The address “boyfriend” made Meng Fuyuan’s arms immediately tighten.

Chen Qingwu had originally intended to hug him briefly then leave, but unexpectedly, Meng Fuyuan encircled her, pressed her against the door, lowered his head, and sought her lips again.

Catching fire at a single touch, the two couldn’t restrain themselves and kissed deeply again.

If this continued, they wouldn’t be able to separate all night. Chen Qingwu, breathing heavily, extended her palm to push lightly. “…Nearly twenty minutes have already passed.”

Meng Fuyuan gave a cold snort. “So eager to see him?”

Chen Qingwu laughed until her shoulders shook.

With difficulty, she finally left Meng Fuyuan’s room.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, Chen Qingwu only felt all the accumulated embarrassment from tonight surging back. She touched her face—it was still alarmingly hot.

Smoothing her breathing, she slowly descended the stairs. At the stairway entrance, she lightly patted her cheeks several times and took deep breaths before feeling her agitated mood somewhat calmed.

Walking toward the back courtyard, she pushed open the door.

Outside, wind and snow diffused everywhere. A thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the treetops in the yard.

On the wooden table beneath the tree shadows, white glass candles burned cup by cup. In the night, candlelight flickered, reflecting off the snow. That hazy orange glow looked extraordinarily warm.

Beside the candles lay a bouquet of roses wrapped in black paper. In the snowy weather, that red color appeared even more vivid.

And Meng Qiran was in the yard, pacing with some anxiety.

He had changed into formal wear at some point—a deep gray suit with a black overcoat draped over it. His tall, slender figure had a refined elegance like orchids and jade trees.

Chen Qingwu froze. This scene was unexpected, making her hesitate for a moment.

Just then, Meng Qiran noticed her. “Wuwu.”

Only then did he think to pull back his coat sleeve and glance at the watch on his wrist.

So twenty minutes had already passed. Perhaps his waiting mood was too anxious, the words he should say seemed impossible to deliberate thoroughly, so he had been completely unaware.

Chen Qingwu walked toward Meng Qiran.

Reaching him, she smiled. “…Why did you change into formal wear? Are you going out?”

Meng Qiran only looked at her. “Listen to me first.”

“Mm… go ahead.”

However, Meng Qiran didn’t immediately speak, seeming somewhat nervously tugging at his wrist.

Chen Qingwu rarely saw him like this. He was clearly the type who could still chat and laugh casually before going on stage for a final competition.

Meng Qiran lowered his eyes, breathing deeply. After brewing for so long, he finally raised his head and looked directly at Chen Qingwu. “…Wuwu, some things I’ve indeed been avoiding in the past. You were absolutely right—I was unwilling to take responsibility, unwilling to give up freedom. This past half year I’ve been trying to make amends, but it seems I could never get it right, instead pushing you further and further away. Perhaps I’ve grown too slowly… I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I never blamed you anyway…”

“Let me finish first.”

Chen Qingwu nodded.

“…I’ve thought very clearly. It’s not out of making amends, nor is it the discomfort of loss. Wuwu, I truly like you… and I want to let you see my determination.”

Meng Qiran’s voice paused as his hand reached into his coat pocket.

A moment later, a square box appeared in his hand.

In her astonishment, Chen Qingwu suddenly understood what this overly formal arrangement meant.

She suddenly felt a sense of regret—not for herself, but for Qiran.

Perhaps those who have suffered from love cannot bear to see others also step into impossibly misguided paths.

Extremely reluctant to hurt him, she immediately spoke up, catching it just before Meng Qiran was about to reveal it. “Qiran, let me tell you something first.”

Meng Qiran’s movements paused.

Chen Qingwu unconsciously clenched her fingers. “…I’ve gotten together with the person I like.”

Meng Qiran froze.

“I told you last time that after getting together with him, I would tell you who it was…”

Her voice suddenly stopped because Meng Qiran suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her right hand.

Chen Qingwu looked down following his line of sight.

The plain silver ring on her ring finger.

Meng Qiran felt a moment of suffocation.

When she interrupted him, he had already vaguely sensed something.

When it was truly confirmed, it still felt like being struck by lightning.

Like an ostrich with its head buried in sand being roughly yanked out.

