Zhou Yining stood in the study, taking in the sight of Ji Dongyang’s trophies. They spanned more than a decade of his honors. She placed her own trophy into an empty slot. Compared to his rows of accolades, hers stood alone, a singular figure.

Ji Dongyang leaned against the edge of the desk, his long legs slightly parted. He pulled her into the space between them, his right knee hooking inward to let her lean against his leg. “Did you see them?”

Zhou Yining looked at the two rows of trophies again and sighed. “So many.”

“You will have many too, in the future,” Ji Dongyang said.

Zhou Yining looked at him. “Didn’t you say that your past and future honors all belong to me? Then these are already mine, aren’t they?”

Ji Dongyang chuckled. “You are right.”

Zhou Yining couldn’t help but lunged forward to kiss him. Just as her lips touched his, the phone rang. Ji Dongyang held her and gave her a deep, lingering kiss before finally letting her go.

Zhou Yining answered the call with a smile. Wan Wei’s voice came through: “You’re back, right? Don’t forget we have a program to record this afternoon.”

“Mm, I remember,” Zhou Yining said. “I’ll drive myself over in a bit.”

After hanging up, she went to look for him. The sound of running water came from the bathroom; Ji Dongyang was showering.

Zhou Yining went to the other bathroom. By the time she finished and came out, Ji Dongyang was in the kitchen cooking. Zhou Yining was wearing his bathrobe. It was oversized and loose, making her look quite small.

She hugged him from behind. “I have to go record a show in a bit.”

“I know,” Ji Dongyang said. “You’ve mentioned it.”

“I’ll be busy for over a week before I can come back. Since I just won the Golden Award, Wan Wei’s phone has been ringing off the hook. It’s impossible not to take any work at all. Some sponsors are willing to delay our cooperation.” She had essentially become an overnight sensation. Talk show invites, advertisers, movie offers… Wan Wei had been working like a madwoman these past few days.

“I know. But if you push all the work back like this, you will be very busy after August.”

“…Mm. It’s fine as long as you aren’t busy.”

Ji Dongyang smiled. “Go wash the vegetables.”

Zhou Yining rolled up her sleeves to help. “Who bought the groceries?”

“I had the housekeeper buy them when she came to clean,” Ji Dongyang replied.

“Oh. Are we staying here for the next few days?”

“Up to you.”

After washing the vegetables, Zhou Yining went to tour the house. This place was truly suitable for pets. Raising a cat… Ever since Mao Qiu was lost, Zhou Yining had thought about getting another cat countless times. In the end, she never did. She always felt she wouldn’t be able to raise it well and might harm a small life.

This was actually a knot in her heart. Ji Dongyang said they would raise a cat together; he must have sensed it, right?

She explored the entire house from the courtyard to the third floor, eventually returning to the master bedroom on the second floor.

While changing, Zhou Yining stared at the small black cat tattoo on her chest in the mirror.

When passion ran high, Ji Dongyang loved to kiss this tattoo.

Ji Dongyang made three simple dishes. He couldn’t find her in the courtyard or the living room, eventually finding her in the master bedroom.

The soft, graceful curves of the young girl were exposed to his sight. Her hand was gently stroking the tattoo on her chest. Sensing his gaze, she looked back.

Ji Dongyang walked toward her, standing behind her as his hands rested on her slender waist.

The man’s fingers were gentle, his pads rough. Zhou Yining breathed softly, looking at his deep, dark eyes in the mirror. However, she was on her period, so Ji Dongyang did nothing. He quickly released her and said in a low voice: “Change and come downstairs to eat.”

The man turned and left. Zhou Yining glanced at his back before dressing and heading downstairs.

After the meal, Zhou Yining had to leave. Aside from previously signed advertising contracts, Ji Dongyang hadn’t taken on any new work. He had plenty of time.

Zhou Yining was busy for nearly two weeks, flying between several cities before finally finishing all her prior commitments.

Since the exposure of their romance and the film festival, she had become a star at lightning speed. Reports about her were everywhere.

Ji Dongyang, meanwhile, had vanished once again, just as he did six years ago. If it weren’t for the occasional photo of him eating with Zhou Yining, people would have thought he had gone abroad again.

His fans explained: Dong-ge always rests for a while after finishing a movie. Being low-profile is normal. That is just our Dong-ge!

However, the next day, the news of Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining heading to the UK hit the entertainment headlines.

After getting off the plane.

Zhou Yining walked ahead happily, turning back to ask: “You said you’d stay here with me for a month?”

