It all happened in an instant. By the time Ji Ying realized, she had already fallen into Fu Jingshen’s arms. Only a thin shirt separated them—his warmth and breath wrapped around her completely. She could even hear the strong beat of his heart, mingling with her own, pounding against her ears.
Ji Ying softened her breathing. When she lifted her eyes, all she saw was the man’s refined jawline, so close it was within reach. She bit her lip in slight annoyance. He had asked her permission, yet acted first—his hand at her waist held her so tightly it hurt. Not knowing where to place her hands, she rested her slender wrist lightly on his arm, just to keep her balance.
Unable to hold back, she called him: “Third Brother.”
Fu Jingshen: “Mm.”
Ji Ying looked up at him, her voice dropping lower: “Why did you suddenly want to hold me?”
Other than family, no one had ever been this close to her. Holding hands, embracing… And perhaps, in the future, even more intimate things.
The thought made her cheeks puff. She glanced at him. “You’re not drunk and doing this on purpose, are you?”
Fu Jingshen suddenly laughed, his chest trembling. His palm cradled the back of her head as he leaned close, his voice husky at her ear: “Mm. On purpose.”
“Pretending to be drunk, acting crazy.”
Ji Ying pressed her lips together, pinching his arm lightly, raising her voice a little: “Then don’t drink anymore!”
Fu Jingshen laughed again, his cool breath brushing behind her ear, sending tingles down her skin. “I won’t listen to you.”
Ji Ying grew truly annoyed, turning her head away, muttering: “Fine, don’t listen then.”
But Fu Jingshen lifted her chin, studying the faint anger on her face. He leaned closer, lowering his voice: “I only listen to Mrs. Fu.”
His cool fingertips stroked her delicate chin as he chuckled softly: “Are you Mrs. Fu, hmm?”
Ji Ying’s cheeks flushed pink in an instant. She stared at him in disbelief, her eyes saying: *How much did you drink to say this?*
But Fu Jingshen seemed determined to get an answer. He asked again and again:
“Are you?”
“Mm?”
“Are you?”
Ji Ying: “…”
“Yes, yes, yes.” She grasped his calloused fingers at her chin, helpless.
“I am.”
Only then did his tight embrace ease slightly.
Ji Ying lifted her eyes, meeting the deep, tender gaze that held her. He had claimed to drink Yan Hang under the table, but he himself was clearly drunk—
At least when sober, the famed Third Master Fu of Beijing would never show such a dazed, blank expression.
“Mm.” In the silence, Fu Jingshen suddenly spoke low. His long fingers brushed her cheek as he repeated: “My wife.”
Ji Ying’s face burned under his touch. She couldn’t withstand the intensity of his ink-dark gaze. Her throat went dry, and her eyes drifted away toward the car window.
Outside, the car had at some point already stopped, pulling up in front of the Ji residence. As soon as it halted, the driver tactfully opened the door and stepped out. “I’ll go have a smoke.”
Ji Ying, slightly flustered, nudged Fu Jingshen to remind him: “I’m home now.”
“Mm.”
A few seconds passed.
Ji Ying was full of question marks. So what does *mm* mean? If you’re going to *mm*, then let go!
She glanced at the hand still resting firmly on her waist and drew a quiet breath. How was it that the iceberg who usually showed no expression became so clingy after drinking?
“Third Brother.” Ji Ying poked his arm again, emphasizing: “I need to go inside.”
Fu Jingshen lifted his eyelids to look at her, speaking slowly: “But I haven’t held you enough yet.”
Ji Ying was left speechless. Her pale face shifted through several expressions, vivid and animated. “Then when will you let me go?”
Fu Jingshen’s fingers slid from her snowy cheek down to her petal-like lips. His thumb lingered at the corner, brushing deliberately. “I could let go now. Only…” He suddenly paused.
Ji Ying felt a dangerous tension pressing in, the spot where his thumb touched her lips burning hot.
“I need to collect a little interest.”
Ji Ying held her breath. “What inter—” Her words cut off abruptly.
