After borrowing the antique clocks, the group returned to the main house living room.

Having achieved her trip’s main objective so smoothly, Shen Qianzhan was grateful. When chatting with Ji Qingzhen, she put away her usual calculated flattery toward important figures and showed more genuine, heartfelt humility.

Her mind was clear—she knew Old Master Ji’s generous assistance was entirely for Ji Qinghe’s sake. Otherwise, how could a small producer like her have such influence to make Old Master Ji willing to lend four priceless antique clocks?

Ji Lin didn’t understand adult matters, judging whether he could act up based purely on intuitive feelings.

Seeing the old master and his future little aunt chatting happily, he tugged at Ji Qinghe’s pant leg and whispered in his ear, asking him to help get the Lego that Shen Qianzhan had given him last night.

Ji Lin was still small, delicately carved like jade, adorable as ice and snow. When he pleaded in his sweet, childish voice, he was truly impossible to refuse.

Ji Qinghe grabbed his hoodie and lifted him away slightly.

The little guy pouted his face, looking at him with infinite expectation: “Little Uncle.”

At his call, Old Master Ji and Shen Qianzhan both stopped talking and looked at the uncle-nephew pair.

Ji Qinghe pondered briefly and explained: “Ji Lin wants to play with Lego.”

Hearing this, Old Master Ji felt there was nothing wrong with satisfying such a request—it wasn’t like asking for stars and moon. He immediately helped Ji Lin urge Ji Qinghe to get the Lego.

Ji Qinghe had no objection. Before getting up, he made eye contact with Shen Qianzhan and said: “I’ll go get the Lego and be right back.”

Initially, Shen Qianzhan didn’t understand why he needed to specifically explain this to her. Only when she glimpsed Old Master Ji’s meaningful smile from the corner of her eye did she suddenly realize.

If she understood correctly, Ji Qinghe was worried that with him gone, Shen Qianzhan would feel uncomfortable facing Old Master Ji alone. This specific explanation was to put her at ease.

In the past, if Old Master Ji misunderstood, so be it—she was thick-skinned and didn’t care.

But now, their ambiguous relationship was real, and their daily sharing of a bed was also real. However Old Master Ji speculated, it couldn’t be considered a misunderstanding.

This feeling was especially like secretly tasting forbidden fruit under a parent’s nose and accidentally revealing evidence.

Even Shen Qianzhan herself couldn’t tell whether she wanted to continue concealing things or if her desire to cover up was making it more obvious.

Feeling guilty, her reaction became sharper instead. She first nodded casually at Ji Qinghe as if nothing had happened, then pinched Ji Lin’s little cheek and asked softly: “Do you like the Iron Man that Auntie brought you?”

“I love it.” Ji Lin acted coquettishly: “I love anything Auntie gives me.”

Shen Qianzhan was satisfied and patted Ji Lin’s little head again, watching him bounce away like a little kangaroo following behind Ji Qinghe.

Ji Qingzhen took this in without showing any reaction. When she turned back, he leaned forward to pour her a cup of freshly brewed pre-rain Longjing tea: “My wife very much regrets not being able to personally host you this time. Before leaving, she specifically instructed me to keep you in Xi’an for a few more days so Qinghe can properly play host.”

Shen Qianzhan didn’t understand Old Master Ji’s meaning and didn’t rashly respond.

“My wife is usually quite busy with work, and we’re often apart more than together.” Ji Qingzhen looked up at Shen Qianzhan and said: “When we were young, I gambled on momentary pride and separated from her for several years across great distances. Now that we’re old, those years are painful to remember, leaving only regret.”

“Later when I tried to make up for it, I listened to whatever she said. Even though I spoiled her like a little girl, regret is still regret.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled and said: “A person’s life is too complex. Growing from child to youth, one must learn to grow up and survive. Finally achieving independence and wanting to accomplish great things, one often falls hard and gets taught harsh lessons by reality. Like you—achieving extraordinary success while finding true love, living a stable and smooth life—it’s truly rare.”

“I won’t hide it from you, I’ve always envied Mr. Ji. His upbringing and demeanor couldn’t have been cultivated without a family like the Ji’s.” She paused, cupping her tea with both hands for a small sip to moisten her throat: “I can see that Mr. Ji’s character is greatly influenced by you. He persists in what he believes in, loves what he loves, always maintaining composure and steady self-respect.”

