Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 317 - 288: Just Indulging in One’s Own Joy (Second Update)
Jimo Shanshan grabbed him and stammered, "I-I chased him away as soon as I put down your phone."
"You really chased him away?" Mai Zekai asked skeptically.
Jimo Shanshan nodded emphatically.
"So there really is this man?" Mai Zekai’s expression turned sour.
Jimo Shanshan hesitated and said, "If that person had never shown up, would you have come back to find me?"
"I would have come back, but maybe not as quickly," Mai Zekai admitted honestly.
Jimo Shanshan broke free from his hand, sniffing and said, "It’s a good thing you came back. I did chase him away, but what I really said to him was to give me one night to think about it. That night wasn’t for me—it was for you. If you hadn’t come back, I might really have gone with him."
Mai Zekai leaned down to look at her, only moving after a long pause. "Who gave you the guts?"
"You did!" Jimo Shanshan turned around angrily and said, "Why are you always so fierce to me? If I can’t have the one I love, am I not allowed to find someone who loves me?"
Mai Zekai wrapped his arms around her from behind. "The one who loves you, and the one you love, is right behind you. Just turn around, and you’ll see him."
"You don’t even get mad that I went on blind dates behind your back?"
"You’re right; this is all on me. What right do I have to be mad?"
Mai Zekai’s breath brushed against her neck, making Jimo Shanshan shrink slightly. She wanted to tell him she hadn’t gone on any blind dates, but saying that would expose Yi Luowa and the others.
Hold it in—she absolutely had to keep it a secret! Just like Yi Luowa told her: that imaginary backup suitor needed to stay ambiguous. Only then would Mai Zekai feel the pinch of crisis.
Unaware and uneasy, Mai Zekai stayed by Jimo Shanshan’s side for her overnight shift. First thing the next morning, he bought a ring and flowers and, during the morning meeting, knelt down on one knee in front of all the hospital staff to propose to Jimo Shanshan.
The proposal photos soon circulated in the chat group, prompting Tong Airui to laugh and say, "If you always act this quickly, I might love you a little more."
"Love who a little more?" asked Yi Luowa, who was still in bed rubbing her eyes.
"Love you a little more," Tong Airui said with a laugh, kissing her on the cheek. "Lazy bug, aren’t you getting up yet?"
Yi Luowa pouted unhappily. "You made me stay up until four last night. It’s the weekend; I’m sleeping till four in the afternoon."
Tong Airui laughed, pulling her into his arms. "Sleep as long as you want; I’ll stay with you."
"Ugh... Fine, I won’t sleep past eight. If I get up too late, I’m worried Mom and Dad will be mad." Yi Luowa squirmed in his arms, conflicted about whether to wake up right away.
Tong Airui glanced at the clock—it was already nearly nine!
"Mom and Dad left for the palace early this morning. No one’s home to bother you, so go ahead and sleep in."
Yawning, Yi Luowa asked, "What are they doing at the palace so early?"
"Helping Bert pick a queen. Didn’t Mom mention it last night? You forgot?"
"You wore me out till I’m practically losing my mind—who could remember things like that?" Yi Luowa playfully punched his shoulder. "I’m going back to sleep."
"Then sleep," Tong Airui said, gently patting her shoulder.
Oddly enough, the patting woke her up more than it calmed her. Yi Luowa tilted her head upward to look at Tong Airui and said, "I wonder how Number Seven’s doing."
"The proposal was a success," Tong Airui chuckled. "He moves fast; just sent me the photos." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
"Let me see." Yi Luowa climbed onto him, reaching for her phone on the bedside table.
She pouted slightly and tapped Tong Airui’s head lightly with her phone. "Honey, just these few photos? I barely got enough of a look; tell Number Seven to send more."
After getting ready for the day, the two walked hand in hand out the door. Passing Tong Aino’s room, Yi Luowa grinned mischievously and mouthed, "Bet you can’t guess if they’re awake yet."
"Fifth brother..." Inside the room, Connie called out softly with a sobbing tone, followed by sounds that could make one’s face turn crimson.
Tong Airui’s mouth twitched slightly as he pulled Yi Luowa downstairs—eavesdropping on his brother and sister-in-law’s private moments was something he really shouldn’t be doing as an older sibling.
Yi Luowa’s cheeks inexplicably flushed pink as well. She muttered under her breath, "Shouldn’t Fifth Brother’s room get another renovation?"
Tong Airui squeezed her hand firmly. "Dad said once they leave for Laman, they’ll have their house redone."
Yi Luowa pressed her lips into a smile and followed Tong Airui into the dining room.
She happily started eating breakfast, while poor Connie upstairs was crying her heart out.
Connie, still sobbing, said, "Yi Luowa definitely just heard everything."
A sweaty Tong Aino paused slightly, and said, "Who told you to wiggle out of bed instead of staying put?"
"You..." Connie was so furious she almost fainted.
When they finally came downstairs, it was already lunchtime.
Ai Ni teased them with a smirk, "Hey! Done with hibernation!"
Connie blushed and hid behind Tong Aino.
"Don’t bother hiding. It’s really not such a big deal." Ai Ni giggled.
You Jia tilted her head toward Ai Ni, her lips curling in amusement. She was the type to poke fun at anyone who crossed her path; after finishing with the fourth sibling’s family, she’d moved right on to the fifth.
"Where’s Big Brother?" Tong Aino tried to switch the topic.
You Jia smiled warmly, "Big Brother and Sister-in-law left early in the morning. They were so preoccupied with Number Seven’s matters that they left their two kids home alone for the entire night. Kind of worrisome."
"Oh." Tong Aino pulled Connie to sit down. "How’s Number Seven doing?"
"He successfully proposed—didn’t you see the photos he sent?" Ai Ni shot him a disdainful look. "Were you too caught up enjoying yourself to notice?"
"Kids these days—I just don’t understand what they’re thinking!" Before Tong Aino could retort, Long Che’s angry voice rang out at the door.
Connie stood up in shock.
Ai Ni turned toward the entrance and asked, "Dad, who’s gotten on your nerves now?"
