Chapter 97 I Like You Very Much
Lin Yao was really a little embarrassed.
One of them keeps calling himself "wife," and the other brazenly refers to himself as "sister-in-law." Do they even know that he and Xie Xingchen are still in a relationship and haven't even started dating yet?
"Who's your wife?" he asked in a low voice.
"If you want to be my husband, that's fine too. We can be each other's husbands." Xie Xingchen didn't care about such trivial matters at all. "But I prefer to call you 'baby'."
Lin Yao: "..........You'd better shut up."
He realized why he hadn't been sure how this guy felt about him before—it was because this guy was so outspoken and prone to making up stories. Sometimes, when things got too ambiguous, it was hard to see what he really meant.
Having just spent a sum of money, Xie Yunhuai was so happy he wanted to use up all the remaining balance in his card. He whispered, seeking confirmation, "Xiaoqi, you... just said that sister-in-law isn't breaking off the engagement?"
“Not announcing the engagement doesn’t mean I’ve accepted you.” Jiang Qiran raised an eyebrow, looking like a haughty queen. “Lin Yao and I just chatted for a while, and I think he’s right. He’ll keep you hanging for a while, swipe your credit card, and torment you. Then, when he’s in a bad mood, he can dump you. That way, he can vent his anger.”
Lin Yao: "......"
If you've just said it so bluntly, what's the point of playing games?
Xie Yunhuai: "........Okay."
Xie Xingchen knew that this person's chatting skills were definitely unconventional, so he smoothed things over by saying, "That means there's still room for maneuver. You should be content. Even if it's just in name, you two will still be ex-fiancés after you break up. Be happy about that."
Jiang Qiran scoffed: "You're probably overjoyed because you think you won't be held accountable later."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." After all, things had taken a turn for the better, and Xie Xingchen thanked her sincerely. "Please be sure to put in a good word for me with my father and try to make this a small matter."
Lin Yao moved his lips, unusually saying something nice: "Thank you, sister-in-law."
The mere mention of that name sends chills down my spine.
Jiang Qiran couldn't stand this couple's love-struck minds any longer and urged, "If you're going to leave, hurry up and leave. This room will be full of reporters soon, and you won't be able to escape even if you want to."
Lin Yao turned his head and exchanged a glance with Xie Xingchen. The two walked to the window in perfect unison.
"Can't you two use the back door?" Xie Yunhuai frowned. "What if you get crippled?"
Hearing the commotion spreading over, Lin Yao glanced at the other person, deftly opened the window, and jumped off the second floor without hesitation.
Xie Yunhuai: "........."
That's so bold!
Xie Xingchen raised the corners of his lips slightly, turned his head and greeted them, "Then I'll leave it to you two. See you later, keep in touch by phone."
After saying that, he also jumped out of the window in the same manner, bending his legs, and disappeared from sight.
In the banquet hall on the first floor, Pei Yizhong looked out the window amidst the noise and saw a figure flash by quickly; it looked somewhat familiar.
"My old eyes are failing, but I think I'm seeing my son."
He raised his hand to support his brow, then looked down and sent a message to Lin Yao.
[Pei Yizhong]: An accident occurred at the engagement ceremony, and Xie Yunhuai took his brother's place.
[Pei Yizhong]: This kid actually had this trick up his sleeve.
[Pei Yizhong]: But that doesn't mean he's not a scumbag! Son, open your eyes wide, don't see him tonight, I'll go back and make you a midnight snack.
【01】：On the Road
【01】: Don't worry, I just saw him at the engagement ceremony.
[Pei Yizhong]: ...........? ? ? ? ?
[Pei Yizhong]: You, me, sigh.
[Pei Yizhong]: Don't send yourself away!!!
Lin Yao suddenly covered his phone, afraid that the people next to him would see it even a little bit. Why did this old man speak so bluntly?
His gaze fell on the vast crowd, and he said in a low voice, "Are you sure it's alright to just leave like this?"
"I trust their public relations skills." Xie Xingchen said calmly. "I know the old man too well. In this kind of crisis, he is most concerned about his image. He will be busy dealing with public opinion tonight. Even if he wants to settle scores, he will have to wait until tomorrow."
These words sound as if tonight is the last night of recklessness.
Lin Yao's lips tightened, and he remained silent.
Xie Xingchen changed to a low-key car and easily walked out from the gaze of the reporters gathered at the door. He turned to look at him and said, "Don't look like you're about to go to the underworld. You're so serious."
"Will your dad lock you up?" Lin Yao frowned. "That's how it's always portrayed in TV dramas: a failed attempt to elope leads to house arrest and being forced to submit."
Xie Xingchen couldn't stop laughing.
So cute, I want to kiss him to death.
"The original plot might have been like this, but now that the eldest brother and sister-in-law are in love, this makes perfect sense."
“My dad is extremely picky. If it weren’t for the Jiang family’s extensive business in other star systems, he wouldn’t even look at them. Don’t worry, he can find a marriage partner he likes in the Ninth Star System. There are plenty of options.”
Lin Yao nodded slightly.
Even though I knew the other person's relaxed demeanor was meant to reassure me, I still relaxed.
