Xu Ke held a bouquet of roses. Although he returned home after a long journey, his appearance and physique were impressive. The beige trench coat made Xu Ke look not only slender but also incredibly gentle, making people instinctively want to get closer.
At home, three girls sat in the room: Yu Xia, Lin Mengyao, and a stranger between them. Xu Ke merely glanced at this stranger before focusing his gaze on Lin Mengyao.
"I saw this flower shop on my way and thought these flowers suited you, so I bought them for you. See if you like them," Xu Ke said with a smile, handing over the roses.
Lin Mengyao’s eyes couldn’t leave Xu Ke since the moment he walked in. It had only been a little over a month since they last saw each other, but to Mengyao, it felt like a century. Receiving Xu Ke’s roses now, her tears flowed uncontrollably like broken strings of pearls.
"Didn’t you say you’d be back in a few days? Why did you return so early?" Lin Mengyao asked shyly, wiping her tears and taking the roses from Xu Ke’s arms, playfully chiding him.
"I wanted to surprise you. Why are you crying like a child? Please, don’t cry; it breaks my heart," Xu Ke gently coaxed Mengyao while reaching out to wipe away her tears from her cheek.
Yu Xia, watching their deep affection, felt happy for Lin Mengyao.
Sitting next to Yu Xia, Tang Zhongwei, Lin Mengyao’s cousin, gazed ardently at Xu Ke.
How could someone be so good-looking? Like a dazzling sun, Tang Zhongwei stared unblinkingly at Xu Ke.
Tang Zhongwei’s gaze was so intense it pricked like needles. Xu Ke, enduring this discomfort, turned his head towards the source of the gaze after comforting Lin Mengyao.
"Have you looked enough?" Xu Ke asked, his tone revealing no emotion.
Tang Zhongwei, seeing the looks from Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao, snapped out of her thoughts, blushing with embarrassment as she lowered her head, "Sorry, I was just mesmerized by the deep affection between you two. I’ve never seen such a loving couple before."
"I forgot to introduce you; this is my distant cousin Tang Zhongwei. She had some issues at home recently and had nowhere to stay. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone in Luo City, so I brought her back here. You don’t mind, do you? She’ll leave once everything is sorted at her place," Lin Mengyao said, cuddling Xu Ke’s arm as she set the flowers aside.
"It’s okay, since she’s your cousin, let her stay here comfortably. I’ll talk to Grandpa Zhao to give her the same treatment as Xiaxia. With me, you don’t have to be so cautious; do what you like. We are a married couple; I’m your husband," Xu Ke said, touching Lin Mengyao’s cheek.
"Got it," Lin Mengyao nodded. "Go upstairs and take a shower, then get some rest. I’ll call you when it’s time for dinner," she said, tidying Xu Ke’s collar with a slight sparkle in her eyes.
"Alright, I’ll go up first then," Xu Ke said, giving Lin Mengyao a light kiss and greeting the other two girls before heading upstairs.
"Cousin, you and Brother-in-law really have a great relationship," Tang Zhongwei said, snuggling up to Lin Mengyao’s arm as soon as Xu Ke left.
"It’s okay," Lin Mengyao replied with a smile.
"You’re so modest," Tang Zhongwei pushed Lin Mengyao’s arm slightly but received only a smile in response, making her inevitably disappointed in her attempt to hear their story.
Seeing Lin Mengyao not engaging, Tang Zhongwei continued her inquiry, "There must be a lot of girls who like Brother-in-law, given how handsome he is, right? Could you tell me how you managed to stand out and win him over? I also want to find a husband as good-looking as Brother-in-law. Could you share some tips with me?"
Tang Zhongwei’s question made the atmosphere in the living room awkward. Yu Xia looked at Tang Zhongwei in surprise, momentarily forgetting to put down her fruit tea. Lin Mengyao also gave Tang Zhongwei a scrutinizing look, causing a jolt in Tang Zhongwei’s heart.
She shrank her neck uneasily and shifted her seat slightly, "Did I say something wrong, cousin? If I did, it wasn’t intentional. I tend to speak without thinking. I mean no harm, so please don’t be mad at me, okay?"
Tang Zhongwei said, cautiously reaching for Lin Mengyao’s hand, looking somewhat pitiful, like a little animal afraid of being abandoned.
Lin Mengyao withdrew her scrutinizing gaze, "Don’t ask such questions again; I don’t like it," she said coldly.
For Lin Mengyao, Ariel’s past mistake was a lesson right before her. Making the same mistake once was unpreparedness; falling for it again would be foolishness on her part.
Seeing Lin Mengyao’s cool demeanor over the question, Tang Zhongwei dared not ask further and sat obediently by herself.
The living room suddenly turned very quiet. Finding little point in staying longer, Lin Mengyao went upstairs to check on Xu Ke.
Once Lin Mengyao’s figure disappeared to the second floor, Tang Zhongwei’s eyes flickered, and she moved over to Yu Xia.
"Did I say something wrong just now? Cousin seemed really upset. What’s going on between cousin and Brother-in-law? Could you tell me, so I don’t anger her again in the future? Please?" Tang Zhongwei pleaded, joining her hands in a begging gesture.
Yu Xia sipped her fruit tea, the tangy-sweet flavor making her squint in happiness, but her gaze towards Tang Zhongwei wasn’t as amiable as before. "If my sister didn’t tell you, it means she doesn’t want you to know. Asking me won’t help; I won’t tell you either. I advise you not to have any inappropriate thoughts about my brother-in-law, or even if my sister tolerates you, I won’t. No one can ruin what they have, understand?"
Yu Xia, with a fragile face like a trembling white pear blossom, spoke words of warning, yet her eyes remained innocent.
Tang Zhongwei’s expression turned stiff from Yu Xia’s words, "Hmph, what a person, just a few questions and she’s already threatening. Does she really think she’s cousin’s sister? Acting so high and mighty," Tang Zhongwei muttered softly in her heart, not daring to say it out loud because Lin Mengyao treated Yu Xia far better than she did her.