Zhan Yan Chen immediately set the knife down on the cutting board and rushed over to Yan Qing. Though he managed the top conglomerate and held Asia’s economic lifeline in his hands, a single sentence from Yan Qing had him so excited he lost all composure.
He wrapped his arms around Yan Qing’s slender, soft waist, pulling her close. His voice trembled slightly, “Qing Qing, can you say it again?”
Yan Qing patted her startled heart. With her straightforward personality and decisive nature, once she realized she had fallen in love with Zhan Yan Chen, she expressed it directly.
“Zhan Yan Chen, meeting you makes it hard not to fall for you. I love you.”
Zhan Yan Chen suddenly lowered his head and kissed Yan Qing’s lips—carefully, gently, as if kissing a rare treasure.
The words “I love you” were light, easily spoken without much thought.
But coming from her lips, they held immeasurable weight for him.
Winning Yan Qing’s love had been his long-cherished wish for years. Now that it was finally fulfilled, his hardened heart softened because of these three words, and endless affection surged within his trembling heart.
After a long while, Zhan Yan Chen released Yan Qing, his eyes filled with tenderness as he smiled, “Yan Qing.”
“Hmm?” Yan Qing was also smiling, her cheeks flushed from the kiss. She reached up and gently touched his reddened eyes. He really was a simple, inexperienced younger brother—just confessing his feelings nearly brought him to tears.
Zhan Yan Chen spoke as if reciting wedding vows, “I am willing to defy my nature, go against my instincts, and love you forever.”
Yan Qing’s heart trembled softly. Just as she was about to speak, he spoke again—
“Wife, can we fulfill marital duties in the future?”
The mood Yan Qing had just built up vanished with his words. She pushed him away, “Can’t you think of anything else, kid?”
“Sister, this is very important in a marriage.”
Yan Qing: “…”
“Zhan Yan Chen, you love me, and I’ve fallen for you too. Our marriage is no longer loveless. Building a marriage requires effort from both of us.” Yan Qing stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. “Let’s work together from now on.”
Zhan Yan Chen kissed her back. “Wife, I don’t want to work together. I just want to spoil you and love you.”
“First, spoil my stomach.” Yan Qing was hungry.
Zhan Yan Chen immediately picked her up and sat her down at the kitchen island, serving her a bowl of freshly cooked porridge.
Yan Qing thought to herself: Waking up with a hangover and having a bowl of porridge is truly blissful.
Yan Qing blew on the steaming porridge and took a sip, nodding in approval. Her younger brother’s cooking skills were superb, and the porridge was delicious and fragrant.
“Little brother, you must be under a lot of pressure in graduate school, right?” Yan Qing said. “I heard keeping a pet can help relieve stress. Would you like to get one?”
Zhan Yan Chen placed the prepared side dishes in front of her, leaning his elbow on the counter as he watched her. “No.”
“Why not?” Yan Qing was puzzled. Did he not like pets?
“I only want to keep you.”
Yan Qing: “…”
Huaxing Apartment.
He Lin opened the door and saw Fu Zhan Yu standing outside.
“Old He.” Fu Zhan Yu nodded slightly.
“Little Zhan Yu?” He Lin noticed he looked haggard. “When did you arrive?”
“I came last night.”
He Lin was surprised. “Silly boy, why didn’t you knock when you arrived?”
“You were resting.”
Coming to see him in the middle of the night was definitely not a trivial matter.
He Lin pondered the reason for his sudden visit. “Come in and talk.”
The two sat down on the sofa, and Fu Zhan Yu poured a cup of tea for He Lin.
He Lin took it but didn’t drink. “Go ahead, what brings you here?”
Fu Zhan Yu, “Old He, I came to ask you, what happened between Rong Yan and me six years ago?”
He Lin looked at him in surprise, “Did you and Xiao Yan know each other six years ago? How come I didn’t know?”
Fu Zhan Yu saw through his acting at a glance, “I’m certain the person I’ve forgotten is Rong Yan, but she refuses to acknowledge me. You are Rong Yan’s teacher, her only family, you must know everything about her. Please tell me.”
“How could the person you’ve forgotten be Xiao Yan? She has never mentioned you to me in these six years.” He Lin stared at him without blinking, “Little Zhan Yu, are you misunderstanding something?”
Fu Zhan Yu was anxious and confused, “Old He, I couldn’t be mistaken. I’m sure Rong Yan and I were in love. Rong Yan is hiding it from me, why are you hiding it from me too?”