Chapter 123: Leave It to Fate

The night sky was dotted with stars. As Xiao Yufan stepped out of the bar, it was nearly midnight. His grandfather had already left by taxi, but Xiao Yufan wanted to walk home slowly by himself…

He really enjoyed this slightly tipsy feeling. As he walked unsteadily, he kept thinking about everything his grandfather had said today. He had never imagined that he might one day become wealthy and prosperous. Yet, when this reality actually approached, he wasn’t as excited as he had imagined.

“I guess I should still thank them. If I had lived a life of abundance from the beginning, maybe my personality would have become just like those spoiled young men,” he murmured softly to himself, tightening his coat slightly as the moonlight cast a cool chill.

What Xiao Yufan had endured was something few people could even imagine. His grandfather had always had high expectations for him, and he had worked far harder than others in studying feng shui, metaphysics, and ancient martial arts. That’s why he was now finally showing his potential…

When he returned to his rented apartment, it was already past one in the morning. Xiao Yufan didn’t expect the door to be open and the lights still on. A warm feeling welled up in his heart—he knew the two women had ultimately softened.

After tidying up the living room briefly, Xiao Yufan went straight to his bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. Fatigue mixed with the effects of alcohol soon sent him into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, in the other bedroom, Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan quietly listened to the sounds outside. When they heard Xiao Yufan’s soft snoring, they finally felt relieved…

“Your sweetheart is back now, so you don’t have to worry anymore. Go to sleep, my lady. Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

Yu Yihan looked at Qin Menglu’s relaxed expression and felt a bit helpless. Xiao Yufan’s every move now tugged at this girl’s heart, as if she had been enchanted by some spell.

“Dear cousin…” Qin Menglu replied with a soft, affectionate protest, clearly embarrassed. How could Yu Yihan not understand her feelings for Xiao Yufan?

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Our Dreamlu has finally started to feel the first pangs of love…”

Knowing how sensitive and shy Qin Menglu was, Yu Yihan stopped at that. Of course, it had been her idea to leave the door open for Xiao Yufan. How could she ignore the awkward relationship between the two?

The bedroom gradually fell silent again, and the worries in both women’s hearts slowly eased. Even Yu Yihan herself couldn’t quite understand why she had become so emotionally invested in this man, influenced by Qin Menglu’s feelings.

…

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Xiao Yufan was woken by intermittent sounds from the living room.

When he walked out of the bedroom, he saw Qin Menglu bustling about in the kitchen. This was the first time Xiao Yufan had ever seen her cook, while Yu Yihan sat nearby, looking quite relaxed.

“Yufan, you’re awake! You drank so much last night, so I made you breakfast—you shouldn’t have an empty stomach this morning. Sit down, it’ll be ready soon…”

Hearing the soft footsteps, Qin Menglu turned around, catching sight of Xiao Yufan’s slightly odd expression. A sweet smile bloomed on her lips.

Seeing her like this, anyone would feel a surge of tenderness. And in the early morning, when desire was strongest, Xiao Yufan almost had the urge to take her right there—but he could only imagine. After all, Yu Yihan was sitting right there.

Yu Yihan watched the two with a smile on her face. But when she thought back to the scene of Qin Menglu’s very first attempt at cooking, her expression turned slightly playful. She could already imagine the awkwardness Xiao Yufan would face at breakfast.

“Gosh, smiling like you’re up to no good so early in the morning really ruins a great start to the day!”

Xiao Yufan naturally had no idea what Yu Yihan was thinking, but even without thinking, he could tell it wasn’t anything good.

But soon enough, Xiao Yufan understood exactly what Yu Yihan was smirking about. When he saw the table full of dishes, he nearly vomited up everything he had eaten the night before.

“I got up at five o’clock this morning. This is only my second time cooking, Yufan. Won’t you give me a little praise?”

Qin Menglu didn’t notice Xiao Yufan’s expression. Looking at the table full of food, she clapped her hands together with self-satisfaction. For a young lady of her status, being willing to cook was already quite a rare feat.

