What do you prepare when you receive a gift?
Meng Qingluan was speechless for a moment.
Now you're acting all coy and reserved again?
Seeing her so open and frank, Shen Yan couldn't help but ask her out of curiosity.
"Luanluan, are you ready...?"
Meng Qingluan found his question utterly absurd.
"How can I give it to you if I'm not prepared?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Yan took a deep breath, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
Then, as if making a major decision, his eyes were firm and his tone resolute.
"Okay! I will definitely do my best and never let Luanluan down!"
"..."
When Zhu Qing'an returned, she also noticed the change in Shen Yan's attitude.
He didn't need to think much; Shen Yan's eyes alone betrayed him.
Just now, his eyes were so fierce, it looked like he wanted to eat someone alive. He seemed to want to tear him apart and fry him in oil.
But now...
He didn't even bother to give him a glance; if he did, his eyes would be full of smugness.
Zhu Qing'an glanced away speechlessly, too lazy to pay him any attention.
Meng Qingluan made him a snow rabbit, but Chen Yan didn't.
That's why he can now ignore his overbearing attitude at the dinner table.
Wishing you peace and tranquility, just a fleeting glimpse from the corner of my eye.
Chen Yan had no appetite for the large table of food in front of him, but casually picked up a few pieces of food and chewed them.
It was much smaller than my usual portion size.
Zhu Qing'an immediately thought of himself.
Shen Yan must have seen the little snow rabbit in his hand and learned that his sister had made him a snow rabbit, and not only that, she had also carved a little rabbit for him herself.
This is his New Year's gift.
But he didn't sink the inkstone.
He made a fuss, but Meng Qingluan ignored him.
So he was depressed and even his meals tasted like cardboard!
After Zhu Qing'an figured things out, she couldn't help but smile, feeling relieved.
His appetite had increased today because of Shen Yan's humiliation.
The dumplings were served last, after the rest of the meal had been finished.
Zhu Qing'an was already eight-tenths full, and looking at the several plates full of dumplings, she didn't want to touch them.
On second thought.
—My sister said this afternoon that she would make some dumplings herself.
Which dish did she prepare?
Zhu Qing'an glanced around and quickly identified which of the three plates of dumplings was made by Meng Qingluan.
There's no other reason than that it was the ugliest-looking plate.
Zhu Qing'an had just picked up a dumpling and put it in her bowl, swallowed it, and looked up again to find that only a few dumplings remained on the plate.
Two or three dumplings lay scattered on the plate, looking rather pitiful.
He couldn't help but stare blankly.
Did those two pigs from the backyard wander in?
"Eat slowly, be careful not to choke."
Zhu Qing'an was frowning in thought when he heard the person next to him make a sound. He followed her gaze and his lips twitched violently.
—Shen Yan scooped all the dumplings from the plate into his own bowl, like a hungry wolf… No, wait!
It should resemble a wild boar spirit that has been starved for ten years.
They devoured dumplings like crazy.
Zhu Qing'an looked at the scene before her, her face turned green, and turned her head away, choosing not to look.
He was afraid that if he watched too much, he would have nightmares at night.
Zhu Qing'an's heart stirred; although he had just eaten one dumpling and was already full.
But he still reached out and picked up the last three dumplings, putting them into his own bowl.
The first one I ate showed no unusual symptoms.
The second one went in, and it was still the same as usual.
Zhu Qing'an's stomach was already swollen, and he subconsciously put his hand on his stomach.
I'm so full, this is the last one...
Chen Yan was so upset about what he was eating.
He skipped eating the main course just to save room for dumplings, hoping to get a copper coin and thus receive double the reward.
As the number of dumplings in the bowl dwindled, only one remained!
Shen Yan revealed a look of resignation as he stuffed the dumpling into his mouth.
Let's give it our all!
"Well--"
The chewing stopped, and the man couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
He then quickly grabbed a handkerchief from the side and spat out the hard object from his mouth.
A copper coin.
"You found a copper coin? Lucky star!"
"Um!"
Zhu Qing'an's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded gently in agreement.
Upon hearing the noise, Chen Yan loosened his grip, then quickly picked up the chopsticks again as they fell onto the table.
He didn't get to eat any.
Fate once again refused to choose him.
Luck, too.
Shen Yan felt a tightness in his chest. He didn't say much and buried his head in his bowl, finishing the dumplings one bite at a time.
