Chapter 60
byChapter 60
Surprisingly, Lu Nian woke up early the next morning.
Nan Qiao enjoyed the fog, especially in the early morning, with its hazy appearance. Rubbing her eyes and sitting up in bed, she realized that the sheets and quilt had been changed.
Fragments of last night's memories flooded her mind disjointedly. She remembered having a big cry, forcing him to confess his feelings, pestering him in various ways, and then...
Lu Nian, "..."
She looked around the room; the adjacent cocoon of blankets was empty, devoid of any residual warmth, suggesting he had been up for quite some time.
Where had he gone?
As Lu Nian straightened up from the bed, the door opened just in time for the morning sunshine to pour in.
The man was tall and slender, already freshened up and dressed, presumably having taken a bath. With clean black hair and jade-like skin, he seemed even more upright and clear-cut, reminiscent of a pine tree.
Lu Nian still sat on the bed, her black hair cascading over her white shoulders, staring at him blankly.
It wasn't a dream last night, was it? After the confession, everything became a blur, and then...
Recalling those fuzzy fragments, and how he looked at that moment, she couldn't help but blush.
Even last night in bed, he remained restrained and patient, yet he was truly... very sensitive.
Seeing her sitting there, apparently engrossed in deep thoughts with her large, profound eyes, he pressed his lips together, standing still.
After that incident had occurred.
He pondered a lot.
Now, he feared that the first words she would say to him would be expressing regrets, wanting to retract her words from yesterday, urging him not to take them seriously.
But that didn't happen.
Lu Nian snapped back to reality, jumping off the bed with a lively tone, "Why did you wake up so early? Have you had breakfast?"
Lowering his eyes, he replied, "...No."
"Would you like to eat out?" he finally asked, "or should I bring something back?"
He had just taken a stroll outside, getting a general sense of the surroundings; over the years, Nan Qiao has experienced some changes.
After some thought, Lu Nian said, "Let's dine out then."
Just as she got up, she suddenly realized that she hadn't brought anything with her; it seemed all her belongings were left at Qiu Li's place.
She felt somewhat embarrassed.
The man silently placed a shopping bag on the table next to her.
It contained all the personal care items she needed, all brand new.
Lu Nian, "..."
Compared to Qin Si, her life skills seemed to be approaching zero.
Nan Qiao was a small town; naturally, there weren't any grand meals to be had. However, neither of them were particularly picky about such things. Having been a young lady accustomed to meticulously prepared dishes for over a decade, Lu Nian found herself especially fond of the rustic street food available here.
She constantly felt as if he was watching her, but upon closer inspection, it seemed not to be the case.
The soy milk in the cup was warm, just the right temperature. He remembered her dislike for spring onions, and with a pair of broken chopsticks, had carefully picked them out for her.
This meticulous attention to her preferences.
"There's no need to be so careful," Lu Nian said sincerely, "I wasn't tired last night."
His ear tips turned bright red.
He remained silent.
As if nothing had happened, Lu Nian knew he was somewhat shy. Seeing him like this, she couldn't help but feel a teasing itch in her heart. However, considering they were outside amidst the bustling crowd and knowing his personality, she sighed and decided to suppress her teasing instincts for now.
He stood up to hand her the bottle of vinegar. As he did so, the collar of his black T-shirt slid down slightly, allowing Lu Nian to catch sight of something.
It was his collarbone, marked by her bite. Not too deep, yet not shallow either, the mark was particularly conspicuous against his clean, jade-like skin.
She knew that beneath his clothing, even further below, in more private areas, there would be even more marks.
She had always had a particular fondness for that petite, bright red beauty mark, and his well-shaped collarbone, which also happened to be sensitive. Lu Nian had paid extra attention to that area last night, greatly enjoying his reactions.
She couldn't help but ask, "Does it hurt?"
His fingers stiffened for a moment, seemingly unsure of what she was asking about.
"The bite I gave you."
Qin Si, "..."
He nearly knocked over the bowl of soup in surprise.
With a playful twinkle in her eyes, Lu Nian finally decided not to tease him anymore.
