Ch. 791..800
Marry Me Quick Chapter 791-u Shichu’s Side Story Part 6
There were many things they wanted to say, but it felt challenging to express them after they finally met.
Apart from exchanging pleasantries, it was difficult to bring up some topics after everything that had happened.
Feeling restless, Qin Muchen paced back and forth in the kitchen before he couldn't contain himself any longer and stepped outside.
Both of them looked at Qin Muchen, and he raised an eyebrow and calmly sat down next to Su Ziyue, asking, "What were you guys talking about?"
Lu Shichu rose from his seat and suggested, "It's getting late. Why don't you two stay for dinner? I'll cook."
He had initially considered asking them to leave, but Su Ziyue clearly didn't wish to depart.
Lu Shichu had grown accustomed to accommodating Su Ziyue's wishes.
"I'll help you." Qin Muchen followed closely behind Lu Shichu and entered the kitchen.
Su Ziyue felt a little taken aback, sensing that Qin Muchen was behaving strangely.
As she sat on the sofa for a while, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
Two grown men cooking in the kitchen while she sat alone on the sofa seemed a bit off to her.
Yet, she was immensely happy that the two could finally coexist peacefully.
What brought her even greater joy was the fact that Lu Shichu was willing to see her. His leg had healed, and he could stand up again.
Meanwhile, Lu Shichu and Qin Muchen entered the kitchen. The atmosphere in the narrow kitchen became somewhat tense.
Lu Shichu prepared the ingredients while Qin Muchen washed them.
Surprisingly, the two men worked together seamlessly.
Su Ziyue observed them from the doorway for a while. With a peculiar expression, she turned back and returned to the living room.
What she didn't know was that after she left, the two men in the kitchen slowed down their movements and started talking.
Qin Muchen initiated the discussion, asking, "Is your leg better?"
"I think so," Lu Shichu replied vaguely.
"Seeing you like this puts us at ease."
Lu Shichu's chopping motion paused slightly as he responded, "Is that so?"
In his mind, he secretly yearned for her to keep him in her thoughts if he refused to meet her.
Whether he played the role of the older brother who had been there throughout her growth or the person who had saved her husband's life, as long as she remembered him in her heart and cared about him, it would be enough.
That was his selfish desire.
For a fleeting moment, he hoped that Qin Muchen still harbored the same pettiness he once did.
However, he recognized that Qin Muchen had grown more shrewd now. Although he minded it in his heart, Qin Muchen still wanted to appear generous.
If Su Ziyue wanted to see Lu Shichu, he would bring her to see him.
Su Ziyue was familiar with Qin Muchen's personality. Knowing how petty he had been in the past, she was deeply moved by his newfound generosity.
Lu Shichu suddenly thought of an internet term, "angelic b*tch."
He realized that this term also suited Qin Muchen's current behavior.
A mocking smile appeared on Lu Shichu's lips as he asked, "And what about you?"
"I'm doing great. I have a wife and a son." Qin Muchen knew that Lu Shichu was asking about his illness.
He was truly doing well now.
Nothing was more important than having Su Ziyue by his side. As long as Su Ziyue was there, they could overcome anything.
After that, the two men didn't say much.
They had a peaceful dinner.
Before parting ways, Qin Muchen went to the parking lot to get the car, while Su Ziyue and Lu Shichu walked to the entrance of the residential area together.
When they reached the entrance, Lu Shichu said to her, "Ziyue, the past is behind us now. I'm doing fine, so you don't have to blame yourself or worry anymore. Just live a peaceful life with Qin Muchen."
His words were intended to free Su Ziyue from any psychological burden.
However, he didn't expect that his words would actually provoke Su Ziyue.
Turning to look at him, she wore a faint smile and replied, "What do you mean by that? Are you trying to cut ties with me? Do you think you'll be all alone in Jingcheng while I live a peaceful life with Qin Muchen in Yunzhou City? Let me tell you, that's impossible! I still owe you for all the kindness you've shown me. We can't cut ties. After I give birth, I'll send you an invitation, and I'll come to visit you during the holidays."
Her expression was exactly the same as when she stubbornly refused to listen to him when they were younger.
Lu Shichu was momentarily stunned, and it took him a few seconds to react.
With a smile, he gazed at Su Ziyue without uttering a word.
Indeed, cutting ties with her was impossible.
In their younger years, he cared for her because she was the well-behaved and adorable little girl from the neighbor's house.
As time passed, he pitied her when her father was imprisoned.
There were reasons for his actions in the past.
However, as they grew older, he found himself doing everything for her without any specific reason.
Simply because she was Su Ziyue.
The line between love and other emotions had blurred, and the name "Su Ziyue" had become deeply ingrained in his very being.
Qin Muchen had already driven the car over and stuck his head out of the window.
Lu Shichu noticed Qin Muchen and finally said to Su Ziyue, "Alright."
Su Ziyue was overjoyed and glanced back three times at him before she left.
After watching the car disappear, Lu Shichu turned around and slowly walked toward the elevator.
…
Su Ziyue and Qin Muchen left Jingcheng City the next day.
He received a farewell text message from Su Ziyue in the lab.
For a moment, it felt like time had reversed.
He remembered a similar situation when she was eighteen and forced to go abroad. Even though he was also overseas at the time, she sent him a farewell text message at the airport.
Back then, apart from An Xia, she had no friends in the vast Yunzhou City, and no one cared about her.
He was the only son of the Lu family, and his parents had expectations of him. When he was seventeen, they sent him abroad to study.
From a young age, Lu Shichu displayed exceptional talents and was aware of some of the situations Su Ziyue faced when she went to the Su Residence. His father had advised him that complete peace between people was rare.
Even the closest individuals would have conflicts and arguments over trivial matters. It was a natural part of life.
In the first few years after he went abroad, Su Ziyue would still complain to him, but as time passed, she gradually shared less and less.
When he returned to visit his family, she would only share good news and spared him from any worries about her troubles.
He heard some rumors about her during her senior year of high school when he called home. He even asked his parents to bring Su Ziyue to live with them.
However, Su Ziyue had expectations for her own family, and the Su Family wouldn't agree due to reasons of pride and reputation.
Sometimes, family ties didn't necessarily bring warmth. In necessary times, they could push one deeper into the quagmire.
It was also the same year that he received an international award and caught the attention of Gricy's people.
They threatened him with his family and used Su Ziyue as leverage.
At that time, he was already in the process of applying to return for graduate studies.
While Su Ziyue was forced to go abroad, he found himself facing threats from Gricy's people.
After coming to Jingcheng, he often wondered if things would have turned out differently between him and Su Ziyue if he hadn't been targeted by Gricy's people and faced those threats. Maybe Qin Muchen wouldn't even have a place in her life.
Nevertheless, such speculation only existed in his imagination.
In the eyes of others, he had always been an outstanding person from childhood to adulthood. He had envisioned a simple life as a doctor, saving lives and marrying a kind and lovely wife, living the most ordinary life.
However, life had different plans in store for him.
Fortune was unpredictable, and misfortune lay beyond expectations.
For him, fate had always been absurd.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 792-Lu Shichu's life returned to normal after not seeing Su Ziyue and her husband. It was calm and fulfilling. Cheng Qiulu never contacted him again, and he was satisfied with that.
He liked the peaceful life.
Every weekend, he would make a phone call to his family and then go to see his rehabilitation doctor in the afternoon. In the evening, he would go to the seaside to release animals.
When he was busy, he didn't have time to do these things during the day, so he could only go out at night. Sometimes, he would sit by the seaside for a while.
He spent all his free time in the laboratory.
He was a good-looking man with outstanding abilities and dedication. He always put on a smile whenever meeting people. Naturally, everyone had a good impression of him.
After a while, some of the senior colleagues in the research institute began to set Shichu with someone else.
When Lu Shichu couldn't refuse them, he would go on a few dates.
The ladies, who were introduced by the senior colleagues, were excellent and beautiful. Lu Shichu was a polite gentleman, so the ladies had a good impression of him.
However, nothing came of it in the end.
The senior colleagues who introduced the ladies to Lu Shichu were very curious as to why none of them worked out.
It was a unanimous answer. The ladies wanted to get a boyfriend who would take care of and cherish them, not someone who solely focused on medical research.
Lu Shichu was a gentleman. Even though he agreed to go on those dates, he wouldn't say anything rude. He would make sure to bring up one thing.