Ji Dongyang nodded. He strode toward her and took her hand. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to go on a date,” Zhou Yining said.

There were no paparazzi abroad. They could go wherever they wanted at any time without worrying about being followed.

“We can go traveling,” he suggested.

“Wait, you have to let me think about where to go.” Zhou Yining wasn’t very interested in traveling. She had been to many places over the years, sometimes with Zhang Hui and Alice, sometimes alone. But Qin Yuan usually didn’t allow her to travel alone; they had fought many times over that.

Ji Dongyang smiled. “That is fine. Take your time to think.”

Once they finished adjusting to the time difference, Alice called her. “Dinner tomorrow? Let Dong-ge treat us!”

Speaking of which… it seemed Ji Dongyang hadn’t had a chance to treat her friends to a meal yet.

Zhou Yining agreed: “Sure.”

After hanging up, she looked at Ji Dongyang. “Alice says you should treat us to dinner.”

Ji Dongyang had no objections. “That works. But we have to go to Mike’s place this afternoon first.”

Zhou Yining wanted to say she was fine now, but seeing Ji Dongyang’s serious expression, she could only let it be.

At Mike’s clinic, Zhou Yining asked: “Can I stop the medication? I feel much better. There are no problems.”

Mike asked her a few more questions. Zhou Yining answered truthfully, but her credibility was too low in Mike’s eyes. In the past, she had avoided treatment, skipped her medicine, and lied to him. Mike said she wasn’t an obedient child and turned his gaze toward Ji Dongyang.

Ji Dongyang glanced at her and said to Mike: “She isn’t lying.”

Mike laughed heartily. “OK.”

Mike added: “I have never seen her this compliant in all these years. Mr. Ji deserves a lot of credit.”

…

That evening, they had dinner with Zhang Hui and Alice. The moment Alice saw her, she ran over and hugged her. “My Best Actress! You were amazing!”

Zhou Yining was also very happy and returned the hug.

Alice looked at Ji Dongyang. “Dong-ge, you are the Best Actor in my heart. Even though it’s a pity you didn’t get the trophy. I’ll tell you a secret: I am your fan too. But Yining didn’t like you before, so I had to pretend I didn’t like you either, just in case she got triggered.”

Zhou Yining: “…”

Even if she had been quite ill back then, she wouldn’t have required those around her to follow her personal preferences, right?

Alice stuck out her tongue. “I was just afraid of upsetting you.”

Ji Dongyang smiled faintly as he watched them bicker, handing over the menu. “Order whatever you want.”

Alice: “Of course! We wouldn’t dream of being polite with you.”

Alice was very lively while Zhang Hui was more quiet. Alice talked a lot about the past. Ji Dongyang’s expression was calm, but he listened intently to everything.

After dinner, Alice wanted to go shopping, looking at Ji Dongyang with some hesitation.

Ji Dongyang was afraid the girls would feel uncomfortable with him there. He squeezed Zhou Yining’s hand. “I’ll head back first.”

Zhou Yining thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”

Zhou Yining and Alice walked through the mall. Alice bought quite a few things. Just as they stepped out of the mall onto the street, they were approached by several international students. The students were very excited. “Ah, is that Zhou Yining?”

“It looks like her! Weren’t there reports a couple of days ago saying she and Dong-ge came to the UK?”

“Yes, yes… where is… Dong-ge?”

Fortunately, this was the UK. There wouldn’t be a mob or a massive commotion. Zhou Yining admitted her identity openly. As for Ji Dongyang, she said: “He isn’t with me right now.”

The students were a bit disappointed but soon smiled, asking for her autograph and a photo.

As she left, she could still hear them whispering: “If only Dong-ge were here too. To have a photo with the Dong-Ning couple would mean my life is complete.”

Alice smiled at Zhou Yining. “It’s a good thing we aren’t back home. Otherwise, Zhang Hui and I would have to act as your bodyguards and assistants.”

Zhang Hui: “Does she even need your protection?”

Alice: “…I almost forgot.”

Zhang Hui checked the time. “It’s still early. Lucy’s cat had a litter of four kittens. Do you want to go take a look?”

Zhou Yining’s heart stirred slightly.

Alice was already shouting: “Let’s go, let’s go! Lucy even said she’d give me one!”

The three of them went to Lucy’s place to see the kittens. Zhou Yining stared at the tiny felines, remembering Ji Dongyang’s words about raising a cat. Her heart suddenly felt warm.

The next day, when she walked past a pet store with Ji Dongyang, Zhou Yining stopped and took an extra look.

