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

The moment that thought popped into her head, Su Xiaoruan ruthlessly suppressed it.

"No! Su Xiaoruan, wake up! That's your sister-in-law! She's the sister-in-law who treats you like her own sister!"

She chewed the bone in her mouth with all her might, turning her grief and anger into a hunger, and exclaimed loudly, "Brother! This pork rib is so delicious! I want more!"

"There's plenty." Jiang Che pushed the whole plate of ribs in front of her. "Eat slowly, don't choke."

[Midnight Approaching: That Fate-Determining Coin]

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Finally, the highlight of the evening has arrived—eating dumplings.

Steaming hot dumplings were served. The plump, white dumplings, each one round and glistening with an enticing sheen, were steaming in the dish.

"The usual rules."

Jiang Che put down his chopsticks, a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "There's a coin inside one of these dumplings. Whoever finds it will be the lucky star of the year and can make a wish, which our whole family will grant."

Han smiled and waved her hand: "I won't participate. This good fortune should be reserved for the boss, President Shen, and Miss Shen."

"That won't do, everyone gets a share." Shen Qingge put two on Han Xiao's plate. "Eat up."

The restaurant fell silent, save for the sound of chewing.

Su Xiaoruan's heart began to race.

Her eyes were fixed on the dumplings on the plate, trying to find the "lucky dumpling" that she had secretly marked that afternoon.

That dumpling with tiny wavy edges...

found it!

It was lying quietly on the very edge of the plate, on the side closest to Jiang Che.

Su Xiaoruan tightened her grip on the chopsticks slightly.

When she was making dumplings in the afternoon, she deliberately wrapped the coin inside and marked it. Her intention was for her brother to find it in the dumplings, hoping it would bring him good fortune in the new year.

But at this moment, looking at Jiang Che's handsome profile under the light, and at his hands clasped together with Shen Qingge's...

A strong, selfish desire to be seen and pampered suddenly welled up in my heart.

"If I get to eat it... I'll make a wish... I wish to stay by my brother's side forever and never get married."

Once this idea takes hold, it grows wildly like weeds.

Su Xiaoruan bit her lip, her eyes flickering.

Just as Jiang Che stretched out his chopsticks, preparing to pick up the dumplings from that direction...

"Brother! I want that!"

Su Xiaoruan suddenly spoke up, pointing to the dumpling under Jiang Che's chopsticks, and said coquettishly, "That looks the biggest! It must have the most filling! I want to eat that one!"

Jiang Che was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled: "You silly girl, you even have to be picky about the dumplings you eat."

Without any hesitation, he flicked his wrist, picked up the marked dumpling, and put it into Su Xiaoruan's bowl.

"Here you go, you little glutton."

Su Xiaoruan stared at the dumplings in her bowl, her heart pounding.

She looked up and met Jiang Che's doting eyes. There was no doubt in them, only endless tolerance for his younger sister.

Su Xiaoruan's nose suddenly stung with tears.

She lowered her head, picked up the dumpling, and took a small bite.

"Thump."

The tooth hit a hard metal.

The crisp sound was particularly clear in the quiet restaurant.

"Huh?" Shen Qingge looked over in surprise, "Xiao Ruan got to eat it?"

Jiang Che also showed a surprised expression: "This girl is lucky! She got it on the first try?"

Su Xiaoruan spat out the clean one-yuan coin from her mouth, which glittered under the light.

"Haha! I got to eat it! I'm lucky!"

Su Xiaoruan held up the coin, her eyes crinkling with laughter, like a child who had won the whole world. But only she knew how many bitter thoughts were hidden in that smile.

"Congratulations!" Jiang Che clapped his hands. "So, what's your wish, this year's lucky star?"

Su Xiaoruan gripped the coin tightly in her hand, the warmth of her palm seeping through the metal as if it were her brother's body temperature.

She looked at Jiang Che, then at Shen Qingge.

There was a few seconds of silence.

In the end, she swallowed back her wish to "stay by her brother's side forever".

