Before he died, my grandfather forced me to marry the richest man in the capital.

After September 1st, Su Bi entered the first year of high school, the same school as Su Can, while Su Can remained in the third year of high school, and Han Yinuo and Han Yichen entered the second year of high school.

Lan Zhiyu was admitted to the best university in Lancheng, ranking first in the city in terms of overall score, which is an outstanding achievement.

Han Yichen's final grade ultimately failed to reach the 550 his father had set, so he was kept under house arrest and began a "reform" program with Su Can.

The day before school starts.

Ji Jiale, as everyone's older brother, posted a notice: Tomorrow is the start of a new semester. If any of you achieve the required score this semester, you can come to me for a gift. You can have any gift you want, no questions asked. The gifts are here with me. Whether you can take them or not depends on your ability.

As soon as the announcement was made, the group chat went wild. Everyone had their phones in their hands, and they would all be confiscated before 9 o'clock.

The first person to speak up was Han Yichen: Bro, you'd better keep your word.

He's wanted a game console for a long time, but his dad just won't let him have one. He won't even let him have one until he gets 550 points on the college entrance exam. His dad is so stingy.

Lu Qingchen: Do I count? Brother, I want a car.

Ji Jiale: You can choose to repeat a year; if your college entrance exam results are excellent, you can consider it.

Lu Qingchen: "............"

Ji Xinyu posted a cute emoji: Hahaha, what my brother means is that you don't have it. My brother wouldn't dare buy you bumper cars until the driving ban is lifted.

Lu Qingchen: Get lost.

He only crashed once, how does that count as bumper cars? Everyone has a dark past.

Lu Yiyue: Speak properly.

Han Yinuo: I need to think about what gift to buy.

Su Can: Brother Le, is this really okay?

Ji Jiale patted Su Can and asked in return: You mean you plan to join the ranks of the fifth year of high school? You don't need to be that ambitious, the fourth year of high school is enough.

Everyone sent a laughing emoji, while Su Can sent a speechless emoji. He really didn't have much confidence in his grades, but he wanted a lot of gifts, though his father wouldn't buy them for him.

Le Ge's move was pure, unadulterated provocation.

The group chat was getting lively, with everyone talking about what gifts they wanted. Ji Jiale quickly flipped through the list, patted Lu Qingchen on the shoulder, and said, "Come and give me your gift the day you graduate successfully."

Lu Qingchen was overjoyed by this unexpected turn of events. He was so excited that he typed with trembling hands: "Brother, you're my real brother, you have to keep your word."

Whether you drive it or not is one thing, whether you can own a car you like is another. Even just having it there to look at is enough to make you feel satisfied.

For him, the car was like his wife. He had only owned it for a day after getting the marriage certificate when he was forced to divorce her. His father had practically forced him to divorce her, and now he was restricted from remarrying. Lu Qingchen felt that his analogy was very apt.

Ji Jiale's chat interface showed a message from Yuebao. She said "Let's see what you're capable of" in the group and then left, while the group continued to discuss what gifts they wanted.

Lu Yiyue sent Ji Jiale a private message: Not busy.

You can feel her gentleness even through the screen; even the words she types are soft and gentle.

Ji Jiale guessed: Not in the living room? Didn't he say he was leaving get off work early today?

Lu Yiyue: I'm drawing in my room. I drew a picture. Do you want to see it?

Ji Jiale: Hmm.

The next second, Lu Yiyue sent the portrait she had been drawing for several days to Ji Jiale's phone. The person in the picture was wearing a black suit, leaning against the balcony with one arm bent, his deep eyes staring at a certain point, and a lit cigarette between his slender fingers. The billowing smoke added a hazy feeling to the whole painting, and the person in the painting exuded laziness and asceticism.

Ji Jiale leaned against the headboard, looking at herself in the painting over and over again, and replied: How did you know I smoke?

He seemed to have never smoked in front of her, and he always changed his clothes before seeing her. Just as Ji Jiale was wondering why, Lu Yiyue said: "I am particularly sensitive to the smell of smoke. I can smell it as soon as you have smoked."

