Chapter Seventy-Six
Last year, standing in this very spot, Shen Qianzhan had felt her views on marriage waver.
She had thought that after turning thirty-five, her friends, colleagues, and work partners would gradually marry and start families. Inevitably, she would find herself alone in such an environment, bearing the solitude of being single.
For adults, loneliness often doesn’t stem from the lack of a partner’s embrace, kisses, or intimacy. Instead, it comes from the many times you wander through a supermarket alone, with no one to help carry your shopping bags; when you want to try a new restaurant or revisit a favorite one, with no one to save you a seat or help decide the evening’s menu; or when you’re busy with work trips, with no one to see you off at the airport or wait for your return.
There would be no one to share the joy of your successes, and no one to keep a light on for you, waiting steadfastly amid your busy life.
In the loneliness of being alone, she would gradually come to regret her choice to remain single for the rest of her life.
Shen Qianzhan had also considered that after thirty-five, she might struggle to withstand the societal biases and dismissive attitudes toward single women, as well as the mounting pressure from her parents. She might even find herself unable to hold onto her original convictions, hastily compromising instead.
The worst-case scenario she could imagine was reaching the midpoint of her life, her heart withering from the inside out, yet still failing to meet the person she wanted to spend her life with.
Even so, Shen Qianzhan’s pride wouldn’t allow her to surrender before the situation even arose.
When she was twenty-five and settled in Beijing, Shen’s Mother, unaware of the heavy debt she carried and seeing her stable job, had tried to arrange blind dates for her.
Shen Qianzhan had no interest in these matchmaking gatherings, which felt like selecting concubines based on superficial criteria. She had turned down her mother’s efforts several times. Eventually, she reluctantly attended one, and the experience was as dull and uninspiring as she had expected.
Then, last year, standing alone in a sea of people, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a loneliness she hadn’t anticipated feeling until six years later.
All the rhythms she had carefully planned were disrupted by this small, seemingly insignificant, even somewhat laughable thought.
As luck would have it, the very next day, when she was most preoccupied with desire for companionship, she met Ji Qinghe.
Driven by attraction and a desperate need to determine whether her longing was merely a midlife physical craving or a genuine desire for emotional solace, she ended up thoroughly indulging with him.
At the time, Shen Qianzhan saw Ji Qinghe as nothing more than a fleeting romantic encounter during her trip to Xi’an. She had no idea that in his heart, he nurtured a secluded utopia, and his acquiescence was merely a strategic move, part of a long-term plan. She even felt a sense of pride for a while, believing her charm had effortlessly conquered him on the first attempt.
But even then, she hadn’t considered settling down with him.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have returned to Beijing as scheduled the next day, leaving him without so much as a word.
Whether it was the deep emotions stirred by revisiting this place or the fact that he had overheard her candid confession that afternoon, Shen Qianzhan felt a reckless determination tonight, as if she had nothing left to lose.
—
However, Ji Qinghe did not react with the ecstatic joy she had imagined.
His expression remained as calm as ever, showing no hint of emotion.
After a brief silence, a girl’s scream echoed from the distance. Her laughter pierced through the crowd, drawing the attention of nearby tourists.
Shen Qianzhan instinctively turned to look.No sooner had her gaze shifted away from Ji Qinghe than he lowered his head, pinched her chin, and kissed her fiercely.
This kiss was aggressive and domineering, allowing her no moment to evade—fierce and deep.
Some bystanders witnessed it, whistling softly and cheering.
Gradually, more and more tourists stopped to watch, with light-hearted chuckles and enthusiastic applause rising and falling around them.
Only he remained oblivious to the crowd, shielding her in his embrace as he kissed her with devotion and tenderness.
After a long while, the crowd dispersed.
He pressed his nose against hers, holding her hand against his chest.
Beneath her palm, his heart beat rapidly yet steadily, like a wildfire, warming her palm with a gentle heat.
Shen Qianzhan pursed her lips lightly and looked up at him.
Unexpectedly, she found herself lost in a deep, starry gaze.
He smiled, lowering his head to kiss her fingertips, gentle and reverent. "Waiting for you to relent was far too difficult."
"If I had known you were this easy to coax, I should have brought you to Xi’an earlier." His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he leaned in to kiss her again.
Earlier, it had been an uncontrollable surge of emotion; now, it was sheer disregard for everything else. He pressed her against the tree, kissing her again and again, each time just a brief touch, yet their lips lingered, as if kissing a treasured treasure he couldn’t bear to part with.
Only now did Shen Qianzhan feel a hint of shyness.
She tugged at his collar and couldn’t help but whisper, "Not here. Let’s go back first."
Ji Qinghe chuckled softly, replying calmly, "Alright, let’s go back and talk slowly."
He emphasized the word "slowly" in the latter half of his sentence, as if hinting at something, his voice tinged with a low, husky tone.
Thus, the ten-plus minutes from the Muslim Quarter to Ji Qinghe’s villa in the city felt as if they were playing in slow motion, stretching on endlessly.
—
Ten minutes later, the car entered the underground garage and pulled into a parking spot.
As the automatic rolling door opened and closed before finally resetting, Shen Qianzhan felt an inexplicable tightness in her breath and began to tense up.
She understood all too well what conversations and events were likely to unfold that night.
In the past, sleeping together was just that—sleeping together. If they were open-minded, they’d try a few more positions, no need for talk of love or affection, carefree and unrestrained.
But tonight, it was more than just sleeping. Before that, they’d have to exchange a small essay of sorts, like signing a contract—stamped and sealed to confirm a long-term relationship. Only after all that could they celebrate with the adult ritual of a passionate encounter.
