Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

The air in the main hall felt as if all the moisture had been sucked out, so dry that it made one's throat feel tight.

Su Tingwan stood there, tears still silently streaming down her face, but the stubborn fire in her eyes burned ever brighter. She stared at Lin Qingmian as if she wanted to burn a hole through her.

Madam Ji finally couldn't hold back any longer.

She stood up, walked to Su Tingwan's side, put her arm around her shoulder, pulled her closer to her, and then looked up at Ji Linzhou coldly: "Linzhou, you have disappointed me too much."

"Marriage is a big deal. How could you be so hasty? Don't you know what kind of family the Lin family is? How did they drive Hoshino away in the first place? And now they're marrying their daughter to you. What are they up to?"

"Mother," Ji Linzhou interrupted her, his voice calm but cold, "This is my own business."

"I am your mother!"

"You are my stepmother." Ji Linzhou's voice grew even colder: "My mother passed away many years ago."

Madam Ji's face instantly turned ashen.

Her lips moved slightly, her fingers clenching the handkerchief, but she ultimately said nothing more. She knew that Ji Linzhou had never acknowledged her as his stepmother, but being contradicted in front of so many people still made her lose face.

"Alright." Old Master Ji finally spoke again, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Linzhou, come to the study with me."

Ji Linzhou did not act immediately.

He glanced down at Lin Qingmian, released her hand, and whispered, "Wait for me here."

Lin Qingmian nodded.

Ji Linzhou followed Old Master Ji into the study. After the door closed, the main hall was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, Old Madam Ji gave Lin Qingmian a cold glance, pulled Su Tingwan around, and left. Su Tingwan was dragged along, looking back at Lin Qingmian's direction every few steps, her eyes filled with emotions as complex as a pot of boiling poison.

Ji Xingqing's second uncle and aunt also tactfully got up and left, leaving only Lin Qingmian and Ji Xingqing, who was still sitting in the corner, in the main hall.

Lin Qingmian sat down on the sofa, picked up the teacup in front of her, and took a sip.

The tea is cold.

Ji Xingqing finally jumped up from her chair, rushed over to Lin Qingmian in a few strides, plopped down next to her, and stared at her with bright, sparkling eyes: "Mianmian! You're actually my aunt!"

"You kept this from me for so long! A whole year! And you didn't mention it to me once!"

Lin Qingmian put down her teacup and looked at her with some helplessness: "I'm sorry, Xingqing. It was my fault."

"However... it was his request. He said he wanted to keep the marriage a secret and not tell anyone."

Ji Xingqing was stunned for a moment, then pouted: "My uncle is really... capable of anything."

"However!" She suddenly leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Tell me the truth, when did you fall in love with my uncle? Was it before you got married, or after you got married...?"

"No," Lin Qingmian interrupted her, her ears slightly red. "It was just... a contract marriage at first."

"Oh—a contract marriage." Ji Xingqing drawled, a sly glint in her eyes. "And now? Is it still a contract?"

Lin Qingmian paused for a moment.

She lowered her head, looking at her fingers holding the teacup, her fingertips gently rubbing the cool rim of the cup.

"Now..." she paused, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper to herself, "I can't really explain it."

Ji Xingqing stared at her profile for a few seconds, then gave a knowing smile.

She didn't press further, but instead patted Lin Qingmian's shoulder: "No matter what, you're my aunt now. If anyone in the Ji family dares to bully you in the future, just tell me, and I'll stand up for you!"

"Including Grandma?"

"..." Ji Xingqing choked for a moment, then awkwardly withdrew her hand: "Well... it depends on the situation."

Lin Qingmian was amused by her, and the tension in her heart dissipated considerably.

In the study, the conversation between Ji Linzhou and Old Master Ji was far from relaxed.

Grandpa Ji sat behind his mahogany desk, twirling two walnuts in his hands, his gaze fixed intently on Ji Linzhou, who stood by the window.

"Why did you marry that girl from the Lin family?" he asked, his voice low. "Was it to get revenge on Hoshino? Or to shut the media up?"

"Neither." Ji Linzhou turned around and looked at Old Master Ji: "I need a wife, and she just happens to be the right one."

"Appropriate?" Old Master Ji frowned. "That girl has been with Xingye for twenty years. Don't you find that awkward?"

"I don't think so." Ji Linzhou's voice was calm, his gaze frank. "Her affair with Ji Xingye is a thing of the past. I knew about it when I married her."

Grandpa Ji stared at him for a long time, then placed the walnuts on the table and sighed deeply.

"Linzhou, you are much more stubborn than your father," he said. "Since you have made your decision, I will not stop you."

"But you have to understand, she used to be Hoshino's person. If Hoshino can't get over this, the rest of the Ji family may not be able to either."

"I know," Ji Linzhou said. "I'll handle it."

Grandpa Ji didn't say anything more, but simply waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Ji Linzhou turned and walked out of the study. When he returned to the main hall, Lin Qingmian and Ji Xingqing were sitting on the sofa talking. The two were close together, with Ji Xingqing gesturing wildly and Lin Qingmian listening to her with a slight smile.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the osmanthus trees outside the window, dappling her hair and giving it a soft glow.

Ji Linzhou stood at the door of the study for a few seconds, then walked over.

"Let's go."

Lin Qingmian looked up, saw it was him, and stood up: "Finished talking?"

"Um."

Ji Xingqing also stood up, holding Lin Qingmian's hand reluctantly, "Mianmian, you're leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer?"

"Next time," Lin Qingmian said with a smile, squeezing her hand. "I'll treat you to a meal next time."

"It's a promise!"

When the two walked out of the Ji family's old house, it was already getting dark.

The osmanthus tree swayed gently in the evening breeze, scattering a shower of delicate petals. Lin Qingmian walked lightly on the pale yellow petals.

Ji Linzhou walked beside her, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly spoke: "Just now in the study, the old man asked me a question."

"What?"

"He asked me if I was marrying you to get revenge on Ji Xingye, or to shut the media up."

Lin Qingmian paused slightly: "What was your answer?"

"I said neither of those." Ji Linzhou stopped and turned to look at her. "I said I need a wife, and you happen to be the right one."

Lin Qingmian raised her head and met his gaze.

The evening breeze ruffled some of the stray hairs on her forehead; she raised a hand to tuck them behind her ear, and asked softly, "And now?"

"Now..." Ji Linzhou paused.

He watched her standing under the osmanthus tree, the twilight spreading a soft orange hue behind her. Her eyes were bright, like a lake ruffled by the wind.

"Now I think you might be more than just 'just right'."

Lin Qingmian's heart skipped a beat.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but found that she couldn't utter a single word.

Ji Linzhou merely gave a faint smile, then reached out and tucked a stray lock of her hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear.

"Let's go home."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the parking area.

Lin Qingmian stood there, watching his tall figure walk away step by step, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

She raised her hand to her chest, took a deep breath, and then quickly caught up with him.