One evening, Ji Jiale came to her studio. When they kissed, she smelled a faint smell of smoke on him, so she was sure he smoked, but just not in front of her.

The picture was her imagination of Ji Jiale smoking. She had never seen Ji Jiale smoke, but after drawing it, she suddenly felt that his smoking appearance had a more carefree and unrestrained feel, exuding a sense of distance while also having a hint of desire and wildness.

Ji Jiale: If you don't like it, why don't you say so?

Lu Yiyue: It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I'm a bit sensitive. You can smoke, I don't mind. Just smoke less, smoking too much is bad for your health.

Ji Jiale always had a smile on her face: I will quit.

He'll quit now, but it's not the right time yet. He'll quit once the other company is successfully established and on track. The airline is already on the right track, and the next step is to start planning the other company, aiming to open next year.

Lu Yiyue: I don't mind.

She understood him. When you're just starting out, it's inevitable that you'll exchange cigarettes during conversations. Unlike her godfather, who would offer her a cigarette but would ask if he was willing to accept it.

So she doesn't restrict him; he's already trying his best.

Ji Jiale, worried that she would get anxious, typed a few words on the screen: I'm shortening the time.

Lu Yiyue reiterated her previous statement: "I've said before that the name of my studio is my answer: love without asking when it will end."

Ji Jiale: Can I leave work a little later tomorrow?

Ji Jiale originally planned to go to Yueyue's studio after finishing her overtime work today, but Lu Jinnan called Yueyue halfway through and told her to leave work early that night. He even went to the studio to pick Yueyue up.

Lu Yiyue: Okay.

The next morning.

After finishing her breakfast, Lu Yiyue told Lu Jinnan that she would be back late that night, adding that she would be busy today because a new employee was coming for an interview.

After hearing what his daughter said, Lu Jinnan decided to pick her up that evening. He was worried about her always coming home so late. "Okay, Dad will pick you up tonight. You can go to work without worry."

Lu's mother said, "I hope the young lady we hire this time will be capable, not just someone who's coasting along."

Mr. Lu nodded, "Better to have none than to settle for the wrong one. If we can't find a suitable candidate, we shouldn't make do."

Lu Yiyue nodded, agreeing with her grandfather's opinion; that was exactly what she thought.

Several young women came to our studio when we were recruiting before, but they were all just there to coast along. They made great promises during the interview, saying they were hardworking and could do this and that, but once they started working, they would order milk tea and desserts every day, making it seem like they were having a tea party. They didn't do a single thing they were asked to do well.

In the end, Lu Yiyue rejected them all, and the assistant is the one she trusts the most right now.

Su Xue noticed the troubled look on her daughter's face and gave Lu Jinnan a big eye roll. "Why are you answering? Yueyue is so old. Do you think Han Yue's four bodyguards grew up eating vegetables?"

Lu Jinnan retorted, "No, it has absolutely nothing to do with whether my daughter and Han Yue's bodyguard eat meat or vegetables when I go to pick up Yueyue. I just want to accompany Yueyue home from get off work."

Lu Qingchen has moved into the school dormitory and will not return home until Friday. In Lu Qingchen's opinion, living at school is much freer than living at home. At least he won't be criticized by his father every day. He can also play basketball at school and go out with his classmates at night. It couldn't be better.

Su Xue felt that Xiao Nan was keeping too close a liking to her daughter, which was affecting her daughter's dating progress. What if her future son-in-law took a liking to her daughter, and the two of them fell in love one day? If Xiao Nan kept going to the studio, wouldn't that become a stumbling block?

"I've realized that you only have Yueyue in your heart now, and there's no place for me anymore. How long has it been since you went shopping with me for clothes?"

The Lu couple had already finished breakfast, and silently left the restaurant, ignoring the loving daily interactions between their son and daughter-in-law.

Lu Jinnan: "............" What does this have to do with anything? How is this being unreasonable?

"Okay, okay, I won't go. I'll go shopping with you tonight. We can go wherever you want."

Upon hearing this, Su Xue happily peeled a hard-boiled egg for Lu Jinnan, saying, "Little Nan, eat an egg so you can walk faster tonight."

