Chapter 16:

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Old Master Shang stared at the photo of the couple inside the red marriage certificate booklets. His eyes instantly misted over.
He leaned forward, picked up one of the booklets, his hands trembling slightly. He murmured, “Good… this is very good.”
At least my feigned illness wasn’t in vain. Otherwise, this detached, passionless brat would have stayed a bachelor forever.
After a moment, a thought struck him. He looked up at Jiang Zhi, concern in his eyes. “Zhizhi… this certificate… Shang Chi didn’t use some underhanded trick to force you into this, did he?”
He knew his grandson’s temperament and methods all too well.
While he had pretended to be ill to pressure Shang Chi into pursuing Jiang Zhi, he never wanted his grandson to force her into marriage just to fulfill a promise to him.
Such a marriage wouldn’t be solid, nor was it his true wish.
Jiang Zhi paused, recalling the conversation before they registered the marriage. The man had indeed used her uncle’s company crisis to pressure her.
Beside her, the man who seemed casually indifferent suddenly tightened his grip on her hand, squeezing painfully hard—a silent warning not to betray their arrangement.
Jiang Zhi understood. She curved her lips into a smile. “No, Grandfather. I went willingly.”
Old Master Shang visibly relaxed. “That’s good, that’s good. If this brat ever bullies you, you tell me. I’ll deal with him.”
Jiang Zhi smiled and agreed.

Dinnertime arrived. They gathered around the dining table.
Old Master Shang sat at the head. Jiang Zhi and Shang Chi sat side by side on the opposite side.

Old Master Shang used serving chopsticks to place a large shrimp in Jiang Zhi’s bowl. “Zhizhi, look how thin you are! Eat more. Don’t be afraid of gaining weight. If this brat dares to dislike you for it, I’ll make him leave with nothing but the clothes on his back!”
As he spoke, he shot a fierce glare in Shang Chi’s direction.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhi finally understood the meaning behind Shang Chi’s earlier words: “My grandfather only recognizes you.”
The old man’s final threat didn’t sound like an empty one.
Jiang Zhi looked at the shrimp in her bowl, hesitated for a second, then picked it up with her fingers.
Just as she was about to peel it, a large, well-defined hand reached over. Shang Chi plucked the shrimp from her grasp and began peeling it with deliberate calm.
Old Master Shang watched, his heart lifting. Has the boy finally learned? Is he caring for his wife, peeling shrimp for her?
He was about to praise him when, in the next instant, he saw Shang Chi pop the perfectly peeled shrimp into his own mouth and eat it with elegant composure.
Old Master Shang was furious!
He rapped his knuckles sharply on the table. “You brat! If you want shrimp, get your own! Stealing your wife’s food, what kind of behavior is that?!”
Shang Chi lifted his gaze, briefly scanning Jiang Zhi. His voice was cool. “She’s allergic to shrimp.”
The words struck both Old Master Shang and Jiang Zhi like a physical blow. The former was stunned; the latter was utterly shocked.
That small shred of doubt Old Master Shang held—the fear Shang Chi had pressured Jiang Zhi—vanished completely at this gesture.
Old Master Shang cleared his throat awkwardly. “Zhizhi, forgive me, child. Grandfather didn’t know.”
Jiang Zhi quickly waved her hands. “It’s alright. It’s not as severe as before. One or two wouldn’t hurt…”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shang Chi cut in, his voice deep, serious, and utterly commanding. “Not even one or two.”
He picked up a piece of chicken thigh and placed it in her bowl. “Otherwise, you’re the one who suffers. Be good, alright?”
His profound gaze, magnified slightly by his glasses, bore into her. If Jiang Zhi hadn’t known this was an act for Old Master Shang’s benefit, she might almost have believed he genuinely cared for her.
She avoided his eyes, picked up the chicken thigh, and took a bite. She mumbled softly, “Understood.”
After finishing the chicken, Shang Chi continued placing various dishes into her bowl.
Fortunately, the things he chose were either dishes she loved or ones too far for her to reach easily.
Jiang Zhi didn’t overthink it and ate everything. It was only when she was about seventy percent full that she realized with a jolt: he was using his own chopsticks, not the serving ones!
Her chewing slowed to a stop. Her brows furrowed slightly. Isn’t this… an indirect kiss?
When Shang Chi reached over to place more food in her bowl again, Jiang Zhi raised her hand to block him. “I’m a bit full now, you…”
Before she could finish, she caught a sharp, warning look from him. She quickly dropped the formal address. “…you eat it yourself.”
Shang Chi withdrew his hand. A low “Hmm” was his only response.
A flicker of amusement touched the corner of his mouth. As a businessman, his powers of observation were naturally keener than most.
He hadn’t missed the way her eyes had lingered on his chopsticks for that split second before her refusal.
So she noticed.

Near the end of the meal, Old Master Shang addressed them both. “Grandfather hasn’t been this happy in a long time. Why don’t you both stay at the old residence tonight? Keep this old man company.”

The invitation, phrased like that, made refusal seem impolite.
Shang Chi wiped his lips with a napkin. “I have no objections.”
Jiang Zhi added, “We’ll do as you wish, Grandfather.”
For the rest of the evening, Old Master Shang kept Jiang Zhi engaged in conversation in the living room. Shang Chi sat nearby, working on files using his iPad.
Two hours slipped by unnoticed.
Shang Chi had finished his work, but Old Master Shang still seemed full of energy.
The old man took a packet of snacks from the butler and offered it to Jiang Zhi. “Zhizhi, try these. Imported from Germany. Delicious!”
Jiang Zhi had already eaten quite a bit. The old man’s enthusiasm was hard to refuse; she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He was, besides her uncle, one of the few people who treated her well now.
Fortunately, Shang Chi intervened. His voice was calm but firm. “Grandfather, the doctor said no staying up late.”
Old Master Shang glanced at the grandfather clock in the living room. It was already past ten.
When it came to matters of health, he did fear his grandson’s authority.
He reluctantly put the snacks down. “Alright, alright. Zhizhi, tell Gen Shu what you’d like for breakfast tomorrow. He’ll have the kitchen prepare it. This old man is off to bed now.”

Jiang Zhi breathed an inward sigh of relief and nodded. “I will, Grandfather. Please get some rest.”
Old Master Shang turned towards the bedrooms. As he passed Shang Chi, he shot him a pointed glare.
He hadn’t finished chatting yet!
A thought suddenly struck him. He had been monopolizing Jiang Zhi for over two hours. Was the boy jealous? Annoyed that his grandfather was hogging his wife?
Connecting the dots, the old man paused. He turned back to the couple. “Now, the old residence might be an older building, but the soundproofing is excellent.” He winked conspiratorially. “Feel free to… engage in activities without worry. Give me a great-grandson to hold soon!”
He paused, seeming to realize his slip, and tapped his own lips. “I mean, a great-granddaughter! Give me a great-granddaughter to hold soon!”
He and his late wife had a son. That son gave him grandsons. Seeing other families with their sweet, affectionate daughters or granddaughters filled him with envy.
Unlike his two grandsons—cold and distant as blocks of ice.
Jiang Zhi froze at his words.
Meanwhile, Shang Chi stood up from the sofa. He took Jiang Zhi’s hand firmly in his. A faint, enigmatic curve touched his lips as he met his grandfather’s expectant gaze.
“Alright,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “We’ll get right on making one for you.”