"In this life, I will marry no one but her."
Pei Yicheng had just spoken.
Xu Nian’an shook his head and said, "I don’t believe in vows. Words alone are not binding. Once someone wants to change their heart, no vow can hold them back."
Although Xu Nian’an had never been in love or made any grand promises, he felt that these spoken vows were the least reliable in his eyes and heart.
Pei Yicheng looked at him deeply and said, "Then let time prove it."
Xu Nian’an pursed his lips and warned, "I don’t care about your background or how powerful you are. If you ever bully my little sister and make her cry, my fists aren’t just for show."
As he spoke, he raised his clenched fist.
"Whoever dares to bully her, I will be the first to not forgive them, myself included." Pei Yicheng’s voice was resolute.
Xu Nian’an looked at him deeply, not replying; this matter couldn’t be settled just by talking.
"Also, Nian’an, could you not call me ’Brother Cheng’?" Pei Yicheng reminded, having wanted to bring this up earlier, but hesitated because he was older than Xu Nian’an and didn’t want him to misunderstand.
But now, things were different. Xu Nian’an knew his intentions, and when he mentioned it, it was completely straightforward.
Up in the attic, Xu Nianhua was unaware of what Pei Yicheng and Xu Nian’an had discussed. She stood still, the scent of perfume still lingering in the air, faintly reminding her that everything that had just happened was real, not a dream or her own fantasy.
Her expression complex, she looked at the perfume she was clutching in her hand. Even facing a crowd of thousands at a venue, she could speak confidently without stage fright, but just now, in front of Pei Yicheng, she felt like a girl experiencing her first crush, completely at a loss.
Throughout high school and university, many had confessed to her, but Xu Nianhua had bluntly rejected them all.
Originally, she had planned to reject Pei Yicheng too, but somehow their conversation had turned into them dating as of the first day.
She stood there for a long time, unable to figure it out.
She took a deep breath, pressing her thumping chest, lifted her hand, and tightly grasped the perfume that smelled of first love.
"Oh, Yining isn’t home?" Xu Nianhua walked into the house and discovered that the lit room was unusually quiet.
"She’s gone on a field trip with classmates; she doesn’t know you’re back yet." Pei Yicheng closed the door and naturally took her hand.
Xu Nianhua’s face blushed, and she struggled to pull away.
But Pei Yicheng, as if he had anticipated it, held her hand tightly and said, "Aunt Jin isn’t home."
Xu Nianhua followed him into the house, but her eyes clearly showed disbelief.
How could the house be empty if the lights were on?
After entering, the room was brightly lit, yet there was no one around.
"You lied to my older brother." Xu Nianhua looked around. The lights were on, but it was empty.
She remembered how some people had just now made firm promises to her brother that Yining was at home.
"Today is our first day of dating; how could we let others be in the way?" Pei Yicheng led her to the dining table and sat down, mysteriously saying, "Just wait."
Pei Yicheng, with his tall frame, entered the kitchen, and soon after, he brought out steaming dishes.
"Did Aunt Jin cook these before she left?" Xu Nianhua looked at the dishes and spoke without thinking.
Pei Yicheng’s face stiffened, and he said, "There wasn’t enough time today. Next time, I will cook for you."