“I’m very attracted to him.”

This last sentence was one Shen Qianzhan decided to say only after careful consideration.

Ji Qinghe’s attitude toward her was self-evident. He was frank and direct, making no attempt to hide even in front of Old Master Ji and Ms. Meng. During their last meeting, Ms. Meng’s warm hospitality had already conveyed this message. It was just that their relationship was still relatively distant then, so out of politeness, no one spoke of it.

Secondly, it was probably also because her relationship with Ji Qinghe hadn’t reached the point where emotional matters could be discussed, so aside from learning about her family size and hometown, there hadn’t been much conversation.

But just now, when Old Master Ji used his own emotional experience with Ms. Meng as a lead-in to hint that Shen Qianzhan shouldn’t leave herself with regrets, she understood—her relationship with Ji Qinghe was like being separated by a thin veil. That bit of haziness was only something she thought others couldn’t see.

Ji Qingzhen knew Shen Qianzhan was intelligent. Seeing she wasn’t pretending confusion while understanding perfectly, or deliberately acting aloof because she was confident of Ji Qinghe’s devotion, his fondness for her increased. He looked at her with kind, gentle eyes, waiting for her to continue.

Encouraged by his expression, Shen Qianzhan abandoned her reservations and continued: “In my first few years in Beijing, I was ambitious, wanting to build a career. But with shallow vision, I was deceived and nearly collapsed. Only with friends’ help did I emerge from that low point. Those early experiences made me avoid romantic feelings like the plague. Later, when my career achieved modest success and I felt confident, I became even more convinced that I was my greatest support in this lifetime.”

But Ji Qinghe’s appearance made her involuntarily and willingly break down the fortress she’d built over these years, piece by piece.

He was the first man Shen Qianzhan immediately recognized as extraordinary—like a human treasure carrying rare gems, making her unconsciously want to spy on and possess him.

That reunion with Ji Qinghe in Beijing—she truly felt she was receiving karmic retribution.

The casual encounter from Xi’an had crossed vast crowds to pursue her.

Even thunder wouldn’t dare strike like that.

She feared the trouble she’d gotten involved with and didn’t want her stable life disrupted by Ji Qinghe. She simultaneously wanted to distance herself and stay clear while being uncontrollably attracted to him. Speaking against her heart was one thing, but she couldn’t control wanting physical intimacy again.

Later, when Ji Qinghe calculated step by step, she wasn’t unaware—she just pretended not to see.

The storm she experienced in her life’s first half had killed half her heart. Her wariness toward romance was real, her unwillingness to get involved in emotional disputes was real, but being afraid to engage in romantic affairs again was false.

Half her heart remained alive, and she couldn’t bear to let it wither, so she secretly bloomed on mountain peaks and among clouds, waiting for someone to pluck her.

This half-life salvaged from storms, she treasured and loved deeply, so she always admired herself alone in her own world.

From when he helped Xiang Qianqian rescue her from danger, from when he played hard to get and used techniques to lure her into his trap, from when he risked danger in wind and snow to solve her troubles—she could no longer ignore his deep affection and continue feeling sorry for herself.

If Ji Qinghe hadn’t been strong enough or persistent enough, they wouldn’t have today.

He couldn’t have taken any fewer steps.

Shen Qianzhan inhaled gently, calming her emotions before saying: “Mr. Ji showed me there’s a second way to live life. I both yearn for it and am working to try it. It’s just that someone like me, already halfway through life, having weathered valleys and scaled peaks, experienced mountains and rivers, seen the world—my survival habits are already set. I truly don’t have the courage to risk everything like when I was young.”

Ji Qingzhen very much admired her perspective and outlook.

The real world was already intoxicating with wealth and pleasure, let alone Shen Qianzhan working in the entertainment industry where fame, profit, and ugliness were magnified several times over. Her ability to maintain such clarity was already quite rare.

Influenced by Ms. Meng, the Ji family’s tradition regarding marriage had always been free development. As long as one wasn’t blind enough to bring demons and monsters through the door, parents wouldn’t forcefully interfere based on their own preferences.

Initially, because of the consultant matter, Ji Qingzhen’s impression of Shen Qianzhan wasn’t particularly good. It wasn’t until last time at the courtyard house, when Shen Qianzhan showed appropriate conversation skills and proper courtesy as a junior, that he revised his impression of her.

