The decision was left to her.

Taking a step back to advance is much more effective than forcing someone to do something against their will.

This is a common tactic used by Qin Zhao. These people are mostly arrogant young masters, and even at work, they won't force their subordinates to do anything. Instead, they use high-sounding methods to force unwilling people to beg for help in the end.

Qin Zhao was unwilling to use underhanded methods on his sister, but—

Zhou Ji, that cunning male fox spirit, made him wary. Her demeanor just now was obviously not quite right; her cheeks were flushed, and the tips of her ears were soft and red. She seemed dizzy, as if she had been bewitched by someone.

Jiang Yue slowly placed her hand on her heart. The familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar bittersweet feeling left her feeling bewildered. She didn't know what was wrong with her; she only knew that she disliked this feeling of having her emotions manipulated.

I couldn't contain my emotions.

She blinked; so this was what it meant to be unable to control one's emotions.

Jiang Yue slowly raised her eyelashes, her clear, dark eyes seemingly shrouded in a thin, indescribable mist. She asked, "Has Zhou Ji been going on blind dates lately?"

The voice was soft.

His thin lips were pressed very straight.

The lips are white.

Qin Zhao suddenly regretted his earlier outburst. He found it hard to control his behavior; he knew she was an adult capable of making her own choices, yet he couldn't help but want to make those decisions for her.

She assumed Zhou Ji wasn't right for her and used every means at her disposal to keep her far away from him.

She's still just a young girl, and her heart is easily broken.

For a moment, Qin Zhao didn't know how to answer her. After a while, he still didn't give a definite answer, only saying ambiguously, "He will go sooner or later."

This was not something Qin Zhao fabricated out of thin air.

Now that they're divorced, is it possible for Zhou Ji to remain celibate for the rest of his life?

For them, marriage is a bargaining chip that can be used; they prefer someone they like to someone who is suitable.

Arranged marriages are the most common thing.

Jiang Yue said "oh," and quickly adjusted her mood. Why did she feel a little sour? And even a little sad?

I both hate and envy them.

Jiang Yue slowly frowned. Could this be what love is?

Is this what it feels like to like someone—a bittersweet feeling?

She likes... Zhou Ji?

Jiang Yue had a vague feeling that she had found the answer, but she was also a little reluctant to admit it.

"A-Yue." Qin Zhao suddenly spoke, looking at her dazed expression.

The girl snapped out of her daze, raised her delicate white face, and interrupted him with a listless expression: "Ah, let's talk about whether to go tomorrow or not."

The next day.

Jiang Yue decided to go out anyway, but she didn't dress up specially.

Wearing a well-fitting knitted long dress, her long hair neatly nestled on her shoulder, she instructed the driver to take her to the agreed-upon coffee shop.

When I met the person, she was indeed very good-looking.

He is refined and cultured, and you can tell at a glance that he is very cultured.

Their speech was also very appropriate and would not offend anyone.

She blushes easily and stutters a bit when she speaks.

Jiang Yue listened to the other person's words with little interest. After things quieted down, the girl rested her chin on her hand and lazily looked out the window. After a while, she slowly turned her face and met the man's eyes. He lowered his head and dared not look at her any longer.

She couldn't help but laugh.

When Zhou Ji walked in, he was greeted by her radiant smile. Sunlight streamed through the glass windows, and the air seemed to be filled with her dazzling, sweet fragrance.

The man sitting opposite her was young and handsome, with a scholarly air about him; he looked like a very refined man.

The people behind them also stopped, carefully observing the man's expression. The surroundings were so quiet that they could hear breathing. Following the man's gaze, the handsome men and beautiful women that came into view made the scene quite comfortable.

Assistant Shen felt a chill run down her spine, her heart clenched, and she silently withdrew her gaze, then cautiously glanced at the man in the suit in front of her, whose cold and stern face was impeccably taut, and whose hard features were somewhat blurred in the light and shadow.

It became even more difficult to discern the joy or anger in his eyes.

Jiang Yue was completely unaware that she was being watched by the person behind her. She still had an innocent and romantic smile on her face, genuinely amused by the other person's shy appearance.

Jiang Yue had never met a man who blushed so easily before, so it was understandable that she was curious about him.

