Chapter 3, Chapter Three: I Don't Understand Romance

The caller was Sheng Minyang. There's no situation more awkward than this, making it easy for people to misunderstand.

Xia Li was afraid that Ji Ling would misunderstand, so she was so frightened that she started to stutter. She quickly turned off the speakerphone and silently covered the receiver with her little finger, trying to stop Sheng Minyang from continuing to speak.

But the truth was quite the opposite. Sheng Minyang's voice came again as she moved: "Why aren't you saying anything? I saw you just went up to the top floor. I'm coming over now?"

It seems to be getting worse.

Xia Li was momentarily uneasy and secretly glanced at Ji Ling. Fortunately, Ji Ling was still admiring the photos and didn't give her any attention, which reassured her. She thought that perhaps she was overthinking it, and then she righteously stopped Sheng Minyang: "No need... Is there something wrong?"

Sheng Mingyang wouldn't listen and insisted on coming to find her: "After the exhibition closes, I'll take you home. Don't we always go together? Why are you being so polite with me?"

After a moment of silence, Xia Li didn't know how to answer. She glanced at Ji Ling again, and thankfully he still didn't react, so she breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Sheng Mingyang sensed something was wrong and asked anxiously, "Xia Li, something's wrong. What happened?"

Xia Li swallowed hard, thought of a reasonably plausible excuse, and replied guiltily, "No, I was too tired today, so I took a taxi and left. I just got home. I'm really sorry."

Before she could finish her apology, Sheng Mingyang's hearty laughter came through the receiver: "You should have said so earlier. Looks like there's no chance this time. Wait for me next time, give me a chance to be attentive, okay?"

Everything is ambiguous.

Xia Li considers herself straightforward and not interested in romance, but at this moment, she can keenly sense the transgression in Sheng Minyang's words, which is definitely not between ordinary friends.

Sheng Minyang is always like this; sometimes he is very gentlemanly and polite, and sometimes he says things that are easy to misunderstand.

She lowered her eyes, her heart pounding for some reason, but the fluttering sensation didn't come from Sheng Minyang, but from the man she glanced at out of the corner of her eye.

The man's facial expression remained largely unchanged, showing no emotional fluctuation; he remained consistently cold.

He stood there, looking like a stranger and not to be approached, without leaving.

Xia Li lowered her head, clenched her hands, remained silent for a moment, hastily agreed to Sheng Minyang's request, and hung up the phone.

After all, she was engaged to Ji Ling. Although Ji Ling seemed indifferent, out of respect for the contract, she still earnestly explained, "I have no extramarital affair."

Very straightforward.

Since receiving the call, Ji Ling only glanced back at her once, without saying a word, his lips pressed tightly together, before turning his gaze away indifferently.

Xia Li was expecting a response from him, but she didn't get one. Feeling ignored, she was annoyed. She mischievously raised her voice slightly and solemnly shouted to Ji Ling, "Ji Ling, I am not having an extramarital affair!"

"What does it have to do with me that you don't have an extramarital affair?"

Xia Li was surprised, and gave a bitter smile.

The setting sun shone through the window, landing on Ji Ling and making his face exceptionally clear, revealing a calm and serene depth in his dark, deep green eyes.

But where Xia Li couldn't see, Ji Ling's other hand was behind his side, his knuckles tightly intertwined, silently pinching out red marks.

In the days that followed, after returning home from the photography exhibition, she and Ji Ling lost contact again, and their chat history remained at the point where they had agreed to meet at the Haiyue Restaurant.

Wednesday arrived quickly, the day we were supposed to meet.

Xia Li hesitated whether or not to go.

She had originally planned to go, but a few days ago she unexpectedly met Ji Ling and learned that the wedding date was written in the contract. After Xia Qingqing sent the contract, Xia Li took the time to carefully read it from beginning to end before it was handed over and locked. All the precautions before and after the wedding were clearly marked.

There was a very strange rule: it would not be made public for a year. Xia Li was very puzzled about the specifics of this rule, but she only hesitated for a few seconds before giving up.

If I go to Haiyue, I won't have much to talk about with Ji Ling.

If she doesn't go... she didn't go to the time Ji Ling asked her out eight years ago because of a cold war, and it seems even worse not to go.

With an hour to go before their agreed meeting time, Xia Li suddenly got out of bed, quickly tidied herself up, and cheered herself up, deciding to pretend not to care no matter what Ji Ling did or asked.

She took a taxi and arrived. After getting out of the car, she checked the time and realized she had five minutes left. Luckily, she wasn't late. After entering the room, she was led to her table by the receptionist.

Ji Ling had arrived ahead of time and was standing with his back to the floor-to-ceiling window. His back was straight, and as he turned around, his steps were slow and steady. He glanced at the time on his watch, and his every move exuded nobility.

Before Xia Li could even exchange pleasantries, he heard him say coldly, "You're one minute and thirty-five seconds late."