This time compared to the courtyard house, Ji Qingzhen was even more satisfied. He glanced toward Ji Qinghe, who had been standing not far away for who knows how long, and said with a smile: “Your mindset is more mature than your peers, so you needn’t belittle yourself. Being cautious and steady benefits both yourself and others.”

Shen Qianzhan accepted his teaching.

She had no one to confide these thoughts to, and saying them today to Old Master Ji surprised her while also giving her secret relief.

Just when she was running out of things to say, Ji Lin’s crisp voice rang out not far behind her: “Little Uncle, how much longer do we have to stand here?”

Shen Qianzhan: “…?”

Oh no.

After dinner, night fell.

Old Master Ji petted his great-grandson while watching Shen Qianzhan and Ji Lin put their heads together to study how to build Iron Man.

Shen Qianzhan always maintained elegance and dignity in his presence, but this was the first time he’d seen her disregard her image, sitting cross-legged on the floor with Ji Lin, seriously playing with Lego.

The evening news was playing on TV, the speakers’ low-frequency resonance comfortable and pleasing to the ear.

Ji Qingzhen glanced at the TV, then at Ji Qinghe sitting on the cold bench, unable to hide the smile on his face.

That afternoon scene was too spectacular, so much so that Old Master Ji couldn’t manage his expression every time he recalled it.

Ji Qinghe, once again being mocked, made cold eye contact with Ji Qingzhen. Then he raised his wrist to check the time and said casually: “After I leave, you must take your medication on time. If there are any fluctuations in your follow-up examination data, I must inform the old lady.”

Ji Qingzhen immediately stopped smiling and scolded: “Little brat, threatening me?”

“Just showing concern.” Ji Qinghe lowered his eyes to glance at Shen Qianzhan, who was still studying the Lego with her head down, and reminded: “Producer Shen, it’s getting late.”

The second half of his sentence was direct, so Shen Qianzhan couldn’t pretend not to hear anymore.

She put down the Lego piece in her hand and touched Ji Lin, whose expression instantly became dejected: “It’s getting late, Auntie shouldn’t disturb you any longer. Next time we meet, Auntie will prepare an even bigger, more complex Transformer for you.”

Ji Lin had rarely found such a playmate and was even more reluctant to let Shen Qianzhan leave: “Can I trade a Transformer for Auntie?”

Before Shen Qianzhan could respond, Ji Qinghe answered for her: “No.”

He leaned down, lightly scraping little Ji Lin’s nose with his curved finger, his voice authoritative: “You want to trade for Auntie Qianzhan—did you ask my opinion?”

Ji Lin felt wronged: “Uncle is stingy. You see Auntie Qianzhan every day, yet you still want to compete with me.”

Ji Qinghe smiled without warmth: “Of course.”

“Some people simply cannot be given away, not even to children.”

Ji Lin was stunned.

He looked at Ji Qinghe, then at Shen Qianzhan, with a stubborn, tearful, pitiful, wronged expression.

Shen Qianzhan had gotten along very well with Ji Lin this whole time. Seeing this expression on his little face, she quickly coaxed: “Didn’t you add Auntie as a friend? When you miss Auntie, just video call her.”

Only then was Ji Lin barely consoled.

He held Shen Qianzhan’s hand, making pinky promises and rubbing against her leg, acting spoiled for quite a while before reluctantly watching her get in the car.

Ji Qinghe drove on the way back.

Xi’an’s evening rush hour was just beginning to ease. Though there was heavy traffic on the roads, there were no traffic jams.

Ji Qinghe was familiar with Xi’an’s roads, not even using navigation as he sped along.

Shen Qianzhan vaguely sensed his urgency, repeatedly seeing him brake to slow down only when approaching speed cameras, then accelerate again regardless of spacing after passing intersections.

After several consecutive times, she couldn’t help breaking the silence first, asking: “In a hurry to get back?”

Ji Qinghe glanced at her, taking a turn single-handedly as they entered a tunnel.

The moment they passed through the tunnel, all overhead lights went out, leaving only the dashboard’s glow faintly illuminating the car interior.

Against the background sound of engine resonance, Ji Qinghe’s voice was deep and lustful: “In a hurry to love you.”