Jiang Li didn’t sleep well. Especially in unfamiliar places, she found it very hard to fall asleep. Unfortunately, her job required her to travel all over the country.
Luckily, she had one way to help herself—she always brought her own small pillow.
This time, she had left all her other luggage at the troupe, including her pillow. Lying in bed after two in the morning, she still barely slept.
Jiang Li heard sounds from next door. Even though they were very soft, she could still hear them clearly.
She guessed that Shang Huizhou had gone downstairs.
After getting up and washing up, she went downstairs.
Old Master Shang was drinking morning tea in the living room.
Jiang Li walked over with a gentle smile. “Good morning, Grandpa Shang.”
Seeing her so early in the morning, Old Master Shang was a little surprised. “You young people always say you don’t get enough sleep in the morning and feel tired all day. Look at Luoluo—she’s a perfect example. She won’t get up until noon. But you’re already up so early. Are you not used to staying here?”
“I’m very used to it. I lived here for three years, how could I not be used to it?” Jiang Li just had trouble sleeping. In Dali, she would even go to the soy milk shop next door for the first cup of soy milk in the morning, then go practice dance for an hour.
“Oh? Then come keep this old man company for a walk?” Old Master Shang said kindly with a smile.
“Okay.” Jiang Li went to support his arm.
But Old Master Shang refused. “I’m not that old yet—I don’t need support.”
Jiang Li smiled warmly. “Grandpa Shang, you’re strong and energetic. Of course you don’t need me to help you. I just like walking close to you.”
Old Master Shang laughed heartily at her words. The two of them—one old and one young—strolled outside in the courtyard.
Jiang Li was wearing comfortable flat shoes today. She matched her pace with Old Master Shang’s steps. Although he was over eighty years old, his stride was still steady and energetic.
After walking around the outer wall of the old residence and heading back to the courtyard, Old Master Shang asked her kindly with a smile, “Jiangjiang, Grandpa Shang never had the chance to ask you—do you have a boyfriend?”
Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat at the sudden question.
Was he also going to introduce someone to her like her own grandfather did?
Her grandfather had done this many times before—introducing the eldest grandsons of old friends or children of acquaintances. He even arranged “chance encounters,” saying it was to create romance for young people.
Just after graduating, she had already been pushed toward blind dates.
She didn’t want to think about relationships yet. Being carefree alone was much happier.
Jiang Li felt a little emotional inside but answered politely, “Not yet… I haven’t—”
“Good, good, no boyfriend is good,” Old Master Shang immediately cut in, his aged eyes lighting up with satisfaction.
Jiang Li’s second half of the sentence—“I’m not planning to find one yet”—was swallowed back.
No boyfriend is good.
That was great.
His “little wolf cub” still had a chance.
Old Master Shang didn’t continue the topic. Instead, they talked about antiques and then chess.
They even talked about Shang Huizhou.
Old Master Shang complained that Shang Huizhou had no sportsmanship in chess.
Jiang Li just smiled gently without speaking. She knew Old Master Shang well—he was just like her own grandfather when it came to chess, always trying to take back moves.
Shang Huizhou probably never let him take moves back, which made the old man hold a grudge.
Thinking of Shang Huizhou made her remember last night when he applied medicine for her. The warmth of his fingertips still seemed to linger around her ankle.
Her heart tugged slightly for no clear reason.
They walked a little further and were about to enter the courtyard when Old Master Shang asked again with a kind smile, “Jiangjiang, have you ever thought about what kind of person you’d want as a boyfriend—or even a husband?”
Jiang Li felt a bit embarrassed. “I haven’t really thought about that yet.” Her grandfather was always enthusiastic about introducing people to her, but she herself hadn’t considered it.
Old Master Shang nodded in agreement. “That makes sense. You just graduated not long ago—it is indeed too early to think about these things.”
Jiang Li liked this answer. Unlike her grandfather.
But then Old Master Shang changed his tone again. “Still, Jiangjiang, when choosing a partner, do you have any standards? What kind of person would suit you better?”
“……”
Old Master Shang was very skilled at conversation. He didn’t stick to one topic for long—he would follow Jiang Li’s words for a bit, then smoothly circle back to what he wanted to ask.
