You Must Marry Me! - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Yan Yiyun was startled and quickly replied, “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Her fingers tapped forcefully on the phone screen, her fingertips turning white, and her face was already flushed red. She rolled down the car window, wanting to calm herself with the night breeze.

Yi Jingyu, far away and unable to see her current state, fanned the flames even more, “If you don’t like her, why are you so nervous?”

Yan Yiyun had nothing to say. She casually replied, “I’m not nervous,” and stopped responding to Yi Jingyu.

Her heart was a complete mess.

Outside the car window, the city lights flashed by. Dim streetlights lined the road, forming a hazy fog. Yan Yiyun stared blankly at the golden light, and images of Qi Zhen’s gentle smile overlapped with the memories of her smile from years ago.

Could she really like Qi Zhen?

Sitting in the back seat, Yan Yiyun buried her face in her hands, immersing herself in darkness, and only then did her wildly beating heart feel a bit calmer.

Had she truly fallen for Qi Zhen?

Yan Yiyun could be sure that she really liked being with Qi Zhen.

There was a gentleness about Qi Zhen that no one else had—one that made Yan Yiyun feel at ease.

Every time she saw Qi Zhen, her heart felt warm and soft.

Yan Yiyun had always believed it was because Qi Zhen had protected her when they were young, so she felt this way. But now that Yi Jingyu mentioned it, she couldn’t help but wonder… Could it be that she already liked Qi Zhen now?

For all those years before, even though she kept talking about finding Qi Zhen, deep down she knew Qi Zhen was just a distant fantasy.

She clung to that fantasy to get through life, never thinking it would become something real.

But now, Qi Zhen’s warmth was within reach.

Yan Yiyun’s heart wavered. Why couldn’t she fall in love with Qi Zhen?

Qi Zhen didn’t dislike her—she was sure of that. Even though Qi Zhen had been cold at first, wasn’t she now taking the initiative to ask her out to dinner?

Yan Yiyun had been working at the company long enough to pick up on some gossip.

Qi Zhen was known to be cold. When she first joined the company, many people confessed to her, but all were rejected. Since then, she’d kept to herself—until Yan Yiyun arrived. Only then did Qi Zhen seem more human.

In fact, when Yu Xiaotao mentioned this, Yan Yiyun was quite happy.

Qi Zhen might be cold to others, but she was good to her.

Yan Yiyun brought her meals made by Aunt Li, and Qi Zhen responded by cooking and bringing her food too. It didn’t feel one-sided at all. That back-and-forth warmed Yan Yiyun’s heart.

Especially when she mentioned she wanted to try Qi Zhen’s cooking, and shortly after, Qi Zhen brought her some homemade dishes.

Yan Yiyun had been even happier than she showed. A meal cooked by Qi Zhen herself clearly carried more thought than one made by someone else.

They ate together every day now. She spent more time with Qi Zhen than anyone else at the company, so surely she had a chance.

Lost in thought, Yan Yiyun hadn’t realized the car had been parked in the garage for quite some time.

The driver finally reminded her, “Miss, we’re home.”

“Oh, oh,” Yan Yiyun snapped out of her daze, grabbed her bag, and said, “Thanks, Uncle Li.”

She scanned her fingerprint to enter the villa. Aunt Li was just about to serve dessert and smiled kindly when she saw her enter. “We were just about to have some sweet soup. Today’s is red bean and lotus seed. Go wash your hands and come join us.”

“Okay,” Yan Yiyun replied, washed her hands, and sat down on the sofa, enjoying the freshly made soup. “Aunt Li, is there more of this? I want to bring a bowl to the office tomorrow.”

Aunt Li was excellent at making sweet soups. This red bean and lotus seed version had been simmering for three full hours—the beans and seeds were soft and mushy, no chewing needed. Every spoonful was sweet and comforting, and good for the stomach.

Naturally, Yan Yiyun wanted to bring some for Qi Zhen.

“There’s plenty. I’ll pack a whole container for you.”

Aunt Li smiled as she sipped from a white porcelain bowl, teasing her:

“One portion or two? Is it for a coworker?”

“Yes, yes,” Yan Yiyun nodded quickly. “My coworker has a bad stomach. Please simmer it extra long.”

“Oh—of course, simmered long for better digestion.”

Then Aunt Li elongated her tone and asked:

“Our little Yun is always bringing delicious food to someone. Must be someone special?”

As soon as she said that, both Yan Yiyun’s mom and dad sat up straight, waiting for her answer.

They had been waiting for this question for a long time.

Yan Yiyun bringing lunch for a coworker every day? How close could they be? Could she be dating someone in the office?

Just thinking about that made her dad furious. He’d sent his daughter off to become a CEO, not to be courted by some guy! She was his only child—anyone eyeing her was clearly eyeing his company!

“…We’re doing okay, I guess.”

