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

The first exam was in Chinese, and it lasted two and a half hours.

For the test takers, it's a race against time; for the parents waiting outside the exam hall, it's an eternity.

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge did not leave.

They parked their car under the shade of nearby trees, and instead of anxiously waiting in the scorching sun like other parents, they waited quietly in the car.

The air conditioning in the car was on full blast, and soothing classical music was playing.

Shen Qingge was a little tired; after all, sitting in a cheongsam wasn't comfortable. She adjusted her posture, turned slightly to the side, and looked at Jiang Che, who was processing emails on a tablet.

At this moment, Jiang Che's profile was perfectly sculpted. He wore frameless glasses, his expression focused, his fingers occasionally swiping across the screen. The dappled shadows of the trees outside the window shone through the car window onto him, making him appear both aloof and gentle.

As Shen Qingge looked at the book, her thoughts drifted away.

That night on the terrace, the image of Su Xiaoruan holding a lighter and crying while looking at a photograph remained a thorn in her side.

It wasn't out of jealousy, but out of heartache.

She knew all too well what it felt like to love someone you couldn't have.

"Jiang Che," Shen Qingge suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Jiang Che didn't look up. "What's wrong? Are you hungry?"

"No." Shen Qingge shook her head, her voice very soft. "What kind of boyfriend do you think Xiaoruan will find in the future?"

Jiang Che's fingers paused for a moment.

He looked up, took off his glasses, and rubbed his temples, seemingly reluctant to discuss the topic: "I don't know. Anyway, she has to be better than me, right? At least she has to be able to protect her, tolerate her bad temper, and cook for her."

"Stronger than you?" Shen Qingge chuckled. "There's probably no man in this world stronger than you yet."

"Then don't bother looking," Jiang Che said half-jokingly. "It's fine to stay at home and be an old maid."

Shen Qingge gave him a deep look.

Is this man genuinely slow-witted, or is he pretending to be stupid?

Or perhaps... he subconsciously doesn't want Xiaoruan to belong to someone else?

"Jiang Che." Shen Qingge reached out and gently stroked his cheek. "No matter what happens in the future, you have to promise me that you will treat Xiao Ruan well. Even if... she makes some willful decisions."

Jiang Che took her hand and kissed her palm: "Don't worry. She's my sister. Even if she were to cause a huge hole in the sky, I would fix it for her."

Shen Qingge smiled and said nothing more.

Some secrets are best left unsaid. At least for now, everyone is happy, and that's enough.

5 PM on June 8th.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the last English exam, the entire city of Jianghai seemed to tremble.

The school gate slowly opened.

The first batch of test takers rushed out like birds released from their cages. Some cheered, some cried, some tore up their books, and some hugged.

Su Xiaoruan was in the second batch to be released.

She didn't run away, nor did she cry. She walked with light steps, a relieved smile on her face.

Seeing Jiang Che and Shen Qingge standing out from the crowd (their looks and temperament were so outstanding that they could be recognized at a glance even with masks on), Su Xiaoruan's eyes lit up and she quickly walked over.

"Finished the exam?" Jiang Che went up to her and handed her a bottle of water.

"Okay! It's over!"

Su Xiaoruan took the water, tilted her head back and gulped down a large mouthful, then let out a long sigh of relief:

"Awesome! I'll never have to do math problems again in my life!!"

"How are you feeling?" Shen Qingge wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Not bad! I guessed the essay topic right! Math was difficult, but I wrote down everything I knew, and for the ones I didn't... I guessed them all!" Su Xiaoruan said with a grin. "Anyway, I've done my best! The rest is up to fate!"

"it is good."

Jiang Che looked at her face, flushed with excitement, his eyes filled with doting affection:

"Now that the exam is over, student Su Xiaoruan's task is finished."

He glanced at his watch:

"It's 5:30 now. There are still two and a half hours before the banquet starts."

"Let's go home."

