Chapter 432: Chapter 432: Kiss Me Once
Lan Yan looked at him but didn’t intend to start the car.
She asked, “You’re not jealous even about this, are you? I didn’t do anything. From start to finish, you two were the ones chatting away. The words I said to him can be counted on ten fingers.”
Xiao Si: “Not jealous, just in a bad mood. Maybe a kiss from you would cheer me up.”
Hearing this, Lan Yan understood—so this was what he’d been waiting for.
She smiled, fastened her seatbelt, and said, “Fine, I’ll drop the matter. I’ll drive, so you can take your time adjusting your mood.”
Xiao Si: “…”
“Can’t you say a bit more? Maybe then I’ll feel better.”
Lan Yan shook her head, “I don’t want to. I believe Doctor Xiao has excellent self-healing abilities and doesn’t need me to offer insincere compliments.”
The man squinted his eyes slightly, his gaze filled with a sense of crisis as he looked at her. “Insincere compliments?”
Lan Yan nodded honestly, “Mm-hmm.”
“So, the things you said to coax me before were all made up?”
“Yeah, more or less—watered down, though.”
“…”
“You don’t love me anymore?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But even the things you use to coax me are watered down? And you say you haven’t said it?”
“What’s the connection? Why don’t you analyze it for me? I’m all ears. If your analysis is correct, I’ll admit I’m wrong. Otherwise, it means you’re being petty.”
Xiao Si: “…”
He realized this little woman in front of him was becoming increasingly glib.
There was no way he could claim it was her fault—was he courting death?
“No, it’s my fault. I’m definitely being petty.” He suddenly turned fawning, wrapping his arms around hers and rubbing against her. “So, don’t stay mad at me. I was just teasing you earlier.”
Lan Yan: “…Enough, let go. I still need to head back to the research institute after dropping you off.”
“You don’t need to. Just head straight back to the institute. I’m not in a rush—I’ll drive your car back later.”
With that, the car sped off into the distance.
On the other side.
Dong Jian’s dinner gathering ended an hour later.
“Why didn’t you say anything just now?”
As soon as they got in the car, Dong Jian asked this question.
Hu Yunqin knew he was referring to why she didn’t speak when they ran into Lan Yan earlier.
She sat upright in her seat, eyes closed, and spoke slowly. “What did you want me to say? Or do you think anything I say matters to them?”
Her response immediately made the atmosphere in the car heavier.
Even the driver felt a faint chill down his spine.
Hu Yunqin opened her eyes, glanced at Dong Jian’s gloomy face, and chuckled. “I think you’re giving me too much credit. Besides, you know your own status with those people. It was you who insisted on pushing your way into their space, making a fool of yourself—so who’s to blame?”
“After everything that’s happened, haven’t you realized where you stand with them? When did your face grow so thick? Trying to use Lan Yan to curry favor with the Jiang Family—I think you’ve been daydreaming a bit too much lately?”
Hu Yunqin’s sharp words left Dong Jian speechless.
At this moment, the driver wished he could hide under the car to avoid the suffocating tension.
Dong Jian: “Don’t forget—I still haven’t dealt with you over Xiaoxiao’s situation…”
“Oh? You want to settle scores with me?” Hu Yunqin interrupted him. “Then let me ask—how do you plan to do that? Speak up. Are you planning to divorce me and marry Lin Ruyun instead?”
“Hu Yunqin! What are you saying?!”
Dong Jian suddenly raised his voice, yelling furiously.
The driver flinched in shock, his hands trembling slightly.
He had rarely seen Dong Jian truly lose his temper.
Hu Yunqin’s expression remained indifferent. “Why? Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you’re so worked up?”
Dong Jian felt a lump of anger stuck in his chest, neither up nor down.
“You… I don’t even want to argue with you anymore. You’re simply impossible to reason with!”
“Oh, I’m unreasonable? I think you’re just feeling guilty! Dong Jian, don’t think I don’t know. You’ve never cared about Haohao’s illness because you have another son. Even if my Haohao didn’t survive, you, Dong Jian, wouldn’t be without an heir!”
“Hu Yunqin, that’s enough!”
“No, I’m not shutting up. If you don’t want to hear it, I’ll say it even louder. Am I wrong? Isn’t that exactly what you’re thinking? Maybe even you can’t believe it when you think about it. But let me tell you—even if you divorce me, Lin Ruyun will never enter the Dong Family. Don’t forget, your Old Madam is still alive. As long as she’s around, Lin Ruyun and Dong Zheng can forget about stepping into the Dong Family. Everything in the Dong Family will still belong to Haohao!”
