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

"elder brother."

"Um?"

"Carry me on your back."

"What?" Jiang Che thought he had misheard.

"You used to carry me on your back all the time when I was little," Su Xiaoruan pouted, her eyes looking a little aggrieved. "But ever since I grew up, you've never carried me on your back. Is it because you think I'm too heavy?"

"We're in the water, how are we supposed to carry this?" Jiang Che said helplessly.

"I don't care! I want to carry you!" Su Xiaoruan started to act spoiled, wrapping her arms around Jiang Che's neck and climbing onto his back. "Giddy up! Giddy up!"

Shen Qingge watched from the side, not angry at all. Instead, she smiled and said, "Alright, just carry her around once. Otherwise, this girl will make your soak in peace tonight."

Jiang Che sighed, resigned to his fate.

"Hurry up."

He supported Su Xiaoruan's thigh with his back to her and carried her slowly through the small hot spring pool.

Su Xiaoruan lay on Jiang Che's broad back.

Her face was pressed against his warm, moist skin, listening to his steady heartbeat.

At that moment, she felt both incredibly relieved and incredibly heartbroken.

"elder brother……"

"If only this moment could stay forever."

She closed her eyes and quietly placed a kiss on Jiang Che's shoulder.

It's very light, very light.

It was as light as a leaf falling on the water.

Jiang Che sensed it.

His steps paused slightly.

In that instant, a strange feeling swept through me. It wasn't just the intimacy a younger sister has for her older brother, it was more like...

But he quickly dismissed the absurd idea.

"This girl is drunk."

Jiang Che said to himself.

……

After soaking in the hot spring, the three returned to their room.

Su Xiaoruan was completely dizzy from that sip of wine and the fact that she had been soaking for too long.

Jiang Che carried her back to the room and tucked her into bed.

"elder brother……"

Su Xiaoruan grabbed his hand and called out in a daze.

"Yes, I'm here. Go to sleep." Jiang Che tucked her in.

"Brother... I don't want to grow up..."

A tear slid down Su Xiaoruan's cheek:

"Now that I'm all grown up... I can't rely on you anymore..."

Jiang Che's heart softened suddenly.

He sat on the edge of the bed, gently wiping away her tears, his voice as tender as if he were soothing a baby:

"Fool. No matter how old you are, you can always rely on me."

"Go to sleep."

Once Su Xiaoruan's breathing had stabilized, Jiang Che turned off the light and quietly left the room.

Back in the master bedroom.

Shen Qingge was sitting on a wicker chair on the terrace, enjoying the breeze.

She changed into a deep purple silk nightgown, holding a glass of red wine, gazing at the moonlight in the mountains.

Jiang Che walked over and hugged her from behind.

"Is Xiaoruan asleep?" Shen Qingge asked.

"Yeah, she's asleep. That girl has a really low alcohol tolerance."

Shen Qingge turned around, leaned against Jiang Che's chest, and looked up at him.

Under the moonlight, her eyes held a meaningful look.

Jiang Che.

"Um?"

"Don't you think... Xiaoruan is a little too dependent on you?"

Jiang Che was taken aback for a moment: "She's been like this since she was little. She lacks a sense of security."

"Yeah?"

Shen Qingge smiled and didn't delve into it. She raised her hand, hooked her arm around Jiang Che's neck, and pulled his head down:

"No matter how much she depends on you. Tonight... you're mine."

"It always has been."

Jiang Che lowered his head and kissed her lips, which smelled of red wine.

A cool mountain breeze blew, but the room felt like springtime.

……

The next morning.

When Su Xiaoruan woke up, she had a headache.

She rubbed her head and sat up, her memory fragmented.

"Last night...I think I had my brother carry me on his back?"

"I also... kissed him?"

Su Xiaoruan suddenly covered her mouth, her face instantly turning red to the roots of her neck.

"Aaaaah! Su Xiaoruan, you pervert! You actually took advantage of my brother while he was drunk!"

She rolled around in bed, extremely annoyed.

But after the initial annoyance, a secret sweetness welled up in my heart.

At least... he didn't push her away.

At least... for the moment he was on her back, he belonged to her alone.

After washing up, Su Xiaoruan changed into a vibrant hoodie and ran downstairs.

