Chapter 8, Coward.

I put on my coat and casually tidied up my appearance before rushing out

Grandmother's old house leaked last summer. Wenwan took the opportunity to return last time and had it renovated, even specifically installing a water heater, so there is still hot water even this late. However, the house is too quiet, with no one at home, and even the little dog that grandmother used to raise passed away last year.

Wen Wan's entire body was stiff as if it were a fossil. Whenever she spoke, her lips would involuntarily come into contact with the man's. This posture, with their breaths mingling, was extremely ambiguous, and they were still on the roadside.

A-Jue pressed his lips together, nodding with a complex expression in his eyes: "You resemble your father quite a bit"

Wen Wan did not deny it; in fact, she herself could not clearly explain why she suddenly decided to return home. At this moment, her state of mind was chaotic, and the rural environment was very pleasant, perfectly suitable for calming her inner self. Moreover, the scandal that broke out today had attracted reporters everywhere, making it just the right time to go back and avoid the limelight

At the age of twenty-eight, she has long passed the age of passionate love. When encountering such an outstanding yet dangerous man, it is only natural to hesitate and retreat. However, it is evident that this man possesses such high skills that he does not allow her even the slightest intention of escape

Wen Wan recalled that the last person indeed mentioned this matter, but she did not expect him to take it to heart. She felt a sense of unease in her heart, yet she still said nothing.

Gu Mingchen also sent a separate message: Call back

Wen Wan could hardly recognize the person in front of her; is this really the same He Chen who used to be a rogue at home and anywhere else?

Wen Wan's gaze fell upon the man smoking nearby; he slightly furrowed his brow as he scrutinized her. A faint wisp of smoke escaped from his lips, and he was still clad in a crisp, tailored black coat, standing tall amidst the grayish-white mist of early winter, looking almost unreal in his attractiveness

I remember that He Chen had shown a similar expression when she went to find Gu Mingchen. A realization gradually surfaced in my mind, becoming increasingly clear, yet I still dared not think about it. I pushed against his chest forcefully and said, "I don't like any of the men from the He family."

Wen Wan merely smiled, and Aunt hurried into the room to hide the red envelope.

Stay here, no longer fearing being sent away or driven out

Xiao Xiao, I want to go back and see my father

... ...

Wen Wan swallowed hard, feeling guilty as she retorted, "Well, I accidentally let him know—"

Wen Wan is truly terrified of He Chen right now; that feeling of being cherished by someone is too wonderful, and she fears that she might become addicted to it. She used almost all her strength to push his hand away, turned around, and glared at him fiercely, only to find that his eyes were filled with amusement. It became difficult to utter any harsh words, so she could only mutter, "I have urgent matters to attend to, I must leave first"

He Chen quickly walked up, decisively taking her hand and placing it into his coat pocket

Since there is nothing to do at the moment, I will temporarily set aside work and return to my hometown to relax

The two individuals kissed quietly in a vast expanse of bright sunlight, the atmosphere was incredibly good, and this feeling was not only warm for Wen Wan, but also something He Chen had never experienced before

Wen Wan glanced at the time; it was getting late. After casually chatting with her for a few more moments, he hung up the phone. In the end, he hesitated over whether to thank He Chen for the medical matter. Lying in bed, he wavered back and forth, and ultimately, he hesitated himself to sleep...

Just as she let out a sigh of relief, someone hugged her from behind, enveloping her in a strong masculine scent. Wen Wan quickly realized who the man behind her was. He leaned close to her earlobe, turned her around to a pot of greenery, and then said in a deep voice: "What are you hiding from? Am I going to eat you?"

Having slept poorly, Wenwan went to her uncle's house early the next morning

He Chen narrowed his eyes as he observed her dazed expression, his thin lips slightly pursed. As he turned to leave, he casually remarked, "You have already washed it four times; washing it again will cause it to break the skin."

Wen Wan hesitated but still spoke the truth: "I accidentally sprained my ankle"

He Chenluo pondered for a moment and surprisingly nodded in agreement, saying, "That’s true, we are already twenty-eight"

Xiao Xiao was still feeling depressed and did not notice anything unusual about Wen Wan. She continued to speak with indignation: "This person is really good at pretending, with such a large family business, yet they still come to compete with us low-level employees for our jobs"

Wen Wan smiled gently and said, "Actually, you are coveting the position behind him, aren't you?"

