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

The night in Jianghai City is as deep and dark as an unyielding mass of ink.

Inside the CEO's office at Qingche Entertainment, the solitary lamp shone with an unusual warmth. With the live stream signal cut off, the storm that had swept the entire internet finally came to a halt thanks to Jiang Che's swift and decisive actions.

Jiang Che sat behind his large desk, his fingers gently tracing the faded black-and-white photograph that Han Xiao had just brought him. The gentle woman in the photograph bore a striking resemblance to himself in the mirror. And the man with the imposing presence, whose profile was only visible—Ye Zhentian, the head of the Ye family in Beijing—that name weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.

The mystery of her birth and the feuds within a wealthy family seem to conceal a huge vortex.

But Jiang Che did not pursue the matter further.

He opened the drawer, put the photo into a locked metal box, and then locked it with a click.

"It's not the right time yet."

Jiang Che muttered to himself.

Now, he has grown stronger, but he has only just gained a foothold. The Ye family is a behemoth; a single move by them can have far-reaching consequences. More importantly, after this turmoil, both Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan are exhausted, both physically and mentally.

What they need is not the truth, not revenge, but a complete rest.

"Boss, all the follow-up public relations work has been arranged." Han Xiao knocked on the door and came in. Looking at Jiang Che's unusually calm face, he asked cautiously, "Um... about the Ye family, should we press our advantage? Or send someone to the capital to investigate their background?"

"No need." Jiang Che stood up, picked up his coat from the back of the chair, and said calmly, "Suspend all investigations. Take a break for yourself during this time. Leave the company's affairs to the professional managers."

"A holiday?" Han Xiao was taken aback. "And what about you?"

Jiang Che walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the dazzling yet indifferent night view of the river and sea outside, a gentle smile curving his lips:

"Me? I'm going to elope with my family."

……

It was already 2 a.m. when I got back to Tomson Riviera.

Pushing open the door, I saw that the main lights in the living room were not on; only a warm yellow floor lamp was left on.

On the sofa, two figures, one tall and one short, were snuggling together.

Su Xiaoruan hugged the giant strawberry bear, burying her head in Shen Qingge's arms. She was clearly exhausted from crying and was now half asleep, with tear stains still clinging to the corners of her eyes. Shen Qingge hadn't changed out of her pajamas and was still wearing her smart business attire. She gently patted Su Xiaoruan's back with one hand while holding a tablet in the other, still dealing with the last of her legal emails.

Hearing the door open, Shen Qingge looked up.

Eyes facing each other.

In that instant, the strength and sharpness in her eyes vanished, replaced by a deep weariness and dependence.

Jiang Che walked over quietly, first bending down to pick up the sleeping Su Xiaoruan, his movements as gentle as if he were holding a fragile piece of porcelain, and carried her back to her room, covering her with a blanket.

Back in the living room, he walked up to Shen Qingge, knelt down, and took her cold hand in his.

"Still busy?"

"There's some finishing touches to be done." Shen Qingge rubbed her temples, her voice a little hoarse. "Those rumor-mongering marketing accounts, we can't let a single one get away with it. Shen's legal department has already sent out hundreds of lawyer's letters."

"Let the people below do it." Jiang Che reached out and closed her tablet, placed it aside, then lifted her up from the sofa and let her sit on his lap.

"Honey, are you tired?"

Shen Qingge leaned against his shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of tobacco and the familiar fragrance of his shower gel, and let out a long sigh:

"tired."

"It's not physical exhaustion, it's mental exhaustion."

Shen Qingge closed her eyes and murmured, "Jiang Che, sometimes I think this industry is really dirty. Xiao Ruan clearly did nothing wrong, why does she have to suffer all this? And you... you were clearly protecting us, but you got splashed with so much filth."

"This is the price of fame." Jiang Che gently stroked her long hair. "However, since the water is too murky, let's jump out and go ashore to sunbathe."

Shen Qingge opened her eyes, somewhat puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"Let's go on a trip."

Jiang Che looked at her earnestly: "We won't go to a high-society place like Paris, nor will we go to a crowded place like Sanya. We'll go somewhere quiet and slow-paced, and stay for a few days."

"There are only the three of us."

"Don't bring work, don't look at your phone, and ignore all the distractions."

Shen Qingge paused for a moment, then a longing gleamed in her eyes. Since taking over the Shen Group, she had been spinning like a top, even her trip to Paris was on a mission. Pure travel was a luxury for her.

"Where to?" she asked.

"Dali".

Jiang Che said softly:

"Go to the foot of Cangshan Mountain, by Erhai Lake. Rent a courtyard, watch the clouds, feel the breeze, and brew some tea."

"I heard that the wind there can blow away all unhappiness."

As Shen Qingge imagined that scene, the weight that had been pressing on her heart seemed to lighten instantly. She took the initiative to hug Jiang Che's neck and pecked him on the lips:

"Granted."

"President Jiang, you arrange the itinerary. I'm only responsible for bringing people, and... bringing the money."

