Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When Song Fengwan returned home in the morning, she squatted in the bathroom and cried for a long time. When she got up, her eyes were sore, and she was lightheaded. She felt dizzy for a short while.
Her footsteps were weak, and her knees hit the edge of the toilet bowl. When she regained her senses, she took a deep breath, washed her face, and returned to her room.
Although she had severed ties with Song Jingren a long time ago, he was her biological father after all. They had lived together for nearly two decades. It would be a lie to say that she had no feelings for him.
She knew that he was bad, but getting someone to kidnap her? She couldnât have imagined this at all.
She lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Her eyes were hurting so much that she couldnât open them, and her tears kept flowing down.
Halfway through, Qiao Aiyun and Qiao Wangbei knocked on her door and asked her to eat, but she had no appetite. Actually, no one was in the mood to eat, so naturally, they would not force her.
Song Fengwanâs head was groggy, and she didnât know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, she took out her phone from under her pillow. It was already past 10 p.m.
Fu Chen had sent her a message six hours ago. [I want to have dinner with you.]
She burrowed under her blanket, cleared her throat, and called him.
The call connected. âThird Brother, Iâve been sleeping the whole time and didnât see your message.â
âYouâre awake now? Are you hungry?â
âIâm fine.â Perhaps she was too uncomfortable, so she didnât feel hungry.
âIâm hungry.â
âYou havenât eaten?â
Fu Chenâs voice was very calm. âIâm in your community.â
Song Fengwan was stunned for a moment before she jumped off the bed and pulled open the curtains. It was a dark night, and there was a heavy snowfall. The cold wind was blowing cotton-like snowflakes around, making them flutter all over. The scenery outside the window was already blanketed in snow.
In the dark night, it looked pure white.
It was like a black and white picture, beautiful and silent.
Before she could speak, she heard Fu Chen continue, âIâve been waiting for you the whole day. Iâm very hungry.â
âItâs snowing outside. Why havenât you gone back?â
âI want to see you.â The surroundings were extremely quiet, and his voice was low and hoarse, like a morning bell. When it reached her ears, her heart clenched.
âWait for me.â
âPut on more clothes. Thereâs no hurry.â Fu Chen hung up after reminding her.
â¦
Song Fengwan was wearing pajamas and a down jacket as she ran downstairs.
When she reached the first floor, she found that the lights were on. Qiao Aiyun was lying on the sofa with a blanket over her, already fast asleep.
Yan Wangchuan was sitting in an armchair with a laptop on his lap. The light glowing from the screen made his face look even more cold and bleak.
âUncle Yan?â Song Fengwanâs heart skipped a beat. She was feeling inexplicably guilty.
âYouâre going out?â Yan Wangchuan looked up at her.
ââ¦â Song Fengwan tugged at her clothes with her fingers. âI⦠have a friend looking for me. Iâm just going out for a bit, and Iâll be back soon.â
âItâs snowing.â
âYes, Iâll be back very soon.â Song Fengwan was lying, and her face was red. But after looking at Yan Wangchuan once more, she opened the door quietlyâ¦
A gust of frigid wind swept snow at her face. She subconsciously squinted and turned around to close the door.
The next secondâ¦
The wind and the snow stopped.
The moment she turned around, she saw Fu Chen standing at her door holding an umbrella.
In a daze, she recalled the first time she had met Fu Chen. It had been raining, and he had been standing under an umbrella tooâ¦
âWhy didnât you wear more clothes?â Fu Chen walked to the porch and raised his hand to draw the fur collar of her down jacket higher.
Song Fengwanâs eyes reddened slightly as she kept silent.
Fu Chen was standing on a step lower than herâ¦
âYour face is very red. You donât have a fever, do you?â
âNo.â She had been a little nervous when she met Yan Wangchuan just now.
âWanwanâ¦â
âYes?â
âI told you not to be afraid no matter what happens. Third Brother will protect you.â Fu Chen looked at her, and the two seemed to only have eyes for each other.
Song Fengwanâs nose felt sore as she nodded slightly.
âRegardless of whether or not you marry me in the future, I like you. It wonât change for the rest of my life, understand?â
She moved half an inch closer to Fu Chen, her eyes completely red. âThird Brother⦠I feel terrible.â
She was crying, and warm tears wet his neck. Fu Chenâs fingers loosened, and the umbrella slipped down. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
She felt terribleâ¦
He felt even worse.
âYouâre you, and heâs him. Donât punish yourself with someone elseâs mistake. When you suffer, so do I.
âSome people wonât know that youâre this sad. Stop crying for him after crying this time. Think about those who like you, care about you, and love you deeplyâ¦
âThink about me again.â
Everyone understood this logic, but some emotions were really out of peopleâs control. If she didnât vent once, she would probably keep it in her heart forever.
Fu Chen took a deep breath and tightened his arm, pulling her into his embrace and shielding her from the wind and snow.
â¦
Only when Song Fengwan was tired from crying did she let go.
