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

In mid-February, the afterglow of the Spring Festival had not yet faded, but for senior high school students, the holiday was already running out.

In the morning at Qingche Manor, the air is filled with the moist fragrance of plum blossoms.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat strange.

At this time, Su Xiaoruan would usually be munching on a sandwich while chattering away to Jiang Che about school gossip, or pestering Shen Qingge to buy her a new dress.

But today, she was unusually quiet.

She was wearing her school uniform, drinking milk while holding her phone, a suspicious-looking "foolish smile" playing on her lips.

Her fingers flew across the screen as she typed, occasionally covering her mouth to chuckle to herself. Her eyes were completely focused on her phone, oblivious to the fried egg Jiang Che had placed on her plate.

"Cough cough."

Jiang Che cleared his throat, trying to get someone's attention.

no response.

"Xiao Ruan, the fried egg is getting cold," Shen Qingge reminded her.

"Oh...okay..." Su Xiaoruan replied perfunctorily, took a bite of the egg, but her eyes never left her phone. She even sent a ten-second voice message:

"Ugh, you're so annoying~ See you at the usual place tonight, don't be late~ Mwah!"

Clang.

Jiang Che dropped his fork onto the plate with a crisp sound.

Shen Qingge almost spat out the coffee she had just drunk.

"Mwah?"

Jiang Che narrowed his eyes, and those usually gentle and refined eyes now flashed with a dangerous light, the kind of gaze one might expect from an older father (brother-in-law).

"Su Xiaoruan, who are you talking to?"

"Huh?" Su Xiaoruan was startled. She quickly locked her phone, stuffed it into her bag, and her eyes darted around. "No...nobody! Just...just a classmate!"

"Male or female classmates?" Jiang Che pressed.

"Hey bro, are you checking my household registration?! I'm going to be late! Han Xiao is waiting for me! Bye-bye!"

Su Xiaoruan grabbed her schoolbag, with half a slice of toast in her mouth, and ran out like a startled rabbit.

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge were left alone in the restaurant, staring at each other.

"This girl..." Jiang Che looked at the doorway, his brows furrowed. "Something's wrong. Something's very wrong."

Shen Qingge put down her coffee cup and looked at Jiang Che thoughtfully: "Jiang Che, don't you think that tone of voice just now... sounded a bit like someone in love?"

"fall in love?!"

Jiang Che's voice instantly rose eight octaves: "Impossible! How old is she? Senior year of high school! It's a crucial time for her to study! What's with dating? What brat would dare to flirt with her? Does he have a death wish?"

Seeing Jiang Che's alarmed expression, Shen Qingge couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright, stop looking like you're about to kill someone. It's puberty, it's normal. But..."

Shen Qingge paused, her tone tinged with worry: "If it's some shady thug, or someone after her money and fame, we really need to be careful."

"Defense? What's the use of just defense?"

Jiang Che stood up and paced back and forth in the restaurant, his aura becoming extremely oppressive.

"I need to investigate. Who is this pig who dares to steal my cabbage?"

……

10:00 AM, Sky Capital Asia Headquarters.

Athena (the chief secretary) walked into the president's office carrying a stack of documents about the European energy acquisition deal.

"Boss, this is a letter of peace from the Habsburg family, and also from the Morgan Group..."

"Let's put it aside for now."

Jiang Che sat behind his enormous desk, not looking at any documents, but staring at a row of surveillance screens in front of him. Those were the live feeds of the area around Su Xiaoruan's school that Han Xiao had just sent him.

"Athena, please analyze this for me."

Jiang Che pointed to the screen showing Su Xiaoruan's back as she walked into the school gate:

From a psychological and micro-expression perspective, what is the nature of her "yao yao da" this morning?

Athena: "..."

Boss, I'm your chief secretary who manages trillions of assets, not some neighborhood committee auntie who catches your sister dating too early!

