I arrived home in S City the next afternoon.
Ying Qian felt dizzy as she watched Shen Yun and Ren Yi walk in another direction, while she stood obediently beside Chen Wenzhi, who was dragging his suitcase, exuding a cool and aloof aura.
Are you hungry?
They had brought bread, but Ying Qian was so carsick that she couldn't eat a single bite.
"I'm not hungry." To be honest, she had no appetite for anything; she just wanted to find a bed and get a good night's sleep.
The bus was bumpy, and she felt nauseous, so she couldn't get a good night's sleep.
When she got home, Chen Wenzhi unpacked her luggage, threw her dirty clothes into the washing machine, and hung them out to dry on the balcony before going downstairs to water the flowers in the backyard.
Ying Qian fell into a deep sleep on the sofa.
When she opened her eyes again, the living room lights were already on, and in front of her was Meng Beiyan's handsome face, the scent of cologne surrounding him. She frowned, sat up abruptly, and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Come and see if your sister is alright?" He had dark circles under his eyes, looking like he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.
Ying Qian thought that he was probably too busy with work, without showing any tenderness.
"What brings you here today?" she asked again.
Meng Beiyan raised his hand, wanting to pat her head, but she avoided it.
His hand hovered silently in the air, creating an awkward atmosphere. He then clenched his fist and pulled it back, his eyes filled with even deeper obsession. He practically gritted his teeth, suppressing his inner turmoil as he said, "I just wanted to come and see you."
"How did you know I was back, brother?" She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze.
The man gave a self-deprecating, bitter laugh: "You forgot, I also have a key to the house."
No wonder the house is so clean and everything is arranged neatly.
At first glance, she thought it was another housekeeper they had hired.
Unexpectedly, someone was personally taking care of me.
This person was actually Meng Beiyan.
"I haven't forgotten." Ying Qian gave a very slight smile, her eyes looking up as if they were filled with stars. "I thought you wouldn't have time to come see me."
Meng Beiyan: "..."
"I can come to see you anytime you want."
Having said that, Ying Qian stood aside without responding, then asked, "I forgot to tell you last time, Mom needed to talk to you, she called you, right?"
Meng Beiyan nodded, seemingly unwilling to say more about Ying Qian's mother.
Ying Qian wisely refrained from asking any further questions.
The brother and sister ran out of things to say.
After a long while, Meng Beiyan lifted his eyelids and asked, "Want to go back to Qincheng for a visit?"
“I will never go back, never again…” Ying Qian seemed to find it somewhat amusing, “There’s nothing left there.”
"Okay, I understand."
Ying Qian couldn't understand Meng Beiyan. His question meant he wanted to go back. Why did he want to go back to Qincheng? Did that place hold any fond memories for him?
It seems there aren't any...
“Come home with me this New Year, Xuhe misses you very much,” Meng Beiyan said.
Ying Qian shook her head, chuckled, and said, "I'm not going back. If Sister Xuhe wants to see me, she can do it anytime, anywhere. She doesn't need to be at home. Besides, Aunt Tang won't let me off the hook."
"No, that won't happen!" Meng Beiyan grabbed her wrist and tried to persuade her gently, "I've already discussed it with my mother, and I'll still treat you like a younger sister."
What methods were used?
In the end, it's all about acting; every day feels like playing some kind of power game.
"Mmm." Although she agreed, after Meng Beiyan breathed a sigh of relief, she added, "But I've already promised Chen Wenzhi, and he promised me he'd take me to see the fireworks."
"Fireworks?" He smiled slightly. "I can take you to watch them too, just the two of us, how about we wait for the countdown in the central square?"
"Is it possible?" She didn't quite trust Meng Beiyan. "Can you escape Aunt Tang's eyes?"
She exuded a dangerous aura that Meng Beiyan had never experienced before, which made him uneasy. Looking into her innocent and harmless eyes, he was almost bewitched.
Meng Beiyan leaned over and hugged Ying Qian, her entire body enveloped in his embrace.
The strong scent of cologne filled her nostrils, but she didn't resist. She wanted to see what Meng Beiyan was up to.
He did nothing but whispered in Ying Qian's ear, "Why are you always so hesitant? Don't overthink things, little one. I'll pave the way for you."
The hoarse voice was like a feather pricking Ying Qian's ears.
She tried to escape, but the slightest movement only made Meng Beiyan hold her tighter.
"Ying Qian, trust me... okay?"
"..."
In Ying Qian's view, silence is the best response.
Meng Beiyan fell silent; his usual composure at work had vanished.
"Speak," he pressed closer.
Ying Qian said, "Brother, you've changed so much."
Meng Beiyan was moved, and rested his chin quietly on Ying Qian's shoulder, as if seeking comfort.
What has changed?
“You’re being stubborn.” Ying Qian’s voice was gentle, just like when they first met. “Your forbearance will only hurt yourself in the end. Just say what’s on your mind, tell whoever you want, just don’t keep it inside.”
Ying Qian suddenly realized that Meng Beiyan might have been drinking; otherwise, why would he be so incoherent and saying such nonsensical things? She had never imagined that Meng Beiyan truly liked her…
“Ying Qian, we should never be on opposite sides, we should never... be enemies. Do you understand?”
The man's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
His expression grew increasingly complicated, and even though he felt a longing in his heart, he didn't dare to say it aloud.
Although the truth had already been revealed, he couldn't afford to make another mistake.
He was certain that if Ying Qian and Chen Wenzhi broke up one day, he would definitely win Ying Qian back.
“I know…” Ying Qian remained silent for a while, then said, “I never intended to go against you, I just…” She couldn’t finish her sentence. From beginning to end, she couldn’t bring herself to blame Meng Beiyan.
Those responsibilities could never be shifted to Meng Beiyan.
He did nothing wrong.
"Just what?" Meng Beiyan finally let go of her, holding her face and forcing her to look at him.
She lowered her eyes instinctively and explained, "It's nothing."
She didn't want to talk about it.
Meng Beiyan wanted to pry into her thoughts, but he was always turned away.
"Why are you unwilling to tell me so many things, Ying Qian?"
She meant that she was no longer a child who had never experienced anything, and she said meaningfully, "Because you are an adult, and I am not an adult yet."
A double entendre.
Because you are an adult, and I am not yet an adult...
Meng Beiyan laughed sarcastically, his eyes suddenly darkening. "I don't expect you to tell me every detail of your life, but at least you need to let me know where you're going when you leave home, otherwise I won't feel at ease."
“I understand, I’ll be more careful next time,” Ying Qian said.
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