Seven Years of You

Chapter 17

Every word from the email was etched in his memory.Jiang Shenghe poured half a glass of red wine and drained it in one gulp, barely suppressing the sting in his nostrils. Her loving him was the fulfillment he'd longed for. Setting down the goblet, he typed: 【Thank you, wife.】

Luo Qi had been waiting for his reply. This was her first time celebrating his birthday, having sent the email precisely at midnight. She’d just reread it in her sent folder.It was now 12:25 a.m. He’d taken this long to respond.She repeated: 【Happy birthday.】Jiang Shenghe: 【Still awake?】Luo Qi: 【No, I’ve been keeping you company.】In that moment, he missed her more intensely than ever.He wanted to go see her in Suzhou.

Jiang Shenghe suddenly realized—she’d mentioned needing to get up early tomorrow. Could she be returning to celebrate his birthday?【Luo Qi, I’ll come to Suzhou to see you tomorrow.】They hadn’t seen each other in over ten days. Luo Qi missed him too. 【I already booked a ticket to come back and celebrate with you.】Exhausted from nonstop work, Jiang Shenghe refused to let her travel. 【Cancel the ticket. I’ll come to you.】He called someone to book his high-speed train ticket to Suzhou for the next day.

Plans disrupted, Luo Qi told him: 【I also ordered a cake to be delivered to your office tomorrow noon.】【It’s fine. I’ll take it home tonight to share with the family.】At 12:30 a.m., after bidding Luo Qi goodnight, Jiang Shenghe emailed the executive office announcing his absence tomorrow. If any packages arrived, they were to be signed for and placed in his office.

Xiao Jiang, still scrolling through her phone, noted the unusual notification. The boss often skipped office days without announcements. The emphasis on packages hinted at something important. Employees typically pretended not to see midnight emails until morning replies.

Jiang Shenghe replied to a few birthday messages received earlier, his nerves buzzing like the night he’d confessed his love. Unable to sleep, he reached for the half-empty cigarette pack on his desk. Finding his lighter missing—neither the housekeeper nor staff would touch his things—he chuckled. Luo Qi must have hidden it.

He tossed the unlit cigarette in the trash.After barely four hours of sleep, his driver took him to the station at dawn. The rushed trip left no time for gifts for Luo Qi’s parents. With Lu Baisheng teaching classes, Jiang enlisted He Xu’s help.

He Xu dryly remarked: 【Might as well let me plan your wedding too.】Jiang Shenghe: 【Not impossible. You did clean thoroughly last time.】He Xu: “......”

Luo Qi messaged: 【Lunch at my parents’ today.】Her mother had immediately gone grocery shopping upon hearing Jiang was visiting. Her father scrubbed the apartment clean. Sunflowers glistened with dew on the balcony as Luo Zhiqiu absentmindedly misted plants, suddenly turning to his daughter brushing her teeth: “Since it’s Jiang Shenghe’s first visit and his birthday...should we dine out?”

Luo Qi turned off the tap. “Home cooking. He’s had every restaurant dish.”Worried about their modest home, Luo Zhiqiu relented.After breakfast, father and daughter walked to the cake shop. Noticing her father’s hesitation, Luo Qi asked: “What’s wrong?”

Embarrassed, Luo Zhiqiu admitted: “Should I dye my hair?” His salt-and-pepper locks made him look older than fifty.“Let’s go now.”Returning with jet-black hair that took years off his appearance, Luo Zhiqiu received stunned approval from his wife Jiang Yifang.

Luo Qi changed into an unworn dress before heading to meet Jiang. Waiting by the florist where they’d first reunited during a business trip, she spotted the black SUV.

Jiang Shenghe wore the white shirt from their wedding day. Restrained by the driver’s presence, Luo Qi stood close, her coat brushing his. “Happy birthday.”He kissed her lips despite the public setting.“Making up for last night,” he murmured.

At her parents’ cramped riverside apartment, Jiang Shenghe noted every detail—the refrigerator in the living room, her childhood piano by the TV. The five sunflowers on the walnut dining table where Jiang Yifang often worked nights.

Over homemade dishes, conversation turned to Luo Zhiqiu’s struggling company. Jiang Shenghe already knew the details—seven years ago, through Lingjia Capital’s investment and the VAM agreement he’d arranged anonymously. He’d quietly resolved post-bankruptcy lawsuits, though the personal debts remained.

After lunch, Luo Qi drove him to the station. “What’s my gift?” she pressed.“You’ll see.”Back in Beijing for family dinner, Jiang consulted friends about dog breeds when Luo Qi guessed wrong.

Days later, returning to Beijing with two potted strawberry plants—one store-bought, one he’d nurtured—Jiang carried her upstairs. Water steamed as they reunited passionately in the shower.

The next morning, Luo Qi brought the plants to work. In the elevator, colleague Lu Rui eyed the greenery. At her desk, Cui Peng delivered documents with a barbed reminder about her father’s precarious investments.

“You’ll keep seeing me here,” Cui sneered. “Unless you quit.”Luo Qi remained silent, biding her time. Cui’s connections to Lingjia’s leadership through marriage made her arrogant. But Luo Qi’s patience would outlast.