Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Lu Nian couldn't pinpoint the exact moment she fell asleep.

She only remembered that she slept very well, in a drowsy haze, and then, it seemed someone had lifted her up in their arms—a person she trusted implicitly, offering no resistance whatsoever.

Her consciousness seemed to be immersed in a sea of warmth, expansive and comforting.

Somewhere close by, someone muttered, "Don't sleep here."

"I'm so sleepy," Lu Nian mumbled, not fully awake, her eyes remaining closed. Due to the alcohol and the lingering haze of sleep, her voice sounded both soft and sticky.

The arm holding her stiffened momentarily.

He whispered, "...wait until we get back to sleep."

Lu Nian grumbled, unwilling to wake. She turned her face slightly, comfortably nesting against the chest of the person holding her, a warmth that brought reassurance. The alcohol made her mind sluggish, and she drifted back to sleep once again.

Qin Si, "..."

This burden was both sweet and bitter.

In his arms, she was as light as a feather, yet also seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

Ming Ge asked in a hushed tone, "Not letting her stay the night?"

The young man frowned, asking coldly, "Keep her here?"

Ming Ge, "..."

He rubbed his head, suggesting, "She can sleep in your bed, right? Your bed is wide enough, isn't it? It should accommodate a little girl, both of you even..."

Meeting the young man's gaze, he stopped, sheepishly shutting up, but not giving up, "Or maybe go to the place by the river? Didn't you already set up the house nicely? She can just sleep in the other bedroom."

That was the whole point of having that house, as if he didn't know.

Without looking up, Qin Si instructed, "Go bring the car around."

Ming Ge complied, "Alright, alright."

He went inside to grab the car keys, watching the young man's slender figure, he muttered under his breath, "For a guy, you're more particular than some prissy young ladies."

Clearly so enamored, yet doing nothing about it, what's wrong with letting her stay overnight? They could even share breakfast together to welcome the New Year; wouldn't that be perfect?

The car arrived at Lu Family Estate.

Lu Yang was already waiting at the entrance as the young man carried her out of the car.

"You wait in the car," he said briefly to Ming Ge.

Ming Ge whistled in response, "Alright then."

Upon seeing Lu Nian in his arms, Lu Yang's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot, nearly roaring, "...What have you done to my sister?"

He didn't fail to notice that Lu Nian was wrapped in a coat clearly not hers, seemingly wearing a dress underneath, her black hair flowing freely, her face turned inward, leaning dependently in his embrace.

Qin Si simply said, "She fell asleep."

He frowned, asking coldly, "Can you be any louder?"

Lu Yang’s fingers trembled as he lowered his voice, warning, "I tell you, Nian Nian is still a minor. It would be illegal if you dare do anything."

The corners of the young man's lips curled up, revealing a cold, mocking smile that Lu Yang was all too familiar with, "Do what? For instance?"

Lu Yang's face turned red, unable to utter a word.

He leaned in closer for inspection; the exposed skin of Nian Nian appeared perfectly normal, showing no strange marks.

Lu Yang finally felt a sense of relief, reaching out his hand, "Give Nian Nian to me."

Before Qin Si could respond, Lu Nian in his arms frowned in her sleep, swatting away the hand Lu Yang extended.

Without any mercy.

The girl slightly turned her head, positioning the back of her head towards Lu Yang, and continued to nestle comfortably in the young man's embrace, slightly arching her back, sleeping blissfully.

Lu Yang, "...," his face turned extremely unsightly.

He then angrily said to the young man, "It was you who took Nian Nian away in the middle of the night yesterday, wasn’t it? Once uncle finds out, do you think it will end well for you?"

Qin Si responded, "Are you going to tell Lu Zhihong?"

His tone was very dismissive, showing no fear, only certainty.

In the dark night, those beautiful, narrow, phoenix eyes were cold and deep. Lu Yang realized that he could no longer read his emotions.

Lu Yang's lips moved, but he said nothing.