Jiang Che and Shen Qingge were already seated in the restaurant.

"Good morning, little drunkard."

Jiang Che handed her a glass of honey water: "Does your head hurt?"

Su Xiaoruan felt a little guilty and didn't dare to look him in the eye. She took the water and gulped it down.

"No...it doesn't hurt anymore! I'm perfectly fine!"

"That's good." Shen Qingge smiled and put a steamed bun on her plate. "We're going hiking in the mountains today. With your stamina, you need to eat more."

"Hiking?" Su Xiaoruan's eyes lit up. "Great! I want to shout it from the top of the mountain!"

"What are you shouting for?"

"call……"

Su Xiaoruan glanced at Jiang Che and winked mischievously:

"Shout—Jiang Che is a big jerk!"

After saying that, she grabbed the steamed bun and ran away.

"Hey! This girl! You've gone too far!"

Jiang Che made a move to give chase.

Shen Qingge watched this scene with a smile that made her eyes crinkle.

Sunlight streams onto the dining table; life is peaceful and serene.

This is probably the most beautiful aspect of life.

Although everyone harbors a little secret, as long as love remains, home remains.

...

...

In late October, Jianghai City officially entered autumn. A week of continuous rain washed away the sweltering heat of this bustling metropolis, replacing it with a damp, bone-chilling coolness. Most of the leaves of the plane trees lining the streets had turned yellow, and the raindrops falling onto the black asphalt road looked like a thick carpet of gold leaf.

At seven o'clock in the morning, at the main building of Qingche Manor.

The rain outside the window continued to fall softly, its patter against the glass creating a dull, rhythmic sound. Inside, the underfloor heating was on, maintaining a constant 24 degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the bleakness outside.

In the master bedroom's walk-in closet, the air was filled with a faint woody scent, the aromatherapy fragrance that Shen Qingge often used.

Shen Qingge stood in front of a huge full-length mirror, choosing what to wear today.

She had just finished washing up, her face bare of makeup, her skin glowing with a radiant, luminous quality, as if she had just awakened. Because of the warmth indoors, she wore only a black silk slip dress, the extremely thin straps draped over her rounded, fair shoulders, the deep V-neck revealing a large expanse of smooth, porcelain-like skin and her delicate, deeply defined collarbones. As she selected her clothes, the silk clung smoothly to her waist, outlining her stunning S-curve.

Her expression was somewhat languid, her phoenix eyes half-closed, as if she still retained some of the weariness from last night.

"How about this gray one?"

A warm, deep voice came from behind me.

Jiang Che, holding a perfectly tailored smoky gray cashmere coat, walked behind her and looked at her through the mirror.

He was already dressed neatly. He wore a dark blue turtleneck sweater over a dark gray cardigan, the cuffs slightly rolled up, revealing a section of his strong, muscular forearm. His hair was neatly styled, and he exuded an air of composure and cleanliness.

Shen Qingge looked at him through the mirror, a slight smile playing on her lips, a hint of dependence in her eyes.

"Gray..." She turned around, leaned against the dressing table, and looked up at Jiang Che slightly. "Wouldn't it seem too serious? There's a planning meeting for a fashion gala tonight."

"Won't."

Jiang Che took a step closer, draped his coat over her shoulders, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and gently nuzzled her neck with his chin.

"Gray looks sophisticated, and..."

His voice lowered slightly, tinged with a hint of amusement:

"The neckline of this coat is designed to be very high, which will perfectly cover that... mark on your neck."

Shen Qingge was taken aback, then realized what was happening, and a blush instantly spread across her cheeks. She glared at Jiang Che reproachfully, then reached out and touched the side of her neck, where there was indeed a faint red hickey, someone's "masterpiece" from last night.

"Are you a dog?" Shen Qingge slapped his hand away in annoyance. "If you dare leave a mark again, you can sleep in the study."

"Yes, Mr. Shen."

Jiang Che smiled and released her, then turned to the jewelry cabinet and picked out a set of pearl jewelry.

Those were extremely rare Australian white pearls, each one round and full, radiating a warm luster.

"Pearl and gray go perfectly together."