Jiang Che took her hand, and then took Shen Qingge's hand:

"Go and celebrate your...coming-of-age ceremony."

7 PM, Qingcheli Manor.

On the second floor of the main building, a huge walk-in closet has been converted into a temporary dressing room.

Jianghai City's top makeup artist team is busy working on Su Xiaoruan.

Su Xiaoruan sat in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror.

Eighteen years old.

At this age, skin doesn't need much embellishment; a thin layer of foundation is enough to give it a porcelain-like glow.

The makeup artist used extremely delicate techniques to draw her eyebrows and eyes.

Her eyeshadow was a soft champagne gold, echoing her dress. The slightly elongated eyeliner added a touch of allure without sacrificing youthful charm. Her lashes were perfectly defined, each blink like a gentle tickle.

Her lip makeup was the finishing touch. She abandoned her usual cute pink tones and opted for a retro true red. That rich, deep red instantly suppressed the childishness on her face, giving her a dazzling radiance that was almost blinding.

"Miss Su, you have such a great natural look." The makeup artist couldn't help but exclaim as she did her makeup, "This is practically Nuwa's graduation project."

I also changed my hairstyle.

Her original long, straight black hair was permed into loose, wavy curls that cascaded loosely over her shoulders. One side of her hair was tucked behind her ear, revealing a priceless pink diamond earring.

The final step is to put on a formal dress.

The champagne gold strapless gown she had tried on at the workshop now fit her even better and looked even more stunning on her than it did that day.

Layers of soft gauze enveloped her like clouds, countless crystals sparkling under the lights. She stood up, her skirt spreading out like a golden tulip blooming in a galaxy.

Shen Qingge sat on the sofa next to her and watched.

She changed back into her dark green velvet dress and put on a full set of jade jewelry, exuding an air of nobility.

Looking at Su Xiaoruan after her transformation, Shen Qingge stood up, her eyes filled with amazement.

"So beautiful."

Shen Qingge walked over and took out an exquisite diamond crown from the jewelry box.

That was an antique passed down through the Rothschild family for over a century, which Alice had specially arranged to be flown in from Vienna.

Shen Qingge carefully placed the crown on Su Xiaoruan's head.

"From today onwards, you are the true queen," Shen Qingge said softly.

Su Xiaoruan looked at herself in the mirror, feeling both unfamiliar and excited.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and the timidity and naivety in her eyes slowly faded away, replaced by a light called "confidence".

"sister."

Su Xiaoruan turned around, looked at Shen Qingge, and suddenly asked:

"Do I... look like an adult now?"

Shen Qingge laughed and straightened her skirt: "Yes. Not only does she look like an adult, but she also looks like a bewitching enchantress."

"That's good."

Su Xiaoruan clenched her fists and silently said to herself:

"Jiang Che, did you see that? I can also amaze everyone. I can also... be worthy of standing beside you."

At 8 p.m., the lawn of Qingcheli Manor was brightly lit.

Although Jiang Che did not send out invitations in a grand manner for this coming-of-age ceremony banquet, almost all the prominent figures in Jianghai City tried their best to attend.

On the lawn, celebrities gathered, their elegant attire and graceful bearing a striking contrast.

The band played a melodious waltz, and waiters scurried around carrying champagne.

Suddenly, the music stopped.

A spotlight shone on the huge floor-to-ceiling glass door of the main building.

The door slowly opened.

All eyes were drawn to it.

Jiang Che was the first to emerge.

He wore a tailored black tuxedo tonight, its exquisite cut accentuating his tall and slender figure. A black bow tie adorned the collar of his white shirt, and his hair was meticulously combed, revealing his smooth forehead and deep, ocean-like eyes.

He stood quietly on the steps, his imposing presence instantly commanding the entire room.

He turned slightly to the side and extended his right hand.

A small, fair hand, as white as jade, gently rested on his palm.

Su Xiaoruan came out.

"hiss--"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

If Su Xiaoruan is usually the girl next door, the nation's sweetheart, then tonight she is a princess straight out of a fairy tale, a goddess from mythology.

