Chapter 30: Want to Move in Together Already?

Shu Shiran took a shower before heading upstairs.

This was the first time she had come up since she started living here.

Stepping out of the elevator into the foyer, she noticed one side of the double-armored door was ajar. She walked to the entrance; it was quiet inside, with no one in sight.

Tentatively, she called out, "Ji Xi?"

Footsteps approached, and Ji Xi appeared.

He was dressed in loose loungewear, his hair falling naturally, the usual cold detachment in his demeanor softened by a touch of ease. He lowered his eyelids slightly, looking at Shu Shiran, and asked, "So cautious—afraid you’re at the wrong door?"

Shu Shiran was indeed worried she might have the wrong place. She had simply fallen asleep after drinking, and upon waking, the floor above had become Ji Xi’s territory; it felt somewhat surreal.

"How did you—"

Ji Xi replied, "I bought it."

"When did this happen?"

"Just recently." Ji Xi gestured for her to come in.

Shu Shiran noticed a pair of women's slippers. This time she didn't overthink it, knowing they must have been prepared for her. After changing her shoes, she followed him inside. Beyond the entryway lay a spacious, wide-set living area.

Ji Xi said, "The wedding house isn't ready yet, but if we keep living separately, people will ask questions, starting with your grandmother."

Living separately indefinitely was indeed difficult to explain.

Ji Xi continued, "This way, as long as people don't come up here to check, they’ll assume we’re coming and going together. Even if they do come up, we’re just one floor apart, so it’s easy enough to put on a show."

Perhaps because he didn't hear a response, he turned to look at her, his tone shifting to something slightly provocative: "Or would you rather just live together directly?"

Shu Shiran almost bumped into him because he had stopped and turned so suddenly.

"...Living one floor apart is fine."

As far as Shu Shiran knew, the owner of the unit above hers didn't live there permanently, only visiting occasionally. Those who lived at Chuansong No. 1 generally owned more than one property and, unless they were in urgent need of cash, were rarely willing to sell.

Just last September or October, Zheng Tingyan had seen her living here and liked the complex, wanting to move in and be her upstairs neighbor. The owner had met Zheng Tingyan a few times through business and had flatly refused to sell when asked.

"How did you get the previous owner to sell to you? Zheng Tingyan tried to offer above market price, and they wouldn't even consider it."

Ji Xi said lightly, "That’s because she didn't offer what they actually wanted."

Just then, footsteps sounded. Shu Shiran saw a woman in her fifties walking out from what appeared to be the inner kitchen. The woman paused upon seeing her.

Shu Shiran watched as Ji Xi turned his head and called out, "Auntie Dou."

Ji Xi introduced them: "This is Shu Shiran, my wife." Then, to Shu Shiran, he added, "This is Auntie Dou."

"So you must be Ms. Shu." Auntie Dou’s eyes brightened as she looked her over.

Shu Shiran smiled and said, "Auntie Dou, please, just call me Shiran."

After a brief exchange, Auntie Dou said to Ji Xi, "A-Xi, dinner is ready. Remember to eat on time. I’ll be heading back now."

"I'll see you out," Ji Xi said. He looked at Shu Shiran.

Shu Shiran was still thinking about the way Auntie Dou had called him "A-Xi," and her gaze met his.

"Wait for me," Ji Xi said.

Shu Shiran nodded and said goodbye to Auntie Dou. As Ji Xi walked her out, Shu Shiran could faintly hear their conversation.

Ji Xi: "I’ll have someone drive you back."

Auntie Dou: "No need, I can go back myself. It’s the weekend, I’m going to stroll around a bit. I’ve been here once, so I know the way. Next time you want something to eat, just call me; you don't need to come pick me up, I'll come over myself."

Ji Xi gave a soft "Mm" and insisted, "Let someone drive you. They can take you wherever you want to go."

Auntie Dou: "Alright, don't worry about how I get home. Go inside and eat, the food is going to get cold."

The conversation drifting in was very domestic, filled with warmth and familiarity, so much so that even the usual arrogance in Ji Xi’s tone had vanished. Shu Shiran was surprised; she hadn't expected him to be capable of speaking to someone this way.

The elevator arrived, Auntie Dou stepped inside, and Ji Xi returned. Shu Shiran was busy replying to a message from Dai Jiao and looked up as he entered.

Ji Xi explained, "Auntie Dou was my neighbor back in the day; she took care of me for a while."

"I see," Shu Shiran replied. The "back in the day" he referred to must have been before he returned to the Ji family. That explained why they were so close.

Ji Xi asked, "Staying for dinner?"

***

Shu Shiran had woken up late, and it was already past lunchtime. She hadn't much of an appetite and had originally planned to order some porridge, but it turned out the lunch Ji Xi had prepared was quite light, including millet porridge—perfect for someone recovering from a hangover.

The two ate in silence.

Shu Shiran spoke up, "I didn't cause you any trouble last night, did I?"

From her earlier chat with Dai Jiao on WeChat, she had learned that Ji Xi only knew she was drunk because Wu Tianqi had told him, prompting him to come and pick her up.

Ji Xi raised his eyes and asked, "How much do you remember from last night?"

Shu Shiran paused. The way he asked made it sound as if something had happened.

"We ate, played games, and had some drinks. After that, I don't remember much. I only have a vague memory of you coming to get me."

