In a two-entry courtyard within a Beijing alley, Jiang Cheng supported Grandma Shen as they talked their way into the main room, which now served as the living room.

The Shen siblings – Shen Que, Shen Yue, and Shen Xing – were behind them, silently exchanging challenging glances.

When Jiang Cheng turned to look, the three of them simultaneously displayed goofy, innocent smiles.

Jiang Cheng couldn’t be bothered to expose them, so he called out, "Come on in, I brought you gifts."

"Really!"

Shen Yue eagerly rushed over, hugging Jiang Cheng’s arm, and said, "Sister-in-law, I also prepared a gift for you."

"That’s so nice."

Shen Yue nodded her big bright eyes and whispered in Jiang Cheng’s ear, "I bought it with my manuscript fee."

"Our Yue Yue is truly amazing."

Jiang Cheng praised her generously, and Shen Yue’s face blossomed with a happy smile.

The family, front and back, entered the house. Grandma Shen went straight to boil water to cook noodles, while Shen Xing helped her.

Shen Yue pulled Jiang Cheng aside mysteriously to show the gift she had prepared—a sweater.

"You knitted this?"

Shen Yue asked expectantly, "Is it nice? Do you like it? I designed the pattern myself."

Jiang Cheng looked at the sweater in hand; it had a tapered fit and was a tad long, slightly beyond current fashion trends but very beautiful.

"It’s lovely, Yue Yue, you have a talent for design."

"Really?"

This time, it was Shen Yue’s turn to be surprised. She chuckled and said, "I really like pretty clothes. Sister-in-law, what do you think about me drawing some design sketches?"

Jiang Cheng thought seriously about this question and finally said, "Remember to include a personal symbol in each of your design sketches."

"Then I’ll take them to a textile mill for you, and we’ll see what happens after that."

Shen Yue hugged Jiang Cheng playfully.

"Sister-in-law, how can you be so wonderful!"

Jiang Cheng let Shen Yue dote on her for a while before finally heading out when Grandma Shen called.

Time to eat.

The family members were all waiting for Jiang Cheng to return and join them for a meal.

Each person had a bowl of hand-rolled noodles, with Grandma Shen’s prepared meat sauce, julienned cucumber, shredded carrot, and sliced wood ear mushrooms as toppings, allowing for a personalized zhajiangmian bowl.

Jiang Cheng gulped down her saliva while mixing the noodles; the aroma was irresistible!

The meat sauce evenly coated each noodle strand, the tiny meat granules glistening, paired with the fresh side dishes; she just couldn’t help herself.

"Slurp——"

A mouthful of noodles went down, and Jiang Cheng felt a profound satisfaction.

Seeing Jiang Cheng so engrossed in eating, everyone stayed silent and began eating their own food.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was that of slurping noodles.

After finishing one bowl, Jiang Cheng had another, making Grandma Shen feel a bit sorry for her.

"They all praise how wonderful it is abroad, but I see it’s just so-so. Look how hungry you are."

"Isn’t there any Hua Xia food out there?"

Jiang Cheng wiped the sauce from her mouth and said, "There are Hua Xia restaurants, but the taste doesn’t compare to yours."

"My stomach has been spoiled by you, Great Aunt, and can’t handle anything less."

With a few words, Jiang Cheng had Grandma Shen smiling widely.

If they hadn’t had enough to eat, Grandma really would have been tempted to whip up a full Manchu Han Imperial Feast for Jiang Cheng right then.

With everyone satisfied, it was Shen Xing’s turn to wash the dishes.

Soon after Shen Xing returned, Jiang Cheng began distributing gifts to everyone.

For Shen Xing, there were foreign-language books, some contemporary magazines, clothes, and shoes.

Shen Yue received many art books, and of course, several beautiful dresses and some highly designed small accessories.

As for Grandma Shen... Jiang Cheng directly gifted her two gold bars.

"Oh dear—what’s this for?"

