From this angle, Xiao Ran could even see her individual, slightly drooping eyelashes and the faint sheen of moisture in her eyes.
He asked dubiously, "Really?"
He had just clearly heard her say she was moving into the dorms. He was only asking because he thought she was serious.
Left with no choice, the girl told a second lie.
"Um... well, you haven’t been in good spirits lately, have you? My sister thought it would be better if I kept you company. It would put her mind at ease." The girl kept her head down, her voice trailing off.
She felt a pang of guilt just saying the words. When she’d told her sister the same thing earlier, it had been a desperate move. She never actually intended to go through with it.
’Who knew my brother-in-law would bring up the same topic?’
Xiao Ran gave a cold smile. "Do you really think I’d believe that?"
In this world, the people who knew Yan Li best weren’t just her family, but also him.
She would never, ever say something like that.
Seeing Xiao Ran’s knowing expression, the guilt-ridden girl was at a complete loss. She wrung her hands, looking ready to admit her mistake. "I... I just wanted to make you feel a little better."
That part was true, she could swear on it!
Seeing the girl’s wronged expression, looking like she was about to cry, Xu Cheng and Zhang Chuan, who were standing to the side, couldn’t help but feel a stir of pity.
’What bad intentions could such a cute girl possibly have?’
"Uh, Xici... the study and the dining room in your place are a little close..." That was all the help Xu Cheng could offer.
????
At his words, the girl’s pupils shrank. Her temples began to throb, and her heart started to race.
’So my brother-in-law heard me?’
The scariest thing in the world isn’t telling a lie, but having that lie exposed right to your face.
She felt like she was about to socially die right here on the spot!
The girl’s mind went completely blank. "I... uh... I..."
She had no idea how to explain herself. After getting halfway through a stammered sentence, her head hung low again.
Seeing her pitiful state, Xiao Ran finally relented. "Alright, if you don’t want to go, then don’t. You’ll be starting work in a month anyway. You can just stay here until then."
In truth, he had already thought it through.
She was a junior in college, and this was her last month of the term. It was impossible to apply for a dorm room at this point.
She would have to cram in with someone else. He’d lived in dorms before. A 1.2-meter-wide bed with two people squeezed in... it might be fine for a day or two, but a whole month was out of the question.
Besides, in an unfamiliar environment, she would definitely be uncomfortable and wouldn’t be able to focus on all the job applications and interviews.
He’d already looked after her for three years, so what was one last little bit of trouble?
It was just a matter of feeding one more person. He’d already grown used to it over the past three years.
Hearing her brother-in-law finally agree to let her stay, the girl was so happy she nearly jumped for joy.
She straightened her small frame, puffed out her chest, and said earnestly, "I promise I won’t cause you any trouble at all this month, and I’ll make sure my sister never finds out. If by some chance she does, just tell her that I was the one who insisted on staying and wouldn’t leave!"
Seeing her determined expression, Xiao Ran reached out and ruffled her hair. ’Silly girl.’
’Even if Yan Li found out, shouldn’t she be the one doing some self-reflection?’
’Why would her own sister rather stay with me, her brother-in-law, than with her?’
It was already half past ten. Xu Cheng was about to propose another round. He had just raised his glass, but before he could say anything, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled out his phone, saw the warning message from his wife on WeChat, and sighed in resignation.
"Ranzi, man... my wife is already blowing up my phone. I gotta head back."
It couldn’t be helped. This was married life. As soon as the clock struck ten, his wife would start hitting him with a relentless interrogation. He had to go home, no questions asked.
Before he got married, he always thought marriage was the gateway to happiness.
It was only after getting married that he discovered it was more like an invisible chain. Thinking about it, he suddenly felt a little envious of Xiao Ran. At least he was free and untethered now, unlike himself.
Seeing that Xu Cheng was about to leave, Zhang Chuan quickly got up too. "Right, I should head out too. I have to stay up late to work on a presentation."
He still had work to do, so he couldn’t drink any more.
Xiao Ran understood. It wasn’t easy for them, either. After graduation, they had escaped the fetters of their parents only to be shackled by life itself.
This was the daily routine of an adult.
A life of smooth sailing was something you only found in novels.
In reality, there was no plot armor, only struggle and perseverance. And sometimes, you had to take one of life’s ultimate attacks head-on—like getting a divorce.
He nodded. "Alright. Text me when you get home."
....
As soon as the two of them left, the room fell quiet. Looking at the messy table, Xiao Ran bent down and started to clear it.
Seeing this, the girl quickly said, "Let me get this. You’ve had a long day. You should get some rest."
’He’s had way too much to deal with today. I’m free right now anyway, so I can handle it.’
"It’s fine. I’m not helpless."
With that, Xiao Ran started clearing away the trash.
The girl didn’t stand by idly; she joined in to help him. Working together, they were fast. Within twenty minutes, the messy table was spotless.
Xiao Ran stretched and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already eleven o’clock.
He looked at the girl before him. "You should get some sleep. I still have a few things to take care of. Good night."
With that, he turned and went into the study.
Xiao Ran wasn’t the least bit sleepy, even though he’d had a few drinks and had work in the morning.
Right now, he was more eager to start writing his new book, following the plan he had discussed with Shi Guang that afternoon.
After all, when it comes to writing, it’s best to put pen to paper as soon as an idea strikes. If you wait too long, you might forget it. Even if you remember, the original feeling will be gone. For an author, inspiration is crucial.
Hearing the study door CLICK shut, the girl standing in the middle of the living room felt her heart, which had just settled down, leap back into her throat.
’It’s so late, and he’s been drinking. Shouldn’t he be going to sleep?’
’My brother-in-law isn’t going to sleep, so he must have something on his mind. Post-breakup syndrome really does come in waves, just as I thought. I saw what my good friend Si Yingying went through after her breakup, and it was absolutely terrifying.’
’During the day, she’d claim she was fine, that she was the bravest person alive, but as soon as night fell, she’d be crying and sending me WeChat messages like, "Xixi, I’m so miserable. I feel so empty without him."’
’And, "Now that we’ve broken up, I feel so lost. I don’t even know what the point of living is anymore."’
She had been tormented by that for a solid month!
But that month was also what made Yan Xici truly understand the devastating power of a breakup.
If a simple breakup was that bad, a divorce must be even more painful.
As she thought about this, the girl stood in the living room and cast a worried glance toward the study door.
She blinked, the bright overhead light casting a faint shadow beneath her long lashes.
The girl pursed her rosy lips, hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down on the white cloth sofa.
She drew her long legs up onto the cushion with her.