The tension between the two instantly dropped to subzero levels!
A week later.
Outside the research institute.
Xiao Si came to pick up Lan Yan and happened to run into Wei Ting.
“Why are you here again?”
Xiao Si frowned, looking at Wei Ting standing in front of him.
Wei Ting smiled politely at him and said, “Mr. Xiao, I’m here to see Xiao Yan, not you. No need to look so surprised.”
Xiao Si: “President Wei, coming to find her is the same as coming to find me.”
“What do you mean by that?” Wei Ting asked.
Xiao Si: “Because she’s mine, and I’m hers.”
Wei Ting chuckled. “I see. But that doesn’t matter. If Mr. Xiao has time, I can treat an extra person to dinner. I can afford it.”
“President Wei, why do you seem to enjoy treating people to dinner so much?”
Wei Ting laughed and replied, “I do enjoy it. But I only treat people I admire.”
“…”
“President Wei, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to my fiancée?”
Out of nowhere, Xiao Si threw out this line.
Wei Ting: “Mr. Xiao, to be honest, I do admire Xiao Yan—but not in the way you’re thinking. After all, I’m old enough to be her father.”
“Or are you saying Mr. Xiao lacks confidence in himself?”
Xiao Si: “How is that even possible!”
“Then you shouldn’t worry, Mr. Xiao.”
When Lan Yan came out, she saw the two of them standing there.
And strangely enough, the atmosphere between them seemed odd.
She walked over and glanced at the two. “What are you two talking about?”
Xiao Si: “Nothing, I’m here to pick you up from work.”
Wei Ting: “Xiao Yan, I’m here to take you to dinner.”
They spoke in unison.
Lan Yan: “…”
She didn’t agree to have dinner with Wei Ting.
This was purely because the research institute and one of the Wei Family’s pharmaceutical companies were collaborating. She had only spoken to him on the phone the previous day.
Also, she hadn’t expected that the Wei Family’s business extended into the pharmaceutical industry. From her prior research, she thought their focus was solely on real estate.
It was at this moment that Lan Yan realized Wei Ting was clearly not as simple as he appeared.
Wei Ting elaborated, “Xiao Yan, would you do me the honor? Let me treat you to dinner and discuss our collaboration.”
Before Lan Yan could respond, Xiao Si cut in. “Work discussions can wait until the next day after hours.”
He stepped forward, took her hand, and started to leave. “Let’s go, we’re heading home.”
Lan Yan: “…”
The next second, Wei Ting also grabbed her other hand.
Lan Yan instantly felt speechless.
What kind of ridiculous drama was this?
She looked back and forth between the two. “You two?”
Wei Ting realized his slip and immediately let go, apologizing at once. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Lan Yan didn’t mind and shook her head. “It’s fine.”
Wei Ting noticed Xiao Si seemed genuinely upset and said, “Xiao Yan, am I interrupting your date? If so, I’ll leave it at that today and invite you another time when you’re free.”
His retreat was swift.
This time, Xiao Si took the initiative to speak. “President Wei, you really are interrupting our date. But it’s impressive that you still have the good sense to read the room.”
Lan Yan worried Xiao Si might offend Wei Ting, their newest partner.
“President Wei, I apologize. I’m busy today, so let’s do it another time. Also, don’t take his words seriously—he’s always like that.” Lan Yan said.
Wei Ting smiled and replied. “Don’t worry, I don’t mind. I won’t disturb you two any further. Goodbye for now.”
With that, he got into his car and left.
As soon as Wei Ting was gone, Xiao Si turned to her and asked, “What’s going on with you?” While he talked, he reached up to touch her forehead. “No fever. Why are you suddenly being so accommodating with him?”
Lan Yan slapped his hand away. “There’s nothing wrong with me. He’s our research institute’s partner now. Be careful how you talk to him next time—don’t cause me trouble.”
Xiao Si: “Since when did he become your partner? Isn’t the Yu Family your main partner?”
“The research institute isn’t only working on one project. Of course, there’s more than one partner.”
“…”
The more Xiao Si thought about it, the more suspicious he became. “If I remember correctly, the Wei Family doesn’t dabble in pharmaceuticals, do they?”
Lan Yan nodded. “You’re right—they don’t.”
“Then how do they have the opportunity to collaborate with your institute? Are they scamming you?”
