Chapter 70: From Beginning To End – The Betrothal Gifts 

Jiang Qi officially visited the Zhi family on the day of the First Frost.  

By late October, Lin Lan was caught in a continuous spell of drizzling rain, the kind that left a persistent chill in the air. After two months of recuperating at home, Zhi Qi’s once firmly established routine of waking up at 7:30 had completely fallen apart. These days, she was heavily prone to sleeping in.

Feeling a slight chill, she wrapped herself more tightly in her thin quilt.

Her face nuzzled unconsciously against the silk pillowcase as she drifted in deep, sweet sleep.

The next moment, two sharp knocks sounded at her bedroom door. Frowning, Zhi Qi ignored it and tried to continue sleeping.

Then, with a soft thud, the door was pushed open. Mei Ran’s hurried, flustered voice followed: “Get up quickly! Jiang Qi is at our house!”

…

Jiang Qi?

Zhi Qi’s eyes fluttered open drowsily, her mind pulling itself out of its half-awake state.

With a sudden jolt, the girl sat upright. The strap of her nightgown slipped down with the movement, revealing a shoulder as pale and delicate as early winter snow.

“Mom,” she mumbled, still disoriented, “are you teasing me?”

How could Jiang Qi just show up so suddenly at her house?

Besides, they had been on a video call via WeChat just last night, and the boy hadn’t mentioned anything about visiting today.

Mei Ran looked at her dazed and confused daughter, equal parts exasperated and amused. She walked over and gently tapped her on the head.

“Why would I lie to you? He’s sitting downstairs right now. Your dad and brother are both down there with him, and he brought a whole bunch of things… Anyway, hurry up and come down.” 

From Mei Ran’s vague and somewhat awkward tone, Zhi Qi seemed to realize something. Her sleepy eyes gradually brightened.

After Mei Ran left, the girl couldn’t help but smile. She picked up her phone and sent Jiang Qi a WeChat message: “Are you here to propose?”

She guessed Jiang Qi must have made it all very formal.

Otherwise, Mei Ran’s expression wouldn’t have been so peculiar just now.  

—But the boy wouldn’t receive the girl’s “bold” guess.  

Jiang Qi was sitting upright in the Zhis’ living room, every movement rehearsed countless times in his mind to ensure utmost propriety. There was no way he would do something as impolite as checking his phone. Zhi Qi’s message was sent into the void.

Not that she minded, though. After casually teasing the boy with that message, she quickly got up to change her clothes and put on some makeup.

She hadn’t overlooked Mei Ran’s earlier remark about “making yourself look pretty.” She chose an early autumn haute couture outfit that had been delivered a while ago—a khaki wool knit dress that hugged her slender, well-proportioned figure, revealing only a small section of her delicate, lotus-root-like calves. She slipped on a pair of fluffy slippers.

As for makeup, Zhi Qi had never been particularly fond of wearing much.  

After applying a light base, she simply filled in her eyebrows and carefully applied a milk-tea-colored lip gloss that made her lips look soft and dewy.

Once she was ready, she opened her door and headed downstairs.

From the staircase, she could see Jiang Qi’s straight, upright posture. He sat on the side of the sofa with his back to her, poised and formal—while across from him, Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin were also sitting stiffly, clearly somewhat awkward.

Of everyone in the living room, the most relaxed was actually Zhi Yu.

He lounged lazily in an armchair, idly scrolling through his phone with downcast eyes. 

Zhi Qi’s leg had mostly healed by now. She hurried over, leaned on Jiang Qi’s shoulder from behind, and whispered softly, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”  

It had been a while since he’d heard the girl’s gentle, intimate whispers. Jiang Qi paused for a moment, then stood up to let her sit, and the two of them settled side by side.  

… 

“Xiao Jiang,” Zhi Minglin finally spoke up. He glanced at the pile of luxury items by the door and asked hesitantly, “What brings you here today?” 