Perhaps a gradual adjustment period is needed.
Anyway, there is plenty of time ahead, the future is long.
Outside, tendrils of mist made the light hazy, the scenic landscapes of Nan Qiao truly were unparalleled.
Breakfast was over.
Though she was quite keen on leisurely exploring and enjoying this place with him, there were still some matters that needed to be addressed.
After a long hesitation, Lu Nian finally made a call to Qiu Li.
Zhao Ya Yuan and Qiu Li had already arrived at Nan Bin.
"What's the current situation?" she asked.
Qiu Li sounded much more relaxed, "No issues have been found yet, but Ya Yuan's mental state has greatly improved. The doctor suggested he gets plenty of rest, breathes some fresh air, and maintains a good mood."
But if Zhao Ting Yuan and Su Qing You aren't dealt with, they will remain a constant threat.
After ending the call, Qiu Li said, "That was Nian Nian."
Zhao Ya Yuan had been quite down lately, to which he simply responded, "Hmm."
"Is she with that guy?"
Qiu Li could only nod.
He exhaled deeply, his tone tinged with self-mockery, "Am I really so useless, to have let myself get to this point without even understanding what's going on, needing you all to rescue me from home?"
Qiu Li witnessed it all.
In reality, back in the day, Zhao Ya Yuan was still immature and, despite his poor health, mostly lived a carefree life as a young master. His engagement with Lu Nian was opposed by his entire family and was then disrupted by Qin Si, a rival he had never considered significant before.
Afterwards, without saying a word, he forced himself to mature quickly. Already having a weak constitution, the excessive strain coupled with being sabotaged midway by Zhao Ting Yuan and Su Qing You, left him mentally drained and sinking into self-destruction, even too lethargic to save himself.
That incident dealt him a great blow.
It was not just because of Lu Nian, but more so because that incident had brutally revealed that he wasn't as free as he thought, but merely a puppet controlled by his family.
Just as that man with the surname Qin had said.
Qiu Li tried to reassure, "It's not as bad as you think."
"Ya Yuan, you need to pull yourself together," he sighed, "there are many more issues to resolve in the future."
The call was ended.
Lu Nian furrowed her brow, her expression tinged with worry.
The matters involving the Zhao family, Su Qingyou, and Zhao Tingyuan remain unresolved, acting as a ticking time bomb for Zhao Yayuan; wandering endlessly isn't a solution.
She saw Qin Si.
She trusted him completely and was willing to seek his assistance.
However, Zhao Yayuan had always harbored resistance towards him, utterly unwilling to accept Qin Si's assistance. Fang Deng was actually here to help her on behalf of her senior brother, but she and Qiu Li decided against revealing Fang Deng's other identity to Zhao Yayuan.
Lu Nian could somewhat understand; after all, her once awkward engagement with Zhao Yayuan now stands as a thorn in the hearts of the three of them.
He put down his phone and suddenly said, "There's trouble at the Zhao family, Zhao Quan has lost his temper at home."
Zhao Quan?
She suddenly realized, of course, Zhao Quan had witnessed that incident firsthand that night.
The man's voice, as ever, was cool and resonant, exceptionally pleasant to the ear, "Zhao Rulan and Jiang Wenyin are still in Southeast Asia discussing business deals, trying to sabotage the raw material factory they are negotiating with, which recently accepted an investment from Lu Zhihong."
He continued, "Yesterday, Lu Zhihong came to Nan Qiao, he received the news at Zhao Da's place."
Lu Nian felt somewhat dizzy listening to this, connecting these three pieces of information, her eyes suddenly brightened, "Have they all conspired together? The issue with the Zhao family's raw material factory was orchestrated by Zhao Tingyuan and the others?"
The more she thought about it, the more it seemed right; her almond eyes sparkled, "It must be so."
"So, we don't need to interfere, just let the Zhao family notice it themselves, starting with urging Uncle Zhao to investigate that suspicious raw material factory."