Fu Jingshen leaned sideways, his striking face magnified before her eyes. Then he bent down, and a feather-light kiss fell at the corner of her lips, his gaze restrained yet intense. His embrace, his breath, even his kiss—all of Fu Jingshen enveloped her at once.
Ji Ying’s long lashes trembled violently. She froze, gripping the car seat with pale fingers, too nervous to move.
Sensing her unease, Fu Jingshen’s fingertips stroked her cheek in reassurance. His eyes regained a hint of clarity. He pulled back slightly, ending the tentative kiss. “Not used to it?”
Ji Ying’s eyes were already misted with a thin sheen of tears. She nodded, murmuring: “…A little.”
She didn’t realize that in Fu Jingshen’s eyes, her fragile look only fueled a surging possessiveness.
“Sorry.” He drew a deep breath, withdrawing his hand from her cheek, his voice low and controlled. “We’ll take it slow.”
Ji Ying lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting at the hem of her qipao before releasing it. She didn’t reject his closeness—she just wasn’t ready to adapt so quickly.
“I’m sorry, Third Brother…” Ji Ying tugged lightly at his sleeve, whispering: “I’m not prepared yet. Next time, can we try again?”
Meeting her innocent, pure gaze, Fu Jingshen felt a rare flicker of guilt. But it was far too slight to matter. At that moment, he finally understood the last of the old master’s nine-word maxim more deeply.
Fu Jingshen tucked Ji Ying’s slightly messy strands of hair behind her ear, his expression unchanged as he replied: “Yinghua is right.”
His gaze swept across the girl’s rosy lips, his eyes lifting slightly at the corners as he spoke, word by word: “Things like this… take time to adjust.”
“The more you try, the more you’ll get used to it.”
Ji Ying’s hesitant eyes instantly lit up. She knew it—Fu Jingshen was understanding. Relieved, she curved her lips into a smile. “Third Brother, you’re so good.”
Fu Jingshen gently smoothed her hair, his voice warm. “Go inside now.”
Ji Ying nodded, picked up her handbag, and stepped out of the car. Standing outside the window in the deep night, she waved at him. Her pale arm gleamed like it was bathed in light. “Third Brother, goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” Watching her graceful figure walk away, Fu Jingshen rolled up the window.
After a long while, the car drove off.
Because of the delay in the car, Ji Ying returned home close to eleven o’clock. Unexpectedly, when she opened the door, the living room sofa was full of people.
Her eldest brother Ji Chen sat with his head down, scrolling on his phone. Her father Ji Tianze seemed to be watching TV—but the screen showed an idol drama he would never normally glance at. Her mother sat with arms folded, staring blankly, not even her favorite show able to hold her attention.
At the sound of the door, all three turned to look at her. Ji Tianze forced a smile. “You’re back?”
Ji Ying stepped inside. “Mm, Dad, I’m back.”
“Dad…” Her hesitant gaze shifted to her mother and brother. “Why aren’t you resting yet?” Normally, at this hour, everyone would be busy with their own things, and the living room would be empty.
Ji Tianze lifted his teacup, took a sip, and gave a dry laugh. “Dad’s not sleepy yet.”
Yu Wanqing pointed at the TV. “The drama’s too good.”
Ji Ying’s eyes fell on Ji Chen, who coughed lightly. “I’m keeping Mom company.”
“Oh.” Ji Ying nodded, stifled a yawn, and rubbed her eyes. “Then I’ll go rest first?”
Ji Tianze waved his hand. “Go on.”
Before heading upstairs, Ji Ying glanced once more at her family on the sofa. Each sat stiffly, their expressions solemn.
“Go on,” Yu Wanqing added, waving her fingers. “Nannan, go rest.”
Only then did Ji Ying nod and slowly make her way upstairs. She didn’t know that the moment she turned the corner, the three faces on the sofa simultaneously collapsed into weary expressions.
“Tianze.” Yu Wanqing pressed her chest, sighing deeply. “I still can’t let go of Yingying. Just thinking of her going out at night with Jingshen makes my heart feel blocked.”