Even though Jiang Li could tell he might be trying to introduce someone to her, she couldn’t directly refuse an elder’s kindness.
She raised her fingers slightly near her lips and thought seriously for a moment.
“Then… he should be gentle, understand me well, and be someone I can talk to easily. He should also like music, performances, and maybe some exploration.” She paused, then added, “And not dislike me tinkering with bottles and jars, or flowers and plants.”
After she finished, Old Master Shang’s expression subtly changed.
Gentle?
That had nothing to do with his “little wolf cub.”
This was going to be difficult.
At that moment, Shang Huizhou returned from his morning run, jogging along the path they would pass.
From a distance, he saw two figures—one old, one young.
Jiang Li was holding onto Old Master Shang’s arm. They were chatting and laughing about something.
The atmosphere looked very good.
Jiang Li’s white cotton dress swayed gently in the wind, revealing a glimpse of her fair calf. Her hair tied behind her also lifted slightly, making her look soft and calm.
Shang Huizhou’s gaze landed on her shoes—a pair of flats that matched her dress.
At least she knew to change into flats. Not completely foolish.
He was somewhat satisfied.
He was about to step forward and greet them when he overheard Old Master Shang talking about Jiang Li’s ideal type.
So he slowed his steps and followed behind them at a distance.
He listened to her answer word for word.
His expression remained unchanged, but he exhaled slightly.
Just when he thought the conversation was over, Old Master Shang suddenly stopped again—and mentioned him.
Shang Huizhou’s steps paused mid-air, and he continued walking behind them calmly.
Old Master Shang sighed dramatically, then said, “Jiangjiang, our Huizhou is still single too. No one wants him so far.”
“……”
Shang Huizhou almost choked on his breath.
His grandfather really didn’t hold back at all.
Jiang Li lowered her head slightly and tried not to laugh.
It was a very small movement, but Shang Huizhou still noticed it clearly from behind. He could tell—she was laughing at him.
Was it really that funny to mock him like that?
His brow lifted slightly, but the corner of his lips unknowingly curved upward.
Jiang Li wasn’t actually laughing at him.
She just didn’t understand how Old Master Shang could say something like that when Shang Huizhou was clearly very popular.
Back in school, he had been extremely popular. There were never enough admirers for him—not just from their school.
Even though he was cold and distant, girls never gave up.
Now, as a mature and successful man in business, there were likely countless wealthy young ladies and elite daughters in Beijing who admired him.
So what Old Master Shang said was clearly modest.
In Jiang Li’s view, if Shang Huizhou remained single, he would likely choose a wife who was his equal in career.
Or rather—not a wife, but a partner.
Even as a teenager, Shang Huizhou had always been disciplined, structured, and nearly perfect.
Let alone now.
Just as she was thinking this, Old Master Shang suddenly asked cheerfully, “Jiangjiang, what do you think of our Huizhou?”
“……”
Jiang Li never expected that question.
Her gentle eyes flickered with difficulty.
This question… was even harder to answer than the previous one.
It was a difficult question.
When Old Master Shang asked it, Shang Huizhou’s cold eyes immediately turned toward Jiang Li’s graceful figure, focusing intently.
He wanted to hear exactly how she would describe him.
After thinking carefully, Jiang Li said, “Mr. Shang is very good. He’s excellent in every aspect and is a leader in the business world—an outstanding talent.”
Her answer was formal, but in her view, it was just the truth.
Hearing such an official reply, the faint expectation in Shang Huizhou’s eyes faded. Even though she was praising him, he didn’t feel pleased at all.
Old Master Shang clicked his tongue affectionately. “What ‘Mr. Shang’? Child, during those three years you stayed with me, you weren’t this distant with Huizhou. You either called him ‘Third Brother’ like Luoluo, or ‘Brother Huizhou.’ I remember clearly—you even called him by his full name when you got angry with that brat. That felt much closer and more natural.”
The old man laughed as he recalled those days. Back then, all the young people around him were still small, innocent, and lively.
Those things had indeed happened.
Jiang Li didn’t deny it, though she felt a bit awkward now. “I wasn’t very sensible back then.”
She just called people casually like everyone else.
If she still called Shang Huizhou like that now… would he freeze her on the spot?
