No more ambiguous promises

Zhang Yan hadn’t expected Xia Ye to agree to her moving in so readily; it was as if a room had already been prepared for her in advance.

“Senior Brother, did you perhaps do some ideological work on Xia Ye beforehand?” Zhang Yan seized the opportunity to ask while Lin Yuan was helping move things.

“Not exactly ideological work.”

“Then… why did Xia Ye agree so readily?”

“Because she was awed by your power, of course. My wife and I are trembling under your tyrannical might.”

“Is it really that exaggerated?” Zhang Yan asked, looking disbelieving. “I think I’m pretty good; I’ve never done anything bad since I was little.”

“I didn’t say you were bad. It’s just that I can now somewhat understand Lin Chong’s mindset.

When I used to read Water Margin, I always thought Lin Chong was a coward…”

“And now?”

Lin Yuan thought for a moment, then put down the things in his hands, cupped his fists respectfully towards Zhang Yan, and said, “Thank you, Princess, for your compassion. You haven’t broken up my wife and me, and you haven’t even thought of coercing me. Compared to Gao Yan, you are truly much better.”

“Senior Brother!” Zhang Yan said, feigning anger. “I just want you to keep me company. Do you have to talk about me like that?”

“Little Sister, let me ask you a question. If I truly stood firm to the end, what would you do?”

Zhang Yan said anxiously, “I’m not forcing you to commit crimes. Me living at your place is such a small matter. I’m not stopping you and Xia Ye from getting married. You’ll just have an extra sister, and Xia Ye will just have an extra sister-in-law. It’s clearly something that won’t affect you two much, so why do you keep talking about me like this?

Especially with that look in your eyes now.

Gao Yan did such heinous things. What have I done? I even prepared a gift for Xia Ye.”

Looking at Zhang Yan’s harmless expression, Lin Yuan couldn’t possibly imagine her ferocious side.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have overcomplicated things.

“What gift did you prepare for Xia Ye?”

“I originally wanted to give my future sister-in-law a surprise,” Zhang Yan said, taking out a small gift box from her bag. “A jade bracelet, given by my elders. I don’t usually wear it, but I think Xia Ye is delicate, so it should suit her.”

“I appreciate the kind thought. Senior Brother is willing to believe you’re a kind girl. Although I’m quite worried that you might show your fangs at some point, I’m still willing to believe you now. This item is too valuable; you should keep it.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yan raised her chin, opened her mouth, and leaned close to Lin Yuan. “Do I have fangs in my mouth? Why would I show fangs? Is it because I covet your good looks? You’re not even handsome.”

Lin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. “This is the first time I’ve been glad I’m not handsome.”

“Oh, Senior Brother~~, just relax, I won’t mess around. I really haven’t done anything out of line since I was little.”

“Isn’t what’s happening right now out of line enough?”

“Okay, well, besides this current matter. Senior Brother, you should look at it this way: even though I’ve only done this one thing, I already feel very guilty. So, you must let Xia Ye accept this bracelet.”

Lin Yuan picked up the bracelet and looked at it a few times against the outdoor light. Although he knew nothing about jade, the moist, translucent, and emerald-green texture made him feel very comfortable just looking at it.

“Is this thing a beautiful dog collar, or payment for my services?”

Zhang Yan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “You say it’s a dog collar, and then that other thing… Sigh, you just have a guilty conscience.”

“If I were a man, would it be a problem for me to live at your place?”

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. “If that were truly the case, not considering Xia Ye’s awkwardness, I really wouldn’t care.”

“Then there you go. Just treat me like a man. Didn’t you say it? We’re good buddies. I’ve always thought that way; it’s you who has a guilty conscience and keeps overthinking things.”

Lin Yuan pondered slightly. “I’m reminded of an old saying: I’m afraid that one day, to maintain our friendship, you’ll ask me to have a child with you.”

“Get lost!” Zhang Yan said, giving Lin Yuan a punch on the shoulder.

Zhang Yan’s punches were never the light, chest-pounding kind; her fists were as hard as her background.

Lin Yuan stumbled back several steps, almost knocking over a chair.

“Are you okay? Don’t joke with me like that next time. Sometimes I can’t control my strength.”

Lin Yuan rubbed his shoulder. “Do you know what I’m afraid of? It’s this situation right now.”

“What is it?”

“It’s the fear of your uncontrollable strength. More precisely, it’s the fear of our unequal power. An ant dancing with an elephant is afraid of being accidentally stepped on and killed by you.”

Zhang Yan rolled her eyes at him. “You really can imagine things. My emotions are very stable. Just treat me as your biological younger sister who came from the countryside to seek refuge with you.”

Lin Yuan gave a wry smile. “That’s all I can do. Little Sister, luckily you’re a girl.”

“What are you going to ridicule me about now?”

“If you were a man, and you happened to find spiritual solace in Xia Ye, I wouldn’t even dare to imagine what I would do.”

“Hmm~~” Zhang Yan actually started to consider the question. “Then I would only see Xia Ye as a sister; I wouldn’t forcibly snatch a civilian woman.”

“See, isn’t that it?”

“What is it? Don’t be a riddle person. I want to hit you again.”

“Little Sister, what you just denied was your motive, not your ability.”

Zhang Yan froze on the spot.

After a long while, she finally understood Lin Yuan’s sentiment of “an ant dancing with an elephant.”

“Then… then how about I take you to see my grandparents another day? I’ll tell them in front of them that you’re the older brother I’ve acknowledged. That way, no matter how much of a scoundrel I become later, I wouldn’t go so far as to commit incest, would I?”

Lin Yuan was shocked; this was something he had never expected.

His first reaction was: Zhang Yan is truly a good person.

“Little Sister,” Lin Yuan said, extending his arms and embracing Zhang Yan. “Just hearing you say that is enough. Are you… very lonely?”

Zhang Yan was suddenly embraced by Lin Yuan, and at first, her heart fluttered a little. After all, her feelings for Lin Yuan were complicated.

But when she heard Lin Yuan ask that question, Zhang Yan’s heart instantly calmed down.

Her emotions, which had originally been mixed with romantic feelings, were suddenly replaced by the heartfelt care from a family member.

“You… why do you ask that?”

“You are clearly a kind person, and you know you’re forcing others. But you still did it. So I guess you’re very lonely.”

Zhang Yan said nothing, just reached out and hugged Lin Yuan’s arm in return.

Lin Yuan was surprised that he could embrace Zhang Yan with such a pure heart. It was only after hearing her say she would take him to see her grandparents that he suddenly realized: perhaps this little girl went to all this trouble for a truly simple purpose. Maybe he had overcomplicated things from beginning to end.

“Little Sister, from now on, I won’t be ambiguous with you anymore.”

“Huh?” Zhang Yan, who was immersed in the warmth, pushed Lin Yuan away upon hearing this.

“Senior Brother, you… you actually had those kinds of thoughts about me, you scoundrel. I… I never did. I told you, you’re the one with a guilty conscience.”

At this moment, Zhang Yan looked smug, as if she had seen through Lin Yuan’s facade. Yet, she clearly wasn’t angry at all.

For a girl not to be angry when a guy says something like that, the answer is already self-evident.

“Then we’ve agreed, you’re not allowed to overthink things about me anymore. And you’re certainly not allowed to imagine me as a big villain. Pinky promise.”

Lin Yuan extended his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“And, you’re not allowed to call me Little Yan anymore.”

“Alright, Big Brother will listen to you.”