In truth, he had already asked this question once before, and Jiang Qi’s response had been, “I’m here specifically to visit Uncle and Aunt.” Now, with Zhi Qi present, Zhi Minglin asked again, clearly expecting a more genuine answer.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Qi reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a thin card. 

Under everyone’s stunned gazes, he placed the card on the coffee table.

“There’s one million in this card. I’d like to use it as a betrothal gift…” Jiang Qi took a deep breath, met Zhi Minglin’s eyes directly, and said with unwavering determination, “to marry Qiqi.”

He didn’t understand the intricacies of tradition—all he knew was that as soon as he signed the contract for his new film and company and received the payment, the first thing he wanted to do was this.

In the dead silence that followed, Jiang Qi added, “I know it’s not enough. I just really want to marry her. I’ll make up for the rest later…” 

“Jiang Qi,” Zhi Qi’s face flushed bright red as she quickly grabbed his hand and whispered urgently, “stop talking.”

Her parents’ faces had turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Even though she had been somewhat prepared, she hadn’t expected Jiang Qi to be so blunt and direct—almost brutally straightforward.

Zhi Minglin, a government official, was a man of considerable refinement, but even he found himself at a rare loss for words.

True, their family was not in need of money, but it had to be admitted that the “betrothal gift” Jiang Qi offered was generous—enough to convince them that Zhi Qi would have a comfortable life with him. It was just that… damn it, they had no preparation at all!

Suppressing his anger, Zhi Minglin said politely, “Xiao Jiang, this is something our family needs to discuss.”

Then, remembering how Jiang Qi had stayed by Zhi Qi’s side in the hospital, disregarding everything else, he quickly added, “Internally.”

This was a clear hint for him to leave.

Jiang Qi smiled calmly, stood up, and took his leave.

“Dad, Mom, Brother, you discuss it first,” Zhi Qi said, rising to her feet with a smile. “I’ll see him out.”

It had been quite some time since they last saw each other, and she missed him terribly.

The moment they stepped out the door of the Zhi family’s standalone house, Jiang Qi bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

“Whoa!” Zhi Qi gasped in surprise, then couldn’t help but laugh. “My foot is fine now.”

She didn’t need Jiang Qi’s constant “princess carry service” anymore. She wiggled her legs dangling in his arms, signaling that she could walk on her own.

“Be good,” Jiang Qi’s cool voice was slightly hoarse, his light-colored eyes fixed on her like smoldering embers. “Let me carry you.”

… 

Well, alright then. It was just… a little embarrassing.

Zhi Qi’s fair cheeks flushed pink. After a moment’s thought, she reached out and covered the young man’s face with both hands.

Although their neighborhood consisted of standalone houses and was unlikely to have paparazzi, Jiang Qi was still too conspicuous. She ought to help “cover” him a bit.

Jiang Qi understood her intention and let her do as she pleased, though he couldn’t suppress a low chuckle. The warmth of his breath against her palms made her shiver with a ticklish sensation.

He carried her all the way to the parking lot and settled her into the passenger seat. As the car door closed with a soft thud, Zhi Qi’s question—”Is this car provided by your company?”—never made it out of her mouth. Instead, an impatient man cupped her chin and pressed her against the seatback.

Jiang Qi captured her lips, his tongue delving in, instantly turning all her thoughts into mush.

Perhaps because they had been apart for so long, Jiang Qi’s energy was noticeably restless and urgent.

He kissed her with a desperate hunger, as if trying to prove something, his intensity making her lower lip ache. Only when her delicate hands wrapped around his shoulders and gently patted did he gradually calm down.

Then, he began kissing her carefully, one tender press after another, as if cherishing a priceless treasure.

The underground parking garage was dim and shadowy, the silence inside the car broken only by their mingled, intimate breaths. It wasn’t until Zhi Qi felt her knit dress slowly being pushed up, her bare legs meeting the cool air, that she snapped back to reality.

“No,” she whispered shyly, nibbling Jiang Qi’s ear in the darkness. “I have to go back home.”

