354: Large chapters

“Actually, I’m quite curious. I haven’t actively provoked anyone or flirted with anyone, so why are there more and more women around?” Si Yang said, sounding a little melancholic.

He truly never took the initiative. The incident with Ye Mengwan was due to a combination of circumstances.

At that time, the situation was one factor, and Ye Mengwan had also stirred up the desire in his heart.

Another factor was that his emotions were at a low point, right around the time of his official breakup with Liu Mingyi.

That’s how the Ye Mengwan incident came about.

“It’s because you’re charming,” Shen Leyu chuckled.

She didn’t know how others viewed him, but she genuinely liked him.

In terms of looks, he was certainly pleasant to look at, but everyone’s aesthetic was different. Si Yang’s appearance matched her taste, but he wasn’t the only one who did.

She simply liked the unique aura about him.

That indifferent, carefree attitude.

“When people don’t interact with you, you look ordinary, but once they do, they get deeply entangled.” Shen Leyu looked at Si Yang, her face slightly flushed. Saying he looked ordinary was a bit insincere.

“A Succubus Constitution,” Shen Leyu said, pursing her lips and smiling.

Si Yang glanced at Shen Leyu, utterly exasperated. “Nonsense!”

Shen Leyu smiled. It was true, though.

When they first met, after not seeing each other for years, she had some affection for him, but not much. Yet, with every interaction, she couldn't help but actively draw closer, step by step, until she was completely captivated.

She couldn't escape, and Mu Xiaorou was probably no exception.

The night slipped away quietly, and in the early morning, Shen Leyu watched Si Yang with gentle eyes.

She knew this guy was likely leaving soon.

After all, he couldn't stay here forever.

Right after breakfast, the phone rang. Si Yang smiled when he saw the caller ID.

“I’m downstairs.” Four dry words, spoken with a sense of self-righteousness mixed with guilt.

“Fine then!” Si Yang answered, then hung up the phone.

Mu Xiaorou, on the other end of the line, was annoyed. What did “fine then” mean?

After breakfast, Si Yang went downstairs.

He must have been told off yesterday for being too flashy, as he had switched to a maybach today.

Si Yang opened the car door and got in directly. “Something up?” Si Yang asked Mu Xiaorou.

“Can’t I look for you if nothing’s up? Boyfriend!” Mu Xiaorou heavily emphasized those three words.

“My parents have already agreed,” Mu Xiaorou said, smiling.

“Your Father agreed?” Si Yang blinked.

Mu Xiaorou couldn’t help but smile, pursing her lips. “Does he dare to disagree?”

“Tough!” Si Yang gave Mu Xiaorou a big thumbs-up.

“What are you planning to do?” Mu Xiaorou asked Si Yang.

“Nothing, just find a place to lie down,” Si Yang said.

He spent most of his days doing just that.

“Oh!” Mu Xiaorou nodded, driving the car until it stopped in front of a hotel.

“Let’s go,” Mu Xiaorou said softly.

Si Yang blinked. Well, maybe Mu Xiaorou’s interpretation wasn’t wrong.

“I meant I wanted to find a quiet place to sunbathe and lie down for a bit. Why are we at a hotel?” Si Yang felt compelled to explain.

“You should have said so earlier!” Mu Xiaorou burst into laughter, her face slightly red.

She drove on.

“Where is this?” Si Yang asked.

“My company. There’s a swimming pool on the top floor. It’s perfect for sunbathing,” Mu Xiaorou smiled.

Upstairs, Si Yang sat on a lounge chair, with fruit and cigarettes all prepared.

“It’s just you; no one else will come up.”

“Of course, if you’re interested, I can arrange for a few beauties in bikinis for you to look at,” Mu Xiaorou said softly.

“Mu Xiaorou, are you crazy?” Si Yang was exasperated.

“You said your ideal is to live off others and wait to die, so shouldn’t I fulfill that for you?”

“Don’t worry, the money I earn is enough to support your dream,” Mu Xiaorou laughed.

“You’re truly great!”

“Shouldn’t you be trying to advise me otherwise?” Si Yang sighed helplessly.

“Why bother advising? We don’t need to struggle, do we?” Mu Xiaorou smiled, pursing her lips.

“Mu Xiaorou, you actually like someone like me?” Si Yang asked resignedly.

Mu Xiaorou smiled. “I like you a lot right now.”

“At least I haven’t gotten tired of you yet, so let’s talk about it when I do.”

“Don’t worry, even if I get tired of you, I’ll still give you the funds to support your dream,” Mu Xiaorou said softly.

She felt inexplicably nervous.

She wanted to take the initiative in this relationship.

It was a mix of humility and assertiveness.

“Forget it then. I’m getting old; I need to find someone to marry,” Si Yang said, shaking his head.

“See? I’m penniless, I have no ambition, and the only thing I have going for me is my face. What do you see in me?” Si Yang spread his hands.

Mu Xiaorou watched Si Yang, laughing uncontrollably.