It is not surprising that He Chen would ask this question. She lowered her gaze and continued to swiftly wash the items in her hands: "In the year of the wedding, neither Uncle nor Aunt was on the guest list for the Gu family. They said that since they were going back to their hometown to hold a wedding ceremony anyway, they were concerned about Uncle and Aunt's age and the hassle of traveling back and forth"

Wen Wanxin thought to herself that this man was indeed thick-skinned, not only had he chased her home, but he was also ordering her to make things! Naturally, she could not just chase the two of them away, so she said: "It has been a long time since anyone lived here, I need to go buy some cooking supplies, you all---"

He Chen did not get up, but simply pulled her gently and placed her on his lap, teasing her with a mischievous smile: "Especially this one, it resembles me quite a bit."

He pointed to the little figure in the corner, which she had quietly drawn when she was ten years old after hearing the story of Snow White. The handsome prince was not actually handsome, and Snow White was merely a smelly little child with pigtails, but He Chen said that the prince looked like him

He leaned down, his lips gently pressed against hers, passionately sucking. Wen Wan's fingertips trembled, and she slowly closed her eyes.

Pausing for a moment, the curve of her lips deepened slightly: "When I think about it, so many firsts have been given to Doctor Wen; Doctor Wen really needs to be prepared to take responsibility."

After she finished speaking, she unexpectedly stepped hard on his foot again, the force not much lighter than when he had just bitten her. He Chen's expression changed, and he loosened his grip.

Wen Wan let out a low cry of pain, which he quickly silenced by covering her mouth with his hand

Indeed, as soon as my uncle left, the atmospheric pressure around us suddenly dropped by eight degrees

With a "thud," Wen Wan accidentally dropped the tomato in her hand into the sink, splashing cold water all over herself. In a fluster, she wiped her face several times and said, "Hey, could you please step outside? I can't concentrate on cooking with you here. What if I cut myself later?"

Wen Wan felt a pang of sadness at the tip of her nose. In fact, this matter weighed heavily on her mind; after all, her uncle was her last remaining relative. How could it be acceptable for him not to attend her wedding? However, her uncle was a straightforward man, and instead, he smiled and comforted her: "With such a grand occasion for the Gu family, it would be more intimidating for your aunt and me to attend. Besides, it might end up embarrassing you."

The early morning was disturbed by the sound of knocking at the door. When Wen Wan opened her eyes, she was in a daze for quite a while; the sky outside was just beginning to show a hint of dawn, still shrouded in thick fog, yet the knocking grew louder with each moment. Who could possibly come so early?

Wen Wan was infuriated by him, pretended not to understand the implication in his words, and instead poked his chest forcefully, saying: "You are older than I am!"

She was both angry and embarrassed, and directly bit his chin. He Chen surprisingly chuckled and said, "Are you angry? Actually, I like you a bit older like this."

Wen Wan tried to move, a piercing pain shot through her, but she still gritted her teeth and stood up: "Um, it's possible—"

Wen Wan's pair of dark eyes narrowed sharply as she and He Chen looked at each other, seemingly understanding each other's thoughts at a glance. He Chen reached out to brush aside the fine strands of hair that had fallen by her ear and gently chuckled: "Are you avoiding me because you have developed feelings? Coward."

How can one not say that He Chen is abnormal? Even after being scolded, he still chuckled in good spirits, pressing the person firmly against the wall beside him, reaching out to pinch the back of her neck: "You don't want to be with me, yet you want to be my second sister-in-law. Wen Wan, have you not calculated this account correctly? Or do you prefer my second brother? He may not necessarily be able to satisfy you in certain aspects."

Wen Wan quickly stepped forward, blushing, and stopped him: "There is nothing worth looking at, don't look."

Wen Wan's entire body ignited, and with a single palm, he pushed him far away: "Go die"

He Chen did not insist when he saw her persistence, merely standing at the kitchen door with his arms slightly crossed, his gaze shifting back and forth with her silhouette.

Wen Wan retorted: "What does it have to do with you?"

He did not open his eyes, and his tone remained domineering and unassailable

He Chen gazed at the painting and finally nudged her nose, saying, "From now on, follow me, and I will give you the whole world you desire"

Her uncle always thinks of her, which is also the reason why Wen Wan temporarily does not want to tell him about her divorce. At the very least, she needs to find someone who can reassure her uncle before she speaks up.