“Actually, you didn’t have to go through all this trouble. After drinking, I don’t really feel like eating in the morning…”

Though touched inside, Xiao Yufan still had no appetite when he saw the breakfast emitting strange aromas. Even if he were starving, he still valued his life more. Who knew what might happen if he actually ate this meal?

“Don’t say you’re not even a little hungry. Our Dreamlu worked so hard preparing this breakfast. Surely you’re not going to ignore her efforts completely?”

Before Xiao Yufan could finish speaking, Yu Yihan, who had been silent until now, immediately jumped in. Her tone was clearly directed at him. Looking at Qin Menglu’s tearful eyes, he knew there was no escaping this fate today.

“Well, since a young lady has personally cooked for me, how could I not appreciate it? And I’m actually hungry now. Let’s eat!”

The night sky was dotted with stars as Xiao Yufan stepped out of the bar, the hour nearing midnight. His grandfather had already taken a taxi and left, leaving Xiao Yufan to walk back alone at his own pace…

He really enjoyed this slightly tipsy feeling. As he walked unsteadily, Xiao Yufan kept replaying everything his grandfather had said that day. He had never imagined that one day he would become wealthy, but now that it was actually happening, he wasn’t as excited as he thought he would be.

“I think I should still be grateful to them. If I had lived a life of abundance from the start, my personality might have ended up like those spoiled rich kids!” The moonlight was cool, and Xiao Yufan instinctively wrapped his coat tighter around himself, murmuring softly to himself.

What Xiao Yufan had endured was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine. His grandfather had always held high expectations for him. Beyond his studies in feng shui metaphysics and ancient martial arts, he had worked much harder than others, which was why he was now able to stand out…

By the time he reached his rented apartment, it was already past one in the morning. Xiao Yufan was surprised to find not only the door open but also the lights still on. A wave of inexplicable emotion washed over him—the two women had ultimately softened their hearts.

After tidying up the living room briefly, Xiao Yufan collapsed onto his bed in the bedroom. The fatigue combined with the lingering effects of the alcohol quickly lulled him into a deep sleep.

In another bedroom, Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan listened quietly to the sounds outside. When they heard the faint snoring, they finally relaxed…

“Your beloved is back now, so you don’t have to worry anymore, right? Hurry up and sleep, my dear lady. Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

Yu Yihan, seeing Qin Menglu’s relieved expression, couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. Every little thing about Xiao Yufan seemed to tug at this girl’s heartstrings, as if she were under some kind of spell.

“Cousin…” Qin Menglu responded with a coquettish tone, her face flushing with embarrassment. How could Yu Yihan not know about her feelings for Xiao Yufan?

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop talking. Who would’ve thought our Menglu would also have her heart flutter like this…”

Knowing that Qin Menglu was easily embarrassed, Yu Yihan decided to stop teasing her. Of course, leaving the door open for Xiao Yufan had been her idea. As for the awkward relationship between the two, how could she pretend it didn’t exist?

The bedroom gradually returned to silence, and the worries in the two women’s hearts slowly subsided. Even Yu Yihan herself wasn’t sure why she had been so influenced by Qin Menglu, paying such close attention to this man.

…

The next morning, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, Xiao Yufan was awakened by intermittent noises coming from the living room.

When he stepped out of the bedroom, he saw Qin Menglu bustling about. This was the first time Xiao Yufan had seen this young lady personally cooking, while Yu Yihan sat leisurely to the side.

“Brother Fan, you’re awake! You drank so much last night, so you shouldn’t go without breakfast this morning. I cooked something for you. Sit down, it’ll be ready soon…”

Hearing the soft footsteps, Qin Menglu turned around and glanced at Xiao Yufan, who looked a bit strange, a beautiful smile spreading across her lips.

Seeing such a delicate girl, anyone would feel a sense of tenderness. And in the early morning, when desires are strongest, Xiao Yufan almost had the urge to act on his impulses, but he could only think about it—after all, Yu Yihan was sitting right there.

Yu Yihan watched the two with a smile on her face, but when she remembered the first time Qin Menglu had cooked, she couldn’t help but feel amused. She could already imagine the awkward situation Xiao Yufan would face when it came time to eat.

“Damn, laughing so mischievously first thing in the morning really ruins the mood for the day!”