Grandma Shen feigned disdain but couldn’t bear to part with them.

When people reach a certain age, they just like things like gold.

"To keep at the bottom of your chest."

Jiang Cheng advised Grandma Shen to store them well, then took out clothes and shoes she had bought her.

Shen Que had been watching from the side, seeing everyone receive their gifts, wondering if it was his turn now.

Sure enough, Jiang Cheng brought out a suit.

"Bought according to your measurements..."

Just one sentence, and Shen Que’s imagination ran wild.

Jiang Cheng really had his measurements down to a tee.

"I like it."

Shen Que accepted the suit.

After gifting the suit, Jiang Cheng also took out numerous books and materials for Shen Que.

"These are some resources from the U.S."

Shen Que cherished these like treasures; this information was the most valuable.

"I like it."

Besides expressing his liking, Shen Que didn’t know how else to articulate his gratitude, but it was fortunate Jiang Cheng didn’t mind.

After all the gifts were given out, the family sat in the main room chatting.

Around eight-thirty, they let Jiang Cheng and Shen Que head back.

Hand in hand, with Shen Que carrying the luggage, they returned to their room.

Once inside, Shen Que gave a single pull with one hand, drawing Jiang Cheng into his embrace.

"I’ve wanted to do this for a long time."

Jiang Cheng compliantly lay against Shen Que’s chest, lifting her head slightly, her eyes tinged with red, and her voice soft.

"Me too."

A whisper that sounded like an invitation made Shen Que lower his head.

The soft kisses were full of tenderness and longing.

When they parted, their breathing was slightly ragged, and their flushed faces echoed a sense of lingering intimacy. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Jiang Cheng pushed away from Shen Que, stepping back, and placed a finger on his lips.

"Wait for me."

With a playful smile, Jiang Cheng lifted her suitcase and entered the bathroom.

Every vein in Shen Que’s body felt ignited, restless in every sitting position he tried.

Eventually, he dashed into the guest room for a quick combat shower and hurried back, striving to find the best posture.

Constantly shifting his seating position, Shen Que kept his eyes on the bathroom door, waiting and fantasizing, enduring a mix of agitation and excitement.

"Click," the door was about to open.

Shen Que quickly sat down, watching as the bathroom door gradually opened and a delicate foot in a high-heeled shoe stepped out first.

Shen Que leaned forward a bit, following the line of sight upwards, as his breath caught.

Beautiful!

An authoritative beauty!

In that moment, Jiang Cheng appeared, wearing ten-centimeter high heels, enveloped in a black dress, her curly hair cascading over her shoulders, with crimson lips and eyes lined to create a fox-like allure.

Enchanting and enigmatic.

Tap, tap, tap.

Jiang Cheng walked towards Shen Que, extending one elegant hand like a high and mighty deity, finally willing to bow down.

"Sir, may I have this dance?"

Shen Que could no longer find his words, taking Jiang Cheng’s hand and pulling himself up, his warm chest pressing against hers.

"Are you... planning to take my life?"

Shen Que whispered in Jiang Cheng’s ear.

Jiang Cheng’s glance shifted, her voice somewhere between query and response.

"Would you give it?"

Shen Que lightly bit Jiang Cheng’s earlobe, and with restraint, he said, "I would!"

Jiang Cheng’s lips bloomed like a rose.

"As you wish."

...

A night passed, and when Jiang Cheng awoke, Shen Que was no longer by her side.

The messy floor from last night had been tidied up, and Jiang Cheng gave a slight smile, lazily lying on the duvet, unwilling to get up.

After lingering for over twenty minutes, Jiang Cheng got dressed and headed to the front yard.

No one was home, but she found a note left by Grandma Shen, saying there was food in the pot.

Jiang Cheng went to the kitchen and brought out braised pork ribs with green beans and scrambled eggs with tomatoes to eat.

Halfway through her meal, someone arrived at the house.