She took a deep breath, put on a spirited expression, and said loudly:

My wish is—

"I'm going to win Best Actress next year! I'm going to become the most popular female star in all of Asia! I'm going to make tons of money, and then I'll support... oh no, I mean, take care of my brother and sister-in-law!"

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge both laughed.

"Good ambition." Jiang Che gently patted her head, his eyes tender. "I support you. I'll invest in you and let you be the leading lady."

"We've also reserved the spokesperson position for the Shen Group for you," Shen Qingge added with a smile.

Su Xiaoruan chuckled and lowered her head to continue eating her dumplings.

The steaming dumplings went down, but they couldn't warm my somewhat chilled heart.

"Liar. Su Xiaoruan, you're a big liar."

She cursed herself in her heart.

[Staying up late on New Year's Eve: The aroma of tea and tenderness]

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Han Xiao wisely made an excuse to leave, leaving the family of three alone.

The underfloor heating in the living room was on full blast.

In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, Jiang Che, Shen Qingge, and Su Xiaoruan sat around on a wool carpet.

The Spring Festival Gala was playing on TV. Although the program was a bit boring, the lively background noise was indispensable.

On the coffee table were cut fruit, melon seeds, and nuts.

Jiang Che sat cross-legged, holding an orange in his hand, carefully peeling it. He peeled it slowly and meticulously, even tearing away the white pith from the orange segments.

Shen Qingge leaned against him languidly, her head resting on his shoulder, a thin blanket covering her. She held a cup of hot tea in her hands, her eyes half-closed, occasionally chuckling at the comedy sketches on TV, her chest heaving slightly.

"Come on, open your mouth."

Jiang Che held the peeled orange to her lips.

Shen Qingge slightly parted her lips, took a segment of orange into her mouth, and the sweet juice burst in her mouth.

"Is it sweet?"

"Mmm, sweet." Shen Qingge nodded and snuggled closer to him.

Su Xiaoruan lay on the other side of the sofa, holding Pudding in her arms and scrolling through Weibo on her phone.

"Brother, sister, you're trending on social media."

Su Xiaoruan waved her phone: "#Jiang Che and Shen Qingge show affection on New Year's Eve#, #Qingche's mansion exposed#... Netizens are asking if our family needs a doorman."

"I don't need one." Jiang Che didn't even look up, continuing to peel another orange. "I need someone to peel oranges for me."

"Tch, Versailles." Su Xiaoruan rolled her eyes, but her gaze never left the two people.

Under the lights, Shen Qingge's profile was breathtakingly beautiful. She had removed her makeup, her natural beauty even more striking, and the smile in her eyes was as gentle as water. Jiang Che's gaze towards her was focused and affectionate, as if she were the only person left in the world.

As Su Xiaoruan watched, she suddenly felt her eyes getting a little sore.

She buried her face in the cat's soft fur and muttered softly, "Pudding, look at them... so annoying."

[Midnight: Fireworks and Vows]

The clock was about to strike twelve.

"Let's go to the terrace."

Jiang Che stood up, pulled Shen Qingge up, and called Su Xiaoruan over.

The three of them put on thick coats and went to the rooftop terrace of the main building.

The wind was biting cold outside, but that did not dampen our enthusiasm at all.

"Ten seconds left!"

Su Xiaoruan looked at the countdown on her phone and shouted excitedly:

"Ten! Nine! Eight..."

In the distance, the faint sound of bells from Jianghai City could be heard.

"Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!!"

"Bang--!!!"

With the first loud bang, a huge golden firework exploded in the clear sky.

Immediately afterwards, countless fireworks soared into the sky, red, green, purple, gold... illuminating the entire night sky as if it were daytime.

That was a top-notch fireworks show specially prepared by Jiang Che.

It is dazzling and radiant.

Multicolored light shone on the faces of the three people.

Su Xiaoruan tilted her head back, watching the fireworks fill the sky, shouting excitedly and spinning around.

Jiang Che, however, did not watch the fireworks.

He turned around and looked at Shen Qingge beside him.

Illuminated by the fireworks, Shen Qingge's face flickered in and out of the light, her eyes reflecting countless sparks, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

"Qingge".