Uncle kept staring at He Chen, and upon seeing his intimate posture with Wen Wan, couldn't help but chuckle heartily: "This must be Ming Chen!"

Her ankle was in severe pain, and she stood still, realizing that she had likely sprained her foot as well

Xiao Xiao has a spare key, and Wen Wan reminded her to remember to come over every couple of days to water the flowers and feed the fish. Xiao Xiao was getting impatient: "I know, you're becoming more and more like a mother. If you keep this up, you'll really be unsellable."

Xiao Xiao laughed mischievously and said: "You even know when your auntie is done, and you also know about menstrual cramps. Are you two planning to do something good, but ended up being delayed by the uninvited auntie?"

Dressing up like this without knowing the consequences, who are you trying to entice

He Chen smiled deeply as he patted her slightly pale face, saying, "We will take them back one by one later, no need to rush."

It was unclear whether it was because he was speaking too close or if the profound meaning of his words stirred her imagination, but Wen Wan felt that something was amiss throughout her body, as if she were walking on cotton, her legs feeling soft and weak.

She really seems to be meddling too much

Just as someone named Wen Wan broke the silent deadlock, her expression became even more unpleasant upon seeing the person opposite her: "Uncle"

This is seductive | Has the temptation not succeeded? Wen Wan's face flushed as she tried to get up from his lap, but he held her even tighter. A muffled male voice gently sounded in her ear: "I haven't seen you act spoiled yet, let me see you do it."

A-Jue was clearly the one knocking on the door, and upon seeing her, he instinctively nodded politely: "Doctor Wen"

He Chenwei raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised, as he thought this woman would continue to play dumb

After a while, she finally managed to utter two words: "I won't."

The young boy, who had originally been wearing a faint smile, immediately changed his expression, all traces of mirth vanishing completely, as his pair of eyes looked over coldly and directly from a distance

Wen Wan fell silent and finally nodded: "I admit that I have started to like you."

Wen Wan felt her heart racing at his words; this man was too skilled at flirting. With her zero combat power, she was simply not on the same level as him. She turned and walked briskly ahead, deciding not to continue bantering with him.

Wen Wan grabbed her bag and ran away. By the time He Chen chased after her, that woman had long since vanished!

Is it serious?" Ji Yan struggled in surprise, trying to get down from Gu Mingchen's back. However, Gu Mingchen refused, not even coming closer to help or take a look, only saying: "Can you walk?"

The forest was dark and eerie, both quiet and frightening, as if spirits and phantoms could appear at any moment from the depths of the woods. Nevertheless, Wen Wan steeled herself and ventured deeper. Eventually, it began to rain; the downpour was not heavy, yet her clothes were completely soaked.

He Chen held her small, fidgeting hand, his eyes narrowing slightly: "I will give you time to continue getting to know me, but Wen Wan, do not make me wait too long. I am not very patient"

Lost in her thoughts, Wen Wan suddenly heard the man behind her softly say: "If you gave someone like Lian Gu Mingchen a chance, why are you unwilling to give me a try? What are you afraid of?"

He smiled gently as he lowered his head to look at her, his hand resting on her shoulder casually pinching her soft, pink earlobe: "Since I am currently playing the role of Gu Mingchen, shouldn't you call me 'husband'?"

Wen Wan thought for a moment and said, "I am no longer a young girl, so I cannot afford to play."

He Chen extinguished the cigarette butt before walking over. As he passed by her, he did not glance at her, merely muttering softly, "Running away without a word, if there is a next time, I will break your legs directly"

Wen Wan called Xiao Xiao when she got home, and it was then that Xiao Xiao learned about He Yuan's identity. In her surprise, she kept apologizing: "I'm so sorry, Xiao Wan, I really didn't know. He Yuan is usually quite low-key, and the second young master of the He family has had little exposure since childhood. After becoming an adult, he has been living abroad, so I never connected him with the He family."

He Chen turned her around, meeting her anxious gaze: "Can you guarantee that other men will definitely be better than me"

... ...

He Yuanyuan could tell something was wrong just by looking at her, yet he still asked with great concern: "Are you feeling unwell?"

The remaining rationality was shattered by the man's passionate kiss, and although he did not make any overly forward moves, it left her feeling dizzy. Wen Wan did not dare to breathe too loudly, and in the end, she almost collapsed in his arms. Clearly, he was the one taking the initiative, yet it felt as if all her strength had been drained by him.

