fell in love with a man who would never stop and wait for her, so she had to hurry and keep up with him.

She had chased him for so many years, through both hardship and joy, because following him was like dancing in a misty rain, stepping on puddles, watching ripples spread beneath her feet. Each ripple reached into her heart.

Following him was like dancing to an elusive rhythm, fearing that if she spun too fast, she’d miss him, but also fearing that if she moved too slowly, she’d fall behind. Every step was like treading on her own heart, a mix of pain and joy.

Every sway carried the weight of an anxious love—loving him, and hoping he would love her back.

She wanted to love him, to love him passionately, unreservedly, like a girl wearing red dancing shoes of love, never stopping the dance—

“How do I look? Am I dancing well?” She spread her arms and twirled in the rain.

“You look like a lunatic,” Jing Rui smiled, watching her with pure male appreciation and indulgence in his deep eyes. “Are you drunk?”

“Am I drunk? Hmm, maybe a little. I did have two glasses of whiskey to gain those Japanese men’s trust.”

“Your tolerance is low; don’t drink that much next time.” There was a hint of concern in his voice.

She laughed. “Rui, do you remember our first dance?”

“Our first dance?”

“At the sophomore welcome party! Have you forgotten?”

“You remember something from that long ago?” He raised an eyebrow.

Of course, she remembered everything about him.

She sighed softly and beckoned him over. “Rui, come dance with me.”

“No, I don’t want to be seen as crazy too.” Jing Rui stood composedly on the side, arms crossed. He was always calm, even rumored to be cold-blooded, and a cold-blooded man wasn’t suited to dancing wildly in the rain.

In fact, as his secretary, she shouldn’t have indulged herself like this. If a colleague saw them, it would harm the company’s and his image.

But she was in a good mood, and he didn’t want to spoil her fun. She was a very responsible secretary and a considerate lover, so she had earned the right to make such a small request.

“You promised me a reward,” she pouted, slightly annoyed.

“Anything but this,” he promised.

“Really? Even kissing me in front of others?” She teased him, making things difficult on purpose.

“Yanyan!”

“Just kidding.” She spun around and gracefully twirled into his arms, and he caught her, holding her close.

She felt both hot and cold, trembling slightly.

His heart tightened. “Alright, stop playing around. You’ll catch a cold if you stay in the rain too long. Let me take you home.”

“Okay.” She nodded, leaning into him as they walked side by side. “Rui, what will you give me for my birthday this year?”

“Isn’t it still months away?” He gently teased her. “Are you that eager? Alright, then tell me what you want.”

“You’re supposed to think of the gift! Having the birthday girl choose would be too boring, right? We agreed that this year, you have to get creative and give me a big surprise.”

“No problem, I’ll definitely surprise you.” As long as she asked, he would do it.

“Rui,” she called softly again.

“Hmm?”

“I feel like I’m getting older every year.” She sighed.

“So am I.”

“You’re a man. It’s nothing for you to age, but it’s tough for us women. Once youth is gone, it never comes back.”

So, this meant—

Jing Rui’s mind sharpened. He cupped half of her face in his hand, forcing her to look directly at him. “You’re not thinking about getting married, are you

?”

She remained silent.

And he couldn’t see the thoughts hidden in her misty eyes. “I remember asking you before why you stayed by my side.”

“Because I wanted to see the demon king’s end,” she recalled giving a provocative answer at the time.

“Do you no longer want to see it?”

She shook her head wistfully. “I think I probably won’t see it.”

“Why?”

Because he was over thirty, established, and it was almost time for him to settle down. He had said before that his marriage was valuable, and she was neither a wealthy heiress nor a kind angel who could redeem the demon king.

She was just a woman who, for power and profit, was willing to dirty her hands along with him…

“No need to ask? Because you’ve succeeded too much!” Jiang Yuyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to show the brightest smile. “I originally wanted to see how you, a despicable guy who only uses people, would end up suffering. But unexpectedly, you’ve climbed up day by day, becoming more successful. It’s completely unfair. Has God forgotten to open His eyes?”

“God hasn’t closed His eyes; He’s just dazzled by you.” He lowered his head, ambiguously rubbing against her temple, kissing her sensitive ear. “With you by my side, how would God remember any grand principles of justice? Don’t you agree? My little witch.”

She didn’t answer, trembling as she turned her face and their lips met in a lingering kiss, hoping it would—

Last until the end of time.

—