"There is one thing I think I need to mention in advance. I am very busy with work, and I can only spend ten minutes talking to my parents on the phone every week. If we get together, I will never be the first one to arrive when it's New Year's or when you are sick. I'm sorry about that."
Every lady reacted generously when they heard this, but after spending some time together, they all retreated.
Lu Shichu was passive in keeping in touch with them, so they would approach him first.
When they asked him out for a movie, he would only arrive after the movie ended. The reason for that was because of an experiment that he couldn't leave midway.
When they asked him to have a meal, he would order deliveries for the other party on the account that he didn't have time spare to dine out.
Situations like that happened a lot of times.
Whether it was young ladies who envisioned fairy-tale-like love or careerwomen who were the same age as Lu Shichu, they eventually gave up.
His love life became the was a concern to his colleagues. Among them, his assistant was the most worried for him.
His assistant and Cheng Qiulu were already at the stage of discussing marriage.
The assistant was smart when it came to work, but he was rather dense when it came to matters of relationships.
He always thought that if he and Cheng Qiulu were together, Lu Shichu might not have remained single.
Lu Shichu knew what his assistant was thinking and found it hilarious, concluding that he was really dense.
During lunchtime, he invited his assistant to a cafe.
The assistant sat across from Lu Shichu, looking like a middle school student who had been called in by the headmaster for dating too early.
He awkwardly called, "Mr. Lu."
Lu Shichu looked at him with a gentle expression. "Have you set the wedding date with Miss Cheng? When are you planning to give me the invitation?"
"We are preparing for it," the assistant replied, looking somewhat surprised.
"Don't forget to send me an invitation when the time comes."
"Okay."
It wasn't until the two of them returned to the laboratory that the assistant realized the purpose of Lu Shichu inviting him for coffee.
During the National Day, his assistant and Cheng Qiulu got married. Lu Shichu took the rare opportunity to take half a day off and attend their wedding.
When his assistant and Cheng Qiulu came to his table to toast, she looked surprised.
Although she had rarely seen Lu Shichu in recent years, she still habitually called out, "Shichu?"
He smiled at her and raised his glass. "Best wishes."
Cheng Qiulu looked at the smile on his face and her eyes flickered slightly. This was probably the only genuine smile she had seen from him ever since they knew each other.
Lu Shichu sincerely wished them the best.
Lovers who truly loved each other deserved sincere blessings.
For some inexplicable reason, the uneasiness in Cheng Qiulu's heart disappeared when she saw that smile from Lu Shichu.
When he was about to leave, he ran into Bai Jingshu and An Xia.
Their daughter had just turned one year old and was babbling and learning to speak. She clung to Bai Jingshu's leg and wanted to walk. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy…"
Bai Jingshu's smile never faded from his face. He bent down, carefully supporting her and not letting go. He spoke softly, "Be careful, sweetheart. Take it slow. Do you want me to carry you?"
The little girl struggled to free herself from his hand. Realizing that she couldn't, she pouted and was about to cry. In the end, he let go of her.
As soon as he let go, the little person turned around and walked toward Lu Shichu.
At first, she walked with quick and steady steps. Lu Shichu watched her approach him with a bouncy gait, which elicited a smile on his face.
She's adorable.
When she was about to reach Lu Shichu, she started to wobble. Lu Shichu was afraid she would fall, so he squatted down and reached out to support her. However, the little bundle of joy jumped into his arms with drool. "Daddy, Daddy…"
Bai Jingshu, who caught up with her, became awkward. "Baby, look this way. I'm over here."
He reached out to carry his daughter back, but she held onto Lu Shichu and refused to let go.
Only then did Bai Jingshu see noticed that the person holding his daughter was Lu Shichu. He was slightly stunned.
His daughter didn't want to get down from Lu Shichu, so he apologized before looking at his daughter with a loving gaze. "She can understand us now. She has become more mischievous. You—"
"It's okay." Lu Shichu carefully held the little girl and smiled. He lowered his head to look at her. He tentatively tilted his head and said, "Give me a kiss."
The little girl immediately kissed him on the cheek loudly before giggling.
It melted his heart. He suddenly wanted to have a daughter too.
Bai Jingshu was slightly hurt by that because his daughter had kissed other men at such a young age.
…
A few more years passed. Lu Shichu's workaholic routine finally took a toll on him. He was admitted to the hospital.
When he was discharged, he had lost twenty pounds.
During these years, the research institute made significant breakthroughs in medicine and developed many new drugs.
After being discharged, Lu Shichu submitted his resignation to the institute.
The leaders acknowledged his efforts throughout the years and noticed that his health was declining, so they approved it.
Although he had entered as a criminal, his achievements over the years had already made up for it.
Lu Shichu returned to Yunzhou City and took six months to recuperate before his health gradually improved.
On a spring weekend, Su Ziyue's family of four planned to go on an outing. They invited him, and Bai Jingshu was coming along too.
After arriving, he realized that besides Su Ziyue's family, Bai Jingshu's family was there too.
Bai Jingshu and An Xia usually lived in Yunzhou City and only returned to Jingcheng City when necessary. It seemed normal to have them there.
However, there was also a woman among them who was Qin Zixi's teacher. She was a few years younger than him. She seemed gentle and dignified.
Su Ziyue's ulterior motive was revealed.
Indeed, he was approaching middle age, and the people around him were concerned about his love life.
The teacher was a total wife material.
After the outing, Su Ziyue talked to him privately, "What do you think of Zi Xi's teacher?"
Lu Shichu smiled and replied, "She's nice."
Su Ziyue's eyes lit up and continued, "So, do you have any plans to keep in touch with her?"
Lu Shichu remembered that when he went out in the morning and stood in front of the mirror to tidy up his appearance, he found that he had grown white hair. There were fine lines at the corners of his eyes too.
Time had left its mark on him.
However, Su Ziyue still looked young and energetic like she was in her twenties. Time was being generous to her.
She was lucky.
Pulling his senses back, he shifted his gaze elsewhere and vaguely said, "Let's leave it to fate."
Su Ziyue knew that this matter had fallen through again. She worried for Lu Shichu.
When one was young, dreams and love were everything. As one grew older, he longed for warmth and companionship.
Lu Shichu couldn't live alone for the rest of his life. It would be so lonely with no one to take care of him when he was sick and no one to share his joy.
Lu Shichu's attitude was gentle yet firm, so Su Ziyue couldn't force him too much. She never had the intention of introducing him to someone else afterward.
However, she would often invite Lu Shichu to have meals at her place.
As a result, Qin Muchen, the childish guy, became unhappy. The two middle-aged men would tease each other every time they met.
"Hey, you grew more white hair again?"
"You seem to have gained weight again. If you don't pay attention to your diet, be careful of high blood pressure."
They would bang the table and almost start a fight. Su Ziyue asked her two sons to appease the men respectively.
The same scene never failed to happen every time the two men met. As time passed, Su Ziyue became accustomed to it.
The following year, Lu Shichu's parents passed away one after another, and he began to feel lonely.
He adopted two children, who were rescued from a fire in the hospital.
Although the parents couldn't be saved, the twin children had minor injuries. Lu Shichu adopted the twins and took care of them carefully.
He brought the twins to Su Ziyue's house as guests. Whenever he teased Qin Muchen, Lu Shichu would always bring something up—"I have a son and a daughter, don't get jealous."
It touched Qin Muchen's sore spot because he wanted a daughter.
However, Su Ziyue gave birth to another son. She knew that he wanted a daughter, so she discussed whether to have another child with him.
Yet, Qin Muchen felt sorry for her and didn't want her to get pregnant again.
That night, Qin Muchen solemnly called his two sons into the study. "When you two grow up, whoever can marry the little sister from the Lu family will receive an additional ten percent of the company's shares."
When Lu Shichu heard this, he called his daughters over and advised them, "Stay away from those two brothers from the Qin family. They will snatch your candy and dolls."
They nodded innocently and said, "Okay."
When Su Ziyue told An Xia bout this, the latter burst into laughter. "You're not that old. Why are you acting like a child!"
Meanwhile, Bai Jingshu caught a different point. He quietly pulled his own daughter aside and said, "Darling, stay away from the two brothers from the Qin family in the future."
Marry Me Quick Chapter 793-When Bai Yunan returned to the Bai Residence, it was already late at night. The place was quiet.
He didn't inform anyone about his return in advance, but Aunt Liu had left a light on in the hall for him.