Her champagne-gold gown shimmered under the lights, and her diamond crown sparkled. She took Jiang Che's arm and walked down the steps.

With each step, the hem of her skirt traced a graceful arc across the grass.

A polite smile graced her face, and her eyes shone brightly with confidence. The little girl who used to scratch her head over math problems was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Qingge followed behind them, keeping a distance of two steps. She was like a guardian, reserving the most dazzling stage for the brother and sister.

"Oh my god...that's Su Xiaoruan? She's so beautiful!"

"This isn't a coming-of-age ceremony, it's practically a coronation!"

"President Jiang's aura is amazing! This couple walking out is a visual feast!"

The guests whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with amazement and envy.

Jiang Che led Su Xiaoruan to the dance floor in the center of the lawn.

The music started again.

It is Strauss's "The Blue Danube".

"Miss Su."

Jiang Che stopped and turned to face Su Xiaoruan.

He bowed slightly, his left hand behind his back, and his right hand elegantly extended in a standard gentleman's invitation to dance.

"May I have the honor of inviting this beautiful lady to dance the first dance of the evening?"

Su Xiaoruan looked at the breathtakingly handsome man in front of her.

This is her brother.

He was also the person she deeply loved.

At this moment, under the gaze of everyone, at his invitation.

Su Xiaoruan felt her very soul trembling.

She slowly reached out and placed her hand in Jiang Che's palm.

"It's an honor...brother."

Jiang Che held her hand, and gently wrapped his other arm around her slender waist.

As the music played, the two glided onto the dance floor.

Spin, jump.

Her skirt fluttered in the wind.

Su Xiaoruan was very close to Jiang Che. Close enough to smell the reassuring cool fragrance emanating from him, close enough to feel the steady heartbeat in his chest.

She raised her head and stared intently into Jiang Che's eyes.

In those deep pupils, she saw her own reflection.

She was all alone.

"I'm eighteen."

Su Xiaoruan said to herself.

"Jiang Che, I've finally grown up."

"This dance is my coming-of-age ceremony, and also my farewell to the past version of myself that only knew how to hide behind you."

Jiang Che looked at the girl in his arms, his eyes somewhat dazed.

He had to admit that Xiao Ruan was so beautiful tonight that it even took his breath away.

That unique charm, somewhere between youthful and mature, is like a perfectly ripe peach, exuding an alluring fragrance.

"Are you tired?" Jiang Che asked softly, his voice low and gentle.

"I'm not tired." Su Xiaoruan shook her head, her hand on his shoulder tightening slightly. "Brother, I want to keep jumping like this forever."

"Silly girl, you'll get dizzy." Jiang Che laughed and spun her around.

The song ended.

Jiang Che released his hand, and the two bowed to the guests.

Thunderous applause erupted.

Su Xiaoruan stood under the spotlight, looking at the applauding crowd below the stage, then at Shen Qingge who was smiling at her not far away, and finally at Jiang Che beside her.

A radiant smile curved her lips.

That was the fearless smile of an eighteen-year-old.

The college entrance examination is over.

The coming-of-age ceremony is over.

But her life has only just begun.

As for that love hidden deep in my heart...

Su Xiaoruan touched the coin that was slightly warm in her pocket (the one from New Year's Eve).

"Jiang Che, you wait."

"University life, here I come!"

"Next time, I want to hold your hand, not as a sister, but as... a lover."

A cool night breeze stirred her skirt.

Under the starry sky, the girl's secret thoughts finally turned into a seed, quietly sprouting in the soil called "growth".

...

...

In September, the summer heat in Jianghai City had not yet dissipated.

At seven in the morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist, carrying a unique heat of late summer and early autumn, and spilled onto the clear lake surface of the estate. Cicadas chirped tirelessly in the century-old plane trees, announcing the last vestiges of summer's power.