How careless must this be? Xiao Xiao continued to tease her, "How come I wasn't careless enough to let the director know?"

Wen Wan packed her things and set off at dusk, walking hurriedly as if she were trying to avoid someone

At least in the matter of Gu Mingchen, there is always a pretense.

At that moment, Wen Wan felt truly superfluous. As she hesitated between stepping forward or retreating, Gu Mingchen noticed her.

Wen Wan shook her head vigorously, having already caught sight of the group approaching closer. She hurriedly grabbed her bag and rushed towards the restroom. He Yuan slowly set down the knife and fork in his hand, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth, so subtle that it would be nearly imperceptible upon a casual glance

That time in the evening, I still cried helplessly, not only because of the pain but also because of that hopeless love, which was time to put an end to.

Wen Wan stood with her back to him, washing the ingredients, but the presence of the person behind her was overwhelmingly strong; even just his gaze made her feel as if she were being pricked by needles. The morning haze had already dissipated, and now the sunlight outside the window was just right, warmly illuminating the clear fruits and vegetables in her sink.

Xiao Xiao immediately pierced through her with a sharp remark: "You are not trying to avoid someone, are you?"

He Chen nodded with a smile

His gaze slowly moved up from her obstructive feet. He was sitting while she was standing, so he naturally had to look up at her. The calm depths of the man's eyes held a hint of a smile, yet he still solemnly praised, "The painting is excellent"

Have you not seen Gu Mingchen, your uncle?

He Chen stood up, and Ah Jue instinctively wanted to follow, but was stopped by a glance from him

Wen Wan felt her face flush from his insinuating words, and when she glared at him, she realized that the man's expression was quite grim, almost describable as sinister.

She was placed on the bed by him, which was an old-fashioned carved wooden bed, surrounded by heavy curtains. In such an old house, the windows were quite high, and the sunlight was bright. From Wenwan's perspective, the blue sky and white clouds became the best backdrop behind him.

After being caught, Wen Wan surprisingly felt no panic at all. She calmed down and fixed her gaze on the intertwined shadows of the two people ahead: "Whoever is running, let go."

She stared at the ceiling, not knowing why she recalled the time when Gu Mingchen came back with her to pay respects at the grave. In fact, many memories with Gu Mingchen were somewhat unclear, yet the events of that year remained vivid in her mind, impossible to forget even if she wanted to.

Wen Wan had no choice but to lie back down. He Chen embraced her from behind, and the two lay on their sides. He buried his face in the nook of her shoulder, comfortably sighed, and took a deep sniff before murmuring in a dreamlike state, "You smell so good."

He Chen could not see Wen Wan's expression, his eyes gazing complexly at her slender silhouette. At that moment, he suddenly felt that this woman seemed not as strong as she appeared on the outside.

"I hope you can give me some time." For someone like He Chen, there are many things that she does not need to say for the other person to understand, just as he is very clear on how to capture her.

Wen Wan felt even more embarrassed and reached out to help him up: "It is time to prepare to go to Uncle's house"

Wen Wan did not answer, staring at that string of numbers for a while before directly pressing mute. Although the phone's ringtone fell silent, her heartbeat grew increasingly chaotic.

Only when she boarded the bus did she let out a slight sigh of relief, as this was the last bus of the day, and by the time they reached the county town, it would be completely dark. Wen Wan leaned against the window, gazing at the scenery outside, and dozed off in a daze. In the middle of the journey, her phone rang; she picked it up and saw that it was He Chen.

As she came to a halt, Gu Mingchen and Ji Yan also stopped. The young man looked at her with a cold expression, somewhat impatiently saying, "It's so cold, why stop?"

Wen Wan stammered: "I am going to the restroom"

Suddenly, Wen Wan had a strong intuition that Xiao Xiao was about to say something, and inexplicably, her heart began to race

Wen Wan returned from her father's grave a long time ago, and it was already dark, yet Gu Mingchen and Ji Yan had still not returned. She became anxious, having heard from the villagers that summer often brought heavy rains, which could sometimes lead to flash floods and landslides.

Xiao Xiao candidly admitted: "If it weren't for his sudden arrival, the position of director would definitely have been mine. In terms of qualifications and abilities, I am no less capable than He Yuan."

