The man's thin lips curled into a faint smile. "Mrs. Shen is right."
An Ruo helped him organize the documents nearby, her voice gentle. "It's still early for dinner. Take your time with work. I'll go check on Xiao Che."
"Alright."
Watching the woman leave, the smile on Shen Xiaoxing's face slowly faded.
His gaze returned to the documents in his hands. He was facing a very tricky situation now and needed to think carefully about how to deal with the restless Shen Yu.
"Xiao Che."
An Ruo knocked on An Che's door. As she pushed it open, she saw him reading a book—the complete set of *Harry Potter* that Shen Xiaoxing had bought for him.
"Have you done your practice problems? Still reading extracurricular books."
An Che looked up with a bright smile. "I've already memorized those problems inside and out. They're just a few types of questions repeated over and over—way too unchallenging."
"..."
"Not as engaging as the plot of *Harry Potter*."
Although An Che was frail and often ill, he had always excelled academically since childhood. She had never had to worry about his studies.
"Still, don't let your guard down. After the New Year, you'll be entering the intense countdown." An Ruo took the book away from him, her tone stern. "Go practice your oral English some more. I'll have someone call you when it's time to eat."
Before leaving, she specifically reminded him, "Don't slack off."
An Che always listened to her the most. He had already gotten up and gone to the study to open an English book. "Got it, nagging sister."
His personality had changed a lot now—not as timid and introverted as before. Though he was still a bit reserved, he was no longer as nervous and uneasy as when he first arrived. He even joked around with her now.
He had a good relationship with Shen Xiaoxing. The man had secretly guided An Che behind her back more than once. It seemed bringing him to the villa had been the right decision.
An Ruo returned to her room, planning to scroll through her phone to see if the online uproar had died down. Suddenly, an unfamiliar number called in.
She hesitated for a few seconds before answering, "Hello?"
The other side was silent for a moment. Just as An Ruo was about to hang up, a voice slowly spoke, "What, it's only been this long, and you've already forgotten me?"
That cynical voice...
An Ruo's scalp tingled instantly, and she gripped the phone tighter. "What do you want from me?"
"Heh, you conspired with that bastard to almost break my leg. What do you think I want from you?"
"You deserved it." An Ruo didn't want to waste words with him. "My relationship with him is great. If you ever dare to have those dirty thoughts again, Shen Xiaoxing will really take your legs off."
Hearing this, Shen Tingfeng, sitting in a wheelchair, looked at his leg in a cast, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"Don't talk tough too early. I gave you a chance, and you didn't take it. Starting today, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"There was never any affection between us. Do whatever you want."
"I'll make you crawl into my bed willingly." Shen Tingfeng coldly dropped these words and hung up, angrily throwing the phone to the ground.
An Ruo slowly lowered her hand. She had heard that the day after Shen Tingfeng was injured, Fang Yingxue went to Lanting Pavilion to complain to the old man. Since Shen Xiaoxing's eyes had recovered and he had just taken over the Shen Group again, the old man naturally doted on him. Fang Yingxue not only received no comfort but was instead scolded harshly.
Shen Tingfeng had suffered such a huge loss in silence, so naturally, he felt bitter inside. She could understand that, but if he dared to harm Xiao Che or anyone close to her, Shen Xiaoxing could hit him once, and he could do it again!
...
After dinner, An Ruo took a hot shower. Wiping her half-dry hair, she came out to find Han Chong also in the room.
On the coffee table in the sitting area was a row of open ring boxes, each containing dazzling silver rings in different styles.
The man waved his hand, smiling lightly to signal her over.
"What is this..." An Ruo's eyes widened in surprise as she scanned the row of rings, walking over in a daze.
Shen Xiaoxing took her small hand, habitually rubbing it a couple of times, his voice low and magnetic. "These were all custom-made to fit your ring finger. There are quite a few styles. Pick one you like and put it on."
"Why the sudden urge to have me choose a ring?"
An Ruo was dumbfounded. Having her pick one ring out of so many styles would make her dizzy.
"I originally wanted to give you a perfect and unforgettable proposal, but you don't want our marriage to be public. So after thinking it over, I decided we should wear wedding rings first."
The man reached out and pulled her onto his lap, his chin lightly resting on her shoulder as he breathed softly. "Pick one you like. We'll put the rings on each other in advance."
An Ruo felt ticklish and shrank her neck with a light laugh. "Why the sudden urge to wear wedding rings?"
"People say that only when a man puts a ring on a woman can he keep her by his side forever."
"Superstitious." An Ruo chuckled. "It's a ring, not handcuffs."
"As long as it keeps you locked by my side, I'll believe in superstition." The man urged her, "Come on, pick one."
The rings in the boxes were pairs. He wanted her to personally choose the one she liked, and then they would slip them onto each other's ring fingers.
An Ruo compared them back and forth, feeling they all looked the same, yet each had its own unique charm.
"These are all beautiful. Why don't you choose?"
The man kissed her cheek, smiling lightly. "Since Mrs. Shen can't decide, how about we keep all of them? We can switch to a different one every day, never repeating. What do you think?"
"...Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
The Shen family really was extravagant—changing wedding rings every day.
"Since I had them brought over anyway, these rings in this size are only for Mrs. Shen. They won't be sold to anyone else."
An Ruo noticed the logo on the bottom of the rings and turned her head slightly to look at him. "Jewelry from our company?"
"Doesn't it feel more prestigious to wear them?"
In truth, Shen Xiaoxing had wanted to save such a sacred ceremony for their wedding day, to put the ring on her finger in front of the priest and everyone. He had also thought about having a custom one made for her. But he realized this girl was too eye-catching out in the world, and many people didn't believe she was married—after all, she didn't wear a ring, and she hadn't even graduated yet. Who would believe it?
Maybe it was possessiveness at play. He decisively had Han Chong send over all the wedding rings in the women's sizes from the Blue Zephyr jewelry store.
These would do for now. Later, when he had time, he would personally design a unique one for her, so she wouldn't have to pick until her eyes went blurry.
An Ruo compared two and finally chose a simple, understated pair. "This one. It feels quite fresh."
"Isn't it too plain?"
"I think it's fine."
The man respected her decision and stole another kiss on her cheek. "Alright, whatever Mrs. Shen says."
He took out the women's ring, held her hand, and suddenly looked at her with deep affection, his voice low and magnetic. "Miss An, are you willing to marry the man in front of you?"
An Ruo laughed. "I've already married you..."
"Let's go through a simple formality."
So she wouldn't freeze up in a daze when they held the wedding later.
"I do." An Ruo openly admitted her feelings. "I do, for a lifetime."
Satisfied, the man slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed the corner of her mouth. They exchanged a smile that was enough to make anyone envious.
Han Chong, standing nearby, didn't know whether to stay or leave, so he quickly averted his gaze.
"Now it's your turn to ask me."
"I won't ask."