The next second, Ji Dongyang was already leading her inside.

Ji Dongyang didn’t know much about cats, but he knew there were many breeds. The pet store was large, and there were many varieties and colors. Ji Dongyang simply asked: “What color do you like?”

Zhou Yining said nothing, staring at a Bombay cat.

Mao Qiu’s breed had been a Bombay.

Ji Dongyang walked forward. The clerk was a very cute girl. Staring at this handsome Asian man, she introduced enthusiastically in English: “This is a purebred British Shorthair.”

Ji Dongyang stared at the soft little things, looking back at her. “Is this one okay?”

Zhou Yining snapped out of it, following his finger. It was a solid black British Shorthair.

“Are we… really going to raise a cat?”

“Don’t you like them?”

He spoke as if it were a matter of course. Zhou Yining was a bit anxious: “But I’m afraid I won’t raise it well…”

Ji Dongyang walked back to her side, putting his arm around her waist as he brought her to the cage. “I will help.”

Mao Qiu was still small when he was lost. The tattoo on her chest was also a small black cat, looking very soft. Ji Dongyang couldn’t tell the breeds apart, but he felt the appearance was quite similar. “Is this one okay?”

Zhou Yining was still a bit dazed while he was already communicating with the clerk.

The clerk took the cat out and placed it in his arms.

Ji Dongyang asked many questions about raising a cat. The girl was very happy to tell him. Finally, she looked at Zhou Yining, who had been standing behind him silently with a serious, almost stunned expression. She asked in a low voice: “Is your wife not happy? Does she not like cats?”

Your wife…

Ji Dongyang looked back at Zhou Yining and smiled at the clerk. “No, she is very happy. She loves them very much.”

The clerk nodded slowly. “That is good then.”

With the clerk’s guidance, Ji Dongyang bought essentially everything needed to raise a cat. Zhou Yining’s gaze followed his tall figure until he tucked the cat into her arms. The soft little thing let out a few soft sounds in her embrace.

Miao! Miao!

She held it tightly, somewhat at a loss. She looked up into his eyes. His gaze held a shallow smile. “I need to carry the bags. You hold the cat.”

The clerk girl still thought Zhou Yining didn’t like cats. She came over to tell her: “Kittens are very cute. After a few days, you will surely fall in love with her.”

Zhou Yining didn’t speak, only giving her a glance.

The clerk girl smiled and winked at her.

Half an hour later, there was a cat in the apartment. Zhou Yining followed him with the cat in her arms, watching him find a spot for it. Finally, he set the cat bed down in the living room and stood up to look at her. “Try putting the cat in.”

Zhou Yining did as she was told, crouching down to put the cat inside. The kitten circled once and soon scurried out.

Ji Dongyang watched the kitten roam the house, unconcerned.

He pulled her to sit on the sofa. “Do you not like it?”

Zhou Yining’s gaze followed the cat. “I like it.”

After a while, she looked at him: “Are we really going to raise a cat? But… we aren’t home often. We have very little time.”

It was true. They were both actors. Sometimes they went away to film for months at a time. They had very little time at home. What would happen to the cat?

Ji Dongyang had considered this problem. “We are both here for now. I have time over the next few months. In the future, if we aren’t home, we will hire someone to take care of it or leave it with friends. I have several friends who raise cats. I’ve already asked; they are very willing to help.”

Zhou Yining hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful. She straddled his lap, staring at him seriously: “Ji Dongyang, are you really planning to just raise a cat?”

Ji Dongyang rubbed her head. “It depends on your wishes.”

He didn’t force the issue of children. He knew Zhou Yining wasn’t ready.

Zhou Yining was silent for a while before resting her head on his shoulder. “I am willing to raise a cat with you. Ji Dongyang, give me some time. I am willing to have children for you.”

When she was ready to be a mother, she was willing to raise a cat and a child with him.

But not now.

She didn’t want to be an irresponsible mother. She wanted to give their child the best love in the world.

Ji Dongyang said in a low voice: “Alright.”

Zhou Yining stroked his cheeks with both hands, leaning down to kiss his lips. The posture was too provocative. Her shirt buttons were undone. Ji Dongyang’s lips slowly slid down to the black cat tattoo on her chest, kissing it gently.

The next second, the new member suddenly jumped onto his lap, interrupting the two who were falling into passion.

Zhou Yining was startled and quickly pushed Ji Dongyang away. “Ah! We forgot to give the cat a name!”

Ji Dongyang: “…”

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