"Yes, ma'am."

……

Two days later.

While Jianghai City was still shrouded in the drizzling rain of early spring, a Gulfstream G650ER had already pierced through the clouds and landed at Dali Fengyi Airport.

As the hatch opened, a warm breeze carrying the fragrance of earth and the crisp, unique scent of the plateau rushed in. The sunlight here was almost blindingly bright, and the sky was as blue as a giant sapphire, pure and without a trace of impurity.

"Wow—!! It's the sun! It's a huge sun!"

Su Xiaoruan was the first to rush off the plane, taking off her sunglasses and mask, opening her arms wide, and greedily breathing in the air.

After two days of rest, and with Jiang Che's careful "feeding," the girl has emerged from the shadow of cyberbullying. At this moment, she is wearing a loose-fitting ethnic-style tie-dye dress, with colorful braids in her hair, looking every bit like a happy girl from Yunnan.

"Run slowly, don't fall."

Jiang Che took Shen Qingge's hand and slowly walked down the spiral staircase.

Both were dressed casually. Jiang Che wore a white T-shirt and linen trousers, while Shen Qingge wore a bohemian-style floral dress with a thin cardigan over it. Her long hair fluttered in the wind, giving her a more gentle and graceful look than the sharp and assertive CEO she exuded. Yet, in the vibrant land of Dali, she appeared exceptionally charming.

"Is this Dali?" Shen Qingge looked at the Cangshan Mountains in the distance, with their peaks still covered in snow, and Erhai Lake at the foot of the mountains, which shimmered like a mirror. Her mood instantly improved.

"How is it? Isn't this a good location?" Jiang Che asked with a smile.

"It's alright, barely to my liking." Shen Qingge proudly raised her chin.

Instead of staying in a noisy hotel, Jiang Che arranged in advance (actually, he used the system's [God-level Life Butler] ability) to rent an entire Bai ethnic courtyard house by the Erhai Lake in an ancient village.

The car traveled along the coastal highway.

To the left lies the vast expanse of Erhai Lake, and to the right, golden rapeseed fields and traditional houses with white walls and gray tiles. Opening the car window, the wind rushes in, giving one a slightly tipsy feeling.

"Brother! Look! Those are seagulls!" Su Xiaoruan shouted from the window.

"Those are red-billed gulls, they fly in from Siberia to overwinter," Jiang Che said, acting as the guide. "When we get to the yard later, you can feed them."

Half an hour later, the car stopped on the edge of an ancient town called "Shuanglang".

There is no excessive commercialization here, and the original tranquility has been preserved.

The courtyard they rented was called "Yunshuijian".

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a small and exquisite courtyard comes into view. Bougainvillea, planted in the courtyard, is in full bloom, with purplish-red flowers cascading down and extending all the way to the waterfront terrace that leads directly to Erhai Lake.

A huge log tea table and several rattan chairs are set on the terrace. Sitting here, you can see the rippling lake below and the clouds over Cangshan Mountain above.

"Oh my god...this place is so beautiful!"

Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan exclaimed in surprise almost simultaneously.

Compared to the modern luxury of Tomson Riviera, this beauty, full of natural charm and tranquility, is more touching.

"Do you like it?" Jiang Che put down his suitcase.

"I love it! I love it so much!" Su Xiaoruan had already taken off her shoes and ran barefoot onto the terrace, shouting towards Erhai Lake, "Ah—! I am a free bird—!"

Shen Qingge walked to the bougainvillea bush, touched the petals, turned to look at Jiang Che, her eyes sparkling: "Mr. Jiang, did you plan this all along? This courtyard is exactly the place I've always imagined for my retirement."

"It's too early to retire." Jiang Che walked over, hugged her from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder. "But it's perfect for dating."

"These past few days, we haven't had any work or social engagements. We're just staying here and living our lives peacefully."

……

The evening of the first day.

The setting sun dyed Erhai Lake a breathtaking golden-red hue.

Instead of going out to eat at those so-called trendy restaurants, Jiang Che decided to cook for himself in the yard.

He went to the town market and bought the freshest Erhai bowfish, local specialty water hyacinth (a type of wild vegetable), Xuanwei ham, and several freshly picked wild mushrooms.

The kitchen is semi-open, facing the yard.

Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan sat on the rattan chairs on the terrace, drinking local Pu'er tea while watching the sunset and the busy figure in the kitchen.

"Sister," Su Xiaoruan said softly, hugging her knees and watching Jiang Che's retreating figure, "I feel like I'm dreaming."

"Hmm?" Shen Qingge turned to look at her.

"A few days ago, I thought the whole world hated me, and I even wanted to quit the entertainment industry." Su Xiaoruan sniffed. "But now, sitting here watching my brother cook, I feel like... those people who criticized me don't seem to matter anymore."

"As long as you are here, everywhere is paradise."

