Chapter 17
“I did not!” Jiang Qingchi frowned. “No means no!”
“Then do you know who it is? Trying to defame you?”
“How would I know? There’s no good person in the entertainment industry. Maybe it’s someone sent by my opponent.” The two of them had been together for six years, and Jin Nian was unwilling to judge Jiang Qingchi with malice. However, ever since the person who sent the flowers appeared, Jiang Qingchi’s behavior had been too strange.
“Qingchi, I hope you can tell me the truth!” Jin Nian’s face darkened. She had specially spent some time doing her hair and putting on exquisite makeup today. This appearance had its own aura. She had always been very docile when she got along with Jiang Qingchi. She had never been so aggressive. Because she knew that Jiang Qingchi worked hard every day and understood his occasional aloofness as an artist, she did not care about anything. However, today’s matter was a matter of her bottom line. Jin Nian subconsciously put on a stern look at work.
Jiang Qingchi did not like her overbearing manner and frowned, “I’m telling the truth! You don’t believe me?”
Jin Nian took a deep breath, “Jiang Qingchi, we’ve been together for six years. I can tell if you’re lying or not. I just want to hear you tell me the truth yourself.”
“The truth? What do you think is the truth? You keep saying that we’ve been together for six years, so what?” Jiang Qingchi sneered. “Do you really think you know me?” A bone-piercing chill was pressing down on Jin Nian. Her hair stood on end as she stared at the man in front of her, feeling as if she had never really known him.
Jiang Qingchi grabbed his hair in frustration. “I’m really exhausted! The animation needs to be done, the publicity needs to be done, and I had to deal with a large number of media outlets every day. I slept less than 30 hours this week. Even though I’m so busy, I still took the time to attend our engagement party. What else do you want me to do?”
“Attend our engagement party? Are you an outsider, Jiang Qingchi? Did I force you to hold this engagement party?”
“Jin Nian, don’t think of me like that. I did not mean it that way.”
“I was the one who prepared the engagement party from the beginning to the end. You only took the time to come over for a meal. Is this making things difficult for you?”
Jiang Qingchi lowered his head and sighed deeply, “I know you don’t feel secure, so you’re in a hurry to get married. The reason why I’m proposing now is to give you a sense of security. Can’t you feel it? If it weren’t for you, how could I have gotten engaged and married while my career was rising?”
Jin Nian could not take it anymore and slapped Jiang Qingchi’s face hard. “I’m not forcing you!” Jin Nian was so angry that she could not stop trembling. “If you think that the engagement has delayed your future, go in and inform everyone that the engagement is canceled.”
Jiang Qingchi gritted his teeth and finally compromised. He walked over to hold Jin Nian, but she avoided him. With a bang, the green glazed vase in the corner was knocked over by Jiang Qingchi, and the pot of calla lilies fell to the ground. Both of them were shocked by this sudden sound.
Jiang Qingchi took two steps closer and lowered his posture to Jin Nian, “I’ve been under too much pressure recently. You know me. How could I not want to marry you?”
Jin Nian’s expression did not soften at all. “Jiang Qingchi, what you said just now really makes me feel like I’ve never really known you.”
“I’m sorry. I was impulsive and spoke without thinking. It won’t happen again.”
“I don’t want to hear anything. Let’s calm down.”
Jiang Qingchi walked forward and pulled Jin Nian into his arms, making her unable to break free. “Alright, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault. You know that I’m never one to say anything nice. Everyone is waiting in the private room. Let’s go back. After the engagement party is over, I’ll apologize to you again, okay? Niannian, don’t make everyone wait for us for too long.”
Jin Nian’s tone was still cold, “I just want to be alone, okay?”
Jiang Qingchi sighed. “Then I’ll go over first. Come over quickly after you’ve sorted out your mood. Don’t let everyone think too much.”
Jin Nian did not say yes or no.
Jiang Qingchi left without looking back, leaving Jin Nian alone in the corridor. The pot of calla lilies was lying on the ground pitifully. Jin Nian squatted down and picked up the yellow flowers.
Jin Nian had a deep affection for Jiang Qingchi not because he was good-looking, but because he was extremely talented in painting. On the afternoon of the first year of university, Jin Nian and her roommates were walking along the tree-lined road after dinner. They saw a notice board by the road that had the gold medal of the National College Student Painting Compet.i.tion. Jiang Qingchi’s bold use of color and composition in the painting had instantly hit Jin Nian’s heart.