In the past, she saw him only as a financial backer in a contractual relationship, a man whom she had no choice but to rely on temporarily when she had no home to return to.

She feared him, avoided him, and even after a simple life in H City, she wanted to escape his confinement, never considering to truly understand him or to treat him as the one she’d entrust herself to.

During the filming of the last scene, her heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy blow.

The tragedy of the Taoist Nun and the Serpent Demon Monarch left her feeling somewhat chilled...

If she continued like this, would she end up like the Little Taoist Nun, filled with regret at the very end?

Choosing to give one’s heart might lead to being hurt.

But avoiding this man perpetually could result in the same regret as the Little Taoist Nun in the future.

She couldn’t help but tighten her hold around the man’s neck, as if he would disappear from her life just like the Serpent Demon Monarch.

He felt the sudden warmth from her, the active desire to be close to him.

Even without her saying a word, he sensed her clinginess and understood the change in her heart at that moment.

For the first time, this little kitten genuinely saw him as her man, someone to depend on and trust, not just a financial backer bound by a contract.

Looking at her kitten-like face, he couldn’t help but smile.

His rough thumb lifted to brush away the tear stains on her cheek, and he tilted his face down, joking, "Not angry anymore, are you?"

She was angry at him for limiting her interactions with other men, for confining her like a prisoner, for treating her that way in the car, and even more so for deliberately showing off in front of Jian Meiyi to make her jealous.

However, everything seemed to dissipate in an instant before this final scene.

She didn’t speak, but her little hand tightened even more around his neck.

He lifted her hand, his slender fingertips gently playing with the engagement ring on her finger.

Perhaps it was time to replace this engagement ring with a wedding ring.

She noticed the man’s focus on the engagement ring and obviously knew what he was thinking. She took a deep breath and summoned the courage to say, "Now... is not the time."

His brows raised, and his recently cheerful expression fell again, his voice turning deeper, "Why not? Didn’t you finish filming the movie?"

Her lips, tender and plump, moved slightly, "I’m still studying."

Huo Zhenyang’s mood lifted somewhat, but he raised an eyebrow, "You’re attending a university, not a kindergarten."

She knew well that university students could get married, but that was a minority, wasn’t it?

She had no desire to be an outlier. Plus, getting married might mean facing pregnancy and having a baby... How could she then attend classes, take exams, or interact normally with her peers?

"I will graduate in three years." The major she was pursuing, well, counting on her fingers, it would take a total of four years to graduate if this man didn’t create a fuss and distract her.

Her lips turned up in a grievance, and she bit her jelly-like lower lip, a gesture that could soften a man’s heart.

Under her cat-like gaze, he finally couldn’t bear to trouble her further, yet he firmly clamped her chin, straightening it in front of him, his handsome face slightly serious, "I will take care of you on the day you graduate from university."

As long as this little wild cat’s mind was set, whether they married now or later didn’t really matter.

He had been taking care of this little creature for so long, he didn’t mind waiting another four years.

But he guessed that in the years before she graduated, he would need to start planning his wolf-prevention strategies again.

With so many lively young men at the university, even having ten bodyguards follow her every day wouldn’t completely ease his mind.

She feared his unease and held him tighter, a blush spreading over her cheeks, yet she firmly said, "I... will try my best to get along well with you, to interact as equal, ordinary lovers, and also, please... give me a little more time."

Huo Zhenyang’s eyes glittered for a moment as he seized her slender wrist, holding her in place. "Hmm? Equal? So, you feel that being with me has always been unequal?"

Jiayi’s delicate throat moved as she nodded slightly.

Although she didn’t want to belittle herself, in reality, she had always felt like a pet kept by this man.

To put it more unpleasantly, she was like a woman he financially supported.

She could please him, make him satisfied, but she just couldn’t give him her true heart.

The long delay in finding her family was an important reason why she felt she couldn’t interact with him on an equal footing.

Because she always saw herself as a little stray cat that he had picked up, forever only able to look up to the man who ruled her life.

His gaze softened slowly, as he had never realized the pressure in her heart was so great. He gently set her down on the ground and, turning his hand, took her small hand in his and walked outside.

She hadn’t recovered from her surprise. "Go, go where...?"

He turned his incomparably handsome profile towards her, his voice light, harboring a faint smile. "Go back and get along."

————

By the time they returned to Huo Garden, it was already late.

When they got out of the car, the butler, leading a group of servants, was waiting at the entrance.

Seeing the two of them get out of the car, the butler greeted them, "Congratulations to Miss Jiayi for finishing the play. You won’t have to work so hard anymore."

He paused for a moment, then added, "The old master mentioned today his health is almost fully recovered, and Miss Jiayi doesn’t need to stay in the nursing room next to him anymore. It’s up to the young master to arrange where Miss Jiayi will stay."

Speaking, he approached the young master and whispered a few words in his ear.

Jiayi certainly knew the old master would love to send her back to Huo Zhenyang’s room, and in front of the Huo Family’s servants, she felt a bit shy, a faint blush flying onto her cheeks.

A flash of amusement sparkled in Huo Zhenyang’s eyes as he suddenly glanced at the delicate little creature beside him.

Since she already wanted to try and seriously get along with him, he would not force her anymore.

After pondering for a moment, he instructed in a calm tone, "Arrange Miss Jiayi in the guest room next to mine."

The butler was a bit surprised, having thought that the young master would have Miss Jiayi move back into his bedroom.

Jiayi was also somewhat surprised, and couldn’t help but steal a glance at the man beside her.

The man’s voice was lazy yet carried a hint of depth, as he leaned in close, breathing warmth, nearly making the little figure beside him melt. "What’s the difference between staying in my room and the guest room next door?"

Previously, the two living together was partly for the sake of pretense, to make Mu Qingran give up and retreat.

Now that the family matters have been settled, there was no need to pretend to be affectionate for anyone’s benefit.

If she wanted a normal, equal relationship, then he would let her have it.

After all, lovers should maintain a bit of distance.

Not yet married, living in the same room might be too intimate for her.

Jiayi’s face turned red, and the small hand he held tightened a bit more.

Huo Zhenyang cleared his throat.

The butler quickly led the servants inside first.

As they walked into the villa, Jiayi couldn’t help but ask, "What did the butler say to you just now?"