Sheng Chenjin told her that the necklace was called "Ocean's Love," a unique piece designed by a famous jewelry designer whom he had once helped. In gratitude, the designer gifted him the necklace, with the instruction that he should wear it every year.
He then added, "This necklace is a pair."
Shi Xinxin was a little surprised. "What? A pair?"
Sheng Chenjin said softly, "Yes, a pair."
Shi Xinxin smiled. "Then you must love its owner very much."
Sheng Chenjin chuckled. "I love her very much."
He looked at her, his gaze burning and earnest. "More than a lover, even more."
Shi Xinxin's heart skipped a beat, its rhythm quickening.
She felt as if she had been burned and quickly averted her gaze from his.
Sheng Chenjin gently held her hand, his voice warm and firm. "Xinxin, I hope to marry you and make you my wife."
"Sheng Chenjin, don't joke around. How old am I? At most, we are currently... uh, living together. How can I marry you!" Shi Xinxin said, struggling to break free from his embrace.
Sheng Chenjin held her waist, pulling her closer. "What's wrong with living together? People can get married after living together."
"Sheng Chenjin," Shi Xinxin bit her lip, speaking with some anxiety. "We've only just met. I feel we still need some time to get to know each other."
Sheng Chenjin said gently, "Shi Xinxin, this is the second time you've spoken about arranged marriages to me. So let me remind you again seriously, you are not young anymore, and you are at the age to be in a relationship. I hope you will consider our future soon."
"I know you don't have any feelings for me now, but one day you will. After all, we are childhood sweethearts. You're bound to develop some feelings for me. Perhaps after we get married, you'll slowly fall in love with me." Sheng Chenjin's fingers provocatively traced Shi Xinxin's shoulder.
"I won't fall in love with you," Shi Xinxin pushed him. "I don't want to marry you!"
"Shi Xinxin, I've told you, you can't escape my grasp, unless I no longer want you," Sheng Chenjin's deep voice was filled with dominance and threat.
"Then what do you want? To force me?" Shi Xinxin looked up and glared at him.
Sheng Chenjin curved his lips into a devilishly arrogant smile. "Of course. Otherwise, do you think I'd marry you?"
"Then you can forget it!" After Shi Xinxin shouted, she immediately pushed open the car door and ran out.
She stood by the roadside, watching Sheng Chenjin's Maybach disappear from view, her mind a tangled mess.
Shi Xinxin mentally cursed herself for being an idiot. She didn't like him, so why did she agree to go shopping with him to buy gifts?
She had originally thought that if she didn't go, Sheng Chenjin wouldn't follow her. But who would have expected Sheng Chenjin to follow her, even driving her around?
Shi Xinxin sighed helplessly, thinking that since he was willing to follow, she might as well let him. It would save her from taking a taxi, and she was going home anyway.
When Shi Xinxin returned home, she went straight to bed. As she closed her eyes, Sheng Chenjin's handsome face flashed in her mind, a warm current flowing through her heart. She couldn't help but reach out and gently trace his outline.
She slightly furrowed her delicate, dark eyebrows, then suddenly opened her eyes.
The room was pitch black. She sat up, picked up the desk lamp, and turned it on. She saw Sheng Chenjin sleeping soundly on the sofa, his right leg resting on his left, in a languid and casual pose.
Shi Xinxin found it both amusing and exasperating. She walked over to him and squatted down, looking at Sheng Chenjin's handsome and charming face. She suddenly felt like pinching his nose.
She pinched him gently. Sheng Chenjin showed no reaction, his breathing even and deep.
Shi Xinxin smiled, then reached out and poked his arm. Seeing that he still didn't react, she moved his leg and pulled the quilt up to cover him, then added a blanket for him.
But as soon as she stood up, Sheng Chenjin suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Shi Xinxin froze for a moment, then turned to look at him.
Sheng Chenjin opened his eyes, his deep pupils seemingly holding the vastness of the night sky.
Shi Xinxin was startled. "You, you're awake? Were you pretending to sleep?"
Sheng Chenjin's lips held a hint of a smile. "I wasn't pretending to sleep; I was genuinely tired. But I also wasn't pretending to sleep. I really liked what you were doing just now."
Shi Xinxin's face flushed, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, "I..."
"You said you wouldn't fall for me, and you wouldn't be with me. So, does your action just now mean you've already fallen for me?" Sheng Chenjin said with a smile.
Shi Xinxin looked at him in astonishment. For a long time, she couldn't find her voice.
She admitted that she had indeed wanted to test him just now. If he had gotten angry or thrown a tantrum when he woke up, she would have slipped away.
She just hadn't expected him not only to not be angry but also to smile and say he liked her actions.
Shi Xinxin pursed her lips and said calmly, "I said I wouldn't fall for you and I wouldn't be with you, but I didn't say I wouldn't marry you."
Sheng Chenjin raised an eyebrow. "So?"
Shi Xinxin blinked her eyes, looking innocent. "So, I want to date you first. Once we get tired of dating, we'll break up."
"What did you say?" Sheng Chenjin suddenly sat up from the sofa, staring at Shi Xinxin intently, seemingly disbelieving his ears.
Shi Xinxin looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I said I want to date you. Dating is something between two people. I need to discuss it clearly with you. If you agree, we can continue dating; if you don't, then we part ways and never see each other again!"
Sheng Chenjin's face turned ashen. He spat out four cold words: "Impossible!"
Shi Xinxin pouted. "Alright, if you don't agree, then I'm leaving."
Sheng Chenjin looked at her grimly and shouted, "Shi Xinxin, stop right there."
"What for?" Shi Xinxin stopped and turned around, looking at him with confusion.
"I don't allow you to date other men, and I absolutely forbid you to get married!" Sheng Chenjin gritted his teeth, his anger reaching its peak.
Shi Xinxin frowned. "Why don't you allow it? What are you to me?"
Sheng Chenjin narrowed his eyes dangerously and warned her, word by word, "Shi Xinxin, I'm warning you, don't forget our agreement. Otherwise, I will absolutely not let you off."
Shi Xinxin snorted. "You're too self-important. We have no agreement whatsoever."
"You know what I'm talking about," Sheng Chenjin said, leaning forward and pressing closer to her. "If you're not afraid of death, just try it."
His eyes revealed a strong ferocity, as if he intended to devour her.
Shi Xinxin felt a little scared. She instinctively took a step back, but her feet hit the wall.