As if to prove that he was indeed not in a hurry, He Chen surprisingly offered to help Wen Wan cook after returning home. Wen Wan was startled and quickly pushed him out, saying, "No need, the kitchen is too small; you won't even be able to turn around in here."

Wen Wan's heart skipped a beat; it turned out there was this layer of relationship involved. No wonder He Chen and He Yuan have a poor relationship. In this context, the notion of 'patricide and fratricide' seems even more justified.

The flashlight's battery was somewhat weak, and the light was dim. She had to take care of Gu Mingchen and Ji Yan's direction, constantly shining the light at their feet to prevent them from falling. In a moment of distraction, she herself stepped off the path.

Although this place is in the countryside, it is not far from the streets of the town. The two of them soon arrived at the market. Wen Wan bought some ingredients and seasonings, while He Chen followed behind, helping to carry the items. Seeing her skillfully bargaining with the vendors, he smiled and put his arm around her shoulders once they had walked a distance, saying, "You are so capable; I really want to take you home as my wife"

The phone rang only once before it stopped, and He Chen did not call back. Wen Wan put away her phone and closed her eyes again, but no matter what, she could not fall asleep.

Upon thinking of this, his dark eyes deepened, and he could not help but say: "Don't you want to know who is the mastermind behind the news?"

He was so busy today that he felt dizzy, and as a result, he caught sight of the woman sitting there calmly on a blind date, and the person she was meeting was none other than He Yuan!

This time, he did not do anything else; perhaps he was truly tired. While kissing, he suddenly stopped, pressing down on her without moving. Wen Wan slowly opened her eyes and saw the man's thick eyelashes quietly resting, his breathing gradually calming, and he actually fell asleep just like that

This is a common topic of conversation. Every time she returns, her uncle always asks her this question, probably because he feels that he did not take good care of her back then and is worried that she is living a difficult life as a dependent. Wen Wan looked at her uncle; he appeared much older than his actual age, and he was just an ordinary citizen without power or influence. Even though he knew she had suffered a lot, what could he do about it

He Chen once again assumed his usual "smiling tiger" demeanor and exchanged pleasantries, saying: "I apologize for not being able to visit you earlier; this is my fault as a junior. I will certainly come to your door in person later to express my apologies"

Wen Wan directly took the flashlight and went up the mountain, following the small path that led to her home. Although she was actually afraid of the dark and timid, for some reason at that moment she felt a surge of strength and was only worried that Gu Mingchen might be in trouble

Wen Wan silently followed behind the two individuals

Uncle affectionately called him "Mingchen" repeatedly, which startled Wen Wan. She discreetly glanced at He Chen and found that he was very polite and respectful when speaking to the elders

After giving a few more instructions, her uncle left, and his conversation was filled with praise for "Gu Mingchen," which made Wen Wan's heart race. The more her uncle praised Gu Mingchen, the harder her life would be later, especially since He Chen disliked Gu Mingchen so much.

The weather is extremely cold, and there is a large fish pond at the entrance. Wen Wan sits on the threshold, drying her hair, surrounded by darkness that stretches endlessly. Grandmother has a peculiar temper, which is why the old house is built on a separate piece of land, with no neighboring households around. She did not dare to stay long and quickly closed the courtyard gate.

Wen Wan was taken aback, and He Chen squinted his eyes, ambiguously whispering in her ear: "Thanks to Doctor Wen, I have indeed done all sorts of good deeds; being treated as a substitute is also a first in my life"

"I don't know where she has gone crazy, not studying properly and running around every day." Uncle's face turned pale at the mention of his daughter, clearly unwilling to continue the topic. He then asked Wen Wan, "You didn't hold a ceremony at home when you got married, and now I can hardly remember what Ming Chen looks like. When you have time, let him come back and visit; you don't know how harshly others speak about it."

He Chen Zheng was sitting on a small bamboo chair. He was tall, and his legs were straight and long, which looked somewhat comical; however, Wen Wan could not bring herself to laugh.

He Chenmo listened to her, his pair of sturdy hands gently pressing on her lower abdomen: "Are you still feeling unwell?"

Wen Wan was suddenly awakened in fright. In fact, even if He Chen saw her, what difference would it make? Yet, she still felt inexplicably guilty and inexplicably afraid that he would see her with He Yuan

Faced with her uncle's inquiry, Wen Wan hesitated, unsure of how to explain. If she answered no, her uncle, being such a conservative person, would surely dig deeper. Moreover, at that moment, He Chen's arm was casually draped over her shoulder, creating an intimate atmosphere.

