That diamond ring had taken Jiang Wang quite some time to obtain. He had it specially customized. Shi Niannian didn’t wear the ring often, as wearing rings at the hospital was rather inconvenient. She carefully kept the ring stored away, along with the necklace her aunt had given her.

However, those few days were enough for business magazines to make news of it. Shi Niannian even appeared in a business weekly, and her classmates pursued her with questions. Even Jiang Ling called from overseas.

“Niannian, you’re so accomplished now! You just married Jiang Wang without telling anyone?!” Her voice was boisterous, and Shi Niannian couldn’t help laughing when she heard it.

“Not really. We just suddenly got our marriage certificate. There wasn’t even time to prepare rings then.”

Jiang Ling exaggerated: “But as expected of Jiang Wang, that’s not just a goose egg, that must be an ostrich egg!”

Shi Niannian laughed, then suddenly heard a male voice on the other end: “What kind of egg do you want?”

“Would an ostrich egg work?” Jiang Ling turned to reply, her voice becoming more distant.

The man chuckled: “Sure, whatever you want.”

Shi Niannian recognized it as Xu Zhilin’s voice. Although it had been a long time since she had heard Xu Zhilin’s voice, his tone was very distinctive, always containing a hint of amusement, speaking languidly, like his phoenix eyes.

She smiled and said, “You’re with Teacher Xu?”

Because he had taught them mathematics for a period, she was still accustomed to calling him “teacher.” Calling him by his name always felt strange.

“Yes,” Jiang Ling said with a laugh. “Sometimes I stay at his place on weekends. Anyway, enough about me. When are you and Jiang Wang planning to have your wedding?”

“Not for a while yet. After I finish graduate school,” Shi Niannian said.

They chatted a bit longer before hanging up. Shi Niannian checked the time—it was already ten-thirty at night.

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and Jiang Wang walked out bare-chested with a towel wrapped around his waist. Droplets of water that hadn’t been completely dried off slid down along his muscle lines, rolling along the dimples at his waist and disappearing into the edge of the towel.

Shi Niannian looked for a moment, then averted her gaze.

Huang Yao had changed a lot since high school when she went to college. She even started following celebrities, apparently influenced by her undergraduate roommates. She followed a boy band. Shi Niannian didn’t understand much about this, but sometimes they would attend the same class, and Huang Yao would excitedly introduce her to each “brother” in her favorite group.

There were many shirtless photos, and every time Huang Yao looked at those pictures, she would cover her face and stamp her feet in excitement, exclaiming about how amazing their physiques were.

Shi Niannian glanced at Jiang Wang again. She had no concept of what made a male body good or bad, but she still thought Jiang Wang’s physique was very good.

The line of his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his wide back muscles, the dimples at his waist, and the clear, smooth lines of his abdominal muscles.

She suddenly remembered long ago when Jiang Wang returned to the classroom after training, his finger hooking his shirt to reveal the vague outline underneath, turning his head to ask if she wanted to see his abs, which resulted in him being scolded by the English teacher.

After drying his hair, Jiang Wang sat on the edge of her bed and asked: “Who were you calling just now?”

“Jiang Ling,” Shi Niannian said. “About the ring. She came to confront me, saying I didn’t tell her about it.”

Jiang Wang smiled.

Those gossip reporters in the business world had always been very interested in his love life. If he stood close to any wealthy daughter, they would make news of it.

They had known about Shi Niannian for a long time, but Jiang Wang had used some methods to prevent them from writing content involving her. However, after their relationship was officially confirmed, Jiang Wang didn’t give instructions prohibiting reports, so naturally, once the ring was discovered, they all reported on it.

He hadn’t told Shi Niannian about the private agenda he was harboring—he wanted everyone to know that Shi Niannian was his, that she had already worn his ring, that she belonged to him.

Those who coveted Shi Niannian, whoever they were, made him extremely displeased. He couldn’t tolerate even the thought of it.

Shi Niannian pulled a book over, flipped onto her stomach to read. With her heavy coursework, she was accustomed to reading for a while before sleeping.

Jiang Wang went to the bathroom, rustling about, and when he came out again, he had changed back into his pajamas.

They were silver-gray silk, draping elegantly on his body.

He glanced at Shi Niannian, pulled back the covers, and sat beside her, reaching out to pat her bottom through the blanket: “Don’t lie on your stomach. Sit up to read.”

Shi Niannian made an “mm” sound, reluctantly turning over. Jiang Wang propped up the pillow behind her back and tucked another cushion behind her.

He asked with amusement: “Why do you always like to read lying on your stomach?”

“It’s comfortable.”

“Bad habits aren’t comfortable.” Jiang Wang slid his hand under the blanket, massaging her lower back rhythmically. “Doesn’t this area get sore after lying on your stomach for too long?”

“I was only lying down for a little while,” she protested softly, not very satisfied.

“Even a little while isn’t good.” After speaking, Jiang Wang got out of bed to fetch his laptop.

Both of them were busy—one with work, one with studies—but sometimes they didn’t want to go to the study to work quietly, so after showering, they would work in bed for a while.

Shi Niannian occasionally marked lines in her textbook with a pen, making notes and records, reading very intently.

After a while, she closed the book, clipped the pen to the cover, and placed it on the bedside table. She slid down, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and lay looking at Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang had developed some nearsightedness, probably during the extremely busy period after Jiang Chen’s death, though his prescription wasn’t strong. He only occasionally wore glasses.

Like now, he had a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, which seemed to soften the sharpness in his eyes, making him look less fierce and less obviously sharp than usual, almost giving him a gentle appearance.

