Chapter 19
Shu Shiran and her uncle Xue Shengcai truly hadn’t seen each other for quite some time.
The meal was thoroughly enjoyable.
Ji Xi and her uncle were closer than Shu Shiran had imagined.
Occasionally, Shu Shiran and Ji Xi exchanged glances, and she could see the teasing sparkle in his eyes, a playful jab at her nervousness.
At first, she was indeed a bit tense, but gradually, she relaxed.
She shot a sharp look back at him, silently telling him to tone it down.
When they had nearly finished eating, the three prepared to leave.
Shu Shiran knew she would need to speak privately with her uncle a little longer, so she glanced at Ji Xi, who was still seated.
In such moments, it was natural for the “outsider” to leave first.
Ji Xi raised an eyebrow lightly, then stood and said, “I have some things to attend to. I’ll head off first.”
Xue Shengcai replied, “We’ll meet again next time.”
Shu Shiran walked alongside her uncle, bidding him farewell, “Goodbye.”
After Ji Xi left, only Shu Shiran and Xue Shengcai remained in the private room.
Xue Shengcai sighed, “When Ji Xi first contacted me, I wondered if he had ulterior motives. Truly a young man of great promise.”
He glanced at Shu Shiran as he spoke.
She nodded, clearly her uncle had a very good impression of Ji Xi.
Xue Shengcai asked, “You two were close back in high school?”
Not at all, she thought to herself.
But recalling the story Ji Xi had concocted, Shu Shiran left some wiggle room and replied, “We were okay, not particularly close. Mostly, we got to know each other after he returned to the country.”
Xue Shengcai nodded approvingly. “That’s good, that’s good.”
Her phone buzzed. She checked it.
— Ji Xi: Message me when you leave.
She locked her screen and asked, “Is Xue Fu coming back for the holidays?”
Xue Fu was Shu Shiran’s cousin, still studying.
Xue Shengcai said, “She said she’ll be back by the end of the month.”
Shu Shiran smiled, “I’ll tell her to come find me then.”
Xue Shengcai chuckled, “She was on a video call with your aunt and said she’d look you up when she returns. How’s your grandmother’s health recently?”
Shu Shiran answered, “She’s been having lots of minor ailments lately.”
Xue Shengcai said, “That’s common as one ages, especially in cold weather. You should visit more often.”
“I will,” Shu Shiran promised.
“Have you seen your father lately?”
“No,” she replied.
Xue Shengcai didn’t press further.
After exchanging a few more words, they prepared to leave.
Shu Shiran picked up her bag and noticed a suit jacket draped over another chair.
Xue Shengcai saw it too. “Looks like Ji Xi’s.”
No one had noticed it when Ji Xi left.
Shu Shiran’s suitcase was still in Ji Xi’s car; she was going to meet him later anyway, so she could bring it to him.
As she pondered how to ask for the suit naturally, Xue Shengcai said, “Take it with you. You can give it to him next time.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
They left the restaurant, where Xue Shengcai’s driver was already waiting.
“Ranran, you didn’t drive?”
“No, I came straight from the airport.”
“Want me to drive you back?”
“No, I’ve called my driver. Almost there.” Shu Shiran said, “You go ahead, Uncle.”
“All right, I’ll head off then. When you have time, come over for dinner. Your aunt will cook you something nice.” Xue Shengcai got into the car.
“Okay, goodbye, Uncle.” Shu Shiran closed the car door for him.
After Xue Shengcai left, Shu Shiran took Ji Xi’s suit and walked into the night.
The air was crisp.
She took out her phone and snapped a photo of the jacket hanging from her arm, then sent it to Ji Xi.
— Shu Shiran: [photo]
— Shu Shiran: You forgot your jacket.
Soon, Ji Xi sent a two-second voice message.
She held the phone to her ear.
“Left it for you.”
His low voice mingled with the sound of the wind.
Shu Shiran was momentarily stunned.
This jacket was left behind intentionally because he was worried she’d be cold?
Another voice message arrived from him.
“Done? I’ll come over.”
— Shu Shiran: Just drop me off by the roadside where you let me out.
After replying, Shu Shiran unfolded the jacket on her arm.
The jacket was large enough to cover her coat, adding a layer that made her feel much warmer.
She walked alone along the sidewalk.
The evening breeze that brushed past carried a clear, invigorating scent that lingered around her.
She tried to shake off the inexplicably subtle mood within her but was repeatedly unsettled by the gusts.
Her thoughts scattered until a black Cullinan approached from ahead, bringing her back to reality.
In the blink of an eye, the car was beside her.
The door unlocked.
Through the window, Shu Shiran saw Ji Xi looking at her, and he looked back.
This man truly knew what he was doing.
Once inside, Shu Shiran placed the jacket on the back seat, then turned back to fasten her seatbelt.
After securing it, she looked up to find Ji Xi watching her thoughtfully.
“What’s up?”
His gaze lingered on her face, now tinged with a trace of distance. He stared for a few seconds and then asked, “Did your uncle say bad things about me?”
“…”
“No,” Shu Shiran replied.
Seeing his disbelief, she added, “Really, no. He said you’re a young man of great promise.”
Ji Xi smirked, saying, “Your uncle has good taste.”
