211: Lu Chen, please don't let me leave, okay?

The car slowly drove into Lu Family Manor, its wheels crunching softly on the smooth gravel path.

Lu Chen was the first to get out, deftly opening the back door and saying to the Triplets Sisters, "You all go back to your rooms to rest first. I'll find you later."

The Triplets Sisters nodded slightly, taking small, careful steps as they walked towards the interior of the manor.

Their figures appeared especially small and delicate against the backdrop of the tall manor buildings.

Liu Ruyan stood to the side, quietly watching everything, as a gentle breeze ruffled her hair.

Lu Chen turned, his gaze falling on Liu Ruyan, a faint smile playing on his lips, and he asked softly, "Are you tired? Do you want to go rest for a bit first?"

Liu Ruyan looked up, met Lu Chen's gaze, shook her head, and said softly, "I'm not tired, I'm just a little curious. Everything here is so new to me."

Just then, the manor's main gate slowly opened, and Chen Mengyao walked out from inside.

She was wearing a light pink dress, the hem swaying gently with her steps.

A gentle smile was on her face, but when she saw Lu Chen and Liu Ruyan standing together, her smile instantly froze, her steps abruptly halted, and she paused, slightly stunned.

Liu Ruyan noticed Chen Mengyao's appearance. She turned her head slightly and, upon seeing Chen Mengyao's expression, her heart stirred.

She suddenly realized that compared to the new Triplets Sisters by Lu Chen's side, Chen Mengyao might be a better ally and companion for her in this unfamiliar environment.

So, Liu Ruyan stepped forward proactively, a friendly smile on her face, and said softly, "Miss Chen, long time no see. I didn't expect to see you here again."

Chen Mengyao slowly recovered. She forced a smile and replied, "Yes, long time no see. Miss Liu, why are you here?"

Lu Chen looked at the two of them, walked forward, and explained softly, "Miss Liu will also be living here from now on. A lot has happened recently, I'll tell you about it slowly later."

Chen Mengyao nodded slightly, but a pang of bitterness arose in her heart.

She had always known that Lu Chen was never short of women, but seeing another new girl appear, her sense of crisis grew even stronger.

Liu Ruyan seemed to sense Chen Mengyao's emotions. She gently took Chen Mengyao's hand and said, "Miss Chen, we'll be living together from now on. I hope we can get along well."

Chen Mengyao was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Liu Ruyan to be so friendly.

She looked up, met Liu Ruyan's eyes, nodded, and said, "Okay, I hope we can get along well."

Lu Chen looked at the two of them and smiled slightly.

He knew that to complete the System's task, he would soon have to make Chen Mengyao leave the manor. Therefore, at this moment, he was exceptionally gentle with Chen Mengyao, wanting to leave her with some beautiful memories in these final moments.

He walked forward, gently patted Chen Mengyao's shoulder, and said, "Mengyao, have you been doing well here these past few days? Is there anything you want? Just tell me."

Chen Mengyao was startled by Lu Chen's action. Her heart suddenly quickened, her cheeks instantly flushed, and her eyes were filled with pleasant surprise.

"I... I'm doing very well, thank you, Lu Chen," she stammered.

Liu Ruyan stood to the side, sighing inwardly that Lu Chen really had a way with women.

However, she also knew that she and Chen Mengyao were now in the same boat; they had both been drawn into Lu Chen's world and could only rely on each other.

Lu Chen then turned to Liu Ruyan and said, "Miss Liu, I'll have someone show you to your room to get acquainted first. If you need anything, just tell the butler anytime."

Liu Ruyan nodded and said, "Okay, thank you, Lu Chen."

Just then, the butler hurried over. He bowed slightly and said to Lu Chen, "Young Master, the room is ready."

Lu Chen nodded and said to Liu Ruyan, "Then you go rest first. We'll talk later if anything comes up."

After Liu Ruyan left with the butler, Lu Chen looked at Chen Mengyao again.

"Mengyao, let's go for a walk in the garden. It's been a long time since we had a good chat," he turned slightly, making a welcoming gesture that was elegant and gentlemanly.

Chen Mengyao's heart fluttered with excitement. She quickly nodded and said, "Okay, okay."

The two walked side by side towards the garden. In the garden, various flowers bloomed in vibrant colors. A gentle breeze carried their fragrance, intoxicating those who breathed it in.

Lu Chen took a deep breath and said, "The flowers here were all carefully planted by me. Each one represents a mood, a memory."

