Chapter 151: Serene Warmth

When the sunlight of the next day filtered through the gaps in the curtains, gradually spilling into the bedroom, Xiao Yufan finally opened his somewhat hazy eyes…

For Xiao Yufan, sleeping soundly until morning had been a luxury over the past year. Fortunately, he had persisted bit by bit, enduring hardship until sweetness arrived. Now, he cherished this ordinary life even more.

A faint, delicate fragrance drifted into the bedroom, and a serene smile curved Xiao Yufan’s lips—a smile warm and sweet.

“You’re really enjoying your leisure, should I bring breakfast directly to you, Your Majesty?”

Yu Yihan’s lively voice floated in, then the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Their eyes met, and both froze momentarily. Immediately after, Yu Yihan slammed the door shut…

“Damn it, even lying down I get hit. This probably has nothing to do with me, right?”

Looking down at the rather noticeable little tent in his pants, Xiao Yufan was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t expected Yu Yihan to suddenly walk in. After all, the two rarely entered each other’s bedrooms before.

Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he knew there was no need to explain this kind of natural reaction. It was simply bad timing on her part…

Meanwhile, Yu Yihan, stepping out of the bedroom, had a faint blush creeping onto her face. Inwardly, she had already cursed Xiao Yufan into oblivion. Although she knew she was in the wrong just now, thinking back to that scene made her clench her teeth in anger.

“Cousin, are you sick? Why is your face so red? Hasn’t Yufan gotten up yet…”

As the sunlight of the next day filtered through the cracks beneath the curtains, gradually spilling into the bedroom, Xiao Yufan finally opened his somewhat hazy eyes…

Over the past year, a good night’s sleep until dawn had been a luxury for Xiao Yufan. Fortunately, he had persevered through the hardships, and now, having tasted the sweetness of success, he cherished this ordinary life even more.

A faint, delicate fragrance wafted into the bedroom, and a serene smile spread across Xiao Yufan’s lips, filled with warmth and a touch of sweetness…

“You seem to be enjoying your leisure. Do I need to bring breakfast to you, old man?”

Yu Yihan’s lively voice came through, and then the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Their eyes met, and for a moment, both of them froze in place. Shortly after, Yu Yihan abruptly closed the door…

“Damn, even lying down, I get caught in the crossfire. This has nothing to do with me, right…”

Looking down at the noticeable tent in his pants, Xiao Yufan was at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected Yu Yihan to barge in so suddenly. After all, the two of them rarely entered each other’s bedrooms before.

With a bitter smile, he shook his head. There was no need to explain anything—this was a perfectly normal reaction. It was just bad timing on her part…

Meanwhile, Yu Yihan, who had retreated from the bedroom, felt her face flush with embarrassment. In her heart, she cursed Xiao Yufan relentlessly. Though she knew it was her fault for barging in, the image that flashed in her mind made her grit her teeth in frustration.

“Cousin, are you feeling sick? Why is your face so red? Has Brother Fan not woken up yet?”

“I… I’m fine, just feeling a bit hot. That guy hasn’t gotten up yet. It’d be better if he just slept forever, that perverted jerk…”

She hurled every insult she could think of at Xiao Yufan, and only then did Yu Yihan feel a slight relief. However, she soon noticed Qin Menglu’s peculiar gaze.

“Did Brother Fan do something inappropriate to you in the bedroom? Otherwise, why would you be so angry this early in the morning?”

Qin Menglu paused for a moment, then, seeing the blush on Yu Yihan’s face, seemed to realize something and muttered teasingly.

“Who would dare to act inappropriately? It’s just that I accidentally exposed myself this morning, so…”

“Shut up! Don’t say it!” Xiao Yufan, who had just stepped out of the bedroom, overheard their conversation and couldn’t help but feel a surge of mischief. But before he could finish his sentence, Yu Yihan cut him off with a scolding tone.