Jiang Che stood behind her, gently putting the necklace on her. The cool pearls touched her warm skin, and Shen Qingge flinched slightly, then relaxed, letting his slender fingers fasten the clasp behind her neck.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw how, under Jiang Che's care, she had slowly transformed from a lazy little woman back into a powerful and charismatic queen.

"alright."

Jiang Che tidied her hair, his eyes focused and affectionate: "Let's go have breakfast. I made your favorite crab roe xiaolongbao today."

……

The restaurant downstairs.

Su Xiaoruan was slumped over the table, stirring the millet porridge in her bowl with a look of utter despair.

Today she wore a loose, off-white sweatshirt and simple jeans, her hair casually tied in a bun, and her face adorned with black-rimmed glasses. Even in such an ordinary student outfit, her face radiated youthful energy and collagen.

But at this moment, this youthful spirit is shrouded in a resentment called "early morning".

"morning."

Jiang Che walked over carrying a steaming basket of crab roe soup dumplings and placed it in front of her: "Why the long face? Did you stay up late reading novels again last night?"

"No..." Su Xiaoruan answered weakly, picked up her chopsticks and took a small steamed bun, but hesitated to put it in her mouth. "Brother, can I not go to school? This morning it's that old professor's Western Drama History class. He lectures like he's chanting a sutra, I'm really going to fall asleep."

"no."

Jiang Che poured himself a cup of coffee, his tone gentle yet firm: "Skipping class is a matter of principle. Besides, didn't you say last week you wanted to get a scholarship?"

"Oh, scholarships are just something I said offhand..." Su Xiaoruan muttered, finally stuffing the steamed bun into her mouth.

The savory aroma of crab roe exploded in her mouth, her eyes lit up, and her "life is meaningless" expression finally faded a little.

Shen Qingge came down at this moment. She had changed into the gray coat, wore a pair of black high heels with red soles, and carried a Hermes Birkin bag. She exuded a sharp yet elegant beauty.

"Xiao Ruan, eat quickly." Shen Qingge glanced at her watch. "Han Xiao is delivering some documents today and will give you a ride to school on his way. Don't be late."

"Okay..."

Su Xiaoruan sighed and quickened her eating pace.

After finishing their meal, Han Xiao's car was already waiting at the door.

Su Xiaoruan slung her backpack over her shoulder and went to the door to change her shoes. She glanced back at Jiang Che, who was helping Shen Qingge adjust her scarf, and a fleeting, almost imperceptible sadness flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

"Brother, sister, I'm leaving!"

Su Xiaoruan waved her hand and forced a bright smile: "I won't be home for dinner tonight, I have a club activity!"

"Be careful and get back to your dorm early," Jiang Che reminded him.

"Okay, okay! You nagging old man!"

Su Xiaoruan made a face and ran into the rain.

Watching the car drive away, Shen Qingge took Jiang Che's arm and said softly, "This girl seems to have something on her mind lately? She's been doing more club activities than before."

"I guess it's because university life is too exciting." Jiang Che didn't think much of it, patted the back of her hand, and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to the company."

……

10:00 AM, Jianghai University.

The rain was still falling, and the plane tree leaves on campus were scattered all over the ground.

Su Xiaoruan sat in the last row of the lecture hall, resting her chin on her hand, watching the old professor with gray hair on the podium lecturing on Shakespeare.

Her textbooks were open in front of her, but her eyes were already looking out the window.

Rainwater trickled down the glass, blurring the view outside.

"Hey, Little Softie."

Her roommate, Lin Keke, leaned over and nudged her with her elbow, whispering, "Stop daydreaming, look ahead."

"Huh?" Su Xiaoruan snapped out of her daze and followed Lin Keke's gaze.

In the first few rows of the classroom, a boy wearing an expensive trench coat and with slicked-back hair was glancing back at us every now and then.

When Su Xiaoruan looked over, the boy immediately flashed what he thought was a handsome smile and waved his phone.

Su Xiaoruan frowned slightly, looked away, and asked in a low voice, "Who is that?"

"You don't recognize him? That's Zhou Yu from the Finance Department!" Lin Keke exclaimed with a gossipy look. "He's a well-known rich kid at our school, and the vice president of the student union. I heard his family is in the import and export business, with assets worth billions."

