The words fell, and the man’s hand suddenly grasped hers, pressing her palm against his face. Liang Yu Feng gazed at her, his lips quick to ask, "What if I asked you to marry me?"
Lan Lan paused for a moment. Though the question was sudden, she wasn't surprised. During their university days, Liang Yu Feng had often brought up marriage. Back then, she knew he was a person who craved stability and family, but she wasn't. Thus, her answers were always vague. Now, having learned about his childhood experiences, she understood the reasons behind it even better. They were both thirty now, and he certainly ought to be considering it seriously.
In fact, Lan Lan had also given this question serious thought after discussing it with Yu Ran. Yu Ran had said that Liang Yu Feng was a good prospect for marriage. Lan Lan had even wondered what kind of life they would have if they were to marry.
However, this imagination was quickly interrupted because she remembered Zhou Bing. Regardless of whether there was a deep affection between Liang Yu Feng and Zhou Bing, they were currently engaged. If she were to entertain this thought and act on it, it would seem rather ungracious, especially since she had once solemnly promised Zhou Bing that she would not marry Liang Yu Feng.
Lan Lan fell into silence. Meanwhile, Liang Yu Feng’s gaze gradually cooled. Her silence had said it all. Liang Yu Feng released her hand and stood up as if to leave, but Lan Lan stopped him, preventing him from going.
Liang Yu Feng paused and looked at her.
"Your matter with Zhou Bing is settled, and I promised her I wouldn't marry you," Lan Lan explained the reason, as if to clarify.
Liang Yu Feng stared at her. "What if there was no Zhou Bing?"
He was hypothesizing, but Lan Lan had always been rational. There were no "what ifs" in her world. "That premise is invalid."
The reality was that Zhou Bing existed, and their engagement was also a fact. Currently, anyone who paid even a little attention to the Nanjiang financial circle knew that Liang Yu Feng's fiancée was Zhou Bing.
"If there were no Zhou Bing, would you consider marrying me?" Liang Yu Feng was persistent, wanting an answer from her.
Lan Lan's reply was much the same as before. "I never consider things that haven't happened."
"Also, Liang Yu Feng," as she spoke, Lan Lan recalled Zhou Bing's social media post that night, and her emotions suddenly surged. "Can you stop coming to me after seeing Zhou Bing? It kind of bothers me."
This was likely the first time Lan Lan had directly expressed her dissatisfaction on this matter. Liang Yu Feng gazed at her, and after a long pause, asked, "Does it bother you?"
"What else? Why else would it?" Lan Lan smiled. It seemed that in Liang Yu Feng's mind, she was truly a heartless person. "You don't think I'm very generous and willing to share a man with others, do you?"
"You mean you care about me," Liang Yu Feng drew this conclusion from her line of reasoning. He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, so his tone carried a hint of uncertainty.
Lan Lan, annoyed, pinched his cheek. "Do you even need to ask? If I didn't care about you, why would I come to comfort you? What business is it of mine whether you live or die?"
Liang Yu Feng was speechless. She had answered his question, but it had also stirred up more doubts in his heart. For instance, if she cared about him, why wouldn't she seriously be with him? Was her reaction considered jealousy? If he told her that Zhou Bing was merely a facade he had found to cooperate with and placate the Xu family, would she change her tune and agree to marry him?
"Zhou Bing and I..." Liang Yu Feng hesitated for a long time. Mustering his courage, he had only uttered four words when Lan Lan interrupted him. She said, "I have no intention of interfering with your matters with Zhou Bing."
"There's nothing between her and me," Liang Yu Feng hastily explained. "We are not engaged."
This time, it was Lan Lan who was speechless. She had expected Liang Yu Feng to tell her that he had no feelings for Zhou Bing, or that even if he married Zhou Bing, it wouldn't affect their relationship, as he had said similar things before. To her surprise, what he said was that they were not engaged.
Even for someone as quick-witted as Lan Lan, she remained silent for a long time. "What did you say?"
Even after processing it, she still found it hard to believe and couldn't help but want to confirm it with him.
Liang Yu Feng was also very patient, explaining to her, "Zhou Bing and I are not engaged. I met her when I was studying for my master's abroad. We are just ordinary friends."
"Then why did you tell everyone she's your fiancée?" Lan Lan frowned. Based on Liang Yu Feng's character, he didn't seem like someone who would joke about such matters.
Fearing Lan Lan's suspicion, Liang Yu Feng told her, "The Xu family has been arranging blind dates for me."
"So you used Zhou Bing as a shield?" Lan Lan asked curiously. "Did Zhou Bing agree?"
Liang Yu Feng had given Zhou Bing many benefits, so she naturally had no reason to disagree. Coincidentally, she also needed someone to help her fend off unwanted suitors and perhaps pry into Liang Yu Feng's secrets. Why not?
Liang Yu Feng did not explain this to Lan Lan, but Lan Lan asked again, "Then will you marry her in the future?"
"No," Liang Yu Feng said. "I'll make it clear to her when I go back this time."
"Aren't you afraid the Xu family will introduce you to blind dates?" Lan Lan thought of Xu Zheng Xi. Although she hadn't interacted with him much, she could tell he was a person with extremely strong possessiveness.
Liang Yu Feng remained silent. The Xu family was now under his control. No matter how overbearing Xu Zheng Xi was, he couldn't pose a threat to him. He had sought out Zhou Bing merely to test her, but he couldn't admit this to Lan Lan.
Although Liang Yu Feng didn't speak, Lan Lan's heart became much clearer, especially after he explained the matter with Zhou Bing.
These past few days, a knot in her heart had remained unresolved, and she would think about it from time to time, feeling as if a ball of cotton had been stuffed into her chest. Now, knowing about Liang Yu Feng's cooperative relationship with Zhou Bing, her mind was suddenly enlightened.
Lan Lan leaned down and kissed Liang Yu Feng on the bridge of his nose. This sudden kiss made Liang Yu Feng blush a few shades. "What's wrong?"
"I'm in a good mood," Lan Lan said. "Come down, I want to go on the swing."
Liang Yu Feng obediently got off the swing and watched Lan Lan sit on it. He began to push her. Lan Lan felt herself flying, laughing heartily, as if she had returned to her childhood.
As dusk gradually fell, Lan Lan and Liang Yu Feng strolled back home. Not long after, Jiang Wan woke up. The effects of the sedative had not completely worn off, and when she woke, she was weak and listless, her voice lacking its usual strength. However, thankfully, her consciousness had cleared.
Jiang Wan remembered what had happened that morning and showed a guilty expression. "Feng Feng, I... I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"
Liang Yu Feng shook his head. "I'm fine. Drink some water first, and I'll get you something to eat."
Liang Yu Feng handed the water to Jiang Wan and was about to go downstairs to prepare food. Unexpectedly, as soon as he stood up, Lan Lan came over with a tray. On it was a bowl of noodles, steaming hot, which she must have just cooked.
"Aunt Jiang, I cooked some noodles," Lan Lan said. "I cooked them the way you taught me last time. Try them and see how they are."