It wasn't that he didn't want to have anything with Tong An'an. As a normal man, it was natural to want to get closer to a woman he liked.
It was just that he was very worried about Tong An'an's current physical condition.
Through Tong An'an's indifference over the past two days, he was even more certain of his love for her and his inability to let go.
He needed them to open up to each other and have a thorough talk, to confirm that Tong An'an had truly thought it through before taking the final step.
So, he took Tong An'an's shy hand and led her to sit on the sofa.
"I know you've been a bit down these past two days, and your attitude changed today because my sudden appearance brought you surprise. But this surprise shouldn't be so great that you make this decision."
"An'an, I like you, but I won't morally blackmail you into doing anything. Let's talk properly, and we'll discuss everything after you've completely confirmed, okay?"
Since he wanted to talk so frankly, Tong An'an could only talk to him.
She hadn't intended to mention the photo in the wallet, but since he brought it up, she might as well just say it.
"Alright then. Since you've brought it up, let's be open. Do you know why I was unhappy the past two days?"
"When you went to take a shower that day, I looked through your wallet and found a photo that looked almost exactly like me. But I was very sure it wasn't me."
"Actually, I've had my suspicions before. We've only known each other for such a short time, and I'm not someone particularly distinctive. How could you fall in love at first sight and be so devoted to me?"
"So after I saw the photo that day, I understood. I was very hurt, but it's okay now."
A smile of relief and acceptance spread across her face.
"I don't want to know what happened between you two, I don't want to ask about your current relationship with her, and I don't want to know if you've never gotten over her."
"As long as you're willing to marry me and are willing to continue interacting with me in this way, even if I'm just her shadow, I'll be content."
So that was the reason.
Jiang Jingyu regretted not listening to Ge'er and Tiantian's advice to confess the matter to her sooner.
It wasn't that he was afraid to say it, he just thought it was unnecessary.
Many years had passed, Lu Jiaying would never return, and Tong An'an was completely different from her.
Why bother saying it and leaving a scar in her heart?
Seeing how wronged Tong An'an looked, Jiang Jingyu completely understood her inner struggle these past two days and hugged her to his chest with heartache.
"Silly girl, why didn't you tell me then? It's not what you think."
Then he recounted everything that had happened when he was 18.
"Honestly, her death left me with a great deal of guilt. This guilt made me completely unable to accept the approach of other women in the past few years, feeling that I could only live in repentance to be considered human, until your appearance that day."
"I admit that it was because you looked so similar to her that I noticed you. But from the moment I walked into your house for dinner, I realized that you and she are completely different people. You can't replace her."
"She was decisive, efficient, and resolute, never smiling. Her aura was so powerful that I felt pressured even in her presence. But you are different."
"The day you were quietly working while listening to your mother's nagging, I felt like you were like the common sunflowers in a roadside flower bed. Although small, you were sunny, resilient, and had an approachable warmth that made people want to get closer."
"That's why I was willing to approach you later. No, rather than being willing to approach you, I was unconsciously drawn to you."
"You are not her shadow, An'an. You are my lover now, my strong spiritual pillar for the rest of my life. I can't imagine what I would become if I experienced the pain of losing a lover again. You've almost driven me mad these past two days. So let's not do this anymore, okay?"
"If you have something to say, just say it directly, don't guess. Let's firmly walk forward together, okay?"
Tong An'an was deeply moved by his words and took the initiative to look up and kiss him.
As their emotions deepened, they naturally shared an intimate experience.
Although it was Tong An'an's first time, she didn't feel any discomfort as she might have expected from preconceived notions or gossip.
Jiang Jingyu was incredibly gentle and caring towards her, making Tong An'an deeply feel that love at its deepest was truly a wonderful thing.
Although they were tired from the day, their young, restless hearts couldn't be held back.
They were almost sleepless, yet both were energetic the next day.
After breakfast, they went to the exhibition hall together.
The CEO personally appearing to sell there was a great morale booster.
The other three salespeople, having received IV fluids at the hospital for a day and rested for a night, felt much better and rushed back to the battlefield.
Working side-by-side, the group held a very successful six-day exhibition.
They secured nearly two hundred letters of intent, ensuring the International Marketing Department's business volume for the next two months.
Everyone was overjoyed. On the final night, Jiang Jingyu personally treated everyone to a meal.
Dining with the group's CEO was an immense honor.
Everyone dressed up meticulously and posted on social media to show off.
In an instant, the International Marketing Department became the envy of the entire group.
Having been away from the group for so long, many things had piled up, and Zhan Beijue had been handling them, so Jiang Jingyu wasn't in a hurry to return.
This was Tong An'an's first time in Shencheng, so he had to accompany her for a day of sightseeing.
The next morning, everyone returned to Nancheng, leaving only the two of them in Shencheng.
Jiang Jingyu had planned a full day of outings, packing their schedule tightly.
They went to the beach, enjoyed local delicacies, visited famous landmarks, and explored the local snack street. After dinner, they strolled hand-in-hand through the streets, reluctant to part.
Tong An'an quite liked this city.
Perhaps it was in girls' nature to love romance, to love places with the sea, to love consistently warm temperatures where they could wear beautiful dresses all the time.
Jiang Jingyu said, "Then it's simple. If you like it here, we'll buy a house here, and we can come for a vacation from time to time."
"I can buy a house wherever I like? Won't you think I'm being fussy?"
"Of course not. You are my lover, and I'll only find whatever you do adorable."
As he was speaking about her being his lover, they were stopped by an elderly man setting up a stall by the roadside.
"Handsome couple, would you like me to make you a pair of couple rings? Purely handcrafted, very commemorative, and reasonably priced."
Tong An'an pulled Jiang Jingyu down to squat, and she noticed that his small wooden box contained many different styles of ring bands.
They were all silver, with simple and unadorned designs.
"You can engrave letters, words you want to say, or patterns you desire. Young couples really like to do this, get a pair."
Tong An'an asked how much a pair would cost. The owner said 200, which she felt was a bit expensive.