He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

Jiang Che looked down at the director, his tone indifferent:

"I'm taller than that actor. My physique is probably no worse than his. As for my profile..."

He turned his head to the side, showing off his perfectly sculpted jawline:

"That should be enough, right?"

The director swallowed hard and nodded frantically, "Enough! Absolutely enough! It's top-notch! But... this... this isn't in accordance with the rules..."

"Rules are made by people."

Jiang Che interrupted him, turning his gaze to Su Xiaoruan:

"If it were me, could you act?"

Su Xiaoruan's heart was pounding in her throat.

Filming a kissing scene with my brother?!

Even though it was a stand-in and an act, it was a real kiss!

Her face instantly turned bright red, like a boiled shrimp.

"I...I..." she stammered, "I...want to try?"

Only she herself knows how much joy and anticipation was hidden in that "give it a try".

"Then it's settled."

Jiang Che made the final decision:

"Take me to get my makeup done and change my clothes."

……

Half an hour later.

When Jiang Che walked out of the dressing room, the entire film set fell silent.

They even suffocated.

He changed into the male lead's costume.

It was a black robe embroidered with dark gold dragon patterns, with a wide belt around his waist, making him appear tall and straight like a pine tree, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his proportions so perfect that he looked like a character straight out of a comic book.

The makeup artist simply trimmed his eyebrows, applied foundation, and put on a wig.

But that's enough.

His long, ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, and he possessed striking features: sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high, straight nose. His originally gentle and composed modern demeanor was transformed into a captivating aura of imperial power when accentuated by this ancient costume.

That aura of coldness, domineering, deep affection, and restraint was more than a hundred times stronger than the original male lead.

"My God..." the director muttered to himself, "This is the real male lead... I should have begged President Jiang to play the role..."

The female staff members around them were so engrossed in watching that they almost wanted to scream on the spot.

Shen Qingge sat behind the monitor, watching the man walk towards her.

Her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

She had seen Jiang Che in a suit, in casual clothes, and even in an apron.

But I've never seen him wear ancient costume.

At this moment, she had to admit that this man, no matter what era he was in, would be a femme fatale.

"How is it?"

Jiang Che walked up to Shen Qingge, somewhat awkwardly tugging at his wide sleeves: "Isn't this a little strange?"

Shen Qingge stood up and walked up to him.

She reached out and straightened his collar, her gaze gentle and focused:

"No, it's not my fault."

"You're so handsome. So handsome that I want to hide you away and not let anyone else see you."

Jiang Che smiled, his coldness instantly turning into tenderness.

"Then I'll just have to make you watch it a little longer."

"Ahem!" The director coughed awkwardly twice. "Um... Mr. Jiang, all departments are ready, shall we... begin?"

……

On set.

The lighting technician adjusted the lights, creating a poignant and despairing atmosphere. The dry ice machine emitted white smoke, swirling around the two of them.

Su Xiaoruan stood under the peach blossom tree in the backdrop.

She watched Jiang Che walk towards her.

At this moment, she couldn't quite distinguish between the play and reality.

Is he the god in the drama who had to sacrifice his lover for the sake of all living beings, or the older brother who protected her since childhood?

Jiang Che walked up to her and stopped.

He looked at the girl in front of him.

Dressed in white, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Tears glistened in her eyes, a testament to the sorrow of impending separation.

"Action!" the director shouted.

Jiang Che got into character very quickly.

Or rather, he didn't need much acting skill when facing Su Xiaoruan. That protectiveness and tenderness were ingrained in his very being.

He reached out and gently stroked Su Xiaoruan's cheek.

The fingertips were warm, with a slightly rough texture.

Su Xiaoruan's body trembled slightly, and tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the back of his hand.

"Don't cry."

Jiang Che's voice was low and hoarse, carrying suppressed emotions:

"I will come back."

According to the script, the next scene is the kissing scene.

Su Xiaoruan looked at him, her heart pounding like thunder.

She closed her eyes, tilted her head back slightly, and waited for that moment to arrive.

Jiang Che looked at the face so close to his.

