Listening to his words, Shi Xing fell silent for a few seconds, slightly dazed, until Ji Yu’s phone rang, snapping her back to reality.

He pressed the answer button, furrowed his brows lightly, and his expression subtly changed.

“I understand,” he said, hanging up immediately.

Shi Xing stared at him intently and asked,
“What happened?”

Her hair was still dotted with droplets that dripped to the floor, and because she had just dried it, her cheeks were flushed with lingering warmth.

Ji Yu picked up a towel to dab at her damp ends, speaking in a low, ambiguous tone,
“Let’s go downstairs and eat first.”

As they descended, Ji Minghao and Lin Jue were already seated at the table, waiting for them. Perhaps because of the holiday, Lin Jue wore a red long dress, her hair pinned up, making her complexion appear even fairer.

The moment she saw them, she gestured to Shi Xing,
“Come sit here.”

Shi Xing exchanged a glance with Ji Yu and walked over to Lin Jue’s side. Ji Yu, observing the scene, pursed his lips slightly and casually found a seat.

Only the four of them were at the table. Shi Xing studied the dishes in front of her—they looked far more enticing than last time. Several dishes caught her interest, but out of respect for the elders, she restrained herself and only took food from her own plate.

Since their last conversation, Lin Jue’s attitude toward Shi Xing had improved significantly. She occasionally asked about work, and Shi Xing answered politely each time.

Sitting across from her, Ji Yu noticed her slight embarrassment and a subtle smile curved his lips. He picked up his chopsticks and placed a few of her favorite dishes into her bowl.

Shi Xing, initially eating quietly, noticed this from the corner of her eye and was momentarily taken aback. When she looked up, their eyes met, and a soft smile lingered in his gaze.

Ji Minghao, seated at the head of the table, observed the two quietly, cleared his throat, and got straight to the point,
“Where did you go today, and why did Xin Yuan get hurt?”

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. Ji Yu lifted his eyelids slightly, a shadow flickering in his eyes, and replied calmly,
“We went hiking this afternoon. She twisted her ankle—nothing more.”

Ji Minghao seemed ready to press further, but Lin Jue quickly noticed the tension and intervened,
“Shi Xing, a new holiday resort just opened. Come with me tomorrow for a couple of days of fun.”

Shi Xing blinked, surprised. Before she could respond, Ji Yu casually added,
“Our flight is tomorrow afternoon.”

Both elders turned to look at him, Lin Jue more puzzled,
“Returning so soon? You’ve just come back.”

Perhaps sensing her hesitation, Ji Yu lowered his gaze and said nothing further.

Ji Minghao’s expression softened, his tone easing,
“Stay a few more days.”

Though spoken like a suggestion, it carried an unspoken firmness.

Lin Jue turned to Shi Xing, testing her,
“Shi Xing, stay a few more days and chat with me.”

Shi Xing hesitated, glancing at Ji Yu. He quickly helped her out,
“The tickets are already booked.”

At this, both elders fell silent. They knew Ji Yu well enough—once he decided something, he rarely changed his mind.

After dinner, Ji Yu took her out for a walk to aid digestion. Because it was Spring Festival, the streets were brimming with festive energy.

Firecrackers crackled, and lion dancers weaved through the crowds, while the dark night reflected the bright lights from the ground.

Shi Xing walked hand in hand with him, glancing around curiously. Ji Yu noticed and smiled faintly.

Suddenly, he felt a tug at his coat. Looking down, he saw a small, frail girl dressed in thin clothes, asking timidly in Chinese,
“Brother, are you buying flowers?”

The cold had stiffened her body, making her movements slow. Shi Xing also looked down, frozen at the sight.

Ji Yu bent closer, scanning the surroundings, and asked gently,
“Where are your parents?”

The girl shook her head and repeated,
“Brother, are you buying flowers?”

Shivering from the cold, her voice trembled. Ji Yu’s eyes flickered with concern. He quickly pulled out a stack of pounds from his wallet and handed it to her,
“I’ve got it all. Go home quickly.”

The girl accepted the money, handed over all the flowers, and ran off without looking back, her movements precise and practiced.