Yan Yiyun hesitated, thinking their relationship now should count as “okay,” right? After all, they were already having dinner after work together.

“We’ve known each other since childhood, but it’s been years since we last met. We’re not as close as before, but I’m sure we’ll get closer and closer.”

As she spoke, she nodded to herself. Qi Zhen might not like people in general, but if she ever did, it would definitely be her!

That “marriage certificate” they made as kids might still come true!

Hearing that, her parents were intrigued.

Someone from the company who knew Yan Yiyun since childhood?

Her father asked, “Who is it?”

Yan Yiyun replied without hesitation, “Qi Zhen—the girl who stood up for me in kindergarten when others were picking on me.”

“Oh,” her dad nodded. He remembered Qi Zhen. “She’s working at our company now?”

The Qi family used to be quite reputable in B City. When Qi Zhen had stood up for Yan Yiyun, her parents had even visited the Qi family to express their gratitude.

Later on, the Qi family fell out of prominence and eventually disappeared from the scene. After Yan Yiyun went abroad, the two families only exchanged the occasional holiday text. A few years back, even those stopped—texts to Qi’s mother went unanswered. They figured the number had changed, and the relationship gradually faded.

After all, the Qi family used to live in the compound—a very proper background. Now that they’d retired from that life, they were different from business people like the Yan family. They didn’t want to make it seem like they were plotting something by reaching out year after year.

Still, her parents were surprised—why would Qi Zhen be working at their company?

Yan Yiyun nodded, the sweet red bean soup lifting her spirits. “Yeah, she’s a designer at our company now.”

Her parents exchanged a glance. Being experienced in the ways of the world, unlike their naïve daughter, they instantly guessed that something might’ve happened with the Qi family—that’s why Qi Zhen ended up working at such a high-pressure entertainment company.

Normally, someone like Qi Zhen would’ve taken a quieter, easier job. Why choose something so stressful?

If she was struggling, why didn’t she just say something? Why come work here and keep everything to herself?

Feeling a bit sorry for her, Yan’s mom said, “If you two are close, have Aunt Li make more good food. It must not be easy for Qi Zhen.”

Yan Yiyun didn’t know what exactly was going on with Qi Zhen, but she nodded. “Yeah, her stomach’s not great. I already promised to take her for a checkup.”

Her mom said, “That’s the right thing to do.”

She had fond memories of little Qi Zhen. That tiny girl had been so polite when they visited, offering tea and not making a fuss. And when they left, she gave them a sweet, “Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie.” Just thinking about it made her heart melt.

She gave her husband a look—next time they should visit the office and find out what really happened with the Qi family.

If they needed help, they should definitely lend a hand.

Hearing her mom had no objections, Yan Yiyun was even more cheerful. “We eat lunch together every day now. Aunt Li, she said your cooking is amazing!”

Aunt Li loved hearing praise about her food. She grinned from ear to ear. “You two like anything, I’ll make it.”

After finishing her soup, Yan Yiyun planned to head upstairs and have a good chat with Yi Jingyu—figure out what she should do if she really liked Qi Zhen.

As she placed the bowl in the kitchen and prepared to head to her room, she suddenly thought she should tell her parents first. She didn’t want them to ruin things once she finally won Qi Zhen over.

She rushed back into the living room and asked, “Dad, Mom, what do you think of Qi Zhen as a person?”

Her mom replied, “She was a very good kid. Why do you ask?”

Her dad said, “Very well-mannered.”

Seeing how well they thought of Qi Zhen, Yan Yiyun was relieved.

She blinked and made a ready-to-run expression, asking, “So… what if I brought her back as your… uh, daughter? How would you feel about that?”

She thought about it—“son-in-law” or “daughter-in-law” didn’t sound quite right, so she figured she’d just let them have another daughter.

Her parents were stunned.

What was she even saying?

Bring her back as a daughter?

Her mom rubbed her temples and asked bluntly, “She already has parents. Why would she be our daughter?”

Scratching her head, Yan Yiyun didn’t know how to explain. After thinking for a bit, she said, “What I mean is, I want to pursue Qi Zhen. I want to marry her!”

Her dad’s eyes widened. He thought his daughter’s brain must be broken.

“How are you going to marry her?!”

“I’ve got a residency permit! I can marry her!”

Her mom waved her off and rolled her eyes. “No one asked you that. Do you think she’d even want to marry you?”

They’d mentally prepared for this possibility when they sent her abroad. She’d been gone for over a decade and obviously had different values now. Since they’d made the choice to let her go, they were also ready to accept that she’d be different.

Still, hearing her mom say that, Yan Yiyun felt a little wronged and deflated. She didn’t know if she could win over Qi Zhen, but her mom didn’t have to say it like that…

She protested, “Why are you so sure I can’t? If I do marry her, don’t you dare drink the tea she serves you!”

Her mom calmly waved her hand, “Catch her first, then we’ll talk. Marry what?”