His recent stint at the Lu Corporation was not going well. Lu Yang was the type to have ambitions that far exceeded his capabilities, a classic case of being all talk and no action. His actual performance at the corporation over the past six months was there for all to see.

Although the higher-ups were aware of his identity, technically speaking, he wasn't exactly a legitimate relative of the Lu family, the blood relation having dissipated over three generations.

It was only because Lu Zhihong had taken a liking to him that Lu Yang held such a position in the Lu Corporation.

Allowing Lu Nian to run away tonight, regardless of whether she was abducted or left willingly, was a serious dereliction of duty on his part.

He certainly didn't dare to inform Lu Zhihong, not even allowing a hint of the matter to leak.

The young man had seen right through him.

The young man before him was vastly different from the stubborn, lonely, and bravado-filled little wolf cub he once was during his childhood.

He suddenly realized.

The employees at the Lu residence had already been sent to bed by Lu Yang, leaving the corridor quiet and only illuminated by the dim yellow light of a small lamp.

Lu Nian was settled onto her own bed.

The bed was somewhat cold, certainly not matching the warmth found in the young man's embrace. As he laid her down, Lu Nian was reluctant to let go, her little hand still clutching his sleeve, unwilling to release her grip no matter what.

"Let go," he said softly.

Lu Nian vaguely recognized the familiar voice, murmuring an "um" in response, sounding sticky and rather aggrieved.

From childhood to adulthood, that voice seemed to have said these kinds of words to her many times.

Asking her to stay away from him, not to touch him, to let go, and the like.

But this time, the voice seemed to be gentler than before... carrying some emotions that her currently drowsy mind couldn't quite comprehend.

However, she obediently let go, as she was accustomed to doing.

Whatever he said, Lu Nian would comply.

She still appeared so...so as usual, a demeanor that Lu Nian had never exhibited in front of him or Lu Zhihong.

Lu Yang's face couldn't have looked more unpleasant.

Stepping out of Lu Nian's bedroom, he said to Qin Si, "I don't know what kind of sweet nothings you've whispered to Nian Nian."

"But I'm telling you, you will never succeed," he said to Qin Si, "Nian Nian's future has already been planned by her uncle, and someone with your status stands absolutely no chance."

Even if Nian Nian was momentarily infatuated, Lu Zhihong would never approve of their union.

"Don't think I don't know what you're plotting, aspiring to become the head of the Lu family through such despicable means, don't even dream about it."

The young man's voice was indifferent, "As I've told you, it doesn't matter."

Lu Yang's tolerance had reached its limit, he roared in a low voice, "What exactly do you want?"

He couldn't believe that someone could be good to another without seeking something in return. Approaching Nian Nian like this, saying there were no ulterior motives, Lu Yang absolutely didn't buy it.

The young man replied coldly, "Doing what she wants me to do."

As long as she wishes, anything is possible.

The young man stood tall, his features handsome, possessing a unique and indescribable aura that was a mixture of aloofness, restraint, and maturity. Aside from a slightly pale complexion, it was almost impossible to find any flaws.

Lu Yang couldn't have imagined that the wolf pup, who was constantly battered and bruised from their collective bullying during childhood, without a single untouched spot on his body, would grow up to look like this.

His face turned beet red, a mixture of feeling wronged and fearful engulfed him, leaving him speechless.

Yes, he suddenly thought of an explanation for himself.

If it wasn't for the intention of exploiting the Lu family's wealth, it must be for revenge — to retaliate against the Lu family, to exact a low and despicable vengeance on his daughter as a means of getting back at him and Lu Zhihong.

Taking several deep breaths, Lu Yang finally found a semblance of tranquillity in his heart.

He realized that the crux of the matter was Nian Nian's attitude; as long as...

Qin Si had already turned and walked away.

He had almost no fond memories of the Lu family's estate. However, he couldn't deny that it was the place that stirred his emotions the most.

But this time, his mood while leaving was quite different than before.

