Everything changed after that night.
Yet somehow, at the same time, nothing changed at all.
Chen Yan still woke Su Qingyuan up every morning, prepared breakfast, and tidied the house. Every evening, he waited for her to come home and made dinner.
But a few new habits quietly slipped into their lives.
For example, every morning when Su Qingyuan woke up, she would find a small note resting beside her pillow.
Written neatly on it were two simple words:
Good morning.
And every night before bed, Chen Yan would gently kiss her forehead.
Weekends changed too.
The two of them would go grocery shopping together, wander through stores, and watch movies.
Like any ordinary couple.
Meanwhile, Su Qingyue had fully embraced her role as their number one spectator.
Every day, she carried a tiny notebook around, carefully documenting every sweet interaction between them.
“This morning, Sis made coffee for Chen Yan. Chen Yan drank it and said it tasted good. Sis smiled immediately.”
“During lunch, Chen Yan put food onto Sis’s plate. Sis placed food back onto his. They kept feeding each other until I practically got full just from watching.”
“Tonight while watching TV, Sis fell asleep leaning on Chen Yan’s shoulder. Chen Yan didn’t move a single inch and stayed frozen for two whole hours.”
She faithfully recorded everything.
Then she sent the updates to her friends.
The replies always looked the same:
Your sister and brother-in-law are ridiculously sweet.
Every time Su Qingyue saw the words brother-in-law, she could not stop grinning.
One day, out of nowhere, she asked Chen Yan,
“Chen Yan, what are your plans for the future?”
At the time, Chen Yan was watering the plants.
Hearing the question, he paused to think for a moment.
“No major plans. I’m fine just like this.”
Su Qingyue tilted her head.
“Just like this? Being my sister’s assistant forever?”
Chen Yan nodded.
“Is there a problem with that?”
Su Qingyue smiled.
“Not at all. I’m just curious. You used to be the young master of a wealthy family, and now you’re working as someone’s assistant. Don’t you ever feel wronged?”
Chen Yan set down the watering can and looked at her.
“Do you know what I wanted most in the past?”
She shook her head.
“A home.”
He paused briefly.
“After my parents passed away, I didn’t have one anymore.”
“Over the years, I traveled everywhere, saw many things, stayed in plenty of places, and met all kinds of people.”
“But no place ever felt like home.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the house.
Inside, Su Qingyuan sat on the sofa reviewing documents.
Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, wrapping her in a warm golden glow.
Chen Yan’s expression softened.
“Until I met her.”
Su Qingyue felt her eyes sting.
Without warning, she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
“Chen Yan,” she said, voice thick with emotion, “you really are my brother-in-law.”
Chen Yan froze for a moment before smiling.
He gently patted her shoulder.
“I know.”
That evening during dinner, Su Qingyue suddenly cleared her throat.
“Sis, I have a suggestion.”
Su Qingyuan looked up.
“Speak.”
Su Qingyue glanced between the two of them.
“When are you guys getting married?”
Su Qingyuan nearly choked on her food.
Even Chen Yan froze.
Meanwhile, Su Qingyue grinned shamelessly.
“I’ve been calling him brother-in-law for days already. I can’t be saying it for free, right?”
Su Qingyuan shot her a glare.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I’m not talking nonsense,” Su Qingyue said seriously. “Sis, you know perfectly well how good Chen Yan is to you. You like him too, and you can’t bear to be apart from him, so why wait?”
Su Qingyuan fell silent.
Chen Yan said nothing either.
Su Qingyue continued,
“I know both of you have things from your past. But the past is already over.”
“You’re together now, and you’ll stay together in the future.”
“So what difference does it make if it happens sooner or later?”
She looked directly at her sister.
“Sis, think carefully. Some people, once you lose them, they’re gone forever.”
Su Qingyuan looked at her.
Then slowly turned to look at Chen Yan.
Chen Yan was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke for a long while.
Eventually, Su Qingyuan lowered her head.
“Let me think about it.”
That night, sleep refused to come.
Su Qingyuan lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her thoughts completely tangled in Su Qingyue’s words.
What difference does it make if it happens sooner or later?
After a while, she turned toward the window.
Downstairs, the light in Chen Yan’s room was still on.
What was he still doing awake?
She picked up her phone, intending to message him.
But after staring at the screen for a moment, she set it down again.
Then she got out of bed.
Quietly, she stepped out of her room and walked downstairs.
Stopping in front of Chen Yan’s door, she knocked softly.
The door opened.
Chen Yan stood there.
“Can’t sleep?”
She nodded.
Without another word, he stepped aside to let her in.
She entered the room and sat at the edge of the bed.
Chen Yan sat beside her.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Su Qingyuan finally broke the silence.
“Chen Yan.”
“Hm?”
“You heard what Qingyue said tonight, right?”
“I did.”
She lowered her head.
“What do you think?”
Chen Yan was quiet for a moment.
Then he answered softly,
“I’ll follow your lead.”
She looked up at him.
His eyes were impossibly gentle.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he said softly, “that’s when we’ll do it.”
Her eyes gradually reddened.
Slowly, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Then let’s wait a little longer.”
Chen Yan nodded.
“Alright.”
She spoke quietly,
“It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“I just want Qingyue to graduate first.”
Chen Yan paused.
“One more year,” she continued softly. “After she graduates, we’ll get married.”
“And she can be my bridesmaid.”
Chen Yan lowered his eyes to look at her.
“You’ve already planned that far ahead?”
She looked up and glared at him.
“What, do you have a problem with that?”
He laughed softly.
“No problem at all.”
She leaned back against his shoulder.
Outside, the moonlight stretched quietly across the night.
After a long while, Su Qingyuan suddenly murmured,
“Chen Yan.”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
He looked down at her.
“What are you thanking me for?”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she simply wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tighter.