That terrible masculine pride—he criticized everything about himself but couldn't bring himself to criticize his own face.

“I just like your face! What am I supposed to do?” Mu Xiaorou, of course, didn't mind indulging Si Yang's mood.

As for his other matters, if he didn't mention them, she would pretend not to know.

What she liked wasn't his prominence anyway.

Of course, that was a bonus point; at least the Old Man wouldn't complain.

He couldn't afford to offend him, right?

The Old Man himself had said so.

“In that case, there’s nothing to be done. Being too handsome is a sin!” Si Yang sighed dramatically.

Mu Xiaorou smiled. “Go be narcissistic by yourself! I’m going to work.”

Mu Xiaorou waved her hand and left on her own.

Si Yang smiled helplessly and gently closed his eyes.

If he were truly asked to say harsh words to her, he probably couldn't.

Time slipped away quietly. Si Yang felt like he had just closed his eyes when he heard footsteps, and he half-opened his eyes to see Mu Xiaorou.

“Hmm?”

“Hmm!”

The woman was wrapped in a towel, which she removed when she reached him.

She wore a black swimsuit connected by strips of fabric in the middle. If the strips were thinner, or replaced by string, he might have to discuss the matter with Liu Mingyi.

So white!

So round!

Both front and back.

He wondered what these young girls ate to grow up like this.

Except for Ye Qingyan, of course. She probably was a picky eater and didn't eat properly when she was little.

The sound of splashing water rang out, and water droplets flew, landing on Si Yang’s face. Si Yang opened his eyes and saw Mu Xiaorou’s head emerge from the water, visualizing the idiom ‘a lotus flower emerging from clear water.’

“Come down and play in the water with me?” Mu Xiaorou smiled and asked Si Yang.

Si Yang sighed. If he really went down, whether they would be playing with water or playing with people was debatable.

“I can’t swim,” Si Yang said sullenly.

He didn't want to expose his scars, which was why Si Yang always wore long sleeves, even in summer.

“I’ll teach you,” Mu Xiaorou said, smiling.

Wouldn’t it be better if he couldn't swim?

“I don’t want to learn,” Si Yang shook his head.

“Hey, why are you so insensitive?”

“I bought this swimsuit specifically!” Mu Xiaorou pouted playfully.

“You come down here,” Mu Xiaorou ordered.

“No!”

“You come down!”

“No!”

...As they went back and forth, Mu Xiaorou ended up laughing herself.

“Have you seen Journey to the West?” Mu Xiaorou asked Si Yang.

“Who are you looking down on? Although we didn’t have a TV at home when I was little, I watched it at other people’s houses,” Si Yang said faintly.

Mu Xiaorou glanced at Si Yang, pouted, and felt a little heartache.

“Then you must remember the part about the Flowing Sand River?” Mu Xiaorou blinked.

“Doesn’t this look like it?” Mu Xiaorou laughed.

“Go away!” Si Yang was exasperated.

“Alright, you go play. I’m going to sleep.” Si Yang gently closed his eyes.

Mu Xiaorou smiled, climbed out of the pool, and water droplets clung to her fair skin.

They refracted light under the sun.

Mu Xiaorou walked step by step toward Si Yang. “I’m not Monk Sand, so I dare to come up.” Mu Xiaorou stood beside Si Yang and said softly.

“Why won’t you open your eyes?” Mu Xiaorou asked softly.

Si Yang opened his eyes, and his vision was blocked.

“Mu Xiaorou, you’re crazy!” Si Yang exclaimed loudly.

Mu Xiaorou’s pretty face was flushed, but she remained extremely resolute.

“Don’t you like it?” Mu Xiaorou asked softly.

“I—”

Si Yang was momentarily speechless.

The lounge chair let out a muffled creak, overloaded from too much weight.

“Wuu!”

“You!”

An hour later, Mu Xiaorou looked at Si Yang with watery eyes, a captivating blush on her pretty face.

Her hair clung tightly to her face, wet from water or sweat, she couldn't tell.

She gently stroked the scars on Si Yang’s body. “I knew it. You must have suffered so much.”

“But you refuse to say anything,” Mu Xiaorou said, her eyes red.

Knowing Si Yang’s deeds was shocking.

However, nothing is gained for free. How much must one pay for arrogance and wildness, and how many people truly know?

“Why are you crying? It’s all in the past,” Si Yang said softly, looking at Mu Xiaorou.

He could still deny it before, but now that things were like this...

Sigh, he accepted his fate. Let destruction come!

“Now, you can’t refuse to acknowledge our relationship, can you?” Mu Xiaorou whispered.

“I really don’t know why you insist on causing trouble. I have more than one woman around me, so why bother?” Si Yang lit a cigarette, looked at Mu Xiaorou, and spoke honestly.

“I didn’t care about that initially,” Mu Xiaorou said softly.

“Anyway, you have to remember to visit me often,” Mu Xiaorou said.

Si Yang smiled but didn't speak.

Let it be.

