Chapter 12

When Shu Shiran told Ji Xi, “We’ll talk later,” she truly did not want him to come over and speak with her.

With so many people watching, if he said anything and it was overheard, who knew how it might spread—inevitably reaching her grandmother without warning.

Moreover, Zheng Tingyan would find it strange.

If pressed, Zheng Tingyan would definitely say something—and judging by her opinion of Ji Xi tonight, she would certainly disapprove.

This was not the right occasion to talk, and Shu Shiran herself didn’t even know what would happen next.

“There are many things inconvenient to say here.”

“Indeed inconvenient,” Ji Xi replied as if he never intended to talk to her then.

It was as if she was imagining things.

“...”

Shu Shiran knew he probably hadn’t planned to come over at all, just in case.

Ji Xi dropped the subject and looked at her. “I heard you discussed a project tonight.”

His tone was light, as if casually asking.

Shu Shiran stood beside him, their shadows tilting on the ground.

“You heard it from Wu Tianqi?” She guessed after a moment.

Ji Xi gave a short “hmm” and said, “You’re so busy, don’t tell me you forgot about my project.”

“...”

She had already told him they could meet to discuss the Jinhe Mansion project—he himself had said to wait until he returned from America.

He had just come back today.

So now this sounded like blaming her instead.

“The Jinhe Mansion project can be discussed now.” Shu Shiran unlocked her phone and started searching.

“No need, I’ll come over next time,” Ji Xi said.

Shu Shiran looked up. “...You’re the one who wants to wait until next time.”

It wasn’t that she forgot.

As Shu Shiran turned off her phone screen and clenched it in her hand, silence settled between them.

The wind stirred the branches of the plane trees by the road and rustled Shu Shiran’s skirt.

Both were dressed carefully tonight, standing side by side on the roadside, drawing curious glances from passing cyclists.

Shu Shiran tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and glanced at Ji Xi.

His gaze was fixed in the darkness, lost in thought, and his mood seemed sour tonight.

She didn’t know who had upset him.

“Thanks for what you did for Wan Leng. My uncle said when you return to China, he wants to invite you to dinner.”

With Wan Leng’s resistance to the hostile takeover, her uncle finally relaxed and had repeatedly told Shu Shiran to thank Ji Xi properly.

Without him, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

Ji Xi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and turned his gaze to her.

Shu Shiran met his eyes.

“Your uncle?” His tone rose lightly.

His question sounded ambiguous.

“What’s wrong?” Shu Shiran asked.

Wasn’t that her uncle?

Ji Xi looked away. “Princess Shu.”

At the sudden address, Shu Shiran’s face flushed.

Only her grandparents had ever jokingly called her “Princess” over the years, an expression of affection and fondness, but Ji Xi’s voice was laced with mockery.

He really was not a serious man—probably spoke like that to all those women.

Shu Shiran didn’t respond but glared at him, her ears still pink, silently urging him to get to the point.

Ji Xi glanced at her embarrassed yet proud expression, a faint smile curving his lips.

“Now that Wan Leng’s crisis is resolved, shouldn’t you honor your promise?”

Shu Shiran froze.

Finally, he brought up the matter of marriage.

When she remained silent, the amusement in Ji Xi’s eyes faded, sinking into the dark night.

He raised one brow lightly. “Don’t tell me you’re going to renege.”

The sarcasm in his tone pricked Shu Shiran’s pride to the core.

Her voice sharpened. “Of course not.”

Since when did she want to renege?

Who did he take her for?

Because he had witnessed her at her worst on that rainy night, Shu Shiran was particularly unwilling for him to think that way—she cared deeply about her dignity.

As they spoke, a car pulled up behind and stopped in front of Ji Xi’s vehicle.

The driver’s window rolled down, revealing a young, handsome man.

Shu Shiran didn’t notice, but Ji Xi did.

“Do you know him?”

She turned her head to look and was surprised to see Shu Shian.

She walked over and asked through the window, “What are you doing here?”

Shu Shian said, “A friend is attending the Wu family banquet. I came to get something from him.”

Shu Shiran nodded.

No wonder he happened to pass by.

Shu Shian glanced at her. “When are you going home? Dad heard you... broke up with someone named Yan and is quite worried.”

Shu Shiran’s face showed no expression. “I’m fine, just busy lately.”

Meaning she wouldn’t be going back anytime soon.

Shu Shian didn’t press further.

He looked at the man nearby. “Who is that?”

Ji Xi leaned against the car, dressed in white shirt and black pants, poised and clean-cut.

When Shu Shiran looked over, he withdrew his gaze, opened his phone, and left her a cold profile, blending into the autumn night with an unapproachable chill.

Apparently, Shu Shian didn’t know Ji Xi yet.

Shu Shiran withdrew her gaze and answered, “A friend.”

She added, “Don’t say anything reckless.”

Shu Shian nodded.

There was a certain distance and formality between the siblings.

Shu Shiran said, “You should go back now.”