Inside the "Princess Suite" on the second floor of the main building, chaos reigned.

Su Xiaoruan didn't stay in bed as usual. She had already woken up and was standing barefoot on the soft plush carpet in front of the huge full-length dressing mirror, examining her outfit for the tenth time.

She is eighteen years old.

After these months of "nurturing in a wealthy family" and experiencing the entertainment industry, she has lost much of her naivety, replaced by a unique charm that lies between girlhood and womanhood.

Today, she chose a French retro-style white square-necked blouse with delicate lily-of-the-valley embroidery at the collar and slightly puffed sleeves, giving it a look that was both demure and stylish. She paired it with a light blue high-waisted pleated skirt that fell just above her knees, revealing her long, straight, and fair legs. She wore simple white sneakers without socks, showcasing her slender and delicate ankles.

She tied her long, wavy hair up high into a vibrant ponytail, with the wispy strands framing her face in natural curls, framing her youthful, collagen-rich complexion.

The makeup was very light, with only a layer of primer and a strawberry red lip gloss to brighten the complexion.

"Su Xiaoruan, you need to stay calm."

She clenched her fist at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes resolute: "Today is the first day of university. You need to step out of the comfort zone of being the 'Nation's Little Sister.' You need to become the 'Cool Goddess' of Jianghai University."

Just then, the door was gently pushed open.

Shen Qingge walked in.

If Su Xiaoruan is a lily with morning dew, then Shen Qingge is the most elegant peony at midday.

She didn't go to the company today; she specifically canceled all her meetings to send Su Xiaoruan to school.

She wore a cream-colored silk shirt dress, with a thin dark brown leather belt around her waist, accentuating her slender figure. The dress was of excellent quality, shimmering with a warm, pearly sheen as she moved. Two buttons were undone at the neckline, revealing her delicate, deep collarbone and the magnolia pendant Jiang Che had given her.

Her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, the ends curled naturally. Her face was made up with exquisite earth-toned makeup, and the composure and elegance unique to mature women flowed from her every move.

"Are you all packed?"

Shen Qingge walked behind Su Xiaoruan, looked at her through the mirror, and smiled: "Our little college student looks really beautiful today."

"Sis..." Su Xiaoruan turned around, nervously tugging at her skirt. "Is this outfit okay? Does it look too childish? I want to look more mature."

"fool."

Shen Qingge extended her long, slender, fair fingers and straightened the collar of her shirt, her eyes gentle: "Maturity isn't about what you wear, it's about experience. You're perfect as you are now—youthful, clean, that's what an eighteen-year-old should look like."

"real?"

"Really." Shen Qingge nodded, her gaze falling on the three huge pink suitcases on the ground. She raised an eyebrow with a hint of helplessness. "But... are you sure you want to bring all of these? Will they fit in your dorm?"

"I can fit everything!" Su Xiaoruan declared confidently. "These are all my treasures! Skincare products, snacks, and my limited-edition figurines... I wouldn't be able to sleep if I missed even one!"

At this moment, Jiang Che walked in.

He wore a dark gray polo shirt, black casual trousers, and loafers. A light jacket was draped over his arm, and he wore his understated Patek Philippe watch on his wrist.

His hair was neatly trimmed, revealing his full forehead. After a year of reflection, his demeanor had become more composed and reserved. He had effectively suppressed the imposing aura of a superior, and now he looked like a young and handsome older brother next door.

"What are you talking about?"

Jiang Che walked over, looked at the boxes on the ground, and without saying a word, bent down and picked up the heaviest one: "The car is downstairs. Let's go, I'll take you to the 'battlefield'."

"Brother!" Su Xiaoruan jumped over and took his arm, tilting her head back, a barely perceptible hint of affection flashing in her eyes. "Will you stay with me until the paperwork is done?"

"certainly."

Jiang Che looked down at her, his eyes full of affection: "I'm your parent. How can I leave you alone in a den of wolves if I don't take good care of you?"