She quickly asked Ji Tianze: “I didn’t give myself away just now, did I? I didn’t put pressure on Yingying?”
Ji Tianze set down his teacup, his face heavy, sighing. “Don’t think you’re the only one uneasy. I am too.”
Ji Ying was his treasure as well. Yet here she was, taken out late at night by Fu Jingshen—and when she returned, his car lingered outside their home for quite some time. As for what might have happened, he dared not think too deeply—just the thought alone was enough to give him heart palpitations.
The two exchanged glances, both wearing bitter smiles.
At last, Ji Chen, who had been silent all along, lifted his head from his phone and suddenly said: “Next Friday is Yingying’s engagement banquet.”
“Such an important event—aren’t we going to call Ah Huai back?”
At those words, Ji Tianze and Yu Wanqing snapped their heads up, meeting each other’s gaze. In both pairs of eyes was the same phrase—*This is bad.*
Ji Huai rarely contacted the family. The one he spoke to most was Ji Ying. With his busy schedule, often working day and night, sometimes filming deep in the mountains, he could go ten days or half a month without being reachable.
Therefore, based on his lack of reaction so far, it seemed likely he didn’t yet know about this news that had already spread throughout the entire circle.
The living room fell into silence. Ji Chen rubbed his phone and said: “If he finds out, he’ll definitely blow up.”
Truth be told, Ji Huai was the one who had truly grown up inseparably with Ji Ying. The siblings were only three years apart. From elementary school through high school, Ji Huai had fiercely protected her, unreasonable to anyone who dared cross her.
Speaking of Ji Huai, Yu Wanqing rubbed her temples, her eyes reddening. “How long has it been since I last saw Ah Huai?”
Ji Tianze’s face remained stern, silent.
Ji Chen knew Ji Huai was always his father’s sore spot. Ji Tianze treated his son and daughter with completely different attitudes. His strict discipline of Ji Huai had kept their relationship tense, and when Ji Huai secretly changed his college application to pursue stardom through a talent show, the conflict finally exploded. After that, Ji Huai left home, and his father never spoke his name again.
Watching his father’s expression, Ji Chen said: “This matter can only be resolved by Yingying. Maybe we can use this chance to bring Ah Huai home.”
Soon, mid-May arrived.
The two families hosted a banquet at the Beijing International Hotel—a small engagement party.
According to Old Master Fu’s wishes, the engagement should have been grand, announced to the world that his grandson had found a wife.
But the Ji family had always been low-profile, and considering Ji Ying’s own preference, they invited only close relatives and friends, keeping it small.
Old Master Fu could only regretfully save his enthusiasm for Ji Ying’s graduation wedding.
In the blink of an eye, three days before the engagement banquet arrived.
Ji Ying sat at her desk in her bedroom, fingers flying as she replied to messages. Her closest childhood friend, Wen Yue—the eldest daughter of the Wen family—was studying abroad at an art academy. The two hadn’t seen each other in years.
Now, Wen Yue’s messages were popping rapidly across the screen.
Previously, during a video chat, Ji Ying had briefly mentioned her relationship with Fu Jingshen, but Wen Yue had been rushing to class, and the topic was quickly brushed aside.
So when Ji Ying suddenly sent Wen Yue an invitation to her engagement banquet, the other side instantly exploded.
[What the hell, you’re not joking with me? You’re really getting married?]
[Is it me who’s crazy, or the world, or your family—are they seriously marrying you off to that big block of ice?]
[And Ji Chen? What’s he even doing—don’t tell me he’s pushing you into this marriage alliance for the sake of family interests?]
Before Ji Ying could even finish typing a reply, Wen Yue’s messages were already flooding in one after another. In the end, Ji Ying helplessly dialed a video call to explain: “Yueyue, I’m doing this willingly.”
On the other end, Wen Yue appeared in a red dress, her features strikingly beautiful. She was clearly in her studio, with rows of sculpture models behind her.
As soon as the call connected, Wen Yue cried out: “Yingying, how desperate must you be to want to get married?”
“And to a man six years older, cold as ice?”
