What happened next was chaotic and unmemorable.

Shen Qianzhan didn’t remember whether she had obediently closed her eyes as told, nor did she recall when Ji Qinghe had mercifully let her go.

When her memory returned, she was already sitting in the dining room, with Meng Wanzhou holding a bottle of Lafite and asking her: “Producer Shen, would you like some too?”

On the long table were all the freshly prepared dishes, not limited to Chinese cuisine—the dining table also featured a mix of salads, pre-dinner bread, and Western dishes.

Meng Wanzhou had just finished pouring wine for Ms. Meng and was looking at her expectantly. Seeing her hesitation, he pointed to the ancient wine beside Ji Qingzhen: “Or would you prefer to have a couple drinks with Grandfather?”

Shen Qianzhan’s familiar dining etiquette was to never refuse what was offered. Upon hearing this, she deliberately showed some hesitation on her face, just about to continue with the first act of performing gracious acceptance when Ji Qinghe reached out to block Meng Wanzhou’s offer, saying without room for argument: “Just give her fruit juice.”

Shen Qianzhan, whose performance was interrupted: “…?”

She slowly turned her head, trying to express her anger.

Just as she turned, before her posture could fully unfold, Ji Qinghe spoke first: “If you want me to drive you home, you can drink alcohol.” Certain that she wouldn’t dare ask for alcohol in public, he slightly raised his eyebrows and unhurriedly added: “My family doesn’t have the custom of toasting—how many times do I need to emphasize this before you remember?”

His tone wasn’t deliberate, but the more natural it was, the more it made people’s imaginations run wild.

Shen Qianzhan noticed Ms. Meng’s gaze falling on her from some unknown place, tangible as if pressing down on her chest, making it slightly heavy.

She took an imperceptible deep breath, didn’t trouble Meng Wanzhou to pour her fruit juice again, and gracefully stood up to help herself.

The fresh flower arrangements and candlesticks on the long table had already been moved to the corner at the end of the table. She poured the fruit juice, placed the glass bottle beside her hand, and calmly explained: “Mr. Ji is being considerate—I almost forgot I drove here.”

She raised her glass, politely thanked Ms. Meng for personally cooking this table of dishes, and expressed her gratitude for the pleasant conversation and great benefit from talking with Elder Ji, before gracefully taking her seat again.

Meng Qiongzhi liked well-mannered younger people, and Shen Qianzhan’s actions obviously earned considerable goodwill. She smiled slightly, while gesturing for everyone to start eating with their chopsticks, she found topics to chat casually with Shen Qianzhan: “There aren’t many rules at home, you’re a guest, just feel comfortable.”

“I’ve lived abroad for many years, my dietary habits are quite casual, not particular about anything. See if you can get used to it.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled, subtly complimenting: “If everything were particular, life would become tedious.”

Meng Qiongzhi pursed her lips, tearing off a piece of pre-dinner bread: “Qinghe’s personality is boring, but he encountered someone as interesting as you.”

Shen Qianzhan didn’t immediately respond. Her chopsticks trembled slightly, and what appeared before her eyes was either the deep and shallow floating desire in his eyes or the last scene before he pressed down to kiss her.

She steadied her hand, her tone incredibly calm: “Mr. Ji and I are different. Being in a high position, he should be steady and serious. In my line of work, I have to learn to be flexible—who would want to invest if I were too boring?”

Ji Qinghe methodically peeled shrimp, not even lifting his eyelids: “How am I different from you?”

He removed the black line from the shrimp’s back, and when he spoke again, his tone carried three parts laughter, quite playful: “Do you like distancing yourself from relationships so much?”

This bastard’s habit of being confrontational had to flare up from time to time. Shen Qianzhan smiled without sincerity and turned to glance at him, unexpectedly catching him looking sideways at her. In the unexpected eye contact, she was the first to be defeated by Ji Qinghe’s half-smiling gaze.

Before this, Shen Qianzhan had always thought her skin was quite thick.

