Yan Zhen led Yuan Yaer out of the Yuan family's residence and walked aimlessly along the road. When they reached a small garden full of roses, Yuan Yaer suddenly broke free from Yan Zhen's hand and threw herself into his arms, crying sorrowfully.
Yan Zhen was at a loss what to do with her tears. He quickly hugged her and coaxed, "What's wrong, Yaer? Why are you suddenly crying so sadly? Did something happen?"
Yuan Yaer buried her face in his arms and shook her head gently. Biting her lips, she remained silent, only tightening her arms around him as she sobbed.
Yan Zhen had only been back from Haicheng for a short time. Coupled with the sudden sight of Yan Yincheng in Fengcheng yesterday, his mind was still tightly tied to the person in Haicheng. Even though he knew he had come to the Yuan family today to discuss the marriage, he couldn't muster much interest in Yuan Yaer.
It wasn't until she cried in his arms as if she was out of breath that the guilt of neglecting her in the past few days gradually overshadowed the figure that had occupied his mind.
His expression softened. He smiled indulgently and helplessly, even finding the mood to joke, "What on earth is wrong, my little Yaer? Is it really like what Auntie said, that you don't want to marry me anymore?"
Yuan Yaer quickly looked up. Big teardrops hung on her eyelashes, and her wet eyes were filled with panic, unease, and love for him. She shook her head and said,
"No, Brother Yan Zhen. I want to, I want to marry you... I just... I just... You haven't come to see me in the past few days, and you haven't even called me once. I... I'm afraid you don't love me anymore."
Yan Zhen wiped away her tears and planted a kiss on her lips. He lowered his eyelids to hide the guilt in his eyes and said, "Silly girl, how could I not love you? I received a business trip assignment a few days ago and have been busy with work these days, so I couldn't take care of you. It's all my fault. To show my apology, I won't refuse anything you ask me to do. Is that okay?"
Yuan Yaer shyly lowered her head, but the corners of her lips curled down mockingly. If she hadn't seen that video just now, she might really have been coaxed by him at this moment. So, is it true that what a man can't get is always the best? She had thought that letting him know Yuan Xi had lost her virginity to an ugly, bald, and wife - beating scumbag would extinguish his feelings for her. But unexpectedly, the person who was with Yuan Xi that night was actually...
Why did that woman Yuan Xi even have such an excellent partner when she lost her virginity? Why was God always so kind to her?! Jealousy distorted Yuan Yaer's face, but it quickly returned to normal. It didn't matter, though. She would soon marry Yan Zhen. After their marriage, the Yan Group would be in their hands.
"Will you really not refuse anything I ask you to do?" Yuan Yaer looked up, her eyes glinting slightly. "Actually, my request is very simple. I just hope that Brother Yan Zhen can stay with me every day until our wedding and until I become your wife. Is that okay?"
Yan Zhen pinched her nose and said, "Of course it is."
The two of them cuddled under the flower bushes for quite a while before holding hands and returning to the Yuan family's villa. On the way, Yuan Yaer was like a naughty and cheerful lark, making it impossible for Yan Zhen to stop smiling.
Although he didn't have deep - rooted love for Yuan Yaer, being with her made him feel comfortable. She could heal all his fatigue and unhappiness. Perhaps because she had once lived in an ordinary family, she didn't have the arrogance of a wealthy young lady but retained the innocence of a naive girl. He always thought that this was the wife he wanted.
"Brother Yan Zhen, Uncle Yan is really handsome~ Is he married?"
Yan Zhen suddenly stopped in his tracks. He looked down at Yuan Yaer, and the smile on his face faded a bit. "What, are you interested in him? Do you want to change your marriage partner?" That's enough! Why did everyone seem to take a fancy to that man? Wasn't he, Yan Zhen, good enough? What exactly was he inferior to his uncle in?
Yuan Yaer gently shook Yan Zhen's hand and said, "I just thought he was your uncle~ I was thinking that if he wasn't married, I could introduce my good friends to him."
Yan Zhen let out a sigh of relief, but Yuan Yaer's words reminded him. He mustn't let Xiaoxi really be with his uncle. He didn't want the girl who had once been on the top of his heart to become his unreachable aunt!
"Your idea is good. I'll mention it to Grandpa when we get back."
At this moment, the two people with different thoughts unexpectedly had the same goal.
However, when Yan Zhen quickened his pace and returned to the Yuan family with Yuan Yaer, Yan Yincheng and Yan Haikun were nowhere to be seen. Only Father Yuan was sitting there drinking tea with a big smile on his face. From his beaming expression, it could be inferred that their conversation must have been very pleasant.
Yuan Yaer asked the question that was on Yan Zhen's mind, "Dad, why did Grandpa Yan and Uncle Yan leave so soon? Aren't they staying for lunch?"
Father Yuan replied with a smile, "They have other things to attend to, so they left first. Yan Zhen, stay and have lunch with us."
Since they would be a family in a month, Yan Zhen naturally wouldn't refuse such a request. However, after lunch, he bid farewell to the Yuan family. After Yan Zhen left, Yuan Yaer walked up to Father Yuan, blushing. She grabbed his sleeve and gently shook it.
"Dad, am I really going to marry Brother Yan Zhen on the 20th of next month?"
"Could there be any fake about it? You're going to be a bride. Are you happy?" Father Yuan pinched her face and said with a smile.
"But I don't want to leave Mom and Dad. I've only been back with you for four years. I feel it's not enough..." Yuan Yaer's eyes turned red, and she choked with sobs. "Dad, I don't want to get married anymore."
"Silly girl, how can you never get married? Marrying Yan Zhen is what many girls dream of. If you really miss Mom and Dad, you can come back to see us often. Yan Zhen is so reasonable. He definitely won't object."
"It would be great if Sister Xiaoxi was still here," Yuan Yaer said in a low voice. "Dad, do you know where Sister Xiaoxi is now? Four years have passed. I think Mr. Guan should have forgotten about her by now. Should we... should we bring her back? With her here to accompany you, I can marry Brother Yan Zhen with peace of mind."
Father Yuan frowned and said disgustedly, "Why are you bringing her up out of the blue? It's bad luck! Don't mention her again. She's no longer a member of our Yuan family. Your mom and I only have you as our daughter."
Twenty minutes ago -
"Give me Yuan Xi's household registration documents," Yan Yincheng said to Father Yuan.
Father Yuan hadn't heard this name from anyone for a long time. He was stunned for a moment before he realized it was the name of his daughter whom he had raised for nearly eighteen years. Back then, in order to force her to marry that man surnamed Guan, they had withheld her household registration documents.
Frowning slightly, he asked, "Acheng, what do you need this for?"
Yan Haikun lowered his head to drink tea and gently raised his eyebrows, waiting with great interest to hear what his son would say. Oh, an uncle sleeping with his nephew's fiancée. Such a thing was too embarrassing for even an old man like him who had lived most of his life to say out loud. Tsk - tsk...
Yan Yincheng said,
"She caused me to lose something very important. I must make her compensate for my loss, but I'm afraid she'll run away. So I need something very important to her to control her."
"Pfft..." Yan Haikun spat out a mouthful of tea.