For a split second, Lin Yumo accidentally met Li Qingyang’s deep gaze. The smile in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an unfathomable darkness.
“What do I know?”
She asked bluntly.
Li Qingyang fell silent.
A moment later, he closed his eyes with a sigh.
“It’s nothing.”
“Excuse me. Your coffees.”
Fortunately, the server brought over their drinks just then, interrupting the strangely awkward atmosphere between them.
“Thank you.”
“Enjoy.”
Lin Yumo stirred her steaming coffee, unsure what to say.
Li Qingyang changed the subject. “By the way, an amusement park is opening in a few days. You always wanted to go when you were little, but I never got the chance to take you. Are you still interested?”
Lin Yumo shook her head. “Brother Qingyang, don’t treat me like a child. I’m an adult now.”
“You’re only eighteen. You’re not all grown up in my eyes yet. When you’re this age, you should make the most of your free time. Once your studies get busy, I might not even be able to find a time that works for you.”
He picked up his coffee and looked down at the foam swirling inside. Then he took a sip, his movements unhurried and graceful, his tone relaxed.
“Actually, the owner is a friend of mine, and he gave me two tickets. They’re free, and I don’t have anyone to go with.”
“When does it open?” Lin Yumo asked.
“Next week. You really don’t want to think about it?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Lin Yumo shook her head. “I can’t go.”
“That’s all right. We can wait until you’re free.”
“Brother Qingyang.”
She suddenly addressed him with unusual seriousness.
“Hmm?” Li Qingyang set down his coffee and looked at her, puzzled. “What is it?”
“There’s something I feel I should tell you. After all, we may…” Lin Yumo paused, speaking slowly. “We may not see each other much again.”
At that, Li Qingyang froze.
“Why would you say that?”
She drew a deep breath.
“Actually… I’m getting married.”
The words plunged the atmosphere into sudden stillness.
She didn’t notice that, the moment Li Qingyang heard her, his whole body tensed. His fingers tightened around the coffee cup until their tips turned a translucent, ghastly white.
“Are you joking?”
He said, “You’re too young…”
She was only eighteen, not even old enough to marry legally. How could she possibly be getting married? It was absurd.
“I’m not joking.”
Lin Yumo’s expression was solemn. “Brother Qingyang, I’ve always thought of you as the brother I trust most. I never imagined we’d meet again in this lifetime, but now that you’re back, I don’t want to keep this from you.”
He opened his mouth several times, but for a long while, no words came.
There was no mistaking how serious she was.
Li Qingyang could no longer manage a smile.
“Did your family force you?”
“No. I chose this myself.”
“You chose it?”
His gaze sharpened as he searched Lin Yumo’s face for any sign that she was lying.
“That’s impossible. You’re not like that.”
Li Qingyang’s expression turned grave. “You should be going to school, not getting married. If your family arranged this, I can help you—as long as you don’t want it. Momo, your life shouldn’t be like this.”
Lin Yumo lowered her eyes, her expression calm.
“There’s no such thing as what should or shouldn’t be. This is the path I chose, and I’ll walk it myself.”
“What made you choose this path? Money? I can give you money. I know your family isn’t well off. If they won’t pay for you to go to university, I will.”
No wonder Lin Yumo had avoided talking about her studies.
Now he understood why.
Li Qingyang could guess that her father must have arranged the marriage. Otherwise, given her nature, she would never just marry anyone.
She valued freedom more than anyone.
“It’s not about money.”
Lin Yumo went on, “I don’t need you to pay for me. I could never repay everything you’ve done for me. I’m sorry, but I can’t keep letting you worry about me for nothing.”
“I don’t need you to repay me.”
Li Qingyang said, “Momo, listen to me. Whatever’s going on, I’ll help you deal with it. Who’s the man you’re supposed to marry? I’ll find a way to make him break off the engagement.”
She shook her head again.
“No. I want to marry him.”
Another strange silence fell.
Li Qingyang struggled to control his expression and keep calm, but the faint tremor in his voice betrayed him.
“Do you… love that man?”
“Love?”
Lin Yumo seemed to find the word unfamiliar. She turned to look out the window, her slender brows relaxing without her noticing.
“I don’t know what love is.”
She rested her chin in her hand, her expression serene.
“But I know he’s someone I have to choose, and I won’t regret my choice.”
To Li Qingyang, the girl’s words sounded like the sweetest confession imaginable—to that man.
And like a crushing blow to him.
“Who… is he?”
Lin Yumo turned back and smiled faintly.
“Mu Linhan.”
“…?!”
At that moment, Li Qingyang could no longer keep his composure.
He abruptly stood and grabbed Lin Yumo by the arm, his face dark with anger. “You can’t.”
News about Mu Group had been everywhere lately. Across all of A City, who didn’t know that the Mu family’s Eldest Young Master had been paralyzed in a car accident and left disabled?
Marrying that cripple would be like throwing herself into a fire, ruining the rest of her life!
He couldn’t bear to let that happen. Before it was too late, he had to do something.
“Momo, come with me.”
Li Qingyang spoke urgently. “I’ll protect you. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. I’ll make sure those people can never find you again, and disappear from your life.”
“Brother Qingyang, let go.”
Lin Yumo herself was perfectly calm. She even tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I know you’ll respect my wishes, and this is what I want. You’ll support me, won’t you?”
“…Momo!”
At last, his voice turned stern.
“Not everything can go the way you want. The Mu family is no place for you.”
Even dealing with the Mu family took a heavy toll on him. How much worse would it be for Lin Yumo, so young? Mu Linhan was seven years older than her, with a terrible temper. He had at least once been handsome, but now he was disabled. He was utterly unworthy of the treasure Li Qingyang held in the palm of his hand!
Lin Yumo remained calm.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
But Li Qingyang couldn’t accept it.
Seeing how upset he was, Lin Yumo decided to end the conversation. She rose from her seat and looked up at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Then she picked up her bag and started to go around him. If they kept talking, they would only part on bad terms.
“Momo!”
He seized her hand and, in an instant, pulled her slender frame tightly into his arms. “Don’t go.”
Lin Yumo was stunned. Her chin was forced upward, resting against his shoulder, and the two of them instantly became the focus of everyone in the café.
“Ah! A couple’s having a fight! Look!”
“Wow, competition’s fierce these days. Handsome guys have to beg people not to break up with them?!”
“Who knows? Anyway, if my boyfriend were that handsome, I’d never want to break up…”
“Exactly. How can she not appreciate a guy that handsome?”
Whispers rose all around them.
Mortified, Lin Yumo quickly tried to push him away.
“Brother Qingyang, everyone’s watching us.”
Li Qingyang no longer cared.
“…Don’t marry him, okay?”
His voice trembled. “You can ignore me about anything else, but this time, I’m begging you.”
The onlookers began gossiping among themselves.
“Holy crap, is he begging her?”
“If she won’t marry a guy that handsome, who would she marry?”
“Isn’t that great? I hope that beauty turns him down. Then I can ask the handsome guy for his number, hehe…”
While Lin Yumo stood there at a loss, a graceful figure suddenly rose from the crowd and walked toward them.
As the woman approached, her eyes met Lin Yumo’s.
The newcomer strode over briskly, casually picked up a coffee from a nearby table, and suddenly splashed it over Lin Yumo.
“Miss, please let go of my husband!”