Xiao Yufan naturally had no idea what Yu Yihan was laughing about, but even without thinking, he knew it couldn’t be anything good.

But soon, Xiao Yufan realized what Yu Yihan was laughing about. Seeing the spread of food on the table, he almost threw up everything he had eaten the night before.

“I got up at five in the morning to prepare this. It’s only my second time cooking, Brother Fan. Aren’t you going to praise me?”

Qin Menglu didn’t notice the look on Xiao Yufan’s face. Seeing the table full of food, she clapped her hands in self-satisfaction. For a young lady like her, cooking was already a big deal.

“You really didn’t have to go through so much trouble. After drinking last night, I didn’t really feel like eating in the morning…”

Although Xiao Yufan was deeply moved, the strange aroma wafting from the breakfast killed any appetite he might have had. Even if he were starving, his life was more important. Who knew what would happen if he actually ate this meal?

“Don’t tell me you’re not hungry at all. Our Menglu worked so hard to prepare this breakfast. Surely someone wouldn’t be so ungrateful, right?”

Before Xiao Yufan could finish speaking, Yu Yihan, who had been silent until now, chimed in, her words pointed. Glancing at Qin Menglu, who looked like she was on the verge of tears, Xiao Yufan knew there was no escaping this.

“Well, how could I be ungrateful when the young lady herself cooked? I’m actually quite hungry. Let’s eat…”

Shooting a glare at Yu Yihan, Xiao Yufan reluctantly sat down. Looking at the table full of burnt food, his stomach churned, but he still managed to pick up his chopsticks.

“If you’re hungry, then eat up!”

Pleased with Xiao Yufan’s response, Qin Menglu sat down next to him, eagerly serving him food, her face filled with anticipation.

“Sigh… I’ll leave it to fate…” As bile rose in his throat, Xiao Yufan put on a brave face. Facing seven or eight tough guys was nothing compared to this meal, which was almost unbearable to look at.

Forcing the food down his throat, Xiao Yufan swallowed it whole. Even so, he kept nodding, not wanting to hurt Qin Menglu’s feelings after all her hard work.

Yu Yihan, however, was surprised. She knew how disastrous Qin Menglu’s cooking could be—even the best ingredients turned into laxatives in her hands. Yet Xiao Yufan was eating with such relish, which made her pick up her chopsticks in curiosity…

Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan both took a bite at the same time, but they immediately gagged. The food tasted like tree bark, completely flavorless. When they looked at Xiao Yufan again, Qin Menglu’s eyes softened even more.

Yu Yihan also felt a strange sense of emotion. Xiao Yufan’s thoughtfulness was so subtle—he had acted so calmly just to avoid hurting Qin Menglu’s feelings. At the same time, a peculiar feeling began to rise in her heart…

“If you’re hungry, then eat more!”

Yu Yihan was clearly satisfied with Xiao Yufan’s reaction. She immediately sat down beside him and eagerly started serving him dishes, her face filled with anticipation.

“Ah… leave it to fate…” Xiao Yufan thought, swallowing hard as acid rose in his throat. He put on a brave face, like a man ready to face his execution. Facing several fierce men wouldn’t have fazed him, but now he was completely defeated by a meal. The food before him was simply unbearable to look at.

He forced the food into his mouth and practically swallowed it whole. Even so, he kept nodding constantly—it was the result of Menglu’s hard work all morning, after all, and he couldn’t bear to hurt her feelings.

Yu Yihan was genuinely surprised. She knew exactly how bad Menglu was at cooking. Even the best dishes would turn into something like laxatives in her hands. Yet Xiao Yufan was eating it so calmly—it puzzled her, and she couldn’t help picking up her chopsticks too…

Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan both reached for the food at the same time, but immediately afterward, both began dry heaving. The food was like tree bark—completely tasteless. Looking at Xiao Yufan again, Qin Menglu’s eyes softened even more.

Yu Yihan also felt a strange sense of emotion. Xiao Yufan’s thoughtfulness was truly remarkable—he had acted so calmly just to avoid hurting Qin Menglu’s feelings. At that moment, a peculiar emotion stirred deep within her heart…