She reached up, entwined her arms around his neck, and passionately kissed his lips.
Jiang Zexi, unwilling to be passive, quickly took the lead.
…
The room was filled with a tender intimacy, while the view outside the window was captivating. Skyscrapers stretched out, a scene of prosperity.
Not far from the city lay the beach and the sea, where the blue sky and white clouds intertwined. The crashing waves met the shore, creating ripple after ripple.
Beautiful moments passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was dusk.
The sunset by the sea was a pleasant sight, and the beach was growing crowded.
Xia Wanfu woke up hungry, held tightly in Jiang Zexi's embrace, unable to move.
Looking up, she could see his sleeping face, his features as distinct and sculpted as if carved by a master craftsman.
She couldn't resist reaching out to trace the contours of his face. As her hand landed on the tip of his nose, he opened his eyes.
He looked at the alluring woman beside him, his heart stirred as he said, "Let's do it again."
He reached for the nightstand and grabbed the box, only to find it empty.
His spirits immediately sank, and he smiled wryly, "It's all gone."
Xia Wanfu, her face flushed, broke free from his embrace and sat up, clutching the quilt.
"I'm a bit hungry. I'm going to take a shower first, and then we can go eat together."
"Together."
Jiang Zexi rolled over and picked Xia Wanfu up, carrying her directly towards the bathroom.
Xia Wanfu was flustered by his ardor, but this time she truly felt his care and love.
The bath lasted a good half hour, but neither of them wanted to leave the room. They simply ordered takeout and ate in their room.
After eating their fill, they sat on the balcony, admiring the night view.
Jiang Zexi, with his arm around her, asked, "Regarding your brother's matter, who did you borrow the money from?"
Mentioning this, Xia Wanfu sighed unconsciously, the ease gone from her face, replaced by a somberness.
"I borrowed it from Xia... I borrowed it from my sister."
"Yu Chen's wife?"
Xia Wanfu nodded, lamenting, "My family is a bottomless pit..."
Since Jiang Zexi knew about her brother's situation, he was likely aware of other matters as well.
Jiang Zexi gently stroked her head and chuckled, "It's okay, you handled this situation very well."
Money could be repaid, but prison time was unavoidable. However, there would undoubtedly be constant trouble in the future.
But it didn't matter. He could handle a colossal corporation with ease, let alone a few scumbags like these.
Even though he said it was okay, Xia Wanfu still felt uneasy.
She knew her parents' character. If they found out she was with Jiang Zexi,
they would definitely try to leverage his influence to make a comeback. That would be bad enough, and it would lead to endless trouble in the future.
And then there was Xia Yichen, that good-for-nothing. He was a parasite.
Seeing that mentioning these things made her unhappy, Jiang Zexi smoothly changed the subject.
He gazed at the distant night scenery and said calmly, "My family has been urging me to get married lately, especially since Yu Chen got married and is about to become a father. My grandmother is practically begging me."
"Xia Wantang is pregnant?" Xia Wanfu completely ignored his other words.
Jiang Zexi raised an eyebrow, thinking: Is that the important part?
Xia Wanfu was stunned for a long time before she could process the news.
So she was pregnant. She had to admit, she was truly lucky.
If even the slightest thing had gone wrong back then, her life would have been ruined. Was this a blessing in disguise?
Putting aside other matters, she had seen plenty of underhanded dealings in the entertainment industry in just a short time. She knew how difficult it was for a girl to protect herself.
Once on that path, there was no turning back.
And Xia Wantang, if her innocence had been ruined by Du Jiasheng back then, she might have lived a life of prosperity if she had gotten through it, or met a tragic end if she hadn't.
Seeing her lost in her own thoughts, Jiang Zexi helplessly pinched her nose, bringing her back to the present.
Xia Wanfu looked at him with confusion. Jiang Zexi had to repeat himself.
"My grandmother is very anxious about my marriage. Once you're done with your matters here, accompany me back to the old house, won't you?"
Xia Wanfu was stunned again. After reacting, she felt a bit nervous, but more so, happy.
"You want me to go home with you?"
Jiang Zexi was charmed by her dazed look and couldn't help but say indulgently, "Yes, to meet my parents and grandmother."
"Then I'll prepare myself well."
Xia Wanfu's face turned red, and her brows were filled with joy.
Seeing Jiang Zexi again this time, she felt he had changed so much, like a completely different person from before.
He no longer fussed about what she wore, and for so long now, she had always carried her favorite rose scent.
She wanted to ask why, but didn't know how to bring it up.
They had only just reconciled, and she was afraid that mentioning the past would rupture their relationship.
Jiang Zexi's attention was all on her now. Seeing her lost in thought again, he knew what she was thinking about, but this time, he couldn't guess.
He asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Xia Wanfu smiled and shook her head, remaining silent.
Did she look like someone who was fine?
Jiang Zexi could only pull her closer into his embrace. He looked up at the stars scattered across the sky and couldn't help but sigh, "I was trapped in a dead end before. How good it is now."
Xia Wanfu finally couldn't hold back and asked, "What dead end? Did you treat me as a substitute?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them, and her heart sank.
But Jiang Zexi's reaction was beyond her expectations. She had anticipated him being displeased, angry, or erupting in rage.
Yet, he remained so calm, holding her gently, his voice serene.
"Yes, I thought I would be willing to be with you because, during our first time, I inexplicably saw you as Jin Ning. But later, I never saw her shadow in you again.
Even when I made you wear clothes similar to hers and exude the same scent, it was like an obsession.
But thinking about it, time has erased everything. What I was fixated on was only her departure. In fact, if I don't look at her photos, her image in my mind has already become blurry.
Every time I was with you, deep down in my heart, I knew you were not Jin Ning. Even with my eyes closed, smelling a familiar scent, I couldn't deceive myself.
But I always looked forward to coming home, so much so that later I didn't even know if I missed you or Jin Ning.
Let the past be the past. Only when regrets are let go can new stories begin.
It was the past that numbed me. Perhaps when I first saw you, you fell into my arms like a startled fawn. I was moved then, but I was so immersed in the past that I didn't realize it."
Xia Wanfu's eyes welled up with tears. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed uncontrollably, crying miserably.
Her tears dampened the front of Jiang Zexi's shirt.
Jiang Zexi held her in his arms, his eyes also reddening.
Jin Ning was his lifelong regret, but the girl in his arms was the one he would protect for the rest of his life.
Five years had passed. It turned out she was already so distant.
...