âLetâs talk in the car.â Fu Chen held his arm around her as he walked her to the car.
The air was wet and cold. When inhaled into the lungs, the bone-chilling cold caused people to shiver uncontrollably. The water accumulated on the ground was covered by a thin layer of snow. When stepped on, there was even a soft cracking sound.
When the two got into the car, the heating was warm enough. Only then did Song Fengwan sniffle. She took the tissues Fu Chen handed her and kept wiping her tears, feeling a little embarrassed.
âDo you want to eat anything?â
âNo, I have to go back immediately. Iâm not very hungry either.â
Fu Chen took out an exquisitely packaged dessert from the backseat of the car and passed it to her. âEat this then. Because of the cold weather, I originally wanted to buy you actual food. But I was afraid it wouldnât taste good when itâs cold, so I only got this.â
Song Fengwan nodded and opened the box. It was a small mousse cake with a sweet smell.
She picked up a spoon on the side, scooped a piece, and passed it to Fu Chen. âWant some?â
Fu Chen shook his head. He was not particularly fond of anything, including sweets.
âWhy do I feel like you donât like anything?â?Apart from Buddhism.?âI donât think Iâve seen you be passionate about anything.â
âWho said I donât?â Fu Chen turned to look at her.
âWhat?â
âDoesnât liking you count?â
Song Fengwan coughed twice and lowered her head to eat. âOh⦠Where did you buy this? This cake is quite delicious.â She changed the subject stiffly.
Fu Chen let out a low laugh. âIs it good?â
âNot bad.â Song Fengwan lowered her head and continued eating the dessert.
***
Moments ago in the Qiao residenceâ¦
Seeing Song Fengwan leave, Yan Wangchuan was in no hurry to go out because Fu Chen had messaged him a few minutes ago.
Fu Chen: [Are Aunt Yun and Uncle Qiao asleep?]
Yan Wangchuan frowned.?Uncle Qiao? Theyâre not even dating yet, but heâs already acknowledging her relatives as his. Heâs really a smooth talker.?He lowered his head and replied: [Sleeping.]
Fu Chen: [I see the lights in the living room still on.]
Yan Wangchuan: [Aiyun left food for her. Afraid that she would be hungry in the middle of the night, she kept guard in the living room. Sheâs asleep, but Iâm not.]
Fu Chen: [When Wanwan comes out later, do me a favor.]
Yan Wangchuan frowned. Why did he have the misperception that he was helping someone do something bad? But he still replied: [Okay.]
Fu Chen: [You and Aunt Yun still havenât made any progress?]
Yan Wangchuan: [There is progress.]
Fu Chen: [For example?]
Yan Wangchuan: [We held hands.]
Fu Chen let out a low laugh. [Men have to be more proactive regarding this kind of thing. Aunt Yun has a lot of considerations now, and women think a lot. After thinking about it, she might not agree to be with you. You have to give her space, but you have to settle your status early. When itâs time to declare your sovereignty, you have to be more domineering.]
Yan Wangchuan narrowed his eyes the whole time he looked at Fu Chenâs last line.
Domineering, proactive, and declaring sovereignty.
He also thought it made great sense.
He knew that Song Fengwan wouldnât be back anytime soon, so he turned his head to look at Qiao Aiyun. The blanket on her body had slid down to her legs. Yan Wangchuan placed the laptop on his lap aside and slowly sat beside her.
He reached out and pulled the blanket gently to her shoulders. Perhaps it was because half of the sofa sank in, but Qiao Aiyunâs head tilted, and her whole body leaned against Yan Wangchuan.
They were face to face, and the distance between their noses was very short.
Yan Wangchuan took a deep breath and tilted his head slightly after a long period of mental preparation.
He approached her gentlyâ¦
Snowflakes fluttered around on the scene.
This middle-aged man actually blushed a little.
But the sound of the door opening suddenly came from outsideâ¦
When he regained his senses, Song Fengwan was standing at the entryway, her eyes wide open as she stared at him unblinkingly.
Yan Wangchuan immediately jumped away.
Qiao Aiyunâs body had no support, so she fell onto the sofa and suddenly woke up.
ââ¦â She opened her eyes in confusion. âWanwan, youâre awake? You went out?â
âItâs snowing outside. I wanted to take a look.â Song Fengwan coughed twice.
âI fell asleep.â Qiao Aiyun got up. âAre you hungry? Iâll heat up the food and soup for you.â
Before she could speak, Qiao Aiyun had already turned around and entered the kitchen.
Song Fengwan took off her coat and placed it on the sofa. Her eyes met Yan Wangchuanâs.
His eyes were as cold as usual, and his expression was indifferent. She couldnât tell what he was feeling from his face, but his ears were slightly red, revealing his embarrassment.
âSenior Brother, have some too,â Qiao Aiyun called out.
âOkay,â Yan Wangchuan answered in a low voice, his palms sweating.
Song Fengwan bit her lip.?Looks like I didnât come back at the right time.
But secretly kissing her?
Uncle Yan is actually that timid?