68: Chapter 68 Forced to buy a house for her brother, forced into marriage

The way he looked standing at the door, the weight of him pressing down on her.

Luo Shiyun leaned against the sofa, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Luo Shiyun picked it up and saw two words flickering on the screen: Mom.

She paused for a moment, then answered.

"Hello, Mom..."

A cautious voice came from the other end of the line.

"Yunyun, the New Year is coming up soon. Are you... are you coming back this year?"

Luo Shiyun was silent for a few seconds.

Three years.

She hadn't been home for three years.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go back; she didn't dare to.

She had been hiding the divorce from her family.

She was afraid her parents would worry, afraid of relatives prying, afraid of the gossip.

But it had been three years; it was time to go back and visit.

Luo Shiyun took a deep breath.

"I'm coming back. Mom, I'm coming back this year."

The voice on the other end instantly lit up.

"Really? That's great, that's great! Mom will prepare all the delicious food for you right away. The cured meat, sausages, and sticky rice cakes you love—Mom will have them all ready for you..."

Listening to her mother's chattering, Luo Shiyun felt her eyes grow hot.

"Okay, Mom, I love all of those."

After chatting a little more, she hung up.

Luo Shiyun tossed the phone onto the sofa, leaned back against the backrest, and stared at the ceiling.

Sunlight streamed in from outside the window, casting a warm yellow glow on the floor.

But inside, she felt empty.

Going home, what would that even achieve?

Her parents would ask about her work, her life, her marriage.

Those relatives would surround her and gossip.

Those classmates would gather together to show off their husbands and children.

And her?

She was alone, divorced, childless, with no prospects.

Luo Shiyun closed her eyes.

The man's face popped into her mind again.

He lived upstairs, on the twenty-eighth floor.

What was his name again?

She picked up her phone and looked at the newly added friend on WeChat.

The profile picture was a car, and the WeChat name was "Yang".

Luo Shiyun stared at the profile picture for a long time.

Then she sighed and put the phone down.

Why think about this?

He probably had a girlfriend, a wife, a family.

She was a divorced woman; why think so much?

Luo Shiyun curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees, looking out the window.

The setting sun gradually dipped lower, and the room slowly darkened.

Luo Shiyun just sat there, motionless.

Meanwhile.

The black X5M drove out of the underground garage and merged into traffic.

Wang Yang gripped the steering wheel with one hand.

His other hand rested on the gear shifter, a faint smile on his lips.

He was still thinking about the woman from earlier.

Luo Shiyun.

That figure was truly incredible.

He recalled the sensation of pressing down on her earlier.

That expanse of softness, that faint fragrance.

The fire in his heart flared up again.

But now was not the time to think about this.

He had more important things to do.

He pressed the accelerator, the car sped up, and he drove in the direction of the Yuntian International Hotel.

Twenty minutes later.

Wang Yang stood at the door of the presidential suite, swiped his card, and pushed the door open.

The room was very quiet, the curtains were half-drawn, and the light was dim.

He walked in, his gaze landing on the bed.

Su Xincheng was nestled on that soft, large bed, curled into a ball, her face buried in the pillow.

Wang Yang thought she was asleep and walked over with light footsteps.

When he got closer, he realized she was staring blankly at the nightstand with her eyes open.

Her face was clouded with worry, her brows lightly furrowed, and he didn't know what she was thinking about.

Wang Yang sat down on the edge of the bed.

Su Xincheng noticed the movement and turned her head.

Seeing it was him, she paused for a moment, then forced a smile.

"Brother Yang, you're here."

The smile was very forced, a feeling of putting on a brave face.

Wang Yang frowned.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Su Xincheng leaned against his chest without speaking.

Wang Yang looked down at her.

"What's wrong?"

Su Xincheng shook her head.

"No... nothing."

Wang Yang's brows furrowed even tighter.

He knew very well.

Now that Su Xincheng was carrying his child in her womb, she was his woman, the mother of his child.

Her emotions and her mood directly affected the child.

If she was in a bad mood and it affected the fetus's development, or if something happened, it would not be worth the loss.

But it didn't seem like the right time to ask.

Wang Yang didn't press further; he just gently patted her back.

"Are you hungry? I'll take you to eat."

Su Xincheng nodded.

"Okay."

Scene shift.

The car stopped in front of a high-end restaurant.

The restaurant wasn't large, but it was exquisitely decorated.

There were fresh flowers at the entrance, and red heart stickers on the glass windows.

It was clearly a place for couples to date.

The two walked in.

The Waitress came forward, her gaze sweeping over the two of them, a flash of admiration in her eyes.

"Good evening, sir and madam. Do you have a reservation?"

Wang Yang shook his head.

"No, do you have any tables available now?"

The Waitress nodded quickly.

"Yes, yes, please come this way, both of you."

She led them inside and stopped at a booth by the window.

The location was excellent, with the street view outside, neon lights flickering, and a great atmosphere.

The two took their seats.

The Waitress handed over the menu and couldn't help but offer a compliment.

"You two are truly a perfect match. We've had so many couples in our shop, and you two are definitely the most attractive pair."

Su Xincheng blushed and glanced at Wang Yang.

Wang Yang smiled.

"Thank you."

After ordering, while waiting for their meal, Wang Yang kept holding her hand.

Su Xincheng looked at him, feeling sweet inside, but a trace of worry still hid in the depths of her eyes.

The food arrived quickly.

Steak, pasta, salad, and dessert filled the table.

Wang Yang cut the steak and pushed the plate in front of her.

Su Xincheng looked at him, her eyes growing a bit hot.

This man was so good to her.

She picked up a piece of meat and held it to his lips.

"Brother Yang, try this."

Wang Yang opened his mouth and took it.

The two of them ate slowly, one bite for him, one for her, eating very sweetly.

Halfway through the meal, Wang Yang put down his knife and fork and looked at her.

"Xincheng, can you tell me now?"

Su Xincheng paused.

Wang Yang looked at her.

"What exactly happened?"

Su Xincheng bit her lip and was silent for a few seconds.

Then she said softly.

"Brother Yang, my family... is asking me for money."

Wang Yang frowned.

"Asking for money?"

Su Xincheng nodded.

"To buy a house for my brother, they said they want me to come up with four hundred thousand. I don't have that much..."

Wang Yang didn't speak, just looked at her.

Su Xincheng continued, her voice muffled.

"They also said I should go back for a blind date... They said a factory owner has taken a liking to me, and as long as I marry him, he'll give a bride price of four hundred thousand."

Wang Yang's eyes turned cold.

Su Xincheng felt the change in him and quickly looked up.

"Brother Yang! I didn't agree! I won't go! I will absolutely not leave you!"

She grabbed his hand, her eyes reddening.

"I just... I just feel terrible inside... They are my parents. I don't want to fight with them, but they are forcing me."

Wang Yang looked at Su Xincheng.

Looking at the tears in her eyes and the way she was anxiously trying to explain.