After Bai Jingshu and An Xia's wedding, they stayed at home for a while before going back to Yunzhou City. Bai Yeqi was busy with something, so he rarely came back home.
It was said that he had found a new partner.
Bai Yunan couldn't help but sneer at that thought. Both of his younger brothers had gotten married and found a new love life. He was the only person staying single.
It was no wonder that his parents would nag at him as soon as he came home.
If he had informed them in advance that he was coming back, his parents would definitely set up a blind date for him.
That's why he had to come back quietly late at night.
Work alone was hectic enough, and now he had to endure being nagged at home. No matter how energetic he was, it could be tiring for him sometimes.
He quietly entered his room without disturbing anyone. He let out a sigh of relief as soon as he entered the room.
Turning on the light, he casually threw his coat on the couch and began unbuttoning his shirt to go to the bathroom.
However, he noticed that there was a bump beneath the bedsheet.
Someone's sleeping in his bed?
He usually folded the bedsheets neatly, even at home. He walked over to the bed in large strides and pulled the bedsheets down to reveal Lu Qingyou's face, which turned red due to the heat beneath the bedsheet.
Bai Yunan frowned. What is she doing here? He approached a bit closer and caught a faint whiff of alcohol.
Bai Yunan's face turned cold, but he placed the bedsheet back gently.
She was stepping up her games. She didn't even call him to bother him anymore, let alone ask him out for meals on weekends. Instead, she came to his house to drink and even slept in his bed while he was away.
It was most likely that the old man had brought her over to drink again.
She had been a drunkard since childhood. He wondered why she liked drinking so much. Bai Yunan stared at her face for a while as his throat suddenly felt dry.
It was probably because the heating in the room was too strong, and he wasn't used to the temperature yet.
So, he turned and went into the bathroom. After taking a shower, he found a blanket and lay down on the couch.
The couch was quite cramped, so he felt uncomfortable. Although he slept until dawn, he kept having strange dreams.
Lu Qingyou was hungover but shared good alcohol with the old man. Thus, she woke up early and didn't have much of a headache.
She got out of bed and saw a man lying on the sofa, so she quickly shrank back.
Why is Yunan back? Didn't Aunt Liu say that he wouldn't come back last night?
As a soldier, Bai Yunan was always alert. He was used to waking up early too. At that moment, he opened his eyes to see her sitting on the bed in her fluffy pajamas while looking at him blankly.
Her bangs were messy and her eyes appeared groggy. She was dazed. People tend to react slowly when they woke up.
He didn't pay attention to her and kneaded his brow. Then, he got up and went into the bathroom.
Hearing the sound of water coming from the bathroom, she finally came back to her senses.
She got up and sat on the sofa, where the warmth of Bai Yunan's presence still lingered.
He quickly came out of the bathroom, neatly dressed.
Lu Qingyou had always admired Bai Yunan's speed in dressing and grooming. Five minutes was all he needed.
"Yunan, why did you come back?" She picked up a pillow from the side and hugged it, feeling less awkward.
Ever since Bai Jingshu and An Xia's wedding, she hadn't seen Bai Yunan often. Even when they did meet, they only exchanged simple greetings.
It had been a long time since the two of them had been in a closed space together, especially in his room.
He answered concisely, "It's the weekend."
He would come back home every other weekend.
"Oh." Lu Qingyou did not know what else to say.
When she used to pester Bai Yunan often, she didn't think it was a big deal that he was sparing with his words. Now that they didn't see each other often, she felt his aloof attitude.
Although she had tried her best not to care, she still felt a sense of loss.
Bai Yunan looked down at her from above and saw her expression clearly. He was about to say something but suddenly stopped.
Although Lu Qingyou was wearing a coral fleece pajama set, Bai Yunan had seen her enough to know that she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
She was always careless in front of him, and she didn't bother to care about these things. He had mentioned it to her a few times, but every time he did, she would impatiently say that she was aware of it. She would get angry at times too.
He felt helpless. He had watched her grow up, and she was also classmates with Cheng Qiulu. To him, Lu Qingyou was just like a younger sister to him, just like Cheng Qiulu.
He pondered for a moment and then put on a serious face. "Lu Qingyou, do you just sleep anywhere after drinking? Don't you know how to protect yourself?"
Lu Qingyou was already feeling a bit down. When she heard this, her face turned pale.
Did he mean that I shouldn't have slept in his bed?
The tip of her nose felt sour as she pursed her lips while looking at him. "It's just sleeping on your bed. Is it necessary to be so angry? Don't you know that you can sleep in Jingshu's room when you come back? You could have woken me up at the very least!"
It's not like I never slept in his room before, so why is he so angry? He must've found someone out there, just like the people online said.
Bai Yunan furrowed his brow. "That's not what I meant."
"What do you mean then?" Lu Qingyou stood up and quickly walked out. "If you're not happy, I won't stay at your house anymore. It's not like I'm dying to live in your house."
He quickly caught up with her and pulled her back. "Are you just going to leave like this?"
"What else can I do? Let you scold me again and then leave?" She couldn't break free, so she glared at him.
Her pouting face tickled his urge to laugh, but he held it back. That was her habit. Her cheeks puffed up when she was angry.
Bai Yunan's tone softened a bit. "Change your clothes before going back."
Lu Qingyou lowered her head to glance at her clothes. She realized something, and her face turned even redder.
It wasn't that she wasn't aware of the boundaries between men and women, but she didn't expect him to come back in the middle of the night.
Another reason was that she never cared about these things in front of Bai Yunan. After all, when she was a child, Bai Yunan even changed her diapers…
Let's stop thinking about the past, she thought to herself, and her face became even redder.
He was still holding onto her. She glared at Bai Yunan fiercely. "Let me go."
He then let go of her. As soon as Lu Qingyou regained freedom, she rushed into the bathroom like a rabbit, hugging her clothes.
She quickly came out again, neatly dressed. She didn't say a word to him before running away.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 794-Aunt Liu was making breakfast when she saw Lu Qingyou running down like a gust of wind. She quickly called out, "Qingyou, aren't you staying for breakfast?"
Unfortunately, Lu Qingyou had already run far away and didn't hear her at all.
Aunt Liu looked at the time and muttered to herself, "It's still early, what's going on?"
Not long after, Bai Yunan came down.
"Aunt Liu." He sat down at the dining table.
She looked at him and was stunned for a moment before smiling. “Since when were you back?"
"Last night." He took a sip as his mind drifted away.
…
Lu Qingyou returned home and wanted to quietly sneak back upstairs, but she was caught by Mrs. Lu.
Mrs. Lu pulled her ear, bringing her to the sofa.
Lu Qingyou covered her ear and cried out in pain. "Mom, Mom… It hurts…"
Why is she twisting my ear?
With a stern face, Mrs. Lu sat down in front of her with a serious attitude.
Among the entire Lu family, Lu Qingyou was most afraid of Mrs. Lu because everyone else in the family doted on her. Mrs. Lu was very strict with her.
Seeing Mrs. Lu's stern expression, Lu Qingyou didn't dare to say anything and hung her head down.
"You should go to the Bai Residence less often in the future."
Lu Qingyou couldn't help but defend herself, "Old Master Bai invited me for dinner and drink. He's old lonely, so I kept him company."
"I didn't say you shouldn't have dinner at the Bai Residence, I just want you to be more careful in the future. The Bai family is full of boys, and Yunan is a grown-up. No matter how good your relationship is, he is still a man. Old Master Bai and Commander Bai have been looking for a partner for him recently. You should go to their house less often to avoid trouble."
Lu Qingyou felt terrible because Old Master Bai and the others were looking for a partner for Bai Yunan again.
Mrs. Lu looked at Lu Qingyou's expression and her tone became unusually serious. "Qingyou, tell me, do you still have feelings for Yunan?"
"W-What kind of feelings?" Lu Qingyou forced a smile and turned her head to look elsewhere.
"No matter what kind of feelings you have for him, stop it. You've known Yunan since you were born, and he cares about you, but he doesn't have romantic feelings for you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have waited this long when you're already twenty. Give up."
Mrs. Lu's words were cruel to Lu Qingyou, but she knew it was the truth.
When she was in her early teens, her classmates would secretly write love letters and go on dates, but all she could think of was Bai Yunan.
As she grew older, she knew that she and Bai Yunan were considered childhood friends. Although there was a slight age difference, she didn't mind it.
Besides her father and brother, he was the person who treated her well. However, several years had passed and Bai Yunan's attitude had never changed.
