You Must Marry Me! - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Yan Yiyun didn’t act politely with her—she didn’t even seem to be aware she should.

Back when they first bumped into each other at the pantry, she had casually picked up Qi Zhen’s coffee cup and taken a sip. It was only after she took the cup with her that she realized it might not have been appropriate.

Whatever little OCD tendencies she had, they completely vanished around Qi Zhen.

Yan Yiyun pulled the plate of lamb chops in front of her and happily dug in. The chops were cooked to a perfect medium-well, keeping the tenderness of the meat without any traces of bl00d, just the way she liked it.

The sauce was a custom blend by the restaurant’s head chef—light but stunning in flavor, enhancing the taste of the lamb rather than overwhelming it. The meat was incredibly tender, bouncing back immediately when she pressed it with her fork. She was impressed.

She picked at the mashed eggplant on the side. Yan Yiyun didn’t normally like eggplant, but this place had mashed it finely and topped it with a carefully prepared garlic sauce that masked the skin’s unpleasant aftertaste she disliked.

“Zhenzhen, won’t you be hungry if you eat this little?” Yan Yiyun asked while sipping her wine.

Qi Zhen replied, “Not really. If I get hungry later, I’ll just cook myself some noodles.”

After all, she often worked late into the night at home, then went to the kitchen to make herself a bowl of scallion noodle soup.

Dinners were usually not great. By the time she got home, either the food was already cold, or someone had left some dishes out while preparing a new one for her. Every time she saw that scene, her appetite would vanish.

Naturally, she ate less and less.

Hearing that Qi Zhen would go home and cook noodles later, Yan Yiyun felt distressed.

This restaurant was one of the city’s hottest spots—constantly booked out. They’d finally gotten a chance to have dinner here, and Qi Zhen still planned to go home and cook noodles?

Yan Yiyun thought for a moment, then asked, “Should we order another serving of the wagyu and foie gras?”

Qi Zhen raised her brows and was about to say something, but noticed that Yan Yiyun wasn’t joking. She couldn’t help but laugh.

“I already had two servings,” Qi Zhen smiled, “Any more and I’ll get sick of it.”

She thought Yan Yiyun was especially amusing.

Why was she so concerned about how little she ate?

Yan Yiyun gave a small “oh” and began pushing the peas around her plate. “Then if you get hungry later and want a midnight snack, call me. I’ll come pick you up.”

Qi Zhen widened her eyes in surprise. She just wanted a bowl of noodles—did someone really need to come pick her up for that? Wasn’t that a bit much?

She said, “Isn’t that kind of over the top?”

Yan Yiyun, sipping her wine and waiting for dessert, looked at Qi Zhen and said seriously, “I know a place with really good yellow croaker noodles.”

Qi Zhen’s heart stirred—not because of the noodles, but because of Yan Yiyun’s eyes. She had never seen anyone look at her like that—so earnestly, as if simply because Qi Zhen had mentioned something, she felt compelled to fulfill it.

From that moment on, Qi Zhen no longer just couldn’t bear to say no to Yan Yiyun—she didn’t want to. She didn’t wish to refuse her. In fact, she began to wonder—why should she?

Since Yan Yiyun had already made the offer, what harm was there in saying yes?

“Okay,” Qi Zhen nodded. “If I want a late-night snack, I’ll definitely call you.”

She lowered her head and took a sip of lemon water.

A strange warmth rose in her palms, followed by a slight dizziness. She wasn’t sure if it was from the alcohol, but she felt like she was floating.

Like she was walking on clouds, her heart soaring weightlessly with no place to land.

The dessert arrived: a liquor-infused pudding shaped like a little cloud.

A light press with a spoon made it jiggle gently. Its smooth texture melted on the tongue, releasing a subtle sweetness and the flavor of cherry liqueur, making Qi Zhen feel even more lightheaded.

Yan Yiyun could hold her liquor far better than Qi Zhen had expected. She had originally worried that she might not handle wine well, but after finishing a bottle of white wine, they still weren’t satisfied and ended up opening a bottle of rosé champagne. Surprisingly, that bottle was nearly empty too.

And yet, Yan Yiyun showed no signs of being drunk—her eyes were clear and bright.

While eating her pudding, she looked over at Qi Zhen and asked, “Are you busy both days this weekend? I want to go have afternoon tea.”

Her tone was slightly playful, with an upward lilt that made her sound irresistibly sweet.

Qi Zhen was busy. Her freelance video editing schedule was tight. She had planned to stay home the next two days to work. But when she heard Yan Yiyun say that, she wavered.