She could withstand Jian Xin’s direct and indirect sarcasm and belittlement, still smiling and giving her a thumbs up to show magnanimity; she could ignore boycotts and enjoy herself when Xiang Qianqian’s fans went crazy; even when occasionally appearing on programs and being teased by hosts about embarrassing matters, she could calmly make self-deprecating explanations.

Yet now, whenever this bastard got close to her, her limbs went soft and her head became dizzy and weak. When this bastard looked at her a few more times, she blushed and felt hot all over, her mind full of eighteen-plus content.

Had she been too lacking in care lately, overly starved?

After reaching the conclusion that her “body was too hungry,” Shen Qianzhan felt somewhat unwell.

Unfortunately, Meng Wanzhou’s intermittently occurring curiosity steered the conversation in a strange direction again.

Meng Wanzhou asked: “When I came out earlier, I didn’t see you two. What were you doing?”

He seemed genuinely unaware, with a hint of small curiosity in his eyes, looking so foolish that he seemed to radiate stupidity.

For some unknown reason, a very dangerous and immoral thought popped into Shen Qianzhan’s mind—Meng Wanzhou was so stupid, he wouldn’t even know if he got cuckolded in the future.

This question was naturally one Shen Qianzhan wouldn’t answer.

She quietly crossed her legs, using her toe to kick Ji Qinghe, hinting for him to answer.

Ji Qinghe turned his head, imperceptibly glanced at her, the corner of his mouth slightly hooked, not immediately speaking.

His smile was too glaring, and Meng Wanzhou was the first to be blinded, grumbling with dissatisfaction: “Now you just ignore me when I ask questions, no manners at all.”

Shen Qianzhan lowered her head without speaking, pretending to seriously taste the dishes.

As long as there was no eye contact, she could pretend she didn’t hear!

Meng Wanzhou now had backing, and he complained to Ms. Meng with a belly full of grievances. Only when Elder Ji and Ms. Meng both focused their attention on this topic did Ji Qinghe unhurriedly throw out a sentence: “I took her for a casual stroll.”

After speaking, his gaze fell on the screen, pausing briefly for a moment, meaningfully saying: “After all, it’s inconvenient with many people around.”

Knowing full well what he meant by “inconvenient,” Shen Qianzhan blushed furiously: “…” Please shut up.

——

After dinner, Shen Qianzhan appropriately suggested taking her leave, and Ms. Meng thoughtfully accompanied Ji Qinghe in seeing her to the door.

Ms. Meng was quite elderly, with a head of silver hair, spirited and robust. She didn’t hide her fondness for Shen Qianzhan, regretfully expressing that if she weren’t returning to Xi’an tomorrow, she would hope Shen Qianzhan could visit often.

At the moment of polite farewells, Shen Qianzhan’s tense nerves relaxed, and even her smile became more genuine: “There will be opportunities. I borrowed some collection clocks from Elder Ji, so I’ll have to trouble you again in Xi’an in a while.”

Ms. Meng was well aware of Ji Qingzhen’s plans for this move, and since she had no particular fondness for Elder Ji’s precious collection clocks, she didn’t even frown upon hearing this, only reached out to hug her: “Welcome to Xi’an. Qinghe will be returning to Xi’an for a short stay soon, you can come back with Qinghe. Otherwise, with the old being old and the young being young at home, we might not host you well.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled, understanding that both Elder Ji and Ms. Meng were being so warm and friendly for Ji Qinghe’s sake, and immediately agreed.

Ji Qinghe never interrupted, leaning against the door frame silently watching her speak in official tones. Surprisingly, many behaviors and mannerisms that he found disagreeable in others seemed to have unique personal charm when Shen Qianzhan performed them.

He raised his wrist, checking the time—eight o’clock, Beijing traffic was just getting a moment’s respite.

Ji Qinghe straightened his body.

His figure was tall and upright, and when he stood on the stone steps, the lantern tassels overhead almost hung to the top of his head, making Ms. Meng beside him appear particularly petite.