Unable to continue pretending ignorance.

The kiss mark, the lighter, the subtle atmosphere between the two, the somewhat off-tasting way she called “Brother Yuan”… and last year during Dragon Boat Festival, when he drove her back to Dongcheng overnight yet lied that it was because of work.

Meng Qiran’s heart only sank. “…Is it Meng Fuyuan?”

“…Yes.”

“Why?”

Chen Qingwu was at a loss for words.

Chaotic, complex emotions filled Meng Qiran’s chest to the brim like cold, hard stones, making even breathing difficult.

Taking this step wasn’t necessarily to demand a result—it was just as he said, wanting to let Qingwu see his determination. Nothing else mattered anymore; for her sake, he was willing to bow his head.

These past six months, all his attempts to get closer seemed futile. He had no opportunity whatsoever to further demonstrate his sincerity.

It was as if she had drawn a boundary for him that could absolutely never be crossed. Within the boundary, they could continue maintaining their childhood friendship. Beyond the boundary, nothing was negotiable.

That name she murmured when feverish—whether it was his or not, he couldn’t be certain.

He was just gambling, perhaps she still retained a trace of dependence on him.

Like a gambler already empty-pocketed who inadvertently discovered one last chip.

No matter what, he wanted to gamble on that final sliver of possibility for a turnaround.

But he couldn’t deceive himself.

Qingwu had never called him by his full name. After that “Meng,” it definitely wasn’t the two characters “Qiran.”

He shoved the square box in his hand forcefully into Chen Qingwu’s hands, then immediately walked around her with quick steps toward the inside.

The back courtyard door was pulled open, then slammed back with a “bang” by a gust of wind.

Chen Qingwu, seeing Meng Qiran so aggressive, immediately panicked somewhat. She quickly placed the box in her hand on the wooden table and hurried after him.

Reaching the living room, she heard collision sounds from the second-floor stairway landing.

Chen Qingwu rapidly ran up the stairs, stopped at the bottom of the second-floor platform, and looked up.

Meng Fuyuan must have been blocked by Meng Qiran while coming downstairs.

He had already changed clothes—the collar of his black sweater was being grabbed in Meng Qiran’s fist.

Meng Qiran’s eyes were about to split with rage. “I’m asking you if it’s true?!”

“Of course it’s true.”

“Why? Wuwu is the person I like—why did you make a move on her?!”

“I also want to ask you why. Making Qingwu wait for you so many years—do you deserve to say you like her?”

“That’s still between me and her. What right do you have to take advantage…”

“Because I like her more than you do.”

This statement’s resolute tone practically rang out with force.

Meng Qiran breathed rapidly. Anger made it difficult for him to think calmly. Without hesitation, he raised his fist and swung.

Chen Qingwu cried out in alarm and hurriedly stepped forward.

However, Meng Fuyuan turned his head to glance down, saying soothingly, “It’s fine, Qingwu.” His voice was extraordinarily calm.

His glasses were askew. Meng Fuyuan calmly reached up to adjust them, then used the back of his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, asking coldly, “Want to continue fighting?”

The two brothers had similar builds. If Meng Fuyuan wanted to block it, there was no reason he couldn’t dodge it. Most likely it was because he deliberately didn’t dodge.

He always remembered the responsibility for nearly letting Qiran drown back then, so taking a punch from him could be considered repayment.

Meng Qiran’s chest heaved violently.

Meng Fuyuan grasped his arm and yanked his hand off his collar. “Qiran, you’ve been in the lead for twenty-five years. One-third of a person’s life is roughly twenty-five years. You should reflect on why you wasted one-third of Qingwu’s life. Don’t ask me for an explanation—no one owes you anything.”

“You…”

“Also, do you dare tell Qingwu? When you competed with me for the study back then, you lost the competition—what was the content of that competition?”

This sentence struck like thunder, instantly rendering Meng Qiran speechless.

At this moment, sounds came from the tea room direction.

Having heard the commotion, the parents from both sides all ran out.

Everyone gathered at the stairway entrance, looking up together. Qi Lin, seeing the abnormal situation, hurriedly ran upstairs. “What’s going on with you two? If you’re arguing, argue—why are you fighting…”

Meng Qiran suddenly took a rough breath. No longer looking at Meng Fuyuan or Chen Qingwu, he rapidly walked downstairs.

