Shi Niannian hadn’t always been such a heavy sleeper, but nowadays her frequent exhaustion was entirely Jiang Wang’s fault.

The man had extraordinary stamina, probably due to his athletic background, and he particularly desired her, often wearing her out completely.

This hotel had either forgotten to provide condoms or simply didn’t stock them. Last night, they hadn’t used protection, which made him even more unrestrained, though in the end, he didn’t finish inside her. Shi Niannian tiredly propped herself up, the blanket sliding down her shoulders to reveal patches of intimate marks.

She sleepily grabbed her clothes and put them on, then brushed her teeth and washed her face.

Outside the door, several people gathered in a corner, urging each other on.

“I’m not going! If I interrupt CEO Jiang’s morning exercise, I might lose my job immediately!”

“That shouldn’t happen, right? You can’t hear any noise at all.”

“The soundproofing in this hotel is excellent. What are you expecting, screams like someone’s slaughtering a pig that you can hear from outside?!”

“Why don’t you call Niannian? Whether she answers or not, it’s a way to indirectly remind them.”

Everyone agreed to this plan. The deputy director took out her phone and called Shi Niannian, surprisingly getting an immediate answer. She was brushing her teeth and mumbled a “hello.”

Deputy Director: “Niannian, is CEO Jiang up yet?”

Shi Niannian looked through the mirror at Jiang Wang sitting outside: “Yes, he’s up. Are you looking for him?”

“The factory called me. They want to talk to CEO Jiang. If it’s convenient, could you ask him to come out for a moment? I’m right outside your room.”

Shi Niannian: “Mm, alright. I’ll tell him.”

Shortly after, the door opened and Jiang Wang walked out. He had just washed his hair, which was still wet. He was wearing a white shirt, though not all the buttons were fastened—two were still undone, vaguely revealing light red scratch marks underneath.

The deputy director blinked rapidly and immediately looked away, respecting his privacy. She handed him the phone.

Jiang Wang called back, standing by the corridor window, methodically fastening his shirt buttons while speaking clearly on the phone.

He quickly finished and returned the phone: “We’ll meet in the hotel lobby at nine.”

“Alright.”

Back in the room, Shi Niannian hurried to get ready, checking the time on her phone—it was already close to nine.

Jiang Wang embraced her waist from behind, his breath hot: “Are you tired?”

Shi Niannian smiled slightly: “Not too bad.”

For the next two days, Shi Niannian followed Jiang Wang and the others to various places. Since she wasn’t a professional in this field, she usually just needed to stand quietly to the side, listening to everyone’s fluent and concise discussions about core technical issues, confident and poised.

Being able to experience Jiang Wang’s work like this made Shi Niannian happy.

After the three-day business trip ended, July was coming to a close. Jiang Wang no longer had Shi Niannian go to the company. With a little over a month before she would report to the hospital, she stayed home reviewing case files and professional books she had compiled.

The product they had been busy with for a month was officially launching in August. Jiang Wang had even listed Shi Niannian’s name as the Product Creative Director, using his position for personal advantage.

That evening, they needed to attend a product launch banquet.

Jiang Wang rarely brought Shi Niannian to such occasions, partly because she wasn’t comfortable with them, and partly because she had genuinely been busy with her studies. The last time she had attended a banquet was shortly after she had put on that ring, essentially announcing that he was no longer single.

The product launch banquet was a grand affair. This was Jiang Corporation’s first step into the pharmaceutical technology field, and they had invited notables from across the business world.

Shi Niannian’s hair had grown a bit longer. She had styled it in a low bun, wearing a simple dress. In this setting, compared to other elaborately dressed young ladies, she appeared very plain.

Yet she possessed an entirely different kind of beauty. She was pure and pristine, bringing to mind a somewhat clichéd comparison—an angel fallen to earth. But it was indeed true, especially in such a setting of fame and fortune.

Having been with Jiang Wang for two years while maintaining this purity, without any taint from the business world, was testament enough to Jiang Wang’s regard and protection of his young girlfriend.

“Are you thirsty? Do you want something to drink?”

The banquet hadn’t started yet. Jiang Wang sat beside Shi Niannian and asked.

Various wines and desserts were placed nearby. Shi Niannian looked around and reached for a stemmed glass containing a gradient light blue liquid.

It was an alcoholic beverage, though with a very low alcohol content. It was refreshing to drink in summer, so Jiang Wang didn’t stop her, letting her take it.

As soon as Shi Niannian took a sip, she frowned.

Jiang Wang turned his head: “What’s wrong?”

“This drink tastes strange,” Shi Niannian frowned and said, “It has a sour taste.”

