Ji Lin’s footsteps approached from far to near, his pace light and quick.

Within a few breaths, he had “tap-tap-tapped” his way over.

Shen Qianzhan’s scalp tightened as she listened, biting her lower lip hard, not daring to make a sound.

Outside the storage room, the oblivious Ji Lin was about to push the door: “Little Uncle? Are you inside? Why aren’t you responding?”

Separated by only a secret door, Ji Lin’s voice was sweet and childish, like jade rings falling to the ground, creating clear, ringing sounds.

Shen Qianzhan was truly terrified. Her hands behind Ji Qinghe’s neck lightly pounded him twice, using her eyes to signal: Think of something quick!

In her nervousness, she lost control of her strength. Her nails scraped across the back of his neck, leaving several burning scratches.

Outside the door, Ji Lin seemed convinced Ji Qinghe was in the storage room and persistently knocked, unwilling to leave: “Little Uncle! Little Uncle!”

Ji Qinghe winced in pain, his hands loosening slightly as he pressed her against the door.

The secret door trembled slightly. This movement caused Ji Lin’s knocking to stop, and Shen Qianzhan bit down hard below, as pleasure from deep within her body surged like floodwaters through opened gates, suddenly lifting her high before dropping her down heavily.

She was like a kite with a broken string, instantly soaring against the wind to the peak.

After brief numbness, she went completely limp, collapsing against his shoulder without daring to move.

Ji Qinghe was initially stunned, then chuckled.

His laughter was low, as if containing mist, crisp yet hoarse.

Shen Qianzhan became both embarrassed and flustered.

Her heart raced as if she’d run 800 meters, blood rushing, then struck by his laughter like a sniper’s bullet. After a brief pause, it nearly bolted out of control.

Ji Qinghe’s arm crossed to support her.

Seeing Shen Qianzhan bury her face in his neck like an ostrich, he good-naturedly stroked the back of her neck in comfort: “Won’t laugh at you, don’t smother yourself.”

Shen Qianzhan made a muffled sound but didn’t move.

How mortifying.

Ji Lin outside the door vaguely heard talking and unhappily furrowed his little brows: “Little Uncle, I’m going to get angry.”

This time Ji Qinghe finally acknowledged him: “Go wait for me in the living room.”

His voice still carried some hoarseness, slightly dark in tone, full of authority.

The little one outside fell silent for several seconds, then responded with a pitiful “oh.”

Shen Qianzhan heard him stand outside the door for a while longer, seemingly taking a book, then quickly “tap-tap-tapped” away as he had come.

After the soft sound of the door closing, Ji Lin’s voice came through two doors, childishly saying: “I’m out, Little Uncle, hurry up, don’t make me wait long.”

Ji Qinghe didn’t respond.

He lowered his head, kissing from her hair to her earlobe, as if seeking reward, mumbling: “Sent him away.”

Shen Qianzhan had just broken into a sweat, her long hair clinging stickily to her neck, causing some discomfort.

He supported her with one arm, pressing her deeper against the door, freeing his other hand to grip her chin and lift it gently. He lowered his head for deep kisses.

This kiss carried some comforting nature, extremely gentle.

Initially, Shen Qianzhan was concerned about making him finish quickly, several times trying to turn her head away, but he dominated her without allowing resistance. Gradually, she became consumed with desire, half-pushing half-yielding as he stirred her passion again.

Though Ji Lin had left, the psychological shadow remained, making her afraid to make any sound throughout.

Several times she nearly moaned but quickly bit her lip, gently pushing him while urging: “Hurry up.”

“Can’t hurry.” His voice was restrained, seeming equally unbearable, supporting her with forceful movements, like sails.

The storage room was enclosed, with sluggish airflow.

Where their bodies pressed and overlapped, sweat gradually formed from their merged body heat.

Shen Qianzhan was like a fish out of water, nearly powerless.

After several rounds of struggle and advances and retreats, she couldn’t even suppress her voice anymore. Fragmented whimpers escaped her lips. Her arms around Ji Qinghe’s neck slipped several times, nearly suffocating.

In previous encounters, perhaps because they were hard-won, he was always methodical, tormenting her in various ways. Each time at the crucial moment, he would torment her by stopping just short.

He wanted to hear her beg, wanted to hear her say she wanted it.

Without begging or saying it, he would bully her endlessly, lifting her high, arousing her to peak excitement. Then giving her nothing at all, driving her mad.

Shen Qianzhan had always thought such torment was the ultimate. Little did she know that tonight, without using any techniques or tricks, just straightforward intensity, he would slice her to pieces.

