Before Meng Qingluan even entered the backyard, she saw Shen Yan sitting at the door, his head occasionally lowering to look at what he was holding, then raising it to gaze at the doorway.
Looking up at her wrist, she saw the red mark had faded, and Meng Qingluan quickened her pace slightly.
Shen Yan saw her too, stood up to greet her, and asked, "Why are you only coming back now? Is your stomach upset?"
Meng Qingluan nodded, clutching her stomach. "I'm a little tired. I want to sleep."
Shen Yan stepped aside and quickly helped her into the house.
Meng Qingluan changed her clothes and lay on the bed. She glanced at what he was holding in his hand, and it seemed that he had also been holding something while waiting for her.
Curious, she asked, "What is this?"
Shen Yan hid the item behind his back and said mysteriously, "I won't tell you, it's a surprise."
"A surprise?" Meng Qingluan repeated, then asked uncertainly, "For me?"
Shen Yan was someone who couldn't keep secrets, and not wanting to spoil Meng Qingluan's fun, he nodded.
"Of course it's a surprise for you."
“I see,” Meng Qingluan smiled. “Since it’s a surprise for me, I won’t ask. Let’s keep it a secret.”
Chen Yan chuckled and pulled the blanket up a little higher for her. "Go to sleep. I'll go get you another small hand warmer."
"No need." Meng Qingluan pulled him back. "I'm not in pain anymore, there's no need for that."
"It gets chilly at night, so it's good to have one on hand so you don't catch a cold."
Meng Qingluan lay on her side, looking at him with a smile, "Don't we still have you as a human hand warmer?"
"..."
Shen Yan felt his face flush from her blatant teasing.
Seeing that he finally stopped making a fuss, Meng Qingluan recalled what had happened during the day.
He asked worriedly, "Will the Emperor severely punish you for what happened today?"
Shen Yan brought her some hot water. "I don't know how."
Meng Qingluan took the teacup and, seeing his confident reply, and remembering that he hadn't seemed to care about that matter all afternoon, asked curiously.
"How can you be so sure? Did you do this on purpose today?"
Chen Yan stood by the bed, his posture relaxed, his head resting against the pillar.
"No." Shen Yan's voice was nonchalant. "I didn't intend to hit him, but when I saw him touch you, I couldn't help but strike."
Meng Qingluan finished the hot water in her cup and handed him the empty cup. "You knew he was deliberately provoking you so you would hit him, yet you still acted so impulsively?"
"Don't worry, Luanluan," Chen Yan's lips curled into a slight smile, "Your husband isn't that stupid, he won't give in to his wishes so easily."
"But they've already taken action today."
Shen Yan put the teacup back on the table and sat back on the couch. "If I hit Li Zhanlan and he didn't fight back, then he did succeed."
"But he fought back, and no matter what others did, the Emperor's punishment was nothing more than a minor, insignificant reprimand."
"..."
Meng Qingluan nodded.
Li Zhanlan's counterattack was truly unexpected.
If she didn't know the truth, she would think it was perfectly normal for Li Zhanlan to fight back, after all, he was known as the seventh prince, the number one playboy in the capital.
Meng Qingluan couldn't understand why he retaliated today...
If the plan is to use Shen Yan in such an important setting, wouldn't playing the role of a victim be the safest course of action?
And the Emperor, does he really value Shen Yan that much?
Meng Qingluan had a strong sense of unease. Although she was not a strategist, she knew that if something was unusual, there must be something fishy going on.
If the Emperor is truly angered by this matter and becomes disappointed in Shen Yan, then it would be understandable that he doesn't value him as much.
If he's truly not angry, and instead continues to heavily rely on Chen Yan...
Meng Qingluan looked at Chen Yan, her shoulders went limp, and she leaned back on the pillow.
Shen Yan noticed that she had suddenly become dejected, her whole body like a kite with a broken string, completely motionless.
"What's wrong? Aren't you happy that I'm not being punished?"
"Happy, of course I'm happy," Meng Qingluan replied listlessly.
"Hmm... then why did you suddenly become unhappy?"
Shen Yan spoke slowly, his body tense, and he couldn't help but feel nervous.
My mind started wandering again.
Is she unhappy because she feels she won't be severely punished, while Li Zhanlan will be...?
Meng Qingluan remained silent for a long time, until Shen Yan's fingernails were almost completely embedded in her flesh, then she suddenly did a somersault and sat up.
"Chen Yan, do you like me?"
"ah?"
Meng Qingluan's question came out of nowhere, and Shen Yan's brain went blank for a moment, his heart was in mid-air, and he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.
"I asked," Meng Qingluan patiently repeated, "Do you like me? Does Shen Yan like Meng Qingluan?"
"I like you! I not only like you, I also love Luanluan... I love her so much."
Shen Yan spoke very quickly, not daring to waste a single second, and he could feel his body trembling slightly.
He was nervous, really nervous.
Luanluan, are you going to accept him?
Shen Yan's heart was pounding wildly, as if it were beating right next to his ears, making his eardrums ache and his eyes sting.
Before the excitement in my heart had subsided, my chin was suddenly gripped tightly, while my other side was simultaneously cupped by a warm hand.
Meng Qingluan leaned closer.
Shen Yan's mind went blank. His eyelashes trembled, and his deep eyes gazed at her with a hazy look, a turbulent undercurrent swirling within them.
“Luanluan…”
"Shh," Meng Qingluan suddenly raised her hand to cover his eyes, "Close your eyes."
"..."
Shen Yan obediently closed her eyes, leaving only her tightly closed eyelashes trembling slightly. Her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes fluttered against her palms, making them feel a little itchy.
A warm and soft touch washed over him.
Unlike last time, this was the first time Meng Qingluan had taken the initiative to kiss him.
Shen Yan's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes suddenly filled with tears; he wanted to cry.
He felt that he must be the happiest person in the world right now.
Even if she asked him to die, he would willingly go and die.
He is so happy.
I feel like crying.
Shen Yan was completely unguarded as she lay beneath him. She could see his Adam's apple bobbing and hear his every breath.
Before long, Meng Qingluan raised her head and removed her hands that were blocking his view.
Both of them were breathing somewhat erratically.
Shen Yan's eyes were red, with tears already dripping from the corners of her eyes, and her lips were red and luscious.
"Sinking inkstone?"
"Yes, I'm here."
Chen Yan's voice was very nasal and even trembling, filled with excitement and disbelief.
"If you love me, promise me one thing, okay?" Meng Qingluan frowned slightly, coaxing him.
"……good."
"If we ever fight for power, you are not allowed to risk your life. If you dare, I will never speak to you again, and you will never be able to find me again. Can you agree to that?"
"Luanluan, the loser will suffer a terrible fate. I want you to enjoy a life of wealth and luxury."
Meng Qingluan shook her head, "As long as you live, all I want is for you to live."
Meng Qingluan's tone was more resolute than ever before.
All she wanted was for Chen Yan to live.
Let's assume she had ulterior motives: to be able to go back for herself and to change his tragic fate.
Shen Yan nodded gently, wrapped his arms around her neck, and looked at her sincerely.
"Luanluan, I promise you, I'll do anything you want."
"……Thanks."
When Meng Qingluan met his pure and innocent gaze, a wave of guilt washed over her.
She suddenly couldn't meet his eyes.
Speechless for a moment, all I could manage was a dry "thank you."
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