Tan Qinyin quickly withdrew her hand. Lu Yanzhi paused his movement, raising his eyes to meet her gaze.
The hotpot bubbled and gurgled. Tan Qinyin lowered her gaze toward it and said softly, “You pour first.”
Lu Yanzhi unhurriedly took her cup, filled it, and gently pushed it back in front of her. He suddenly spoke.
“The ring is beautiful. Newly bought?”
He had noticed it earlier. The spot where their wedding ring used to be was now occupied by another ring.
Tan Qinyin subconsciously rubbed the ring on her ring finger and curved her lips slightly. “Yes.”
Only now did she notice that Lu Yanzhi was also wearing a ring on the ring finger of his left hand. She blinked and replied politely.
“Brother Lu, your ring is also very beautiful.”
Lu Yanzhi looked down at his own ring and smiled faintly. “My wife’s is even prettier.”
Tan Qinyin didn’t respond, picking up her drink to take a small sip.
Lu Yanzhi looked at her, his gentle voice carrying a hint of gravity. “Yinyin, is the dipping sauce to your taste?”
Tan Qinyin nodded. “It’s delicious, thank you.”
Seeing she still wasn’t asking anything, Lu Yanzhi pressed his lips together and didn’t probe further. He opened a bottle of beer from the table and took a sip.
Zeng Yiyang and Song Qinghe returned one after another, and the relaxed atmosphere returned to the table.
After the meal ended and goodbyes were said, Tan Qinyin and Song Qinghe drove away from the hotpot restaurant.
Watching the car drive off, Zeng Yiyang sighed. “I can understand Qinyin not remembering you, but how could she forget even me? When she came to the capital to play as a kid, I even took her to the amusement park!”
“And then nearly lost Yinyin?”
“…”
Zeng Yiyang: “I didn’t do it on purpose! I was half scared to death back then, okay?”
“That’s not the point!” He looked at Lu Yanzhi resentfully. “It must be because of you that Qinyin forgot me along with you!”
Lu Yanzhi’s expression was a bit cooler than before. He didn’t respond.
After a moment of silence, Zeng Yiyang asked seriously.
“Hey, what are you planning?”
“Naturally, to help Yinyin regain her memories as soon as possible,” Lu Yanzhi replied calmly. “To get everything back on track.”
Zeng Yiyang’s expression grew slightly serious. “But before she lost her memory, she wanted to divorce you.”
Lu Yanzhi was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead. “I won’t separate from Yinyin.”
Zeng Yiyang moved his lips, really wanting to curse at him.
Having no real feelings for her yet refusing to let go—what’s the difference between that and a scumbag who deceives women’s affections?
In the end, they were brothers, so he swallowed those words back down.
…
Song Qinghe had drunk a little beer earlier. On the way back to Whale Pond Manor, Tan Qinyin was the one driving.
“Qinghe, was I close to Lu Yanzhi before? How does he know my tastes so well?” she asked the question that had puzzled her all evening.
Song Qinghe weighed her words before answering. “You should be considered close, right? He’s your brother’s friend, isn’t he?”
Tan Qinyin pondered for a moment, then asked, “Who is his wife?”
“His wife?” Song Qinghe glanced at her, feigning casualness. “She seems to be from this circle too, but I don’t know her.”
“Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
Tan Qinyin shook her head. “No reason, just curious.”
It was a little past eight when they got home. Chu Nanyu had just returned as well.
Song Qinghe happened to greet him, polite yet somewhat reserved. After all, it was a bit awkward staying at someone else’s place.
“Mr. Chu, I’ll be troubling you for this period of time.”
“You’re too polite, Miss Song,” Chu Nanyu said with a faint smile. “You’re Yinyin’s friend, so there’s no need to be so formal with me.”
“Exactly,” Tan Qinyin chided her with a glance. “Why be so polite with my husband?”
Song Qinghe chuckled sheepishly.
But he’s not really your husband, girl!
…
Tan Qinyin loved the two peony plants Old Mrs. Chu had given her. After her shower, she couldn’t resist going downstairs again to gently tend to them at the flower stand.
“If you like them, I can bring them inside for you,” Chu Nanyu’s voice came from behind her.
Tan Qinyin turned around with a smile. “No need. The light is best here, and everyone can enjoy them this way. If we move them upstairs, only I’ll get to see them.”
Chu Nanyu walked to her side and glanced at the pink buds about to bloom. “You really like peonies?”
Tan Qinyin nodded, her voice soft. “Yes, I’ve loved them since I was little. Do you know what peonies symbolize?”
She clasped her hands together, tilting her head as she rested her cheek on them. “It means ‘Among millions of people, I love only you.’ Isn’t that romantic?”
“Yes, very romantic.”
Chu Nanyu suddenly recalled last year’s grand wedding—the hall filled with flowers, yet there seemed to have been no peonies in sight.
“Husband, what flowers do you like?” Tan Qinyin asked.
“I—” Chu Nanyu paused. “I don’t have any particular favorites.”