She asked, "Why do you blush when you see me?"

Even though the other person was adept at handling students in class, he was quite clumsy when it came to matters of the heart, which he knew nothing about, and he could barely speak.

"Miss Jiang, you are very beautiful."

Jiang Yue tilted her head and smiled at him again: "I know."

She blinked, a faint smile spreading across her lips.

The other person seemed less nervous than before. After taking a deep breath, they gave a more detailed self-introduction: "I currently teach in the Physics Department at Peking University. My annual salary is in the seven figures. I own four houses, two of which are villas given to me by my grandmother. I also have some real estate and savings."

When he talked about these things, although he was still shy, he didn't stutter as much as before.

Jiang Yue understood what he meant; he was introducing himself, wanting to take things further with her.

She was a little distracted and hadn't thought of how to answer him yet.

A cool, clear voice came from above.

"You haven't returned my shirt." The man's face was as white as jade, his flawless features exquisite and handsome. His long eyelashes drooped, casting a small patch of dark blue-black shadow. His voice was steady, and his tone was as indifferent as could be: "I just happened to run into you, so I reminded you, lest you forget again."

Jiang Yue looked up at the sound and saw that the man had already walked up to her.

A group of people followed not far behind him.

There were both men and women present, but Jiang Yue only recognized Assistant Shen; she had never met the others before.

The originally relaxed atmosphere of the coffee shop seemed to change because of his arrival, becoming as cold, aloof, and unapproachable as he was.

Jiang Yue asked, puzzled, "What shirt of yours?"

Zhou Ji seemed not to hear her, her calm gaze fixed on the man sitting opposite her, as still as water. After a few seconds of silence, she asked, "And who is this?"

Cen Yue stood up and politely extended his hand to greet him, "Hello, my surname is Cen."

Zhou Ji glanced at the outstretched hand, pretended not to see it, and nodded slightly: "I am Zhou Ji."

He seemed to have other things to do, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, he said, "I won't bother you any longer, I'll go upstairs now."

Before leaving, the man suddenly stopped and casually reminded her again, "Remember the shirt."

Jiang Yue called out to him, "When did I take your shirt?"

"I didn't take it." The man said succinctly, then asked in a nonchalant tone, "Didn't you just wear it and leave?"

Jiang Yue had no idea how suggestive it was for a woman to wear a man's shirt; in her eyes, Zhou Ji's shirt and his suit jacket were the same.

To cover the body and keep warm.

A long time ago, she seemed to have worn Zhou Ji's shirt, a custom-made shirt, made of high-quality materials, which was very comfortable to wear against the skin.

But that happened a long time ago.

"No, you're mistaken," Jiang Yue said with certainty.

"Really?" Zhou Ji paused for a moment: "Go back and look for it in your bedroom."

Jiang Yue did not suspect Zhou Ji's ulterior motives. Zhou Ji was too frank, and Princess Jiang Yue had always been obtuse when it came to matters of love. It was only yesterday that she vaguely realized that she might have a little crush on this foxy man who seduced her every day.

"Okay." Jiang Yue couldn't help but mutter a complaint: "You stingy guy."

I have to remind her twice about a single piece of clothing.

She could afford to buy ten of them.

After Zhou Ji finished speaking, he seemed to ask casually, "Are you on a blind date?"

Jiang Yue: "That's right."

The man remained expressionless, his lips pressed tightly together, but he still asked with concern in a natural tone, "Was it all right?"

Jiang Yue thought about it carefully: "It went quite smoothly."

I didn't encounter any of the weird men I've been told about on blind dates online.

He's not ugly, nor is he a greasy, ordinary guy.

Overall, the experience was very good.

Zhou Ji glanced at Cen Yue, whose complexion was already not good, on the sofa chair without making a sound, and then looked at her who was still unaware. The gloom in his eyes was suddenly lifted, and the sudden burst of gloom just now also quietly dissipated a little.

Zhou Ji raised his hand and gently touched her face, a faint smile in his eyes, a smile that was fleeting yet filled with affection.

A cold and ruthless man probably only shows a little warmth to her.

Zhou Ji looked at her, the sunlight seemed to favor his handsome face, and his voice was low and husky: "Really? My sweetheart, think about it some more."