Jiang Wang dimmed the laptop screen and looked down at her: “Going to sleep?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Wang leaned over to turn off her bedside lamp, then adjusted her blanket: “You sleep first. I’ll be done in five minutes.”

Shi Niannian made an “mm” sound, but didn’t sleep. She moved next to him, resting her head on his arm, quietly watching him reply to emails. Her soft hair brushed against his chest, and the light from the laptop screen cast a transparent glow on her face.

Just lying quietly like this could easily lead one’s thoughts astray.

Jiang Wang clicked the send button, lifted his arm to close the laptop. Shi Niannian tilted her head up, but before she could ask, “Are you finished?” Jiang Wang had sealed her mouth with his.

He had a bit of a quirk in this area, always liking to tease the little girl until she was completely wet before starting his main course.

His hand slid under the blanket, and Shi Niannian could feel a cool touch—it was the ring on Jiang Wang’s ring finger. His ring style was extremely simple, without any patterns.

That touch of coolness constantly reminded Shi Niannian of the outrageous thing Jiang Wang was doing. He was doing it deliberately, deliberately using his ring finger, deliberately using the ring to touch her.

Shi Niannian went soft on the bed, instinctively kicking her legs. Jiang Wang chuckled softly, pressing his body down.

In her mind, she pictured Jiang Wang’s hands. His hands were very beautiful, long and bony, with blue veins visible beneath the skin, clean and clear palm lines, and a simple ring on his ring finger, leaving a very faint mark.

And now these hands were doing…

Shi Niannian blushed, whimpering, gripping his wrist: “That’s… that’s enough.”

Jiang Wang curved his lips, lifting her two straight, slender legs, his waist gradually sinking.

After who knows how long, Shi Niannian’s throat felt a bit hoarse, but he still wasn’t finished. He leaned down to kiss the corner of her lips, his movements unceasing.

Suddenly, his phone on the bedside table rang. Shi Niannian pinched him, as if finally finding a lifeline, and said weakly: “…There’s a phone call.”

Jiang Wang snorted, half-smiling, looking a bit mischievous. His fingertips touched her ear as he asked huskily: “Now you like it this way?”

Shi Niannian didn’t understand. She reached for the phone, was about to toss it to Jiang Wang when her eyes first caught the contact name.

“…”

Sheng Xiangwan.

She threw the phone back onto the bed and propped herself up slightly.

Jiang Wang looked up at her: “Want to sit up and do it?”

Shi Niannian didn’t speak. Jiang Wang temporarily stopped his movements, helping her sit up against the headboard. Just as he was about to move closer again, the little girl lifted her foot, which was a bit cold, and placed it directly on his lower abdomen.

Shi Niannian applied force with her leg. Jiang Wang didn’t particularly resist, and was pushed back to sit. He raised an eyebrow in confusion: “Hmm?”

She opened her mouth: “No more.”

Her words lacked conviction, still tinged with the aftermath of their intimacy, a hint of huskiness in her voice, the corners of her eyes flushed red.

“Why?” Jiang Wang ignored her refusal, smiling as he gripped her ankle and leaned forward again, his tongue tracing her ear: “Not feeling good?”

Shi Niannian couldn’t help trembling, pushing against him in resistance. But given the inherent strength disparity between men and women, Jiang Wang simply restrained her movements and bit down on her chest: “Shh, be good, don’t move.”

She was teased again.

The phone on the bed rang twice, then went silent.

After going to the bathroom to shower again, Jiang Wang carried Shi Niannian back to bed before sitting beside her and picking up his phone. He was surprised to see two missed calls.

He looked up at Shi Niannian and smiled: “So that’s why you were upset with me just now.”

Shi Niannian had no strength left. She pulled the blanket over her eyes, ignoring him.

Just as he finished speaking, the phone rang again. The name “Sheng Xiangwan” flashed on the screen. Shi Niannian pulled the blanket down slightly and used her foot to push against his waist through the blanket.

Jiang Wang clicked his tongue with a smile and sat beside her as he answered the call.

Sheng Xiangwan said, “Hello.”

Jiang Wang: “What is it?”

Sheng Xiangwan paused. She had always had good grades, but was never a traditional good student. She had dated many boyfriends in high school and college and could certainly recognize a man’s languid, satisfied voice.

Especially since she had only seen Jiang Wang in his formal suits, serious in the business world. The contrast made his current tone even more obvious.

She paused for quite a while before saying: “…Don’t forget the cooperation meeting with Sheng Corporation the day after tomorrow.”

“I won’t,” he said concisely. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

“Wait—” Sheng Xiangwan’s voice rose slightly, “Is what everyone outside is saying, about you being married, true or false?”

Jiang Wang looked up at Shi Niannian. The little girl didn’t look very happy, her eyes staring directly at him.

He curved his lips: “It’s true.”

“Shi Niannian?”

He said coolly: “Who else?”

Sheng Xiangwan gritted her teeth: “She abandoned you and went abroad back then. Someone like Shi Niannian, and you still rushed to marry her? Aren’t you Jiang Wang? You looked down on so many people. How did you end up choosing someone like her in the end?”

He let out a sarcastic sound, his voice immediately turning cold: “Who are you to speak of her like that?”

Shi Niannian was startled.

She had been a little upset, not because she didn’t trust Jiang Wang, but because receiving Sheng Xiangwan’s call during such an intimate moment made her feel uncomfortable. But not long into the call, Jiang Wang’s voice had turned cold, his expression clouded with irritation.

She tugged at the hem of Jiang Wang’s clothes, mouthing: “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Wang directly hung up the phone, turned off the bedside lamp, and affectionately nuzzled the corner of her mouth, his voice softening again: “Nothing. Let’s sleep.”