Shu Shian replied, “You too, get some rest.”

After Shu Shian drove away, Shu Shiran returned to Ji Xi’s side. Their shadows merged again.

Ji Xi glanced up from his phone. “Nancheng is small—you even bump into your admirers on the road.”

Shu Shiran gave him a strange look.

“...That’s Shu Shian.”

Ji Xi was speechless.

The frost in the air seemed to melt a little.

“Your relationship doesn’t seem very close—not at all like siblings.”

He seemed to be making excuses for the misunderstanding.

Shu Shiran said, “It’s just average.”

That had always been the case between her and Shu Shian.

Ji Xi chuckled lightly. “Almost forgot—you’ve never liked illegitimate children.”

Shu Shiran was surprised.

Due to family matters, she had indeed never respected illegitimate children before, but she never showed this in front of anyone except Zheng Tingyan and Xu Ying.

How did he know?

His words carried a hint of mockery, which irritated her.

She was about to retort “So what?” when she suddenly remembered—he was also an illegitimate child.

Shu Shian was no longer considered one after his mother married her father many years ago, and most people had forgotten about it. No one mentioned it anymore. But Ji Xi still was.

The words stuck in her throat, and Shu Shiran felt awkward.

She hadn’t meant to target him.

Before she could say anything, Ji Xi had already resumed his casual demeanor and suddenly asked, “When will we register the marriage?”

The words “register the marriage” stunned Shu Shiran.

Already planning to register?

She asked in a daze, “When do you want to?”

Ji Xi’s gaze lowered, dark and unreadable. His fingers tapped on his arm as he thought, his voice tense: “Tomorrow’s Sunday, so Monday.”

“Next Monday?” Shu Shiran was surprised it would be so soon.

He spoke as if it were nothing special—if not tomorrow, then the day after.

His straightforwardness was the same as when he told her that night she would marry him.

Ji Xi glanced at her. “Weren’t you the one asking when? Isn’t Monday okay?”

They were bound to register sooner or later; she was somewhat mentally prepared.

Monday wasn’t impossible.

Shu Shiran steeled herself. “Fine, Monday it is.”

As she spoke, she felt her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably, her blood surging.

Yet the weight that had lingered over her these days finally lifted. It felt like the dust had settled.

The gaze fixed on her grew heavier.

Shu Shiran looked at Ji Xi, who was silent.

He lowered his eyelids, his eyes deep and mysterious. “Are you really... sure about this?”

Why did it sound like he wasn’t certain?

Having just made her decision, Shu Shiran choked and stared at him coldly, suspecting he was deliberately teasing her.

Before she could speak, Ji Xi said again, “Then it’s settled—Monday.”

His voice was clear, leaving no room for refusal or regret.

So, through their back-and-forth, they agreed to register their marriage on Monday.

**

Back home, seeing the men’s suit hanging in the wardrobe, Shu Shiran suddenly remembered she had forgotten to return Ji Xi’s suit.

On the way back, her mind was full of thoughts about registering the marriage. When he dropped her off downstairs, she hadn’t thought of it at all.

She would have to return it next time.

After showering and drying her hair, Shu Shiran lay on the bed as the warmth on her face slowly faded.

She picked up her phone. There was a message from Zheng Tingyan on WeChat, asking if she got home safely.

She replied: Already showered and lying down.

- Zheng Tingyan: Same here.

- Shu Shiran: Get some rest early.

After sending the message, Shu Shiran glanced at the time.

There were only about thirty hours left until she would register the marriage.

Too soon.

She hugged a pillow and spaced out for a while before picking up her phone again and pulling up the prenuptial agreement.

She almost forgot about it.

In their circle, marriage could be casual, but signing a prenuptial agreement was a must.

Even couples who married for love signed one beforehand—no one could guarantee the future.

There were too many cautionary tales in their circle: people secretly married to nannies or children, losing most of their assets; others married without prenups and lost entire companies in divorces.

Ji Xi surely wouldn’t marry without a prenuptial agreement.

This draft was the initial version she had prepared some time ago.

Back then, she had plans to marry Yan Yi next year. After learning this, her lawyer had drafted it and sent it to her to show Yan Yi’s side first.

This prenuptial agreement was over a hundred pages long, detailing assets and divisions.

Those close to Shu Shiran typically had agreements this lengthy or even longer—over two hundred pages.

She lay on the bed and skimmed it. Though the partner was different, the agreement was usable.

After reviewing the prenuptial agreement, she opened her chat with Ji Xi.

- Shu Shiran: Do you have a lawyer?

He had just returned to the country, so probably not.

He replied quickly.

- Ji Xi: ?

- Ji Xi: Why?

- Shu Shiran: Prenuptial agreement.

- Shu Shiran: I have a draft here. You can have your lawyer look it over. If there are issues, we can discuss.

- Ji Xi: Send it over.

Shu Shiran sent the hundred-plus-page prenuptial agreement along with her lawyer’s contact information.