With a helpless shrug, Xiao Yufan shifted his gaze. However, when he saw the table full of beautifully prepared dishes, he couldn’t help but glance in surprise at Qin Menglu, who stood beside them with a radiant smile…

Xiao Yufan clearly remembered the “spectacular” scene when this girl first tried her hand at cooking. But now, it seemed that Qin Menglu’s culinary skills had improved dramatically. The aroma alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.

“Did you… make all of this?” Xiao Yufan asked tentatively, his tone filled with genuine admiration. This breakfast was so lavish that, in the past year, it would have been equivalent to a month’s worth of meals for him.

“Brother Fan, do you not like it? If you’re not satisfied with these, I can make something else for you…”

Misinterpreting his words, Qin Menglu gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her demeanor as serene and graceful as a newlywed bride.

“How could I not be satisfied? I just didn’t expect our Menglu’s cooking skills to have improved so much. Don’t you think I’m incredibly lucky?”

Xiao Yufan’s gaze was fixed on her delicate face, her gentle and jade-like demeanor making Qin Menglu appear even more tender. His heart stirred, and if it weren’t for Yu Yihan’s presence, he might have truly made this girl his own.

“Of course, you’re lucky. Menglu spent an entire year learning how to cook, just so you could taste her dishes when you returned. Thankfully, you came back…”

Yu Yihan’s voice trembled slightly, her eyes wandering. She never believed that she loved Xiao Yufan more, because she knew that Qin Menglu’s love for him was purer.

Xiao Yufan’s body stiffened, his heart aching sharply. When he had left, he hadn’t considered how much pain he would cause Qin Menglu. And he was certain that she wasn’t the only one who had been hurt…

“From now on, I won’t leave so casually. If possible, I’ll always stay by the side of the people I love.”

There were no grand vows, just a simple promise, but Xiao Yufan’s words were enough to warm Qin Menglu’s heart. At least all her efforts hadn’t been in vain. As long as she could stay by his side, it was happiness enough for her.

“Let’s eat, or the food will get cold!” Qin Menglu, meeting Xiao Yufan’s slightly weathered gaze, felt a bit flustered and tightly clasped her hands together.

With a gentle nod, Xiao Yufan finally realized how empty his stomach felt. Since Qin Menglu had prepared this breakfast with such care, how could he miss out on this expression of her affection?

Whether it was Qin Menglu or Yu Yihan, Xiao Yufan felt a deep sense of guilt. His abrupt departure had hurt both of them. Over the past year, he had often wondered what would happen if, upon his return, everything had changed.

Fortunately, though a year could change many things, the hearts of these two women had remained constant. Xiao Yufan felt a sense of relief, grateful for his own good fortune…

“If… I hadn’t come back, would you have hated me forever?”

Xiao Yufan’s gaze was unusually soft as it swept over Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan, finally settling with a warm expression. Both women felt slightly uneasy, their bodies fidgeting in their seats.

“I don’t know if I would have hated you, Brother Fan, but I always believed you wouldn’t abandon me. It was you who brought me out of Chenghai. Without you, I wouldn’t even know where to go…”

Qin Menglu’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked up, trying to hold them back. But in the end, she couldn’t stop them from falling. The silent tears added a heavy atmosphere to the room.

For a moment, Xiao Yufan was at a loss for words. He knew Qin Menglu’s temperament better than anyone. Though she appeared delicate, there was a resilience in her bones. Even he couldn’t imagine what she might have done if he had truly left…

She heaped every dirty word she could think of onto Xiao Yufan before finally exhaling in relief. However, she soon felt Qin Menglu’s oddly scrutinizing gaze.

“Could it be that just now in the bedroom, Yufan molested you, Cousin? Otherwise, why would you be in such a bad mood so early in the morning…”

She was first stunned, then, seeing the blush on Yu Yihan’s pretty face, Qin Menglu seemed to have realized something and murmured teasingly.