The next day, Lu Nian slept until noon, waking up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, having not experienced such good sleep in over half a year.

She remembered that she had run out yesterday and enjoyed a splendid New Year's Eve dinner with Qin Si. Since childhood, Qin Si had always kept his promises, fulfilling his word to treat her to a New Year's Eve dinner, an act very much in line with his style.

She hummed a tune, calling out, "Miao Miao!"

Miao Miao entered upon pushing the door open.

Lu Nian asked, "Has dad returned?"

Miao Miao replied, "The master is still at the company."

"Then how did I... get back home yesterday?" she asked Miao Miao, a flurry of nerves bubbling within her.

She had been too joyful yesterday, and on reflection, she realized she had left a huge mess for Qin Si and the others to deal with.

Miao Miao responded, "Young Master Lu brought you back."

Lu Nian was left speechless, "…"

In a soft voice, Miao Miao reassured, "Don't worry, Young Master Lu spoke to me, he assured that he will not disclose this to the master. He will do his best to help cover it up."

"Also, he mentioned, 'In the future, if Nian Nian wants to go out, she can inform me first, big brother will help'," she repeated Lu Yang's words with a beaming smile, "Young Master Lu is a good big brother."

...This time, Lu Yang has surprisingly taken on the role of the good guy?

Doubt clouded Lu Nian's mind, reluctant to fully believe it.

However, she remembered being intoxicated at the time. It should have been Qin Si who brought her back. She wasn't sure if the two had argued. She recalled that they weren't particularly harmonious during their childhood.

She reached for the cell phone beside her bed and saw a message from Qin Si, "Happy New Year!!"

She didn't expect Qin Si to respond to such a content-less, pure well-wishing message. Sure enough, even after she had finished her grooming, changed her clothes, and had her meal, there was still no reply from Qin Si.

After finishing her milk, she sent another message, "What are you doing?"

After a while, a reply came from the other side, "Working."

Lu Nian, "..."

It's the first day of the Lunar New Year... aren't people taking breaks at all?

"Thank you for treating me to dinner yesterday QWQ"

"Returning the favor from before."

Lu Nian, "Oh." So, it wasn't out of goodwill after all; he kept such a clear account.

But she had eaten so much last night that she felt she had definitely gotten her share.

The phone remained silent; he didn't reply anymore.

Lu Nian, "..."

For some unknown reason, whenever she saw Qin Si's name in her contact list, she couldn't resist the urge to click on it and send him messages, even though his replies were always terse, with just a few words each.

The kind that's very ordinary and mundane.

Something like, "What are you doing?"

"What did you have for lunch?"

Or, when she had something delicious or found a joke, she would also feel like sharing it with Qin Si.

But imagining the expression on his face when he received these fragmented messages, she would always restrain herself just in time, holding back her impulses.

Otherwise, she suspected Qin Si might block her.

She felt somewhat embarrassed about constantly disturbing him like this.

After all, he lived alone, needed to work, and study. She didn't help at all, but kept causing distractions, which made her feel genuinely remorseful.

After the New Year, it wasn't Qin Si who contacted her, but rather Zhao Yayuan sent her several messages, "I am back in Ancheng."

Lu Nian, "Hmm."

Zhao Yayuan, "Where are you?"

Lu Nian, "At home."

Zhao Yayuan persisted, "What are you doing at home?"

In fact, these past few days, she has delved into some new intriguing activities.

The incident at the Lu family on New Year's Eve seems to have escalated quite seriously, with negative comments persisting everywhere. Lu Zhihong has essentially been at the office constantly, seldom being at home, allowing Lu Nian to finally relax and indulge in her hobbies.

She had spent several days in her art studio, touching up the painting she had previously created for Qin Si.

Simultaneously, she bought a digital drawing tablet and began to explore digital painting with great interest. The experience was entirely different from her usual sketching and watercolor painting, yet it was equally fascinating.