Her family had advised her, so she had been keeping her distance from Bai Yunan, refraining herself from meeting him or hearing news about him.
Her silence made Mrs. Lu realize that her tone was too harsh, but she couldn't beat around the bush. She was afraid her silly daughter wouldn't give up on her feelings.
…
Lu Qingyou spent the morning at home in a daze. In the afternoon, she didn't want to stay at home anymore, so she called Cheng Qiulu.
Cheng Qiulu took a long time to answer the phone. Lu Qingyou wondered what she was up to.
"Qingyou, what's up?"
Lu Qingyou felt a pang in her chest. Did she have to have something to talk about in order to call Cheng Qiulu?
"Where are you? Let's hang out."
Cheng Qiulu hesitated. "Well, I have something to do right now…"
"What is it? Where are you? I'll come to you." Lu Qingyou went to get her clothes.
Before she could hear Cheng Qiulu's response, she heard a man's voice on the other end of the line. "Qiulu, be careful!"
Lu Qingyou hung up the phone in pain.
Just a few days ago, Lu Qingyou felt sorry for her, and now Cheng Qiulu had already found a partner.
In the end, Lu Qingyou aimlessly wandered the streets all alone. Her mother's words were right. She felt that she should try to get to know other boys.
She was about to graduate from college and yet, she had never been in a relationship.
She called Lu Qinghan, who stayed at the bar at night and slept during the day. His routine was messed up.
Awakened by the ringing tone, he squinted at the dialer's ID, which showed Lu Qingyou's name. He sighed and sat up, sounding a bit helpless. "My dear sister, tell me, to what honor do I own this?"
He felt like a failure as an older brother because his younger sister was closer to the neighbor's older brother than to him.
"Brother, could you introduce someone to me? I want to start dating."
"Pfft… Cough!" He happened to be getting up from the bed to get a glass of water. He choked when he heard that.
"Really?" He couldn't believe that she would come to her senses so quickly.
"Yeah. Just be quick."
…
After hanging up the phone, Lu Qinghan pondered for a while and realized that Lu Qingyou and Bai Yunan were not as close as before. It seemed that she had come to her senses.
He began to search for a partner for her. The next morning, he drove a flashy sports car back to the mansion and pick her up.
She went to the hair salon and bought a new outfit, then hurriedly went on the blind date.
When they arrived at the restaurant, he stayed in the lobby while Lu Qingyou would be meeting a new guy in a private lounge.
He patted her shoulder and said, "Go ahead. I'll wait for you here. If that guy is unreliable and you want to leave, just call me if you wanna beat him up."
Lu Qingyou looked at him disdainfully. "You're still acting like a teenager even though you're so old. You can't stop talking about fighting and killing."
He was rendered speechless. He merely wanted to show off in front of his sister and made himself appear dependable as the elder brother.
After watching Lu Qingyou enter the private lounge, Lu Qinghan called a waiter to order a cup of green tea.
While he was scrolling through his phone, a group of people came out of another private lounge. A familiar voice caught his attention He looked up and met Bai Yunan's gaze.
Jingcheng City was a big place, but there were only a few places they would frequent. Thus, it was easy to run into each other.
Bai Yunan whispered a few words to the person next to him before approaching Lu Qinghan.
Bai Yunan watched Lu Qingyou and Lu Qinghan grow up since they were little. Lu Qingyou, being a girl, was treated a little better. On the other hand, Lu Qinghan sometimes suffered because of Bai Yunan.
Lu Qinghan straightened his back, nervous. He took a sip of his tea.
"What are you doing here?" Bai Yunan narrowed his eyes and sat down in front of him.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 795-Lu Qinghan nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "Waiting for my sister."
"Qingyou?" Bai Yunan had already guessed that Lu Qinghan might be with Lu Qingyou when he saw him here. After all, Lu Qinghan usually stayed at the bar and rarely came out.
"Yeah, she…" Lu Qinghan hesitated for a moment.
Should I tell him that Lu Qingyou's on a blind date? Would it be okay to say that? Wait, I am Lu Qingyou's older brother. Is it wrong for me to set up a blind date for my younger sister? he justified his actions.
"Qingyou asked me to introduce someone to her. They are in the private lounge."
Surprisingly, Bai Yunan's expression changed, and his tone became serious. "In the private lounge?"
"Yes, the private lounge is quiet and easy to talk in." Lu Qinghan felt a little uneasy.
Bai Yunan snorted coldly. "You left her alone with a stranger? Aren't you afraid that the guy has ulterior motives?"
Lu Qinghan was stunned and explained to him, "No, Xi Luo is the son of my mother's colleague. My mother knows him too. H's a decent man. You can rest assured."
Bai Yunan couldn't bother to listen to that as he asked directly, "Which private lounge is it?"
"Yunan, you really have nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine." Lu Qinghan had made up his mind to help his sister find a good match. Xi Luo was someone he carefully selected, so he wouldn't let Bai Yunan interrupt the blind date.
Judging from Bai Yunan's expression, Lu Qingyou and Xi Luo might end up in an awkward situation if he was present.
…
Meanwhile, Lu Qingyou and Xi Luo were chatting absentmindedly.
They were the same age. He had a gentle and refined appearance, which made people have a good impression of him.
Lu Qinghan was a little resistant to this blind date. She was aware that Xi Luo was the son of her mother's colleague. Since they would see each other often in the future, she had to behave in her best decorum.
Moreover, it was her own idea to ask Lu Qinghan to help her find a partner.
Apart from Bai Yunan, she hadn't really looked at any other men. Maybe, she could give it a try.
"Try this, it's a new dish here." Xi Luo placed a dish on Lu Qingyou's plate.
She came back to her senses and said, "Thank you."
Then, she ate it without even looking at it only to get choked on the food.
She coughed as tears welled up in her eyes. He immediately stood up and patted her back, handing her a glass of water.
At this moment, the door was open to reveal Bai Yunan. He was tall and imposing, and his strong presence made the air oppressive. The room felt somewhat cramped.
Noticing that Xi Luo was so close to Lu Qingyou, he became furious.
He walked over and pushed Xi Luo away, glaring. "What are you doing?"
Xi Luo was polite by nature. It wasn't an act.
He wasn't angry at Bai Yunan's attitude. He calmly looked at Bai Yunan, and when he recognized the man, he was momentarily stunned.
Bai Yunan's presence was too strong, stronger than that of an ordinary person. Before Xi Luo came, he had learned some information about Lu Qingyou's family.
Jingcheng was a big city, and there was only one Bai family.
Before he could speak, Lu Qingyou finished drinking the water and looked up at Bai Yunan. "What are you doing here?"
Bai Yunan glanced at her, displeased with her attitude. At the same time, he realized that Xi Luo wasn't doing anything indecent to her.
Still, he wouldn't apologize.
Is it so difficult for him to get a girlfriend that he's actually going on a blind date? Also, how bad is her situation that she has to secretly go on a blind date?
Before Bai Yunan came in, Lu Qingyou and Xi Luo were not particularly awkward. Now, the three of them sat in the private lounge, feeling equally awkward.
Xi Luo, who read the room, excused himself.
After he left, Lu Qingyou looked at Bai Yunan with an unhappy expression. "What were you doing?"
"Why did you go on a blind date without telling me?"
She was vexed. She honestly perceived Xi Luo as a decent man and wanted to get to know him better, but Bai Yunan barged in and drove him away.
Bai Yunan didn't think there was anything wrong with his actions. He calmly said, "Answer me."
"Why should I? I want to get a boyfriend. That's it. Is that not allowed? Why do you intervene in every single thing I do? Do you want to control my diet and sleep schedule too?"
Apart from when she was rebellious at fifteen or sixteen, Lu Qingyou hadn't spoken to Bai Yunan in this tone for many years.
He laughed in anger and stared at her angry face. "So, you're saying that I'm being meddlesome?"
"What else? I'm an adult. Please don't treat me like a child. I have my own thoughts and judgment. I make my own decisions."
Since he didn't consider being with her, he shouldn't meddle in her relationships so that she wouldn't have false hope.
Perhaps for him, she was just another younger sister.
However, he played a special role in her twenty-one years of life.
Silence filled the room.
In the meantime, Lu Qinghan was leaning against the door outside, trying to overhear the conversation.
To his dismay, he could only hear muffled voices and couldn't make out what they were saying.
Despite the frustration, he didn't dare to enter the room. He was really useless as an older brother.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and he almost fell onto the floor.
