Chapter 41: Shen Linyan Likes Her

Shen Linyan went to the living room to chat with Father An and Mother An, leaving only An Ling and An Zhou in the courtyard.

Seeing his sister eating non-stop, An Zhou lifted his chin. Didn't you eat breakfast? Hurry up and help me grill.

I just had a little porridge. An Ling swallowed the food in her mouth and stood over to help him grill the other side.

An Zhou glanced at the villa behind him and lowered his voice.

I told you not to bring Shen Linyan, why did you still bring him?

An Ling did not hide anything. At first, Shen Linyan wanted to take me out to play, but we didn't go because of the barbecue, so I thought I might as well bring him here.

Take you out to play? An Zhou frowned. He wasn't planning to sell you off, was he?

An Ling gave him a weird look. What is wrong with you?

An Zhou looked guarded. Let me tell you, Shen Linyan is not a good person. Avoid contact with him as much as you can. It might be a bit troublesome to get a divorce right now, so just act as a loveless arranged marriage couple and live without interfering with each other.

...It was too late.

They had already kissed last night.

Using the white smoke from the barbecue to hide the guilty conscience in her eyes, An Ling just gave a vague response. I know, I know. You don't need to worry.

Why did her brother have such a big problem with Shen Linyan?

Calling him a bad person.

Wouldn't she know if he was bad or not?

An Zhou grilled for a while, then picked up the skewers that were already done. I'll take these inside for Mom and Dad. You keep an eye on the rest.

Okay.

After An Zhou left, An Ling picked up a lamb skewer, looked at it, felt it wasn't done yet, and put it back.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she thought it was An Zhou and turned her head. You're back so fast...

When she saw who it was, her voice stopped.

Shen Linyan? You're done chatting with Mom and Dad?

The man gave a soft Mm, walked over, and took the oil brush from her hand. Let me grill.

An Ling stood beside him, fanning the smoke, and asked curiously, What did Mom and Dad say to you?

Shen Linyan lowered his eyes, a faint smile on his lips. Does my wife want to know?

Of course. An Ling looked up at him. If it's hard to say, it's fine.

Shen Linyan handed her a finished skewer, his eyes smiling.

There's nothing hard to say. Mom and Dad just said that my wife has a bad temper and asked me to be more accommodating. They also said that if my wife loses her temper, I should tell them.

...

An Ling blushed and took a bite of the skewer, her tone slightly dissatisfied. They're talking nonsense! I don't lose my temper at all. No, wait! I have a very good temper!

A certain someone had completely forgotten how she had lost her temper several times over the past few days using the excuse of their business relationship.

Shen Linyan chuckled softly. Does my wife want to know how I answered?

So how did you answer?

The man suddenly stopped his movements and turned to look at her.

The charcoal fire crackled. Those pitch-black eyes quietly gazed at her, like a dark, deep pool hiding complex and obscure emotions.

But amidst the hazy smoke, An Ling could not decipher what those emotions meant.

She was just about to look closer when the man suddenly and slowly curved his eyes into a smile.

I said it doesn't matter, I will coax her.

Hearing this, An Ling froze.

For some reason, she suddenly felt as if Shen Linyan had had a romantic awakening.

Since waking up this morning, the man's words were even more misleading than before.

According to the novel she read last night, wasn't this usually the kind of change a male lead had when he realized he liked the female lead?

Did Shen Linyan like her?

Unlikely.

An Ling leaned more toward the idea that she was feeling it wrong.

Shen Linyan must have seen her parents' worries and deliberately created the illusion of a good relationship.

However, she hadn't told her parents yet that she planned to divorce Shen Linyan in the future. Once she explained it, they probably wouldn't say these things to Shen Linyan anymore.

She smiled, her eyes curving, and quietly sidled over. She held up the skewer to the man's lips. Thank you, hubby, for coaxing me. Here's a bite as a reward for my hubby!

Shen Linyan was slightly stunned, then smiled and lowered his head to take a bite.

Thank you, my wife.

Is it good? An Ling also took a bite. An Zhou said this is expensive lamb he spent a lot of money on, but I think it's just average.

A business partner invited me to dinner before, and there was a place that made really delicious lamb.

The man leaned close to her ear and whispered with a smile, And the boss raises sheep at home. You can pet the little lambs. Does my wife want to go?

Sure! An Ling's eyes lit up. Let's go together.

From a distance, the man and woman were talking and laughing, their posture intimate and close.

Not far away, An Zhou stood in place holding an empty plate, slowly furrowing his brows.

After lunch.

An Ling had planned to go back with Shen Linyan, but Mother An suddenly stood up enthusiastically.

Since there are a lot of people today and it's rare for us to get together, let's play mahjong. Linyan, do you know how to play?

...

Sure enough, here it comes again.

She quickly hooked her arm through the man's. Mom, Shen Linyan doesn't know how to play mahjong. Aren't you, Dad, and my brother just enough people?

Whenever there were people around, her mother wanted to play mahjong. Playing with those wealthy ladies usually wasn't enough; she had to drag them along during gatherings too.

Fortunately, she had asked Shen Linyan in the car.

Hearing this, Mother An nodded thoughtfully. Is that so? Then there's nothing we can do.

She looked at An Ling.

Then An Ling, you take your husband's place.

...Mom, I actually have a habit of taking a nap.

Mother An: Habit my foot. Sleep after we play.

...

Mother An smiled and looked at Shen Linyan beside her. Linyan, if you're tired, go rest in Ling Ling's room for a while. Although no one has lived there for a long time, it has been cleaned. Let Auntie Wang take you there.

Shen Linyan's gaze paused slightly. He silently swallowed the refusal on his lips and gave a slight nod.

An Ling was forced to join the table, turning her head to glance at the man's back as he went upstairs.

Only when the man's figure disappeared from sight did she quietly speak up. Mom, why did you tell Shen Linyan earlier that I lose my temper?

Mother An was sorting the mahjong tiles. Hearing this, she looked up. It's not like I was wrong. Doesn't a girl like you have a big temper? How did those things from before happen?

An Zhou nodded beside her. It's true.

...

There was still no need to say that. She lowered her voice. Besides, it's not like you don't know that Shen Linyan and I are just in an arranged marriage. Going through the motions is enough.

Arranged marriage? Mother An glanced at her. But Shen Linyan said he doesn't consider this an arranged marriage. He said he likes you a lot.

An Ling froze, stopping her movements.

He said... he likes me?

An Zhou discarded a mahjong tile, giving a dismissive chuckle. It's obviously a lie. Shen Linyan is just tricking you guys.

Father An slowly called a tile. I share the same thoughts as your brother. That boy Shen Linyan has a rather deep mind.

Mother An glanced at the father and son but didn't say much else.

Anyway, Ling Ling, as long as you and Linyan live a good life together, that's enough. Mom and Dad aren't asking you to do anything right now.

It was probably because the events from the past two years had left too deep a shadow on Father An and Mother An, so they didn't dare to say much now.

The words We're going to get a divorce later were stuck in An Ling's throat, unable to go up or down.

Wait...

How did things develop in this direction?

She absentmindedly played a few rounds.

Then she turned her head to speak to the auntie: "Auntie Wang, could you take over for me? I'm suddenly feeling a bit tired and want to go upstairs to rest."

Mother An slowly raised her eyes, her tone teasing and ambiguous:

"Are you going upstairs to rest, or going upstairs to look for your husband?"

An Ling: "..."