After contracting to have a child, the icy female CEO became addicted.

Wen Ling couldn't understand it. She turned her head to look at Jiang Ran, whose gaze was fixed on the pile of sand balls.

It seems that even that pile of sand balls looks better than her.

Her temper flared up instantly, and Wen Ling instinctively clenched her fists, her fingertips digging into her flesh. A sharp pain shot through her, and she bit her lip hard.

We can't force him.

However, the distance that has just been narrowed should not be severed so easily.

Having calmed down, Wen Ling decided to humbly ask, "Why?"

It was rare that she didn't lose her temper as she used to. Although Jiang Ran noticed that her lips were white from being clenched, and knew that she was forcibly suppressing her anger, at least her attitude was acceptable.

Jiang Ran patiently explained, "Because I don't even know if I'll ever fall in love with you again, yet you told me you're willing to wait for me forever. If I don't end up falling for you, wouldn't that be irresponsible of me?"

How could you not like me!

The moment Jiang Ran finished speaking, Wen Ling's voice rang out, several times louder than before!

The people nearby turned their heads to look, and in an instant, the two of them became the focus of the entire scene.

Jiang Ran's scalp immediately started to tingle!

Here we go again. We're all outside now; she won't do what she did before...

"sorry."

Before Jiang Ran could finish imagining what was happening, Wen Ling, who had just come to her senses, apologized. She raised her hand to adjust the brim of her hat and said somewhat awkwardly, "It's okay, just pretend you didn't hear me... please continue."

"...I've already said everything, what else is there to say?"

"..."

Looking at his face, Wen Ling's expression was complicated.

It was from this passage that she seemed to understand why Jiang Ran was so resistant to her.

Forcing a highly responsible person to do something they don't like, while still placing high hopes on them, is itself a form of moral blackmail.

Wen Ling suddenly realized that her affection, in the eyes of others, would probably be exciting and thrilling, but in Jiang Ran's eyes, this love was too heavy.

It is pressure.

She suddenly felt a little glad that she had asked the question without hesitation. It was only after Jiang Ran frankly explained things to her that she truly understood Jiang Ran's concerns.

The fact that he spoke out without hiding anything already makes him a very responsible person.

Wen Ling's eyes darkened, and she didn't press him any further. She simply raised her hand and placed it on the back of his hand, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's my own business that I like you. If you never like me in your entire life, I won't blame you, because this is the path I chose, and this is the price I have to pay for liking you."

"As long as you don't leave me, I've thought through the price, and I think I can accept it."

It doesn't matter if there's no love in the marriage.

Wen Ling knew very well that, apart from Jiang Ran, it would be difficult for her to fall in love with anyone else, and it would be difficult for her to relive these experiences with anyone else. The past year or so was a memory that belonged only to her and Jiang Ran.

Whether you love someone or not, it doesn't matter.

As long as he doesn't leave, as long as he can stay by her side like he is today, that's enough, it should be enough.

The main point of this conversation is that you can distinguish between them, and so can I.

The topics are separated.

She's not crazy; she's truly rational!

Jiang Ran was shocked by her words. He never expected that Wen Ling would think of this on her own.

He truly deserves to be called a genius.

It's easy to understand.

but......

"No, Sister Wen, don't you think that's making your love too humble?"

It was rare to see Wen Ling so lucid, so Jiang Ran couldn't help but say a few more words to her.

"No!"

Wen Ling shook her head and smiled, "I quite like this current arrangement. You push me around, and we come out to play and chat together..."

"Although I was very unhappy that you just rejected me and refused to have any physical contact with me, you also said that we should take it slow, and maybe you'll fall in love with me again in the future?"

"..."

Meeting her smiling eyes, the word "naive" suddenly popped into Jiang Ran's mind.

These two characters coincidentally match Wen Ling's name, indicating an overlap in their identities.

She naively fantasized that one day he would fall in love with her, and was willing to pay the price for this uncertain affection—that he might never reciprocate her feelings...

That's too difficult to pronounce.

Jiang Ran wasn't even sure if she would bite her tongue when she read this aloud.

He suddenly didn't know what to say.

In front of Wen Ling, Jiang Ran considered himself a seasoned player in matters of the heart, but even so, this ultimately dampened his enthusiasm.

He can reject Wen Ling, he can rebel, he can despise her, but what about sincerity?

"..."

This was the first time Wen Ling had ever seen Jiang Ran speechless in front of her.

He was even petrified, his body stiff, and his expression one of astonishment and disbelief.

Her intuition told her that what she had just said had indeed struck a chord with Jiang Ran.

Feeling encouraged, Wen Ling's eyes sparkled, and she said proactively, "Don't think too much about it. Just enjoy yourself while you're out. I won't force you to do anything anymore. When we get back, I'll have Lanlan prepare a room for you, and we..."

At this point, Wen Ling bit her tongue, and the hand she placed on Jiang Ran's hand clenched slightly. She composed herself, then gritted her teeth and continued, "We'll sleep in separate beds."

Separate, bed, sleep.

This is the first time in so many days that Wen Ling has to sleep in a separate bed from him.

Jiang Ran was already having a frantic brainstorming session.

What does that mean?!

No, how could it change so suddenly, so quickly?!

Wasn't she just that angry this morning?!

This is...

"Hello!"

Seeing him still lost in thought, Wen Ling smiled and patted his arm. "Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you want to sleep in a separate bed from me?!"

Tell me quickly, you don't want to!

Wen Ling was so nervous that her palms were sweating.

What change? The thought of sleeping in separate beds came to her in an instant. Seeing Jiang Ran stunned by her words, Wen Ling acted on instinct and blurted it out without thinking. She didn't really want to separate from him at all!

but......

"Sister, are you serious? We're going to sleep in separate beds, really?!"

Jiang Ran's eyes sparkled.

"..."

hateful!

It's been so long since he called her "sister." This intimate term of endearment was only used when she said she wanted to sleep in a separate bed from him!

Wen Ling wanted to slap herself right then and there. Why did she have to say so much?!

But looking at Jiang Ran's excited face and hearing her call her "sister" again, Wen Ling was honestly afraid that one day she would turn into the shrew in his heart again.

"real......"

Her eyes darkened, and her voice, though forced, was low and somewhat hoarse.

She nodded so firmly it couldn't be more genuine.

Thinking she had finally regained consciousness, Jiang Ran released the armrests of the wheelchair, grasped her right hand with both of hers, and said excitedly, "That's great, sis! I knew you'd figure it out!"

"Sister, can I use my phone?"