Ji Ying lowered her head, staring at the shattered teacup on the floor. Above her, a question mark seemed to form. What was he talking about?
That day at the teahouse, his gaze had been cold, without a single extra expression. Where did this “love at first sight” come from? If he was going to make up a story, he could at least make it believable.
Seeing the three men on the sofa all turn their burning gazes toward her, Ji Ying opened her mouth, but for the moment, no words could explain.
A servant came to clean up the broken pieces. Ji Ying watched apologetically, then explained to her father and brother: “Mom fell asleep, so I came down to make some tea.”
Ji Tianze called her over, his voice gentle: “Yingying, come sit. Let’s talk.”
Ji Ying hesitated, then stepped forward and sat beside her father—directly across from Fu Jingshen. She lowered her lashes, avoiding his deep gaze. “Talk about what?”
Ji Tianze spoke plainly: “Your marriage with Jingshen.”
“Oh…” Ji Ying’s eyes dropped, her pale fingers twisting unconsciously.
“Has Dad agreed?”
“I just spoke with Jingshen. We discussed some important matters.” He briefly repeated the conversation.
When she heard the words “leave with nothing,” Ji Ying’s beautiful eyes widened. She quickly looked up at the man across from her. “You mustn’t be rash.”
Fu Jingshen curved his lips in a faint smile. “Yinghua, is it that you don’t trust me—or that you don’t trust yourself?”
Seeing she couldn’t reason with him, Ji Ying clung to her father’s arm, her voice anxious: “Dad, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t do this, all right?”
Ji Tianze coughed lightly into his hand, wanting to remind his daughter that before marriage, she shouldn’t show pity for a man, or else she’d be easily manipulated later. But with Fu Jingshen present, as an elder, he couldn’t say it aloud.
Fortunately, Ji Chen noticed the hidden smile in Fu Jingshen’s eyes and frowned, unable to bear it. “Yingying, this was his choice. Don’t interfere.”
Ji Ying wanted to speak again, but Ji Tianze lightly brushed the topic aside, smiling: “If there’s nothing else, then it’s settled.” He nodded toward Fu Jingshen. “I’ll speak to the elders myself, and together we’ll choose an auspicious day.”
With that, the matter was firmly decided.
Fu Jingshen rose, nodding politely. “Thank you for your time. I won’t intrude further. Please give Madam Ji my regards.”
Ji Tianze patted his shoulder in return. “And give my greetings to Elder Fu as well.”
Hearing that Fu Jingshen was leaving, Ji Ying felt a storm of words trapped inside her, nowhere to go. She quickly tugged at her skirt hem and stood. “I—”
She paused, then changed her words. “I’ll see you out.”
Ji Chen was rushing to the company. Hearing this, he picked up his briefcase. “Perfect, I’ll go too.”
Fu Jingshen cast him a faint glance.
The three left the Ji residence together. Fu Jingshen walked half a step behind Ji Chen, waiting for Ji Ying to catch up.
Ji Ying still couldn’t process the weight of those words “leave with nothing.” Her eyes were lowered, lost in thought. Suddenly, the hand hanging at her side was seized by a broad, warm palm, gripping tightly. The man was bolder than before—his hard knuckles pressed firmly into her fingers until their hands were locked together, finger by finger.
Ji Ying’s lashes trembled. She lifted her eyes, signaling with her gaze: “What are you doing?”
Fu Jingshen curved his lips, saying nothing, and simply continued to lead her forward by the hand.
Already at the iron gate, Ji Chen seemed to sense something. He suddenly turned back—and at once saw their tightly interlocked fingers. His eyes narrowed.
Ji Ying: *!*
Like a young couple caught in a secret romance, she instinctively tried to pull her hand away. But Fu Jingshen only held tighter. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered: “Yinghua, you need to get used to me.”
Her ears flushed hot. She turned her face aside, only to hear the soft laugh rumbling from his throat.
When she looked back again, Ji Chen was gone from the gate. A moment later—*bang!*—the car door slammed shut. In an instant, his Maybach had already driven far away.