Wen Wan probably knows how she is being talked about behind her back, which is nothing more than saying that she married someone who does not take her seriously

Wen Wan raised her head in shock, seeing the slight embarrassment on her uncle's somewhat aged face, and suddenly found herself at a loss for words. It turned out that her uncle had witnessed the earlier scene by the roadside!

He Chenyun said lightly: "Recognize the door."

Those childish and laughable little thoughts are all above

After finishing the tomb-sweeping for her father, she did not leave immediately. This time, she wanted to stay quietly at home, completely uninterested in what was happening in Qingzhou.

He Chen was just lowering his head to look at her when their eyes met. She quickly averted her gaze, her face slightly flushed: "Ming Chen, he may not necessarily have the time."

A-Jue looked at the two of them and gently cleared his throat: "We have been traveling for most of the night, may we go in and rest for a while?"

Can she still concentrate on cooking with this gentleman beside her

If Xiao Xiao truly understood He Yuan's identity, she would definitely not have drawn this line. However, she is not thinking about this now; instead, she is contemplating other issues. He Chen's words were indeed too ambiguous, yet she gradually found herself no longer resisting them, which made Wen Wan feel anxious and even more aware of the danger.

Wen Wan recalled the bits and pieces of her encounters with him, and she admitted that her heart had been stirred

"Hmph." Xiao Xiao was also unsure if her thoughts had been accurately guessed, and for a moment, she fell silent.

As soon as the words were spoken, both individuals were taken aback

Wen Wan was pushed up along the wall by him. When he looked up, there were a few strands of red in his eyes, which for a moment made Wen Wan feel as if he were a vampire. He warned fiercely, "If you dare to meet with other men behind my back again, see if I don't kill you."

Wen Wan furrowed her brows, her gaze moving from the entwined arms of the two up to his smiling eyes, where she heard his deep voice gently and slowly say: "Because I miss you"

He Chen's eyes darkened, and he lowered his head to bite fiercely at the small exposed section of her long neck.

When Wen Wan entered the room to change clothes, He Chen gave a signal to A Jue, who immediately understood and walked over to take down a photo of Wen Wan's father from the other side of the frame and placed it into the pocket of his coat

When Wen Wan found Gu Mingchen and Ji Yan, they were sitting in a small cave, nestled against each other. The expressions on their faces were not the anxiety and unease she had imagined, but rather a happy and sweet gaze exchanged between them.

Wen Wan's breath hitched, and he moved even closer, his lips almost touching hers: "I miss you. I couldn't wait for you to come back, so I had to come find you myself."

He thought of this and more rudely wiped the lipstick color that was smeared on her lips, saying: "If you dare to cause me any more trouble, I won't spare you even if you have your period."

"If you ever need to run away again, at least know where to go." He Chen said this while looking straight at her, neither retreating nor dodging, as if everything he said was true, his tone serious and stubborn

Those were her only joys in childhood. She had no toys when she was young, and her grandmother's circumstances were not good enough to buy her dolls or colored pencils. She could only sharpen the ends of small wooden sticks and laboriously draw her imagined world on the wall

It hurt, yet there was also a peculiar tingling sensation. She clutched his arm tightly with both hands, and in the midst of struggling, she scratched a mark on his chin, but her body remained steadfast and unmoving.

He Chenmo did not speak, but quietly looked at her

It does not matter, after all, we will not meet again in the future

Throughout the journey, Wen Wan deliberately kept her distance from He Chen. This time, however, it was strange; He Chen merely looked at her and smiled, a smile that was quite glaring, yet he did not come over to bother her. Ultimately unable to endure any longer, she stopped and glared at him: "What are you doing here?"

While she was pondering how to express herself more appropriately, her uncle suddenly pulled her aside with an awkward expression: "I saw everything just now. After all, this is the countryside, standing by the roadside like that... it would invite gossip if someone saw us."

The door opened, but standing outside were A Jue and He Chen

He Chen's breath lightly brushed against her bare neck, and the steady heartbeat of the man behind her seemed to resonate within her, gradually synchronizing with her own heartbeat.

