Chapter 962: I Like You

Zhong Susu's words were like nectar poured on the crown, instantly awakening Xiaoye.

No matter what, once you put yourself in another's shoes, it's easy to empathize.

Xiaoye recalled his past feelings with Zhong Susu, her accident, his frantic state then, and how over the long years of waiting he gradually learned restraint.

The youthful impulse is especially precious; once gone, it never returns.

Not everyone experiences such pure and sincere love in youth, yet Jing'er and Shan Shan happen to have it—how could he, from an adult's perspective, speculate whether this romance benefits their future development?

Children have their own blessings, and besides, Jing'er and Shan Shan are both outstanding.

Their relationship is more important than anything.

Thinking this, Xiaoye reached out and pulled Zhong Susu into an embrace, apologizing: "I overthought things; luckily it was just a thought—I didn't go talk to Jing'er, or else our harmonious father-son bond would likely break."

Zhong Susu snapped: "Just know that! From now on, discuss the kids' matters with me more—don't arbitrarily decide on your own."

"Got it." Xiaoye said flatteringly, "Nothing in our family happens without the wife's approval—wife is supreme, wife is mighty."

Zhong Susu shoved Xiaoye away; she really couldn't stand his clingy attitude anymore.

When he's out working, he's not like that!

The couple strolled along the shore for a while before heading back, stopping by to check on their son.

The crack on their son's eggshell was already large; it felt like hatching wouldn't be far off.

He figured the son was asleep, not communicating with Xiaoye and Zhong Susu, so the couple returned.

Meanwhile, Ao Jing sent Shan Shan back to the Feng Clan, and the two sat together on Cangwu Mountain for a while.

Shan Shan leaned on Ao Jing's shoulder and asked, "Brother Jing, what are we now?"

Ao Jing's heart gave a jolt.

Her question made him suddenly realize a serious problem: he had not yet formally confessed to Shan Shan.

Since childhood, in Ao Jing's subconscious, he and Shan Shan were a pair.

He only needed to patiently accompany Shan Shan as she grew up; she would naturally become his girlfriend, fiancée, then wife.

This led Ao Jing to naturally feel everything was inevitable, causing him to overlook the needed sense of ceremony.

So, can we blame Shan Shan's earlier vague feelings for him?

It's not that she's slow about feelings, but that I failed to do what I should have!

Thinking this, Ao Jing felt sorry toward Shan Shan.

Shan Shan still blinked her big eyes at him, waiting for his answer.

In that moment of stunned silence, Ao Jing saw the light in Shan Shan's bright eyes dim bit by bit.

Not receiving his response, she felt a little disappointed.

Ao Jing immediately felt inside his pocket and soon produced a yellow silk-wrapped bundle.

He turned to face Shan Shan and knelt on one knee.

Shan Shan jumped in surprise, about to help Ao Jing, but he had already opened the bundle, revealing its contents.

It was a sheep-fat jade bracelet of excellent translucence, clearly an antique, extremely precious.

Seeing Ao Jing's series of actions, Shan Shan's heart began to race, and she faintly realized what he was doing.

Ao Jing took the sheep-fat jade bracelet in one hand, took Shan Shan's left hand with the other, and directly slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

The bracelet's inner circumference fit perfectly, as if made just for Shan Shan.

After placing the bracelet, Ao Jing didn't release Shan Shan's hand but held it, gazing into her eyes, and earnestly said, "Shan Shan, I like you—I have for many, many years. Will you be my girlfriend?"

The confession came too suddenly; Shan Shan was at a loss.

When she asked that just now, she truly wanted to hear Ao Jing voluntarily state their relationship—after all, who wouldn't want to hear it from the person they like and confirm their status?

But she truly hadn't expected Ao Jing's reply to be so… awkward!

Did she have a chance to refuse?

Of course not.

The point is, she didn't want to refuse either.

Shan Shan isn't one to play coy; she immediately nodded: "Sure, Brother Jing, I agree to be your girlfriend."

Although she already had the answer in mind, hearing Shan Shan's affirmative reply still made Ao Jing tremble with excitement.

He stood up, pulled Shan Shan into a tight hug, and whispered in her ear: "Shan Shan, I will always treat you well—no matter how the seas change and stones erode, we will stay together forever."

Ao Jing held her too tightly; Shan Shan felt a bit uncomfortable in his embrace, yet she didn't struggle, murmuring her agreement to his vows.

Ao Jing said many, many things.

Finally, Shan Shan felt a warm dampness on her right ear tip, and she widened her eyes in surprise.

"Brother Jing… Brother Jing seemed to… have kissed her ear tip…"

Fortunately, Ao Jing made no further move; when he released Shan Shan, both of their faces were flushed red.

Ao Jing's gaze lingered on Shan Shan's face; he could never look enough.

Shan Shan, however, felt a bit hot, her eyes continually dodging his.

She even dared not lift her eyes to look at Ao Jing's lips…

So this is what love feels like?

Sweet, yet a little bashful—Shan Shan likes this feeling.

Ao Jing left the Feng Clan quite late, returning to Linghai Dragon Palace; he had thought his father would summon him to the study for a chat, but he didn't expect his parents to already be asleep.

Really strange.

However, Ao Jing didn't dwell on it, turning straight to Kui Long Hall.

Ao Ji had been resting in the egg for half a day; now he was energetic, idly blowing bubbles inside the eggshell.

As soon as Ao Jing returned, he burst with excitement: "Brother! Brother, you're finally back!"

You still know how to come back!

How can you only care about flirting with your sister-in-law and ignore your brother?

In your heart, which is more important—your sister-in-law or your brother?

……

Ao Jing was nagged by him until his head ached, and he teased: "How can you be so noisy!"

"Noisy?" Ao Ji instantly pretended to cry, "Brother, you actually started to dislike my noisiness! You actually dislike your only younger brother! My heart hurts..."

"Shut up!" Ao Jing snapped, "I don't know what Mom and Dad were thinking, giving you the name 'Ji'—you're hardly someone who can stay quiet."

Upon hearing that, Ao Ji wailed even louder: "Fine, brother, you not only dislike my noisiness now, you even look down on my name... you... you look down on me, your younger brother..."

Ao Jing was so angry he gritted his back teeth and warned: "Ao Ji! If you keep making a fuss like this, I won't accompany you anymore! You cultivate and break out of your shell on your own!"

After saying that, Ao Jing made a move to leave.

I thought Ao Ji would give in, but I didn't expect this guy to be immovable: "Go on, brother, you go! I'm just a weed nobody loves—Mom and Dad don't love me, breaking out of my shell is hard, even my older brother ignores me—let me stay here alone to live or die as I may..."