Ji Ying: “…”
She walked with Fu Jingshen to the gate, where his car was parked outside. She stopped, lifted her head to look at him, pressed her red lips together, and said seriously: “You shouldn’t have said that. Leaving with nothing, it’s unfair to you.”
Suddenly, Fu Jingshen bent slightly, lowering himself to her height, but answered with something entirely different: “Why are you suddenly so short?”
Ji Ying: *?*
She paused, glancing at herself. Because she was at home, she hadn’t worn her usual heels—shorter by several centimeters. Even tilting her head up, she could only meet the tip of his nose. Her cheeks puffed in frustration. She forgot her earlier question, glaring at him with mock anger. “Go on then. I won’t see you off.”
Fu Jingshen chuckled, rubbing her head. “Go back and rest well.” With that, he loosened their entwined fingers. “We’ll meet again next time.”
Ji Ying stood rooted to the spot. Just before he turned to get into the car, she couldn’t hold back and called out: “Third Brother.”
Fu Jingshen turned back. “Mm?”
Ji Ying’s red lips moved hesitantly. “Love at first sight… irresistible.”
“Is that… made up?”
Fu Jingshen looked at her, as though he could see straight into her heart.
Ji Ying lowered her lashes, her pale fingertips unconsciously tightening around the iron gate’s railing.
After a long pause, Fu Jingshen chuckled. “I don’t write novels—what would I be making up?”
“Then you’re…” Ji Ying’s heartbeat stumbled out of rhythm.
Fu Jingshen: “Serious.”
“But I, I…” Ji Ying suddenly couldn’t even form words. She glanced at him with a hint of apology. “I haven’t yet…”
“I know.” Fu Jingshen’s voice was gentle. “That’s why—there’s plenty of time ahead.”
The news of the two families’ impending alliance spread like wildfire, swiftly reaching the entire circle. Both patriarchs were delighted by the marriage, and soon all the wedding preparations began in earnest.
Yu Wanqing, after half a month of recovery, threw herself wholeheartedly into planning Ji Ying’s wedding.
Since Ji Ying had not yet graduated, the families agreed to postpone the ceremony until after her graduation. Once the prenuptial agreements and property divisions were settled, they could register the marriage first.
Ji Ying was overwhelmed by the endless details that followed, neglecting even the Rainlinling teahouse, let alone the already-canceled Huizhou trip.
Half a month passed in a blur of busy arrangements.
One evening, Fu Jingshen had dinner at the Fu family’s old residence.
Ever since Ji Tianze had given his consent, the old master had been as cheerful as if ten years younger. His favorite pastime was poring over the calendar—marking dates for the marriage registration, the wedding, even auspicious days years ahead, including those for having children.
After dinner, Fu Jingshen casually flipped through the marked calendar. At the end, he said quietly: “There may not necessarily be children.”
The old master froze. “What?”
“Yinghua is young, and her health is fragile,” Fu Jingshen set the calendar down. “It wouldn’t be suitable.”
The old man was stunned for a moment, then exhaled deeply. “I hadn’t considered that.” His expression grew solemn. “Once Yinghua marries into our family, Grandpa will make sure to nourish her well. Such a delicate girl must be cared for until she’s strong.”
Fu Jingshen’s lips curved faintly. “We’ll talk about it after she’s home.”
“Oh, right, your father called me yesterday to ask about your marriage,” the old master said suddenly, swallowing the last spoonful of soup.
At this, Fu Jingshen didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids, simply listening as the elder continued.
Fu Yuan was capable, but loved to play. Back when Fu Jingshen took on responsibilities, Fu Yuan dumped all the group’s work onto him, managing only a branch company in Beijing half-heartedly. The old master could do little about it, except for one bottom line: no illegitimate children outside, or he’d be barred from the family entirely.
“Your father said he hasn’t met Yinghua yet. He suggested that one day, both families could have dinner together, get acquainted.” The old master paused, lowering his voice: “Why don’t you invite your mother too?”
