Chapter 77

After washing up, Yun Zhan had breakfast with Shi Mingyue, the coolness of the minty toothpaste still lingering on his lips and teeth.

Holding an empty coffee cup, she wandered aimlessly along the gravel path. Bright Moon Manor was too vast; she hadn't yet gotten a feel for its layout.

"Actually, it's quite emotional. Before, I could only sneak in by climbing over the wall, but now, in just a few months, I can move in openly." Yun Zhan took a sip of coffee, his thoughts drifting back to the Lantern Festival.

"And you'll be the lady of the house. Once you marry into the Shi family, you should be considered the wife, right?"

21 clicked his tongue a few times: "I never expected you to be the one who got married."

Yun Zhan: "What difference does it make who marries whom? They're both girls, so it doesn't matter."

Yun Zhan suddenly changed the subject, raising an eyebrow: "Last night I was the one who attacked her, I was really fierce!"

Yun Zhan blushed; she had only made a few movements last night... and Shi Mingyue had already arrived...

Shi Mingyue sat on the hand and began to tremble all over within minutes. She was quite frightened at the time, but after checking, she found out that this was a normal reaction.

It's time to...

"Okay, okay, you're amazing. Who's more amazing than you?" 21 was too lazy to argue with her and agreed repeatedly.

Turning the corner through the moon gate, I bumped into Wen Yuan.

Wen Yuan was holding a round, orange cat in her arms. The cat was more excited than she was, its tail wagging like a windmill.

Wen Yuan wanted to run to find Shi Mingyue, but she stopped abruptly the moment she saw Yun Zhan.

The air suddenly became quiet.

The two stood a few steps apart, their eyes met, and then they looked away at the same time.

The orange cat meowed, breaking the silence, but only making the atmosphere more awkward.

Wen Yuan scratched the cat's ears, her heart pounding.

She had indeed gossiped about Yun Zhan and Pei Yanxi behind their backs before, saying things like "whoever becomes her girlfriend is bound to be unlucky," and even advising Shi Mingyue to "find another beauty."

Now, the tables have turned, and this person has become Shi Mingyue's wife. The Shi family has strict rules, and according to their status, Yun Zhan is now her "son-in-law".

Yun Zhan coughed lightly, and the words he was about to say rolled halfway on the tip of his tongue before he swallowed them back.

She knew Wen Yuan didn't like her... and didn't know what to say to Wen Yuan.

Just then, Shi Mingyue emerged from behind the flower stand, wearing a light apricot-colored loungewear dress with a knot tied around her waist by Yun Zhan that morning.

Her gaze swept over the two of them, and she immediately sensed the awkwardness in the air. With a slight smile, she naturally walked to Yun Zhan's side, standing shoulder to shoulder, so close that an outsider could easily understand what was going on.

"Wen Yuan".

Shi Mingyue looked at her and said in a light voice, "Yun Zhan and I have decided to get married. I am now his fiancée."

In short, it fixes the titles, stances, and relationships.

Wen Yuan curled her fingers on the cat's back and secretly looked up.

Yun Zhan's ears turned slightly red after Shi Mingyue publicly "officially announced" his relationship with him, but he didn't deny it. He even secretly slipped his other hand between Shi Mingyue's fingers, their fingers intertwined, which could be considered a tacit acceptance...

The orange cat meowed and struggled to its feet, its tail brushing against Wen Yuan's ankle. Wen Yuan finally released her grip on the cat's back, lowered her head, and whispered:

“…Son-in-law.”

The voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it was enough for Yun Zhan to hear. Yun Zhan chuckled and nodded gently in response.

Shi Mingyue breathed a long sigh of relief and revealed a satisfied expression.

That's good enough...

Shi Mingyue curled her lips into a smile. She tilted her head, leaned close to Yun Zhan's ear, and said in a voice only Yun Zhan could hear, "Don't be nervous. She grew up with me and doesn't have any bad intentions. You two should get along well."

After calling him "son-in-law," Wen Yuan's ears turned bright red instantly. She ran away without even taking the orange cat, her footsteps making a clattering sound on the gravel.

Yun Zhan watched her retreating figure, shook his head with a smile, but Shi Mingyue squeezed his palm.

"Let's go, son-in-law." Shi Mingyue drawled, a playful glint in his eye. "Take the kitten with you, and then your wife will take you to sunbathe."

The afternoon sunlight, like a lazy blanket, slanted in through the French windows and fell on Yun Zhan and Shi Mingyue.

The only sound in the living room was the very soft hum of the air conditioner. The orange cat nestled in Yun Zhan's arms, its tail occasionally brushing against her wrist, stirring up fine fur.

Yun Zhan held the cat, his fingertips tracing the soft fur behind its ear.

Yun Zhan lowered his eyes, looked at the cat's pink nose, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, "She's so cute."

