Chapter 62

Yan Xi and Yuan Yi changed out of their riding outfits and joined Yuan Bo in a pavilion.

Neither of the brothers was very skilled at casual conversation, and with Yan Xi there, the atmosphere among the three was polite to the point of being almost awkward. Yan Xi held her teacup, glancing left at Yuan Yi and right at Yuan Bo, pretending to focus on tasting her tea.

With the approach of "if they don't move, I won't either," she aimed to avoid speaking unless absolutely necessary.

"Miss Yan, you're even more beautiful than on screen." Yuan Bo, a very serious man, wanted to soften his attitude, but as someone in a high position for so long, his "softness" still had a stern quality. A timid girl might interpret his demeanor as disapproval.

"You're too kind," Yan Xi smiled, accepting the stiff compliment graciously. "The camera often adds weight, so people tend to look a bit bigger on screen."

Yuan Yi snuck a look at Yan Xi. Was she calling his older brother "big brother" along with him?

"I see," Yuan Bo nodded, pausing for a moment. "I've watched the program you host. The content is very engaging and has more substance than typical variety shows."

"I didn't expect you to watch my show," Yan Xi replied, surprised. "It's the hard work of the whole production team; I just had the good fortune to host and take most of the credit."

"Er Yi has your show on every day when he's home," Yuan Bo explained. He used to be puzzled by Yuan Yi's daily ritual of watching a local program, but now he understood—it wasn't about the show, it was about the host. "With someone in the house glued to the screen every evening, even if I'm not a fan of television, I know what's on."

Yuan Bo shared this to show Yan Xi how much his younger brother liked and valued her, even refusing to miss her show. But he didn't realize that his proud brother never admitted to any of this.

Yuan Yi's hand shook as he held his teacup, wishing he could use it to block his brother's mouth. Who watches her show every day? He wasn't that bored.

"Oh..." Yan Xi glanced at Yuan Yi with a smile. "He never mentioned it."

"He's always been like this—doing things without telling anyone and reluctant to speak up even when he wants something," Yuan Bo continued, trying to build his brother's image in a favorable light. "If he does something wrong, don't hold back; feel free to teach him a lesson."

Yan Xi: ...

By convention, wasn't a powerful family elder supposed to be polite on the surface, full of veiled criticism underneath, and then lecture her about rules and tolerance? How did it turn into encouragement for her to deal with him as she liked?

Was Yuan Xiao Er (Yuan Yi) like a free gift with a purchase—maybe even the kind you get with a $10 discount coupon?

"He's actually wonderful," Yan Xi smiled. "He's kind, considerate, upright, and responsible. Besides my dad, he's the best man in my life."

Yuan Yi spilled half his tea and took out a handkerchief to dab at his trousers, his face as red as a monkey's backside. So, in Yan Xiao Xi's mind, he had such a high evaluation?

Yuan Bo glanced at his embarrassed younger brother and couldn't help but smile. As an older brother, hearing someone praise his younger sibling filled him with pride. Initially, seeing his brother's infatuation with Yan Xi made him worry about an imbalance in their relationship, but seeing Yan Xi's loyalty put him at ease.

However, their appearances together...

Going out in public, they might look like he was forcing the girl to be with him.

"Since we happened to meet, I'll treat you both to dinner tonight. Is there anything you'd like to eat?" Yuan Bo noticed Yuan Yi still blushing and, to save him from further embarrassment, assumed the role of the elder brother inviting Yan Xi to dinner.

"I'm fine with anything," Yan Xi smiled demurely, looking at Yuan Yi with gentle eyes. "Yuan Xiao Er, what would you like?"

Yuan Yi felt uncomfortable for no reason. This woman suddenly became so tender, and he felt uneasy all over, almost as if a chill crept down his spine.

By dinnertime, although it was just the three of them, Yuan Bo ordered a table full of dishes. "Not knowing your preferences, Miss Yan, I ordered two dishes of each type of cuisine."

"Thank you, big brother. You can just call me 'Dahe' or 'Xiao Yan'; no need to be so formal," Yan Xi replied with a smile, "Calling me 'Miss Yan' is too distant."

"Dahe?" Yuan Bo chuckled. "That's an interesting nickname."

"A friend gave it to me," Yan Xi explained as she swapped the Huainan cuisine in front of her with the Sichuan dishes in front of Yuan Yi. "It feels more friendly for close friends to call me Dahe."

Noticing her gesture, Yuan Bo nodded with a smile. "Then I'll call you Dahe from now on."

The future wife of his younger brother was, of course, family.

During the meal, they chatted about literature and current events, enjoying a pleasant conversation. When Yan Xi went to the restroom, Yuan Bo turned to Yuan Yi and said, "Miss Yan is a very impressive woman. With your awkward personality, how did you manage to win her over?"