"Oh," Su Xiaoruan replied indifferently, completely uninterested, and continued drawing turtles in her textbook.

Billions?

It's not even as thick as one of her brother's fingers.

"Don't be so cold," Lin Keke said softly. "He's been asking around about you lately, and he even told me he wanted to treat you to dinner. I think he's sincere towards you."

"Sincerely?" Su Xiaoruan scoffed, tapping her pen heavily on the paper. "Is he attracted to my face, or to the online influence I have?"

"Oh dear, they're not that shallow, are they?" Lin Keke was about to say something when the professor's stern gaze swept over them, and the two quickly shut up.

The bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

Su Xiaoruan packed her schoolbag and had just stepped out of the classroom when she was stopped by Zhou Yu.

"Hello, Su."

Zhou Yu stood in front of Su Xiaoruan, a confident smile typical of wealthy young men on his face. He was about 1.8 meters tall and fairly good-looking, but his eyes revealed a shrewdness and calculation.

"Is there something you need?" Su Xiaoruan asked, taking a step back while holding her schoolbag, maintaining a polite social distance.

"Here's the thing, I'm the head of the External Relations Department of the Student Union. Our department recently wanted to discuss a campus sponsorship collaboration with Qingche Entertainment. I know you're an artist with Qingche Entertainment, and also... President Jiang's sister, so I'd like to ask you to help me make the connection."

Zhou Yu's words sounded very dignified, and his reasons were quite legitimate.

Su Xiaoruan frowned: "You should contact the company's public relations department directly about this. I'm not in charge of business matters."

"Hey, don't be so aloof," Zhou Yu smiled, pulling two tickets from his pocket. "Actually, work is secondary. The main thing is I have two front-row tickets to tonight's French musical 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Jianghai Grand Theatre, which is quite a bargain. I know you're studying acting, so you're sure you'd be interested. Would you do me the honor of going with me?"

Su Xiaoruan was about to refuse.

Zhou Yu added, "Furthermore, the organizer of this musical is a friend of my father's. If you'd like to go, I can take you backstage to meet the creative team, which would be very helpful for your studies."

Su Xiaoruan hesitated for a moment.

She really wanted to see this musical, but hadn't been able to get tickets before. Plus, being able to go backstage and meet the creators would be a rare learning opportunity.

But going with this boy...

"I'm sorry, I have something to do tonight." Su Xiaoruan shook her head again.

"Su, you haven't given up. Instead, Zhou Yu stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Actually, there's something else. Our department head, Director Wang, specifically spoke to me, saying he hopes you can participate more in the school's international exchange activities. Tonight's event isn't just about watching a play; there are also several senior figures from the cultural circle present, and Director Wang will be there too. If you don't go, wouldn't that be disrespectful to him?"

Upon hearing "Director Wang," Su Xiaoruan's face darkened.

Director Wang is a powerful figure in the department and has usually been quite considerate of her. If it really was an arrangement made by the department, she couldn't very well directly turn her back on him.

This is what is known as "social etiquette." Even if she is a rich heiress, she sometimes has to bow her head in the small society of school.

"Is it just the two of us?" Su Xiaoruan asked warily.

"Of course not!" Zhou Yu said immediately. "Director Wang will be there too, along with a few student council members. It'll just be a regular cultural exchange."

Su Xiaoruan thought for a moment, and since there was a teacher present, there shouldn't be any problems.

"Okay then." Su Xiaoruan nodded. "Send me the time and place, and I'll be there on time."

"Alright! I'll wait for you!" A glint of triumph flashed in Zhou Yu's eyes as he smiled and stepped aside.

……

Five o'clock in the afternoon, at Qingcheli Manor.

Shen Qingge got off work early today.

She returned home, changed out of her sharp business attire, and put on a beige knitted loungewear. Her long hair was casually tied up, making her look much gentler.

Jiang Che was preparing dinner in the kitchen.

"Didn't Xiaoruan say she wasn't coming back for dinner today?" Shen Qingge leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Jiang Che skillfully cut the beef.

"Yeah, she said the club has an event," Jiang Che said without turning his head. "But this girl is picky about food and doesn't like it outside. I stewed some bird's nest for her, and I'll have Han Xiao deliver it to her later as a late-night snack."

