Candlelight flickered in the restaurant, and shadows danced on the faces of Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen. The surrounding flowers exuded a charming fragrance, complementing the warm atmosphere of the candles. Exquisite dishes were placed on the table, each of which was carefully selected by Shen Qingchen. From the appetizing appetizers to the hearty main courses, to the tempting desserts, all of them reflected his attentiveness to this evening.
Jiang Zhi gently lifted the wine glass. The red wine in it looked like a flowing ruby under the candlelight. She took a sip, and the mellowness of the red wine spread on the tip of her tongue. A faint sense of pleasure surged in her heart. She looked at Shen Qingchen across from her. His eyes were full of affection, as if she was the only one in the world.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" Shen Qingchen broke the silence first. His voice was low and magnetic, like a melodious movement in this quiet atmosphere.
Jiang Zhi nodded slightly, his thoughts drifting back to that serendipitous moment. "How could I not remember? My mind was completely focused on the investigation at the time, and I had no time to pay attention to the people around me. But then you suddenly appeared in my sight."
Shen Qingchen raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a gentle smile. "Actually, the first time I saw you, I felt that you had a unique aura that made me want to get closer."
"I was very cold to you at that time. I thought you would give up." Jiang Zhi said with a smile.
"If I had given up so easily, we wouldn't be where we are now." Shen Qingchen gently held Jiang Zhi's hand, his hand warm and strong. "Do you know? During those days when you ignored me, I thought every day about how to make you look at me more. When I sent flowers to you, I would pick the most beautiful ones and carefully consider the words on the card, hoping to impress you."
Jiang Zhi felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She thought of the bouquets she had put aside, and felt a surge of guilt. "Actually, every time I saw those flowers and cards, my heart would waver, but I didn't dare to let myself get emotional at the time."
"I know that you have always been thinking about Tang Junxi in your heart. You are a person who values friendship and loyalty. This is one of the reasons why I like you even more." There was no jealousy or dissatisfaction in Shen Qingchen's eyes, only understanding and tolerance.
Jiang Zhi's eyes were slightly moist. She didn't expect Shen Qingchen to understand her so well. "I was really miserable at that time. The thought of revenge almost occupied all my thoughts. I felt that if I started a new relationship, it would be a betrayal to Junxi."
Shen Qingchen gently wiped the tears from Jiang Zhi's eyes with her thumb. "I understand, so I'm willing to wait for you, until you slowly let go of the burden in your heart. And when you are in danger, I only think about protecting you, and I can't care about anything else. Just like that time when you were entangled by the gangsters, seeing you in trouble, my heart was in my throat, and I just wanted to drive those people away immediately."
"At that time you suddenly appeared like a hero. I have never felt that way before." Jiang Zhi still felt moved when he recalled the scene at that time.
"Since then, I have become more determined to protect you. I took you to the garden and saw your smile among the flowers. I thought it was the most beautiful picture I have ever seen." Shen Qingchen's eyes were filled with happy memories.
"Actually, I started to waver when we were in the garden. I was thinking, maybe I can try to give you a chance, and also give myself a chance." Jiang Zhi said softly.
"But then I rejected you. I was very conflicted."
"I know you're not fully ready yet. But every rejection didn't make me give up. Instead, I wanted you to know my true feelings. Later, when you fell ill, I had only one thought in my mind when I was taking care of you, which was that I hoped you would get better soon. Seeing how weak you were, I felt really distressed." Shen Qingchen clenched his hands tighter.
Jiang Zhi blushed. "When I saw you running around for me, I knew I had fallen in love with you. Your sincerity and care gradually melted the ice in my heart."
"When you finally accepted my feelings, I felt like I owned the whole world. Every moment of the day we started living together was so beautiful. When we cooked together, although we sometimes made a mess in the kitchen, the laughter and playfulness were the most precious memories." Shen Qingchen said with a smile.
"And when we watched movies together, we would argue endlessly about the plots in the movies. It's so funny when I think about it now." Jiang Zhi also laughed.
"That time when we encountered a thief, I saw him snatch your bag and I chased after him without thinking. I can't let you get hurt, even a little bit." A trace of determination flashed in Shen Qingchen's eyes.
"When you were hurt, I was really scared. I was afraid of losing you. At that moment, I truly realized how important you are in my heart." Jiang Zhi's voice trembled a little.
"But because of that time, our relationship became even deeper. We took care of each other and supported each other, and that feeling was really wonderful." Shen Qingchen said.
"Later, we encountered those troubles with Jiang Yao. She tried to destroy our relationship. I was really angry at the time. I couldn't let her succeed because our relationship was so hard-earned." Jiang Zhi frowned.
"I never believed what she said. I only believe in you. You are the one I have chosen. No matter what others say, I will not waver." Shen Qingchen looked at Jiang Zhi firmly.
"We overcame the company's crisis together. When facing competitors, we cooperated and encouraged each other. Although those days were hard, our relationship became indestructible in the process." Jiang Zhi's face was filled with pride.
"And when we traveled to the island, it was an incredibly wonderful time. On the island, every sunrise and sunset was like a gift from God to us. We strolled along the beach together, the sea breeze blowing gently, carrying the scent of the sea. We tasted local food and felt different cultures and customs." Shen Qingchen was immersed in memories.
"On the island, we have more aspirations for the future. We want to build a happy family, have our own children, and watch them grow up. We will work together for our dreams and fill our family with love and laughter." Jiang Zhi's eyes were full of longing.
"We also had some minor frictions. At that time, I felt like we had walked into a small alley and couldn't find a way out. But after we calmed down, we understood each other better through communication. This also made us understand that love is not just sweet, but also requires us to manage it with our heart and to tolerate each other's shortcomings." Shen Qingchen said with emotion.
"After going through all that, we cherish each other more. Every ordinary day has become extraordinarily beautiful because of you. Just like now, we are sitting here, enjoying this candlelight dinner, recalling every little moment of our lives, and I feel that I am the happiest person in the world." Jiang Zhi's eyes sparkled with happiness.
Shen Qingchen raised his glass. "Cheers to our past, our present, and our bright future."
Jiang Zhi also raised his glass and clinked it lightly with Shen Qingchen. "Cheers."
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