The situation was different now compared to before. They couldn’t just indulge recklessly anytime they wanted. If she returned home late with disheveled clothes, there was no telling how Mei Ran would interrogate her.

Jiang Qi understood this too. He rested his forehead against her shoulder, seemingly trying to calm his restless emotions.

After a long moment, he took a deep breath and lifted his head. Then, with gentlemanly care, he straightened Zhi Qi’s rumpled clothes. His slender fingers brushed against the curve of her rising and falling chest, pausing noticeably for a moment.

They were both at an age of burning passion. After months of abstinence following their first taste of intimacy, seeing the vibrant girl lively and right before him… He truly wanted to sweep Zhi Qi up, carry her home, and have his way with her without a second thought.

To satisfy his hunger, to quench his thirst—any way he desired. Just the thought alone made his blood surge like a rushing torrent. 

But Zhi Qi’s soft, delicate voice brought him back to reality—now was not the time. 

In her parents’ eyes, he was still a figure “under observation.”  

Yet, he missed her so terribly. 

“Qiqi,” Jiang Qi wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder, his voice barely a whisper. “When will you come back to me?”

Zhi Qi pressed her lips together, smiling. “When I return to classes.”

It really wouldn’t be much longer.

Jiang Qi closed his eyes and held her even tighter.

Like every midnight when he lay awake alone, restless and struggling to fall asleep, only to dream of the girl’s graceful, enchanting figure. He knew it was Zhi Qi, and he couldn’t help but hold her tightly in his dreams. The tighter he clung, the greater the emptiness upon waking.

But no matter what, he had taken this step today. 

“Qiqi,” the young man repeated, “I will marry you. I will make it happen.”

“Mm, I know.” Zhi Qi responded softly. After a moment’s thought, she leaned close to his ear and whispered something, her expression both obedient and shy.

Jiang Qi looked up in surprise. In the dim light filtering through the car window, a stunned glimmer flashed in his eyes.

He hadn’t misheard.

What the girl had just said was…

‘If by next spring, my parents still don’t agree…’

‘I’ll have no choice but to steal the household register.’

After all, parents wouldn’t truly break their child’s legs.

Relying on being the “beloved of the family,” Zhi Qi spoke with self-indulgent confidence, only wanting to pamper the boy a little first.

What she didn’t know was that after she said those words, spring had already arrived in Jiang Qi’s heart.  

Blossoms blanketed the mountains and fields, blooming everywhere.

They were both at that age when blood ran hot.

After tasting the forbidden once, then suddenly abstaining for months, now seeing the lively young girl bouncing before his eyes… Jiang Qi truly wanted to throw all reason aside, carry Zhi Qi home, and make her his, hard and deep.

To sate his hunger, to quench his thirst—any way he wanted. Just thinking about it made his veins sing like rushing streams over mountains.

But then Zhi Qi’s soft, sweet voice snapped him awake—not yet.

Right now, in her parents’ eyes, he was still just someone “under observation.”

Even so, he wanted her desperately.

“Qiqi.” Jiang Qi slid one arm around her shoulders, his voice so low it was nearly inaudible. “When will you come back?”

Zhi Qi curved her lips into a smile. “When I return for classes.”

It wouldn’t be long, actually.

Jiang Qi closed his eyes, holding her even tighter.

Just like every sleepless midnight when he was alone at home—restless, finally drifting off only to dream of her—her graceful figure, unmistakably hers. And in the dream he would crush her tightly against him, never letting go. The tighter he held in the dream, the greater the emptiness when he woke.

But no matter what, today he had taken this step forward.

“Qiqi.” The boy repeated the same words: “I’ll marry you. I will make it happen.”

“Mm, I know.” Zhi Qi answered softly. After a pause, she leaned closer, whispered something in his ear—obedient, shy.

Jiang Qi lifted his head in surprise.

In the dim light reflected through the car window, a clear flicker of astonishment flashed across the boy’s eyes.

He hadn’t misheard.

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