Hearing Shu Chuanran make such a solemn promise, Shu De'an was naturally very pleased.

After confirming with Shu Yi what time the Zhang family would arrive at the ancestral home, he casually asked, "Where did that kid Youye go?"

Upon receiving Shu Yi's reply that "he was called to the research institute by Grandpa Xu," and thinking of going to check on Shu Renxuan who had woken up from his coma, Shu De'an left with Uncle Wei.

Watching the two figures quickly disappear from sight, Shu Yi naturally turned around and continued walking towards the kitchen.

He accompanied her to the kitchen, and the two of them remained silent, tacitly understanding each other.

My feelings for Shu Chuanran.

Shu Yi knew she couldn't give any response.

What surprised her even more was that she simply couldn't understand why Shu Chuanran would fall for her.

During her hospital stay, Shu Yi had thought things through carefully, even mentally reviewing every moment she had spent with Shu Chuanran during that time.

After reviewing the situation, she was even more confused about Shu Chuanran's thoughts.

From her perspective, from their first meeting until now, their interactions, even eye contact, have been minimal.

Perhaps it was because of the constraints of some forbidden relationship between the two, something Shu Yi was well aware of and understood.

This taboo should not be touched by her.

Moreover, Shu Chuanran had never explicitly told her anything, and his usual behavior and speech were normal.

—Except for that one time.

—That time in the office.

It was the first time the two had been so close, and it was also the first time she had truly understood Shu Chuanran's feelings.

"Shu Chuanran," she suddenly called out, stopping him.

"Second sister, what's wrong?"

"Forget about that incident in the office, and don't mention it again." After a pause, Shu Yi added, "Promise me you'll forget about it, okay?"

"Why?" Shu Chuanran asked calmly.

“You know Zhang Youye's personality very well. If he finds out about this—”

The unspoken words that follow need not be fully stated; a wise person will understand.

Sensing the faint worry in her eyes, Shu Chuanran was taken aback and suddenly chuckled: "Second Sister, are you worried that Brother You will beat me to death?"

Before she could reply, Shu Chuanran continued, "Actually, when I rescued my second sister from the kidnappers that day, I was already prepared to die."

Shu Chuanran turned around and, with an indifferent expression, continued, "The broken steps are back on track."

“I don’t care about life and death, so why would someone who has already died once be afraid?”

His thin eyebrows furrowed tightly at his words. Shu Yi quickly followed, grabbed his arm, and faced him.

"What exactly do you want to do? Are you going to tell him? Are you crazy? Can't you just give me a break? Shu Chuanran, you're just my brother. Let me tell you, I won't—"

It's impossible for me to like you.

The six words he couldn't finish were cut off by Shu Chuanran's sudden change in expression.

"Second sister, can you please not say anything?"

He clenched his fist at his side, met her gaze, opened his mouth, and his voice became inexplicably hoarse, as if a thousand needles were piercing his throat at the same time.

"Please, don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Shu Chuanran, don't do this." Shu Yi couldn't bear it and let go of his arm.

His arms were freed, but the molten lava in his chest contracted in waves.

Not wanting to lose face in front of Shu Yi, Shu Chuanran disregarded other trivial matters, hastily said "Second Sister, I'm leaving first," and quickly disappeared from her sight.

Standing in the deserted corridor, Shu Yi looked in the direction where his figure disappeared.

After a long silence, she let out a long sigh and slowly walked towards the kitchen, accompanied by the green leaves entwined at her feet.

...

On the eve of the dinner party.

Shu Yi received a video call from her aunt Shu Qiuran from abroad.

"Yiyi, how are you recovering? Your sister is causing a lot of trouble, she keeps wanting to come back to China to see you."

"With my aunt's care and the endless supply of tonics she sends back, how could I not be doing well?"

"You silly child, didn't I tell you to share some with Chuanran too? And your uncle, he's just recovered from a serious illness, he needs to nourish himself properly—"

Before her aunt could finish speaking, Su Yu's cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Yes, sister."

"These supplements were carefully selected by my mom and dad; you can't buy them even if you have money."

“I know, little sister, that’s why I shared quite a lot with your brother Chuanran as well,” Shuyi replied with a smile.

"Sister, now that everything's been resolved, when are you and Brother Youye going to have your wedding?"

She could tell that Su Yu had snatched her phone away, and Shu Yi smiled helplessly: "Does my sister want to come back for the wedding?"

"That's right, everyone knows the Zhang family is big and rich. Sister, I guarantee you, your wedding with my brother-in-law will definitely have a world-shaking impact! Hurry up and do it, I've been waiting to see it!"

I heard a reproachful voice from the other end of the phone, followed by another crisp sound.

Presumably Su Yu had been hit on the head, before Shu Yi could stop her, the voices came over again.

"Yiyi, your sister is acting crazy again."

"Don't listen to her nonsense. You should take good care of your health, and make sure your uncle and Chuanran take their supplements on time, understand?"

"I know, Auntie, you too. Please take good care of yourself while you're abroad."

On the other end of the phone, gazing at the scenery outside the luxurious villa, Shu Qiuran suddenly sighed softly.

“Yiyi, so many things have happened since you were brought back to the Shu family, and I never thought you would be kidnapped. Sometimes I think, if you hadn’t been brought back, none of these things would have happened to you, right?”

“Every time I think about your parents watching you suffer all this alone from heaven, your aunt feels heartbroken. It’s a pity that your aunt can’t hug you for your dad.”

"When we received the news of your kidnapping that day, your uncle and I were so anxious that we wanted to book plane tickets back to China immediately."

"Later, if it weren't for this kid, Yuno, making such a solemn promise to me, I would have flown straight back."

This is the first time Shu Qiuran has brought up this topic in all the recent phone calls we've had.

Curiosity piqued, Shu Yi asked, "Auntie, what did Zhang Youye say to you?"

Shu Qiuran couldn't help but laugh whenever she recalled Zhang Youye's promise, which was almost like signing a life-or-death contract.

After laughing, she couldn't help but say to Su Rui: Youye and you back then are exactly the same.

"He promised me that even if he had to turn the whole world upside down, he would find you at all costs. He also told me not to worry, and that if he broke his promise, he would come back to me with his head."

As expected, laughter reached her ears. After Shu Yi finished laughing, Shu Qiuran rubbed her reddened eyes.

"Silly girl, I can tell that Yuno really loves you, even more than you can imagine."

"I still remember how your uncle was willing to give his life for me back then. I know that kind of love all too well. If your parents are watching from heaven, they will surely be happy that you have this man."