Nine

Ten

anhao@dianzhong.com

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Stunned, Jiang Sese choked on her saliva and started coughing her lungs out. She wondered if her ears had failed her. She said in disbelief, "W… what did you say?" Jin Fengchen sat upright and still, with an unchanging expression. He repeated his words. "I said, marry me." She was utterly befuddled. Why was he saying such frightening words out of the blue? Besides, what was he getting at with this spontaneous proposal? "Mr. Jin… please don't joke around. It's not funny at all, hahaha." Jiang Sese laughed dryly. She stared fixedly at him, hoping to see from his expression any hint of evidence that he was teasing her. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything of that sort at all! "I'm deadly serious," Jin Fengchen said earnestly. Grief filled up Jiang Sese's heart. Why was he being so serious out of the blue? Why was he bringing up such a major life milestone now? They had only known each other for a few days! She forced herself to be calm. "Um… Mr. Jin, what gave you this idea?" A major life event like a marriage required a deep, thorough reflection. Why was he bringing it up like he was talking about the weather? Her question seemed to have silenced Jin Fengchen for once. It was true that he didn't have the time for consideration before popping the question. He was just acting on impulse. Now that he had the time to process

everything, he too couldn't understand why he would have such an idea. Moreover, he had never had any experience proposing in the past. Once his impulse faded, he realized just how inappropriate it was. After all, he had proposed too casually! The air became still around them. Jiang Sese was no longer as frantic as she had been earlier. She sat on the bed, quietly waiting for his reply. Yet, after waiting for quite a while, Jin Fengchen was still not saying anything. She looked at him doubtfully. "Mr. Jin… you didn't just propose to me because of Xiaobao, did you?" Jin Fengchen was bewildered, but soon replied, "Looks like… that's the case." It was only because he saw how gentle and soft she was when embracing Xiaobao that he couldn't suppress the impulse that freshly sprouted in his heart. She didn't know if she should laugh or cry at his response. "Mr. Jin, you don't have to do this. I'm taking care of Xiaobao because I sincerely adore him. I can't bear seeing him hurt or upset, which is why I'm doing all of this. I never thought of any compensation, or for you to… use yourself as repayment!" Jin Fengchen's eyes dimmed. "Do you think that I'm not good enough?" His question befuddled Jiang Sese. She hastily replied, "No, of course not. How could I? I bet countless women in Jin City want to marry someone like you. What right do I have to disdain you?" "Then why did you reject me?" Jin Fengchen questioned her with a frown. He looked unhappy. Jiang Sese was secretly terrified of his expression. She couldn't help gulping. "Um… Do I have to say it? Of course, it's because it's too sudden! Never mind the rest, a major event like a marriage involves so many details. It's not as easy as you make it sound." Jin Fengchen's frown deepened. "For example?" "For example, the partners in question should at least get to know each other and build a foundation for their relationship before examining the will of the two families!" she said. "I think that you have no idea how many couples in this society are forced to break up before entering the wedding hall simply because of their parents' disapproval? Even more so, a rich and powerful family like yours prioritizes a well-matched pair in status. So… ahem, it seems that… it's not very likely." Jiang Sese gave him a heartfelt and emotional explanation. Toward the end, her voice even tapered off until it was inaudible. It wasn't that she was giving in to her cowardice, but Jin Fengchen's expression was simply too dreadful to look at. He looked as gloomy as the weather before a rainstorm, making her feel panic-stricken. But she had no choice either. Like it or not, the words had left her mouth. Was she supposed to take them back? Just as her heart was trembling with fear, he suddenly said, "I won't let something like parents' disapproval happen. The woman I have my eye on can only be mine. It doesn't matter who disapproves!" His tyrannical president's ways shocked Jiang Sese. "Yeah, yeah, you're the greatest," she thought. "But… there are other reasons too," she said weakly. "With me, other reasons are no reasons," he said. "What matters is whether you're willing or not." Jiang Sese was beginning to freak out. How did they return to square one all over again?! The truth was, she wasn't the inflexible kind. If she truly liked someone, never mind not being a suitable match, she would even bravely survive hell or high water for him. But… after what happened five years ago, she was beginning to lose hope in love for herself. If even Lan Sichen, her childhood playmate who grew up with her, showed such

disdain for her, what man would want her? Never mind a man of such caliber as Jin Fengchen. If he found out about her ugly past down the road, what would he think? Thus, she would never agree to his proposal! However, she didn't dare to mention any words of refusal right now. That was because Jin Fengchen's expression was truly ghastly. She could only forcefully change the topic. "Um… Mr. Jin, since Xiaobao is already asleep and it's late, I will be going home now. Ahem, you should rest early too." She stood up, wanting to put Xiaobao down on the bed. Jin Fengchen stopped her with his hand. "Carry him to the room next door. It's too chaotic here. I will get someone to clean this place up." She immediately retracted her hand as if she had been electrocuted. She said awkwardly, "Oh, okay… Let's go then." Then, she turned around, not daring to look at him in the eye. Jin Fengchen looked at her figure from behind in silence, his pupils the color of undiluted ink. To think that the first proposal of his life would end in a rejection! If the public learned of this, there would surely be a storm. However, Jin Fengchen wasn't angry. The woman who had his heart was surely one of a kind. Besides, it was his lack of composure tonight that surprised her. He only had himself to blame for the rejection! After taking a deep breath to dispel his unhappiness, he followed after her into the room next door. That was his bedroom. It was more spacious as it was the master bedroom. The palette of the room leaned toward darker colors. The mini-bar, liquor cabinet, couch, side table, massive bed, closet, and bathroom inside carved out a personal paradise. It looked just like a presidential suite in a hotel. Jiang Sese sighed to herself. These were the wealthy, indeed. She gently placed Xiaobao on the bed and then carefully tucked him in. When she was done, she stretched to loosen her muscles and bones. "All right, he should be able to sleep sweetly through the night." "Thank you for everything you have done tonight," Jin Fengchen said as he watched her actions. . Jiang Sese shook her head with a smile. "Don't even mention it. Um… Then, since there's nothing else, I will be taking my leave now." He could tell that she was eager to run away, which made him feel even more strongly about not letting her go. He said, "Since it's so late now, why don't you spend the night here with Xiaobao? I will sleep in the guest room. He might get a fever after that cold bath and air-conditioning from earlier. I worry that he will look for you when he wakes up in the middle of the night." Jiang Sese was stunned. Instantly, she found it difficult to comply with this request. "Um… That's not necessary, is it?" This was his bedroom! And that bed… He might have even slept in it before. Wouldn't that be too embarrassing for her?