After all, Zhao Quan is still alive, Zhao Tingyuan's foundation is unstable, and it's almost two years until the time in the original story where Zhao Yayuan was imprisoned. Su Qingyou's maternal family cannot provide any support, and Zhao Tingyuan lacks ability; this is the time when their foundation is shaky.
If they can provide solid and conclusive evidence, enabling the Zhao family to see the sinister intentions of those two, they can nip the danger in the bud by leveraging this.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was okay.
"Am I very smart?" she asked Qin Si, a touch of pride in her voice, her eyes twinkling brightly, giving her an especially sprightly and playful appearance.
The man's thin lips curved upward slightly, yet he said nothing.
Lu Nian said, "I will contact Yayuan and convey this idea to him."
The faint smile on his face disappeared quickly as he stood up and silently started packing his luggage.
Lu Nian, "…"
Every time, whenever she took the initiative to contact Zhao Yayuan, he would become displeased.
Even though something had happened between them last night, and she had already confessed her feelings for him.
"Just friends," she sighed, "I don't have those kinds of feelings for him."
She muttered to herself, "Look, I won't help him that way, last night…"
She gestured a bit, the implications in her words unmistakable. His face turned a deep shade of red all at once, and his steps became faltered.
Lu Nian wrapped her arms around him from behind, rubbing gently against his broad and straight back. She breathed in his scent contentedly, noticing how he stiffened, seemingly unsure how to respond to her unrestrained affection.
"Still shy, huh?" There was a playful hint of laughter in Lu Nian's voice.
After all the intimate moments they've shared, what was there left to be shy about?
After notifying Zhao Yayuan, they leisurely wandered around Nanqiao, unhurried and without pressing concerns.
Having known each other for so many years and lived together for quite a while, it oddly seemed like they hadn't truly dated in the conventional sense.
Lu Nian asked, "What about your company?"
"I've handed everything over to Minghong and the team," he replied.
He had already arranged everything in advance. The upcoming ten days were holidays, and he could stay here, dedicating his time solely to her.
His assistant called to inform him that Lu Zhichong had accepted all the terms, willingly agreeing to surveillance, and promising never to appear before Lu Nian again.
Having resolved this matter, recalling her tears from that night, he decided to withhold this news from her for the time being.
Due to experiences from his youth, Qin Si was meticulous and highly competent in handling matters of life. Preferring solitude, this journey would only involve the two of them, with everything arranged perfectly for her.
A long time ago, starting from their youth, Lu Nian had always felt that there seemed to be nothing Qin Si couldn't do or accomplish.
Although a man of few words, he could certainly be considered a very capable boyfriend. Over the past few days, she had been pampered to the point of resembling a big baby, free from all worries.
Although, she felt that she had been somewhat of a spoiled brat even before this.
Lu Nian felt slightly embarrassed and took the initiative to suggest that she could also contribute a bit.
He lowered his eyes, "You don't want to?"
Being able to take care of her in this manner, witnessing her dependency on him brought him a profound sense of satisfaction, a sentiment he found too shameful to voice.
Lu Nian, "...", alright then.
Actually, she was quite willing, only worried that it might trouble him too much.
But on second thought, Qin Si was her boyfriend, her man; relying on him a little was perfectly normal, hence she suddenly felt entirely justified in doing so.
Having been here for quite a while, this was actually her first time genuinely lowering her guard, fully trusting and relying on someone.
It felt truly wonderful.
Upon returning to Ancheng, just as they settled down, Qin Si received a call from Ming Ge.
"Huang Mao's wife gave birth, to a chubby boy! Where have you two been in the last few days? Couldn't even reach you by phone," Ming Ge's excited voice came from the other end, "Hurry over and take a look, and remember to bring a big red envelope."
Qin Si's vacation hadn't come to an end, and Lu Nian was temporarily unoccupied as well.
"Has the baby arrived? A girl or a boy?" asked an excited Lu Nian. She darted barefoot onto the couch and clambered over to him, leaning on his shoulder to listen in more closely.
Ming Ge cheerfully responded, "Oh, is sister Nian there too? It's a handsome little boy, much more good-looking than Huang Mao. When are you both coming over?"