Sometimes she could paint for seven or eight hours a day. Due to her strong foundation in art, she picked it up very quickly and was already crafting noteworthy pieces. She even created an account on Haitu — a popular integrated social platform used by many young people, which she hadn't used before, prompting her friends like Tian Yue to accuse her of being out of touch.

However, her registration wasn't for browsing content but merely for uploading her latest art creations daily. She feared that Lu Zhihong might discover her activities and discard all her devices, accusing her of squandering her potential on frivolous pursuits.

Lu Zhihong had already canceled her painting and music classes, insisting that she needed to concentrate on her studies, stating that a cursory knowledge of these skills was sufficient and further investment of energy was unnecessary.

Such actions, Lu Nian believed, were well within his capabilities.

She just wanted to maintain a personal record of her progress.

Naturally, she couldn't share any of this with Zhao Yayuan, simply responding with, "Just eating and sleeping at home."

Zhao Yayuan, unable to contain his frustration, retorted, "As if everyone doesn't know that you eat and sleep."

Seeing that continuing the conversation in this manner would be fruitless, the irritated young master Zhao could only swallow his anger and shift the topic, "What about the tutoring sessions we agreed upon? Aren't they still pending?"

Even after the passing of the New Year, Lu Nian remained silent, showing no signs of resuming his tutoring sessions.

Lu Nian casually agreed, "Alright, let's do it tomorrow then."

Zhao Yayuan, "?"

The actual reason was that Lu Zhihong was about to return home, signaling the imminent end to her blissful time at home.

Every time she wanted to leave the house, he would scrutinize her plans, but generally, he wouldn't prevent her from visiting the Zhao family.

"Is tomorrow not good?"

Zhao Yayuan, "...Fine."

Thus, the tutoring continued in this manner. Lu Nian never brought up anything regarding Nan Qiao, passing each day in leisure and contentment.

While Zhao Yayuan was studying nearby, she would read novels or occasionally sketch something, although she never showed him her artworks or engaged in deeper conversations with him, limiting their discussions to academics.

School was about to start in just a few days.

Unable to contain himself, Zhao Yayuan finally spoke up, "Aren't you going to ask me about Nan Qiao?"

It seemed like Lu Nian only just remembered this matter, her gaze still affixed to the pages of her book, "...Time flies, it's almost at an end."

"You say," she said to Zhao Yayuan.

She seemed not at all in a hurry, her eyes bright and clear.

The Lu Nian of now seems quite different from the Lu Nian from the beginning of the year... though Zhao Yayuan couldn't pinpoint exactly what the changes were.

For a moment, the young man's eyes became somewhat vacant, as if gazing at a place far, far away.

He spoke slowly, "When I was young, I had poor health because I was born prematurely and my lungs weren't fully developed..."

Haicheng, a major industrial city with particularly advanced heavy industries, experienced its worst air quality over a decade right around the time Zhao Yayuan was born.

Most of his childhood was spent in hospitals, sometimes coughing all night long till his face turned red, even crying until he was breathless.

"So, my family decided to send me to recuperate in a different city," said Zhao Yayuan, "After considering various options, they chose Nan Qiao."

Although somewhat remote, the place was very tranquil with fresh air, surrounded by mountains and waters, making it a highly suitable place for the then Zhao Yayuan. The Zhao family had an old acquaintance in Nan Qiao.

She had once been a great benefactor to Zhao Ru Lan and his spouse. They trusted her character and were willing to entrust their son to her care.

Zhao Yayuan said, "You know, living in the mountains was actually quite fun. You could drink directly from the mountain springs and encounter many strange and wonderful creatures."

"It was just a bit boring."

At that time, Granny Lan was already over seventy years old, yet she spared no effort in taking care of him.

In Nan Qiao, he consumed natural, pollution-free food, drank from mountain springs, breathed in fresh and clean air; there were no noises, no pollution. Zhao Yayuan improved a lot, no longer enduring nights of ceaseless coughing.