Jiang Wang took a sip from her glass and said: “It’s fine, just the taste of alcohol.”

Shi Niannian took another small sip, still frowning: “I’m not used to it.”

Jiang Wang laughed slightly, raising his hand to signal the waiter to take away the glass, then getting her a glass of fruit juice: “Just drink this. Don’t drink alcohol anymore.”

After the banquet began, Jiang Wang stood up and went to the center of the hall, surrounded by a group of people. That cold, distant aura silently crept back over the man, his profile sharply defined in the light.

Only when observing from a distance could Shi Niannian truly sense Jiang Wang’s identity as “CEO Jiang,” with that distant and cold temperament described in business magazines.

She sat at a distance watching for a while, curling her lips slightly, then turned her gaze away.

Both the director and deputy director of the design department were attending this banquet as technical advisors. The deputy director had a good relationship with Shi Niannian. After completing an interview, she circled to find her and sat down beside her.

“Niannian, aren’t you going to join CEO Jiang?” the deputy director asked, sitting to the side.

Shi Niannian was using a small spoon to dig into a layer cake. Hearing this, she bit the spoon and tilted her head: “I don’t know those people. Jiang Wang told me to stay here.”

The deputy director smiled, making a couple of “tsk” sounds, then leaned back in her chair without saying more. She looked around, finally bringing her gaze back to Shi Niannian, and couldn’t help saying: “That dessert is very high in calories. Be careful about gaining weight.”

“It’s fine. I don’t gain weight easily,” Shi Niannian said.

The deputy director held up an index finger: “That’s irritating to hear!”

Shi Niannian smiled and changed her tune: “Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ve gained a bit lately from staying at home all day.”

The deputy director rolled her eyes: “Your consolation is also insincere.”

“No, really, I have gained weight. I weighed myself last night and I’m two pounds heavier.”

She rested her chin on her palm, staring at Shi Niannian for a moment: “But you don’t look like you’ve gained weight. If it’s not visible, it doesn’t count as weight gain.”

Just as she finished speaking, after the host’s brief introduction, Jiang Wang went on stage. The man stood at the front, presenting the product concisely and clearly.

Shi Niannian sat below watching him when suddenly she heard several women discussing nearby.

“Weren’t Jiang Wang and her in a public relationship two years ago? They still haven’t gotten their marriage certificate, so this relationship is probably on thin ice.”

“I have many friends who dated for several years but eventually broke up, then had flash marriages with men they’d known for just a few months.”

“But isn’t there a rumor that they’re already legally married? They just haven’t had a wedding ceremony.”

One of them snorted coldly: “If he can’t even be bothered to hold a wedding, how much can he like her? Look at Jiang Wang, he doesn’t seem like someone who would genuinely care for anyone. Perhaps this relationship has been in name only for a long time.”

Shi Niannian looked over. One of them looked somewhat familiar. After a moment, she recognized her as someone she had seen beside Sheng Xiangwan before, though Sheng Xiangwan wasn’t at today’s banquet.

The group noticed Shi Niannian looking their way, coughed a few times, and all fell silent.

The deputy director leaned close to her ear and said, “Don’t mind them. They’re just daughters of some company directors who have nothing better to do than gossip all day.”

Shi Niannian smiled slightly, not taking it to heart.

She and Jiang Wang had previously discussed having a wedding ceremony, but since she was still studying at that time, they decided to postpone it. Shi Niannian didn’t have any particular obsession or fantasy about a wedding, feeling that things were quite good as they were.

Later, Jiang Wang heard about this from somewhere. When he got home that day, he immediately brought it up with Shi Niannian.

“Did someone upset you at the previous launch event?”

Shi Niannian sat cross-legged on the sofa and looked up when she heard this: “Hmm?”

Jiang Wang’s voice softened a bit. He sighed and asked: “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

Shi Niannian truly didn’t know what he was referring to. Thinking back, she couldn’t recall anything significant happening recently. She blinked: “What are you talking about?”

Jiang Wang was half-leaning against the sofa. Hearing this, he smiled and reached out to pinch her face: “Mrs. Jiang, can’t you show a bit of temper?”

His pampered and indulged young girl had been upset by others, and he had been holding in his anger since hearing about it in the design department today. Little did he know she had completely forgotten about it, so magnanimous that she didn’t resemble a wealthy wife at all.

Since Shi Niannian had forgotten, he didn’t bring it up again. Dinner had just been prepared. The dining room was lit, filled with the aroma of the dishes, making the light seem romantic and warm.

