Night Fire Lingering

"You..." Lou Qi's gaze changed instantly, as if countless complex emotions flowed through it, eventually turning into surprise and disbelief.

He grasped Jiang Xing's hands and asked softly, as if afraid of disturbing something: "What did you say?"

Jiang Xing wore a regretful expression, as if to say, "Oh well, if you didn't hear me, then forget it."

Lou Qi wanted to laugh helplessly, but before he could laugh, his body became even more honest, and he cupped Jiang Xing's face and kissed him, pulling him tightly into his arms.

"Oh, so you heard it." Jiang Xing chuckled.

Lou Qi kissed Jiang Xing's cheek again, "Baby, you really are... How can you be so good? Hmm? How can you be so good?"

Jiang Xing didn't think she was anything special.

She told the truth: "Lou Qi, you should know that if my parents hadn't had that accident, my original plan was to stay at school. I don't want to lie to you."

This choice, in its origin and essence, is also self-serving.

"Little PhD, are all researchers this honest?" Lou Qi was both amused and exasperated. He personally instructed her, "You should tell me that you did all this for me, so that I would be deeply moved and even more devoted to you."

Jiang Xing tilted her head and chuckled: "Aren't you completely devoted to me now?"

What others might see as a potentially disastrous question between lovers, even carrying a hint of a girlfriend warning her boyfriend, was, to Lou Qi, a sweet nothing—she understood his feelings, she saw his sincerity!

"Yes! Of course!" Lou Qi replied without hesitation.

For the first time, Jiang Xing found Lou Qi to be somewhat adorable at times.

“However, applying for a teaching position is not guaranteed to be successful. I’ve inquired and the competition is fierce,” Jiang Xing said. “Fortunately, there are many universities in Beijing, so I can apply to other schools.”

However, other schools are naturally not as well-known as Beijing University, a top-tier university.

"Unsuccessful?" Lou Qi reacted a bit strongly. "Your school's teachers aren't blind. With your talent, who else would they choose?"

"..." Jiang Xing choked for a moment, trying to reason with this academic idiot, "This year there are quite a few PhDs who have returned from Ivy League universities abroad, and they are all very outstanding."

Generally speaking, PhDs from overseas are more sought after than those from domestic universities. Fortunately, Dr. Jiang Xing had exchange student experience and was a direct descendant of a student from Beijing University, giving him an advantage.

Lou Qi didn't take it seriously.

He doesn't understand academics.

But he understands economics!

Don't law schools need endowments and donations?

That must be impossible!

Perhaps because he was so happy, Lou Qi was exceptionally excited that night. When they came a second time, Jiang Xing reminded him that they both had to go to work the next day, but Lou Qi shamelessly coaxed her to come again.

Jiang Xing could even sense his unusual joy; his eyes were sparkling as he carried her to the bath.

"You... are you that happy?" Jiang Xing found it somewhat amusing.

"Of course." Lou Qi gently wiped her body, and couldn't help but kiss her shoulder. "Baby, I finally feel like I have a chance."

What opportunities are there?

"The chance to marry you."

Before this, Lou Qi thought that Jiang Xing's reconciliation with him was more or less due to his persistent pursuit, and even more so because he had saved her from Ying Kaian.

“Ah Xing, people are just never satisfied. I used to think that even if you didn’t love me, it was already good enough that you were willing to be with me.” Lou Qi’s eyes were bright. “But now, I want more.”