“This is precisely Wei Ting’s brilliance. Aside from inheriting his family business, he also privately owns companies in other industries. He just keeps it hidden well.” Lan Yan glanced at him and smiled faintly. “In that sense, he’s quite similar to you—a surface-level doctor with plenty of secret ventures in the background.”
“Don’t worry, everything I have is yours.” Xiao Si wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “But don’t you think his collaboration with you came at an oddly convenient time? I think he’s doing it for you. He’s still suspicious of your identity.”
Of course, she had considered this possibility, but she had a clear boundary. Work was work, and everything else was off the table.
Wei Ting’s suspicions were his business. Even if he one day discovered the so-called truth, it wouldn’t have much to do with her.
Therefore, she wouldn’t overthink his motives.
“Forget about his motives. Aren’t you hungry? Because I am.”
When Xiao Si heard her say she was hungry, he immediately pulled her into the car.
“Let’s go home for dinner.”
These few words rolled off his tongue naturally.
Although Lan Yan hadn’t been used to it before, she was gradually becoming accustomed to it now.
Xiao Si buckled her seatbelt for her, closed the passenger door, and walked around the car to take the driver’s seat.
“Ms. Liang prepared a table full of your favorite dishes and instructed me to bring you home tonight without fail.”
Lan Yan felt touched as always.
Recently, Mrs. Xiao would occasionally have Xiao Si bring Lan Yan home for meals.
Dining with the Xiao Family, Lan Yan went from feeling out of place and reserved to feeling comfortable and at ease.
When dealing with the Xiao Family, she had also become increasingly natural.
It wasn’t just Mrs. Xiao and Uncle Xiao, but the other elders in the family too.
Over the past month, Xiao Si would occasionally take her back to the Xiao Mansion to have meals and chat with Old Madam Xiao and Old Mr. Xiao.
Over time, she began to relax and make an effort to integrate into the family.
…
On the other side.
Not long after Wei Ting left, he pulled a strand of hair out of his pocket.
His assistant, sitting in the passenger seat, handed him a transparent sealed bag.
Wei Ting placed the strand of hair in the bag—it was something he had subtly taken from Lan Yan.
It almost felt like even heaven was helping him.
This hadn’t been part of his original plan.
“Get this tested for a paternity match.”
The assistant asked, “Between you and Miss Lan Yan?”
Wei Ting answered with a brief “Mm.”
Although both Lan Yan and Hu Yunqin had repeatedly denied it, and he wanted to believe Hu Yunqin’s words, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss.
He still wanted to confirm it for himself.
Originally, he had wanted to handle this matter openly, but Lan Yan had refused.
He didn’t want to push her about it, but today luck had delivered an opportunity, and he wasn’t going to let it slip by.
The assistant secured the bag safely, then turned to look at the back seat and said, “Boss, Miss Yuning is in Yue City as well.”
Wei Ting frowned slightly. “What’s she doing here?”
The assistant explained, “Miss Yuning heard you were here. It’s been over a month since you last returned, so she probably missed you. She slipped away from Madam and came here secretly. She’s staying at the hotel where you’re currently staying.”
Wei Ting didn’t say anything in response to this.
After a moment, he gave another instruction. “Lu Kai, tomorrow, find a property for me. It seems I’ll be staying here for quite some time. Living in a hotel long-term isn’t practical. Once you find a good place, just buy it—don’t rent.”
The assistant nodded. “Got it, understood.”
Then, as if recalling something, Wei Ting added, “Also, keep the matter of the paternity test confidential. No one else should know about it.”
“Does that include Madam and Miss Yuning as well?”
“Yes, keep it from them as well.”
“Understood.”
On the way back to the hotel, Wei Ting wrestled with conflicting thoughts. On the one hand, he hoped Lan Yan was indeed that child; on the other hand, he hoped she wasn’t.
The contradiction boiled down to his fears and guilt.
Especially after reading through the information on Lan Yan’s life from childhood until now.
If Lan Yan truly was his child, she could have lived like a princess, without a life of anxiety, hardship, or suffering. She wouldn’t have had to endure so much just to survive.
If she wasn’t, he would have no lingering regrets.
At least the results would be something he personally verified.
That said, his admiration for Lan Yan wouldn’t diminish—she truly was an exceptional young woman. If only Yuning possessed even half of Lan Yan’s abilities, he thought.
When he returned to the hotel and opened the door, a delicate figure rushed toward him and threw her arms around him.
Wei Yuning’s sweet voice rang out. “Daddy, you’re back! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you—I missed you so much!”