Well, editing required rendering time—she didn’t need to be glued to the screen the entire time. An afternoon tea wouldn’t take too long. Maybe she could spare a few hours to go with Yan Yiyun…

But then again, there were only two days in the weekend. One afternoon gone, and if she didn’t finish the work, her reputation in the freelance circle might suffer. Getting good jobs in the future would be harder.

Qi Zhen was deeply conflicted. She sipped her post-meal strawberry yogurt parfait in small bites, hesitating.

Yan Yiyun saw the hesitation and smiled slyly.

When she acted coy, she was absolutely lethal—eyes curved in a smile, hands cupping her cheeks, bathed in the warm glow of the restaurant lights, her entire being looked like it had been filtered with a soft-focus lens.

“Come with me~” Yan Yiyun pouted, staring at her with big puppy eyes. “I already reserved a spot. If you don’t go, I’ll have to eat alone.”

Qi Zhen was about to ask, “Don’t you have any other friends?” but stopped herself.

Because the truth was, if Yan Yiyun went with someone else, Qi Zhen would feel a little disappointed.

How could that be?

They weren’t anything special. At best, they’d only just reconnected as friends these past few days. Even though they’d known each other for years, they’d never really spent time together.

Besides, they were both adults. Long past the age of being possessive over friendships. If Yan Yiyun wanted to have afternoon tea with someone else, what did it matter to her?

She suddenly wanted to say no—just to prove to herself that this was pure friendship.

But when she opened her mouth, what came out was—

“Okay then. What time?”

Yan Yiyun gave a time and place, her smile growing more triumphant.

She had figured it out: Qi Zhen looked aloof, but she simply couldn’t say no to her!

She hadn’t refused once—not when she invited her to lunch in her office, not tonight’s dinner, and certainly not this little afternoon tea.

Qi Zhen chuckled helplessly and said, “I really can’t say no to you.”

She had to admit it—Yan Yiyun acted so boldly because she knew Qi Zhen wouldn’t refuse her.

And what could she do?

It was true. She hadn’t. And she couldn’t.

Yan Yiyun popped the last strawberry into her mouth, squinting her eyes in smug satisfaction. “Don’t make it sound like I’m being unreasonable.”

Qi Zhen’s voice was indulgent. “You’re not. It’s fine.”

After dinner, Yan Yiyun suggested they take a walk on the restaurant’s rooftop terrace.

Qi Zhen nodded, put on her coat, and followed her through two sets of glass doors to the rooftop garden.

The terrace was lined with lush greenery, all neatly trimmed into elegant shapes. Under the shade of the trees were wooden benches painted a deep brick red, giving off a cinematic vibe. The terrace wasn’t large, but it was well-designed, and strolling along the path was a pleasant experience.

When the restaurant first opened, this rooftop terrace had been a major selling point. They’d even hosted a cocktail party here. Qi Zhen had attended the ribbon-cutting event back then.

Yan Yiyun clearly loved the rooftop. She pulled Qi Zhen along the little pathway. The autumn breeze blew gently against her face, sobering her up and lifting her mood even more.

She linked arms with Qi Zhen, looking at her profile against the city’s neon skyline. In that moment, she thought—this is what friendship should be: talking, eating, drinking, and watching the scenery together.

She felt so happy. Leaning gently against Qi Zhen at the railing, she turned and smiled. “Zhenzhen, let’s come back and watch the first snowfall together this winter, okay?”

Qi Zhen nodded. Watching the first snow with a bit of alcohol was a bit of a local tradition. If Yan Yiyun wanted to do it with her, she’d be happy to.

Qi Zhen already knew she was overly indulgent with Yan Yiyun. It seemed like she couldn’t say no to anything she asked.

As Yan Yiyun turned her attention back to the view, Qi Zhen quietly turned to look at her.

Under the night sky, Yan Yiyun looked breathtaking. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her dark eyes were focused on the view below. The serious expression only made her features more delicate—skin like porcelain, lips like red blossoms.

The alcohol had flushed her cheeks, giving her the look of a peach blossom in spring—radiant and irresistible.

Qi Zhen looked for only a few seconds before quickly turning away.

Because just then, she clearly felt her heart skip a beat.

She was shaken. She’d never felt anything like this before. She stared at the skyline, but her mind was filled with the person beside her. Her palms were hot, even sweating slightly—evidence of how nervous she was.

She knew full well—Yan Yiyun only saw her as a friend.

Yan Yiyun had spent her youth abroad and had only just returned. Probably hadn’t made any local friends yet. That’s why she clung to this long-lost childhood connection. It was natural she’d want someone to eat and drink with.

But how long would that last?

Once Yan Yiyun made new friends, maybe she wouldn’t be so close anymore. In any case, all of this… was just friendship.

But Qi Zhen knew—what she felt just now, without a doubt… was something more.