Shi Xing frowned slightly, speaking in an unusually stern tone,
“In this cold weather, how could her parents let her come out alone?”

Ji Yu took the flowers, standing slowly, cryptically saying,
“This has basically become an industry chain now.”

Shi Xing glanced at the flowers in his hands and teased softly,
“Then why are you buying them? Aren’t you afraid her parents will escalate things?”

He handed the flowers to her and said after a pause,
“Helping her finish early today is a good thing.”

Feeling his subdued energy, Shi Xing patted his shoulder and shifted the topic,
“Let’s go look over there.”

They entered a small handicraft shop. Shi Xing’s eyes lit up, and she stopped in front of a rabbit mask, holding it up with a delighted smile.

Ji Yu, casual as ever, hands in his pockets, lazily asked,
“What are you doing?”

Shi Xing’s dimples showed as she mischievously said,
“Don’t you think this rabbit looks like you?”

Ji Yu took the mask, inspecting it, then returned his gaze to her without refuting the comparison. He asked softly,
“Do you want it?”

Shi Xing nodded. A faint smile crossed Ji Yu’s eyes, and he nodded slightly, saying in a teasing tone,
“Alright.”

By the time they finished walking around, he had inexplicably bought quite a few items.

The New Year bell rang, fireworks lit up the sky, illuminating the night. Ji Yu handed her a red envelope and said calmly,
“Happy New Year.”

Shi Xing’s eyes lit up. Taking the envelope, she asked in disbelief,
“When did you prepare this?”

“A long time ago,” he replied.

Embarrassed, Shi Xing realized she hadn’t prepared anything.

Sure enough, Ji Yu stared at her, tone teasing,
“And my gift?”

Shi Xing hesitated and said reluctantly,
“I didn’t get a chance to prepare…”

Before she could finish, Ji Yu, wearing an expression of “I knew it,” caught her attention. She pointed to the fireworks and excitedly said,
“Look over there!”

As Ji Yu glanced at the display, she stood on tiptoe, leaning to kiss his cheek—but he turned, and she ended up kissing his lips.

She froze briefly, then Ji Yu wrapped his arm around her waist, deepening the kiss. Their closeness brought the faint scent of mint from him, filling her senses.

After a few seconds, he let her go. Shi Xing blushed, quickly pulling back. Ji Yu raised an eyebrow, his voice dark and teasing,
“Kissing and running?”

Her ears reddened, and she whispered in denial,
“No way.”

Ji Yu held her hand firmly, a faint smile on his lips, saying nothing further.

Shi Xing remembered something and asked softly,
“Should we stay a few more days?”

Hearing this, Ji Yu’s expression shifted. The streetlight cast flickering shadows on him, highlighting his features. He said slowly,
“You want to stay? Be honest.”

His thoughts were simple: if Shi Xing wanted to stay, he wouldn’t insist on leaving. But if she was unhappy, there was no reason for them to remain.

Shi Xing thought for a moment and nodded. Just seeing Ji Minghao and Lin Jue’s expressions earlier had stirred something in her heart.

Since studying away from home, she rarely saw her own parents. Though Ji Minghao hadn’t been particularly kind these past few days, she didn’t want Ji Yu to have any conflict with them. At worst, she could reduce interactions with Ji Minghao later.

A softness crossed Ji Yu’s face, his lips relaxing slightly. He said ambiguously,
“Alright, then we’ll stay a few more days.”

Shi Xing smiled, linking her arm with his, teasing,
“You’re really good at persuading.”

Ji Yu looked ahead, smiling silently, his hand at the hem pausing slightly.

When they returned home, it was already late. Ji Yu took off his coat and was about to enter the bathroom. Shi Xing suddenly spoke,
“You just took a shower before going out, didn’t you?”

He tugged at the corner of his mouth helplessly,
“I need to shower again.”

Shi Xing now understood his obsession with cleanliness even more. She followed quietly,
“Then go ahead.”

Suddenly, he remembered something. Grabbing her arm, he said, half-smiling,
“Together.”

In the warm glow of the bedside lamp, he drew close. The distance between them shrank instantly, and a subtle, intimate atmosphere quietly spread through the room.

💝 Support the Team

April0427

✍️ Translator

💙 PayPal