"You really spoil her rotten." Shen Qingge shook her head helplessly and went over to help him wash the vegetables.

Just then, Jiang Che's phone rang.

It's a WeChat message.

Jiang Che wiped his hands and picked up his phone to take a look.

The sender was Han Xiao.

[Boss, Shadow reports that Miss didn't have any club activities tonight. She went to a French restaurant called 'L'Atelier'. She was with a guy named Zhou Yu, a third-year finance student at Jianghai University. Besides them, there were also several so-called 'cultural circle seniors' and some department teachers.]

However, Shadow discovered that Zhou Yu had apparently booked a private room for couples, and those so-called "seniors" were actually just a few of Zhou Yu's father's business associates.

Jiang Che's eyes instantly turned cold.

The original gentle and refined temperament was completely swept away, replaced by a chilling aura.

"What's wrong?"

Noticing the change in Jiang Che's aura, Shen Qingge stopped washing the vegetables and turned to look at him.

Jiang Che handed her the phone.

After reading the message, Shen Qingge's face darkened. A flash of anger crossed her phoenix eyes, and she squeezed the vegetables in her hand until they were deformed.

"This is what they call 'club activities'?" Shen Qingge sneered. "Using the guise of a teacher to lure young girls into drinking sessions? These people have some nerve."

"Zhou Yu..." Jiang Che murmured the name, his tone chilling, "The young master of Zhou's Trading? That nouveau riche who made his fortune by falsifying accounts?"

"It seems that some people are living too comfortably and want to find some excitement."

Jiang Che untied his apron and tossed it aside casually.

"Don't cook."

Jiang Che took Shen Qingge's hand and led her upstairs:

"Change your clothes."

"Where to?" Shen Qingge asked, even though she already knew the answer in her heart.

"Let's go eat."

A bloodthirsty smile curled at the corners of Jiang Che's lips:

"Since someone wants to treat my sister to dinner, how can I, as her older brother, not go and 'thank' them?"

……

7 p.m., L'Atelier French restaurant, No. 18 The Bund.

This is one of the most upscale French restaurants in Jianghai City, with an elegant ambiance, dim lighting, and a stunning view of the Huangpu River at night.

Su Xiaoruan sat in the private room, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

This is not "cultural exchange" at all.

There were five or six people sitting in the private room. Apart from Director Wang and Zhou Yu, the other three middle-aged men were all ruddy-faced, with beer bellies, and their greasy eyes were lingering on her.

"Wow, isn't this Su Xiaoruan, our Jiangda University's biggest star? She's even prettier in person than on TV!"

A bald man, holding a glass of red wine, looked at Su Xiaoruan with a smile: "Come on, Xiao Su, nice to meet you, how about a drink?"

Su Xiaoruan, wearing the same hoodie and jeans she wore to class that afternoon, looked somewhat out of place in the luxurious private room. She gripped her backpack strap tightly and said coldly:

"Excuse me, I'm not an adult yet... oh no, I just turned 18, I don't drink alcohol. And I need to protect my voice."

"Hey, that's not quite right," Director Wang interjected, trying to smooth things over. "These gentlemen are big shots in Jianghai City's cultural circle. Your future acting career will depend on their guidance. A little red wine is fine; it's good for your skin."

"That's right, Su, don't be so disrespectful." Zhou Yu also came over, wanting to pour Su Xiaoruan some wine.

Su Xiaoruan looked at the wine glass handed to her, and her stomach churned.

She finally realized she had been scammed. This was no dinner before a musical; it was clearly a "blind date" or "social gathering" disguised as a musical.

"I told you, I'm not drinking."

Su Xiaoruan suddenly stood up, the chair making a screeching sound.

"If this is what you call communication, then I'm afraid I can't continue. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, she turned to leave.

"Hey! Don't go!"

Zhou Yu's expression changed, and he reached out to grab Su Xiaoruan's arm: "We're already here, and we haven't even eaten yet! You're really showing no respect to Director Wang!"

The bald man's face darkened: "Young lady, don't push your luck. Do you know who I am? Believe me, I can blacklist you with a single word?"