Night gradually fell, but the Golden Junwan Hillside Villa was brightly lit.
"Ding-dong—"
The doorbell rang from outside. Zhao Yunzhou jumped up from the sofa in an instant, excitedly saying, "It's sister—I mean, senior sister, she's here."
Yan Hechuan pretended not to care, but in reality, he also lifted his head slightly.
"Go open the door."
"Why should I open it?" Zhao Yunzhou muttered under his breath, but thinking he would soon see the beautiful sister, he decided not to argue.
He opened the villa door full of anticipation, only to see Tang Yinyao standing there. She wore a white knitted long sweater with jeans, her short hair looking neat and efficient.
It really was the 'real senior sister'.
"Junior brother." Upon seeing him, Tang Yinyao's lips curved into a smile, speaking very affectionately, "Long time no see. Have you gotten used to living here lately?"
"Oh, how is Hechuan's condition now?"
As she spoke, she started to walk inside.
Zhao Yunzhou didn't stop her. Since it wasn't the beautiful sister who came, he might as well quietly watch the show.
On the sofa, Yan Hechuan's expression had darkened the moment he heard Tang Yinyao's voice.
"Hechuan," she called.
Feeling an unfamiliar feminine presence close to him, Yan Hechuan instinctively frowned and shifted away to avoid her.
Tang Yinyao was stunned.
Was she seeing things just now?! Did Hechuan just recoil from me?
Impossible.
Maybe I misread it.
Hechuan even specifically warned Jiashu-ge not to get too close to me. He must deeply love me.
"Hechuan, I—"
Tang Yinyao's words were cut off before she could finish.
Yan Hechuan's tone was cold. "Are you here to ask for my help?"
Tang Yinyao's face fell, and she said softly, "...Yes, there is a matter. I was schemed against by Jiashu-ge's wife. She..."
Yan Hechuan: "Get to the point."
Tang Yinyao: "Our lab urgently needs a batch of medical equipment, preferably delivered tomorrow or the day after. Hechuan, can you help me?"
Yan Hechuan: "I can."
Before Tang Yinyao could show a delighted expression, she heard him continue, "One for one. I'll help you solve the lab equipment issue, and you cooperate with me to break off the engagement."
Seeing his cold and handsome features.
Tang Yinyao smiled with great confidence, stepping forward to grab his arm. Although he was blind and couldn't see, he seemed to have anticipated it, swiftly dodging her grasp.
"Hechuan, even if you're blind, I won't mind."
"We don't need to break off the engagement. I know you still like me, love me in your heart. You don't have to silently endure the grievance alone. We can be completely honest with each other about anything."
Zhao Yunzhou, the observer: "..."
What is Tang Yinyao babbling about? Every word is in Mandarin, but once she says them, they become incomprehensible.
Yan Hechuan also found this communication particularly difficult this time.
So he stated simply and clearly:
"Fine, complete honesty."
"Then I'll tell you, I don't like you. I want to break off the engagement with you."
Tang Yinyao thought he was joking with her and leaned in closer, saying,
"Hechuan, are you upset because I neglected you while I was abroad? Okay, I'm sorry."
"I know you've been blind lately and having a hard time accepting it, and your mood hasn't been good. Next time, I'll definitely stay by your side. Forgive me, okay?"
Yan Hechuan was usually emotionally stable.
Now he also felt somewhat speechless, repeating:
"Tang Yinyao, I don't like you."
"I want to break off the engagement with you."
Hearing his robotic repetition, the relaxed smile on Tang Yinyao's face gradually faded.
Could her guess have been wrong?
"Hechuan, what kind of joke is this? If you don't like me, why did you get engaged to me in the first place?"
Yan Hechuan's tone was steady: "Because it was suitable. Among so many people, you were the one whose proximity caused the mildest allergic reaction in me. I needed a wife; the Yan family needed a mistress."
These words were spoken very rationally, without a trace of emotion.
It was just suitability.
Tang Yinyao actually knew this deep down, but hearing it from his mouth felt like a mockery directed at her.
Especially with Junior Brother Mengxiang watching from the sidelines.
"Mengxiang junior brother, could you please leave for a moment?" Tang Yinyao felt somewhat humiliated.
"Zhao Yunzhou, you stay!" Yan Hechuan's voice grew slightly louder.
Tang Yinyao looked around left and right. After looking for a while, she saw only the three of them in the room and couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "Zhao Yunzhou? Who is Zhao Yunzhou?"
Zhao Yunzhou pointed at himself. "Me."
At this moment, Tang Yinyao remembered a piece of gossip she'd seen in her social circle's group chat before returning to the country. It said that on the day of the Zhao family patriarch's birthday banquet, an illegitimate son had appeared.
Everyone had been in a gossipy, watch-the-drama mood.
So, Mengxiang was that illegitimate son?
A hint of regret flashed in Tang Yinyao's eyes. What a pity. If she had known Mengxiang's family background was also this good, she should have shown a little charm back then.
Fortunately, Zhao Yunzhou didn't know what Tang Yinyao was imagining, or he would have been nauseated.
Wanting to save face, Tang Yinyao added,
"Hechuan, since you say you don't like me, why did you warn Jiashu-ge at the Zhao patriarch's banquet?"
"Actually, Jiashu-ge and I are just good friends. He only told me about this because he felt he had a clear conscience."
Yan Hechuan lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, "I mistook the person."
Tang Yinyao: "What?"
Yan Hechuan repeated: "I said, I was mistaken."
After a pause, he continued, "I warned Du Jiashu not to get close to his wife."
Tang Yinyao was completely baffled: "..."
I understand every word, but how come I don't understand them when put together?!
Who did Hechuan mistake? Telling Jiashu-ge not to get close to his own wife.
That's completely backwards.
Something's not right!
Xia Liuyue.
That name jumped into her heart again. Tang Yinyao finally sensed who was the source of all these uncontrollable events.
Whether it was Du Jiashu's change in attitude, the lab equipment scam, or Hechuan wanting to break off the engagement...
Just as the room fell into silence.
A light, pleasant female voice broke the quiet, even using Tang Yinyao's own voice tone.
"Well, well! How lively. Seems I arrived at the perfect time."
Xia Liuyue stepped in on seven-centimeter silver stilettos. She wore a black thin-strap long dress, draped over with a beige fringed wool shawl.
Her jet-black hair was curled into large waves cascading over her shoulders. The straight bangs across her forehead did not hide those lively, charming almond-shaped eyes.
Her nose bridge was straight, her lips full and red, slightly upturned.
On her plump earlobes hung two sparkling, lustrous freshwater pearls. She was radiantly beautiful, almost dazzling.
Simultaneously, three voices spoke at once.
Tang Yinyao, through gritted teeth, her voice carrying shock and disbelief: "Xia Liuyue?!"
Yan Hechuan, surprised and expectant: "Yueyue."
Zhao Yunzhou, his unruly brows lifting: "Beautiful sister, you're finally here."