Passing by Qi Lin, when she reached out to grab his arm, he grasped her arm in return and gently broke free.

“Qiran…”

Meng Qiran pushed past Meng Chengyong who was about to approach at the stairway entrance and strode toward the door with large steps.

Chen Qingwu only hesitated for an instant before running down the stairs with rapid steps and chasing after him.

Outside, cold wind howled. She wore only her base layer—a loose-necked sweater—but had no time to consider too much. Facing the wind and snow, she jogged all the way through the front yard to the main gate.

Sure enough, after waiting less than a moment, Meng Qiran rode his motorcycle out from the garage.

Chen Qingwu didn’t think twice. She rushed to the middle of the road in two steps and extended her arm to block him.

Meng Qiran braked sharply.

At this time, the people from inside the house had also followed.

Qi Lin looked at Meng Qiran and Chen Qingwu with a panicked expression.

Chen Qingwu stepped forward, grasped the motorcycle handlebar with one palm, and raised her head to look at the person sitting astride the bike.

He had obviously been overwhelmed by emotion—he’d even forgotten to wear his helmet.

“Qiran, calm down.”

Meng Qiran’s hand pressed on the throttle as he looked at her coldly.

“I know this must be very difficult for you to accept. I didn’t intentionally hide it from you. If you feel very hurt, I’m very sorry. If you want to confront me or scold me, anything is fine, but please don’t joke around with your own life.”

“Do you care?” Meng Qiran gave a self-mocking laugh.

Chen Qingwu closed her eyes. “Then let me ask—do you care? If you think that if something happens to you, it’s fine for me to live my whole life carrying guilt, then okay, you can go.”

Chen Qingwu released her hand and stepped back to the roadside, clearing the path forward for him.

Meng Qiran froze for a moment.

At this time, anger, pain, chagrin, helplessness… various emotions mixed together like boiling magma, making him unable to bear it yet unable to vent.

Finally, he punched the fuel tank cover and exhaled heavily.

Turning off the engine, he dismounted from the bike, then immediately pulled his coat collar tight and walked out with his head down.

Qi Lin quickly stepped forward. “Qiran…”

Chen Qingwu looked at her. “Auntie, let him be alone for a while.”

Qi Lin stopped in her tracks, looking at Meng Qiran’s retreating figure, standing frozen with worry for a moment.

After a moment, she suddenly realized that right now, there was another trouble brewing—a storm was coming.

Meng Qiran wouldn’t have such a big conflict with his older brother for no reason, unless…

At this time, Chen Suiliang spoke. “Fuyuan, what exactly happened?”

Meng Fuyuan raised his eyes, looking at Chen Qingwu not far ahead.

Qi Lin also hurriedly turned to look. “Qingwu…” She shook her head, that expression as if pleading: Don’t say it, don’t say it.

Chen Qingwu naturally saw Qi Lin’s expression.

She said “I’m sorry” in her heart, then cast her gaze past Qi Lin toward Meng Fuyuan.

At this moment, Meng Fuyuan’s heart suddenly hung high.

As if he had once again placed his lifeline in her hands, letting her control life and death.

Even though they had already connected in heart, truly facing all this pressure was by no means an easy matter.

If she retreated at this moment, he wouldn’t blame her.

However, Chen Qingwu didn’t hesitate for even a second and walked straight toward him.

Never in his life had he been chosen so resolutely by anyone.

Meng Fuyuan’s eyes heated up as he extended his hand toward Chen Qingwu.

A distance of several steps—watching her walk over, he actually had the illusion of retracing the past six years.

Reaching him, Chen Qingwu offered her hand.

Meng Fuyuan gripped it tightly.

The wind and snow outside continued. She had come out chasing someone without even wearing a coat. Her fingers were so cold—what if she got a fever again?

Without thinking, Meng Fuyuan reached out and drew her shoulder, making her lean halfway into his embrace.

Although he was only wearing a sweater too, he at least wanted to give her some warmth.

He raised his eyes, looking at the four parents across from him with shocked expressions, and said in an even voice, “Qingwu and I are together.”