But seeing the boss's serious expression, Athena could only push up her glasses and spout nonsense with a straight face:

"Boss, based on the behavioral patterns of adolescent girls, this sudden secret socializing, emotional fluctuations, and dependence on mobile phones do indeed fit the characteristics of the 'early stage of a relationship'."

"Furthermore, according to big data analysis, Ms. Su has recently been frequently searching for keywords on social media such as: 'What gifts should I give to a guy?', 'How can I make him like me more?', and... 'What does kissing feel like?'."

"Click."

The pen in Jiang Che's hand was broken.

Ink stained his fingertips, but he was completely unaware.

"kiss?"

Jiang Che's smile turned somewhat sinister: "Good. Very good. You have a very adventurous spirit."

"Prepare the car."

Jiang Che stood up and wiped his hands with a tissue:

All meetings this afternoon are cancelled.

"I'm going to the school. I'll be traveling incognito."

……

Five o'clock in the afternoon, in an open park near Jianghai No.1 Middle School.

The environment here is quiet and peaceful. Because it is close to the school, students often linger here after school.

Jiang Che, wearing sunglasses and a mask, and dressed in an inconspicuous black hoodie, hid behind a large tree like a spy. Shen Qingge (who had been forcibly dragged along) was also fully armed and helplessly squatted down next to him.

"Jiang Che, isn't what we're doing a little... weird?" Shen Qingge muttered under her breath. "If the paparazzi catch us, tomorrow's headlines will be 'Why are the billionaire couple spying in the park?'"

"Shh!"

Jiang Che made a shushing gesture and pointed ahead: "They're here!"

Not far away, Su Xiaoruan walked over with her schoolbag on her back along the path.

A boy was already waiting by a bench.

The boy was quite tall, fair-skinned, and rather handsome; he was the kind of "school heartthrob" who was quite popular in school.

"You're here!" The boy immediately flashed a bright smile when he saw Su Xiaoruan.

"Mmm!" Su Xiaoruan ran over, lowering her head shyly, twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands. "Um... about what we talked about last night... are you ready?"

"Ready?" The boy looked at her tenderly, extending his hand. "Shall we...begin?"

Su Xiaoruan nodded, took a deep breath, and then...

She placed her hand in the boy's hand!

"Holy crap!"

Jiang Che, who was behind the tree, instantly lost his temper. If Shen Qingge hadn't held him back, he would have rushed out and given that boy a Muay Thai combo.

"Calm down! Calm down!" Shen Qingge whispered, "It's just holding hands! Let's assess the situation first!"

Meanwhile, the conversation on the other end was still going on.

The boy held Su Xiaoruan's hand, his eyes burning with passion, his voice deep and magnetic:

"Romeo... oh no, Juliet." (The boy was clearly a little nervous and misspoke.)

"Your eyes are like the stars in the sky... For you, I am willing to give up my surname, to give up my family..."

"Even death cannot separate us..."

As he spoke, the boy slowly lowered his head, his face getting closer and closer to Su Xiaoruan…

Su Xiaoruan also closed her eyes and tilted her head back slightly, as if waiting for something.

Five centimeters.

Three centimeters.

One centimeter!

Just as their lips were about to touch—

"I'd like to see who dares to touch her!!!"

A loud shout, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startled the birds in the trees into flight.

Jiang Che could no longer hold back.

He broke free from Shen Qingge's hand and rushed out like a black whirlwind.

"what!"

The boy was so startled that he slipped and fell flat on his backside.

Su Xiaoruan was also startled and opened her eyes abruptly, looking in horror at Jiang Che, who suddenly appeared in front of her, exuding black energy and looking like a demon descending to earth.

"Brother...brother?!"

Su Xiaoruan stammered, "You... what are you doing here?!"

"How did I get here?"

Jiang Che sneered, pulled Su Xiaoruan behind him to protect her, and then looked down at the boy on the ground:

"Since I'm not here, are you going to give away your first kiss?"

"You brat."

Jiang Che clenched his fists, making a cracking sound: "You've got some nerve. You dare touch my sister? What class are you in? Who are your parents? Do you even know how to spell 'death'?"