Shi Mingyue sat beside her, but didn't even glance at the cat.

Her gaze was fixed intently on Yun Zhan's profile. His eyelashes were gilded with a pale gold by the sunlight, his nose was straight and high, and the corners of his lips were slightly upturned because of the cat's purring.

Shi Mingyue's eyes were so soft they were almost dripping with tears, and her voice was low and slow: "You look so cute when you look at cats."

Upon hearing the sound, Yun Zhan turned around and stumbled into that gentle sea.

Shi Mingyue's gaze was unwavering, direct and intense, like an unobstructed ray of sunlight in winter, enveloping her completely.

The orange cat stretched lazily in Yun Zhan's arms, its paws unconsciously wrinkling the hem of her shirt.

Yun Zhan had no time to tidy herself up; her heartbeat was gently lifted by that gaze, and then settled comfortably.

She suddenly realized that she was the cat being stroked.

Shi Mingyue is the one who pets the cat.

"You...you're making me shy by looking at me like that." Yun Zhan hurriedly turned his face away, pretending to be busy fiddling with the cat's paws.

"It's okay, look at the kitten, and I'll look at you."

...

During her afternoon rest, Yun Zhan tossed and turned in bed. Life at Mingyue Manor was very comfortable, but she hadn't forgotten what she needed to do next.

Yun Zhan rolled over, his arms wrapping perfectly around Shi Mingyue's waist, his face buried in the crook of her shoulder, finding the most comfortable position.

She was silent for a moment, her breath brushing against Shi Mingyue's collarbone. After hesitating for a while, she said, "...Can I go and say a few words to Wen Sixue and Pei Yanxi?"

Yun Zhan lowered his voice and, for the first time since returning from the illusion, brought up other people: "I should have told them I was out of the illusion."

As soon as she spoke, she held her breath, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around Shi Mingyue's robe tie.

That cautiousness was like that of a child who had done something wrong, or a cat afraid of disturbing its owner.

Shi Mingyue didn't answer immediately, but simply raised her hand, brushed aside the stray hairs on Yun Zhan's forehead, and slid her fingertips along his temples to behind his ears.

Then, cupping Yun Zhan's face, she placed a very light kiss on the corner of his eye, which was trembling with nervousness.

"Honey, I'm not angry."

Shi Mingyue's voice was low and soft, like afternoon sunlight falling on a cotton quilt: "They have treated you well, so it's time to say goodbye properly. You don't need to be so careful in front of me; it breaks my heart to see you like this."

“Yun Zhan, you married into the Shi family to live a good life. You don’t need to worry about those tedious etiquettes; you don’t need to do things you don’t like; and you don’t need to be afraid of making me angry.”

Shi Mingyue continued, her forehead pressed against Yun Zhan's: "Husband and wife are one, I trust you completely. Yun Zhan, I never worry that you will betray me."

One sentence, like a key, gently unlocked the hidden lock on Yun Zhan's heart.

She buried her face in Shi Mingyue's neck, took a deep breath, and her voice came out muffled:

"...Won't you be angry if I go to find Pei Yanxi and Wen Sixue?"

Shi Mingyue did not answer immediately.

She lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously drawing small circles on the sheets, as if she were slowly unfolding the wrinkles in her heart.

After a long while, she let out a soft breath and looked up with a relieved smile.

“I was definitely jealous before, especially Pei Yanxi.”

Shi Mingyue rubbed her temples, as if recalling an absurd nightmare: "Back then, you were seriously injured and unconscious. She stood guard outside the ward, wearing a white coat and communicating with the doctor using professional terminology. She was calm and serious. At that moment, I felt inferior for the first time. I almost thought... I was going to lose."

"Pei Yanxi is a very good person, but now, you belong to me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Shi Mingyue wiped away the stinging in her eyes, and when she looked up again, her eyes had brightened.

"I'm not afraid anymore."

Shi Mingyue leaned forward, resting her forehead against Yun Zhan's shoulder: "I know you love me, not because she's not good enough, but because you chose me."

You stayed here for me, giving up your original home.

“Yun Zhan, my family is actually very complicated, not as harmonious as it seems on the surface.”

“When I decided to marry you, many people told me that you didn’t have a good family background and couldn’t be my support, and that you were marrying above your station.”

“But I don’t think so. On the contrary, I feel that it is my honor that you are willing to accept my complicated family background and choose to marry me.”

Thank you...

Yun Zhan.

After saying that, Shi Mingyue reached out and placed her fingertips on Yun Zhan's chest, feeling the real heartbeat there.

Shi Mingyue's lips curved into a soft smile: "I know you like me now, so I'm even grateful to Pei Yanxi. If it weren't for her finding the best doctor, I might not have been able to wait for you to wake up."