Yan Yunning tilted her chin upward. “Weren’t you just saying you’d be there to take the hit? Why the silence all of a sudden?”

Yan Jingzhi: “……”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips into a pout. “Can’t count on you for anything.”

Yan Jingzhi let out a noise. “Yan Yunning, you brought this trouble on yourself. Who told you to go and kick a steel plate? Was it me?”

Yan Yunning tore open a bag of snacks and crunched through several chips with deliberate force, refusing to acknowledge him.

“When you get there and see that Yuge’s mood is bad, just burst into tears.” Yan Jingzhi snatched the chips from her hands and shoved a large handful into his mouth.

Yan Yunning, too distracted to reclaim the bag, looked at him with suspicion. “And then he won’t blame me?”

Yan Jingzhi snorted. “Of course he won’t.”

“Then what am I crying for?” Yan Yunning looked at him as one might look at someone who had lost their mind.

“……Because if you cry, Yuge will have Ye Jian throw you out — and once you’re out, you won’t have to sit there watching Yuge’s dark expression anymore.”

Yan Yunning rolled her eyes. “Thanks for that.”

“Anytime, little sister.” Yan Jingzhi flashed a grin.

“Give it back.” Yan Yunning snatched the chips from his hand.

“They’re a gift, aren’t they — doesn’t your brother treat you well?” Yan Jingzhi patted her on the head and quickly took a large step backward.

Yan Yunning looked at the empty bag, drew a long breath, and snapped, “Yan Jingzhi!”

“Where are your manners?” Yan Jingzhi picked up his phone and flung himself back onto the sofa. “What do you want for dinner?”

Yan Yunning draped herself over the sofa arm and replied without much thought, “Not eating.”

“Not eating?” Yan Jingzhi looked up from his screen to peer at her, the picture of maddening cheerfulness. “You’re not eating?? You actually won’t eat?? Remarkable!!!”

“Am I not saving you money?” Yan Yunning scrolled through her phone, answering absently.

“Come off it — are you scared of gaining weight?”

At the mention of gaining weight, Yan Yunning stood up from the sofa, turned a slow circle in front of Yan Jingzhi, and complained, “Brother, I really have put on a few pounds. Looking at me — don’t you think I’ve gotten a bit chubby?”

She had noticed a little stomach on herself recently, even though she hadn’t been eating any more than usual.

Yan Jingzhi surveyed Yan Yunning’s trim, well-proportioned figure and felt the corner of his mouth twitch. “Chubby? You’re not chubby at all. Go upstairs and get ready — we’re going out to a restaurant for dinner.”

“We’re not eating at home again?”

“No, we’re going with friends. And when we get there, remember to call everyone elder brother or elder sister.” Yan Jingzhi peeled an orange from the coffee table and handed it to Yan Yunning.

“Xie Yan and his girlfriend Nan Chu — call them elder brother and elder sister. If there’s anyone else there, call them elder brother or elder sister too. They’re all older than you.”

Yan Yunning was briefly taken aback, then took the orange, broke off a segment, and placed it in her mouth. She nodded lightly.

Night had fallen. The streets had come alive with the brightness of the city, and beneath the streetlamps couples strolled together side by side. Small restaurants glowed from within, and through the car window one could see people laughing and talking. Into the air came the occasional sound of a horn.

This was the city she knew.

Yan Yunning watched the barbecue stalls along the roadside with a smile, swallowed quietly — and before she could say a word, Yan Jingzhi teased, “Weren’t you ‘not eating’? How come you’re already swallowing?”

“Mind your own business.” Yan Yunning gave him a punch.

Yan Jingzhi’s eyes went wide. “Yan Yunning, don’t come asking me for money!”

Yan Yunning looked away, unbothered.

The car came to a smooth stop in the underground garage. The driver stepped out and held the door open. Yan Jingzhi and Yan Yunning got out and took the elevator up to the private room.

Outside the private room, a staff member spotted them and smiled, opening the door. Inside it was lively — men and women seated around the table, mid-conversation.

“Jingzhi, Ningning.” Xie Yan’s curious gaze settled on Yan Yunning.