“Marriage is a major event. When the two families sit together, the Ji family will be full of children and grandchildren. Our side—it’s just you and me. Even if we add your aunt’s family, it still doesn’t look right. Don’t you think?”
Fu Jingshen’s mother, Xie Ling, was from Hong Kong. After the big joint project ended, she divorced Fu Yuan and returned to Hong Kong, where she fought over inheritance with her many siblings. Even Fu Jingshen himself barely contacted her more than a few times a year.
After speaking, the old master leaned forward, quietly studying his grandson’s expression.
Fu Jingshen’s face remained calm, his long fingers turning his phone. But his words were cold to the core: “We’ll see.”
After dinner, Fu Jingshen didn’t linger at the old residence. He greeted the old master: “I’ll head back to the company.”
The old man nodded, sighing deeply. “Ah.”
Fu Jingshen got into the car, and the driver started the engine. Outside, traffic streamed by, LED lights reflecting coldly off passing vehicles. In the silence, his phone buzzed several times with new messages.
Lowering his eyes, he saw Yan Hang posting in their childhood friends’ group: “Anyone up for drinks?”
“Your brother’s heartbroken…”
A few seconds later:
Jiang Sheng: “Have you ever even been in love?”
Yan Hang: “? Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Xu Zhou chimed in: “Yo, how’d you get dumped? Tell us so we can have a laugh.”
Yan Hang: “Bah! Are you even brothers anymore?”
Yan Hang wailed in the chat: “@F, they’re all trash. Third Brother, come drink with me!”
Fu Jingshen tapped the screen: “?”
Yan Hang, as if finding his anchor, sent him a flood of crying emojis, followed by a long voice message.
Normally, Fu Jingshen would never bother with such things. But this time, he patiently converted the audio into text.
[Half a month! For half a month, I’ve been waiting at Yulinling and still haven’t seen the lady boss. Do you know how I’ve lived through these two weeks?]
Then came another long voice message.
Fu Jingshen, expressionless, continued converting it into text.
[Today, I really couldn’t hold back, so I asked Manager Chen at Yulinling. Guess what?]
Xu Zhou, intrigued, asked: [What happened?]
[Turns out she’s already engaged—and the wedding is coming soon! Now tell me, how am I supposed to steal her away?]
At this, Fu Jingshen let out a cold laugh and directly asked Yan Hang:
[Location.]
Yan Hang: [You’re the real brother, Third Brother. I’m waiting in Fengnong, private room B302.]
As soon as Fu Jingshen responded, the other two in the group saw he was going and quickly changed their tune, saying they’d join too. What began as a night of Yan Hang’s “heartbreak” was forcibly turned into a brothers’ gathering.
Fu Jingshen exited the chat and immediately called Ji Ying.
After a few seconds, the line connected. A crisp voice came through the receiver: “Third Brother?”
Fu Jingshen asked casually, “Have you eaten? What are you doing?”
Ji Ying: “I’ve eaten. I’m working on my coursework.”
Hearing this, Fu Jingshen chuckled softly. Every time he called the little girl, whatever he asked, she always answered honestly—obedient to the core.
“Do you have time to come out?”
Ji Ying was stunned. “…Now?”
Fu Jingshen: “Not possible?”
“It’s not that…” Though hesitant, her tone carried suppressed excitement. “It’s just—I don’t know if Mom will let me out.”
Fu Jingshen glanced at the street outside. “Just tell her you’re with me. I’ll come pick you up.”
“I think… that should be fine. Where are you taking me, Third Brother?”
Fu Jingshen suddenly laughed. “To meet a few brothers.”
“To meet your friends?”
Fu Jingshen: “Is that okay?”
Ji Ying was silent for a few seconds. Just as Fu Jingshen thought she was troubled, she suddenly asked: “Then should I dress up nicely?”
Fu Jingshen: “Why?”
Ji Ying paused again before whispering: “To make you look good.”
“Pfft.” Fu Jingshen covered his lips, genuinely amused. “Don’t worry.”
“You coming is already giving me face.”