Jiang Che called out softly.

Shen Qingge turned her head, meeting his deep gaze: "Hmm?"

Jiang Che did not speak.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a dark blue velvet box.

Amidst the dazzling fireworks and deafening firecrackers, he slowly opened the box.

A diamond ring lay quietly inside.

That was no ordinary diamond ring.

That was the main stone that Jiang Che personally cut out from the top-quality raw stone he brought back from Kunlun Mountain in Suzhou. It wasn't transparent, but rather an extremely rare, deep, dark blue color, like the starry sky.

It is surrounded by a ring of tiny pink diamonds, like stars surrounding the moon.

Shen Qingge was stunned.

She looked at the ring, then at Jiang Che, covered her mouth with her hands, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She had expected Jiang Che to give her a gift, but she never imagined it would be this.

"This is not a marriage proposal."

Jiang Che looked into her eyes, his voice gentle yet firm, clearly piercing through the sound of the fireworks:

"Qingge, I know you have your career to pursue, and I also have a lot to do. Now might not be the best time to get married."

"But this ring represents a promise."

Jiang Che took out the ring and took her left hand:

"It represents that no matter what happens in the future, whether it's on the river or in any corner of the world."

"If you turn around, I will definitely be there."

"This is a New Year's gift for you. It's also my promise to you for life."

Shen Qingge burst into tears.

She is a strong woman who has never shed a tear in the business world.

But at this moment, faced with this man's deep affection, she was utterly defeated.

"Jiang Che..."

She choked up and nodded: "I'm willing... even if it's just an appointment, I'm willing."

Jiang Che smiled slightly and slowly slipped the ring, symbolizing eternity and commitment, onto the middle finger of her left hand.

The size fits perfectly.

Happy New Year, my Mr. Shen.

Happy New Year, my...sir.

The next second, Jiang Che wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

The kiss, witnessed by a sky full of fireworks, was passionate and deeply affectionate.

They forgot about time, forgot about the cold, as if they wanted to meld each other into their very bones.

Not far away.

Su Xiaoruan stopped cheering.

She stood by the balcony railing, her back to them, watching the fireworks explode and disappear in the sky.

Hearing the commotion behind her, she gripped the railing tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Tears fell silently, dripping onto the cold railing and instantly freezing.

It hurts.

My heart is really aching.

It felt like being gripped tightly by a giant hand, making it difficult to even breathe.

She knew her brother loved his sister-in-law.

She also knew that her sister-in-law was a very, very good person and deserved her brother.

But... knowing is one thing, witnessing it with your own eyes is another.

The emotion called "jealousy" reached its peak at this moment, but was firmly held back by the dam called "reason".

"Su Xiaoruan, you can't cry."

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, a day of great joy.

"You should smile. You should be happy for your brother."

She took a deep breath, hastily wiped away her tears, and forced a bright smile.

Then, she turned around and ran towards the two who were embracing and kissing.

"Ahhh! I want a hug too! You can't leave me behind!"

Like a carefree child, Su Xiaoruan hugged the two of them from the side.

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge separated and smiled as they watched Su Xiaoruan rush towards them.

Jiang Che reached out and pulled Su Xiaoruan into his arms.

"How could I abandon you?" Jiang Che ruffled her hair. "We're a family of three, and none of us can be missing."

"That's right." Shen Qingge also reached out and hugged her, her eyes full of doting. "Xiao Ruan will always be our darling."

The three of them hugged each other tightly.

On this cold winter night, under these dazzling fireworks.

They are the closest people in the world.

Su Xiaoruan buried her face between Jiang Che and Shen Qingge, smelling their familiar scents, and closed her eyes.

Tears welled up again, but this time, she didn't wipe them away.

"Brother, sister-in-law."

"As long as you are happy, that's all that matters."

"As for me..."

Su Xiaoruan silently made the wish she hadn't spoken aloud:

"I will grow up quickly."

"If one day... if that day really comes..."

"I also want to be the one who makes you take out your ring."

[Epilogue: Snow Falls Silently]

The fireworks have faded.

Snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

Ruixue is a prosperous year.

Jiang Che looked at the two women in his arms—one was his beloved, and the other was his closest relative.

He felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and peace.

All the hardships and wanderings of the first half of his life were compensated for at this moment.

"Let's go back inside, it's snowing," Jiang Che said softly.

"Yes, let's go home."

The three of them embraced and walked back into the warm indoor space.

Behind them, snow fell in abundance, covering all the footprints and all the secrets in their hearts.

The new year has arrived.

Beneath the seemingly peaceful urban life, new stories are quietly beginning to unfold.

...

...

In May, the plum rain season in Jianghai City had just ended, and Qingcheli Manor welcomed its most comfortable time of year.

The sycamore leaves in the manor have turned from tender green to deep emerald, their lush greenery obscuring the sky above the main road. The gardenias by the lake are in bloom, their large, pure white petals unfurling in the morning breeze, their rich and sweet fragrance drifting silently through the half-open French windows into the main building's restaurant.

It's 7:30 in the morning.

Jiang Che wore a soft white linen shirt, the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined, muscular forearms. He stood in front of the island counter, intently fiddling with the expensive semi-automatic coffee machine.

With a hissing sound, the rich, oily espresso slowly flows into the cup, filling the air with a mellow aroma of caramel and nuts.

"morning."

Light footsteps came from the stairs.

Shen Qingge came down.

Instead of her usual powerful business suit, she changed into a light purple silk slip dress for the weekend, with a matching sheer cardigan over it. The silk fabric flowed like water, hugging her graceful figure, and the hem swayed gently at her ankles as she moved.

Her hair wasn't tied up, but rather loosely draped over her shoulders, the ends curled slightly. Her face, without makeup, was so fair it was almost translucent; in the morning light, even the fine downy hairs were visible. Her phoenix eyes, usually radiating a cold, sharp light, now held a languid, dreamy quality, slightly upturned at the corners, revealing an unconscious allure.

Shen Qingge walked behind Jiang Che, naturally stretched out her arms to wrap around his waist, and gently rubbed her cheek against his broad, warm back.

"It smells so good..." Her voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of nasal tone. "Is it Geisha?"

"Yes, the beans just arrived yesterday."

Jiang Che put down the latte art container, turned around and pulled her into his arms, lowering his head to plant a kiss on her smooth forehead: "Don't you want to sleep a little longer? You've been working overtime all week, it's a rare weekend."

"I can't sleep." Shen Qingge tilted her head back, her slender swan neck gleaming in the morning light. She pouted slightly, like a little girl asking for a kiss: "I was awakened by the scent of gardenias, or perhaps by the aroma of your coffee."

Jiang Che chuckled and held the freshly made latte to her lips: "Try it, the temperature is just right."

Shen Qingge took a sip from his hand, and milk foam got on her upper lip. Jiang Che extended his thumb and gently wiped it away for her, his fingertip caressing her soft lips, his eyes warm and affectionate.

Just as the two were enjoying the peaceful and tender morning, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps broke the silence.

"I can't take it anymore! I'm going crazy! Who invented solid geometry?! I need to travel back in time and assassinate him!"

Su Xiaoruan, with her messy curly hair, wearing a faded, oversized school uniform T-shirt, and clutching a crumpled math workbook, drifted into the restaurant like a ghost.

There is less than a month left until the college entrance examination.

At this moment, Su Xiaoruan was completely devoid of her usual glamorous image as a national film queen.

Two distinct dark circles hung under her eyes, her once rosy cheeks were slightly pale from staying up all night, and a small pimple had appeared on her chin due to internal heat. She slammed her exercise book on the dining table, slumped into her chair, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Brother... help me..." Su Xiaoruan wailed weakly, "I want an iced Americano, extra strong, triple espresso. Otherwise, my brain will stop working."

Jiang Che looked at her miserable state, feeling both helpless and heartbroken.

"Drinking an iced Americano on an empty stomach? Are you trying to get a stomach perforation?"