Ming Ge continued, "Then how about you come over tonight? We're at Huang Mao's place. His wife and the baby have already been discharged from the hospital."
Just as expected.
Huang Mao was radiantly flushed, exuding happiness. Though relatively young and without any parents or relatives, he now had a wife and a child, a family to strive for, which magnified his sense of happiness manifold.
The baby's face was rosy, and aside from crying, he wasn't capable of much yet. Regardless, he looked incredibly adorable with every feature so tiny and delicate.
"When do you two plan on having one?" Ming Ge asked, noticing her affection for the baby.
Lu Nian replied, "Let's wait until we're married."
She uttered the word "marriage" aloud.
He froze for a moment, turning to look at her. Lu Nian seemed utterly unaffected, as if she had just made a casual remark. She was mesmerized by the cute face of the baby in the cradle, feeling as if her heart was melting.
She went to discuss matters of childcare and pregnancy with Lan Lan.
Huang Mao beckoned, "Come, come."
He gestured for Qin Si to step outside.
Ming Ge was there too, with the three men gathering in another room.
With a child now, Huang Mao was absolutely delighted, basking in a state of complete contentment.
Ming Ge, still a bachelor, suddenly burst into mischievous laughter, asking Qin Si, "It seems like you and sister Nian have made significant progress, haven't you? Have you reached 'that' stage yet?"
With his extensive experience, his keen eye quickly picked up on the subtle changes in the couple's interactions.
Qin Si remained silent, "..."
"Tsk, but didn't you guys go to Nanqiao? Isn't that place all mountains and trees? Could it be... tsk?" Ming Ge said teasingly, stroking his chin and babbling nonsensically, "I expected it from you, but sister Nian being so unrestrained too?"
"Fuck off," he responded coldly, without even looking up.
Ming Ge laughed off the insult, saying, "I don't have a mother, and you don't have one either."
Huang Mao agreed, adding, "Yeah, neither of us do. I don't even remember what my mother looked like."
Qin Si was an orphan, and Huang Mao's mother had run away with a businessman from another town when he was three, never returning since.
Ming Ge suddenly burst into laughter again, saying, "Well, now that you have a wife and a child, not having a mother doesn't matter much, does it?"
"Soon, he will have a family of his own too," he said, pointing at Qin Si.
They seldom gathered like this anymore.
The man before her remained reticent, his handsome features now paired with a reserved silence, maturing into a subdued charisma. Yet, through his current demeanor, glimpses of his youthful self were still prominently visible.
For a moment, it felt like a return to those youthful days of vivid attire and spirited horses.
He remained that indifferent and rebellious young man, a figure full of sharp edges.
Just like that, so many years have passed.
"It's truly wonderful," Ming Ge suddenly remarked with a hint of nostalgia.
Back then, a visit from Lu Nian would last at least ten days, bringing a significant lift to his spirits despite his silence and initial stiffness, becoming less talkative and colder in her presence.
"I can't believe you actually managed to successfully woo her," Ming Ge exclaimed, reflecting on the nonsensical things he used to say and the absurdities he used to commit.
Huang Mao chimed in, "Well, our Brother Qin certainly has good hardware, getting the girl with just his good looks is totally possible."
"Lan Lan mentioned it to me several times behind your back," Huang Mao said, a hint of sourness in his tone, "complimenting your good looks."
She was aware of their individual backgrounds and would often discuss with Huang Mao how strikingly handsome and charismatic he was, amongst other things.
"Absolutely, he was our little bar's star attraction," Ming Ge stated, "You wouldn't believe it, back when he was seventeen or eighteen, just sitting in our bar and doing some writing would attract numerous people offering him drinks, significantly boosting the night's earnings."
Although Qin Si always kept to himself, speaking with a cold indifference, and displaying an even worse temperament when irritated.
Despite this, many women seemed to find this attractive, almost as if they were masochists.
They believed that winning him over would only make the contrast in his demeanor more delightful when the time came.