They lived on a mountain in Nan Qiao where only a dozen or so families resided scattered across the hill.

"Because of my frail health, I had a really bad temper when I was little," said Zhao Yayuan, "I wasn't exactly likable."

In her mind, Lu Nian thought, aren't you still the same now?

Zhao Yayuan, "?"

The young man's cat-like eyes slowly narrowed.

She hurriedly said, "Please continue."

There were also children living near Nan Qiao, but most had a significant age difference compared to him.

Being a child from the city, everyone knew he was a wealthy young master from the urban area, a bit presumptuous, physically weak, seemingly naturally incompatible with the local children, unable to integrate and play together no matter what.

Therefore, he was very lonely, lonely enough to "grow mushrooms" (a metaphor indicating extreme loneliness).

"So?"

Zhao Yayuan said, "But later on... I gained a new playmate."

Lu Nian thought he would continue, but Zhao Yayuan stopped speaking, giving her a look of complex emotions.

During this period, as he spent more time with Lu Nian, he became certain that she genuinely couldn't remember.

Moreover... her actual persona differs tremendously from the one he had envisioned.

The real Lu Nian he had encountered, however, bore a slight resemblance to another person.

He could only continue to observe, he thought.

After listening to Zhao Yayuan's story, she replayed it in her mind, roughly organizing the details, yet she couldn't figure out how it was related to her situation at all.

Zhao Yayuan said, "You may ask questions now."

Lu Nian asked, "...Have I been to Nan Qiao?"

Zhao Yayuan slowly nodded.

"When?"

Zhao Yayuan responded, "Approximately, I guess it started from the time you can't remember."

As expected, she had lost a large chunk of her memories at one point.

Lu Nian pressed on, "Do you know me? Have we met in Nan Qiao? What happened? Why did I..."

Without letting her finish, Zhao Yayuan interjected, "Stop, stop, stop."

"You have been tutoring me this long over the winter break, and I don't even know the effectiveness of it yet. And now, you want so many answers from me," he said, "I feel like I am at a loss here, really at a loss."

Lu Nian argued, "You promised to tell me the truth. What exactly happened to me in Nan Qiao? Otherwise, wasn't tutoring you for this long a waste?"

What she wanted to hear wasn't the story of Zhao Yayuan's childhood.

Zhao Yayuan remarked, "I don't think you found tutoring me that torturous, did you?"

Leaving him aside daily while she chatted with others, read books, or painted, seemed quite leisurely indeed.

With a defiant tone, the long-legged young man retorted, "Why don't you find out for yourself? You could ask around at your home or inquire with your parents."

Lu Nian, "..."

Approach Lu Zhihong for answers?

Perhaps not, she intended to live a bit longer, not keen on being turned into a marionette.

Zhao Yayuan leaned in closer, his amber peach blossom eyes slightly squinting, he whispered, "Or... you could spend one more day with me, and I might reveal a bit more."

Observing the changes in Lu Nian's facial expression, he said, "It doesn't necessarily have to be tutoring, you know. You enjoy reading, painting, and chatting, right? Feel free to do whatever you like at my place; we have everything you might need... Just spend time chatting with me, casually."

His words picked up pace, and with evident reluctance, he uttered the last phrase, almost in a whisper.

Lu Nian, "..."

It seemed that Zhao Tingyuan had mentioned something about her to him before.

They say that although her younger brother appears brash and has a sharp tongue, he is actually quite afraid of loneliness, naive, and clingy.

Initially, Lu Nian couldn't possibly imagine Zhao Yayuan being as he described, but now she somewhat understands his words.

Indeed, he is really afraid of being lonely.

Author's Note:

Much later, after they were married, Nian Nian recalled the words Si Si Zi had once said.

Nian Nian: Really, anything goes?

Si Si Zi: ... (Blushing furiously) ... That... won't do.

Nian Nian: QAQ, You must not love me anymore, you clearly said before... (sobs uncontrollably)

Si Si Zi: (Surrenders, complies)