Will you be my woman?

If he hadn’t asked that question, Wen Shuang thought she could have continued to hold back. But once someone asks, “What’s wrong?” the tears break loose like a breached dam, streaming down uncontrollably.

In that moment, Wen Shuang found herself sobbing with deep sorrow.

Ji Shen was never good at comforting a crying young woman, so he could only hold her close, gently patting her back again and again.

Only after crying for quite some time did Wen Shuang, still hiccuping with emotion, manage to stammer out what had happened that afternoon.

Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were red and swollen, clearly showing how wronged she felt.

The man’s voice brimmed with anger: “That Wen Fanhai—he should never have been let out so soon. They should have kept him in jail a few more days to knock some sense into him!”

Wen Shuang, full of grievance, said, “I went to him so eager to share my joy, but he only believed what those two women said—he didn’t listen to a word I tried to explain.”

She never wanted to return to that so-called home ever again!

“Don’t cry, Shuangshuang.” Ji Shen bent to wipe her tears. “Now, just think of this place as your home. Look up—do you like the birthday I’ve prepared for you?”

At this, her almond eyes brightened once more.

“I love it—I really do!” she exclaimed.

Everyone in the Wen family, herself included, had forgotten her birthday, but Ji Shen had remembered!

That kind of heartfelt gratitude was beyond words.

“Officer Ji, I don’t think I ever told you my birthday before.”

Ji Shen’s brows lifted slightly. “In my line of work, it’s not hard to find out your birthday.”

He had investigated Wen Shuang before, and thanks to his good memory, one glance had been enough for her birthday to take root in his mind.

Ji Shen led Wen Shuang, still in his arms, to the dining table, where an elegant Western meal and a selection of desserts were laid out.

“Did you make all this?” Wen Shuang asked.

Ji Shen laughed, shaking his head. “I’m not that skilled yet. I specially invited a chef from an upscale Western restaurant to come and prepare it all.”

Wen Shuang was delighted nonetheless; it was Ji Shen’s thoughtfulness that meant the most to her!

A bouquet of champagne roses blazed warmly on the table, and there was a dainty pink bunny cake.

Thinking most girls liked pink, Ji Shen had decorated the entire home into a paradise fit for a young maiden.

“Let’s put just one candle on the cake for Miss Wen, to keep your childlike heart alive—may you always be a little girl at heart!”

All girls love to hear such things. Wen Shuang’s eyes curved in a merry, flirtatious smile.

“Make a wish!” he urged.

She quickly pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and wished that one day she could leap to principal dancer, become a renowned artist on the international stage, so no one would ever dare look down on her again!

With a deep breath, Wen Shuang opened her eyes and blew out the candle.

“Happy birthday, Shuangshuang!” Ji Shen smiled. “May you have peace, health, and all things go as you wish.”

“Thank you, Officer Ji!” A wave of warmth rushed through Wen Shuang’s heart.

She never would have imagined in a million years that her twenty-second birthday would be spent with Ji Shen!

The man before her was handsome and irresistibly charismatic. Wen Shuang couldn’t help falling deeper and deeper; she clinked glasses with Ji Shen again and again, and by the time she stood up, she was feeling slightly tipsy.

Ji Shen took her by the hand, fingers interlaced, leading her to the living room.

“Since it’s your birthday, there must also be a present.”

A beautifully wrapped gift box sat on the coffee table.

“Go ahead, birthday girl, open it yourself.”

With excitement, Wen Shuang untied the ribbon and let out a gasp of delight.

“Wow!”

Inside was a pair of pale pink ballet shoes, utterly unlike any she had ever seen before, each surface encrusted with twinkling diamonds that sparkled brilliantly under the lights.

They were from Flowe, the famed haute couture house in Paris—

It was said only the greatest principal dancers could commission a pair.

Each one started at three million.

“Officer Ji, this is far too extravagant!” Wen Shuang had never worn shoes worth more than a few thousand, and now she was cradling a pair worth more than a whole apartment.

“A beauty deserves fine shoes—it’s only fitting,” Ji Shen said, bending down to help her put them on. “Miss Wen, now that you have the shoes, how about a dance for me?”

He had known Wen Shuang for some time but had never seen her dance.

Wen Shuang smiled sweetly. “As you command, Officer Ji.”

She went to her room and changed into a lotus-pink leotard and skirt. “I know many dances—Officer Ji, which would you like to see?”

“I want to see your most enchanting one.”

Wen Shuang placed a chair in the living room and performed “Red Adornments”—the solo that had won her the Peach and Plum Cup’s gold medal in her junior year.

The dance was full of lingering emotion—every extension, every flick of a sleeve, every backward glance brimming with longing.

Ji Shen didn’t really understand dance, but the way Wen Shuang smiled as her sleeves flowed made him completely entranced.

She bent gracefully, lifting an invisible mirror, her movements as light as a startled swan, as fluid as a dragon in the clouds.

When she danced, she became someone else—so full of spirit, every frown and smile tugged at his heartstrings.

He had always known she was beautiful, but tonight, Wen Shuang’s beauty rose to new heights.

She resembled Jiang Ning—and yet, in truth... she was not Jiang Ning.

Ji Shen’s gaze grew deep.

As Wen Shuang flicked her sleeve, Ji Shen reached out and caught her, pulling her into his arms with a startled cry from her lips.

He pressed her down gently. “Shuangshuang, let me give you one more present.”

She pretended not to understand. “What present?”

Ji Shen guided her hand downward. “This present—you’ll unwrap it yourself.”

When the two of them, stripped bare, tumbled onto the bed, Wen Shuang still couldn’t believe it was real. Though she had mentally prepared for this moment, she never expected it would happen on her birthday.

Under the man’s fierce kisses, she gradually realized why Ji Shen had held himself back from touching her for so long.

“Officer Ji... did you save it for tonight on purpose?” she whispered.

Ji Shen’s voice was hoarse. “It’s your first time—I wanted it to be good for you. I didn’t want to be careless about it.”

Moved, Wen Shuang responded even more eagerly to Ji Shen’s kisses.

Between the sheets, they were always in perfect harmony, wild and free...

Though Ji Shen did his utmost to be gentle, the first time still hurt. Midway through, Wen Shuang couldn’t help arching her body in pain.

Ji Shen kissed her forehead. “Shuangshuang, bear with it—a little longer.”

Sweat beaded on Wen Shuang’s brow, her nails digging desperately into the man’s strong arms from the pain.

At the very end, Ji Shen whispered in her ear, “Shuangshuang, happy birthday.”

Wen Shuang gazed at Ji Shen with dazed, beautiful eyes.

From this moment on, she belonged to him, body and soul.

Worried about her, Ji Shen held back after three rounds despite his own desire. He carried her to the bathroom for a shower, then drew her into his embrace.

“A couple months ago, in the underground garage, I asked if you’d be my lover—just the physical kind, without emotions. You looked so unhappy and turned me down flat. When I got home, I thought it over and realized how rude that was.”

Wen Shuang, every muscle sore, could barely lift a finger, listening sleepily to his words.

“So now, this is what I want to say. Wen Shuang, from here on, be my woman openly and proudly. I’ll do everything I can to give you the best of everything. No more hiding, no more secrecy!”

He kissed her forehead again, tireless, murmuring, “Your heart and your body—I want them both.”