Lu Qingyou shot a disdainful look at Lu Qinghan, who had barely stabilized himself, and left.
He scratched his head and glanced inside to see a grim Bai Yunan sitting right there.
Lu Qinghan closed the door and swallowed a mouthful of saliva before catching up with Lu Qingyou.
She was leaning against his car, hugging her arms. She was lost in her thought. He opened the car door and let her get in.
She seemed calm. Lu Qinghan reached out and pinched her face. "What did Yunan say? You look like an old lady right now."
She turned her head to dodge his hand. "Nothing."
Indeed, Bai Yunan didn't say anything. After she said that she would make her own decisions, he stared at her coldly until she couldn't sit still and left on her own.
He seemed very angry. But so what? It's not like this is the first time I made him angry.
Noticing her apathy, Lu Qinghan didn't say anything further.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 796-In the evening, Bai Yunan returned to Bai Residence. When he passed by the entrance of Lu Residence, he ran into Aunt Lu taking out the trash.
He stopped and called out to her. "Hi, Aunt Lu!"
Aunt Lu turned her head and noticed him. She smiled and greeted back, "Hey, Yunan. Have you been busy lately? It feels like I haven't seen you in a long time."
"Yes, I've been quite busy lately." Bai Yunan nodded slightly and glanced toward Lu Residence's courtyard while asking casually, "Where's Qingyou?"
Aunt Lu didn't think much of it and grinned at him. "Oh, she's not at home. She's hanging out with her friends and will be back later."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yunan furrowed his brows slightly. He raised his wrist to check the time and noticed it was already 8.00PM, yet she hadn't returned.
Did she go out on a date with that guy named Xi Luo?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. His temper returned, but he wouldn't show it in front of his elders.
When he returned to Bai Residence, his expression turned cold.
He casually took off his coat and threw it on the couch, then took out his phone to call Lu Qingyou.
Suddenly, he remembered the things she had said in the private room at the restaurant during the day, and his expression darkened.
Since she didn't want him to meddle in her affairs, why should he be a busybody?
Tossing his phone onto the coffee table, he leaned back on the couch lazily, lost in thought.
Soon, Bai Yeqi came in whistling.
Since Bai Yunan was in a bad mood, everything seemed unpleasant to him.
Bai Yeqi had his coat hanging on his arm and his steps were light, clearly in a good mood.
He glanced at Bai Yunan, who was sitting on the couch with a gloomy face, and greeted, "Hey, bro."
Bai Yunan glanced at him and nodded slightly in response.
Innocently, Bai Yeqi walked over to sit beside him and asked with concern, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." He couldn't possibly say that he was upset because of Lu Qingyou, could he?
After hesitating, he asked, "Do you know Xi Luo?"
"Xi Luo?" Bai Yeqi pondered for a moment and answered, "I've heard of him. He's not a bad person."
Taking a deep breath, Bai Yunan uttered, "Go upstairs."
He didn't feel like talking to Bai Yeqi at all.
In fact, Bai Yeqi had heard a little about the blind date between Lu Qingyou and Xi Luo, and judging from Bai Yunan's expression, he could roughly guess what was going on.
Standing up, he threw in a casual remark. "I heard they went on a blind date. I'd say they're quite compatible with each—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Bai Yunan got up and went upstairs instead.
Bai Yeqi watched Bai Yunan's back and shook his head.
He was already in his thirties and was always sharp at work, so why did he become a fool when it came to matters of the heart?
…
For two weeks in a row, Lu Qingyou hadn't seen Bai Yunan.
During this time, she met Xi Luo a few times and they had a few meals together.
Although there was a slight age difference between them, there was no generation gap. Xi Luo had a mild personality, was knowledgeable, and was gentlemanly. He was actually considered someone Lu Qingyou liked.
Being with him made her feel very comfortable.
Even if they couldn't be together in the end, it would be nice to be friends.
On this day, Cheng Qiulu went home to visit her parents, leaving Lu Qingyou alone.
In the middle of the night, she received a call from Bai Yunan.
"Yunan?" After answering the phone, she squinted at the number on the screen to confirm that it was indeed Bai Yunan's call. Then, she sat up, half leaning against the headboard as she asked, "What's the matter?"
Why would he call her in the middle of the night?
She still had work tomorrow!
"Come down." Bai Yunan's voice sounded a little strange, and his speech was slower. It didn't sound as strong and cold as it usually did.
Lu Qingyou instantly became alert. "Are you downstairs?"
Without saying much, she grabbed her coat and ran downstairs.
Under the streetlight, at the cold entrance of the small neighborhood, Bai Yunan's jeep was parked conspicuously.
Lu Qingyou went straight for the passenger seat, opened the car door, and noticed Bai Yunan sitting inside. She couldn't help but exclaim, "What's wrong with you? Why are you here in the middle of the night?"
The light from outside the car window shone in. Half of Bai Yunan's face was hidden in the shadows, making him appear somewhat gloomy. At this moment, Lu Qingyou finally smelled a hint of alcohol.
"Have you been drinking?" she questioned while raising her foot to get into the car and sitting in the passenger seat.
Bai Yunan stared at her, looking at her carefully for a while before his voice became hoarse. "A little."
She didn't believe him at all judging from how slow his speech was and how strongly he reeked of alcohol.
Lu Qingyou sighed. "You should get out first."
Bai Yunan shook his head, his gaze slightly sluggish. "I'm not getting out."
"If you don't get out, I'll leave." Lu Qingyou pretended to get out of the car and leave.
Just then, Bai Yunan grabbed her arm. "Don't go."
It was already deep into winter, so the weather was getting colder. The temperature outside was even more chilling.
Lu Qingyou tugged at her clothes. "Let's talk upstairs. It's too cold here."
On such a cold night, she couldn't just let him drive back alone when he was nearly drunk.
Without uttering another word, Bai Yunan nodded and obediently followed her lead up the stairs.
Once he entered the room, he started looking around, taking in his surroundings.
He had sent Lu Qingyou home a few times before and knew that she lived here, but he had never been upstairs to see it for himself.
After looking around for a while, he walked over to Lu Qingyou, who was pouring water for him, and said, "The house is alright. It's just a little small."
Lu Qingyou looked at him strangely. "It's not as good as home, but it's considered quite big for me and Qiulu."
After saying that, she handed the glass of water to him. "Drink some water."
Bai Yunan took it and stared at the water in the glass for a while before slowly drinking it.
Lu Qingyou secretly thought to herself, How much did he drink?
Bai Yunan had a good tolerance for alcohol because he often went on missions and would drink strong liquor to keep warm in the wilderness. That was how his alcohol tolerance gradually built up.
Based on what Lu Qingyou remembered, he had been drunk before, and when he did, he would become slow in his reactions and unusually… obedient.
As for the specific details, she couldn't quite remember.
After Bai Yunan finished drinking, he handed the glass back to Lu Qingyou, indicating that he had finished.
Seeing him holding the cup with a look of anticipation, Lu Qingyou blinked her eyes and silently took the cup. Then, she turned around to pat her chest.
He acts so differently from his usual self. It's cute…
She seemed a bit nervous too, her heart beating fast.
When Bai Yunan noticed that Lu Qingyou turned around and didn't speak to him, he tilted his head to look at her and called out to her in confusion, "Qingyou."
Lu Qingyou suddenly felt slightly annoyed.
He's so annoying! Why did he come to me after drinking? We haven't seen each other for so long that I almost forgot about him!
Now that he came to find her, she had ruined all her progress.
Lu Qingyou turned her head to look at him. "I'll call my brother to come pick you up."
Marry Me Quick Chapter 797-At this time, apart from the night owl Lu Qinghan, she couldn't think of anyone else to pick up Bai Yunan. Anyhow, she couldn't rest assured if he went back alone.
Little did she know, as soon as Bai Yunan heard this, he frowned. "I'm not going back."
Lu Qingyou was speechless but found it somewhat amusing. Bai Yunan was quite interesting when he was drunk.
"Even if you don't want to go back, you have to. It's not appropriate for a grown man like you to stay here," she remarked.
She wondered if Bai Yunan understood what she was saying because he lowered his head to look at her with a meaningful gaze. "If I go back, you will go and see that annoying brat, Xi Luo."
"Annoying… brat?"
She couldn't relate Xi Luo with the term 'annoying brat' at all.