“…”
He withdrew his gaze. “Should I just drive you home directly?”
“Yeah, I might as well give you the watch.”
Not long after they set off, Shu Shiran received a call from Xue Shengcai.
“Ranran, are you in the car yet?”
“I am. What’s up, Uncle?”
“There’s something I want to ask you.”
“What is it?”
After a brief pause, Xue Shengcai asked, “What do you think of Ji Xi?”
Why was he asking about Ji Xi?
Shu Shiran answered, “He’s okay.”
Xue Shengcai: “Sounds like you think he’s just average?”
She hurried to deny that, fearing her uncle might think poorly of Ji Xi. “No.”
“Then what do you think?”
Shu Shiran gripped her phone.
Ji Xi was right beside her.
Praising him to her uncle over the phone with him present was a bit awkward.
Xue Shengcai chuckled. “Ranran, is Ji Xi pursuing you?”
He asked deliberately.
Shu Shiran was speechless.
Her uncle hadn’t planned to ask about her young man’s affairs during their private chat, but after getting in the car, he couldn’t help himself and called.
She glanced at Ji Xi out of the corner of her eye.
It really seemed, as he said, that her uncle thought Ji Xi had feelings for her.
She gave an ambiguous reply.
Her uncle’s voice grew more amused. “I thought so. That’s a big favor. If he were just a regular friend, why would he help you so readily?”
“Hm,” she murmured.
“What do you think?”
“Hmm… I’ll wait and see,” she responded vaguely again.
On the other end, Xue Shengcai took it as shyness.
“I think Ji Xi is a good person — capable and handsome. Not like that Yan Yi, whom I never cared for.” He paused and then said, “Never mind, no use talking about that unlucky fellow now.”
“Your uncle is experienced. If Ji Xi is willing to help you so much, it must be sincere. Only those willing to give truly mean it.”
“Mm.”
Though Shu Shiran knew Ji Xi couldn’t hear her uncle’s words, her body instinctively leaned slightly to the right, as if to distance herself.
No wonder her uncle told her to take the jacket — it was a way to create an opportunity.
Xue Shengcai continued, “But it’s also up to you. Your uncle isn’t praising him just because he helped Wanling. Don’t feel burdened by this; don’t force yourself. Your happiness is what matters most.”
Her heart softened. “Okay, Uncle, I understand.”
The car stopped at a red light.
Shu Shiran glanced sideways; Ji Xi rested his hand on the steering wheel, looking at her.
She withdrew her gaze and resumed listening to the call.
Xue Shengcai said, “I won’t keep you long. Come have dinner sometime.”
“Sure, I’ll come by when Xue Fu returns.”
She ended the call. Nine seconds remained on the red light.
Ji Xi asked casually, “Were we talking about me?”
She responded with a soft “Mm.”
“What did they say?”
She blinked, “Nothing.”
Silence filled the car.
Three seconds left on the red light.
Ji Xi’s gaze swept over her face, a faint smile curling his lips. “Now I believe your uncle didn’t speak ill of me.”
What?
Shu Shiran looked confused.
The light turned green.
Ji Xi withdrew his gaze and followed the cars ahead.
The passing streetlights played with the shadows inside the car, flickering between bright and dim.
A beam of light fell just right on Shu Shiran’s slightly flushed face.
It took only a dozen minutes to reach Chuan Song No. 1.
The car stopped downstairs. Ji Xi took her suitcase from the car.
It was small and lightly packed, easy to carry.
Shu Shiran took the suitcase, saying, “Wait for me here. I’ll go upstairs and get the watch for you.”
She went inside and left the suitcase in the entryway before fetching the watch.
She had put it in its box in advance.
She glanced at it, closed the box, and then took down the suit jacket hanging nearby.
She hadn’t had a chance—or had simply forgotten—to return the suit to Ji Xi until now.
Carrying the watch and suit, she went back downstairs.
Ji Xi stood by the car, looking down at his phone.
The temperature was only a few degrees now. He wasn’t wearing his jacket, his figure lean and upright, appearing somewhat slender, like a cold jade standing in the snow.
Shu Shiran felt the watch suited him perfectly.
She approached and handed him the watch and suit.
Ji Xi casually draped the suit over his arm, then paused slightly with one hand on the box before opening it.
Inside the black box, a silver watch gleamed with exquisite luster.
Ji Xi looked down silently at the watch. Shu Shiran wanted to see his reaction but couldn’t read it.
She didn’t know if he liked it or not.
His hand, holding the box, was pale against the black velvet lining; his prominent wrist bones and long fingers were even more striking than the watch itself.
Her gaze lingered on them briefly before moving away.
Suddenly, he raised his eyes to look at her. His deep black eyes were illuminated by the streetlamp.
On such a winter night, Shu Shiran glimpsed a hint of tenderness in them, fleeting and delicate as the wind.
Ji Xi sighed softly, “Trading a car for a watch—if people find out, they’ll say I’m living off you.”
His tone was teasing.
Shu Shiran frowned, “If you’re that calculative, then just give it back to me.”
She reached out.
Ji Xi’s right thumb gently pressed down, and with a soft “snap,” the box closed. His hand moved back slightly, and the suit hanging on his arm swayed twice with the motion.