Ji Xi said slowly, "Last night, you refused to leave. You were acting like an ostrich on the street and even trying to direct traffic."

Shu Shiran: "..."

After a few seconds, she realized Ji Xi was definitely teasing her.

"Impossible," she said, sounding annoyed. "Everyone always says that when I'm drunk, I just get a bit talkative."

Ji Xi, caught in the act, showed no sign of guilt. He smiled and smoothly went along with her, "You were indeed very talkative."

"What did I say?"

Ji Xi replied, "You recounted everything you did from morning to night. I now know there are 16 people in your firm, the receptionist is named Xiao Yu, the HR person is surnamed Ni, and you won the 'Participation Prize' in the raffle—there were only two of those."

He teased, "You were just one step away from telling me the firm's annual profit."

Shu Shiran: "..."

She recalled a faint memory of telling him about the "Participation Prize," and it seemed that was around the time Ji Xi gave her the wedding ring. At the thought, she glanced at his left ring finger.

The ring sat just below the second knuckle. It was clearly a pair with hers, only wider and with fewer embellishments. The small red mole on his ring finger was just below the band. The cool metallic tone complemented his well-defined knuckles.

The hand in her line of sight moved.

Shu Shiran realized she was staring and quickly pulled her gaze away, saying, "The wedding ring is very nice."

She lowered her head to take a sip of millet porridge. When she looked up again, she caught Ji Xi’s eyes.

After two seconds of silence, the corners of Ji Xi’s eyes lifted slightly. "Thinking about how to return the favor?"

Shu Shiran had indeed been thinking about what she should give him. He hadn't just thought of the wedding ring; he had also moved in. Her grandmother’s concerns about them not living together were now resolved. However, she felt that the phrase "return the favor" sounded somewhat sarcastic coming from him.

Before she could dwell on it, Ji Xi added, "In that case, accompany me to a dinner party the day after tomorrow."

***

The Chunxiang Firm’s annual party had concluded, and with less than 20 days until the New Year, there was still a great deal of work to be finished.

On Monday, everyone returned to work as usual. When Wu Tianqi came to Shu Shiran’s office to hand over some drawings, he glanced at her discreetly.

Today, Shu Shiran was back to her usual self. After the party, he had a new perspective on the Eldest Princess of the Shu family. The woman who was usually gentle and elegant actually loved to play games and talk incessantly when drunk. No, "incessantly" was an understatement. It was hard to imagine if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

He averted his gaze before Shu Shiran noticed. Back at his desk, he saw a message from Feng Kuan on WeChat.

-Feng Kuan: Any signs of them getting a divorce yet?

Feng Kuan wouldn't give up, checking in with Wu Tianqi every few days.

-Wu Tianqi: Sister Ran is wearing her wedding ring today.

-Feng Kuan: ???

-Feng Kuan: [Crying][Crying]

Everyone had noticed the ring on Shu Shiran's finger during the morning meeting and had already discussed it in their private group chats.

-Wu Tianqi: Don't you think it's a bit much, hoping for people to get divorced all the time?

-Feng Kuan: You never know.

-Feng Kuan: I'm not the only one thinking it.

-Feng Kuan: I'm just saying it, that's all.

-Feng Kuan: Giving up takes a process.

-Feng Kuan: You don't understand.

Wu Tianqi didn't understand, nor did he want to.

-Wu Tianqi: Let's get a few people together to hang out tomorrow or the day after.

-Wu Tianqi: Invite a few more.

-Feng Kuan: Why the sudden urge to organize something?

Since starting work, Wu Tianqi participated in far fewer social gatherings than before. Whenever Feng Kuan called, he was either working overtime or on a business trip.

-Wu Tianqi: Need to practice playing 'Touring the Three Gardens.'

-Feng Kuan: Touring the Three Gardens?

-Feng Kuan: Does that need practice?

-Wu Tianqi: You have no idea how good the people at our firm are.

He wasn't the worst player, but he was in the bottom three, which he found intolerable.

-Feng Kuan: You played that at your annual party? What about your boss? How was she?

-Wu Tianqi: She was the best.

-Feng Kuan: Really? You can't tell at all.

-Wu Tianqi: You definitely wouldn't be able to beat her.

-Feng Kuan: I really envy you, Xiao Wu. I want to play that with her too. If only you could bring friends and family to your annual party.

-Wu Tianqi: I have to start practicing early. Preparing for next year's party.

The two had been talking past each other when Feng Kuan suddenly stopped.

-Feng Kuan: Are you planning to stay until next year's party? You're not going to become a monk anymore?

These two sentences brought Wu Tianqi, who was fixated on reclaiming his pride at next year’s party, to a sudden realization.

Right. He was only here because his parents insisted. He was supposed to become a monk later; how could there be a next year’s party?

***

Dai Jiao had spent half the day at the office before heading out with her assistant to meet with a client. Shu Shiran hadn't stopped either. After reviewing the report for the golf club project, she called the relevant team members for a meeting.

They had spent a lot of energy on preliminary research for this project, and after Shu Shiran’s trip to Haicheng, others from the firm had made several more visits. The discussion flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was nearly five o'clock.

The table was covered in sketches. They would definitely be working overtime tonight.

But Shu Shiran had already promised to accompany Ji Xi to a dinner party. She set down her pen, told the others to continue, and returned to her office to call Ji Xi.