Chen Xiaoxi's cheek rested against Zhang Yichen's chest, her ears filled with the pounding rhythm of his heartbeat—loud and fierce, like war drums rattling her eardrums.
She could feel the strength in his arms, locked tightly around her waist, as though terrified she might slip away at any moment.
Her fingertips trembled slightly. Almost unconsciously, her hands tightened around him, her own heart racing out of rhythm.
"Xiaoxi…" Yichen's voice was low and hoarse, unable to conceal the surge of emotion beneath it.
His warm breath fanned against her ear, scalding enough to make her shrink her neck. Her face instantly turned a deeper shade of red, heat spreading from her cheeks.
From the side, Li Yue stared wide–eyed. She opened her mouth as if wanting to speak—but thought better of it. In that moment, she felt like a redundant lightbulb, awkwardly unnecessary. Quietly, she closed her mouth and pretended she wasn't there.
In truth, though Li Yue always seemed carefree and teasing, she had been the unintentional catalyst between Zhang Yichen and Chen Xiaoxi. Without her meddling, the two of them might have remained polite, restrained, and distant for a very long time.
Xiaoxi kept her cheek pressed against his chest as his breathing gradually steadied.
Yet Yichen's arms did not loosen, holding her firmly as though letting go would make her vanish.
Her slender fingers unconsciously traced circles on his back, as if trying to soothe the wildly beating heart inside him.
"You two are unbelievable!" Yue finally broke the silence, her tone dripping with mockery. "If this continues, my eyes are going to be tainted!"
Startled, both of them jerked apart. Xiaoxi instantly pulled free from Yichen's embrace, her face flushed crimson. Her gaze darted nervously away as her hands fumbled with the hem of her clothes.
"Yue, don't talk nonsense…" Her voice was so soft it was almost like a mosquito's hum, laced with embarrassment.
Yichen, however, remained calm. His eyes never once left Xiaoxi, a faint smile tugging at his lips, as if what just happened was only natural.
He gave a light cough, as though to mask his inner turmoil, but the heat in his gaze could not be hidden.
Yue rolled her eyes, wagging her finger at them. "Seriously, do you two not even see me anymore? Am I invisible?"
"There's no such thing…" Xiaoxi lowered her head further, clutching her clothes so tightly her nails nearly pierced the fabric.
Her cheeks were scarlet, her heart still pounding so violently it felt like it might burst out of her chest.
She risked a quick glance at Yichen, only to see him still staring at her with that unwavering gaze. Panicked, she quickly looked down again, the heat climbing all the way to her neck.
It was unbearable.
"Yue, don't tease me anymore!" Her voice trembled like a child caught doing something wrong.
Li Yue arched her brows and smirked. "Tease? You two were just about to turn this into a live romance drama, and I can't even give my review?"
"Heh…"
Yichen chuckled softly. He walked over, gently taking Xiaoxi's hand and intertwining his fingers with hers.
His palm was warm and firm. That steady heat calmed her frantic heartbeat—if only a little.
"Yue-jie, I'll say it again—if you're jealous, hurry up and find me a brother-in-law," Yichen teased.
"Ah!" Yue let out a theatrical sigh, feigning sorrow. "Do you think I don't want to? It's just that I can't find one!"
"Oh?" Yichen raised a brow, his tone curious. "Truly can't find one?"
In truth, he was puzzled. With her education, background, wealth, figure, and beauty, Li Yue excelled in everything. So why was she still single?
Was it that she didn't want to look?
Or… was it that she really couldn't find someone?
Or perhaps… she didn't even like men?
Wait. If she didn't like men…
Could it be… she liked women?
Women?
No, impossible—unless… her target was Xiaoxi!
Yes! That explained everything. Otherwise, why would she drag her sick body and obsessively search for Xiaoxi for over half a year?
The thought jolted Yichen. He stepped forward, subtly moving Xiaoxi behind him.
His woman could not be coveted—not even by another woman.
He'd have to consider whether it was time to move houses. Or perhaps toss out another revolutionary invention to pile more work on Yue.
Better to keep her too busy to harbor thoughts about things that didn't belong to her.
"Wait a second—what's with that look?" Li Yue instantly caught on to Yichen's little movement.
"You're not seriously thinking…" She glanced at Xiaoxi standing behind him, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Hahahaha—! You rascal…"
Li Yue bent over, laughing so hard she was nearly breathless, tears springing to her eyes.
"Yue, stop laughing! What are you laughing at?"
Alarmed, Xiaoxi hurried forward to support her, rubbing her back in concern.
"Ah, what a cursed fate!"
Yichen wanted to stop her, but it was too late. All he could do was sigh helplessly.
"Xiaoxi… haha… that boy… he thought… hahaha… he thought I was in love with you!"
Li Yue wheezed with laughter, pointing at Yichen with a mischievous grin. "Oh heavens, what nonsense is in that head of yours?"
"Nonsense!" Xiaoxi glared at her, then turned to Yichen, her tone soft. "He's so pure, how could he possibly… possibly…?"
But when she caught sight of Yichen's awkward expression, her words faltered.
"I…" Yichen rubbed his nose sheepishly, eyes dodging.
He hadn't expected his thoughts to be laid bare so easily, exposed and ridiculed on the spot.
"Xiaoxi, she doesn't have a boyfriend, does she? But clearly she's just—" He tried to explain, only to be cut off.
"Clearly what?" Li Yue's laughter stopped abruptly, her expression turning serious. "Listen, my orientation is perfectly normal. Don't you dare use your dirty little imagination to slander your sister."
"Wait—I just remembered something…"
Suddenly, her eyes lit up with interest. She circled Yichen slowly, nodding in satisfaction as though appraising him.
"Mm… not bad… very not bad…"
"Enough!" Xiaoxi quickly pulled her back, glaring. "Yue, what did you remember? And why are you staring at him like that?"
Li Yue blinked, then gave a sly smile. "Xiaoxi, remember our little agreement? We said—if we marry, we'll marry the same man. Otherwise…"
She trailed off deliberately, her gaze flitting meaningfully toward Yichen.
"Of a thousand rivers I drink water from only one," Yichen said firmly, rejecting the idea without hesitation.
He did not believe in any so-called blessing of keeping two women at once.
Especially not when both Xiaoxi and Yue were fiercely independent.
There was no way they would ever share a husband.
Which meant Yue's words definitely had another purpose.
But what was she after?
Was this a test of his loyalty? No—that was meaningless. He and Xiaoxi already had a child.
Then what?
Yichen pondered silently.