Chapter Twenty-Four: An Unofficial Proposal

Late at night.

Shen Suining lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to collect her thoughts for a long time. Her mind kept replaying what Jiang Ji had said in the car. Unlike his previous aggressive demands over the phone that she divorce Jiang Runlang and marry him, he had spoken with an air of profound sincerity: "Suisui, will you marry me?"

It was an informal proposal, yet it left Shen Suining inexplicably flustered and uneasy. This was because she could clearly feel that Jiang Ji was serious.

By the time they returned home, Jiang Ji had received no response from her. Shen Suining had expected him to continue the conversation, but instead, he told her he had work to attend to and retreated into his study. Even after she bathed Jiang Nuo and lulled him to sleep, Jiang Ji had not emerged. Now, lying in bed, her heart was in turmoil.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Suining sat up abruptly. She decided it would be better to return to Ruicheng. With this plan set, she reached for her phone. Since entering the auction venue, she had kept it on silent, and she hadn't had a chance to check it afterward. Only now did she see the numerous missed calls from Jiang Runlang, Pei Min, and even Jiang Zan.

It wasn't just calls, but countless messages as well. Shen Suining didn't open them; only the most recent one was visible on the screen. She saw Jiang Runlang’s aggressive tone: "Shen Suining! I order you to get back here immediately!"

Expressionless, Shen Suining tapped the delete button. Out of sight, out of mind; whatever messages Jiang Runlang and the others had sent, she chose to pretend they didn't exist. Once she had cleared all their messages, she opened an app and booked a flight. There was a flight at six in the morning, and she could head to the airport now.

Without hesitation, she booked the ticket, changed her clothes, and walked on tiptoe to the bedroom door. She cracked it open just a sliver to peek outside. The lights were off, and she couldn't clearly see if anyone was there. Assuming the coast was clear since she hadn't heard a sound, she opened the door wide.

With her head down, she crept forward, only to collide head-first into a hard chest a second later.

"Sneaking around in the dead of night—what mischief are you up to, Suisui?" Jiang Ji’s voice came from above.

Shen Suining was startled. She looked up to meet his playful gaze. With a command from Jiang Ji, the overhead lights flickered on. He scanned her from head to toe; although she was wearing the clothes he had provided, they were a low-key tracksuit. This pained him deeply—his Suisui should have been stunning the city, yet she insisted on hiding herself away. It was his fault; he should have returned sooner, or perhaps he should have taken her abroad from the very beginning.

However, seeing her dressed so neatly at this hour, he knew she was up to no good. A flicker of danger crossed his eyes, but he didn't call her out.

Shen Suining, unaware of his thoughts, felt panicked. She offered an awkward smile to mask her intent to flee. "You’re finished with your work? Are you going to rest now?"

Jiang Ji collected his thoughts and replied calmly, "That depends on whether Suisui is willing to let me into the room to sleep."

Shen Suining was stunned, as if she had been deliberately keeping him out. She felt truly wronged. She gave a dry laugh and said, "Then hurry in and get some rest." As she spoke, she stepped aside to make room for him.

Jiang Ji was almost amused by her actions. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and asked, "What about you, Suisui? Dressed like this, what were you planning to do?"

Shen Suining’s nerves tightened instantly. She waved her hands at him quickly. "I wasn't planning to do anything. I was just thirsty and wanted to get some water."

Jiang Ji gave an "Oh," and said, "Is that so? Coincidentally, I need some water, too. Let's go together."

Before she could respond, he bent down, swept her up with his long arms, and carried her toward the dining area, supporting her weight with one arm. Shen Suining gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. She wasn't afraid of heights, but she had gained quite a bit of weight since becoming pregnant; even though she was still under 120 pounds, it made her feel incredibly insecure.

Yet, Jiang Ji held her as easily as if she were a small child. Strangely, a trace of security welled up within her.

Jiang Ji carried her to the kitchen island and asked, "What would you like to drink?" He was accustomed to black coffee and ice water, but at this hour, he didn't recommend those for her.

Shen Suining had only used thirst as an excuse. "Warm water is fine," she said. She just wanted him to go to sleep so she could slip away.

Jiang Ji sensed her distraction. After pouring the warm water, he didn't hand it to her. Instead, he set her on the island, braced his hands on either side of her, and leaned in close. He stared into her eyes, and just as she was lost in thought, he asked, "Are you trying to sneak away, Suisui?"

"Huh?" She was startled. With her thoughts exposed, her heart began to race even faster.

Jiang Ji leaned in and nipped at her neck. A red mark appeared on her delicate skin, causing his eyes to darken in the light. Feeling the sting, Shen Suining hardened her resolve and confessed, "I’m here on leave, and now I need to go back to work."

It was a legitimate reason, nothing to hide. Jiang Ji nuzzled his nose against the crook of her neck for a moment before looking up. He watched her and said, "If you need to work, why would I ever stop you? What kind of person do you take me for?"

Shen Suining pressed her lips together and remained silent. She had indeed been biased, imagining that he would be unhappy and refuse to let her leave.

Jiang Ji continued, "Suisui, if you want to pursue your career, neither I nor Nuo will ever stand in your way. We will always support you unconditionally."

Meeting his sincere gaze, her heart pounded uncontrollably. Returning to her team hadn't been easy. After being away for so long—especially for marriage and childbirth—her professors and colleagues had been deeply disappointed in her. In the beginning, she had faced plenty of cold shoulders. Fortunately, through her meticulous and steady work, she had regained their acceptance and trust through her own merits.