The dashboard showed 7:47, and the navigation indicated that there were still ten minutes to go to the destination. Lin Yao said in a low voice, "Have you calculated the time? We'll be at your house around eight o'clock."
"I've counted, I walked back and forth several times to make sure I wouldn't be late," Xie Xingchen frankly admitted. "I'm very serious about our first date."
Lin Yao choked.
Is this considered a date?
Their ambiguous relationship hasn't been clarified yet, so why skip that step?
Now, she belatedly felt ashamed of her actions in trying to steal the bride. She had made it so obvious, but Xie Xingchen still had no idea how deep his feelings for her were.
But asking directly would be a bit awkward.
Lin Yao's phone vibrated suddenly. He looked down and saw that the dormitory group he had created earlier had been renamed "Smart Egg Alliance," and it was obvious who had created it.
[Little Sweet Pear]: Xie Xingchen, you actually ran away from your wedding?! I saw the news, that's amazing!
[Little Sweet Pear]: For now, I'll call you the bravest man in the nine galaxies.
[Little Sweet Pear]: @Boyan, were you there? Post two photos of the runaway groom so we can see.
[Bo Yan]: The person has already fled, and the scene is in complete chaos.
[Little Sweet Pear]: Ugh, I hate that I couldn't get the juicy gossip right away! @01, @01, @01, come out and get some gossip!!!
[Little Sweet Pear]: Where is Yao-ge? The fresh melon will go bad if we don't eat it soon!!!
Lin Yao felt like he had a hot potato.
On the scene of the first gossip.
They enthusiastically participated in the elopement.
The person is next to the groom.
Seeing his expression change in an instant, Xie Xingchen parked the car and leaned over to look: "What did you say?"
Having just pulled off a shocking wedding robbery, Lin Yao was now at a loss for what to do with this sudden closeness.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Xie Xingchen's eyelashes before shifting away: "Quick, it's 7:58."
"Are you nervous?" Xie Xingchen sensed the tension in his body and softened his voice. "It's my birthday, why are you nervous?"
Lin Yao kept a straight expression and slowed his breathing: "No."
"No? Then why all these little gestures?" Xie Xingchen held up a finger and propped it up against the corner of his mouth. "He seemed about to say something but then stopped."
Lin Yao glanced at the clock on the center console and reminded him, "Fifty-nine."
Xie Xingchen smiled, reached out to unbuckle his seatbelt, sat back down, and opened the car door. Lin Yao quickly followed him out.
I've been here several times before, and each time it's been brightly lit, but today it's unusually dark. His house stands alone by the back lake, surrounded by neighbors at a distance, making it appear even more isolated in the dim light.
Lin Yao followed him over, his eyes still involuntarily glancing at the time on his phone screen.
Eight o'clock sharp.
Below the numbers is a photo of the two of them taken back then; he is expressionless, while he is smiling brightly.
"It's eight o'clock," Lin Yao said softly.
“Yes, it’s eight o’clock.” Xie Xingchen repeated his words, “So I’ve come to keep my promise to you.”
Lin Yao sensed a light coming on. He looked up and saw that the yard was suddenly lit up with twinkling lights, and the number of sunflowers in the garden had increased dramatically, spreading out to fill the space as far as the eye could see.
The sunflowers, which usually droop at night, held their heads high, all looking at me with the same burning gaze Xie Xingchen always gave me.
In the distance, there is the night sky and stars; nearby, there is a vibrant life force—it's truly breathtaking.
"You...did this? All of this..." Lin Yao turned to look at Xie Xingchen, his heart pounding, his palms sweating. "I've been wanting to ask you this before, why did you plant sunflowers?"
Xie Xingchen's gaze was calm, but emotions were churning in his eyes.
The Lin Yao staring intently at him before him overlapped with countless Lin Yaos from his memories.
The tense atmosphere of their first meeting, the countless attempts to ease the tension, the silent night walks following his back, the fleeting glances exchanged as they brushed past each other in the corridor.
Seeing his coldness again when school started made me so happy that I couldn't sleep all night.
Later, he was willing to open his heart and look back at himself.
Just like now, there is no hostility in her eyes, but a gentle and joyful light; it is not like every meeting is the last, but that there are countless days to come.
This journey has truly taken a very, very long time.
Xie Xingchen looked into his eyes and murmured, "Why a sunflower? Because the person I like has the sun in their name, so I can't stop looking at him, I can't help but be drawn to him."
The sunflower symbolizes silent, unspoken love.
Lin Yao's heart skipped a beat.
Knowing the outcome, yet because I've never been firmly chosen, I still can't help but want to confirm it repeatedly.
"Xie Xingchen, is the person you're talking about me?"
Xie Xingchen was dressed in his most appropriate three-piece suit, which he had prepared specifically for this moment of confession.
Having never done anything like this before, the once-proud and successful young man lost his usual ease and even his back was ramrod straight.
He nodded slightly, standing in the moonlight, as if he had suddenly been pulled back in time to three years ago.
It was as if on a breezy night, he passed by the dim streetlamp at the alley entrance and mustered the courage to call out to the figure that had been following him for a long time.
"Lin Yao, I really, really like you."
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