Chapter 45

Chapter 45

A seemingly casual question, yet laden with hidden tests.

But Song Nian, flustered at the moment, was too flustered to pay it any mind. The question went in one ear and out the other, never registering, and he replied without turning his head:

"March."

Not only did the question fail to register, but his own answer didn't either. Such a simple question was like a knee-jerk reflex, an instinctive response without the need for thought.

In contrast, all his focus was now on the scratch. He was flustered, staring at the scrape in panic, his palms starting to sweat from anxiety.

But the casually blurted-out answer was like the first domino, triggering a chain reaction the moment it fell.

The instant he heard the answer, Li Yanchuan's pupils contracted sharply, and he subconsciously clenched his fists.

—If he remembered correctly, the background check he had done showed that Song Nian's birthday was in October.

No one would forget their own birthday.

Unless they weren't who they claimed to be.

In that moment, it was as if the clouds had parted, the sky cleared, and everything came into sharp focus.

Everything began to make sense.

Why Song Nian's attitude had suddenly changed, why his personality was so different from before, why he was completely different from what the records showed—all of this now had an answer.

Because he simply wasn't the original Song Nian!

Staring intently at the back in front of him, Li Yanchuan's body trembled violently.

"Song Nian."

His voice was hoarse and strained as he called Song Nian's name.

"Wh-What?"

Still caught up in his guilt, Song Nian had no idea what was happening. Suddenly called by his full name, he turned around timidly, his gaze darting around.

The next second, he was abruptly pulled into a broad embrace.

A firm, powerful arm tightly wrapped around his back, like iron bands, holding him immobile, making it almost hard to breathe, and even causing a slight ache.

It was as if Li Yanchuan wanted to press him into his very bones, refusing to let him disappear or escape.

Song Nian took an almost imperceptible sharp breath. He wanted to say something, but noticing the slight trembling of the man's body, the words hovered on his lips before he swallowed them back.

As they held each other closely, Li Yanchuan's peripheral vision caught the faint red scar above the left eyebrow of the person in his arms.

It was another solid confirmation.

Now, he was even more certain his guess was right.

Because that other "Song Nian" definitely didn't have this mark on his cheek.

When all possibilities are eliminated, the remaining conclusion, no matter how absurd, must be the truth.

The two looked so alike, had the same name, but their personalities were completely opposite.

Though this clever switcheroo sounded somewhat fantastical, Li Yanchuan didn't care. After all, not everything in the world can be explained by common sense.

All he needed to know was that the Song Nian standing before him was a different person.

And this Song Nian had no ill intentions.

Thinking back carefully, from the very first meeting at the wedding, he had encountered this particular Song Nian.

It was the same one who would shrink in front of him, make pleading puppy-dog eyes, ask for his help, and stare at him with big, round eyes.

That straightforward, honest, passionate person, warm as sunshine, who had burst into his life with a dazzling radiance, had always been this very man standing before him.

In an instant, the barriers he had built around his heart came crashing down, dissolving completely.

Before this, under Song Nian's influence, Li Yanchuan had already marked him as someone special.

But how special? His pride had kept him from dwelling on it.

Because trusting someone who had a history with his own brother was hard enough, let alone considering that the shift in attitude might have an ulterior emotional motive.

Admitting it would mean being a loser.

But now that he knew the truth, he realized that none of that had anything to do with Song Nian. This person had only ever brought him warmth and goodwill.

Those clear, bright eyes had never rested on anyone else.

It was like an ancient book long hidden in a tower, finally dusted off and carefully opened. The pages, as if answering a call, fluttered up like snowflakes, scattering through the air.

The window burst open, and dazzling sunlight poured in, lighting up corners that had lain in silence for years.

The sunlight was bright, and his heart began to beat anew, as if coming back to life.

His heart gave a sudden flutter.

It was only then that Li Yanchuan finally understood that he had long been smitten with Song Nian.

This special feeling was love.

He willingly accepted defeat, shedding his armor and admitting he had lost.

This first love of his life was offered to the warm sun.

Rough breaths brushed against his ear, tickling his neck, making him instinctively shrink back.

He felt the man's arms suddenly tighten around him, and his breathing grow erratic.

This left him a bit bewildered.

However, his thoughts were running in a slightly skewed direction.

Why was Li Yanchuan acting so strange? Could it be...

Was he so angry he'd lost his mind?

Angry because he'd scraped the new car? So furious that he wanted to tie him up and drag him off to jail, but had to hold back due to legal constraints?

At that thought, Song Nian suddenly broke free from the embrace. When he met Li Yanchuan's complex, deep gaze, he paused for a moment, then shook his head to clear it.

Li Yanchuan, still lost in his newly awakened feelings, looked at him in confusion.

Song Nian took a deep breath, pressed his palms together, and quickly put on an innocent and aggrieved expression, looking up with tearful eyes:

"I'm sorry, husband, I was wrong! I didn't mean to scratch your expensive car QAQ."

"I'll pay for it, but can I do it in installments? I can't come up with that much money all at once."

Hearing this, Li Yanchuan was taken aback for a moment, then struggled to realize he was referring to the car.