"No matter how impressive she is, she's still my girlfriend," Yuan Yi took a sip of juice. "There was no 'chasing' involved—I won her over with my personal charm."

"Miss Yan must have vision beyond the ordinary to see through your exterior to your true self," Yuan Bo thought Yuan Yi was bound to suffer someday because of his pride. "Now that you have a girlfriend, just live your life well. As for the family... you don't need to worry too much about it."

"I don't need to consider others," Yuan Yi lowered his gaze, his tone so calm it bordered on indifference. "Big brother, don't you often live away from home too?"

Yuan Bo frowned slightly, wanting to say something. But hearing someone opening the door, he changed his words. "Fine, as long as you're doing well with Dahe, I can rest assured."

Yan Xi pushed the door open, walked over, and sat beside Yuan Yi. "What's going on? You both seem to be having a great time chatting."

Yuan Yi: ...

How did she come to the conclusion that he was enjoying the conversation?

"Oh, nothing much. I was just telling him how amazing you are and wondering how he managed to win you over," Yuan Bo sold his brother out without hesitation.

"Yuan Xiao'er, what did you tell him?" Yan Xi nudged Yuan Yi's waist with her elbow, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Yuan Yi's expression shifted slightly. His big brother wouldn't have told her what he'd just said, would he?

Something about personal charm? He didn't even dare to confess to her.

"I... I didn't say anything; you just came back," Yuan Yi grabbed her arm and pressed her down onto the chair. Didn't she know that a man's waist isn't something you just poke casually?

Yuan Bo glanced at Yuan Yi with an amused look. All that bragging just now—where did it go? "Well, you can tell her slowly now. I'm interested."

Yuan Yi shot him a glare. Is this really his big brother? Thirty-something years old and still so childish? But admitting he and Yan Xi were just pretending to be a couple... that wasn't something he was willing to do.

Even if it was fake, even if he was fooling himself, it was better than tearing apart the facade himself.

"Just some flowers."

"Yeah, he brings me different flowers every day. Not sure where he got the idea," Yan Xi chimed in.

Yuan Yi: ...

Fine. She probably doesn't want anyone to realize they're a fake couple, so a little white lie doesn't hurt.

"And we go out to enjoy good food."

"I've gained a few pounds recently, and it's all his fault."

Putting on quite the show, Yuan Yi thought, almost convincing even himself it was real.

"And then there are trips to the mall, movie nights, things like that."

"He's so thoughtful, always offering to carry my bags when we're out. So attentive and gentle."

Yuan Yi: ...

He understood now. This woman wasn't just lying; she was giving a live narration of a romance novel plot. A dignified industry elite, president of Hengtai Corporation, carrying bags for a woman?

Impossible!

Though... he glanced sideways at Yan Xi. If, if she really wanted to be his actual girlfriend, he supposed lowering himself every now and then wouldn't hurt.

"I didn't expect he could be so considerate," Yuan Bo said after hearing Yan Xi's story. He looked at his younger brother with a newfound respect; to win over his girlfriend, Yuan Yi had sacrificed so many of his principles—no wonder he succeeded in winning her heart.

A man who could be this tough on himself in the name of love was destined... destined to be a man firmly under his wife's thumb.

Realizing that this young couple had a stable relationship, Yuan Bo felt at ease. He happily finished dinner, and before leaving, he slipped Yan Xi a card.

"Big brother, I can't accept this..."

"According to tradition, when a girl meets her boyfriend's family for the first time, she should receive a red envelope." Yuan Bo smiled. "This card doesn't have much money; it's just a small gift, something for you to enjoy a cup of tea."

"Big brother's giving it to you, so just take it." Yuan Yi placed the card into Yan Xi's hand, casually wrapping his arm around her waist. "Thanks, big brother."

"Thank you, big brother," Yan Xi said obediently, her cheeks slightly red.

Looking at his well-behaved future sister-in-law, Yuan Bo was genuinely pleased. But when he looked at his own brother, a wave of exasperation rose within him. He couldn't bear to watch—it was like witnessing the real-life version of an unruly young lord paired with a gentle beauty. If he weren't Yuan Yi's brother, he wouldn't be able to honestly claim they were a true love match.

Out of sight, out of mind; Yuan Bo decisively bid them farewell.

As for the rest, he would let his younger brother handle it himself.

Once Yuan Bo had left, Yuan Yi reluctantly released his hold on Yan Xi's waist. "My brother didn't mean anything by it, he just..."

He just worried that he didn't know anything about relationships and would end up single forever.

"I understand." Yan Xi took his hand and started leading him outside. "He cares about you; he's a good big brother."