Uncle had been smoking silently beside her and finally asked her in a low voice: "Why isn't Mingchen accompanying you? It's always you alone every year, you two—" His eyes were filled with concern as he looked at her, probably noticing that she didn't look well.

He said, turning to Wen Wan, "Let your aunt cook two dishes tonight, and be sure to bring Ming Chen along. I need to have a good drink with him"

After chatting with Xiaoxiao for a while, the other party suddenly seemed to remember something and asked mysteriously, "Did He Chen call you?"

Wen Wan suddenly spoke, and Xiao Xiao was also taken aback: "Aren't you supposed to go back in the summer? Why are you here in such good spirits this year—"

In that same imperious tone of command, Wen Wan directly clicked to delete everything

Isn't this just being unreasonable

Ajue maintained a straight posture as he surveyed his surroundings, his gaze ultimately resting on the portrait of Wen Wan's father across from him

She linked her arm with her uncle's and earnestly assured him: "I am really doing well, work is going smoothly, Mingchen is treating me well, so you don't need to worry. What about Linlin, where has she gone?"

He Chen remained silent, still holding her gently as they walked forward with a warm expression. Wen Wan, filled with suspicion, quietly lifted her head and was horrified to discover a profound smile at the corner of his lips, sending a chill down her spine: "Um, I just—"

This feeling is truly terrible, Wen Wan did not have time to think carefully, hurriedly standing up, and due to her nervousness, she accidentally bumped into the edge of the table. The man across from her raised his head in confusion: "What happened?"

Wen Wan's heart raced like a drum, her pair of watery eyes staring intently. He Chen also looked back at her and walked directly towards the bedroom: "I am very tired, stay with me for a while."

Wen Wan went to cook something for herself, only to find that there was no gas. Each time she returned home, she did not stay for long, so she had never arranged for anyone to install natural gas or anything of the sort. Moreover, the house had been unoccupied for many years, which seemed unsafe. She simply ate some cookies she had brought and went to sleep

A'Jue nodded, holding a considerable number of items in his hands, and had already taken the lead in entering.

The elderly man, straightforward as he was, found himself at a loss in the face of the composed and gentlemanly demeanor of the man before him, only managing to awkwardly pull at his lips and say: "It's not that serious, we are all family, and besides, we understand that you are busy"

He Chen did not speak immediately, and Wen Wan's palms were sweaty with nervousness. The hand resting on her shoulder felt as hot as a branding iron. After a long while, a gentle voice from the man finally came through, saying: "Hello, Uncle"

On the way back, Gu Mingchen carried Ji Yan all the way, as she had accidentally sprained her ankle earlier. The two of them were whispering to each other, occasionally breaking into light laughter.

She nodded, still using the same perfunctory words to appease her uncle: "Next time, we will talk when he is not busy."

The temperature is low at night, making it difficult to sleep soundly throughout the entire night

I will go with you," He Chen said, his face showing no particular expression, yet Wen Wan inexplicably shivered.

... ...

After she finished speaking, she couldn't help but sigh: "However, it seems that He Yuan has probably been sidelined by the He family. Among the He family's brothers, only the eldest and the second are related by blood; He Chen is actually an illegitimate child. Now that He Chen is in charge of the He family, with He Feng dead, if He Yuan were to be a bit more ruthless, he might be the next one to die."

Wen Wan waited for a long time before going out. During this time, while reflecting on the ridiculous act of fleeing in panic, he quietly observed the hall. He could no longer see He Chen's figure; it seemed that several people had gone upstairs to discuss important matters.

Because He Chen was seriously staring at the graffiti in the corner of the yard, appreciating it

Indeed, Xiao Xiao's smile was laden with meaning, and her tone had a slyness to it: "He is quite special to you. The other day, when I was feeding the fish at your house, an old Chinese medicine doctor came by, said he was arranged by Mr. He. As soon as I heard that name, I realized it was the same person that many people have to wait for half a year to see. Wen Wan, I really don't believe that you and He Chen have nothing going on!"

Gu Mingchen walked away without looking back, still carrying Ji Yan on his back, not glancing at the person behind him even once

Xiao Xiao probably thought of this as well, and nodded in agreement, saying: "Go ahead, after all, it is not convenient for you to look for a job in the current situation"

Wen Wan then realized that both A Jue and He Chen had weary expressions. Not far away, He Chen's black Mercedes was parked by the roadside. She grasped the door handle, hesitated, and finally moved aside, saying: "Come in."