What was there to say?

Judge by actions, not intentions. In any case, he wasn't a good person.

The struggle and guilt in his heart had ultimately succumbed to Mu Xiaorou’s tenderness.

Looking at her beautiful, flower-like face, there was no denying it—she was truly stunning!

He was just a mortal; why pretend to be a saint?

“Go back to my house again sometime,” Mu Xiaorou leaned against Si Yang and said softly.

“No!” Si Yang’s face immediately darkened upon hearing this, and he shook his head decisively.

“Things are different now. We should go back, since the last time wasn’t very pleasant,” Mu Xiaorou whispered.

“I won’t go precisely because things are different.”

“If I go again, can I still be so tough when facing your Old Man?” Si Yang said with a dark expression.

Mu Xiaorou burst into laughter and couldn't help but slap Si Yang. “How heartless is that!”

“Are you going or not?” Mu Xiaorou asked playfully.

“Going, going.” Si Yang quickly nodded.

He usually liked to speak honestly, but Mu Xiaorou was different. She grabbed him by his vital spot and demanded an answer. Was that appropriate?

Who would dare refuse?

“You rascal!” Mu Xiaorou scolded playfully.

“I’ll reward you then. My Father is actually a very good person. He just dotes on me, so he was upset.”

“He won’t actually do anything,” Mu Xiaorou said softly.

“Alright, fine,” Si Yang nodded.

He had to go eventually.

Seeing Si Yang nod, a pleased curve appeared on Mu Xiaorou’s lips, and she gently rested her face against Si Yang’s chest.

It was twilight when Si Yang finally left Mu Xiaorou’s company.

“Remember what you promised me,” Mu Xiaorou called out to Si Yang.

Si Yang didn't look back, simply gesturing a big OK sign.

Mu Xiaorou looked at Si Yang and couldn’t help but smile.

She knew that constantly playing hard to get wouldn't work; meeting a man head-on was the right approach.

If she dragged it out any longer, who knew what might happen!

Moreover, if she said the wrong thing and caused a conflict, it would be difficult to reconcile.

The relationship between men and women is divided into stages.

Before sleeping together, a small conflict could cause them to drift apart.

After sleeping together, small conflicts are irrelevant.

After marriage, a few scoldings are irrelevant.

After having children, a few hits can be endured and accepted.

Mu Xiaorou realized that this guy was purely passive.

If she kept pulling back, he might run away entirely.

He who hesitates invites disaster, so Mu Xiaorou didn't hesitate at all and was 'ruined'.

Si Yang returned to Ye Mengwan’s place.

Mu Xiaorou returned home.

The afternoon’s events showed no visible abnormality.

“Mom, Si Yang will be coming over again in a couple of days.”

“Dad, you are not allowed to give him a cold shoulder.” Mu Xiaorou said this to The Old Couple after arriving home.

“I’m going back to my own place tonight,” Mu Xiaorou added.

Mu Jiasheng’s expression changed slightly, but he didn't speak as he watched Mu Xiaorou leave.

“Jiasheng! Just let Xiaorou have her way with this! Can’t you see what’s on our daughter’s mind?”

“Her feelings for Si Yang aren't a whim. I used to wonder why the dog at home was named Si Xiaoyang, but now I understand,” Mu Xiaorous Mother said softly.

“Our daughter has met many young talents over the years, and we've tried to set her up, but she disliked every single one. The bottom line is, she already has someone in her heart,” Mu Xiaorous Mother said gently.

Mu Jiasheng looked at Si Dayang in the courtyard and, uncharacteristically, didn't say anything.

No wonder she had instructed someone to take that one away when she returned yesterday.

He went upstairs, entered the study, and dialed a number.

“Old comrade-in-arms.” Mu Jiasheng seemed to be in a good mood.

“What is it?” Lei Ting asked.

“That thing I told you about yesterday! Alas, a daughter grown up is like spilled water! I didn’t want it, but that girl Xiaorou is stubborn and won’t listen to anything. As parents, what can we do? We can only respect our daughter’s wishes,” Mu Jiasheng sighed softly.

At first glance, the words sounded helpless, but listening closely, there was definitely a hint of bragging!

Among the younger generation, no one was more troublesome than Si Yang, but likewise, in terms of capability, probably no one could compare to Si Yang either.

“That’s good news!” Lei Ting chuckled.

He didn't care about the bragging. Ultimately, the precious daughter you raised for twenty years still became part of my family.

After all, he was Si Yang’s maternal uncle.

Hanging up the phone, Lei Ting went to the Old Master’s room. “Something wrong?”

“Si Yang has gotten involved with the Mu Family’s daughter. Mu Jiasheng just called and told me,” Lei Ting said.

“You are an elder, so forget it. I’ll go meet them when I have time. We mustn’t be impolite,” Thunder Tiger said flatly.

“Mm. Also, Si Yang said his elders were all dead when he was eating at the Mu Family’s place,” Lei Ting said after a moment of contemplation.