Jiang Che turned around, took out a bowl of bird's nest porridge that had been stewed long ago from the incubator, and placed it in front of Su Xiaoruan: "Drink the porridge first to soothe your stomach. You can have the coffee later."

"I'm not hungry..." Su Xiaoruan buried her face in her arms, her voice muffled, "I feel like throwing up whenever I see a conic section."

Shen Qingge walked over to her with the coffee, reached out and ruffled her messy hair, her voice gentle: "Alright, don't push yourself too hard. We're not expecting you to get into Tsinghua or Peking University, just do your best."

"No way!" Su Xiaoruan suddenly raised her head, a stubborn glint in her eyes. "I want to apply to the acting department of Jianghai University! It's my brother's alma mater (although Jiang Che didn't finish it), and it's close to home. I don't want to go to Beijing, and I don't want to go abroad."

She looked at Jiang Che, who was cutting fruit, her eyes flickering, and her voice lowered: "I want to... stay in Jianghai forever."

Jiang Che paused for a moment as he cut the orange.

He turned around and handed the sliced ​​orange to Su Xiaoruan, his expression calm and his tone steady: "It's good that you want to get into Jiangda University, but don't ruin your health. You have the morning off, no more practice questions."

"Huh? Why aren't we doing the questions?" Su Xiaoruan took a bite of the orange, and juice spilled out.

Jiang Che took out a tissue and wiped her mouth, his gaze sweeping over her loose school uniform, a barely perceptible hint of emotion flashing in his eyes:

"I'll take you somewhere."

"Your eighteenth birthday is less than a month away. Our young lady is about to come of age, and she can't be without a decent battle outfit."

Su Xiaoruan was stunned.

Eighteen years old.

adult.

Those two words struck her heart like an electric current. She subconsciously looked at Jiang Che, only to see her brother looking at her with his usual tolerant and doting gaze.

"Battle robes?" Su Xiaoruan murmured to herself, her heart suddenly racing.

[9-11 AM: Private workshops and curves beneath velvet]

10:00 AM, former site of the French Concession in Jianghai City.

A discreet black Bentley pulled up in front of an old villa covered in ivy. There was no sign, only a heavy black iron gate, exuding a sense of mystery as if it were a hidden gem in the city.

This is Jianghai's most exclusive private haute couture workshop, serving only a very small number of top celebrities.

Jiang Che pushed open the door, and the copper bell on the door rang crisply.

The room was softly lit, filled with the scents of fine fragrances and old wood. Several staff members in elegant uniforms were arranging sample garments on mannequins.

"Mr. Jiang, Ms. Shen, Ms. Su, welcome."

A middle-aged woman in a cheongsam, with an elegant demeanor, came forward to greet us, clearly having received an appointment long ago.

"Take them to try on those clothes." Jiang Che nodded slightly, his tone calm yet exuding an undeniable authority. "I ordered them beforehand."

"Okay, please follow me."

Shen Qingge and Su Xiaoruan were led into the VIP fitting room inside.

Jiang Che sat on the leather sofa outside, casually picking up a magazine to flip through. His posture was relaxed, with his legs crossed, but the ease and aura of authority emanating from him made the passing staff afraid to breathe loudly.

...

...

Ten minutes later.

The curtains in the changing room were slowly drawn back.

Shen Qingge was the first to emerge.

Jiang Che raised his head, and his gaze froze slightly the moment it met hers.

She changed into a dark green velvet dress.

This color is extremely selective; if not pulled off properly, it can make one look old. But on Shen Qingge, this deep, dark green creates a striking visual contrast against her pale skin.

The dress was extremely form-fitting, tightly hugging her shapely figure. The neckline was a retro square design, revealing her exquisite, artistic collarbones and a large expanse of snow-white skin on her chest. The back featured a deep V-neck, exposing her smooth, flawless back to the air, with her spinal groove subtly visible, exuding a sophisticated sexiness.

She casually tied her long hair up, a few strands falling beside her ears. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she turned slightly to the side, her eyes cool yet questioning as she looked at Jiang Che.

"How is it?" Shen Qingge asked softly.