"I know what that annoying brat is up to. Don't go out with him," Bai Yunan said, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. He didn't have his usual sharpness, but instead showed a hint of gentleness.
"I think he's pretty nice," Lu Qingyou replied. Sensing that the two of them were getting too close, she took a step back.
Biting her lip, she asked, "Do you care if I meet other men?"
Bai Yunan's reaction was slower than usual, and it seemed like he was pondering her words. After a few seconds, he uttered in a serious tone, "Don't meet other men. All of them have ulterior motives."
Lu Qingyou almost burst out laughing. She suppressed the laughter at the corner of her lips and asked him, "What about you?"
"I'll protect you." This time, Bai Yunan answered quickly.
Lu Qingyou shuddered and suddenly felt like hugging him.
With that thought in mind, she did it.
She reached out to hug his waist and bury her head in his chest.
When she truly felt herself in his embrace, she realized just how much she missed him.
At the thought of the two of them marrying somebody else in the future, and how they would never be able to hold each other like this and have intimate conversations, she felt her heart clench and it felt suffocating.
Leaning against his chest and listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, Lu Qingyou muttered, "Okay. I won't see other men anymore, and you shouldn't see other women too, okay?"
The response she received was the steady and dense sound of the man's breathing.
Afterward, she felt a weight on her shoulder.
He had fallen asleep.
…
When Bai Yunan woke up, he felt a slight headache.
The fragrant smell in the blanket told him that he wasn't at home or in his own apartment.
His first reaction was alertness, but when he turned his head and saw the photo on the bedside table, he relaxed.
How did he end up at Lu Qingyou's place?
Last night, he was dragged out for drinks by Bai Yeqi until late.
If he had known that he would come to Lu Qingyou after drinking, he wouldn't have come even if he were beaten to death.
Then, he got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
Standing in front of the mirror, his gaze swept over the pink toothbrush and the towel with a cat pattern, and he felt a strange sensation.
After Lu Qingyou grew up, he consciously or unconsciously kept his distance from her and rarely entered her room.
The feeling in his heart was somewhat strange.
After a quick wash, he opened the door and went out.
The apartment wasn't big and only had a few rooms.
He walked straight to the next room without knocking on the door and was about to enter.
As soon as the door slightly opened, he froze.
A beautiful girl with fair skin appeared before him. His gaze traveled down from her fair neck to her ankles before he realized what he was doing and quickly closed the door.
He didn't look where he was going and ended up bumping into the couch.
The couch was made of solid wood and was heavy. When he bumped into it, it made a creaking sound that was unpleasant to the ears.
The sound jolted him back to his senses.
Seeing a water dispenser nearby, he walked over and poured himself a large glass of cold water to calm down.
He didn't expect that Lu Qingyou happened to be changing clothes.
Due to his job, he was cautious in everything he did, which had become a habit.
He opened the door without making a sound and happened to see Lu Qingyou with her back turned, not noticing him.
His first reaction upon seeing her body was not to immediately close the door, but rather, he felt a burning desire within him. He felt like a voyeur, which ignited his inner ball of fire.
He irritably wiped his face and went to the bathroom.
When Lu Qingyou came out and saw no one in the living room, she went into her own bedroom.
Last night, after Bai Yunan fell asleep, she had a hard time dragging him into her bedroom, so she had to sleep in Cheng Qiulu's room.
There was no one on the bed, but she heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. Is he taking a shower?
She had to go to work later, but she could make breakfast now.
After scavenging through the refrigerator, she decided to make spinach casserole since she had limited skills in cooking.
She never cooked at home. In her teenage years, she read about some relationship tips online and had a sudden urge to learn how to cook, but in the end, she didn't learn much.
Instead, after her internship, she started learning how to make simple food with Cheng Qiulu.
Although the casseroles she made were average, they were still edible.
While combining all the ingredients in a pot, she heard the sound of the door opening behind her.
She turned around and saw Bai Yunan walking toward her with wet hair.
When he approached, she noticed that his complexion was somewhat pale. She reached out to touch his forehead and asked worriedly, "Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
As soon as her fingertips touched his forehead, he dodged.
However, Lu Qingyou could feel the coldness of his forehead.
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Why are you so cold?"
Bai Yunan put on a cold expression to conceal his discomfort.
How could he not be cold after taking a cold shower in the middle of winter?
"I'm fine. I felt warm when I woke up this morning, so I took a cold shower," he answered calmly. When his gaze fixated on her slender and fair neck, an image of what he had seen outside the door flashed through his mind involuntarily.
She had a fair and delicate body, a slender waist, and a graceful figure…
Suddenly, he felt his body heating up.
His expression became extremely serious as he looked at Lu Qingyou, who was shocked to hear that he had taken a cold shower. In a cold voice, he uttered, "I'm leaving."
Only then did Lu Qingyou react and stop him. "Have breakfast before you go. I'm making spinach casserole. Look."
As she spoke, she motioned for Bai Yunan to look at the pot of ingredients.
Bai Yunan glanced at her, his expression somewhat strange. "You can cook?"
He couldn't describe the feeling. He once thought that he knew her the best, but he didn't even realize that she could cook now.
Lu Qingyou was unaware of the complex thoughts running in his mind, but she felt a little embarrassed, so she tucked her hair behind her ear, saying, "I only learned how to make a casserole from Qiulu. I don't know how to cook anything else."
Bai Yunan looked at her naive face and suddenly realized that she had really grown up. She was no longer the mischievous and troublesome girl from his childhood who always worried him.
As he sat down at the dining table, his gaze was heavy as it fell on her. He just couldn't look away.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 798
"Here, try it." Lu Qingyou walked over to him with the casserole. "Move aside so you don't block my way."
She knew that Bai Yunan had a good appetite and could eat a lot, hence she made a big portion for him.
Accidentally, she touched the side of the pot and winced in pain. After rubbing her hand on her clothes, she turned to the kitchen to get her two plates.
Meanwhile, Bai Yunan held his spoon, his expression still somewhat serious.
In life, it was normal to encounter bumps and bruises. When he went on missions, he often came back with injuries all over his body.
However, he couldn't bear to see Lu Qingyou get hurt, not even a small wound.
She used to be a delicate young lady when she was a child. If she burned her finger or scraped her skin, she could cry for a long time.
Later, when she grew older and saw him seriously injured in the hospital, she no longer complained about her minor injuries.
"Try it. Isn't this the first time I've cooked for you?" Lu Qingyou had already sat down in front of him, her expression somewhat excited.
She had always wanted to cook a meal for him and hence was very happy at the thought of it.
She finally got the chance this day.
Bai Yunan lowered his head and started digging in.
Lu Qingyou asked, "How is it?"
Bai Yunan didn't lift his head. "It's alright."
Although Lu Qingyou knew that her cooking skills weren't great, hearing him say that still made her feel a little disappointed.
However, seeing Bai Yunan finish even the last bit of the casserole made her feel contented.
She ate slower and had a smaller appetite. After eating about half of it, she put down her cutlery.
"Are you full? Should I cook some more?" She was worried that Bai Yunan hadn't eaten enough.
Bai Yunan's gaze fell on the plate in front of her and asked, "Have you had enough?"
"Yeah." Lu Qingyou lowered her head and glanced at her own plate. She hoped he wouldn't say that she was wasting food.
The next moment, Bai Yunan took her bowl and quickly finished what was left in it.
He drank half a cup of water, put on his jacket, and looked at her. "Are you going to the company? I'll drive you there."
Lu Qingyou thought about how he also had to go to work and quickly refused, "Don't bother. I have my own car."
Bother?
She calls it a bother?!
Bai Yunan's expression turned cold as he uttered, "You've been burdening me all these years, and now you're calling it a bother?"
Lu Qingyou's face stiffened. She couldn't understand what he meant.
"What?"
Bai Yunan realized that his tone was off and took a deep breath. In a demanding tone, he uttered, "I'll drive you to work now. See you downstairs."
He knew that Xi Luo had not only driven her to work but also picked her up after work.
Lu Qingyou couldn't understand him. They were just fine a moment ago, but Bai Yunan was upset again.
…
Bai Yunan drove Lu Qingyou to the company but didn't leave immediately.
He sat in the car and lit a cigarette. Just then, Bai Yeqi called him.
When the call connected, Bai Yeqi asked, "Where are you?"
Bai Yunan put off the cigarette in his hand and answered, his tone laced with a hint of anger. "Bai Yeqi, did you do it on purpose last night?"
