“Why? Is there something on my face?”
“No.” She shook her head, gripping the box slightly tighter. “I just feel so blessed and blissful right now.”
“‘Feel so blessed and blissful’?” The corner of his lips curled up as his eyes oozed with love.
Pei Ge nodded, softly replying, “Yes. I feel exceptionally blissful right now. With you here by my side, I’m not afraid of anything.”
Ji Ziming half-turned toward her and squinted. “You didn’t feel comfortable yesterday night?”
“Why are you this cheeky?!” She pouted, feigning unhappiness. “Hurry up and drive to the company. If we don’t move fast, Qu Jingwan will be thinking that we’re doing something.”
“She can’t control what we do.”
“Yes, yes, yes. She can’t control you. Who are you? You are CEO Ji. Most of the businesses in the capital are under your name.”
“Sit properly; I’ll drive off now.”
“Mhm.” Pei Ge nodded. She could finally step out of this villa and go to the company for some work.
When the car reached the company, the secretary was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing it stopping in front of him, the secretary ordered the person beside him, “The CEO’s wife is coming. Tell everyone to treat madam as respectfully as they treat the big boss!”
“But we can’t control others’ mouths. How can I—” Mi Li, his assistant, lowered her head, feeling conflicted.
“You’re at least an assistant. If you can’t even handle such a small thing, you can go to the finance department to collect your severance pay now.”
“Sir, I…” The assistant revealed a look of hardship, biting her lower lip. Seeing the Maserati parked near them, she made a resolute decision. “I’ll handle it now; don’t worry.”
“Mhm.” The secretary waved at her, still staring at the Maserati which had fully stopped in front of him.
Donning an immaculate black suit and a white shirt, Ji Ziming passed the car keys to the security, who had been waiting for some time at his side, then went to the other side of the car to open the door.
“Be careful.” His deep gaze focused on Pei Ge as he spoke tenderly.
“Mhm.” The latter’s lips curled up, her smile as radiant as an apricot flower.
With her arms wound around his, they walked into the company. The secretary walked behind them, giving the man a rundown of his schedule for the day.
Ding! The CEO’s elevator doors opened and the secretary stopped talking at once.
When the doors parted open again, the woman let go of his hand and followed him into his office. There was a pot of fresh lilies, which was placed in a crystal vase, on the coffee table inside.
“Do you like them?” He took off his suit jacket and threw it onto the sofa. He then picked up the cup of coffee on his desk, blew on it slightly, and tasted it. When he did not hear her reply, he looked up and his gaze stopped on the lilies placed on the table.
“You don’t like those? I’ll have them change, then.”
Pei Ge, who was engrossed in her thoughts about the contract with Red Star, did not even notice him asking her whether she liked the lilies or not. She looked up in surprise, then followed his gaze, which stopped at the familiar crystal vase.
“I like the flowers. Don’t throw them away. Leave these nice lilies there. ‘Eternal love’… Who placed them here?”
“The secretary. Including the cup of coffee next to your hand.”
It was only then that she realized that there was a freshly made cup of coffee next to her hand. The aroma assailed her nostrils. This was freshly ground coffee made with boiled water at the right temperature. As water was poured along the cup rim, the coffee’s aroma spread further and lasted longer.
“This coffee?”
“Do you find it familiar?” Ji Ziming put his cup down. The crisp sound of the ceramic cup hitting the serving plate called up Pei Ge’s memories.
“I recall it now. It’s the most high-end coffee in that department store.”
“Mhm.” The man lowered his head, then picked up a few blue folders from the table. “Taste it. See if the taste has changed.”
“You specially went to the restaurant for this?”
“Drink it first to see if it’s nice.”
He sat on the sofa with the folders in hand and crossed his legs. “All the information on Red Star has been forwarded to your email. Log in to see it. What do you think about taking charge of this project?”
“Okay.” She picked up the coffee. The taste was still the same, but it was much richer. “Some fresh milk was added, right?”
“You managed to taste that?” He looked up at her, narrowing his eyes in praise. “Yes, because our barista once served the English royalty, he is used to adding fresh milk to coffee.”
“Not bad. That barista does have some skills.”
“You’ll get to drink it every day if you want to.”
“One will get sick of even the finest food. Once is enough.”
“I can give you everything you want in the future.”
“I know that you can. As a CEO, you can get anything you want, but I truly don’t want anything right now.”
“What about a ring?”
She put her cup down, rummaging through the handbag she brought with her. When she found the box, she quickly took it out. “Here. What do you want to do?”
“Pass it over.” He straightened up. With his tall stature, he reached the office table in a few steps and received the box from her. The man then opened it.
“Give me your hand.”
“Am I going to wear it now?” Pei Ge was astonished. Is he going to put it on for me?
“I just want to see if the size fits.”
She rolled her eyes. If he did not say this, it would be something very romantic.
“Here.” She proffered her slender, white hand to him, narrowing her moist eyes. “My hand won’t be—wu!”
Before she could finish speaking, the man’s right hand circled the back of her head and gripped it. Across the desk, he lowered his head to kiss her. His eyes shone with tenderness and heartache. The fresh taste of her lips was like the opium flower, making him entranced and unwilling to let go.
“I’m going to suffocate if you don’t release me now.” She pushed him away, her chest undulating. Her lipstick was smeared from the kiss as her cheeks turned as red as an apple, making him want to bite them.
“Don’t leave me again, okay?”
Pei Ge felt her heart tremble. She initially thought that this was the prelude to a proposal.
“I won’t; don’t worry. I’ll always be by your side from here on.”
“Ge Ge, no matter what happens in the future, you must always stay with me.”
She looked up at the man, who was holding the ring and staring at her with lovelorn eyes. She even saw her small reflection in his eyes. “Ziming, I promise.”
I won’t leave this man again for the rest of my life.
I’ll always stay by his side—to protect our children and to grow old in bliss together…
