Yan Yuan felt he was being rather “mean” to her.
Linlin gazed at him, tracing her eyes from his brow ridge down to the bridge of his nose, his eyes, his lips…
He was so handsome—the longer she looked, the more handsome he seemed.
He was hers.
But Yan Yuan was beginning to find her gaze almost unbearable. Even so, his mood had never been better. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “All right. Let’s work on your problems.”
If she kept hugging him like this, he was going to lose control.
It was Linlin’s first time visiting her boyfriend’s dormitory, and they spent the whole afternoon doing problems.
They had dinner in the cafeteria, and afterward Yan Yuan walked Linlin home.
She had been chattering away the whole way, but the moment they stepped inside, they saw Jiang Chengzhou sitting in the living room with his legs spread wide, his expression grim.
Linlin took off her coat and hung it on the rack. As she turned around, she quickly shot Yan Yuan a look. Then she flew over to Jiang Chengzhou with a bright smile, sat down beside him, and linked her arm through his.
“Big brother, are you done with everything at school? Are you tired? Did you have dinner?”
Jiang Chengzhou’s expression softened a little, but he still asked sternly, “Where did you two go today?”
“To his dorm,” Linlin answered honestly.
“You spent the whole day there?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And you still say ‘mm-hmm’!” Jiang Chengzhou reached over and tapped her forehead. “Don’t you know that all men are wolves in sheep’s clothing? How could you just follow him home?”
“Ow, that hurts.”
Yan Yuan hurried over and examined her forehead. Looking displeased, he said, “I invited her over. Why are you scolding her?”
Jiang Chengzhou had controlled his strength and knew exactly how hard to hit. He would never actually hurt her. Seeing Yan Yuan’s reaction, he could only laugh in exasperation.
Linlin hadn’t expected things to develop this way. She quickly tugged at Yan Yuan’s sleeve and mouthed, “I’m pretending.”
“Heh.” Jiang Chengzhou let out a cold laugh beside them.
Yan Yuan pressed a hand to his forehead. He truly had no idea what to do with this pair of siblings. After a pause, he asked Jiang Chengzhou, “Bro, have you eaten dinner?”
The living room fell silent.
The corners of Jiang Chengzhou’s mouth rose uncontrollably. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t suppress his smile.
He leaned back against the sofa and drawled, “No. Why?”
Yan Yuan rolled up his sleeves. “Shall I make something for Your Elderly Highness?”
Before Jiang Chengzhou could answer, Linlin had already stood up and followed Yan Yuan closely into the kitchen. “I’ll help you.”
Jiang Chengzhou’s mood soured again.
The kitchen soon filled with the light clatter of a spatula against the wok, followed by the fragrant aroma of scallions.
Yan Yuan moved efficiently. In less than ten minutes, he brought out a steaming bowl of egg noodles.
He had also fried a sunny-side-up egg for Linlin.
When she saw that he didn’t have one, she divided hers in half and fed some to him.
Jiang Chengzhou couldn’t help rolling his eyes. He was convinced Yan Yuan had done it on purpose.
Once the new semester officially began, everyone grew busy again.
Shen Man was the busiest of them all. Besides attending classes, she had to follow her advisor to the hospital and the laboratory, so she couldn’t come by often.
Jiang Chengzhou was graduating that year, and he had plenty to deal with at school as well.
Yan Yuan also seemed to be very busy. Once, he didn’t come over for an entire week. Finally, on a Saturday when she had no classes, Linlin couldn’t take it anymore and went to the university to wait for him.
It was already May, and the weather had warmed up.
Linlin had dressed up especially carefully that day.
She wore an ivory long-sleeved blouse with the top button undone. The fabric was light and smooth, clinging to the delicate line of her shoulders whenever the breeze blew.
Over it, she had draped a pale camel-colored cardigan loosely over her shoulders without putting her arms through the sleeves. On her feet were a pair of low-heeled lambskin shoes.
Even in the capital, the outfit was almost excessively fashionable. Paired with her ethereally beautiful face, she was effortlessly and dazzlingly lovely.
Yan Yuan had only just opened the door that morning when he saw the girl step out from beside it.
A trace of panic crossed his face. “What are you doing here?”
Linlin pushed past him and entered. “Am I not allowed to come?”
Yan Yuan hurried after her. He hadn’t had time to tidy the place lately, and scattered machine parts were piled around the room, making it look rather messy.
He hastily cleared a clean space. “Sit down for a moment. I’ll tidy up.”
Linlin caught hold of him, her voice already trembling with emotion. “What’s wrong with you? Do you not want to be my boyfriend anymore?”
Yan Yuan’s eyes stung. “How could that be? I’ve just been too busy lately. It’ll be better once I get through this period.”
Linlin looked at him. “Really? Do you have another secret?”
Everyone was curious by nature, and of course Linlin wanted to know Yan Yuan’s secret.
But since he didn’t tell her, she never asked. Still, when things continued like this, she couldn’t help feeling wronged.
Yan Yuan pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry. I haven’t even washed up yet. Let me freshen up, and then I’ll tell you, all right?”
Linlin nodded and released his hand.
Yan Yuan hadn’t properly groomed himself in days. He’d been rushing around every day and didn’t get home until the dead of night.
He had gone to the little villa, but only stood outside the window for a while before leaving again.
He hadn’t expected Linlin to come looking for him.
After washing up, Yan Yuan shaved in his room and changed into a clean white shirt. He stood before the mirror and smoothed down the collar before finally going out.
There were still faint dark circles beneath his eyes, but after shaving, he looked much more refreshed than before.
Linlin was still sitting in the chair outside, her hands resting on her knees. At the sound of his footsteps, she raised her head.
She stood up and pressed her lips together slightly, but made no move.
Yan Yuan walked over to her and opened his arms.
Only when the girl came to him of her own accord and buried her face against his chest did Yan Yuan finally relax.
He bent down slightly, slipped one arm behind her back, and hooked the other beneath her knees. Then he lifted her, turned, and sat down in the chair, settling her on his lap.
Linlin didn’t struggle. She poked him in the chest. “Have you been very busy lately?”
“Yes.”
“Then you should tell me first next time.”
“I was wrong.” Yan Yuan hugged his Little Moon tighter.
He had originally planned to go see her as soon as he finished his work. But the better he performed, the more capable his partners thought he was, and the more work they piled on him.
Of course, Yan Yuan himself was partly to blame. He had been too eager to produce results, or things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
Linlin wrapped her arms around his neck. “All right. I forgive you.”
Yan Yuan’s heart tightened. “Linlin, can we make a deal? Could you hold me to higher standards?”
She was so good to him that he felt guilty.
Linlin frowned in confusion and touched his forehead. “Why? Have you gone stupid?”
Yan Yuan took her hand away. “When you’re unhappy, lose your temper with me.”
Linlin looked troubled. She wasn’t very good at losing her temper.
“How do I do that?”
“You can hit me or yell at me. Anything is fine.”
Linlin tucked her hand against her chest. “I don’t think that’s right.”
Yan Yuan gave a helpless laugh. “Then what will you do if I really bully you?”
Linlin lowered her head and said nothing.
Yan Yuan lifted her chin. “Why aren’t you answering?”
Her lips moved slightly. “Do I really have to say it?”
“Go ahead.”
Linlin wanted to say, Then we’ll break up. But she knew it would hurt Yan Yuan, so when the words reached her lips, she changed them.
With a sly smile, she said, “If you bully me, I won’t play with you anymore.”