Looking at those slightly trembling eyelashes, looking at those full, rosy lips.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

Everything around seemed to have disappeared.

Those cameras, those staff members, and even Shen Qingge sitting behind the monitor were temporarily shut out of his world.

At that moment, he only had eyes for this girl.

He slowly lowered his head.

Their breaths mingled.

Their noses touched lightly.

Then, he kissed her.

It's not a matter of borrowing space.

It was real; their lips touched.

Su Xiaoruan's mind went blank for a moment.

soft.

heat.

This was her only sense of touch.

Those were my brother's lips. They had a faint minty scent, and a hint of an unknown tobacco aroma.

It wasn't as intense as described in the script.

Jiang Che's kiss was light and restrained, yet it carried an irresistible tenderness. He lingered on her lips for a moment, gently rubbing them, as if making a silent farewell, or a secret vow.

Su Xiaoruan instinctively gripped the front of his shirt.

She felt as if her soul was about to float away.

Is this... what kissing feels like?

Is this... what it feels like to kiss the one you love?

Time seemed to stand still.

Behind the monitor.

Shen Qingge looked at the image on the screen.

In that close-up shot, their profiles were so perfect they looked like works of art.

Jiang Che closed his eyes, his expression focused and affectionate. Su Xiaoruan had tears in the corners of her eyes, her face etched with a tragic beauty tinged with despair.

Shen Qingge's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair.

Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were somewhat deep.

As a woman, and as a woman who deeply loves Jiang Che, it would be a lie to say that I wasn't moved at all by this scene.

But she didn't call a halt, nor did she get angry.

Because she understood the meaning behind Jiang Che's kiss.

That's restraint.

As an older brother, he was helping his younger sister fulfill a wish, and at the same time, he was protecting her purity in this way.

He didn't stick out his tongue, nor did he make any other movements; their lips simply touched.

It was a clean kiss.

"Card!"

The director's excited voice broke the silence: "Perfect! Absolutely perfect! That take is a wrap!"

At the director's voice, Jiang Che quickly opened his eyes and took a step back.

Their lips parted.

Su Xiaoruan was still standing there, somewhat dazed. She looked at Jiang Che, her eyes unfocused, her cheeks flushed red as if they were about to bleed.

Jiang Che took a deep breath and adjusted his breathing.

He reached out to wipe away Su Xiaoruan's tears, his voice returning to its usual gentle tone:

"Okay, that's all for filming."

Su Xiaoruan blinked, finally realizing what was happening.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Jiang Che, her heart still pounding wildly in her chest.

"Um... thank... thank you, brother."

Her voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz.

Jiang Che patted her head, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the rest area.

……

Rest area.

Shen Qingge handed Jiang Che a bottle of water.

"You've worked hard, Actor Jiang." Shen Qingge looked at him with a half-smile. "Your acting is quite good; I was completely captivated."

Jiang Che took the water, took a big gulp, and looked at her with a hint of helplessness:

"Stop teasing me. It's all because of that girl."

"Really?" Shen Qingge leaned closer to him, reaching out to straighten his slightly disheveled collar, and lowered her voice to ask, "How did that kiss feel?"

Jiang Che paused.

He looked at Shen Qingge with an open and honest gaze:

"In the play, she is my lover. In real life, she is my sister."

"I can tell the difference very clearly."

Shen Qingge stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then smiled.

She reached out, hooked her arm around his neck, and kissed him hard on the lips in front of the entire crew.

"Stamp it."

Shen Qingge said domineeringly:

"Even though it's acting, I'm still a little jealous. I'll take fewer stunt double jobs in the future."

Jiang Che smiled and put his arm around her waist: "Yes, Mr. Shen."

Not far away.

Su Xiaoruan sat in the chair, watching this scene.

She touched her lips.

It seemed that Jiang Che's warmth still lingered on it.

Although it was just a fleeting kiss.

Even though it's just acting.

But for her, this was already the most wonderful gift of the summer.

Jiang Che.

"This was my first kiss."

Even though you don't know, or you pretend not to know.

"But it already belongs to you."