Lu Jinnan: Is it faster to walk or faster to roll?

Lu Yiyue was amused by her mother's words. She glanced at her mother, who was giving her a flirtatious look, and was a little confused. Did her mother know? That shouldn't be the case. She hadn't told anyone about her relationship with Lele. She shouldn't know.

night.

In the studio, assistant Wenwen had already left work early. One wall lamp was on, casting a dim, hazy light that swayed with the movement of people.

A girl sat at the bar, surrounded by boys, interpreting what love is. The sound of their lips intertwining was like a beautiful song, painting touching notes that floated continuously in the air of the studio.

From her lips to her delicate earlobes, her fair neck, her flawless shoulders, and the way her off-the-shoulder shirt hangs askew on one arm, every tourist destination she visits becomes incredibly popular.

Her voice was low and hoarse, suppressing a certain emotion, "I miss you, Yuebao."

She liked to hug his neck, and he liked to bend down and bury his face in her fair neck. After a longing moment, he would always hide in her neck like a child and hold her tightly.

After being tormented like that, her voice was a little hoarse. That's what she said, but she also tolerated his actions and never stopped him. Her face flushed, she chuckled, "So this is how you miss me."

He wasn't being too excessive, but compared to the previous light kisses, it was several levels higher. He was much bolder, and every time Yueyue came home, she needed to dress up again, both in terms of makeup and clothes.

If we go home as things stand, Dad won't even need to catch us; he'll spot us every time.

He groaned as if he was in pain when his chest was punched, but it was actually a form of teasing. He lowered his head and began to lightly touch her neck, one stroke after another, which made her tremble and feel a tingling sensation.

Lu Yiyue felt that this man was completely different from his usual self at this moment. He was so charming. During the day, when there were other people around, he was particularly aloof and rarely uttered a word. He would only say "uh-huh" all day. Who would have thought that this man was so charming?

Ignoring her resistance, he pecked her again, then nestled his head against her neck and kissed her shoulder, chuckling softly and shamelessly admitting, "This is also a way of missing you."

Lu Yiyue never expected him to say such a blunt thing. She couldn't find the words to scold him, or perhaps it wasn't that she couldn't find the words, but that she couldn't bear to. In the end, she said, "You really are."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yiyue was lifted into the air and carried. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, looked up at his pointed chin, and was carried to the sofa, where she sat on his lap.

She didn't jump down, but instead asked suspiciously, "What are you doing?"

"I was worried you'd get too tired sitting, so I'll hold you and let you sit for a while."

Lu Yiyue: "........."

Looking straight ahead, he noticed her disheveled clothes, helped straighten them, and fastened a button on her blouse. A satisfied smile played on his lips. "Sorry, I couldn't control myself. There's a red mark on my neck..."

Hearing this, Lu Yiyue tensed up and subconsciously touched her neck. Annoyed, she slapped his shoulder, but he didn't even frown. He just smiled and said, "I'll put a band-aid on it later."

Seeing his teasing smile, she angrily pinched his cheek. He let her play with him, his eyes full of doting. Lu Yiyue pretended to be angry and glared at him, but it had no intimidating power at all. In Ji Jiale's eyes, it only made her look more cute. "I thank you for helping me think of a solution."

"You're welcome." He laughed even louder and more handsomely.

Suddenly she hugged him. "Ah Le, you look beautiful when you smile. Smile more often. I love seeing you smile."

"Okay, only for you." He hugged her back, cherishing every moment of this moment.

Her head was buried in his neck. The moment was peaceful and quiet. Neither of them spoke; they simply held each other in silence.

The bodyguards outside the door stood ramrod straight, their gossip simmering within them: "Brother, I'm starting to think we're not really here to protect Miss Lu."

"So what are you here for? To stand guard?"

"No, I'm on lookout duty, keeping watch."

"That makes sense. Maybe we can even have a banquet at the table when Mr. Ji and Miss Lu get married."

That makes sense.

The bodyguards were only thinking about the benefits and completely forgot that they might get beaten up by Lu Jinnan.