Wen Yongwei was quite moved. He nodded and then said, "Since that’s the case, I’ll first stay with the Shen Family for a while. With me not around, it will be easier for you and Wen Jiao to have an open conversation." In just a short ten minutes or so, Shen Zhaoli and Wen Yongwei reached a consensus. That night, Wen Jiao stared blankly at the contract Shen Zhaoli handed her. "A contract that most likely will never have any substantial significance. Dad has looked it over; you can sign it directly," Shen Zhaoli said. "Jiaojiao, I’ve already folded the pages that need your signature. You just need to sign." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel•fire.net Wen Jiao’s frown deepened, she spoke earnestly, "You haven’t made it clear. What am I supposed to sign? Shen Zhaoli, what are you and my dad hiding from me now?" "It’s just a contract to put Dad’s mind at ease," Shen Zhaoli said. "Don’t worry, it won’t harm you." Of course, Wen Jiao knew it wouldn’t harm her. Clearly stated on it was ’Marital Assets Division Agreement.’ If Wen Yongwei was willing to read it and agree, he must be extremely satisfied with the terms. Wen Jiao had known Shen Zhaoli for so many years and thought she understood his character quite well. "You aren’t agreeing with my dad that if we were to face a marital crisis, you would leave without taking anything, are you?" Wen Jiao hit the nail on the head. But Shen Zhaoli’s focus was, "Jiaojiao, we won’t face a marriage crisis, we won’t be parting." He was so certain, so resolute. "No one can promise the future," Wen Jiao said with a furrowed brow. "You’re having me sign this now, but what if we really can’t make it through, would you really leave with nothing?" "I never had anything to begin with," Shen Zhaoli said with a smile. "My life couldn’t possibly get worse than before. Jiaojiao, I’m not afraid." Wen Jiao pushed the contract back towards Shen Zhaoli, "I won’t sign it. I will talk to my dad." "Dad’s health isn’t good," Shen Zhaoli said indifferently. "Do you still want him to lose sleep over your affairs right now? Jiaojiao, I know how much you care about your father." Wen Jiao rebutted, "That doesn’t mean we have to appease him in everything! How could he make you prepare something !" "Weren’t we agreeing to something before marriage?" Shen Zhaoli said. "Now, it’s just put down in black and white." "How can a verbal promise and a contract be the same!" Wen Jiao said. "Back then, I just..." She stopped there, her tone breaking off and not continuing further. Shen Zhaoli knew what Wen Jiao wanted to say. He gracefully picked up on her words, "Jiaojiao, everyone cares about different things. I know it sounds sanctimonious for me to say this, but for me, power and wealth haven’t made me happier. I just needed these things to give my mother proper treatment, and only by using these, I could marry you. However, if we really come to that point, having you live better is far more important to me than all these things." Wen Jiao’s tears accompanied Shen Zhaoli’s words, splashing onto the papers of the contract, blurring the ink with tear stains. She tried hard to hold back her sobs, but couldn’t help it; her eyes grew more and more moist. After a while, she leaned on the table and began to cry. Shen Zhaoli looked helpless. He stood up, walked toward Wen Jiao, squatted down, and shook her arm, "Jiaojiao... why are you crying?" Shen Zhaoli genuinely didn’t understand why Wen Jiao was crying. The things he just said were, for him, simply rational analysis. Yet Wen Jiao cried even harder. Finally, she looked up at Shen Zhaoli, her face soaked with tears. Shen Zhaoli wiped away her tears, hearing her sniffling and saying, "Did you do it on purpose?" "Do what on purpose?" Wen Jiao put on a stern face, "...please me." Shen Zhaoli heard the subtext in Wen Jiao’s words, and thus the smile in his eyes deepened, "Did my words just now please you?" Wen Jiao was frank, "Yeah, I should have recorded it as a modern-day romance textbook for boys." Shen Zhaoli really didn’t dare to take such praise. He lowered his eyes, took hold of Wen Jiao’s hand, became serious, and softly said, "Since that’s the case, shall we sign the contract?" Wen Jiao, looking at Shen Zhaoli’s delicate and beautiful face under the light, didn’t realize the slight sweat on her palm, or how heavy the unease in her eyes was. She said, "Shen Zhaoli, if one day, you feel that you can’t protect me, would you give up on me?" Shen Zhaoli was momentarily stunned, then, looking intently at Wen Jiao, he answered each word with sincerity, "No, no matter what the situation, I will never give up on you." Wen Jiao’s eyes reddened, "Do you dare to swear?" "I swear, if such a day comes, I will firmly hold onto Wen Jiao’s hand, even if I find myself in a desperate situation, I will hold onto you," said Shen Zhaoli, a faint smile appearing on his lips, "Is that okay?" Wen Jiao clasped Shen Zhaoli’s hand, "If you betray what you said today, then I will never forgive you in this lifetime." Her words were light, but Shen Zhaoli knew Wen Jiao was serious. He could probably guess the source of her question. Wen Jiao signed the contract and handed it to Shen Zhaoli, saying, "Tell my dad to come back early." "Okay." Shen Zhaoli stroked Wen Jiao’s hair, "It’s late, we should rest." When Shen Zhaoli took the contract, Wen Jiao suddenly grasped the hem of his clothes. She said, "Shen Zhaoli, you really can’t deceive me." The unease in her eyes was intense, as if there were mist spreading. Shen Zhaoli patiently and softly repeated, "I promise, I will never deceive you in my life." That night, Wen Jiao lay in Shen Zhaoli’s embrace, unable to fall asleep. She didn’t know that Shen Zhaoli wasn’t sleeping either, just watching her eyes open in the night. After a long while, Wen Jiao tentatively asked, "Are you asleep?" Shen Zhaoli tightened his arms around her waist, his kiss landing on her hair, softly whispering, "No, I have been watching you the whole time." "Do you really think my short hair looks good?" Wen Jiao suddenly asked. "It looks good," Shen Zhaoli said, "Whatever you cut, you look good." "What if all my teeth fell out? Would I still look good?" "I’ll get you dentures, and you’ll still be a beautiful old lady." Wen Jiao laughed, feeling more at ease, and thus she found the courage to continue sharing, "Have I not yet told you, the main reason why Wei Shuqian and I broke up?" Shen Zhaoli said, "Do you want to tell me?" "Then I’m listening." Wen Jiao found a comfortable position in Shen Zhaoli’s arms and said, "Wei Shuqian felt that his identity was too complicated. He feared that I would get hurt, so he gave up on me." Shen Zhaoli was silent for a long time, "Wen Jiao, I’m not him. I’m selfish. What I love, I keep by my side."