A helpless yet doting smile appeared on his face:

"Why panic over such a small thing? As long as you're not hurt, it's just a car. If you don't like it, we can buy a new one."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently ruffled his hair.

The texture under his palm was soft and smooth, fluffy.

Feeling like he was being petted like a cat, Song Nian blinked slowly, then processed the words.

Words that were incredibly gentle and full of reassurance.

Huh? No need to pay? He didn't care about it and wasn't angry. That's great.

If that's the case, what was Li Yanchuan thinking just now, and why did he suddenly hug me?

Before he could ask, Li Yanchuan made the first move.

His large hand gently touched his cheek, cupping his face with a reverence and gentleness, as if handling the most fragile and precious treasure in the world.

Caught off guard, he met his gaze, where thick, unbreakable emotions surged like ocean waves, overflowing from his deep eyes and threatening to swallow him whole.

Stared at with such an intense, burning gaze, Song Nian's cheeks instantly flushed, and he gulped nervously.

Under such a stare, he suddenly had the illusion that he was about to be devoured whole.

All doubts were pushed aside, leaving only a racing heart.

Close up, Li Yanchuan greedily traced every feature and inch of his skin, as if wishing to etch them into his memory, making up for all the times he had overlooked him before.

"What... what's wrong?"

Afraid that if he kept staring, his face would either explode from blushing or his heart would leap out of his chest, Song Nian gathered his courage and whispered softly.

Hearing this, Li Yanchuan didn't answer but let out a light laugh, his voice low and magnetic, sending shivers down his spine.

"Nothing, just checking if you're hurt."

A smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, he then let him go and led him toward the elevator.

"D-don't we need to take care of that?"

Hesitantly, Song Nian couldn't help but look back at the sports car.

"No need, I'll have my assistant handle it later."

Li Yanchuan replied without turning around.

Watching his back, Song Nian tilted his head, feeling that something was off.

He vaguely sensed a change in him but couldn't pinpoint what exactly had changed.

Was it just his imagination? He felt like he was missing something.

Completely unaware that his secret was out, Song Nian was utterly baffled.

—

The scratch incident was quickly forgotten. At first, Song Nian was a bit nervous, but later he realized Li Yanchuan didn't care about the car at all, so he relaxed.

Not only did he relax, but he also felt a bit embarrassed.

Because Li Yanchuan was completely focused on him, constantly asking if he was hurt or frightened.

When he thought about it carefully, the car had probably been more scared than he was.

After this incident, Song Nian pondered that he couldn't keep going like this; he really needed to learn how to drive. So he asked the driver to be his practice partner, using his free time to learn the ropes.

After all, once he learned, he could even take Li Yanchuan out for a drive to relax.

Finally, after some practice, Song Nian felt he had mastered driving and excitedly ran to invite him:

"Husband! Let's go on a picnic this weekend?"

Since they would be going out during the day, he made sure to mention that they'd be going to the suburbs, where there wouldn't be many people.

He thought he'd need to spend some time convincing him, maybe even use his pleading skills, but to his surprise, Li Yanchuan agreed readily:

"Sure, just tell the driver."

"No need for the driver, just the two of us! I'll drive!"

Song Nian patted his chest confidently.

Hearing this, Li Yanchuan narrowed his eyes, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.

Song Nian immediately pouted and put on a sad face:

"What, changed your mind?"

"Do you really need the driver to come along? Either you don't trust my driving, or you don't want to spend time alone with me."

"You don't even dare to ride in my car. I didn't realize our trust was so fragile and easily broken."

Before he could say anything, Li Yanchuan was cut off by a barrage of words... No, he hadn't said anything.

Seeing how excited and confident Song Nian was, he didn't want to spoil the fun, so he nodded.

Getting the affirmative answer, Song Nian cheered, jumped up, and ran downstairs to prepare.

"Mr. Song, are you sure you don't need me to drive? Or I could sit in the passenger seat?"

On the day of departure, the driver worriedly circled the car and looked it over, like an anxious old father.

"No need, Yan Chuan and I are going alone."

Song Nian waved his hand, signaling not to worry, he helped push Li Yanchuan into the car, then sat confidently in the driver's seat.

Then he got out of the car again.

This time, Li Yanchuan didn't raise any objections.

He had walked around the car, so he understood.

When Song Nian got back into the car, Li Yanchuan, in the back seat, raised an eyebrow.

"Are we leaving now?"

Song Nian took a deep breath, gripped the steering wheel, and said:

"Husband, actually, I'm a little nervous."

After all, it was his first time driving alone, and due to his physical condition, Li Yanchuan couldn't sit in the passenger seat to help keep an eye on things.

"What if someone on the road yells at me?"

"Then just roll up your window, and they won't be able to yell at you."

That makes sense!

Hearing this, Song Nian suddenly realized it was a great way to fool himself. He slapped his thigh and immediately pressed a button to raise the window.

But the next second, instead of the window closing, the trunk slowly opened.

Li Yanchuan: ...

Song Nian: ...

What if I told you I was just nervous? Would you believe me?