He gently gripped Ms. Meng’s shoulder, imperceptibly interrupting this farewell that had already lasted five minutes: “The night wind is strong, you go inside first. I’ll drive Qianzhan home, please rest assured.”

Ms. Meng was crystal clear about Ji Qinghe’s intentions, her gaze swept between the two of them, and she tactfully released them: “That’s good, having Qinghe drive you home puts my mind at ease too.”

Shen Qianzhan was slightly stunned, glancing at Ji Qinghe.

His thoughts were always deeply hidden, and trying to read anything from his face was more difficult than digging up entertainment industry gossip scandals.

Shen Qianzhan was very tactful, knowing her skills were still shallow and it wasn’t advisable to confront Ji Qinghe directly, so she didn’t immediately reject his offer. Only after walking out of Ms. Meng’s line of sight did she speak: “I didn’t drink, no need to drive me.”

Ji Qinghe turned around, his attitude toward her refusal quite dismissive: “Do you have to drink before I can drive you?” He tilted his head, gesturing for her to get in the car first: “Next time you come, don’t drive—I’ll pick you up.”

Shen Qianzhan was full of question marks.

Where she stood, the light was exactly half-blocked by tree shadows, making half her face bright and half dark, her expression becoming ghostly and bizarre.

Ji Qinghe smiled, reached out to hold her chin, and angled her face slightly toward the light.

This sudden move caught Shen Qianzhan completely off guard. When he turned her face around, she asked in a muffled voice: “What are you doing?”

“Want to see more clearly.” He released his hand, his gaze falling on her lips, lingering and examining: “When I kissed you, I didn’t control myself—your lip makeup smudged.”

One sentence from him instantly set off the perfectionist Shen Qianzhan. She instinctively covered her lips while fumbling for her car keys and heading to the passenger side to turn on the vanity mirror light.

Shen Qianzhan felt Ji Qinghe’s statement was too absurd—no matter how little she remembered about what happened behind the screen, she recalled that he had only barely tasted. Even so, her heart still wavered, needing to see for herself.

Her lip makeup was indeed smudged, with lipstick faintly bleeding beyond the edges, but it wasn’t from being kissed—it was from wiping with napkins after eating.

Shen Qianzhan inexplicably felt relieved.

She had experienced too much today, her emotions rising and falling. Now sitting in the car, as her spirits relaxed, she suddenly felt tired. She leaned against the car window, stared at Ji Qinghe for a while, finally hooked her finger and agreed.

——

On the way back, there wasn’t the awkwardness Shen Qianzhan had expected.

Most of the time, Ji Qinghe remained silent, while she gazed out the car window, counting how many streetlights they passed.

It was Shen Qianzhan who spoke first: “You’ll be taking Elder Ji and Ms. Meng to the airport tomorrow, right?”

“Mm.” Ji Qinghe glanced at her: “Whatever I can do myself, I try to handle personally.”

Shen Qianzhan nodded: “Ms. Meng is quite different from what I imagined.”

“She’s only like that with you.” Ji Qinghe lowered the car’s music volume for easier conversation: “Next time I take you to see her at a fashion show, it should overturn the impression she gave you today.”

Shen Qianzhan was touched by the latter half of his sentence, turning to look at him: “Elder Ji told me many things about you tonight.”

Ji Qinghe wasn’t surprised. He gripped the steering wheel with one hand, turning through the last curve of the toll exit, his eyes reflecting the streetlight illumination like a bright starry sea.

Shen Qianzhan saw him seem to smile briefly, the smile flashing by too quickly to catch. She automatically interpreted this as a signal for her to continue, thought for a moment, and said: “We talked about your attitude toward clock restoration, and mentioned that you spent two years at the clock museum—all praise between the lines. But I quite agree with what the old gentleman said: for some crafts, talent and passion are both indispensable.”

Ji Qinghe smiled faintly, saying: “It’s already their good breeding that they didn’t try to arrange a marriage proposal for me.”