Thinking of this, Shen Qianzhan suddenly felt the pressure, her steps growing heavy as she entered the house.
Though Ji Qinghe walked ahead of her, his peripheral vision remained fixed on her.
Seeing her deliberately slow her pace, he didn’t rush her.
He had witnessed Shen Qianzhan’s decisive tactics and her cunning maneuvers to secure deals and achieve her goals. Precisely because of this, he found her current state—pretending that avoiding the issue would make it disappear—unusually endearing.
—
The villa’s underground garage was just one floor away from the living room.
Once inside, Shen Qianzhan changed her shoes first.
Ji Qinghe followed a step behind, turning to close the door and lock it.
The sound of the deadbolt clicking into place was too sharp, echoing starkly in the empty, silent room.
Shen Qianzhan’s scalp tingled, and she didn’t even bother putting on her shoes.
At that moment, she felt like prey being roasted over a frying pan, her nerves constantly on edge, unsure when the string would snap or when she’d be plunged into the oil.
This feeling of being out of control was unbearable. Shen Qianzhan simply stood in the entryway, refusing to move.
Ji Qinghe watched her, amused, and asked knowingly as he changed his shoes, "What’s wrong?"
Shen Qianzhan said nothing.She kicked off the slipper already on her left foot and stepped barefoot onto the entryway rug, reaching out for a hug. "I'm tired from walking."
Ji Qinghe readily obliged, scooping her up into his arms.
She was light, curling up in his embrace, effortlessly stirring a man's protective instincts. Unaware of this herself, her fingers wrapped around his neck restlessly brushed against the skin behind his ear. "Old Shen has a soft spot—after marriage, he obeyed my mother in everything."
She glanced at him, fingertips teasing his earlobe as she asked, "What about you?"
The motion-sensor light in the entryway flickered off with a soft puff after they left.
By the moonlight streaming into the room, Ji Qinghe carried her step by step up the stairs and into the master bedroom.
Hearing her question, he remained silent for a moment.
Only after setting Shen Qianzhan down on the desk in the bedroom did he reply with a faint, amused smile, "I'm hard where I should be hard, soft where I should be soft—it all depends on how you use me."
Leaning over with his arms braced on the desk, he kissed the tip of her nose. "If you have any questions or concerns, ask them tonight. They won't be answered later."
Shen Qianzhan raised an eyebrow, somewhat uncertain. "Anything?"
"Anything."
Shen Qianzhan asked, "How many ex-girlfriends?"
"None."
Shen Qianzhan didn't believe it. "None?"
A man in his thirties, successful in his career, with no ex-girlfriends? If this were the entertainment industry, her next question would be, "Then how many boyfriends?"
"There aren't any," he said, turning on the desk lamp and gazing intently at her. "My sexual awakening came too early—I never had much interest in women." Seeing her expression shift, guessing she was thinking something else, he slowly added, "Nor in men."
Shen Qianzhan had originally intended to take the opportunity to hear about Ji Qinghe's romantic history, but finding it completely blank, she instantly lost interest in probing further. Just as she was about to change the subject, he paused thoughtfully and added, "If you're asking how many people I've liked, I could count them for you."
Shen Qianzhan sensed he was up to no good and refused to take the bait. "I won't ask."
"There's nothing worth asking."
Everyone has a past—whether reckless in youth or boldly unrestrained. Having lived thirty years in this world, it's impossible to be truly like a blank sheet of paper, with no history at all.
She didn't care whether he had liked someone before. The Ji Qinghe she saw and understood now made her feel utterly at ease, and that was enough.
Ji Qinghe studied her under the lamplight for a moment before asking, "Really nothing you want to ask?"
Shen Qianzhan shook her head.
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, licked her lips, and after a while said, "I'm a cautious person. Unless I'm certain you like me beyond reason, I'm not willing to take the initiative." Besides, they had only just confirmed their relationship—how far or how long it would last was still unknown. Asking about Ji Qinghe's romantic history was already the only question she could think of.
"I do like you beyond reason," he laughed softly. "Knowing you were in Beijing, I asked Ms. Meng for the title of China Region CEO and stationed myself here."
"Knowing you needed investment, I poured all my assets and energy into it."
"To make it easier to pursue you, I deliberately placed myself right under your nose, working as free labor."
"When one call didn't go through, even though I knew you were safe, I couldn't help but change my plans and go find you in the snow."
"Ming Jue thinks I'm crazy, but only I know what I'm doing."His words were low and heavy, as if in accusation.
Unfortunately, Shen Qianzhan was no longer the naive, clueless eighteen-year-old girl who could be swept off her feet by sweet talk: "Don't even think about fooling me. If the investment in Endless Year was made after weighing the pros and cons, I'll hand you my head."
Unfazed by her blunt exposure, Ji Qinghe played with her fingers, his gaze lingering for a long time without shifting: "So you know the rest is true?"
Shen Qianzhan, who had never managed to avoid the traps he laid, remained silent.
"Exhausting all my efforts is true," Ji Qinghe looked up, meeting her eyes. "The risk of exclusive investment is too great. If I didn't pour all my energy into it, I might not have been able to pull it off."
Shen Qianzhan parted her lips, the words on the tip of her tongue shifting several times, yet she stubbornly insisted on opposing him: "That only proves you had it planned all along."
"I've never pursued a girl before. If it weren't you, there wouldn't be anyone else." His voice suddenly darkened as he said, "Don't tarnish my sincerity."
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