Chapter 318: Exercising the Right of a Boyfriend

At this moment, Ke Zhongyu very much wanted to kiss her, to determine through the touch of their lips whether Jiang Lai's words just now were true or false, to determine whether this moment was real, but he held back.

"Guilt?"

"Compensation?"

He restrained his words and expression, asking the question he was worried about—worried that Jiang Lai felt guilty because of his injuries, that she had given him this answer out of a desire to compensate him.

"No." Jiang Lai sat sideways on the arm of the sofa. "It's confirmation."

Their bodies were much closer now, and Ke Zhongyu's Adam's apple bobbed. "Confirm what?"

Jiang Lai looked into the man's deep, affection-filled eyes. "Confirming that I care about you. When you saved me and came out of the car covered in blood, compared to me escaping danger, compared to being struck by how handsome you are, I was more worried about whether something would happen to you."

"A very bad outcome flashed through my mind, and I found I couldn't accept it—I even felt pain."

She was so direct, effortlessly seizing his heart. Ke Zhongyu felt his heartbeat pause for an instant, yet the blood throughout his body was boiling, his mouth dry.

"A Lai, the doctor says I can't get agitated." Ke Zhongyu could hear his own breathing grow heavy.

Jiang Lai's lashes fluttered gently, her pale red lips parting slightly. "Ke Zhongyu, let's try being together."

She lowered her head and lightly kissed the corner of Ke Zhongyu's lips.

He thought it would be a fleeting kiss, but Ke Zhongyu suddenly raised his hand, his bandage-wrapped palm cradling the back of her head, his lips parting to deepen the kiss.

Jiang Lai was so inexperienced she didn't know what to do—her lips were hot, her face was hot, even her body grew hot, as if soaked in hot water, a flush of crimson rising on her cheeks, ears, and neck.

She forgot to breathe.

When Ke Zhongyu released her lips, the held breath made her already clear eyes look as though they had been soaked in water.

Ke Zhongyu had a reaction.

Before Jiang Lai could notice, he reached over and picked up a throw pillow beside him and placed it on his lap, blocking it with perfect precision.

Jiang Lai's phone on the coffee table rang—it was Secretary Guan's call.

"Hello, Guan Guan."

"Dr. Jiang, how is President Ke doing right now? We need to know President Ke's condition so we can proceed with our next steps. President Ke's car accident has already sparked a small wave of public opinion, and by tomorrow morning the impact will spread further."

Jiang Lai's hand was suddenly held—it was Ke Zhongyu, seated on the sofa, his gaze fixed on her the whole time. She turned her hand to grasp Ke Zhongyu's hand and continued speaking to Secretary Guan: "External injuries on his forehead and right hand, mild concussion in the brain, needs three to five days of rest."

"Thank goodness it's only a mild concussion." Secretary Guan breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you still at the hospital?"

Jiang Lai: "Nanshan Villa Number One."

Secretary Guan: "Is it convenient for President Ke to speak?"

Jiang Lai put the phone on speaker and placed it in front of Ke Zhongyu. Ke Zhongyu asked directly, "Speak."

Secretary Guan: "President Ke, according to the doctor's orders, you'll be working from home for the time being and won't be appearing in public. You could have Dr. Jiang take a photo of President Ke for you to post to your Moments, or have Chairwoman Ms. Nian or the eldest young lady post to their Moments. Post it tonight, and by tomorrow morning the public discussion will stop. The remaining minor speculation will be handled by the PR Department and the Legal Department."

Ke Zhongyu: "Mm."

The words were directed at Secretary Guan, but his eyes were fixed on Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai had agreed to be with him.

He and Jiang Lai were now in a romantic relationship.

Not partners, not friends, but a couple.

The kind where just thinking about it would give him a reaction.

The call ended. Jiang Lai looked at her left hand, warmed from being held, and got down to business with him. "I'll take a photo of you first to post to your Moments."

"Give me the phone." Ke Zhongyu took his own phone and dialed Ke Zhongying's number with just two words. "Come in."

Ke Zhongying was infinitely gentle facing her injured older brother. "Coming, coming."

She and Chi Ce walked in.

