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

When the car entered the underground parking garage of Deep Blue Apartments, Lin Qingmian finally felt a real sense of "coming home".

She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned her head to watch Ji Linzhou turn off the engine, remove the key, and unbuckle her own seatbelt. The man's movements were fluid and natural, as if he had done it countless times. Yet, they had only actually been living together for a little over half a month.

She found herself quietly counting down the days.

It has been exactly twenty-one days since she called him that morning and said, "I have physiological needs."

Twenty-one days is enough for a person to form a new habit.

"What are you thinking about?" Ji Linzhou's voice came from beside him.

Lin Qingmian snapped out of her reverie and shook her head: "It's nothing, it just feels like today went by a bit too long."

"You don't need to worry about what's going on online." Ji Linzhou got out of the car and went around to the passenger side to open the door for her. "I've done everything I needed to."

"What about Su Tingwan..."

"She'll behave herself." Ji Linzhou's voice was indifferent, revealing no emotion. "I told her that if she continues to cause trouble, there's no point in her filming her next project."

Lin Qingmian was taken aback for a moment, then understood what he meant. He was using his career to pressure Su Tingwan—which was indeed the most effective threat to a new actress who had just returned to China and desperately needed resources and exposure.

She didn't say anything, but silently followed him into the elevator.

After returning home, Ji Linzhou went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, while Lin Qingmian curled up on the sofa and scrolled through her phone for a while.

The online discussion has indeed calmed down considerably. The trending topics have disappeared from the list, and most of the posts from those marketing accounts have been deleted, leaving only a few scattered discussions among passersby.

Just as she was about to put down her phone, Ji Xingqing's message popped up: [Mianmian!! My uncle was incredibly handsome today!! You wouldn't believe it, he posted a statement in the family group this morning saying that anyone who talks about you behind your back will be kicked out of the Ji family's businesses! My second aunt's face turned green! This is the first time in my life I've seen my uncle protect someone so fiercely!]

Lin Qingmian stared at the message several times, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips.

She looked up and glanced inside through the glass partition of the open kitchen.

Ji Linzhou was standing in front of the stove with his back to her, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, holding a spatula and stirring something. The warm yellow light from the stove shone on his back, clearly outlining his broad shoulders and smooth back.

She suddenly felt that this picture was more beautiful than any design drawing.

When dinner was ready, Ji Linzhou brought out a plate of sweet and sour fish and placed it on the table. He then turned back and brought out another plate of garlic greens and a bowl of tomato and egg soup.

The two sat facing each other eating, with the deep night outside the window and warm, cozy lights inside.

Lin Qingmian picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour.

"Ji Linzhou," she suddenly said.

"Um?"

When did you learn to cook fish?

Ji Linzhou paused for a moment as he picked up some food, seemingly recalling something: "About seven or eight years ago. When I first took over the company, I often worked overtime until midnight. All the restaurants outside were closed, so I learned to cook for myself."

"How long did it take you to learn and become like this?"

"I don't remember," he said. "It tasted terrible at first too."

Lin Qingmian, biting her chopsticks, tilted her head to look at him: "You're quite persistent. Most people would probably give up after failing once."

"When you're starving, you'll learn anything." Ji Linzhou looked up at her, a slight smile in his eyes. "Didn't you also learn to eat with your left hand?"

Lin Qingmian glanced down at the chopsticks in her left hand and couldn't help but laugh.

The two chatted casually, enjoying their meal in a relaxed manner. After finishing, Ji Linzhou went to wash the dishes, while Lin Qingmian sat on the sofa, opened her tablet, and began to refine her design sketches.

She drew for a while, then suddenly remembered something, looked up and called out towards the kitchen, "Ji Linzhou!"

"Um?"

"Um...we've made our marriage public, right?" She paused, then continued, "So...should we have a wedding or something?"

There was a two-second silence in the kitchen.

Then Ji Linzhou came out, his hands still covered in dish soap, and leaned against the kitchen doorframe, looking at her: "What do you want to do?"

"It's not that I want to," Lin Qingmian said, rubbing her nose, a little embarrassed. "It's just that... now that we've gone public, if we don't hold a wedding ceremony, people outside might start speculating. And what about the Lin family..."

She paused here and didn't continue.

She knew perfectly well what the Lin family's attitude was. Once Zhang Yuzhu and Lin Jianzhong found out she was marrying Ji Linzhou, they would definitely swarm around her like flies. If the wedding wasn't held, they would have plenty of reasons to cause her trouble.

Do you think it's necessary to do it?

"Hmm... I think it's a good idea to hold one." Lin Qingmian carefully chose her words: "It doesn't need to be big, just simple. The main thing is to shut up any gossip."

Ji Linzhou remained silent for a moment.

"Okay," he said. "I'll arrange it."

Lin Qingmian was taken aback: "You agreed?"

"Okay." Ji Linzhou turned and went back to the kitchen, his voice coming through half a wall: "What kind of wedding do you want? You can tell Fang Shiyang, and she'll plan it."

"I..." Lin Qingmian opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

She hadn't expected him to agree so readily.

She thought he would say things like "it's unnecessary" or "it's a waste of time." After all, marriage was just a transaction for him, and he probably wouldn't care about such a formality as a wedding.

But he agreed.

They agreed so readily, even offering to let Fang Shiyang plan it.

Lin Qingmian lowered her head, staring at the unfinished dress on the tablet screen, and her heart began to beat faster again.

She heard the sound of the faucet being turned off in the kitchen, followed by footsteps approaching.

Ji Linzhou walked to her side, glanced down at the design on her tablet, and lingered for a few seconds on the lines in the hues of the sunset.

"This dress," he pointed to the unfinished gown on the screen, "is it for the wedding?"

"Huh?" Lin Qingmian was taken aback for a moment, then realized, "You mean... I'll wear a dress I designed myself for my wedding?"

"no?"

"It's not impossible..." She looked down at the half-finished product and suddenly thought the idea seemed pretty good: "But it's not finished yet, and I don't know how it will turn out..."

"Once you finish drawing it, have Fang Shiyang arrange for a factory to make it."

Ji Linzhou's tone was very calm, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary: "Your design is suitable for any occasion."