Where had that boy ever seen anything like this before?

Who is Jiang Che? He's a ruthless man who tramples European nobles underfoot! When he unleashes that aura, ordinary high school students simply can't withstand it.

"I...I didn't...I didn't..."

The boy turned pale with fright and almost cried out, "Uncle... oh no, brother! It's a misunderstanding! We were rehearsing a play!!"

"A stage play?"

Jiang Che was stunned for a moment, his fist stopping in mid-air.

At this moment, Shen Qingge also rushed over and picked up a booklet from the ground.

Romeo and Juliet – Script for the Jianghai No.1 Middle School Arts Festival

"elder brother……"

Su Xiaoruan peeked out from behind Jiang Che, looking at him with a speechless yet slightly smug expression:

"We were rehearsing for next week's arts festival performance! He's the arts committee member, playing Romeo, and I'm Juliet! What we were doing just now was rehearsing lines! It was a camera trick! Don't you understand? There was no real kissing!"

"Rehearsal?" Jiang Che's expression froze.

He glanced at the script on the ground, then at the "Romeo" who was practically pissing his pants in fear, and finally at the innocent-looking Su Xiaoruan.

An atmosphere known as "social death" spread through the air.

"Um..." the boy stammered, raising his hand. "Big brother, if there's nothing else... I'll be going now. My mom's calling me home for dinner..."

After saying that, he scrambled away, not even daring to take the script. That was terrifying! He'd never act opposite Su Xiaoruan again! Is her brother a gangster?!

……

Half an hour later, at the Clear Lane Manor.

In the living room, a three-way trial was being held.

Su Xiaoruan sat on the sofa, hugging a cushion. Although she had been caught red-handed (although it was a misunderstanding), she showed no fear on her face. Instead, she would steal glances at Jiang Che from time to time, and the corners of her mouth would involuntarily turn up in a smile.

Jiang Che took a sip of tea, somewhat embarrassed, trying to salvage his "wise and mighty" image.

"Um... if it's a rehearsal, why make it so mysterious? 'See you at the usual place'? 'Yay!'?" Jiang Che forced an excuse.

"That's to get into the groove!"

Su Xiaoruan said matter-of-factly, "My teacher said I have Dior haute couture skills and acting ability, but I lack one thing—romantic experience!"

"I'm Juliet now! I have to portray that kind of love where you'd do anything for love, that fluttering feeling of first love! But I've never been in a relationship before, how am I supposed to get into character? I guess I'll just have to develop a relationship with the male lead!"

At this point, Su Xiaoruan sighed, looking troubled.

"I was finally getting into the swing of things, and you scared me away. Now Romeo's gone, what am I going to do for next week's performance? If I mess it up, the whole school will laugh at me!"

Jiang Che felt a little guilty after hearing what she said.

"Well...you can't just kiss anyone like that," Jiang Che muttered under his breath. "What if that guy takes advantage of you?"

"That was just a camera trick! A camera trick!" Su Xiaoruan rolled her eyes. "Besides, that guy is a coward. Even if he had the guts, he wouldn't actually kiss me. I just wanted to experience that feeling of my heart racing."

Su Xiaoruan suddenly put down her cushion, moved closer to Jiang Che, and stared intently at him with her big eyes:

"Brother, since you scared my Romeo away, you have to compensate me."

"Compensate? How will you compensate?" Jiang Che leaned back warily.

"You help me rehearse!"

Su Xiaoruan made a surprising statement:

"You're way more handsome than that guy, and you have such a strong presence. If I were facing you, I could totally get into character in a second!"

"Nonsense!" Jiang Che refused without even thinking. "I'm your brother! What kind of Romeo am I playing? Is that even appropriate?"

"Oh, what does it matter! It's just rehearsing lines! It's not like we're actually kissing!" Su Xiaoruan tugged at his sleeve and pleaded. "Besides, this is for art! For honor! Sister-in-law, please say something for me!"

Shen Qingge, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, put down her teacup and looked at Jiang Che with a half-smile:

"I think Xiaoruan makes a good point."

