“Little Ran, he wasn’t brave enough — he gave up on your relationship.”
Xuan Zhaostan’s hand trembled as she clutched the card. “Brother, I need to step outside for a moment.”
With a complicated mix of emotions, Xuan Zhaostan ran downstairs, and by luck, spotted A’Ci in the courtyard chatting with Yan Yunning.
Yan Yunning caught sight of Xuan Zhaostan from the corner of her eye and, using it as an excuse, took the little one by the hand and slipped away.
“Second Young Miss.” A’Ci gave Xuan Zhaostan a slight nod, then turned to leave.
“A’Ci.” Xuan Zhaostan strode forward and stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
“Second Young Miss, is something the matter?”
Xuan Zhaostan drew a deep breath and forced a smile. “A’Ci, was it you who left this card in my room?”
A’Ci’s pupils contracted. He lowered his gaze to the card in her hand, and a dull ache spread through his chest.
The very existence of this card was a reminder of the distance between them.
“If you left it, then take it back.”
A’Ci stepped back. “Second Young Miss, I don’t need it — I never did.”
“Alright.” Xuan Zhaostan tilted her head back, forcing her tears away. Her voice remained steady. “A’Ci, you…”
A’Ci smiled and gently cut her off. “Second Young Miss, I’ve resigned. I’m going back to my hometown. Take care of yourself.”
Xuan Zhaostan froze. She stared at the handsome young man before her, her lips parted — but in the end, not a single word came out.
“Second Young Miss, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.” A’Ci’s throat bobbed quietly. As he kept smiling, the rims of his eyes turned red.
“A’Ci!” Xuan Zhaostan bit her lip, her emotions too tangled to put into words.
A’Ci’s lips curved slowly upward. He reached out and gently wiped the tears from Xuan Zhaostan’s face. “Ranran, I’m sorry.”
“A’Ci…” Xuan Zhaostan struggled to hold back her tears. “It’s me who should be saying sorry. I shouldn’t have mocked you… I…”
“Ranran, you’re happy now, and you’ll keep being happy. Don’t dwell on the past anymore — move forward. So will I.” A’Ci ruffled her hair the way he always used to. “Ranran, goodbye.”
“A’Ci!” The moment A’Ci stepped through the estate gates, Xuan Zhaostan called out. “You have to be happier than me — you have to.”
A’Ci’s fingertips trembled. He did not look back, and he walked quickly out of the estate.
“Move forward… move forward… we both have to move forward…” Xuan Zhaostan’s eyes ached and burned. She crouched down, wrapped her arms around herself, and sat perfectly still, staring at the card in her hand.
“Little Ran.”
“Brother.” Xuan Zhaostan looked up, saw Xuan Yanyu, and threw herself into his arms, sobbing with abandon.
Xuan Yanyu patted her gently on the back. “Do you still have feelings for A’Ci?”
Xuan Zhaostan sniffled. “No, brother — I just feel terrible. I misunderstood him. All these years, I kept taunting him with that card Dad gave me… I… I… Brother, can you give him compensation under the name of a severance payment?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, brother.” Xuan Zhaostan stared blankly at the estate gate.
——
The master bedroom on the third floor.
Yan Yunning was nestled in Xuan Yanyu’s arms, replying to messages, and asked, “Honey, is Ranran feeling a bit better?”
“Mm.” Xuan Yanyu smoothed Yan Yunning’s long, blueberry-purple ombre curls and rested his chin on her shoulder, watching her type.
“Honey, what kind of feelings does Ranran have for A’Ci now?”
“Guilt.”
Yan Yunning took his hand in hers and leaned back, lying on his long legs. “Just guilt?”
“Mm. Nothing more than that now.”
Yan Yunning said “Oh,” then added, “Baby, this coming Saturday, Xiaoxiao, Ruirui, and Jiaojiao won’t have school. Let’s go stay at my parents’ place for two days.”
Xuan Yanyu had no objections. “Whatever my wife says.”
Yan Yunning smiled and snuggled closer into his arms.
The man’s eyes drifted almost imperceptibly to her chat screen. He asked, feigning indifference, “Do you have something on tomorrow?”
“What do you mean?”
Xuan Yanyu toyed with her fingers and curved his lips. “Just asking.”
“Oh.” Yan Yunning continued replying. [I’m free. Send me the location.]
G: [Reserved the same restaurant as last time, same private room. You know where.]
Yan Yunning: [OK!]
G: [Should I come pick you up?]
Yan Yunning: [No need. I’ll head straight there after work tomorrow.]
G: [Actually, bring my little treasures along — I mainly want to see them. You’re secondary.]
Yan Yunning: [Fine! I’ll bring them all.]
G: [Don’t be jealous~ It’s just that the babies are so adorable. Sweetie~ You’re still the one I love most~]
Yan Yunning: [Alright, stop loving me — I don’t love you!]
G: [Yan Yunning, say that again. Do you love me or not? How could you not love me and still give me such adorable little babies?]
Yan Yunning: [Stop talking nonsense. I love you, I love you. See you tomorrow.]
G: [Sweetie, see you tomorrow.]
Yan Yunning’s grip slipped and her phone dropped onto the bed. From behind her, the man let out a sudden low grunt.
“Honey, I’m sorry — did my phone hit you?” Yan Yunning turned over and carefully checked him over.
Xuan Yanyu’s breathing grew heavier. He caught Yan Yunning’s wrist, his gaze dark and intense. “Have dinner with me tomorrow afternoon.”
“Hmm?” Yan Yunning looked at his displeased but handsome face, wondering if she’d forgotten some anniversary. She thought it over for a while — nothing important was happening tomorrow.
Not an anniversary, and not his birthday either. His birthday was June 10th.
Xuan Yanyu pulled her into his arms. “No time?”
Yan Yunning pointed at him, then at herself. “Tomorrow — just the two of us for dinner?”
“Who else would you want to bring?”
Yan Yunning wrapped her arms affectionately around his neck. “Who else, but our little babies.”
He brushed the stray hair from her forehead. “Just the two of us. I’ll pick you up from work tomorrow.”
Yan Yunning kissed his lips a few times. “Tomorrow won’t work — I have plans. Let’s do another day.”
Xuan Yanyu took the opportunity to ask, “Where are you going tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow…” Yan Yunning met the man’s pitch-black gaze, then suddenly smiled. “Of course it’s… oh, never mind, don’t worry about it — I have plans tomorrow.”
“Yan Yunning!” Xuan Yanyu pinched her waist in playful punishment. “Tell me properly. What plans do you have tomorrow?”
Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow and gave a light smile. “Didn’t you just see it? I have a date.”
“With who?” The man leaned close to her ear, his handsome face wearing a lazy smile, his tone coaxing and indolent. “My wife, tell me who you were just chatting with. It’s fine if you don’t want to say — I’ll have someone look into it.”
Afraid she’d provoke him further if she kept teasing, Yan Yunning finally relented. “It’s Xiaxia.”
Xuan Yanyu’s brow furrowed slightly. “From the profile picture to the username — it’s obviously not a girl.”
Yan Yunning looked at him with starry eyes. “Wow, baby, you’re so clever — you can even tell it’s not a girl.”
The man lightly pinched her cheek. “Stop changing the subject. Tell me — who is it, really?”
Yan Yunning reached over to her phone, opened the chat window, and tapped into the contacts’ social feed, holding it right up to Xuan Yanyu’s face. “Baby, recognize him?”