He ate very carefully this time, chewing very slowly.
Zhu Qing'an was smiling when a sudden, sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen. His mind went blank, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Not wanting anyone to see him in such a disheveled state, he greeted Meng Qingluan.
"Sister, I'm full."
"Okay," Meng Qingluan nodded and replied, "Go back to your room and rest. Did you eat too much tonight? Should I bring you some digestive pills?"
Zhu Qing'an's expression remained normal, but the cold sweat on his back, when blown by the wind, sent a chill down his spine.
"Not much. Don't worry, sister. I'm going back to my room now. Goodnight."
"good evening."
"..."
May you depart in peace.
Meng Qingluan subconsciously looked at the person beside her and found that he was not making a fuss and his expression was very calm.
Chen Yan swallowed the food in his mouth, raised his head, and said.
"I'm full, I'm going to wash up first."
"Um."
Meng Qingluan nodded, carefully observing his expression.
Shen Yan stood up and strode towards the door.
As they left the dining room and walked into the corridor, Chen Yan suddenly stopped.
What are you doing here?
Zhu Qing'an stood up from the bench. "I want to talk to you."
Shen Yan replied coldly, "We've already discussed everything we needed to discuss last time."
After saying that, he walked past the people and prepared to leave.
No, not at all.
Zhu Qing'an moved aside, directly blocking his path.
He said in a low voice, "You'll regret it if we don't talk about it today."
Shen Yan noticed the seriousness in his tone and a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. He turned to instruct his servant.
"You may all step back."
"yes."
The servants consciously left the corridor and retreated to a place where they could not hear the two talking, but could arrive in time if danger occurred.
Shen Yan wasn't in a hurry to ask him, "Here? You should probably leave it at that; let's go to the guest room."
To avoid him trying to smear himself later and putting himself in a difficult position in front of Luanluan.
Zhu Qing'an ignored him and remained seated.
"No need, my body is worthless to begin with."
"..."
Shen Yan didn't say much and sat down not far from him.
"What happened today was intentional."
"..."
Shen Yan frowned and remained silent.
Which thing is he referring to as "deliberate"?
Did they deliberately show off their snowman in front of me, or did they intentionally steal my coins?
If it's the latter, then he'd like to ask him how he developed such keen eyesight that he could easily identify which dumpling contained a coin.
Zhu Qing'an didn't care about his reaction or whether he answered, and continued.
"The dumplings were made especially for you. I know that the coin didn't belong to me either."
Shen Yan was caught off guard by his sudden words.
"What do you mean?"
Just a moment ago he was acting all arrogant and swaggering, but now he's spouting nonsense to me?
What is his purpose?
Could it be that he's just like that scoundrel Li Zhanjue...?
Shen Yan was disgusted by his own imagination, and felt goosebumps all over his body.
I've moved a little further away from him.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Zhu Qingan said with a sudden smile as he turned his head.
“The coins don’t belong to me, my parents’ love doesn’t belong to me, and my sister won’t belong to me either.”
"Chen Yan, I only want to tell you this today. Meng Qingluan loves you very much, so you cannot bully her or let her down."
"I know."
Shen Yan was filled with resentment as he was lectured.
He felt a little uneasy; Zhu Qing'an's words were rather strange and unusual.
This wasn't something he would normally say.
It sounds more like a dying wish.
As if she could read his mind, Zhu Qing'an spoke frankly without any pretense.
"Yes, I'm about to die, and you're about to lose a rival in love."
"What? You're perfectly fine, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Shen Yan became agitated, rushed to Zhu Qing'an, grabbed his collar, and glared at him intently.
To be fair, whether Zhu Qing'an lives or dies has absolutely nothing to do with him.
In his heart, apart from Meng Qingluan's safety, everyone else was nothing more than an ant.
Whether he lives or dies is none of his concern.
Having experienced the ups and downs of life, he had long since developed an indifference to life and death that surpassed that of ordinary people.
He was so agitated. Simply because...
—Zhu Qing'an is Meng Qingluan's medicine.
If he dies, who will save Meng Qingluan?
Zhu Qing'an slapped his hand away, "Don't worry, I will take care of everything before I die."
Shen Yan did not calm down at all upon hearing his words.
These are just his side of the story; why should he believe them?
"Don't believe me?"