At that, Ji Ying hurriedly tried to hang up the phone. “I’m hanging up!”
After the call ended, Fu Jingshen lowered his eyes, staring fixedly for a long moment without moving. The heaviness that had built up in his chest seemed, in that instant, to quietly dissolve. Resting his chin in his hand, he calmly instructed the driver to change course.
Yan Hang sat alone at the private room’s table, rows of bottles lined up before him.
Jiang Sheng and Xu Zhou arrived one after the other, only to see Yan Hang clutching a microphone, drinking beer, and singing “Single Love Song.”
“Find the one you love most, the one you deeply love, the one you truly love, to bid farewell to being single…”
“Don’t let it be that after loving and missing, I’m left single, singing love songs alone…”
The two froze mid-step, exchanging looks. In each other’s eyes was the same urge to turn and run.
Unfortunately, Yan Hang spotted them between his wailing verses.
“Brother Sheng! Brother Zhou!”
“This city has gained another heartbroken soul~”
The two reluctantly sat down. Xu Zhou glanced at the low-alcohol beer in Yan Hang’s hand and said lazily: “Stop drinking that. It won’t get you drunk.”
Yan Hang: “…”
“If you really want to drink, grab two bottles of baijiu and down them straight,” Jiang Sheng added.
Yan Hang: “…” Slamming the beer bottle down, he protested: “What do you know?! I’m not drinking alcohol—I’m drinking sorrow!”
Xu Zhou smirked, scrolling his phone. “What’s the point of drinking here alone? Call a couple of girls to join you, drink and sing together.”
Just as he was about to dial, his eyes froze. Then he shouted: “Holy—!”
“What the hell are you yelling for?” Yan Hang jumped, glaring at him.
“Look—look at the group chat!” Xu Zhou’s expression was beyond shock.
Yan Hang and Jiang Sheng both grabbed their phones. The moment they opened the chat, they cursed in unison.
On the screen was a new message, sent ten minutes earlier—
F: [Tonight I’m bringing your sister-in-law. Clean up the place.]
Jiang Sheng and Xu Zhou erupted, instantly forgetting Yan Hang’s “heartbreak.”
“Damn, I haven’t even showered today.” Jiang Sheng sniffed his shirt.
“It reeks of smoke.”
Xu Zhou quickly stubbed out his cigarette, flung open the window to air out the room, and kicked Yan Hang. “Hurry up! Get rid of those bottles!”
Yan Hang fumed. “What, are you meeting a goddess? Why not bathe, burn incense, and fast for seven days first! So much fuss.” Still, he resigned himself to tidying up—if only to avoid being personally scolded by Third Brother.
They swiftly cleaned the room, switched the music to elegant piano pieces, straightened their shirts, and sat properly on the sofa.
After about fifteen minutes, Yan Hang grew restless. “Honestly, you guys are overdoing it. It’s just a woman. Sure, she’s pretty, maybe a little ethereal, but I swear—no one can compare to the boss lady at Yulinling…”
Before Yan Hang could finish his words, the private room door was suddenly pushed open. Two people stepped inside, one after the other.
The man in front was tall, his bearing cold and distinguished—it was unmistakably Fu Jingshen.
The three inside craned their necks to look past him. Behind his frame, the hem of a pale blue qipao appeared, revealing slender, luminous calves. Their gaze traveled upward: the woman’s figure was graceful, her waist delicate. Then, from behind the man’s arm, a perfectly exquisite face peeked out, her beautiful eyes shimmering like autumn waters.
The room fell silent.
Xu Zhou and Jiang Sheng sucked in a sharp breath, staring without blinking—until they met Fu Jingshen’s dark, heavy gaze. At once, they coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Only Yan Hang remained oblivious, eyes wide as he stepped closer to the doorway. He looked at Ji Ying, then at Fu Jingshen, then back again, repeating the motion as if spellbound.
“I can’t really be drunk, can I?”
“Otherwise…” Yan Hang rubbed his eyes hard. “How could I mistake my sister-in-law for my goddess?”