Chen Mengyao listened quietly. She stole a glance at Lu Chen, her heart filled with sweetness. She had never imagined that Lu Chen would share these things with her.

She said softly, "It's really beautiful here. Thank you for bringing me."

Lu Chen turned his head, looked at Chen Mengyao, and said, "Mengyao, do you know? You've always been a very special presence in my heart."

Chen Mengyao's heart rate suddenly quickened, and her cheeks became scorching hot. She lowered her head, not daring to meet Lu Chen's eyes, and whispered, "Re... really?"

Lu Chen gently held Chen Mengyao's hand and said, "Of course it's true. These past few days, it's been so good to have you by my side."

Chen Mengyao looked up at Lu Chen, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Lu Chen, actually... I've always liked you."

Her voice carried a hint of a sob. She had kept these words in her heart for a long time and finally mustered the courage to say them today.

Lu Chen was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Chen Mengyao to express her feelings so directly.

He gently wiped away the tears from the corner of Chen Mengyao's eyes and said, "Silly girl, don't cry."

The two stood quietly in the garden like that, hand in hand, their heartbeats intertwined.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the whole world was left with just the two of them.

However, Lu Chen knew in his heart that such beautiful times were coming to an end. He had to complete the System's task, and Chen Mengyao had to leave.

"Mengyao, I might be going on a long trip in a few days. You need to take good care of yourself," his voice carried a hint of reluctance.

Chen Mengyao was slightly startled. She quickly said, "Where are you going? Can I come with you?"

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "Not this time. You wait for me here. When I come back, we'll go see more beautiful sights together."

Although Chen Mengyao was reluctant, she still nodded and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back. You must come back soon."

The two talked for a long time in the garden, until the sun set and the afterglow cast long shadows of their figures.

Lu Chen looked at the darkening sky and said, "Let's go back. We can come out later to look at the stars."

Chen Mengyao nodded, and the two, hand in hand, slowly walked towards the manor.

The two walked slowly along the garden path, the setting sun's afterglow filtering through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled light and shadows, and bathing everything around them in a warm orange glow.

Lu Chen turned slightly, his gaze falling on Chen Mengyao.

He reached out and gently smoothed Chen Mengyao's hair, which had been ruffled by the breeze, his fingers inadvertently brushing her cheek.

Chen Mengyao's cheeks instantly flushed with a hint of red. She lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet Lu Chen's eyes, her long eyelashes trembling softly.

"Mengyao, you are truly beautiful today."

Chen Mengyao's heart rate suddenly quickened. She bit her lower lip and whispered, "You... you're teasing me again."

Lu Chen chuckled softly, his laughter filled with doting affection. His hand then rested on Chen Mengyao's shoulder, and he gently turned her towards him, their gazes meeting.

Chen Mengyao's eyes showed a mix of panic and shyness, like a startled fawn.

"How could I tease you? I'm speaking from the heart," Lu Chen said, leaning slightly closer to Chen Mengyao. His breath gently brushed her ear, carrying a hint of warmth.

Chen Mengyao's body trembled slightly, and the blush on her face quickly spread to her earlobes.

She instinctively tried to step back, but Lu Chen gently wrapped his arm around her waist.

She placed her hands on Lu Chen's chest, offering symbolic resistance, but the force was as light as a feather, completely unable to stop Lu Chen from drawing closer.

"Lu Chen, you... don't do this," Chen Mengyao's voice carried a hint of coquettishness, yet it sounded more like she was pouting.

Lu Chen didn't stop. His other hand gently caressed Chen Mengyao's cheek, his thumb softly stroking her flushed skin, his eyes filled with lingering affection.

"Mengyao, do you know how much I like you?" His voice grew even deeper, as if he were murmuring to himself.

Chen Mengyao's heart pounded like thunder. She looked up, her eyes filled with emotion and shyness.

Lu Chen looked at Chen Mengyao's expression, and the love in his heart grew even stronger. He slowly lowered his head, gently approaching Chen Mengyao's lips.

Chen Mengyao's eyes widened, her face filled with surprise and shyness. Her hands instinctively clutched Lu Chen's sleeve.

Just as their lips were about to touch, Chen Mengyao gently closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her cheeks.

Lu Chen's lips gently touched Chen Mengyao's. In that instant, the whole world seemed to stand still, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats and soft breaths.