Jiang Wang bent down slightly, placing a very gentle kiss on her lips—free from any hint of desire, pure and honest, pressing against the seam of her lips.

Shi Niannian relaxed, tilting her head up, allowing him to kiss her. She could smell the familiar scent on him, warmed by his body heat.

After a moment, Jiang Wang released her, pulling back a little, and said: “Miss Shi, when do you plan to give me a proper status?”

“Hmm?” She looked up.

Jiang Wang didn’t speak, moving in to kiss her again.

Shi Niannian understood his meaning. They had obtained their marriage certificate and were living together, with their relationship already public. The “status” he mentioned could only refer to a wedding ceremony. She realized what Jiang Wang had meant earlier about her being upset.

She blinked, looking at him, and asked softly: “Should we have a wedding ceremony?”

“Yes.”

Of course, they should. All other girls had weddings; how could his girl not have one?

Planning a wedding was a major undertaking. Jiang Wang had started preparations since Shi Niannian’s graduation, selecting several renowned venue designers, and had already begun designing and preparing the wedding cake and new wedding rings.

He had originally planned to handle everything himself, giving Shi Niannian a surprise when the time came. Now he had changed his mind—a wedding was purely to make Shi Niannian happy, so naturally, all arrangements should be according to her preferences.

The next day, Shi Niannian had just finished lunch at home when she received a call from Jiang Wang, asking if she had time to come to the company.

Perhaps because of the hot weather, she had been feeling increasingly sleepy these days. She’d been staying home every day, too lazy to go out. Resting her chin on her palm, her response was also languid.

“What time?”

“In half an hour. I’ve already sent someone to pick you up.”

Shi Niannian rubbed her eyes and yawned: “Alright.”

Hearing her voice, Jiang Wang laughed—a deep laugh came through the phone: “Just woke up?”

“Yes, slept for a long time.”

“Why are you sleeping so much lately? I saw you sleeping soundly when I got up this morning,” Jiang Wang chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “You should get out more. Come to my company—I need you to decide on something.”

“What is it?” Shi Niannian asked curiously.

He teased: “You’ll know when you get here.”

She had been visiting Jiang Wang’s company frequently for a while and knew quite a few people there. She greeted people along the way as she went upstairs, and things became quiet when she reached the 19th floor.

Only after entering Jiang Wang’s office did she discover what “decision” he was talking about.

In his hand was a thick book containing various wedding venue decorations—dreamy, fairy-tale, romantic—every imaginable beautiful and extravagant wedding style was there.

Shi Niannian was startled, involuntarily softening her breath: “What is this?”

Jiang Wang pulled her into his arms, one hand affectionately stroking the back of her hand, chuckling: “Wedding venue designs. It took some time. See if there’s anything you like.”

It wasn’t a question of whether she liked any of them—she liked them all and couldn’t decide which was more beautiful.

These kinds of designs from renowned designers for wedding venues take considerable time, let alone the finished sample images that Jiang Wang now had in hand.

Shi Niannian asked: “Have you been preparing for a long time?”

“I started preparing when you were busy with your thesis defense,” Jiang Wang said casually, lowering his gaze, seeming very focused on playing with her fingers. “Who’s like you, so carefree, just sleeping all day? Everyone outside is laughing at me for not having a proper status.”

Shi Niannian was amused by him and leaned over to poke his face: “People dare to laugh at you?”

Jiang Wang said with deadpan seriousness: “Behind my back, they’re all laughing.”

“Let me see, then,” Shi Niannian said with a smile, pulling the portfolio in front of her. “We won’t let people laugh at you anymore.”

Each venue design had a different theme. Shi Niannian flipped through it back and forth but still couldn’t make a decision. She turned her head and asked: “Which one do you like?”

“Any of them is fine. It depends on what you like.”

Shi Niannian rested her face on her hand, her fingers tapping on her cheek. She eliminated three options, finally trying to decide between two. She looked troubled, staring for quite a while.

Jiang Wang wasn’t in a hurry. After finishing some documents, he turned his head to look—the young woman was still in the same position, clearly genuinely perplexed.

He smiled, then suddenly heard Shi Niannian call his name.

“Jiang Wang.”

“Mm.”

“Why are you so good to me?” Her voice was very soft.

Jiang Wang looked up but didn’t speak.

Shi Niannian sighed, reaching out her hand, her eyes inexplicably warming: “I’m used to it now, so you have to be good to me for a lifetime.”

She rarely said such things. Shi Niannian rarely asked Jiang Wang for anything, nor did she seek assurances like many women do. This was the first time he had heard this from her.

His expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice: “I will.”

“I’ll be good to you for a lifetime. Only to you.”