Chapter 15:

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Watching the tall, imposing figure stride towards the house, Jiang Zhi felt an urge to hit someone for the first time.
Not in the mood tonight?
Truly a businessman—twisting people’s words is definitely his forte.

“Not cold?” The man’s voice drifted back, utterly matter-of-fact. “Or are you planning to fall ill to gain my sympathy?”

Jiang Zhi snapped out of her thoughts. The man was as unfeeling as ever.
Recalling her earlier dream only solidified her conviction: the boy from back then was not this man standing before her.
She tightened the men’s suit jacket draped around her shoulders and followed him inside.
The jacket still carried his scent, his lingering warmth seeping into her skin.
Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She tried to reason with herself: Sure, the man’s words are poisonous, but his actions could be considered… somewhat gentlemanly.
Though this so-called gentlemanly behavior was likely just a preemptive strike against any further “seduction attempts” on her part.

As they entered the living room, Jiang Zhi saw Shang Chi pause, his gaze sweeping critically over the newly furnished space.
“Unacceptable.” His voice was icy as he delivered the verdict before turning and walking straight towards the master bedroom.

This was within Jiang Zhi’s expectations. She hadn’t anticipated glowing praise from him anyway.
Entering the master bedroom, she found Shang Chi already in the walk-in closet, shirtless. The defined lines of his muscles were fully exposed.
His discarded shirt lay haphazardly across the foot of the bed, partially covering the pajamas she’d changed out of that morning.
The image felt strangely intimate.
Jiang Zhi averted her eyes. Her clothes hung alongside his. She turned her back to him, intending to wait until he was dressed before grabbing her own clothes to change in the bathroom.
But before she could move, the now-dressed man appeared behind her. Cool, well-defined fingers lifted a strand of her damp hair. His tone dripped with mockery, “What now? Still not giving up?”
Jiang Zhi, “…”
He thought she was deliberately standing here, soaking wet, trying to seduce him?!
Jiang Zhi couldn’t take it anymore. She spun around to face him head-on and delivered her assessment, “President Shang, you’re quite the narcissist.”
Without waiting for a reaction, she strode past him into the walk-in closet, not sparing him a backward glance.
Shang Chi rubbed his fingertips together, the dampness from her hair still clinging to them. Slowly, he raised his hand to his nose. The subtle, feminine fragrance of her hair instantly filled his senses.
A dark glint flashed behind his glasses, his expression unreadable.

Jiang Zhi changed quickly into long sleeves and pants, determined to leave no room for accusations of seduction. She covered herself completely.
When she emerged from the bathroom, the man seated on the sofa lifted his gaze. One eyebrow quirked slightly, but he said nothing.

Half an hour later.
The black Rolls-Royce glided through a large, ornate wrought-iron gate and into an exquisite estate, coming to a stop before an imposing, traditional-style mansion.
The man smoothly opened his door and stepped out.
Jiang Zhi followed suit, pushing her door open and climbing out. Staring at the house, long-buried memories surfaced.
Her grandfather had brought her here once, before he passed away.
She must have been a freshman then, during the Spring Festival. Her grandfather had said he was taking her to meet an old friend.
It was that day she learned of the marriage contract between her and Shang Chi.
Her grandfather had once saved Shang Chi’s grandfather’s life. Originally, the contract was meant for her mother and Shang Chi’s father.
Later, unforeseen circumstances shifted it onto their generation.
Otherwise, neither of them might have been born into this arrangement.
She remembered Shang Chi had been away that day; they never actually met.
Frustrated, Old Master Shang had amended the contract terms:
If she was unwilling, there would be no coercion. Furthermore, the man could not marry any woman other than her before turning thirty.
Who could have predicted that returning here now, they would already be legally bound?

“Let’s go.” The low, detached voice came from above her.
Jiang Zhi snapped back to the present. She looked up, bewildered, at the large hand extended towards her.
Shang Chi looked down at her, his expression distant. “Do your duty. Don’t say anything unnecessary.”
Jiang Zhi understood. To please the old man, they needed to play the loving couple.
She hesitated for a moment, pressing her lips together, then placed her hand in his.
The moment her hand touched his, he grasped it firmly and led her towards the house.
Her small, soft hand was enveloped in his large, warm, dry one. The slight roughness of calluses on his palm brushed against her smooth skin.
Her hand looked luminously pale against his tanned skin, while her delicate fingers emphasized the latent strength in his grip.
Jiang Zhi stared at their joined hands, that strange flutter returning to her chest.
Shang Chi, taller and with a longer stride, walked ahead, pulling her along behind him.

As they crossed the threshold, a walnut walking cane came hurtling straight towards them!
“You unfilial brat! Trying to hurry me into my grave so you can inherit, is that it?!”
“Daring to bring a woman home right under my nose! See if I don’t beat you senseless today!”
Old Master Shang glared at Shang Chi, his face flushed with anger, his moustache practically quivering.
Shang Chi lifted a hand, effortlessly blocking the descending cane. His voice, though cold, held a trace of exasperation. “Grandfather. Look properly at who’s behind me.”
Old Master Shang had recognized his grandson’s car the moment it arrived. Hearing it stop, he’d rushed to the window.
Peering out, he’d seen Shang Chi openly holding a woman’s hand as they walked towards the house. Rage had burned in his chest!
This brat had spent the last six months spinning tales, promising he’d marry Jiang Zhi and bring her home!

And what happened? Half a year of empty promises, not a single glimpse of Jiang Zhi, and now he had the audacity to bring another woman home!
Hearing Shang Chi’s words, Old Master Shang craned his neck slightly, peering around his grandson.
Jiang Zhi stepped out from behind Shang Chi, offering a polite smile. “Grandfather Shang, it’s been a long time.”
Old Master Shang had only met Jiang Zhi once, six years ago. His memory of her was still frozen in the photo taken that day.
With Jiang Zhi partially hidden behind Shang Chi and his own failing eyesight, he’d only seen the silhouette of a woman.
Now, seeing her clearly, she indeed resembled the girl in the photo, but matured. The youthful softness had given way to a refined, striking beauty, blending cool elegance with a gentle grace.
Instantly, Old Master Shang lowered the cane. His stern expression melted into one of pure benevolence, transforming him completely.
A master of changing faces.
“So it is Zhizhi! It truly has been far too long!”
He paused, his rheumy eyes catching sight of their still-joined hands. They lit up with excitement, his voice trembling slightly. “Does this mean… you two are dating?”
Jiang Zhi froze, momentarily at a loss for how to respond. For her to blurt out they were already married felt awkward.
Fortunately, the man smoothly intervened, “Grandfather, perhaps we should sit down first.”
Old Master Shang snapped back to reality. Standing in the doorway wasn’t proper.
He immediately turned his warmth fully on Jiang Zhi. “Yes, yes! Zhizhi, come sit down!”
They gathered around the living room coffee table. The butler served them tea.
Shang Chi reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He pulled out two small red booklets and placed them open on the coffee table, his expression serious.
“We are not dating, Grandfather. We are legally married.”