Volume One, Chapter 8: The Yan Family’s Invitation to a Banquet

The three men fell silent as they watched Duan Wuhen’s departing figure. Suddenly, Zhao Yuan spoke up.

“Brothers, don’t you find something a bit strange?”

“Ah, what’s strange about it? It just means our spring is coming,” Wang Kai replied casually.

Zhao Yuan rolled his eyes at Wang Kai’s nonchalance.

“Of course I know that, but that’s not what I mean. Haven’t you noticed the girl’s voice sounded familiar?”

Hearing this, the other two fell silent. After a few moments, Gao Fan suddenly let out a startled shout, causing the others to jump.

“What’s with the noise? Number Three, calm down! You have to be steady if you want to attract girls.”

“Damn it! I just remembered why that voice sounded so familiar. Isn’t that Yan Xiyue, the campus belle of our class?”

After thinking for a while, the other two exclaimed in surprise.

“No way! You’re right, it does sound a lot like her.”

“What do you mean ‘sounds like’? I’m in the same club with Yan Xiyue. I’m one hundred percent certain that voice belongs to her.”

Hearing Gao Fan’s firm assertion, the group could no longer contain themselves. Zhao Yuan jumped to his feet, waving his arms excitedly.

“Oh my god! Our new roommate really is something special. Just arrived and already snagged the famous campus belle.”

Wang Kai closed his eyes, lost in fantasy.

“Exactly! From now on, we’ve got to learn from this big brother here and aim to win over a campus belle ourselves.”

But Zhao Yuan and Gao Fan scoffed in disdain.

“Forget it. You? Winning over a campus belle? Look at your looks! Number Four finding a girlfriend like that campus belle has a lot to do with his appearance. We’d be lucky to find an ordinary girl.”

Meanwhile, after receiving Yan Xiyue’s call, Duan Wuhen hurriedly left his place.

Outside the gate of Han City University, Yan Xiyue, wearing light makeup, looked even more stunning, her beauty turning heads as passersby glanced back at her.

Minutes passed, and Yan Xiyue grew impatient.

“Why isn’t he here yet? Could he have forgotten?”

Before she finished speaking, she felt a sudden chill on her back. Turning sharply, her head bumped into a broad chest.

Duan Wuhen smiled as he looked down at the head resting against him.

“Hey girl, if you’re craving this young master, just say so.”

Hearing that familiar voice, Yan Xiyue wanted to disappear. How was this any different from throwing herself at him?

After repeatedly embarrassing herself in front of Duan Wuhen today, nothing had gone her way.

Taking two steps back, she placed her hands on her hips and scolded him.

“Hey, standing behind someone is no different from being a ghost!”

But Duan Wuhen seemed to ignore her scolding and instead turned it around on her.

“Hey girl, even though you’re my fiancée, we’re not officially married yet. If you’re already craving me now, what will happen after the wedding?”

He deliberately spoke loudly, drawing the attention of passersby.

“Look, isn’t that the campus belle Yan? And who’s the guy standing so close to her?”

“Hey bro, you just got here, right? That guy claims to be Yan’s fiancé, and the crazy thing is, she didn’t deny it!”

Such murmurs kept flooding Yan Xiyue’s ears.

Watching Duan Wuhen’s triumphant expression, she could no longer bear it and grabbed his hand, pulling him toward her Maserati.

“Wife, where are you taking me?”

Once inside, Duan Wuhen asked.

Yan Xiyue wished she could tape his mouth shut.

“Shut up! Don’t call me ‘wife’ in public anymore.”

“Oh? So it’s okay when no one is around?”

Seeing him nitpick like this, she stopped responding, started the car, and drove off.

Noticing Yan Xiyue had fallen silent, Duan Wuhen couldn’t think of anything else to say and gazed out the window.

“You saved my mother. I’m grateful, but that doesn’t mean I’ll marry you. You need to achieve something truly impressive first.”

Hearing this, Duan Wuhen turned, scratching his head in confusion.

“What did you say?”

Without turning back, Yan Xiyue stared ahead.

“Nothing. Maybe you misheard.”

In truth, when Duan Wuhen had heroically saved her mother from death, Yan Xiyue had already developed a strong fondness for him. Not quite love yet, but close.

Even Yan Xiyue herself hadn’t realized it. She, who usually called Duan Wuhen a country bumpkin without hesitation, found herself unable to utter those words this time.

“Could it be I heard wrong? Have I regressed after being away from home for so long?” Duan Wuhen pondered, glancing out the window before falling silent.

The car came to a gentle stop as Yan Xiyue pressed the brake.

“We’re here. Get out.”

She unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at the still-dazed Duan Wuhen.

He tugged at his safety belt but couldn’t get it undone, so he looked at Yan Xiyue with pleading eyes.

Seeing his pitiful expression, Yan Xiyue couldn’t help but laugh. It was the first time she had seen Duan Wuhen so helpless.

“Stop it. You can’t undo it like that. Fine, I’ll help you.”

She leaned toward him, and a fragrance tinged with jasmine filled his nose, prompting Duan Wuhen to blurt out what was in his heart.

“You smell so good, wife!”

Though his voice was soft, Yan Xiyue caught every word.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, pretending not to hear, she finished unbuckling the belt and turned away.

“Alright, your parents are still waiting inside. Let’s go.”

Duan Wuhen nodded and followed her into the Yan family villa.

At that moment, Duan Wuhen gently took Yan Xiyue’s delicate, almost boneless hand.

Startled, she tried to pull away, but with her limited strength, escaping from his grasp was impossible.

After several attempts, she resigned herself to letting him lead her into the villa’s grand hall.

Inside, Yan Mingjun sat reading. Hearing the noise at the door, he looked up.

Seeing Duan Wuhen, he quickly set down his book and came forward.

“Ah, Wuhen’s here! Make yourself at home, don’t be shy. Sit anywhere you like. Xiyue, pour some tea.”

This time, Yan Xiyue didn’t hesitate. After serving tea to both men, she quietly sat beside Duan Wuhen.

Watching his daughter’s unusual behavior today, and recalling how they had entered hand in hand, Yan Mingjun smiled with satisfaction.