"Jianghai University is not a den of wolves!" Su Xiaoruan protested, but secretly she felt sweet inside.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the convoy drove out of Qingcheli Manor.

To avoid being too flashy (though it's hard to avoid), Jiang Che chose a relatively "conservative" black Rolls-Royce Cullinan today.

The car's interior is spacious and quiet, isolating it from the cicadas' chirping and the heat outside.

Su Xiaoruan and Shen Qingge sat in the back seat. Jiang Che sat in the passenger seat and turned to talk to them.

"When you get to school, remember to eat on time."

Jiang Che started nagging like an old father: "If you don't like the food in the cafeteria, have Han Xiao bring it to you. Or you can eat out on your own. I'll give you the key to the apartment near the school; you can go live there if you don't want to stay at the school anymore."

"Also, don't try to be a hero during military training."

Jiang Che handed her a bottle of sunscreen spray: "Qingge specially had it brought back from Switzerland. It's very effective at preventing sunburn. If it's too hot to bear, ask the instructor for leave. Don't force yourself."

"Hey bro! I know!"

Su Xiaoruan hugged Shen Qingge's arm, rested her head on Shen Qingge's shoulder, and complained in a slightly coquettish tone, "Why have you become like Tang Sanzang now? It's not like I can't take care of myself."

Do you have it?

Shen Qingge laughed and teased her, tapping her forehead with her finger: "Who's the one who can even blow up milk in the microwave? Who's the one who can't tell light from dark when washing clothes and dyes a white T-shirt pink?"

"That was an accident!" Su Xiaoruan blushed and tried to defend herself.

Shen Qingge looked at her, her gaze softening. She reached out and stroked Su Xiaoruan's cheek, her voice tinged with emotion:

"Xiao Ruan, once you're in university, you're an adult."

"You can make friends, join clubs, and even..." Shen Qingge glanced at Jiang Che's back, lowered her voice and chuckled, "You can date."

Upon hearing the words "dating," Su Xiaoruan's heart skipped a beat.

She subconsciously looked at Jiang Che in the passenger seat.

Jiang Che was looking at his phone and seemed not to have heard the words, or perhaps he was pretending not to have heard them.

Su Xiaoruan pursed her lips, her eyes dimming for a moment, but she quickly regained her carefree demeanor:

"Tch, none of the boys in school are handsome. I've seen the world, and ordinary mortals don't even catch my eye."

"It's good to have high standards."

...

...

Jiang Che, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

He turned around and looked at Su Xiaoruan across the seat, his eyes deep and serious:

"Su Xiaoruan, remember this. You are precious."

"Don't give yourself away just because you're lonely or because everyone around you is in a relationship."

"Anyone who wants to pursue you has to get past me first."

Looking at her brother's serious expression, Su Xiaoruan felt a mix of sadness and warmth in her heart.

She nodded vigorously:

"Don't worry, bro. My taste... comes from you."

This double entendre caused the atmosphere in the carriage to pause subtly for a second.

Shen Qingge glanced thoughtfully at Su Xiaoruan, a knowing smile playing on her lips, and tightened her grip on Su Xiaoruan's hand.

10:00 AM, South Gate of Jianghai University.

As one of the top universities in China, Jiangnan University was bustling with activity today. Colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, and red welcome banners lined the tree-lined avenues.

Countless freshmen, dragging their suitcases and accompanied by their parents, entered this ivory tower full of anticipation. Senior students, wearing volunteer vests, enthusiastically moved through the crowd.

As the black Cullinan slowly drove into the speed bump at the school gate, it still attracted a lot of attention.

"Holy crap, Cullinan! Which rich kid is here now?"

"Jiangda University is full of hidden talents! A Bentley just passed by."

The car came to a smooth stop at the parking spot near the freshman registration area.

Han Xiao got out of the car first and opened the back door.

First, a foot wearing white shoes was extended, followed by a slender and straight calf.

Su Xiaoruan lowered her head and crawled out of the carriage.