“I didn’t dare to molest anyone. I just accidentally exposed myself early this morning, so…”

“How can you still talk about it…” Hearing their conversation, Xiao Yufan, who had just stepped out of the bedroom, felt a surge of desire. However, before he could finish speaking, Yu Yihan cut in with a mixture of scolding and embarrassment.

Helplessly shrugging his shoulders, Xiao Yufan shifted his gaze elsewhere. But when he saw the table full of delicious-looking dishes, he looked at Qin Menglu, who was smiling beside Yu Yihan, in astonishment…

Xiao Yufan clearly remembered the shocking scene when this girl first tried her hand at cooking. But now, it seemed that Qin Menglu’s culinary skills had improved greatly. The aroma alone was enough to make one drool.

“These… are all made by you?” Xiao Yufan asked tentatively, not holding back his tone of deep admiration. A breakfast this lavish was something he hadn’t seen in almost a year—back then, it would have been equivalent to a month’s worth of food for him.

“Does Yufan not like it? If you’re not satisfied with these dishes, I can make you something else…”

Misunderstanding Xiao Yufan’s meaning, Qin Menglu gently tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. Her demeanor was like that of a newlywed bride, demure and graceful.

“How could I possibly be dissatisfied? I just didn’t expect our Menglu’s cooking skills to improve so much. Don’t you think I’m really lucky?”

His eyes fixed on her delicate face, her gentle and refined aura making Qin Menglu seem especially tender and delicate. Xiao Yufan’s appetite was stirred. If it weren’t for Yu Yihan still being nearby, he would have already pulled this girl completely into his embrace.

“Of course you’re lucky. Menglu spent a whole year learning how to cook, all for you to taste her food when you returned. Fortunately, you’re back…”

Her voice slightly trembling, Yu Yihan’s gaze wavered. She had never thought she loved Xiao Yufan more, because she understood that Qin Menglu’s love for him was purer.

His body stiffened slightly, and Xiao Yufan’s heart was deeply pricked. Back then, when he left without telling anyone, he hadn’t realized how much pain he had caused Qin Menglu. He believed that the one hurt wasn’t just this girl…

“In the future, I won’t leave carelessly again. If possible, I will always stay by the side of the one I love!”

There were no grand declarations, but just this simple promise was enough to warm Qin Menglu’s heart. At least all her efforts hadn’t been in vain. Being by Xiao Yufan’s side was, for her, a form of happiness.

“Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Meeting Xiao Yufan’s slightly weary gaze, Qin Menglu was clearly a little flustered, her hands tightly clasped together.

Nodding slightly, Xiao Yufan finally realized his stomach was empty. Since this was a breakfast carefully prepared by Qin Menglu, how could he possibly miss out on this deep affection…

Xiao Yufan felt a sense of guilt toward both Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan. His abrupt departure had hurt both of them. During the past year, he had often thought about what it would be like when he returned—would everything have changed?

Luckily, although a year was enough to change anything, the hearts of these two women had remained unchanged. Xiao Yufan felt fortunate, grateful for his own good fortune…

“If… I hadn’t come back, would you have hated me forever…”

His gaze unusually soft, Xiao Yufan swept his eyes over Qin Menglu and Yu Yihan, finally filled with warmth. Both girls looked somewhat uneasy, their delicate figures visibly tense.

“I don’t know if I would hate Yufan forever, but I always believed you wouldn’t abandon me. You were the one who took me out of Chenghai back then. If I left you, maybe I wouldn’t even know where I belonged…”

A mistiness filled her eyes as Qin Menglu slightly lifted her head, trying hard to hold back her tears. Yet in the end, she couldn’t help it. Silent tears made the entire room feel heavier.

At that moment, Xiao Yufan didn’t know what to say. He knew Qin Menglu’s nature best. Although she appeared delicate and gentle, she had a firm will deep inside—something even he hadn’t foreseen. If he truly had left, who knew what this girl might have done…