Night Fire Lingering

Cullinan.

"She said that?" Lou Qi couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth when he heard Gao Zhu relay the message from the old house's housekeeper.

Assistant Gao nodded: "Yes, I'm afraid they didn't expect Miss Jiang to be so quick-witted and protective of you."

Lou Qi unconsciously began to imagine Jiang Xing's appearance, a smile flashing in his eyes.

As long as I didn't suffer any losses.

But... when she heard others say that he had an ambiguous relationship with other women, wasn't she jealous at all? Was she really that easygoing?

Or is it that... you still don't care about him?

-

The family banquet went very smoothly. Lou Qi was already the head of the family. The others had failed to sow discord before Lou Qi arrived and had been humiliated by Jiang Xing. After Lou Qi's arrival, they dared not make any small moves and were all very cautious.

"What did we talk about before I came?" Lou Qi asked Jiang Xing suddenly, placing a shrimp on her plate.

Jiang Xing was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously looked at the illegitimate children.

The illegitimate children immediately stopped eating, their breathing quickened, some staring at the table without daring to look up, others looking at Jiang Xing fearfully, afraid that Jiang Xing would whisper in their mouths.

Jiang Xing smiled and said, "We didn't talk about anything special."

Lou Qi glanced at everyone seemingly casually, then asked, "Were you bullied?"

Jiang Xing realized that Lou Qi was deliberately trying to provoke him, obviously because he had heard some news.

She didn't answer immediately, and the atmosphere in the dining room suddenly became heavy.

Suddenly, someone muttered, "Who would dare to bully her?"

"Lou Yue, what did you say?" Lou Qi, with his sharp ears and eyes, instantly caught the young girl at the next table who was speaking softly.

Jiang Xing glanced sideways; it was Lou Qi's uncle's daughter, who had a very good relationship with his illegitimate children.

Lou Yue dared not utter a sound, attempting to bluff her way out, but Lou Qi's gaze and the surrounding silence exerted a tangible pressure, forcing her to finally speak: "I... I say that my sister-in-law is virtuous and talented, and a perfect match for you!"

Jiang Xing: "..."

Lou Qi was amused by his stupid and cowardly younger sister, but after hearing her praise Jiang Xing and say that it resonated with him, he mercifully let her go.

The meal turned out to be a close call.

Perhaps because their daughter had offended Jiang Xing, her uncle's family suddenly "remembered" to give her a pair of high-quality diamond earrings as a gift before they left.

After that, the other elders also took out their gifts: jade pendants, limited edition bracelets, antique porcelain ornaments...

"This is a bit too expensive." Each item costs over six figures, and Jiang Xing raised his hand, unwilling to accept it.

"It's not expensive at all! This is just the proper etiquette for the Lou family!"

"That's right, we'll be family from now on, and we'll need you to take good care of our kids!"

Jiang Xing: "..."

Jiang Xing could only look at Lou Qi.

"Take them, they're just small gifts." Lou Qi gestured to the butler to have someone deliver the gifts to the car.

The others breathed a sigh of relief, while exchanging subtle glances.

This is considered a small gift?

Does it imply that their gifts weren't valuable enough?

If you're giving a seven-figure gift now, what should you give for your engagement?

-

The gifts piled up in the trunk, enough to buy an apartment in the city center.

"Are the gifts you give to people this expensive?" Jiang Xing asked the man sitting next to her, glancing sideways.

Lou Qi said, "Only you."

Jiang Xing blinked, her heart beating a little faster.

The Cullinan drove very smoothly, but due to the inertia of turning, the gifts in the trunk made a slight noise.

The light from outside the window shone in, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, leaving mottled shadows on the man's face, making it impossible to see his expression.

This also prevented men from seeing her expression clearly.

The driver carried the gifts into the apartment and left quickly.

Jiang Xing sat on the spacious balcony, gazing at the bustling city night view.

"It's cold outside, why are you sitting outside?" Lou Qi took a blanket and covered her with it, then squatted down next to Jiang Xing, looking her in the eye.

A custom-made, thick Burberry shawl wrapped around the woman's shoulders, making her look like a beautiful gift—a gift from heaven.

Jiang Xing looked into the man's eyes and said, "Lou Qi, I feel like they're trying to please me."

"Yes." Lou Qi said bluntly, "They know I'm not easy to please, and you're their only way."

"Are they really that sure?"

"Ok?"

"Are you sure that flattering me will work?" Jiang Xing's fingers, gripping the shawl, unconsciously curled up slightly. "Are you sure I will become the future matriarch of the Lou family and be able to protect their children? If you bet against me, you'll lose big time."

Lou Qi gently brushed away a stray strand of Jiang Xing's hair and said with a helpless smile, "Baby, even such shrewd people as them can see that I can't live without you. It just means that I've really made it very obvious."

Jiang Xing's breathing quickened.

No matter how many times Lou Qi confessed his love to her, she would still be moved.

Jiang Xing opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then remained silent, finally only calling out the man's name: "Lou Qi..."

She had so much to say, but didn't know where to begin.

Lou Qi placed one hand on the armrest beside her, his body slightly shorter, and his gaze lower than hers, as if looking up at her.

“Ah Xing, I did invest in a TV series recently, but I have nothing to do with the female lead. Although you weren't angry about it, I don't know if you trust me or... you just don't care. Actually, I hope you're angry. If you are, I can coax you again, but at least it shows that you care about me.” Lou Qi sincerely confessed, “But I know I have a long history of misconduct, and I admit it. So I can wait patiently for you to trust me; there's no rush.”

Jiang Xing was deeply moved when he heard the second half of the story.

However, the first half left her speechless.

"That female celebrity is Zhou Zhou, why should I be angry?" Jiang Xing asked, puzzled. "Do you like unreasonable women?"

Lou Qi didn't know what to say for a moment.

He had completely forgotten that Jiang Xing was rational and intelligent. Given Zhou Zhou's series of affected little actions last time, it would be strange if Jiang Xing couldn't guess the reason behind it!

"I like intelligent women like you."

Jiang Xing changed the subject: "If I never want to marry you, will you just keep waiting for me?"

"Ah."

Lou Qi was afraid of scaring Jiang Xing, so what he didn't say was: he could choose not to marry Jiang Xing, but he would absolutely not allow Jiang Xing to marry someone else.

"So you're not going to get married or have children?"

"The Lou family has no shortage of children. Even if I don't have any biological children, there are plenty of people who will try to curry favor with us because of the power I hold."

They've even thought of a backup plan.

Jiang Xing looked at him, and couldn't help but feel her eyes well up with tears.

"That's not worth it," she muttered. "I can't let those illegitimate children who bullied you take advantage of you."

Lou Qi wanted to say, "Who dares to bully him?" but the next second he suddenly realized something.

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his eyes filled with surprise and nervousness: "W-what did you say?"

Jiang Xing leaned down and kissed the corner of his lips.

“Congratulations, Mr. Lou, you’ve gained my trust. The reward is ‘No Waiting Required.’” Jiang Xing extended his left hand and asked with a smile, “Could you put this wedding ring on my finger?”