At a glance, they saw the two holding hands.

Ke Zhongying: "!!!"

A cabbage rooted up by a pig?

A fresh flower stuck in cow dung?

Chi Ce: "!!!"

A blessing in disguise?

Winning the beauty's hand?

The two of them—one from Jiang Lai's perspective, one from Ke Zhongyu's perspective—were both stunned.

Chi Ce: "It rings true to that old saying: misfortune is where fortune leans."

"Y-you're together!" However shocked Ke Zhongying was, her delight was equally real—her best friend and her brother were together!

This way she wouldn't have to be separated from her friend, and she'd have someone on her side. With Sister Jiang Lai as a solid backer, let's see how her brother could keep acting so arrogant.

Sister Jiang Lai, look at my brother!

Sister Jiang Lai, keep my brother in line!

These two phrases would strike straight at her brother's lifeline.

Ke Zhongying was about to burst out laughing just thinking about it. She walked over, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin slightly. "So, what did you call me for? I'm not just your sister anymore—I'm also your girlfriend's bestie. Do you know the weight a bestie carries? Do you know that a few words from me could change Sister Jiang Lai's impression of you?"

She was utterly smug—her tail could have curled up to the sky.

Chi Ce kept suppressing a laugh the whole time.

Ke Zhongyu was in a good mood and didn't hold it against Ke Zhongying. He continued, "Take a photo of A Lai and me."

Ke Zhongying: "What for?"

Jiang Lai: "Hmm?"

She also showed a hint of confusion.

Ke Zhongyu looked at Jiang Lai. "Don't go back on your word. I want to exercise the right you've given me—the right of a boyfriend."

Ke Zhongying: "To post to your Moments?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Mm."

Jiang Lai was slightly stunned—in the four years from when they first met to their marriage, Shen Xun had never posted a Moments update about her.

"Sister Jiang Lai, sit next to my brother." Ke Zhongying considerately pulled out her phone, but her brother handed his phone over first. Fine, let this guy get the firsthand material—after all, it wasn't easy to win over the person you like.

Jiang Lai sat at Ke Zhongyu's side, shoulder to shoulder. She looked at the camera, but Ke Zhongyu was looking at her.

Ke Zhongying snapped one photo and asked, "Brother, can you look at the camera?"

Jiang Lai turned her head to look at Ke Zhongyu. This time, Ke Zhongyu looked at the camera.

The two of them looked at the camera and took another photo together.

This was Jiang Lai's third photo together with Ke Zhongyu.

The first time was at the Self-developed Chip Project signing ceremony.

The second time was by the river on New Year's Eve.

The third time was tonight, when they confirmed their relationship.

They took three photos in total.

In one, both looked at the camera; in one, she looked at the camera and Ke Zhongyu looked at her; in one, she looked at Ke Zhongyu and Ke Zhongyu looked at the camera.

Ke Zhongyu, taking the phone, opened his own Moments and selected the photo in which Jiang Lai showed only her profile, as well as the two-person photo by the river under the fireworks in which their faces weren't very clear.

The corners of the man's lips had been upturned the whole time and never dropped, yet even while his head was swimming with joy, he still subconsciously protected Jiang Lai's privacy.

Jiang Lai watched Ke Zhongyu type out a line of text: "Approved by the leader."

Her eyes grew slightly warm, her heart went pit-a-pat, and the corners of her eyes and brows curved into a smile.

The next second, Ke Zhongyu dialed Secretary Cen's phone with a single command: "Repost my first Moments update on the work account."

Secretary Cen, who had already called a tow truck to haul away the wrecked Maybach, opened Moments.

Good heavens.

They had asked President Ke to post a Moments update indirectly proving he was fine for PR purposes—President Ke went straight to announcing his relationship on Moments.

Secretary Cen: "Mm..."

She smiled and said congratulations.

Less than a minute after reposting the Moments update, President Ke's work account already had ninety-nine-plus messages, glaringly red.

Secretary Cen thought to herself that President Ke wouldn't want to reply to other messages, but this one he'd probably be quite happy to—after all, each reply to someone else was telling himself once more that he and Jiang Lai were together.