That's enough.

……

Dinner was at a private restaurant in Hengdian.

To celebrate Su Xiaoruan's wrap-up filming (although it was just this one major scene), Jiang Che specially ordered a table full of delicious dishes.

The atmosphere was very harmonious.

Although Su Xiaoruan's face was still a little red, she had regained her usual liveliness and vividly recounted the interesting things that happened on set.

Shen Qingge also relaxed for once and joked with her.

Jiang Che sat to the side, watching the two women, his heart filled with peace.

After finishing our meal, we returned to the RV.

Su Xiaoruan was exhausted after a long day and quickly fell asleep in the back bedroom.

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge sat in the sofa area in front.

Outside the car window, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

Jiang Che.

Shen Qingge leaned against him, swirling a glass of red wine in her hand.

"Um?"

"You look really handsome today." Shen Qingge looked at him, her eyes dreamy. "Especially in ancient costume."

"Do you like it?" Jiang Che lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

"I like it." Shen Qingge nodded. "I was thinking, how about we have a traditional Chinese wedding when we get married? And you can dress like this too."

"Okay." Jiang Che agreed without hesitation. "Anything you like is fine with me."

"but……"

Shen Qingge suddenly straightened up, a sly glint in her eyes:

"You kissed another woman on set today (even though she's your sister), isn't it time to pay your dues when you get back?"

Jiang Che was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

He put down his wine glass, picked Shen Qingge up in his arms, and carried her to the rest area behind the driver's seat (where there was a partition door).

"How does Mr. Shen intend to make the payment?"

"With interest." Shen Qingge hooked her arm around his neck, her red lips slightly parted.

"no problem."

Jiang Che closed the partition door, cutting off all sound.

The RV was parked quietly in the night.

And in that dream.

Su Xiaoruan was still wearing that white dress, standing under the peach tree.

The man in black walked towards her.

This time, the director didn't yell "cut".

He kissed her for a long, long time.

Long enough for the world to grow old and the heavens to wither away.

...

...

In September, the summer heat in Jianghai City was waning, and the morning and evening breezes finally carried a hint of early autumn coolness. The plane trees lining the streets still had lush, green leaves, with only a few withered yellow leaves occasionally falling, foreshadowing the changing of the seasons.

The mornings at Qingche Manor are always awakened by the chirping of birds.

It's 7:30 in the morning.

A light and rhythmic sound of high heels echoed from the second-floor corridor.

Su Xiaoruan is no longer the freshman who needed her older siblings to accompany her when she first entered university. Now a sophomore, she is the undisputed "department beauty" of the Performing Arts Department at Jianghai University, and a "cool and aloof senior" in the eyes of countless freshmen.

Today she wore a Chanel early autumn tweed short jacket, the black and white check design classic and elegant, over a simple white silk camisole. She paired it with a high-waisted black A-line leather skirt, the hem only reaching mid-thigh, revealing her long, straight legs clad in sheer black stockings. On her feet were five-centimeter kitten-heeled pointed shoes, which clicked as she walked.

Her hair was styled into a relaxed French perm, casually draped over her shoulders. Her face was made up with a delicate, natural-looking makeup look; earth-toned eyeshadow reduced puffiness and added depth, while a dusty rose lipstick made her complexion look radiant. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, making her look less childish and more sophisticated and mature.

"Good morning, bro!"

Su Xiaoruan walked into the restaurant, put the limited-edition pink Chanel hobo bag on the chair, and casually picked up a sandwich from the table and took a bite.

Jiang Che was sitting in the main seat reading a newspaper, with a steaming cup of black coffee beside him. He looked up at Su Xiaoruan, his gaze lingering for a second on her long, black-stockinged legs, his eyebrows slightly raised, but quickly relaxed.

"Good morning. Why are you dressed so... professionally today?" Jiang Che's tone was calm, with a hint of teasing.

"There's a welcome ceremony for new students in the department today, and I'm going to give a speech as an outstanding student representative." Su Xiaoruan swallowed her sandwich and raised her chin with a hint of pride. "I have to show some senior student aura, and I can't let those freshmen look down on me."