She repeatedly climbed peaks and fell into seas. When she was on the verge of collapse, he finally rescued her from the ocean of desire, lifting her high in one place while gradually bringing closure to another.

Shen Qianzhan nestled in Ji Qinghe’s embrace, not making a sound.

For a long while.

Ji Qinghe turned to kiss her temples and ears: “I’ll carry you back. You should take a bath first and change clothes.”

“Ji Lin probably couldn’t wait to see you, so he came over rashly.”

Shen Qianzhan was exhausted, not wanting to lift even a finger.

Hearing this, she only nodded her chin slightly in agreement.

Ji Qinghe first sent Shen Qianzhan back to her room. After a moment, he also returned to his room to bathe and change clothes.

Afraid of keeping Ji Lin waiting, he only dried his hair halfway before leisurely heading downstairs to entertain tonight’s uninvited guest.

Ji Lin had long since grown bored waiting.

The picture book he’d taken from Ji Qinghe’s study had been flipped through for ages but still remained on the second page.

He listened to the sounds upstairs while looking around restlessly. Just when he was scratching his ears in frustration, he finally heard Ji Qinghe’s footsteps coming downstairs.

Ji Lin perked up immediately, sitting up straight and pretending to flip through the book attentively.

When Ji Qinghe stepped down the last stair, he turned to look, his eyes curved in a smile as sweet as if dipped in honey: “Little Uncle, are you done with your business?”

Ji Qinghe’s lips twitched as he placed his palm on Ji Lin’s head and ruffled it: “Who brought you here?”

Ji Lin’s head of fine black hair became disheveled from the ruffling, making him look both adorable and silly. He tugged at his little head, mumbling: “Daddy brought me. He dropped me at the door, watched me enter, then left.”

Ji Qinghe went to the kitchen and got two cans of Want Want milk, opening one and inserting a straw before handing it to Ji Lin. He held the other can in his hand, playing with it.

Ji Lin obediently accepted it, his little mouth making sucking sounds as he drank: “Little Uncle, where’s my little aunt?”

Ji Qinghe didn’t answer, pinching his soft little chin and rubbing it while asking: “Are you going home tonight?”

“Yes.” Ji Lin dropped his straw and eagerly explained: “Mommy’s car broke down on the road, Daddy went to help. He’ll come get me later.” After speaking, he raised his wrist and looked at the time with practiced air: “You’ve already delayed our meeting time for quite a while.”

Ji Qinghe flicked his nose with a curved finger: “I didn’t hold it against you, yet you’re complaining first.”

Ji Lin lifted his head to dodge, his peripheral vision catching sight of Shen Qianzhan standing at the second-floor stairway. His eyes lit up, suddenly glowing.

Ji Qinghe followed his gaze to see Shen Qianzhan, who had just finished tidying up and was holding the stair railing as she walked down.

She had changed into an ink-blue feathered velvet long dress. The shoulder collar perfectly concealed the spring scenery below her collarbones. Below the pankou buttons, her waist and dress lines were exquisite, accentuating her slender waist to appear no more than a handful.

The dress was knee-length, revealing a pair of straight, slender legs. The hem was also inlaid with starlight diamonds that sparkled and flowed with her movement, making the entire dress shimmer with flowing light, as if stars were surging, illuminating the whole room.

Ji Lin was mesmerized.

He suddenly felt that describing his future little aunt as the spider demon from Silk Cave was really inappropriate.

He racked his little brain, and when Shen Qianzhan reached them, he finally found the right title—Her Majesty the Queen of the Women’s Kingdom.

Ji Lin had previously spoken crudely and been disciplined by Ji Qinghe.

This time he was obviously much more cautious, smiling sweetly as he watched Shen Qianzhan approach, tilting his head up to first call out: “Miss Shen.”

This address was so unique that not only Shen Qianzhan but even Ji Qinghe was stunned.

He inserted a straw into the opened Want Want milk and handed it to Shen Qianzhan. After she took it, he turned to ask Ji Lin: “Miss Shen?”

Ji Lin nodded: “Daddy said calling ‘little aunt’ is impolite, girls get shy.” He spoke with conviction: “Can’t call her auntie either. Mommy said girls don’t like being called auntie, should call them big sister. But little aunt will be my aunt in the future, and sister and uncle differ by a generation, so I can only compromise and call her Miss.”

Shen Qianzhan was surprised that someone Ji Lin’s age could speak so articulately. She smiled and said: “You can call me auntie, I’d like to hear it too.”

Ji Lin smiled sweetly and winked at Ji Qinghe, then sweetly changed to calling her auntie.

He didn’t mention anything else, but inquired in detail about whether Shen Qianzhan’s journey had been tiring and expressed that he had long been looking forward to her visiting their home.