Old Master Shang didn’t agree. “From my point of view, those earlier ways of addressing him were much better. Calling him ‘Mr. Shang’ makes it sound like there’s distance between you two. When you were a child, your grandfather and I even joked that we should marry you off to Huizhou in the future.”
“……”
Jiang Li was startled by that last sentence, though she didn’t take it too seriously. It was just a joke from many years ago—who would really believe it?
She smiled faintly and turned her head slightly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed Shang Huizhou standing just two or three steps behind them. He was in casual sportswear, clearly just back from his morning run.
When did he even get there?!
Good thing she hadn’t said anything inappropriate.
Jiang Li smiled and greeted him. Shang Huizhou looked at her calmly and slightly raised his eyes in acknowledgment.
He was tall, with long strides, and reached them in just a few steps.
As he passed Jiang Li, he deliberately slowed down for a moment and gave her a look.
Why was he glaring at her?!
Jiang Li immediately glared back without hesitation.
But her eyes carried no real aggression—just a bit of innocence. Soft, bright, and slightly helpless, they made her look unintentionally charming.
Shang Huizhou, seeing her glare, actually felt the irritation in his heart fade a little. Even his usually cold eyes carried a faint trace of amusement.
That hint of a smile was caught by Jiang Li right away.
What was he laughing at again? So strange.
Noticing her stare, Shang Huizhou suppressed the smile and asked calmly, “Does your foot still hurt?”
Jiang Li hadn’t expected him to suddenly ask about that. It was only a minor issue anyway.
She shook her head gently. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Old Master Shang’s sharp gaze swept between the two of them, his smile deepening. “Haha! So it was you who went to the study in the middle of the night to get medicine! Not bad, not bad—taking care of your wife like this, good progress!”
“……”
Jiang Li instantly froze.
Wife?!
Wasn’t this supposed to be a joke earlier? How did it suddenly become “wife”?
This kind of joke was dangerous!
Especially with Shang Huizhou right here—he already treated her so unpredictably. Who knew what would happen?
She quickly looked at him, silently trying to signal her innocence.
Shang Huizhou stood beside her with his hands in his pockets, looking completely indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him.
“……”
Jiang Li bit her lip, frustrated.
Why was he like this?!
Shang Huizhou’s gaze stayed on her face. Seeing her puffed-up, embarrassed expression, he casually stepped in to defuse the situation.
“Grandpa, didn’t you always say your legs hurt? You still have the energy to go for a walk? Doesn’t it hurt enough?”
“……”
Old Master Shang shot him several angry looks. This brat really had no timing at all—he had just been about to say something important, and he ruined it.
Serves him right for being single for twenty-eight years! At this rate, he’d stay single forever!
After Shang Huizhou went back inside, Old Master Shang pointed at his tall figure and complained, “He has that rotten temper—just like his useless father. Ignore him.”
Jiang Li hadn’t really seen Shang Huizhou’s father before. At least during the three years she lived in the Shang household, she never saw him at the old residence.
But thinking about it, she felt Shang Huizhou’s personality actually resembled Old Master Shang more.
Both were stubborn and tsundere.
After returning to his room, Shang Huizhou took a shower, then poured half a glass of ice water from the tea bar. He stood on the balcony for a moment before unconsciously looking toward the neighboring balcony.
After finishing the water, he turned and walked to her room.
He pushed open the sliding door—and immediately saw the antiques he had bought for her, neatly packed and placed on a small round table, clearly ready to be shipped away.
Her personal belongings were arranged neatly against the wall, along with a small, almost pitifully tiny suitcase.
Was she preparing to leave his house?
A little liar.
Jiang Li came out of the bathroom holding her toiletries, ready to pack them, only to find Shang Huizhou standing there.
She ignored him and continued packing.
After watching her for a moment, Shang Huizhou suddenly remembered her answer about her ideal type earlier.
His throat moved slightly as he asked in a low voice, “Do you really prefer gentle men?”
“Huh?” Jiang Li didn’t understand and looked up at him.
But in the next second, Shang Huizhou suddenly bent down.
His tall figure leaned in close, and the distance between them shrank instantly—so close that even their breathing seemed to intertwine.