“Really?” Tan Qinyin blinked. “Then you can like the same ones as me, okay?”
Chu Nanyu looked down at her, a faint glimmer in his eyes, and softly replied, “Okay.”
Tan Qinyin cleared her throat, putting on a serious expression. “Then I’ll ask again: what flowers do you like?”
“Peonies.”
“What do peonies symbolize?”
“Among countless people,” Chu Nanyu’s gaze remained fixed on her face as he slowly uttered, “I love only you.”
“Oh, I knew it!”
Tan Qinyin instantly broke into a sly smile. “Well? Fell for my trick, didn’t you?”
Chu Nanyu stared at her, his eyes deep and unreadable, saying nothing.
The corners of Tan Qinyin’s eyes still crinkled with laughter as she stood on her tiptoes and quickly planted a kiss on his cheek. “Goodnight, husband.”
With that, she bounded upstairs like a cheerful little rabbit.
The living room light fell on Chu Nanyu’s upright figure, his back straight and tall.
A long while later, a very soft sigh escaped him.
**
After Song Qinghe arrived, Tan Qinyin had a companion for everything. That afternoon, they had plans to watch a movie together.
Song Qinghe had some last-minute voice-over work and went straight to the cinema from the recording studio, while Tan Qinyin headed there from home first.
She arrived early and decided to buy drinks for both of them.
The cinema was on the top floor of the mall, and downstairs was a beverage shop she often frequented. Just as she was about to step inside, her gaze inadvertently swept past the glass wall of the coffee shop across the way, and her footsteps suddenly halted.
Chu Nanyu was sitting by the window inside the shop.
Across from him sat a beautiful young woman.
…
Inside the coffee shop.
Chu Nanyu politely asked, “Miss Meng, what would you like to drink?”
Meng Xinwei replied gently, “Anything is fine. I’ll leave it to you.”
Chu Nanyu nodded and gestured for the server, placing a simple order.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, their coffee soon arrived.
Meng Xinwei took a graceful sip and asked with a smile, “I heard from Auntie that you’ve always been busy with work and have never been in a relationship?”
Chu Nanyu’s expression remained aloof. “That’s right.”
“I feel the same,” Meng Xinwei said with a hint of nervousness on her face. “We’ve met a few times before. Do you remember?”
Chu Nanyu replied, “I’m sorry.”
A flicker of disappointment passed through Meng Xinwei’s eyes, but she quickly masked it, maintaining a faint smile. “It’s fine if you don’t remember. We can—”
“Miss Meng,” Chu Nanyu leaned forward slightly, his voice cool and polite, “I sincerely apologize for taking up your time this afternoon. I came today because it was arranged by the elders and I couldn’t refuse, not because it was my intention.”
Meng Xinwei’s expression stiffened slightly, her lips paling a shade. “You… don’t like me?”
“Not at all,” Chu Nanyu said. “It’s just that I have no interest in this. Miss Meng, you are outstanding and will surely meet the right person.”
Meng Xinwei lowered her gaze briefly, then looked up again, her expression returning to normal. “I understand.”
She took a step back, adopting a more tactful approach. “But Mr. Chu, meeting like this is still a kind of fate. Even if we can’t be lovers, how about becoming friends?”
Chu Nanyu replied, “I’m sorry, Miss Meng. I have a rather strict definition of friendship and cannot consider someone I’ve only briefly met as a friend.”
Meng Xinwei’s fingers tightened slightly. After a moment, she forced a smile. “You really are just as the rumors say.”
“Alright, then I’ll take my leave.”
Without saying more, she picked up her bag and prepared to leave. But in her haste, she accidentally knocked over the coffee cup on the table.
Chu Nanyu reacted quickly, reaching out to steady the rim of the cup. “Be careful.”
A splash of coffee lightly stained the back of his hand and cuff. Seeing this, Meng Xinwei immediately pulled out a tissue to wipe it for him.
“I’m sorry—”
But as soon as she touched his hand, Chu Nanyu withdrew it and wiped it himself with a tissue. “It’s fine.”
Meng Xinwei’s hand froze mid-air before she silently retracted it.
Her gaze softened. “Your shirt is stained. Let me buy you a new one.”
“No need.”
After tossing the tissue into the trash, Chu Nanyu picked up his jacket and stood. “I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving as well.”
Meng Xinwei grabbed his wrist. “Wait, let me replace it for you. Otherwise, I’ll feel guilty. After all, you stained your clothes because you were helping me.”
Chu Nanyu’s wrist stiffened slightly, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, yet he maintained his basic politeness. “Really, it’s unnecessary.”
He subtly withdrew his hand, the distance in his tone now unmistakably clear.
Meng Xinwei looked at her empty palm, a trace of embarrassment flashing in her eyes, but she still managed a strained smile. “Well… if there’s a chance next time, I’ll thank you in person.”
Chu Nanyu didn’t respond, only giving a slight nod as a farewell before turning and leaving the café.
Unbeknownst to him, a slender figure stood not far behind him.