"Hmm, that's ambitious." Jiang Che put down his newspaper, took a sip of his coffee, and said, "But isn't the skirt a bit short?"

"It's not short at all! This is the most popular length this year!" Su Xiaoruan said coquettishly, swinging her legs. "Besides, I'm driving, so I won't have to squeeze onto the subway."

Mentioning cars, Su Xiaoruan's eyes lit up. Ever since receiving that pink Porsche 911 for Valentine's Day, her driving skills have become superb, making her a beautiful sight on the Jiangda campus.

"Okay, be careful." Jiang Che didn't say much, only reminding him, "Come back early tonight. Today is an important day, don't forget."

"I won't forget!" Su Xiaoruan made a face. "It's my sister-in-law's birthday! I've prepared a gift! It'll be a real surprise!"

Just then, a series of steady footsteps came from the stairs.

Shen Qingge came down.

Today is her birthday, and also her busiest day.

Instead of dressing up extravagantly for her birthday, she chose an extremely sharp three-piece dark gray striped suit. The well-tailored suit jacket was draped over her shoulders, and the vest underneath accentuated her slender waist. The collar of her white shirt was slightly open, revealing her long neck and the pink diamond necklace she always wore.

Her long hair was tied low at the back of her head, giving her a neat and tidy appearance. Her makeup was cool and sophisticated, with sharp eyebrows and bright red lipstick that resembled a queen's scepter, proclaiming her unshakeable status.

"Good morning." Shen Qingge walked to Jiang Che's side, naturally lowered her head, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Shen." Jiang Che put down his coffee cup, took her hand in his, and stroked the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch on her wrist with his fingertips.

"Thank you." The sharpness in Shen Qingge's eyes instantly softened, and she grasped Jiang Che's hand in return. "However, the birthday banquet might start a little later today. There's an international video conference this morning, and this afternoon... I have to meet with a troublesome guest."

"A troublesome guest?" Jiang Che raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm." Shen Qingge sighed, pulled out a chair and sat down, picking up the warm water Jiang Che had poured for her. "Louis de Valois. The youngest son of the family that originally owned the Scent brand, that typical European playboy. Under the guise of brand handover, he insisted on coming to Jianghai for an inspection, and even specifically asked to see me."

Upon hearing this name, Jiang Che's eyes narrowed slightly before returning to calm.

"The Valois family?" Jiang Che smiled faintly, his tone revealing indifference. "That decadent noble family that squanders its ancestral wealth? It seems he has ulterior motives."

"Who says otherwise?" Shen Qingge rubbed her temples in annoyance. "I tried to refuse several times but couldn't. After all, they still hold a portion of the shares, and we have to save face."

"Do you need me to come with you?" Jiang Che asked.

"No need." Shen Qingge shook her head, a confident smile curving her lips. "I can handle a mere spoiled brat. You just stay home and prepare dinner. I'm more looking forward to tonight's family dinner than any social engagement."

"Okay." Jiang Che nodded. "Then I'll wait for you at home. See you tonight."

……

At nine o'clock in the morning, Su Xiaoruan drove her pink Porsche 911 into Jianghai University with a roar.

Luxury cars and beautiful women instantly attracted the attention of countless new students.

"Holy crap! Who owns that pink Porsche? That's so cool!"

"That's Senior Su Xiaoruan! The most beautiful girl in our Performing Arts Department! I heard her family is super rich!"

"Oh my god, she looks even better in person than on TV! Those legs... amazing!"

Su Xiaoruan, wearing sunglasses, held the steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on the car window, enjoying the envious glances from those around her. Although she was used to being the center of attention, it still gave her a small sense of vanity.

After parking her car, she walked into the auditorium in her high heels.

As a student representative, she sat in the first row.

Sitting next to me was the student council president, a bespectacled, well-mannered senior.

"Xiao Ruan, is today's draft ready?" The senior student leaned over and asked solicitously.

"Ready?" Su Xiaoruan replied politely, but subconsciously shifted her body to the other side to maintain distance.