He asked him out for a drink intentionally, got him drunk, and then instigated him to find Lu Qingyou.
Although he had gotten drunk last night, he didn't forget everything.
In fact, he recalled most of the things that happened last night.
Bai Yeqi completely disregarded Bai Yunan's anger and replied calmly, "Does it matter whether I did it on purpose or not? If you didn't want to look for Qingyou, could I have forced you to go? Admit it."
On the other end of the phone, Bai Yunan frowned upon hearing his words.
Bai Yeqi sat in the car and casually put out the cigarette in the ashtray. He looked up and saw Su Yige coming out of the breakfast shop. Without caring about what Bai Yunan wanted to say, he spoke directly. "I have something to do, we'll talk later."
Su Yige finished her breakfast and was about to hail a taxi to the real estate agency to look at houses.
Since she was currently living in a rented house, she intended to buy a house.
She had to settle down here before she could bring her son back.
In truth, she wanted to return to Yunzhou City because, after all, that was the city where she was born and raised.
However, the events of the past had left her with trauma, hence she couldn't go back.
Life abroad wasn't bad, but she was used to living in Country Z, so she decided to return and settle down.
When she met Bai Yeqi, she was doubtful. However, apart from the time she coincidentally encountered Bai Yeqi when she went to meet An Xia, she hadn't seen him again.
Bai Yeqi seemed to recognize her back then, but he didn't look for her afterward.
When she came to think about it, Bai Yeqi was a member of the Bai Family. Even if he was born out of wedlock, he was still someone way out of her league.
She no longer had expectations for love and marriage and just wanted to focus on taking care of her son.
Since Bai Yeqi didn't come looking for her, she decided to stay in Jingcheng City in order to provide a better life for her son.
She went to the real estate agency and surveyed several houses. When she was on her way back, she sensed that someone was following her.
She stopped for a moment, nervously clutching her bag, not daring to move or turn back.
She was afraid that when she turned back, a creepy stalker would be standing right behind her.
Sneakily, she reached into her pocket and found her phone before running toward the entrance of the residential area.
As long as she made it to the security office of the residential area, she would be safe.
However, there was still some distance to the entrance of the residential area, and it would take about seven or eight minutes to run over.
As she ran, the person behind her also started running as the sound of footsteps grew closer.
She felt the approaching danger and couldn't help but turn her head. The person following her had already grabbed her hair.
Her hair was long, and the stalker easily grabbed onto it.
The person was wearing a hat, so she couldn't see his face clearly. He pressed a dagger against her waist and held her tightly while seething, "Come with me, or I'll kill you."
As he spoke, he forcefully pressed the dagger against her waist.
The dagger was sharp, and it easily cut through her coat. Su Yige could already feel the cold touch of the weapon.
What else had she not experienced throughout her life?
Frankly speaking, she had gone through way worse.
The nervous feeling quickly disappeared, and she calmed down. "Alright, I'll go with you. If you want money, it's all in my bag. I can give it to you, and I haven't seen your face, so you can take the money and leave. I won't report it to the police."
She tried to negotiate with the perpetrator.
This person was skilled and definitely experienced.
She couldn't get into trouble because she had to take care of her son.
The perpetrator hesitated for a moment while holding her, then roughly pulled her toward the woods nearby.
Lush greenery was found around the neighborhood, and there were very few people during the day.
Su Yige felt anxious and dare not defy him.
Once they reached the woods, the perpetrator immediately snatched her bag.
She breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, someone appeared out of nowhere and kicked the perpetrator to the ground.
She was stunned for a moment, and after coming back to her sense, she quickly ran to the side.
When she looked up, she saw Bai Yeqi.
Though it was winter in Jingcheng City, businessmen like Bai Yeqi wore suits all year round. When the weather turned cold, they would just drape on a coat to keep warm.
None of the men from the Bai Family was bad at combat. Bai Yeqi quickly subdued the perpetrator, prompting him to cry out in pain. He stepped on his hand and kicked the dagger aside before picking up Su Yige's bag.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 799-Su Yige wasn't expecting to see Bai Yeqi there.
How could he be here?
Bai Yeqi's branch office and the Bai Residence were in completely opposite directions in this neighborhood. It made no sense that he would be here.
Could it be that he came to look for me?
However, she dismissed the thought as soon as it crossed her mind.
There was no way that Bai Yeqi would look for her, whom he had only spent one night with.
He walked up to Su Yige with a bag in his hand and handed it to her.
Su Yige glanced at him and accepted the bag. "Thank you."
Bai Yeqi looked at her before suddenly saying, "You don't seem afraid at all."
Bai Yeqi was a slender man with fair skin. He had a somewhat effeminate appearance. She had sensed a hint of melancholy in him when she saw him last time.
"Huh?"
She looked at Bai Yeqi and got distracted by his appearance. So, she didn't catch what he said.
Bai Yeqi only gazed at her before asking, "Where do you live? Let me take you back."
"It's okay, I'll be fine. No need to trouble yourself. Thank you for today." Su Yige felt uneasy as he didn't sound like he was here by chance.
She didn't want to get too involved with Bai Yeqi, so she turned around to leave.
Just then, she noticed the thug lying on the ground, holding a knife, struck at Bai Yeqi out of the corner of her eye.
"Watch out!" She barely had time to warn Bai Yeqi as she reached out to pull him away.
However, Bai Yeqi reached out his arm and blocked the attack just as the knife was about to get to Su Yige.
Blood instantly gushed out. But, Bai Yeqi was wearing a black shirt. So, only a wet patch could be seen on him.
Bai Yeqi was genuinely furious, and he didn't even notice the injury on his hand. He approached the thug and beat the crap out of him before making a phone call to put an end to the situation.
He noticed Su Yige was still standing idly, looking at him in a daze after that.
He approached her as if nothing had happened. "Let's go."
"But… Your arm…" Su Yige stared at his torn sleeve. It was clearly wet and sticky, indicating he had suffered an injury.
"It's just a minor injury." He appeared unconcerned as he said indifferently.
Even abnormalities in his complexion wouldn't be noticeable due to his fair skin.
Su Yige initially wanted to keep her distance from him, but she couldn't simply ignore him now that he was injured while saving her.
Moreover, he was the biological father of her baby nevertheless.
She let out a soft sigh before saying, "Let's go to a hospital."
She went ahead to get a cab after that.
Bai Yeqi squinted at her back and paused briefly before he eventually followed her.
…
In the hospital, Su Yige asked Bai Yeqi to wait while she went to queue up for registration.
She asked with concern when she noticed his uneasy look, "How do you feel?"
Bai Yeqi only shook his head. "I'm alright."
He didn't need to wait and queue up in the hospital actually.
He was entitled to special privileges even as an illegitimate son born of the Bai family.
But, he decided not to bring it up when he saw Su Yige's attention and care for him.
Doctors would come to their home whenever he fell ill or got injured since he married Shu Yanian years ago.
Besides, he knew that Shu Yanian didn't genuinely want to marry him.
So, he found himself inexplicably touched.
Was it because of his age now that even such actions could affect him?
Meanwhile, his hand seemed to be in a worse condition. The pain was starting to numb him.
He only furrowed his brows as he wondered if Su Yige would get upset if he were to tell her that he could rightly skip the queue now.
Just then, the director of the hospital hurried over with a crew of medical personnel.
The director's forehead was covered in cold sweat even though it was the winter season now.
He walked up to Bai Yeqi and respectfully addressed, "Mr. Bai."
Bai Yeqi was casually sitting in a chair, and he raised his head when he heard that. Then, he furrowed his brows slightly and understood the situation shortly after.
Su Yige, who had been keeping an eye on Bai Yeqi's condition, also noticed what was happening.
She quickly realized that these people rushed over because they knew who Bai Yeqi was.
It made sense that there was no need for registration for someone like Bai Yeqi.
She overlooked this by accident.
She walked to them and heard the director say, "Did you injure your arm, Mr. Bai? Come with us. We'll take an X-ray and treat it accordingly."
Bai Yeqi let out a sigh and replied when he saw Su Yige approaching, "Alright."
Su Yige didn't leave him following that.
Bai Yeqi's injury was more severe than she had imagined.
The wound was deep enough to reveal the bone.
The doctor took an X-ray, and fortunately, the injury hadn't reached the bone, but it required quite a few stitches.
Su Yige watched in fear as the stitches were being done. She even turned her head to the side on a couple of occasions during the process.
They left the hospital together after Bai Yeqi's wound was taken care of.