Ji Ying smiled serenely at her best friend, speaking unhurriedly: “Third Brother isn’t like everyone says. He treats me well.”
Wen Yue looked at Ji Ying’s tender young face with anguish. “Yingying, don’t tell me you’ve been tricked by an older man.”
“No way.” Ji Ying quickly waved her hand. “Third Brother isn’t that kind of person.”
To Wen Yue, it felt like Ji Ying had been brainwashed. She propped her chin in frustration. “Your family all agreed to this?”
Ji Ying was about to nod, but then remembered something and shook her head in distress. “My second brother doesn’t know yet.”
“That’s a disaster.” Wen Yue clicked her tongue. “If Ji Huai finds out, he’ll storm back home.”
Ji Ying frowned, hesitating. “I’ve been thinking… how should I tell Second Brother? He’s been away filming and hasn’t come back yet.”
Wen Yue shrugged. “Your second brother explodes at the slightest thing. Who dares provoke him?”
The two friends chatted a while longer, until Wen Yue promised she would return to Beijing the day after tomorrow to attend the engagement banquet. Only then did they hang up.
After ending the call, Ji Ying scrolled through her phone. Her gaze lingered on Ji Huai’s WeChat avatar. After a long pause, she finally made up her mind and tapped it open.
Beijing International Airport.
Pushing his way out of a swarm of screaming fans, Ji Huai impatiently raked a hand through his hair and strode into the nanny van.
His agent, Chen Zhong, followed behind, wiping sweat from his forehead. Once inside, he let out a long sigh. Seeing Ji Huai’s icy expression, he couldn’t help but say: “Master Ji, I’m telling you—if you keep that scowl, the hot searches will blow up again about you acting arrogant.”
Ji Huai pulled on a baseball cap and mask, turning his face away, refusing to communicate. “Why should I put on a good face for stalker fans?”
He had barely returned from that godforsaken film crew, boarding a flight at dawn, transferring for five or six hours. The moment he landed, his schedule was leaked by stalkers, drawing a mob of fans chasing him down. Who could possibly keep a pleasant expression after that?
Chen Zhong sighed helplessly. He was long used to the young master’s foul temper and had nothing more to say.
The car pulled out of the airport. Ji Huai crossed his legs, propped his hand against his face, and lazily gazed out the window.
Chen Zhong reminded him: “These next few days, you don’t have much scheduled. Get some proper rest.”
“Mm.” Ji Huai toyed with his phone, answering lazily.
Just as he opened WeChat, Ji Ying’s call came through. Ji Huai couldn’t help but laugh, proudly waving his phone at Chen Zhong like showing off a treasure. “Look, my sister’s calling. See how much she cares about me.”
Chen Zhong: “…” *Look at you acting silly.*
After showing off, Ji Huai answered the call. Immediately, Ji Ying’s gentle, soothing voice came through the line.
“Second Brother,” Ji Ying said. “I tried calling earlier but couldn’t get through. Were you busy?”
Ji Huai raised his brows. “What’s the rush? Missed your brother already?”
Without hesitation, Ji Ying replied: “I did.”
Ji Huai grinned smugly, his gaze drifting casually out the window. He clicked his tongue. “Ji Yingying, did you time this on purpose, right when I got back?”
“Wait for me—I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”
On the other end, she sounded surprised. “Brother, you’re already back in Beijing?”
“Yeah, just arrived.” Ji Huai chuckled, careless and cocky. “You’ve hit the jackpot again—having dinner with a top star.”
He waited, but no excited cheer came from her side. “What’s wrong? No reaction?”
After a few seconds, Ji Ying’s cautious voice came through: “I wanted to ask… do you have time the night after tomorrow?”
“What, trying to hog your brother’s time two nights in a row?”
“No…” Ji Ying hesitated for a long while before finally gathering her courage, speaking haltingly: “Actually, the night after tomorrow… it’s my engagement banquet.”
“I really want Second Brother to come too…”
Ji Huai’s smile froze completely on his face. After a long silence, he spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “Yingying, what did you just say?”
“What banquet of yours?”