Even down to the second, Xia Li lowered her head, her cold hands clutching the hem of her clothes. She had spent quite a while in the elevator and was indeed late. She didn't know how to respond, so after thinking for a moment, she casually said, "Sorry, it was rush hour and there was a traffic jam on the way."

Ji Ling pursed his lips, looked down at her, and said coldly, "I know everything about Lin City better than you do."

He knew everything about her: where she was, what she did, who was with her, and their relationship.

What she thought were chance encounters were actually premeditated by him.

Xia Li was stunned and stood there motionless for a long time.

At this moment, Ji Ling glanced over out of the corner of his eye and spoke in a threatening tone: "Sit down, what? Trying to stand me up again?"

Seating at Haiyue requires advance reservations, as do meals and desserts. To ensure the freshness and quality of the ingredients, reservations are generally made the night before or even earlier and given to the staff. Orders can also be placed on the spot, but the menu offers a limited selection.

The waiter was explaining things to me, but I was eating the meal absentmindedly.

Xia Li was in low spirits and wanted to finish quickly, so she asked Ji Ling, "Did you ask me to come over for something?"

Ji Ling looked up and replied, seemingly casually: "It's about the marriage."

The answer was very vague. Xia Li knew, of course, that it was about marriage. They had nothing to talk about, so she explained, "On the day of the photography exhibition, I looked at the contract after I got home. The precautions were all explained there. Is there anything else I need to add?"

Ji Ling paused, silently looked up, nodded her chin, and said to her, "Let's talk after we finish eating."

We're not here to eat...

She picked up her sparkling water, bit the glass straw, shrugged, and gazed out the window.

It was the most brilliant moment of the sunset, and as the sea and sky merged into one, it seemed as if she and Ji Ling were also blended into the scenery, becoming part of the most beautiful moment.

Ji Ling, in particular, was particularly striking. The shadow cast by the sidelight on his left cheek highlighted his high nose bridge and deep-set eyes. Xia Li couldn't tell whether she was looking at the scenery or at the people in the scenery.

Just then, Ji Ling spoke up: "Aren't you going to eat?"

Xia Li shook her head: "I'm not hungry."

So Ji Ling took a couple of bites and then stopped.

Let's go.

Xia Li was still in shock when she turned her gaze to him, watching him get up.

This person has absolutely no sense of romance. The sun has just set, and they're already leaving. Perhaps the view would be even more beautiful in the evening. What a waste of such a great spot.

She didn't quite understand Ji Ling's meaning, so she asked, "Shall we go?"

"leave."

Her fingers, which were resting on the edge of the table, paused. She raised her elbow and pointed at herself: "Together?"

Ji Ling closed his eyes and sighed, "Then don't leave, stay here tonight."

Xia Li shook her head slightly: "Where to?"

Ji Ling: "My home."

She was even more confused: "Weren't we talking about the contract?"

"Hmm. Didn't you say that everything in the contract is pretty much the same? Then why bother discussing it? My time is precious."

"Then why would I go to your house?"

Ji Ling: "Let's talk about marriage."

Does it make a difference?

Xia Li was shocked: "Isn't that inappropriate? Uncle Ji and Auntie..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Ling interrupted him.

Ji Ling, aroused by the unwitting ambiguity in her words, responded with some annoyance, "What are you thinking?"

Xia Li was completely unaware: "Where are you thinking about going?"

Ji Ling, sparing with words, simply said: "Come to my house."

Xia Li was speechless: "Aren't your uncle and aunt home?"

Ji Ling was speechless: "I don't live with them."

He then added, "You won't be living there anymore. Also, you can start calling me 'uncle' and 'aunt' from now on."

Xia Li responded, "Mmm..."

But before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a phone call.

The phone rang at an inopportune moment. Ji Ling pretended not to care and glanced at it sideways. The two big words "Senior" were like thorns, deeply piercing his eyes.

Xia Li glanced at the screen, then lowered her eyes and calmly took the phone off the table, hanging up the call, wanting to continue her conversation with Ji Ling.

Before I could even speak, the phone rang again. The default ringtone sounded particularly jarring in the small space, and the other end showed no sign of hanging up.

Ji Ling's expression darkened further, making no attempt to hide it. He stared coldly at him, raising an eyebrow as he said, "Call it."

Xia Li frowned, feeling extremely embarrassed. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and press the answer button, then quietly turned off the default speakerphone.

Before senior Sheng Mingyang could even greet him, Ji Ling's voice drifted over.

"Come to my house to try on wedding dresses."

"We'll wear it when we get married."

After speaking, the corners of his lips slightly lifted, but only for a moment, before he changed back to a nonchalant expression.

Xia Li froze, subconsciously pressing the hang-up button. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked up, her dark eyes shining with surprise. Her heart was filled with trepidation and unease.

After so many years apart, his relationship with Ji Ling is no longer what it used to be. There's absolutely no need for the prelude of trying on wedding dresses. What was he trying to do by saying that? Was he trying to embarrass her in front of Sheng Minyang?

She silently prayed that Sheng Mingyang hadn't heard her.

The news of Ke Shengming popped up.

"Xia Li, who are you with?"