Shen Qingge's heart softened, and she reached out to pat her head: "Silly girl. You must remember, life is your own, not something you live for others to see. Those keyboard warriors only dare to revel in the gutter, while you are someone standing in the sunlight."

"and……"

Shen Qingge looked at the man in the kitchen who was tossing the wok, her eyes softening with tenderness.

"Your brother is right. The meaning of family is that when you're tired, they give you a shell to retreat to at any time."

"Dinner's ready!"

Jiang Che came out carrying the dishes.

Sour papaya stewed with fish, stir-fried water hyacinth, ham stewed in a copper pot with rice, and a cold tree bark salad (a local specialty).

Simple home-style dishes, but with this scenery, they are even more tempting than Michelin three-star restaurants.

"Try this fish." Jiang Che placed a piece on each of their plates. "It's unique to Erhai Lake, the meat is very tender, and the sour papaya is also produced here, it's good for your appetite."

Su Xiaoruan took a bite, and her eyes lit up instantly: "Delicious! It's sour and spicy, perfect with rice!"

Shen Qingge then elegantly tasted a bite of the water hyacinth, finding it smooth, crisp, and with a faint plant fragrance.

"Jiang Che," Shen Qingge put down her chopsticks and looked at him, "your cooking skills are truly a hidden talent. How about we stop running the company and open a private restaurant here instead?"

"Okay." Jiang Che poured a glass of plum wine for the two of them. "I'm the boss and head chef, you're the boss's wife and cashier, and Xiao Ruan is... the mascot at the door who attracts customers."

"Hey! I'm not a mascot!" Su Xiaoruan protested. "I want to be a resident singer! The kind that charges eight hundred a night!"

"Eight hundred? That's too cheap," Shen Qingge laughed. "Our Best Actress's appearance should start at least at eighty thousand."

The three chatted and laughed, then clinked glasses.

The plum wine is slightly sweet and has a low alcohol content, yet it can make you feel slightly tipsy.

As the evening breeze blew, the starry sky above gradually brightened. The number of stars in Dali was astonishing, densely covering the entire night sky, seemingly within reach.

After the meal.

Su Xiaoruan sat on the balcony railing, holding her guitar, and softly hummed the song "Chasing the Light".

On this night, without accompaniment, without spotlights, only the sounds of waves and wind, her singing was more moving than on any stage.

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge lay side by side on the recliner, covered with a blanket.

Jiang Che.

"Um?"

"Thank you for bringing me here."

Shen Qingge turned to look at Jiang Che under the starry sky. His profile looked exceptionally gentle in the moonlight.

"During this time, I've been on edge the whole time. Even in Paris, I was constantly thinking about how to maintain the Shen family's image and how to deal with the media."

"Until just now, after drinking that sip of plum wine, I felt... that I had truly come back to life."

Jiang Che reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest.

"Then enjoy it."

"Here, you don't need to be CEO Shen, nor do you need to be a powerful woman."

"You just need to be yourself."

"Or..." Jiang Che lowered his head and lightly pecked her lips, "be my Mrs. Shen."

Shen Qingge's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't dodge. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face even deeper.

"husband……"

"Um?"

"I see you've locked that photo up."

Shen Qingge's voice was soft, yet very clear:

"Although you didn't say it, I know it's about your background. And the Ye family..."

"Jiang Che, if you want to investigate, or if you want to do anything, don't worry about me and Xiao Ruan."

"The Shen family is very strong now, and we are not afraid of any powerful families."

"If you are a member of the Ye family, then we will go back with dignity; if you don't want to acknowledge it, then no one can force you."

Jiang Che's hand paused slightly.

He hadn't expected Shen Qingge to be so observant.

"fool."

Jiang Che tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head:

"I don't want to think about those things right now."

"For me, no matter what kind of wealthy family or background I have, nothing can compare to this moment."

"It can't compare to the wind of Erhai Lake, it can't compare to this cup of plum wine, and it can't compare to..."

"You in my arms."

Shen Qingge's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes welled up with tears.

She knew that this man was telling her, in his own way—

In his heart, they were the most important.

"Then I won't think about it."

Shen Qingge closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips:

"What should we do tomorrow? I want to climb Cangshan Mountain, and I also want to go to the ancient city to buy a tie-dyed dress."

"Okay." Jiang Che agreed readily. "I'll carry you up the mountain tomorrow, and you can buy any dress you want; I'll pay with my card."

"Who wants you to carry me! I have legs!"

"Don't come begging to me if you're exhausted and cry later."

"Hmph, just you wait!"

Not far away, Su Xiaoruan finished singing a song, turned around and looked at the two adults who were starting to act all lovey-dovey again, and made a face:

"So embarrassing! My older brother and sister are showing off their love again! I'm going to write this scene into my new song!"

Night was falling.

The waves of Erhai Lake gently lap against the shore, like nature's most tender lullaby.

In this tranquil courtyard, far from the hustle and bustle, there are no conspiracies, no schemes, only the purest love and companionship.

At this moment, time seemed to slow down.