Zhu Qing'an asked with a smile, and then he slowly spoke, giving Shen Yan a reason to believe him.
“I know who she is, I know who she is, and I even know how she got here.”
The "she" that Zhu Qing'an spoke of was something both of them knew perfectly well.
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Shen Yan released his grip and pretended to be confused.
"What are you talking about? What does this have to do with your death? Stop trying to change the subject."
"Hmm? You don't know? Then let me explain more clearly," Zhu Qing'an pressed, "My dear sister Meng Qingluan."
"You know, you must have known all along, that a different soul has entered her body. We're all smart people, and now that things have come to this, there's no need to pretend we don't know."
"...If you dare to tell anyone about these people, even if you die, I will tear you to pieces."
Shen Yan's eyes turned dangerous, sharp as an eagle, and the killing intent in his eyes shot at him without restraint.
He didn't care about Meng Qingluan's identity, how she got here, or what her purpose was in coming here.
All he knew was that...
She came to protect him; she was his angel.
Since she said he was her lucky star, he would do everything in his power to protect her and prevent her from getting hurt in the slightest.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'm only telling you because I want you to treat her well. I also hope that you won't stop her when she leaves."
Chen Yan clenched his fists and sat down again.
"You can speak now."
"..."
After Zhu Qing'an finished speaking, Shen Yan fell completely silent.
He didn't know how to express his feelings; all he knew was that he was very sad.
He was sad.
She came here and suffered countless grievances and hardships.
Why is all this happening? Is it because of my own existence?
Shen Yan clenched his fist and then relaxed it. At this moment, he even wanted to question himself about why he was alive.
“I have said everything I needed to say. Tonight, my sister will probably sleep a little longer. When she wakes up, give her a bowl of sugar water, and she will get better on her own.”
"And you? Where will you go?"
Chen Yan asked the question subconsciously.
Will he go to the world where Luan Luan lives?
Zhu Qingan was taken aback, but quickly realized why he had asked that question, and answered him as a matter of course.
"You know perfectly well why? I will naturally go to her world, and then I will not give you the chance to be a concubine."
"..."
What a damn slut.
Zhu Qing'an didn't continue speaking. He stood up and only glanced at the frozen lake behind the railing.
He glanced at it casually, then turned and left.
As he walked, his fingers slipped into his sleeve and touched the winding scars that snaked along his arm; each one was equally grotesque and terrifying, just like his true nature.
Should we go with her to her world?
He really wanted to.
People like him will simply disappear completely.
"..."
Since hearing Zhu Qing'an's words, Chen Yan seemed to have lost her soul, and hastily washed herself up.
Even after entering the house, he seemed completely distracted.
He took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and tried to enter the inner room as if nothing had happened.
It was pitch black inside, with no lights on except for a burning candle by the bed, providing extremely dim light.
She's probably already resting.
Chen Yan's lips twitched, then straightened into a straight line.
Since she couldn't see him, he didn't want to continue pretending nothing had happened.
He wanted to hug her.
Chen Yan thought for a moment, then stepped into the inner room.
Before he could take a few steps, a gust of wind suddenly swept past him, and then he felt a weight on his back.
The familiar fragrance filled his nostrils, and he instinctively raised his hand to support her thigh.
One hand pressed its hand over his eyes, stingily extinguishing even the last ray of light.
"Chen Yan, is that you?"
Meng Qingluan lowered her voice and asked coldly.
Although Shen Yan had a dark cloud hanging over her heart, she still cooperated by putting on a pitiful voice.
"It's me. The adults have already tied me up, why are you only now thinking of asking if I'm Shen Yan???"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Meng Qingluan slapped her on the shoulder. "I follow the procedures, that's the rule. Why are you asking such questions?"
"Yes, yes! I know I was wrong. Please forgive me and don't take it to heart."
"Alright, stop trying to get close to me!" Meng Qingluan said imperiously. "Carry me to the front, then sit on the bed."
Shen Yan obediently carried her to the bed.
Meng Qingluan jumped to the ground, patted his butt, and said nonchalantly.
"Lie face down with your face buried in the blanket! From now on, no matter what noises come from behind you, you are not allowed to speak without my command, understand?"
"Know."
Shen Yan blushed.
He wanted to tell Luanluan that he wasn't in the mood for that kind of thing right now.
Afraid of spoiling her mood, Chen Yan bit her lip and held back her anger.
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