Shen Qianzhan had originally worried the atmosphere might be awkward, but when she came to her senses, she found Ji Lin had somehow moved to sit beside her, chattering endlessly about his school adventures. She couldn’t help but laugh: “Auntie brought you Lego, do you want to go upstairs and play for a while?”

Ji Lin’s eyes lit up, then remembering he would be leaving soon, the flame in his eyes died down. He pouted and shook his head: “Daddy’s coming to pick me up soon.”

Shen Qianzhan couldn’t bear to disappoint him, asking him to wait while she lifted her skirt hem and returned to her room to get the Lego.

When she came back down with the Lego, there was an additional unfamiliar young man in the living room. The man had his back to Shen Qianzhan, holding Ji Lin in his arms and speaking quietly with Ji Qinghe.

Hearing the sound, both Ji Qinghe and the young man turned to look.

With this glimpse, Shen Qianzhan’s suspicions were immediately confirmed—this person holding Ji Lin must be Ji Suimu, Ji Lin’s father, whom Ji Qinghe had mentioned.

Ji Suimu’s gaze only paused briefly on her face before politely nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

When she approached, Ji Qinghe introduced them: “This is my brother, Ji Suimu, Ji Lin’s father.” His gaze shifted to Shen Qianzhan as he tilted his head slightly and said: “Shen Qianzhan, my future girlfriend.”

Ji Suimu knew something about Ji Qinghe and Shen Qianzhan’s situation and smiled politely: “Ji Lin doesn’t know better—he offended you before. When you come to our house tomorrow, let Ji Lin properly apologize to you.”

Shen Qianzhan was slightly stunned, glancing at Ji Lin who was winking playfully at her from Ji Suimu’s arms. She smiled: “There was no offense. Though Ji Lin is young, he’s very sensible.” She handed over the Lego in her hands, her tone quite gentle: “Tonight especially, we had a wonderful conversation and regretted not meeting sooner.”

Ji Suimu accepted it for Ji Lin, bouncing the hand supporting his little bottom. Ji Lin immediately understood: “Thank you, Auntie.”

Ji Suimu smiled, nodded again slightly, then said: “Ji Lin has school tomorrow, so I’ll take him home first.”

After Ji Suimu left, the smile gradually faded from Shen Qianzhan’s face.

Meeting Ji Qinghe’s brother tonight was truly unexpected. Though she had performed appropriately, she was still somewhat nervous, not as comfortable as she usually was at business dinners.

As soon as her expression fell, Ji Qinghe noticed.

“Tired?”

Shen Qianzhan first shook her head, then nodded. Finally, she simply wrapped her arms around his neck, standing on tiptoes to seek an embrace.

Ji Qinghe had already seen she was barely holding up and welcomed her throwing herself into his arms. After naturally embracing her, he explained: “Ji Lin goes to school nearby. When his parents are busy, Auntie Xie helps with pickup and dropoff, so Ji Lin has our house’s passcode.”

“But after having you, can’t let him come and go so freely anymore.”

Shen Qianzhan looked up, meeting his gaze.

She had wanted to retort “what does that have to do with me,” but when the words reached her lips, she found she couldn’t speak as casually as before.

Earlier, when Ji Qinghe introduced her to Ji Suimu as his “future girlfriend,” this phrase was neither distant nor intimate, ambiguous and unclear—not something a steady, self-controlled adult man like him would typically say.

Friend was friend, girlfriend was girlfriend. Even just one additional word made the nature completely different.

But their relationship indeed fit neither category perfectly.

Calling it friendship—they had already been intimate.

Calling it romance—she had never nodded agreement.

“Friends with benefits” was too crude, unsuitable for public mention.

Either one point short or one point over.

So when Shen Qianzhan first heard this phrase, she was actually quite surprised.

Ji Qinghe and Ji Suimu appeared to have an excellent relationship, both family and friends. Whether he spoke intentionally or not, this phrase revealed his attitude—he was serious about Shen Qianzhan, serious enough to introduce her to family even when their relationship was unclear, frank and direct.

He also didn’t hesitate to let Ji Suimu know he was pursuing Shen Qianzhan.

It was precisely this phrase “Shen Qianzhan, my future girlfriend” that let her know—

Whether she was a producer and business partner didn’t matter.

Whether she was a fleeting romance also didn’t matter.

Even with all her multiple identities, in his eyes, she was simply someone he liked, nothing more.

Unrelated to face, also unrelated to sense of achievement.

In that moment, Shen Qianzhan clearly heard the sound of collapse from deep in her heart.

She knew she was smitten.

The hopeless kind.