Chen Mengyao's face grew even redder. Her body softened slightly, leaning completely into Lu Chen's embrace.

Lu Chen held her tightly, as if wanting to merge her into his own body.

The kiss was tender and passionate, filled with the inexpressible love between them.

After a long while, Lu Chen slowly released Chen Mengyao.

Chen Mengyao slowly opened her eyes, still with a hint of bewilderment and shyness. She gently bit her lower lip, not daring to meet Lu Chen's eyes.

"Mengyao, I love you," Lu Chen said softly again, his voice filled with conviction.

Chen Mengyao looked up, tears glistening in her eyes, and choked out, "I love you too, Lu Chen."

The two quietly embraced in the garden like that, until the afterglow of the sunset gradually faded, night slowly fell, and stars dotted the sky.

Chen Mengyao leaned in Lu Chen's embrace, feeling his warmth and love, and secretly vowed in her heart that no matter what happened in the future, she would always stay by Lu Chen's side.

In the garden, a gentle breeze blew, and the fragrance of flowers and plants lingered around the two, making the whole world feel tender.

Lu Chen gently released Chen Mengyao, but his hands remained on her shoulders, a faint smile on his face.

Yet, beneath that smile, a trace of complex emotion, difficult to detect, was hidden. He gazed into Chen Mengyao's eyes and softly began, "Mengyao, if one day I ask you to leave, will you?"

When Chen Mengyao heard these words, she froze in place, as if she had been petrified.

She was already timid, and now facing the question Lu Chen had posed, she was even more flustered and at a loss. Her lips trembled slightly, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

She slowly looked up, her large, watery eyes filled with tears, looking pitifully at Lu Chen.

"Lu... Lu Chen, why are you suddenly asking this?" She managed to squeeze out a sentence, her voice still trembling slightly.

Lu Chen sighed softly, raised his hand to gently caress Chen Mengyao's cheek, his thumb softly stroking her delicate skin.

"I just suddenly thought of this question, just asking casually."

Although his voice was gentle, Chen Mengyao keenly sensed that it was not as simple as just asking casually.

Chen Mengyao bit her lower lip. Already timid, her inner unease was magnified infinitely at this moment.

She didn't dare to express the fear and reluctance deep in her heart, only silently looking at Lu Chen, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Lu Chen, I... I don't want to leave you," she finally mustered the courage to say.

Lu Chen looked at Chen Mengyao's pitiful appearance, and a pang of pain shot through his heart. He reached out and gently wiped away the tears that were about to fall from her eyes.

"Mengyao, don't be sad, I was just hypothesizing," he tried to comfort Chen Mengyao, but as the words left his mouth, even he felt them sound pale and powerless.

She understood in her heart that Lu Chen might have some unspeakable difficulties, but she never dared to ask proactively, only hiding all her worries and fears deep inside.

"Lu Chen, I'm really scared," she mumbled softly, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible,

"It took me so long to get to your side. This is my home, and you are my everything. If I have to leave you, leave here, I don't know where else I could go."

As she spoke, her tears flowed uncontrollably again, sliding down her cheeks.

Lu Chen's hand trembled slightly. He gently pulled Chen Mengyao into his embrace, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head, holding her slightly trembling body tightly.

"Mengyao, I'm sorry. It's my fault for making you sad," his voice was deep and hoarse, full of guilt.

Chen Mengyao cried even harder in Lu Chen's arms,

but she still didn't dare to cry out loud, only suppressing her sobs, her shoulders shaking slightly.

She didn't dare to question why Lu Chen would ask such a question, nor did she dare to imagine life after leaving Lu Chen, only clinging tightly to Lu Chen's clothes.

"Lu Chen, don't make me leave, okay?" she said, hiccuping, her voice full of pleading,

"I... I really can't be without you."

She spoke while looking up, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Lu Chen.

Lu Chen sighed heavily in his heart.

In truth, how could he want Chen Mengyao to leave?

Their time together, Chen Mengyao's gentleness, her obedience, and the loving, dependent look in her eyes when she gazed at him, had long left a deep mark in his heart.

However, for the System's reward, he still had to make that choice.

That reward involved too much; for these things, he had to make this decision.

Lu Chen was silent for a moment. In that brief time, countless thoughts churned in his mind.

He looked at Chen Mengyao's tear-streaked, pitiful face, and his heart twisted with pain.

Finally, he forced a smile,

and said gently yet firmly, "Don't worry, I won't let you leave."