Wanyuan Estate…
When Lu Muqian returned from work, he gazed at the empty living room, the vacant bedroom—nowhere could he find any trace of An Yin.
After asking Aunt Lan in the kitchen, who also said she hadn’t noticed when the lady had gone out, and finding no messages from An Yin on his phone, he suddenly felt a deep panic in his heart.
So, was her unusual obedience and gentleness toward him today just a pitiful gesture because she was leaving him?
Slumping in his study, Lu Muqian thought to himself that no matter how much An Yin disliked him, couldn’t bring herself to like him, or even hurled harsh words at him, he could bear it and accept it all.
But now, faced with the reality of her abandoning him, he was truly panicked. The emotions suppressed deep within could no longer be contained and erupted completely.
With red-rimmed eyes fixed on the radiantly smiling photo of An Yin placed on the sandalwood desk, his eyelids swollen and tears welling up in his eyes, a drop slid down from the corner. As he stared at the photo, an unmistakable sorrow shimmered in his gaze.
Yinyin, what should I do with you?
Do I really have to tie you to my side, make you truly mine, for you to spare me even a glance—even if it’s filled with disgust or hatred?
Is that the only way we can stay together forever?
But no, I don’t want that. It’s fine if you hate me; I’m just afraid I’ll lose that girl who loves to laugh, who’s lively and full of energy. That is what I fear the most.
Yinyin, will you come back tonight?
Will you? Can I wait for you?
During dinner, Aunt Lan knocked on the study door, calling him to eat.
Lu Muqian went downstairs, half-expecting to see An Yin already eating at the table without waiting for him. But there was nothing… nothing at all, only him alone.
He didn’t eat, frequently glancing toward the door, hoping to wait for her return, even though he knew deep down he might be waiting in vain.
Refusing to give up, Lu Muqian sat right by the entrance, waiting. He wanted to send a message to ask if she would come back, but he didn’t dare—because Yinyin had told him not to disturb her.
Once, unable to resist, he had texted her, only to find he had been blocked. At that time, he could only force a bitter smile and, when she returned, never questioned An Yin about it, pretending not to know and silently bearing it all.
Lu Muqian sat huddled by the door, burying his head in his arms. If An Yin didn’t return soon, the hot moisture in his eyes would spill over.
Suddenly… a light shone in the distance, illuminating the Cloud Heights Villa. Lu Muqian, with his head buried, didn’t notice the faint glow.
Until the sound of a car engine broke the silence, and a sedan stopped at the entrance of Cloud Heights Villa. From afar, An Yin saw the man sitting by the door, and her heart clenched painfully, as if she had overlooked something important.
She hurried out of the car, unbuckling her seatbelt and rushing inside, but not forgetting to tell An Chen, “Brother, thank you for driving me back. Be safe on your way home. Bye.”
An Yin ran to the entrance, stopping in front of Lu Muqian. She crouched down, gently stroking the man’s hair, speaking softly as if afraid of startling the ‘little deer’ before her, “Lu Muqian, I’m back.”
The man lifted his gaze, his wounded, dim eyes lighting up at the sight of An Yin, as if he had found a glimmer of light, regaining a trace of clarity.
She explained, “I went back to the An family home today to have dinner with my parents. Have you been waiting here for me all this time? I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you.”
An Yin realized what she had overlooked. Seeing the deep disappointment and fear in Lu Muqian’s eyes, she understood she had neglected his sensitivity, his insecurity about her, and his fear of her leaving.
“It’s okay. What matters is that you’re back. You’re back.”
Her return was the very reason Lu Muqian had waited at the door for so long.
“I’m sorry, I’ll always tell you in the future.”
An Yin pulled Lu Muqian directly into her embrace, letting his head rest on her shoulder and neck while continuously stroking his hair.
Lu Muqian stared straight ahead, “An Yin, from now on, no matter where you go, could you please tell me? Even if you really don’t want me anymore, could you at least let me know? I’m afraid there might come a day when I don’t even realize I can’t wait for you anymore.”
Just like tonight, he had been truly terrified that An Yin might not return, yet he would probably have kept waiting indefinitely.
“Okay, I’ll tell you wherever I go from now on. And listen, I would never abandon you. No matter when, you’ll always be able to wait for me.”
“Okay.” Lu Muqian wanted to question the truth of her words, but he didn’t dare hope for too much. Her agreement alone was already a tremendous mercy—how could he possibly ask for proof?
“It’s cold outside, let’s go in.”
Though Rong City had already entered spring, the night wind still carried enough chill to make one shiver.
“Okay.”
An Yin followed him inside. Passing through the living room, she noticed the completely untouched dinner on the dining table. Her delicate brows furrowed as she stopped walking. “Lu Muqian…”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“You haven’t eaten dinner?”
He shook his head. “I wanted to wait for you.”
“Are you hungry?”
Again he shook his head, whispering, “Not hungry.”
“Lu Muqian, tell me the truth. Are you hungry or not?”
The man remained stubborn. “Not hungry.”
“Lu Muqian, if you say you’re hungry, I’ll cook noodles for you.”
An Yin knew better than to expect him to admit it himself. He must have skipped dinner waiting for her. After working all day, exhausted—how could he not be hungry?
“Then I’m hungry.”
An Yin broke into a smile. “Okay, do you want an egg with that? Do you eat scallions?”
“Egg, yes. Scallions, yes.”
“Go wait on the sofa.”
An Yin called Aunt Lan to clear away the cold dinner from the table while she went to the kitchen to make noodles for Lu Muqian.
She had learned some basic cooking in her previous life—she wasn’t some pampered young lady who couldn’t handle the kitchen. Making noodles was within her skills, especially with a Mommy at home who loved cooking; it was hard not to pick up some basics.
An Yin boiled the noodles and fried a sunny-side-up egg. She initially wanted to shape it into a heart, but having never tried before, she didn’t succeed.
However, she chopped the scallions evenly, scattering a handful over the cooked noodles.
Soon, a bowl of noodles boasting excellent color, aroma, and flavor was ready.
An Yin called toward the living room, “Lu Muqian, come here.”
“I made this for you. Eat up.”
“Okay.”
Lu Muqian stared at the bowl of noodles on the table—made by An Yin. For the first time, she had willingly taken the initiative to cook for him.
He picked up his chopsticks but remained motionless.
An Yin urged him, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like it?”
“Have I become… slightly less annoying to you recently?”
Lu Muqian asked this question while looking calmly at An Yin, but the latter was clearly shocked. “Huh? Why would you ask that?”
“Then why are you so merciful as to cook noodles for me?”
“Or is there somewhere you need my help, and that’s why you’re trying to curry favor with me.”
In the past, An Yin would only speak to him in a slightly better tone or glance at him more when she needed his help. Today, making such a great sacrifice by cooking noodles for him probably meant the matter she needed help with was somewhat troublesome.
But no matter what it was, as long as she mentioned it, he would help without hesitation.
“Lu Muqian, from now on I won’t allow you to think like this.”
“Listen carefully, since yesterday, I don’t dislike you anymore. I even want to spend my whole life with you. So, you don’t need to be so… humble, understand?”
“Mm!” Lu Muqian merely nodded slightly, showing little surprise at her words.
She said, Lu Muqian, you shouldn’t be so humble.
Hah, even humility couldn’t win her love. Without humility, there would be nothing left at all.