Wen Wan silently rolled her eyes: "You accidentally exposed your lewd nature, didn't you? You actually just want to do something with He Yuan, right?"

"Even if you are busy, you should at least come to see your father once in a while." Uncle looked at her disapprovingly, and seeing Wen Wan's pale face, he became even more worried, "Is it that Gu family treats you poorly? The disparity in social status..."

Even without looking at Wen Wan, one could tell that He Chen's face must have turned completely dark at this moment. She lowered her head and very softly introduced the two to each other: "Ming Chen, this is your uncle."

I can only say without fear of death: "Mingchen just arrived this morning, so he hasn't had the chance to come and visit you yet"

The things that belong to her are becoming fewer and fewer, yet this is the only place she can call "home"

She brought quite a few things over and even slipped an envelope of money to her aunt. The aunt did not hold back and took it out to have a look right in front of her, immediately beaming with joy: "Xiao Wan has really made something of herself now. If she had followed us back then, how could she have achieved what she has today."

Uncle was greatly amused by He Chen's coaxing, laughing heartily and saying, "It's settled then, I will definitely come."

He Chen also glanced at the photo and quickly withdrew his gaze: "Aren't we going to get something to eat? I'm hungry."

He Chen would not easily let her go, firmly wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her back. He lowered his head, staring at her delicately drawn eyebrows and eyes, looking again and again, unable to help but frown: "It's terribly unattractive, don't wear makeup in the future"

A highly sarcastic cold snort came from behind.

He said in a low, husky voice that could only be heard by two people: "The older ones understand everything"

He Chen tightened his embrace around her, smiling as he closed his eyes: "Alright, give me the answer when you wake up."

Wen Wan rationally wanted to push him away, but he relentlessly closed in, pressing her more forcefully against himself with his arm across her, and leaned down to kiss her.

The phone has been out of battery since that night it came back. In the past few days, Wen Wan has been too busy to charge it. Now, thinking of calling Xiao Xiao, she finally found the charger to power it up. As soon as it turned on, a bunch of text messages popped up, all reminders of incoming calls, with the majority being from Xiao Xiao, and one from Gu Mingchen.

He Chen did not expect to suddenly say such words, and as their eyes met, there was a moment of awkwardness

Wen Wan almost thought she was still dreaming, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

At that time, the next day Gu Mingchen did not accompany her to see her father, but instead took Ji Yan to play in a nearby valley. The area is surrounded by many large mountains, which are very appealing to children who grew up in the city

Uncle is ultimately related by blood, and he still cares about whether she is doing well. Wen Wan pressed her lips together to suppress the wave of sourness rising in her throat, and then smiled and nodded: "We are doing quite well, so don't worry. He is just busy at the company"

The three people sat in the room, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Wen Wan wanted to make tea for the two, but suddenly remembered that there were no tea leaves here, so she gave up and sat there, staring at the two with wide eyes.

Uncle's expression changed, and he hesitated as he glanced at He Chen: "What, are you leaving again right after arriving?"

She carefully helped him onto the bed, then pulled the blanket over him. Just as she was about to get up, she was embraced around the waist and told, "Lie down."

Wen Wan looked at him in disbelief, and after a long while, she finally spat out in anger, "You are worse than a beast"

He Chen seemed very pleased with her little appearance, and with an unusual sense of accomplishment, he stroked the corner of her lips: "Do you like it?"

Wen Wan lightly bit her lip, saying nothing at all

He Chen slowly shook his head, still maintaining that humble tone: "Uncle said I should accompany you for a few drinks, no matter how busy I am, I must go. How can one not heed the instructions of an elder"

Uncle clearly appeared to be particularly pleased with "Gu Mingchen," smiling all the while: "Today, we finally meet. Very good, very good."

Wen Wan noticed his gaze and explained softly: "This is my father"

On a simple afternoon, the two merely embraced each other quietly as they slept. When they woke up at a comfortable temperature, they found that He Chen was no longer by their side. They lifted the blanket, got out of bed, and then saw him in the courtyard.

Wen Wan clutched the corner of the blanket, all the trembling and restless emotions quietly vented through this action

After finishing lunch, A Jue left, and Wen Wan was preparing to wash the dishes when He Chen suddenly walked over and picked her up horizontally. At that moment, the quiet house was left with just the two of them, and even the air seemed to be filled with restlessness and unease