I want to know who Jiang Ning is to you!

Ji Shen seemed not to have expected Wen Shuang to ask so bluntly.

He paused before saying in a low voice, "There was someone, for a while."

"Are you still in touch now?"

Ji Shen fell silent.

Wen Shuang looked at his expression, dissatisfied, and asked again, "Are you or aren't you?"

Ji Shen rubbed at the bridge of his brow. "No."

"Someone told me I look a lot like Jiang Ning. Do I look like her?"

After Wen Shuang asked that question, Ji Shen averted his eyes. "It's late. Go take a shower first. You still have work tomorrow."

He had originally thought that after coming back, he could share some tender time with Wen Shuang. Who would have expected to be asked something like this as soon as he returned?

His interest vanished at once.

Yet Wen Shuang stubbornly wanted an answer.

"Brother Shen, I'm asking you!"

Ji Shen loosened his tie and flung it onto the side cabinet. "Go shower!"

Wen Shuang stared straight at him. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

Ji Shen went off to bathe without another word.

A deep, unmistakable sense of disappointment welled up in Wen Shuang's heart.

Only tonight had she learned that Ji Shen had an ex-girlfriend. Out of a woman's natural curiosity, she had wanted to ask about it. If Ji Shen had answered frankly and calmly, she would not have been angry. After all, who in this world has never loved before?

But his evasive silence chilled her.

It meant the man had not let go at all.

That was why he could not bring himself to speak of it.

It was as though it were some forbidden thing.

Wen Shuang went to the second bathroom in low spirits, washed off her makeup, and then went to sleep in the second bedroom.

In the middle of the night.

A warm, familiar body embraced her from behind.

Wen Shuang turned over and pulled away from the man, keeping her distance.

Ji Shen held her tightly in both arms.

"Jiang Ning was indeed my ex. We dated in college. Later, we chose different paths in life, so we broke up."

He said it lightly, as though it were nothing.

It was easy to imagine that back then, Jiang Ning had chosen to go abroad, while Ji Shen stayed in the country and worked in criminal investigation, and the distance had led to their separation.

Wen Shuang listened to his explanation and pinched the flesh at his waist. "Why didn't you say that earlier? You only tell me now."

"I didn't expect you'd care about this so much." Ji Shen freed one hand and rubbed her smooth back. "You and Jiang Ning are different. Everyone is an independent person; there is no such thing as looking alike. He Qisuo is only stirring up trouble. You don't need to pay her any mind."

With the man's reassurance, the heart that had been hanging in the air slowly settled.

Wen Shuang turned around and threw herself into his arms. "I don't mind that you've had an ex. I only mind if there's still a shadow of an ex in your heart. Brother Shen, what I want is wholehearted love. Do you understand? Right now, there is only you in my heart too!"

"This little thing has quite a possessive streak." A low laugh rumbled in the man's throat. "And I really want to have you right now!"

Tonight, when he had seen Wen Shuang looking so beautiful at the banquet, Ji Shen had long since been unable to wait.

A soft moan escaped Wen Shuang.

The man seized the moment and pressed down hard.

At that instant, there was only Wen Shuang in his mind.

...

The weekend came.

Ji Shen accompanied Wen Shuang home for a visit.

Wen Fanhai genuinely liked Ji Shen. The moment he saw him, he was all warmth and enthusiasm.

Last time, when he had seen Wen Shuang return alone looking rather forlorn, he had assumed the two had quarreled. But now that he looked again, their feelings for each other seemed quite deep.

Since being put in her place by Wen Fanhai last time, Aunt Chun had become much more obedient. She was also very warm toward Ji Shen, fussing over him and urging him to sit here and there.

Wen Yao stared at Ji Shen without blinking.

The more she looked at him now, the more she felt the man was astonishingly handsome, far more so than any man she had ever seen before.

He was also several times more attractive than her current rich second-generation boyfriend.

"Xiao Ji, you must be very busy working with the criminal police. When you're busy, you still need to take care of your health," Wen Fanhai reminded him.

Ji Shen had always been well liked by elders. He replied steadily, "Uncle, I'll take good care of myself, and I'll also take good care of Shuangshuang."

"Officer Ji really knows how to be considerate!" Aunt Chun said warmly as she kept serving food to Ji Shen. When she was done, she continued serving Wen Shuang, urging them to eat more. "By the way, Shuangshuang, when do you and Officer Ji plan to make things official?"

Her question came so suddenly that both of them froze.

Wen Fanhai's eyes also lit up.

If Shuangshuang could end up with Officer Ji, he would be very satisfied!

Good-looking, good temperament, and a civil servant with a secure job.

A son-in-law like that would be hard to find even with a lantern in hand.

Ji Shen did not speak.

Wen Shuang glanced at him and said, "Dad, we've only just gotten together. Why are you already talking about the future? It's still early."

"Haha, yes, yes. Then you two should keep getting to know each other properly."

Aunt Chun said, "Shuangshuang is already twenty-three this year. That isn't exactly young. If you can settle things, then you should settle things."

Ji Shen smiled faintly and said nothing more on the subject.

Wen Shuang could tell that Ji Shen did not want to mention marriage.

That was true enough. He was so busy that even if he married, it would be difficult for him to devote much attention to family life later on.

Under the table, Wen Yao tried to brush her foot against Ji Shen's leg.

She thought she was no worse than her sister. If Officer Ji could be her boyfriend, that would be even better.

Ji Shen avoided her without a trace.

Then he gave her a cold, heavy look.

Wen Yao was startled by that cold, commanding gaze.

After the meal, Wen Shuang went to wash the fruit. Aunt Chun pulled Wen Fanhai into the room to give him his usual massage. During this period, she had taken very good care of Wen Fanhai and could be considered attentive and diligent, so Wen Fanhai's attitude toward her had improved a lot.

He had not mentioned divorce again.

That let Aunt Chun breathe easier.

"Ah Hai, look, Shuangshuang has found such an outstanding match. Shouldn't Yao Yao start going on blind dates too? Should I ask Officer Ji whether he knows any excellent young men, and have him introduce one to Yao Yao?"

Wen Fanhai frowned. "What's there to ask? Yao Yao hasn't even graduated from university yet. What blind date? She should focus on her studies first!"

"But Shuangshuang has already found such an impressive boyfriend. The Ji family and ours are worlds apart. If we can latch onto that connection, then our Wen family in the future wouldn't..."

Aunt Chun was already starting to scheme.

Wen Fanhai said, "Stop thinking about these things all day. Useless. Even if we were to introduce someone to Yao Yao, that would be a matter for the future. Right now, Officer Ji and our Shuangshuang haven't even truly settled anything; they're just dating. And yet you're in such a rush to have him find Yao Yao a match? If people heard that, they'd laugh us to death."

Aunt Chun had no choice but to close her mouth.

She no longer dared say much.

Since her father refused to help, Yao Yao would have to rely on herself to fight for what she wanted.

Wen Yao watched Wen Shuang go to wash the fruit.

She walked over to Ji Shen's side and leaned close to him.

"Officer Ji..."

Ji Shen frowned at her. "What is it?"

Wen Yao had specifically changed into a revealing outfit when she went back to her room. Her shoulders were half exposed, extremely sexy, and she was certain all men would like it.

"My sister is washing fruit. Why don't we chat for a while?" Wen Yao moved closer and closer to him, so close it was nearly a kiss. "I've always wanted to have a proper talk with Officer Ji."

The words had barely fallen.

She was instantly seized by Ji Shen's hand, and a piercing scream burst from her lips.