Su Yige hailed a cab at the roadside, and she opened the door, saying, "Get in."
Bai Yeqi glanced at her and did as she said.
However, Su Yige closed the door from the outside following that, and Bai Yeqi's expression immediately changed.
"Wait."
He stopped the driver who was about to leave, and he used his uninjured hand to open the car's door.
"What do you mean?"
Su Yige looked at him puzzled. "Aren't you going home now? Do you want to go somewhere else?"
Bai Yeqi got out of the cab and looked down at her from a higher position with his gaze exuding intense pressure.
"Are you leaving me to go back like this?"
His voice was calm.
But, Su Yige could sense his dissatisfaction.
She was grateful to him as he saved her. That was why she stayed by his side at the hospital, doing what she could to help.
What else did he want from her?
Money? No way, he never had short of that.
What else could it be that he wanted?
Su Yige asked tentatively, "Can I treat you to a meal?"
She couldn't think of any other way to thank him.
Bai Yeqi seemed to lack nothing after all.
Could she help him find it even if there was something he wanted?
Bai Yeqi appeared to have eased slightly, and he said severely, "I will inevitably be questioned if I go back like this. So, I can't go home."
Bai Yunan would definitely mock his incapabilities and clumsiness.
Bai Mingxu would definitely ask how he got injured, and he wouldn't be able to hide it when that happened.
Su Yige's expression changed slightly. "What do you mean?"
Did he want to stay at her house?
Bai Yeqi only stared at her. "I'll stay at your place."
Su Yige's expression immediately stiffened for a moment, and she replied, "Okay."
Her response surprised Bai Yeqi. He thought she would refuse.
But, Su Yige didn't know Bai Yeqi's intentions at that instant.
It would mean trouble for her no matter what his intentions were.
She went along with him now that she owed him.
Marry Me Quick Chapter 800-Su Yige became much more cautious when searching for a new house after being deceived by the intermediary last time.
Although it was more expensive than the market valuation, the communities around it were pleasant.
However, she knew she wouldn't be able to stay there for long.
Su Yige bought daily necessities for Bai Yeqi in the supermarket near where she lived.
Bai Yeqi only followed quietly behind her as he became increasingly curious about her private life.
He didn't even know why he had someone tailing her these days.
Perhaps it was because she bore a resemblance to Shu Yanian.
He hadn't been treated well by Shu Yanian, and that was why he always felt discontented. Besides, the brief encounter he had with Su Yige made him curious about her, leading him to pay more attention to her.
That was what he thought to himself.
However, Su Yige said after she had finished showing him around the apartment, "I'll take my leave now…"
"Where are you going?" Bai Yeqi's expression suddenly changed. Where else could she possibly go?
Su Yige was surprised at how quickly he changed his mood.
She replied in a serious manner, "It is inappropriate for a man and woman to stay in the same place. I can't continue living here if you're staying at my place."
Bai Yeqi narrowed his eyes as his expression carried a hint of threat.
He suddenly smirked teasingly. "Now you're being virtuous."
Su Yige's face instantly turned pale.
She didn't know why Bai Yeqi came to Yunzhou City back then, and she had no idea why Gong Zeyang brought her to Bai Yeqi's bed.
It was such a long time ago, and she didn't want to delve into it anymore.
Su Yige was betrayed by the person she loved the most.
She had loved Gong Zeyang so deeply and blindly that she lost herself in love.
She couldn't quite recall why she had loved him so much even now. Perhaps it was just out of habit. Gong Zeyang was the only person she had ever loved since her childhood after all.
What hurt her the most was how Gong Zeyang handed her over to Bai Yeqi even though he was already treating her poorly.
She was pathetic.
Bai Yeqi's words suggested that he had recognized she was the woman back then.
She was surprised that he still remembered her.
Su Yige asked coldly, "You're right, I wasn't a decent person before. But, life goes on. Can't I change for the better?"
Bai Yeqi realized he might have chosen poor words at that instant.
However, he couldn't apologize to her now, could he?
"I'm leaving."
Su Yige picked up her bag and left following that.
…
She descended the stairs and sat down shortly after leaving.
She felt cold throughout her body as she buried her head in her knees.
In truth, she wished she had a wise father who could guide her through all the rights and wrongs like Su Ziyue did, from the moment she was born.
Su Yige liked Su Yizi when she was young.
Su Yizi was very gentle with the children. He was always smiling and approachable. Unsurprisingly, most children adored him.
However, her grandmother and parents told her that her uncle was a bad person who would take everything away from the Su Family.
She didn't fully understand what they meant at that time.
They would often whisper in her ear, persuading her that Su Yizi was a bad person, so she ended up perceiving him that way. Her belief was further cemented when he was later imprisoned because of that incident.
They also told her that Su Ziyue would replace her in the Su Family after Su Ziyue joined the Su Family and that she must drive her away.
All of those felt as if they had happened a long time ago, looking back on the past events now.
What kind of a family would do that?
They were full of schemes and jealousy. Everyone was in it only for their own interests.
Su Yizi and Su Ziyue didn't seem to resemble the Su Family members. Otherwise, Su Yizi wouldn't have met such a tragic fate now that she thought about it.
She contemplated death multiple times during the time when she first went abroad after being betrayed by those she loved most.
Even the baby in her womb was an illegitimate one.
But, she might never become a mother in this lifetime if she decided not to give birth to the baby.
She lived in the hospital for a long time, feeling desolate and gloomy back then.
Her attending physician was a middle-aged woman, who was beautiful and graceful. She would often bring her own child to visit Su Yige at the hospital.
Many people would help her when she went out occasionally as soon as they noticed she was pregnant.
She realized that there was still kindness in this world at that time.
She still encountered kind people despite her miserable circumstances, and she felt deeply grateful.
Thankfully, her condition gradually improved after the baby was born.
All the pain and despair in the past no longer seemed as terrifying after the passage of time.
However, she was entangled with the last person she wanted to be involved with now. There was still trouble for her after all.
Involving herself with Bai Yeqi was a gamble far too risky.
The Bai Family would undoubtedly take her son away from her if they found out about his existence.
Su Yige took a deep breath and slowly descended the stairs.
She knew that she couldn't bring her son back to the country for now.
Bai Yeqi was right where she was just before she left a few minutes later.
He looked at Su Yige as she descended the stairs, and he pondered something for a moment before taking out his phone to make a call.
"Go and investigate what she has been up to in the past two years."
He was curious about Su Yige. She appeared entirely different from before.
In the Bai Family, his relationship with Bai Jingshu had become even more tense ever since he married Shu Yanian.
The two of them had always been competing against each other in secret.
Bai Jingshu was motivated because of Bai Mingxu, but what about him? The answer was Shu Yanian.
It wasn't worth it to go through all that trouble for a woman like Shu Yanian, looking back at it now.
He decided to visit Yunzhou City to check on how Bai Jingshu was doing over there back then.
He headed straight to Lumiere Jade House, a well-known establishment as soon as he arrived.
However, the news of his visit was somehow leaked, and he was invited to dinner before he could find Bai Jingshu.
Gong Zeyang seemed to be looking for individuals to assist him in his business project during the dinner as he noticed everyone was trying to gain his favor by pleasing him.
Eventually, Gong Zeyang became drunk as the night wore on, and Su Yige came to pick him up.
Su Yige's demeanor bore some resemblance to Shu Yanian.
Bai Yeqi couldn't help but glance at her a few times.
He found Shu Yanian unresponsive and unwilling to tend to him after being married to her for several years. He even felt envious of Gong Zeyang at that time.
As a result, Gong Zeyang had misinterpreted Bai Yeqi's glances at Su Yige as interest in her, and he masterminded the events that followed.
Perhaps it was because he wanted to get back at his wife, or Su Yige was a beauty, Bai Yeqi didn't hold back and spent the night with her.
Bai Yeqi merely wanted someone to keep an eye on Su Yige back then. He didn't plan to delve into her life over the past two years.
Little did Su Yige know that her worst fear had already come true.
…
Su Yige returned to the apartment during meal times to cook for Bai Yeqi for the next two days.
Bai Yeqi also refrained from saying anything inappropriate.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
However, Su Yige noticed Bai Yeqi sitting impatiently on the couch this morning, appearing as if he had been waiting for a long time.
She approached him and inquired after a moment of hesitation, "What's wrong?"
Bai Yeqi only stared at her indifferently before handing her a birth certificate.