Hence, once Ming Ge became less busy and acquired his own house, he rarely appeared there.
Engrossed in his lively recounting, Ming Ge failed to notice the door being pushed open from behind.
"Oh?" Lu Nian asked with a smile playing on her lips, taking a seat beside them, "So, you've had drinks with a few people? I wasn't aware that you had such experiences."
Qin Si, "..."
Ming Ge, "..."
Realizing his slip of tongue, he hurriedly asserted, "Of course he hasn't had drinks with anyone! I guarantee it."
Lu Nian just smiled, her lips curving gracefully, choosing to remain silent.
After the two left.
Lu Nian walked a bit ahead, stepping into the setting sun, seemingly in high spirits.
He trailed slightly behind, his eyes downcast, lost in his own thoughts.
"Not even one," he suddenly said, "Only with you."
"Only me, what?" Lu Nian responded after a moment.
Then she realized, was he still dwelling on that, afraid she would be angered by that jest?
Taking it so seriously.
She wanted to laugh but restrained herself.
"Holding hands, embracing, kissing..." he paused momentarily.
What was to follow seemed to get stuck, he didn't continue.
"So, that night... it wasn't your first time?" Lu Nian asked teasingly, "Was there someone else?"
She had him cornered, leaving him embarrassed and at a loss for words.
"You're the only one for me too," she said, tilting her head and grabbing his hand. She felt him stiffen for a moment before he firmly grasped her small hand in return.
Fearing he might become more shy, she steered the conversation towards another topic, "The kid with the yellow hair is really cute, isn't he?"
He looked off into the distance, the sunset's afterglow reflecting in his cool, dark eyes, casting a soft warmth in them. His voice was soft as he said, "I don't like children."
After they get married, he didn't want to have children, if she was agreeable to it.
Lu Nian, "..."
Her health was fragile; he feared any possible mishaps.
Moreover,
"When I was at the orphanage, there were many children around," he finally said after a long silence.
Lu Nian was taken aback for a moment.
Qin Si rarely discussed his past experiences with her, often showing some resistance, even avoiding discussing his youthful days in the Lu family.
He had never brought up his time at the orphanage before he was taken in by the Lu family.
That orphanage wasn't a legitimate institution, it was privately run.
Life there was hellish for most of the children - the management was lax, older children bullied the younger ones, and many who were weak, unadopted or born with disabilities found themselves at the bottom of the hierarchy.
Due to lack of funds, food was often insufficient, leading to frequent covert skirmishes amongst the children.
His pride kept him from engaging in the fights, at most taking only his own share of provisions.
The management of the orphanage was very lax, during that time, he could sneak out over the back wall to do odd jobs like manning stalls or making deliveries, earning a bit of change to buy some buns or bread to stave off hunger.
Food was always scarce.
Seeing a child crying from hunger, he silently shared half of the buns he had bought outside with the youngster.
As a result, the next day, that person turned around and reported him to the head of the institution, he was denounced.
For breaking the rules, he was severely punished and berated, dragged in front of everyone for a public reprimand, followed by half a month of confinement.
Hence now, no matter how he tries, he cannot find affection for children; it always brings back the cries he heard back in the orphanage.
It resurrects those dreadful memories.
He uttered only that sentence, offering no further explanation.
Yet Lu Nian heard the underlying stories in that single sentence, feeling her heart soften.
Qin Si has always been like this, hiding his wounds silently, never seeking comfort from others. Even when his wounds have healed, he is reluctant to share it with others.
She remembers the first time she met Qin Si.
A young boy who was sensitive, stubborn, and proud, never yielding, his demeanor bristled with thorns.
This kind of personality, a keen sense of self-protection, formed from enduring numerous hardships in the past, with layers of defenses, not allowing anyone to get close.
It took her a long time, spanning an entire period of growth, to gradually make her way into his heart.
"When the time comes, if you want to, we will, if not, then we won't," she said gently, "I will respect your decision."
Returning from Huangmao's house.
Lu Nian checked her work email that had been neglected for a while, only to unexpectedly discover that she had received a poster commission from a renowned gaming company.
