"Yanran, you can sit here for a while, or go take a walk on the beach outside. I'll go buy some ingredients and we'll have dinner here."
"You can cook?" Murong Yanran looked at Li Haochen in disbelief.
"Of course. I'm a farm kid. I started cooking at eight, hehe!"
Li Haochen rode off on his tricycle, and his silhouette quickly became a small dot.
He was as quick coming back as he was leaving. Li Haochen returned in less than half an hour, like a gust of wind, with plenty of seafood and vegetables.
In the yard, Murong Yanran lay on a lounge chair outside, gazing at the residual sunlight of the setting sun in the distance, her expression troubled.
The sound of Li Haochen driving back disturbed Murong Yanran's thoughts.
"So fast?"
"Afraid you'd be hungry!"
Li Haochen smiled slightly, carrying several large bags towards the kitchen.
"I'll help too!" Murong Yanran followed him in.
Li Haochen meticulously handled the seafood. Watching his careful and skillful movements, Murong Yanran admired him inwardly, "A man who is serious is truly handsome."
"Can I do anything?" Murong Yanran stood in the kitchen, unsure where to start, feeling a bit awkward.
Li Haochen stopped what he was doing, looked at Murong Yanran's smooth, tender jade hands, and said, "Could you wash those two dishes clean?"
Upon receiving the instruction, Murong Yanran was as delighted as a little girl who had received candy. Humming a tune, she happily poured all the vegetables into the washbasin. The gurgling water and her clear singing voice intertwined, creating a warm picture of a couple working together.
"Yanran, you should go out first. The oil smoke will be quite heavy when I stir-fry, and it tickles the nose."
"Oh, I'll go out then. Thanks for your hard work, hehe!" Hearing about the ticklish nose, Murong Yanran quickly retreated from the battlefield.
Li Haochen couldn't help but smile wryly at the sight of the vegetables in the basin, looking as if they had been mauled.
The incessant hum of the range hood, combined with the perfect harmony of hot oil and ingredients, filled the air with a tempting aroma.
"Dinner is served...!"
Half an hour later, the dining table was laden with delicious dishes that were appealing in both color and fragrance. The hungry pair wasted no time and began to eat.
"Wow, this is delicious!" Murong Yanran elegantly picked up a piece of greens and put it into her mouth. It was tender, fresh, and perfectly cooked.
Perhaps because she had contributed her part, Murong Yanran found herself feeling an indescribable emotion as she ate the dishes. Usually, she didn't eat much, but today she ate until she was completely full.
"Oh no, it's all your fault! I ate so much I'm stuffed. If I get fat, you'll have to be responsible."
"Sure, I can be responsible forever."
"You talk too much." Murong Yanran playfully rolled her eyes at Li Haochen.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?" Murong Yanran cupped her cheeks with her hands, her lips pouting as she looked at Li Haochen, who was still devouring his food.
"Looking at you so closely, you're quite handsome."
"Naturally. I'm known as Bin Da's version of Louis Koo. Aren't you even a little moved?" Li Haochen ostentatiously ran his fingers through his short hair.
"Just a little. If only my surname wasn't Murong...!"
"What are you muttering about?"
"Ah, nothing~ Nothing at all!" Murong Yanran showed a hint of panic.
"Let's go." Li Haochen emerged from the room carrying a box, calling out mysteriously.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll know soon enough." Li Haochen made a gentlemanly inviting gesture, smiling slightly, "My dear lady, please board the elopement vessel."
Murong Yanran put her hand to her forehead, chuckled helplessly, and sat on the tricycle.
"Why are we at the beach? Do you want to talk with me under the moon? Hehe!"
Li Haochen smiled without answering, carried the box to the center of the beach, and took out a large box of fireworks. "Didn't you say a few days ago that you wanted to see fireworks?"
"You bought them specifically for me?" Murong Yanran was touched, her gaze towards Li Haochen shifting slightly.
"Whoosh~ Bang... Bang...!"
"They're so beautiful, but too brief!" Murong Yanran sat on the soft sand, looking up at the fleeting brilliance of the exploding fireworks.
Li Haochen produced a small cake from somewhere, stuck a lit candle into it, and sang, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you... Happy birthday, Yanran!"
"You... How did you know?" Murong Yanran's eyes welled up with emotion.
"Make a wish..."
"Mhm!" Murong Yanran closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, a slight smile on her lips.
"Thank you!"
...
"They're all finished, so beautiful!"
"A bit brief, but it touched my heart...!"
"Fireworks fade easily, people drift apart. Don't let youth slip away, cherish the present!" Li Haochen gazed at the starry sky, feeling a sense of profound emotion.
In the late autumn night, the temperature had already begun to drop slightly. The sea breeze blew, carrying a hint of coolness. Murong Yanran shivered slightly, rubbing her arms with her hands.
Ring ring ring~
"Dad..."
"Do you still consider me your father? Where are you now?" Murong Hongyan shouted angrily.
"I'm out with a friend." Murong Yanran replied indifferently, feeling a chill of disappointment at her father's scolding.
"A guy?"
"Yes, my boyfriend, alright." Murong Yanran, incensed, spoke defiantly.
"You~"
Beep beep beep~~
"This disobedient girl, she's going to be the death of me." Murong Hongyan angrily threw his phone to the ground. It cracked into several pieces. He panted, his eyes glaring, and slammed his fist onto the table.
"Honey, don't be angry. Have some tea to calm down." Murong Hongyan's current wife, Liu Shuhui, walked over and patted his back with concern.
Murong Hongyan took the tea and drank a few sips, his mood seeming to improve slightly.
"Honey, this can't go on. If Yanran does something scandalous and gets pregnant, how will we explain it to the Mu family?" Liu Shuhui's face showed concern, but her heart was filled with malice. She wanted to quickly push Murong Yanran out of the Murong family so that her own son could inherit it in the future.
Hearing Liu Shuhui's words, Murong Hongyan also felt quite worried. "What do you suggest?"
"It's best to quickly pick an auspicious day and hold the wedding between Yanran and Shaoyang."
"No, if we force it, she might really do something rash." Murong Hongyan, who understood Murong Yanran's personality well, immediately opposed this idea.
"How about we just get engaged first?"
Murong Hongyan thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, getting engaged first is good. It'll give her another identity and help her settle down. You can ask to meet Madam Mu tomorrow to discuss a date."
......
"Why, why, why? I'm your daughter too! Why don't you like me? Woohoo~!" After hanging up the phone, Murong Yanran sat on the beach, clutching her head, and cried sadly.
"Yanran, you..."
Murong Yanran suddenly hugged Li Haochen, burying her head on his shoulder and sobbing. After more than ten minutes, perhaps exhausted from crying, Murong Yanran stood up, wiped away the lingering tears, and gave a bitter smile. "Haochen, I'm sorry, I've made your clothes all wet."
Li Haochen took off his jacket and draped it over Murong Yanran. He smiled and said, "Don't catch a cold. Let's go back. Trust me, everything will be alright."
"Perhaps." Murong Yanran touched Li Haochen's jacket and looked at his retreating figure. "Since I can't break free from these shackles, then I'll love with all my might."