"It's just acting anyway. Besides... I'm also quite curious to see what President Jiang will be like as Romeo."

Shen Qingge actually saw through Su Xiaoruan's little scheme. But she didn't mind; in fact, she found it quite amusing. In her opinion, Jiang Che's feelings for Xiaoruan were currently only those of a brother and sister. Letting him play house with his "sister" would be a good way to keep him from being so overly sensitive in the future.

"You..." Jiang Che looked at the two women and felt a sense of powerlessness.

……

Ten minutes later.

Jiang Che was forced to pick up the script.

"Which scene?" Jiang Che asked with a dark face.

"That was the scene from just now! The most classic balcony confession!" Su Xiaoruan excitedly stood on the stairs (pretending it was a balcony), looking down at Jiang Che standing in the living room.

"Action!" Shen Qingge acted as director.

Jiang Che took a deep breath. Since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well finish it quickly.

He looked up at Su Xiaoruan on the stairs.

His previously perfunctory gaze suddenly froze when it met Su Xiaoruan's eyes.

At this moment, Su Xiaoruan was no longer the carefree little girl she once was.

She stood under the light, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her eyes revealing a deep affection that Jiang Che had never seen before, an affection so intense it was almost overwhelming.

It wasn't just Juliet's love for Romeo.

That was Su Xiaoruan's true feelings, hidden in her heart for eighteen years, which she only dared to express through opera lyrics.

"Romeo..."

Su Xiaoruan called softly, her voice trembling but firm:

"If you love me, then please abandon your name... or, if you are unwilling, then please swear to love me, and I will no longer be a member of the Capulet family (Su Xiaoruan)."

"The love I possess is as deep as the sea; the more I give to you, the more I have for myself, for both are infinite."

"If you would just look back at me once... I would be willing to fight the whole world for you."

She spoke these lines extremely slowly, each word seeming to be carved from her heart.

Jiang Che looked at her.

In a daze, he seemed to see the little girl shivering in the snowy night of Kunlun Mountain, the girl who clung to him in Phuket, and the "Queen" in Vienna who held the scepter but only looked at him.

This girl... has grown up.

Moreover, it seems that there really are stars hidden in her eyes.

Jiang Che's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

But he quickly suppressed this strange feeling. He was the older brother, and she was the younger sister. That was the ironclad rule.

"Cough cough."

Jiang Che composed himself and recited Romeo's lines:

"Miss, I swear to you by this moon that shines on the treetops..."

"No! Don't swear by the moon!" Su Xiaoruan interrupted him, tears welling in her eyes. "The moon is fickle, it waxes and wanes every month. I don't want your love to be as fickle as it is."

"Then what should I swear on?" Jiang Che asked.

Su Xiaoruan ran down the stairs and stopped in front of Jiang Che.

She stood on tiptoe, her delicate face only a few centimeters away from Jiang Che.

She looked into Jiang Che's eyes and said with utmost seriousness:

"Swear by yourself."

"Because you are my only faith in this world."

After saying this, Su Xiaoruan closed her eyes and tilted her head back slightly.

That was a gesture of asking for a kiss.

Extremely natural, yet extremely bold.

The living room was deathly silent.

Even the "director" Shen Qingge forgot to call "cut".

Jiang Che looked at the red lips so close to his face and his breath hitched slightly.

Isn't this acting a bit over the top?

At this moment when ambiguity reached its peak.

"Meow--"

Su Xiaoruan's Ragdoll cat suddenly crawled out from under the sofa, jumped onto the coffee table, and knocked over the fruit bowl.

"Clatter".

The sound startled everyone awake.

Jiang Che abruptly took a step back, looking away in a flustered manner: "Ahem... um, is this scene almost over? I'm tired too, I should go to sleep."

Su Xiaoruan opened her eyes, a hint of disappointment flashing in them, but she quickly concealed it.

She put on a cheerful expression and patted Jiang Che on the shoulder:

"Not bad, bro! You're really talented! That look in your eyes just now almost mesmerized me!"