The owner had seen her work and specifically requested her.
Lu Nian was pleasantly surprised.
Even though she wasn't short of money, this was, after all, an acknowledgment of her work.
"Although I am a bit naive, my artworks are quite good," Lu Nian bragged cheerfully, "I'll be earning a nice fee from this commission."
Most of her doubts were dispelled, as she began seriously considering their future together, truly acknowledging him as her boyfriend and prospective husband.
These days at home with nothing much to do, she had spruced up the place, adding many pairs of little objects, injecting vitality and a welcoming, elegant ambiance that was missing in the show flat he bought before.
Lu Nian often prepared little gifts for him, each quite unique: sometimes a fashionable tie, sometimes an eye-soothing potted plant for his office, or at times, a small painting she created herself.
When she loves someone, she thinks of them incessantly, offering tender and warm care, quite different from him, she is adept at expressing her affection and love, without any reservation.
He contemplated.
He realized that his desires were growing, becoming increasingly unable to be without her, and even less tolerant of any sign of her growing distant.
If she wishes to withdraw once more.
If it was all just a game, and those words were merely deceit.
He closed his eyes, deciding not to delve deeper into those thoughts.
....
The ten-day vacation passed swiftly, and he visited the company to address some lingering issues.
Upon his return, Lu Nian was engrossed in her work, nestled in the workspace, utterly focused.
He chose not to disturb her.
By evening, Lu Nian was still immersed in her drafting.
After he had bathed and tidied up, she was still fixated on the screen, drawing diligently.
She hadn't kissed him the entire day.
Having grown accustomed to their pervasive intimacy, a regression was something he found increasingly intolerable.
Lu Nian stretched languorously.
The man was working not far from her, seemingly engrossed in a discussion about plans, typing rapidly, sleeves slightly rolled up revealing slender, clean fingers.
His profile appeared exceptionally sharp; he inherently had a cold and distant facial structure, with pitch-black pupils, long eyelashes, yet narrow double eyelids, lending a slender and slightly uplifted appearance to his phoenix eyes, a visage that was classical yet handsome.
A man characterized by his pride, a frigid demeanor, and a lofty attitude.
He had been this way since childhood.
Having finished discussing work matters, he didn't leave the living room, instead, he opened another document.
He cast frequent glances in her direction, seemingly awaiting something.
However, when she finally looked over, he lowered his eyes, continuing with his work as though nothing had occurred.
Lu Nian couldn't help but chuckle silently within her heart.
Perhaps because she had already acknowledged him as her man internally, the recollection of his past hardships now felt increasingly unbearable.
Now, all she wished was to cherish him deeply.
She also yearned to see more of his repressed yet enticing expressions, similar to that night.
She put down her paintbrush, inquiring purposely, "Do you need something?"
His eyes lowered, voice a neutral murmur, his jawline lean and well-defined, emanating a detached arrogance, "Nothing."
"Then what were you looking at?" Lu Nian pressed, "I saw you, you were just looking at me."
He, "..."
She climbed onto the sofa, sitting beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and sighed softly, "Why are you still so shy?"
His throat tightened, he turned his face away, stubbornly murmuring, "...Not shy."
"I've seen and touched every part of you," Lu Nian whispered into his ear, "What's there to be shy about now?"
His face instantly turned crimson.
The girl's warm and gentle breath was right beside his ear, almost touching. The faint scent of sea salt and milk from her bath lotion lingered on her skin. She wore a sleeveless slip dress, her pale delicate arms brushing lightly against him, her skin was clean and fine, with a touch as cool and soft as silk.
Yet she refrained from granting him, nor did she touch him.
A distance that seemed both near and far.
It drove people mad.
The corners of his eyes reddened, unable to restrain himself any longer, he bit her lip, silently seeking affection. She smiled radiantly, finally responding, allowing him to draw closer.
The author has something to say:
Training
Si Si is really fun, a virgin who can't resist being teased.
In the future, teasing him a bit during intimate moments will produce even better results, cough.
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