The young woman had her hair pinned up in a soft, loose bun. She wore a fitted light-green dress that fell to the floor. Tall, fair-skinned, and her looks — well, nothing more needed to be said. She was so pretty it almost didn’t seem real.

The whole impression was one of quiet sweetness. Xie Yan withdrew his gaze, one eyebrow raised. No wonder she had caught Yuge’s attention — she really was something.

She was a good deal more beautiful than Miss Shi. Miss Shi’s skin couldn’t quite be called fair, and her features were decent but not particularly striking; sometimes she came across as a bit petty.

Not that any of that really mattered. The main issue was that Miss Shi was, more often than not, a handful.

Comparing the two — what exactly had Yuge ever seen in Miss Shi?

“She’s much prettier in person than in the photos her brother sends.” Yun Ze, the picture of gentlemanly grace, pulled out a chair and tilted his head slightly. “Come and sit here, little sister.”

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. Yun Ze?

In that historical novel, he had been Xuan Yanyu’s cousin. Was the same true here?

“Stay back.” Yan Jingzhi steered Yan Yunning to the seat beside Nan Chu.

“Hello, elder sister.” Following Yan Jingzhi’s instructions, Yan Yunning greeted everyone properly.

“Hello there.” Nan Chu smiled warmly and poured her a glass of water.

“Thank you, elder sister.” Yan Yunning smiled back, and then looked around the room, greeting everyone in turn.

“Jingzhi — how do you have such an adorable little sister?” Pei Qingyan’s gaze had settled on Yan Yunning.

Yan Zhiyi laughed. “Little sister, come out with Jingzhi more often and I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“I’d love to, elder brother.” The words “elder brother” came out of Yan Yunning’s mouth with complete and natural ease.

Yan Zhiyi’s eyes widened slightly — and the next instant a phone appeared in front of him, hovered, and was swept away again, stopping in front of Yan Yunning.

Yan Yunning looked up at Pei Qingyan.

“Little sister, let’s add each other.” Pei Qingyan blinked.

Yan Yunning hesitated.

“Me too.” Yun Ze got up, phone in hand, and walked over to Yan Yunning.

Yan Jingzhi’s eyes sharpened. “My sister doesn’t have her phone on her.”

His little cabbage was still young. She wasn’t going to be sweet-talked away.

Yan Yunning’s hand, which had been drifting toward her bag, dropped back to her side.

“Alright then.” Yun Ze dropped it without pressing further and returned to his seat.

“Tsk.” Pei Qingyan turned his phone back around.

“Miss Shi has been hospitalized. Should we all go visit after dinner?” Xie Yan said, then gestured for the staff to begin serving.

“Again?” Jiang Xian clicked his tongue.

“Apparently she got into an argument with two young women at a shopping mall and it affected her condition.” Xie Yan kept it brief.

Yan Yunning took a quiet sip of water. Those two young women — that would be her and He Qingxia.

Mu Heng furrowed his brow. “Is it serious? Is the baby alright?”

“No permanent harm — she just needs a couple of days of rest.” Xie Yan topped up Nan Chu’s water.

One by one the dishes arrived, and Yan Yunning ate while listening to the conversation around her.

Yan Jingzhi shook his head. She had said she wasn’t eating, yet here she was — eating quite a bit.

“What did Yuge say? And what about those two young women?” Lou Ao raised his glass and clinked it with Jiang Xian’s.

“Yuge didn’t even go to visit Miss Shi — he went to Jingzhi’s place in the afternoon. The matter was handled by CEO Xuan Senior.” Xie Yan swirled his glass and took a measured sip.

Yan Yunning’s chopsticks paused mid-air.

“Why?” Nan Chu asked, genuinely curious.

“Who knows what’s going on in Yuge’s head?” Xie Yan downed a larger sip, emptying more than half the glass.

Nan Chu pinched his arm in warning. “Slow down. Aren’t we going to the hospital after this?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Xie Yan set the glass down in good spirits.

Yan Yunning’s eyes flickered. It really was so different from the novel.

That was good.

No need to repeat the regrets of the story.

Mu Heng placed a bite in his mouth, chewing as he asked, “How did CEO Xuan Senior handle it?”

“Take a guess.” Xie Yan set aside another choice piece of fish for Nan Chu.