“I’m serious.”


  Shen Zhilie was afraid that she wouldn’t believe him. He looked into her eyes as he earnestly declared his words.

  Ye Qianqian picked another slice of pizza up and shoved into his mouth. She replied, “I’m serious too.”


  Shen Zhilie had nothing to say to that. He took a bite of the pizza and put it down. The pizza was tasteless in his mouth as he chewed it.

  Neither Shen Zhilie nor Ye Qianqian spoke after that. The atmosphere was a little awkward.

  When they were done eating, they cleaned up and headed back to the bedroom to sleep.

  Ye Qianqian’s mood was down in the doldrums, as was Shen Zhilie’s.

  After tossing and turning a few times, Shen Zhilie was still unable to fall asleep. He turned around and pulled Ye Qianqian into his arms. “Ye Qianqian, just how do you feel about me?”


  Ye Qianqian wasn’t asleep. She could feel the heat from Shen Zhilie’s body behind her. A ripple passed through her heart.

  When she heard his question, she felt disquieted.

  He was the first man she had been with. What else could she feel about him?

  If she didn’t like him, would she have slept with him?

  The question was sufficient enough to upset her.

  She moved her arm and replied, “I should be the one asking you that question.”


  “Then ask me that question, and I’ll reply.”


  Ye Qianqian’s back was still facing him. She didn’t react or say a word.

  Shen Zhilie was quiet for a moment before he said, “You pounced on me and declared that you were going to take me by force. Now that you’ve succeeded, you need to at least take responsibility for it.”


  Ye Qianqian almost choked on her spit. She yelled. “What the f*ck? Have you ever seen a sexual aggressor take responsibility for the victim?”


  “Damn! You’re really not intending to take responsibility? I don’t care. In any case, it’s exactly like you said…… I’m your man from now on.” Shen Zhilie clung on to her waist tightly. “You’ve already ruined me. No other woman is going to want me anymore. If you reject me, I’ll just kill myself.”


  Ye Qianqian was at a loss for words.

  Shen Zhilie leaned over. With one hand, he trailed the skin at her waist to her belly and pinched her gently.

  Ye Qianqian was easily ticklish. She squirmed in his arms and shrieked, “Go away!”


  “I’ll go away if you want me to, but first I want an official status.” Shen Zhilie pressed himself against her back as he looked at her with puppy eyes. “I want a proper status, Ye Qianqian.”


  “A proper status?” Ye Qianqian looked at him with an expression of disdain. “What can a status do for you? Can it fill your stomach when you’re hungry?”


  “Yes, it can,” Shen Zhilie insisted. “With a proper status, I can receive marital benefits from the employer. That will make things so much more convenient.”


  Ye Qianqian suddenly felt that everything happened too fast.

  She wasn’t rejecting him, but she had never considered needing to get married after getting in bed together.

  Furthermore, Shen Zhilie’s qualities were simply too outstanding.

  It was clear that he liked her now, but it could be because her virgin experience came with a certain emotional attachment.

  What about after this?

  Just like Ye Zhenhua had pointed out, a man like Shen Zhilie was way out of her league. Given her background, if she ended up with him, wouldn’t she be branded as a social climber?

  Moreover, Shen Zhilie was from the Capital.

  Back then, Ye Tian had run away with a man from the Capital. Ye Qianqian could tell that Ye Zhenhua still held that grudge in his heart.

  Ye Qianqian was silent for a moment. She fidgeted and asked, “Isn’t it a little too soon for that?”


  “Not at all. You’re 26, and I’m already 27. It just the right time for us to get married.”


  “What? Are you using our age as the benchmark?”


  “Yeah…… Actually, the more important point is that I want to take you home to introduce you to my parents and grandmother. When we return, will you come straight with me to the Capital?”


  Ye Qianqian found it hard to process everything at that moment. “Why are you in such a rush?” she asked. “I find the timing a little too soon.”


  Shen Zhilie could tell that she wasn’t willing. He was quiet for a while as he held her in his arms. “Let’s go to sleep,” he said.