"Yeah, when I used to fail my exams, he'd be the one going to school to meet with my teachers." Yuan Yi let her lead him obediently. "In my life, he's kind of like a father figure."

Parents still alive, but an older brother, seven or eight years his senior, playing the role of a father—was the Yuan family dynamic really this complicated? Yan Xi recalled the scenes from Mrs. Yuan's birthday party; the Yuan couple seemed to have a very close relationship. Why had Yuan Yi never mentioned them?

"Failed?" Yan Xi turned to look at Yuan Yi with curiosity. "Your grades were that bad?"

"Occasionally, occasionally," he couldn't admit to his poor grades at this moment. "I'm a student at Imperial Capital University; how could I have bad grades and still get in?"

"Well, that's true. I failed chemistry once too." Yan Xi had looked up Yuan Yi's resume online. He really was a graduate student at Imperial Capital University. She also found out that he had started his own business while still in college and had even represented the university to win some programming award. She didn't know much about it, but she knew the award was prestigious.

Yuan Yi didn't say anything. He didn't want Yan Xi to know that, in high school, not only did he not study hard, but his fashion and style also didn't fit the mainstream.

Looking cool and acting stylish was fun at the time, but he regretted it deeply as he got older.

He hadn't thought much about his teenage misadventures before, but now that he had someone he liked, he realized it was best not to have any dark history. He wanted to be perfect in Yan Xi's eyes, not someone who skipped class and dressed in strange clothes.

As they walked to the parking lot at the back garden, Yan Xi suddenly stopped, looking at Yuan Yi, who was obediently letting her lead him like a well-behaved child. Yuan Yi looked at her, confused. "What's wrong?"

Yan Xi shook their intertwined hands. "You're like a three-year-old baby. Do you need me to hold your hand the whole time?"

Yuan Yi tried to pull his hand away but, halfway through, ended up holding her hand back. "You've been holding my hand for so long, so for fairness, I'll hold yours too."

What a shameless guy, he really must be shameless.

"Okay," Yan Xi smiled and let Yuan Yi hold her hand, only letting go after they got into the car.

"Not holding hands anymore?"

Yuan Yi: ...

He felt like this woman was teasing him.

When the car arrived outside the villa where Yan Xi lived, Yuan Yi noticed that the house was completely dark, and he couldn't help but furrow his brows. "You live here alone?"

"My dad's on a business trip abroad with a delegation. He won't be back for a few days," Yan Xi took out the card that Yuan Bo had given her. "I'm returning this to you."

"It was my brother's gift to you, so just accept it. Why give it back to me?" Yuan Yi didn't take the card.

"Mr. Yuan, this card wasn't given to me, it was for your girlfriend. I won't take it." Yan Xi pushed the card back into his hand, opened the car door, and got out. "I'm going to sleep. Good night."

Yuan Yi hesitated for a moment, holding the card in his hand, before chasing after her. "Yan Xiao Xi!"

"What's wrong?" Yan Xi wasn't walking fast. When she saw Yuan Yi chasing after her, she turned around with a smile. "What's the matter?"

"This." Yuan Yi grabbed her hand and pushed the gold card back into her palm. "I don't want to give it to anyone else."

Looking down at the card in her hand, Yan Xi still smiled. "Why?"

"No other girlfriends," Yuan Yi said nervously, but his gaze at Yan Xi was unwavering. "Only you."

"But I'm just..."

"Even if it's fake, it can still be real," Yuan Yi's voice trembled. "Is... is that okay?"

Yan Xi smiled without saying anything. She picked up the silver card and examined it carefully. Under the streetlights, the card shimmered with an alluring, rich golden glow.

It was the first time Yuan Yi understood what it felt like to live a moment as if it were a year.

"I'll hold onto this card for now."

Yuan Yi's heart surged with joy.

"But..."

Yuan Yi held his breath, his pupils trembling, his legs feeling a bit weak.

"Isn't it a little wrong to pass something fake off as real?"

"W-what's wrong with it?"

"It just doesn't feel right," Yan Xi said, fiddling with the gold card in her hand. "Feelings are all about the right vibe. You should try pursuing a girl the proper way, maybe then you'll really get the feeling."

Yuan Yi: ...

"You just want me to chase after you, don't you?"

"Yes," Yan Xi smiled sweetly, asking, "You don't want to?"

Yuan Yi: "I... I do."

He was a grown man, so he might as well indulge her a little.

It's not a problem to pamper his own woman, so he decided to go along with her.

"Then do your best," Yan Xi waved at him, "Come on, look down."

Yuan Yi lowered his head.

Her lips were soft, gentle, and a little warm.

He stood there, staring at the woman in front of him, frozen like a statue.

"Here's your deposit."