Ever since the "blind date" incident, she has been extremely wary of men at school. In her eyes, these so-called senior students and talented men are worlds apart from Jiang Che at home.

once having seen the best, the rest is not worthwhile looking.

How could a woman who has seen an eagle possibly be interested in a sparrow?

Throughout the welcome party, Su Xiaoruan was somewhat absent-minded. Her thoughts had long since flown back to Qingche, to tonight's birthday banquet.

"Tonight, I'm going to give my sister-in-law a big surprise. And I'm going to show my brother too..."

She touched a small box in her bag, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

……

At 3 PM, in the top-floor president's office of the Shen Group headquarters building.

Shen Qingge sat behind her large desk, reviewing documents.

There was a knock on the office door, and the secretary walked in somewhat awkwardly.

"Mr. Shen, Mr. Louis has arrived. He... didn't make an appointment and came up with his entourage directly."

Shen Qingge frowned slightly, and paused for a moment with the pen in her hand.

Before she could speak, the office door was pushed open.

A young man with blond hair and blue eyes, dressed in a white tailored suit, walked in. He was carrying a large bouquet of vibrant red roses, ninety-nine in total, which almost covered his upper body.

"Oh! My Muse! Happy Birthday!"

Louis, speaking English with a heavy French accent, walked towards Shen Qingge with his arms outstretched in an exaggerated manner.

Shen Qingge remained seated, her gaze instantly turning cold.

"Mr. Louis."

She spoke coldly in fluent French: "This is an office, not your social ball. Watch your words and actions."

Louis was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Shen Qingge to be so cold. But he quickly adjusted his expression, placed the roses on the desk, and flashed what he thought was a charming smile:

"My dear Shen, don't be so serious. Today is your birthday, and I specially air-freighted roses from Provence just to make you smile."

He pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze sweeping over Shen Qingge with unabashed ferocity.

Today, Shen Qingge, though dressed in a serious suit, exuded a restrained and domineering aura that only fueled men's desire to conquer her. Louis licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with the light of a hunter eyeing his prey.

"Shen, can you spare the evening for me? I've made a reservation at a Michelin three-star restaurant on the Bund, and they have the best violinist."

Shen Qingge closed the file, raised her head, and her phoenix eyes were filled with frost:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Louis. I have a family dinner tonight."

"A family dinner?" Louis raised an eyebrow, his tone flippant. "With whom? Your legendary... gigolo fiancé?"

Upon hearing the words "gold digger," Shen Qingge's face darkened completely.

"Mr. Louis, please show some respect."

Shen Qingge stood up, placed her hands on the table, and looked down at him, exuding an aura of dominance:

"My fiancé is a million times better than you. If it weren't for our business relationship, I could have security throw you out right now."

"Better than me?"

Louis seemed to have heard a joke. He stood up, straightened the lapel of his expensive suit, and said arrogantly:

"Shen, you've been blinded by love. How can an Asian man who rose to power through women compare to the heir of the great Valois family? What I can give you is a European noble title, endless wealth and resources. And him? What can he do besides cook for you?"

Just then.

The office door was pushed open again.

This time, there was no knocking on the door, nor was there any announcement from the secretary.

Because he was one of the true owners of this building (although not in name, he was in everyone's heart).

"Looks like someone's quite interested in my cooking?"

A deep, warm voice, yet tinged with chilling coldness, rang out at the doorway.

Shen Qingge and Louis turned their heads at the same time.

Jiang Che was standing at the door.

He wasn't dressed very formally today, just a dark gray turtleneck cashmere sweater with a long black trench coat over it, and he was carrying an elegant insulated food container.

But the moment he stood there, his aura—as steady as a mountain and as unfathomable as an abyss—instantly overwhelmed the flamboyant French peacock.

Jiang Che strode in, not even glancing at Louis, and went straight to Shen Qingge's side.

He placed the food box on the table, reached out, and very naturally tidied Shen Qingge's slightly disheveled sideburns, his eyes so tender they could melt tears:

"Are you hungry? I made you some bird's nest soup to tide you over."