"Alright, thanks for cooperating, bro! I'm getting into it! This performance is in the bag!"

Su Xiaoruan stretched and picked up the cat:

"Goodnight, sister-in-law! Goodnight, brother! I'm going to memorize my lines!"

After saying that, she hummed a song and ran back to her room.

Watching her light and cheerful figure, Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief, but he still felt that something was wrong.

"How was it, Romeo Jiang?" Shen Qingge walked over and straightened his collar. "Were you tempted just now?"

"Fluttering my foot!" Jiang Che said irritably. "This is a horror movie. If this girl actually falls in love, that would be a disaster."

Shen Qingge smiled and didn't expose her.

A woman's intuition told her that Su Xiaoruan wasn't acting at all just now.

But she wasn't worried.

Because she knew where Jiang Che's heart lay. And Xiao Ruan... some growth requires experiencing the bittersweetness of unrequited love.

……

Second floor, Princess Room.

Su Xiaoruan closed the door, leaned against it, and the smile on her face vanished instantly.

She slid to the ground, hugged her knees, and buried her head in her arms.

My heart was still pounding.

Just a moment ago, she really wanted to kiss him.

Even if she was pushed away, even if she was scolded, she wanted to try it once.

"coward……"

Su Xiaoruan cursed herself.

She took out her phone and opened the notes app. It wasn't a love diary, but rather a complete "Pursuit Plan."

Today's record is:

"February 15th. I told him, 'You are my faith,' while acting. He didn't avoid it, but... he didn't respond either."

"It's okay. Su Xiaoruan, you need to be patient."

"When I get to university, when I become better, when I can truly stand by his side..."

"I no longer need to use Juliet's name to say I love you."

Su Xiaoruan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and revealed her energetic smile again.

Goodnight, Jiang Che.

"One day, you will be my Romeo."

...

...

In late February, Jianghai City was still chilly despite the changing weather. A thin layer of morning mist still floated on the lake at Qingcheli Manor, and the willow tips of early spring were just beginning to show a hint of green. The air was filled with the fragrance of damp earth and early spring flowers.

It was supposed to be a pleasant Friday morning.

In the master bedroom's walk-in closet, Jiang Che was packing his luggage. It was an unremarkable black carry-on suitcase, inside which were two sets of clothes and some necessary documents neatly folded.

Shen Qingge leaned against the doorframe of the dressing room, holding a glass of warm water in her hand, wearing a light champagne-colored silk morning robe. The smooth, satin-like fabric clung to her graceful figure, the belt at her waist loosely tied, revealing a large expanse of her delicate, white skin, as smooth as mutton fat jade, and her exquisite, deep collarbone at the neckline.

She wasn't wearing makeup, and her bare face carried a hint of languor and weariness from just waking up. Her long, straight black hair, which was usually meticulously styled, was now casually draped over her shoulders, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks and trembling slightly with her breath.

Those phoenix eyes that were usually decisive and icy in the business world were now like a lake disturbed by spring water, filled with reluctance and a rare... dependence.

"Are we really going to be gone for two days?"

Shen Qingge took a small sip of water, her voice low and husky, with a unique magnetism that came with the early morning: "Is it absolutely necessary to go?"

Jiang Che closed the suitcase, stood up and walked to her. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her warm earlobe.

"I have to go." Jiang Che's voice was gentle and steady. "There are some things I need to investigate in Suzhou. That project is very important for the company's plans for the second half of the year. Besides, it would seem insincere not to personally invite some veteran craftsmen."

That's obviously an excuse.

Actually, he was going to a century-old jade carving workshop in Suzhou. The raw stone he brought back from Kunlun Mountain needed to be cut and designed by the best craftsmen. He wanted to personally polish two gifts for Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan before Valentine's Day.

"It's only two days. I'll be back Sunday night." Jiang Che looked at her eyes, which even seemed a little aggrieved, and couldn't help but smile. "What? Is President Shen unable to live without me?"

"Who can't live without you?"