Chapter 251 - 248: Ping’an’s Pledge of Love

Chapter 251: Chapter 248: Ping’an’s Pledge of Love

Leaning quietly in Ping’an’s embrace, Liu Shengnan gently closed her eyes. ’This day has finally come.’ She was filled with joy, excitement, and a wave of emotion. ’I know several good friends advised me to either tell Ping’an or give up, but I didn’t like either path. Giving up was out of the question. As for telling him, no, I would never have revealed my feelings. Ping’an was just a little slow on the uptake, not an idiot. If I had been the one to break the unspoken barrier between us, it would have been a huge blow to him. He would have blamed himself and been miserable. We grew up together, childhood sweethearts. We know each other inside and out!’

"Hey, tell me," Ping’an asked softly, gently kissing the crown of her head. "When did you know?"

Tucked in Ping’an’s embrace, Liu Shengnan rolled her eyes. ’I knew he’d ask.’ She answered, a little sullenly, "Yesterday. My mom wanted to take me to the ball, but I didn’t want to go. She said it was being held so she could look for a match for you. I felt upset when I heard that. Then, after watching you flit around the dance floor like a social butterfly all night, I finally figured it out."

"I’m sorry, Shengnan. It took me a little longer to realize than you did. I made you wait," Ping’an said, frustrated with himself. ’How could I be so dense? If only I’d understood my own heart sooner! All that wasted time!’

She gave him a light punch. Liu Shengnan knew he would think that way, but she couldn’t stand to see him upset. "In that case," she said softly, "you’ll have to spoil me rotten from now on, and then I’ll forgive you."

"Okay. From now on, I’ll cherish you and hold you in the palm of my hand, how about that? Just like how Jin Chen dotes on my sister!" Hearing the rare, coy charm from the girl in his arms, Ping’an’s frustration melted away, and he laughed.

Liu Shengnan visibly shuddered at his words. "No, thank you!" she said hurriedly. "Half of that would be plenty! Really, just half!" ’Spare me,’ she thought. As much as she loved Ping’an, when she thought about the rumors in the Capital City and what she’d seen from last night until today, she decided to pass. ’I really can’t stand that kind of sappy, over-the-top relationship dynamic!’

Ping’an, still holding Liu Shengnan, felt her subtle reaction and burst out laughing. ’I couldn’t be like Li Jincheng even if I tried, and it’s a good thing my girl can’t stand it either. Looks like my taste is pretty good after all. Don’t most women prefer a guy like Jin Chen?’

"So you don’t like the idea of me cherishing you and holding you in the palm of my hand?"

"Stop right there, Ping’an," Liu Shengnan said, pulling her head back to look at him seriously. "Let’s just be the way we’ve always been! I can’t handle all that sappy stuff!" ’I’ve been raised with military-style discipline my whole life,’ she thought. ’I like Ping’an, I love him, but the idea of acting all delicate and being lovey-dovey with him... I really can’t take it. It’s too cringey!’

Seeing the serious expression on her small face, Ping’an couldn’t help but collapse onto her shoulder, roaring with laughter. ’Yep, this girl of mine is definitely my type! That cheesy, lovey-dovey dynamic really doesn’t suit me, and it doesn’t suit her either!’

Glancing at the couple embracing in the study, Li Xiu looked at Zhou Lian in his arms with fond exasperation. "Alright, Bao’er," he said gently. "You can rest easy now, right?"

Nodding lightly, Zhou Lian turned her gaze from the study to the indulgent look on Li Xiu’s face and smiled softly. Her smile was as radiant as a spring blossom, momentarily dazzling him.

"Oh, right. The New Year is in a month. Huaitai and Yizhen will have to go back to our hometown to celebrate, and I imagine my parents will go with them. What about us? Should we go back too?" Zhou Lian asked softly as they stood embracing on the veranda. ’It’s the first New Year since the children’s paternal grandfather passed away,’ she thought. ’It would be best if we went back.’

After a moment’s thought, Li Xiu said, "No, I can just go by myself. The journey is long and it’s cold. There’s no reason for you and the children to suffer through it."

"Jin Chen!"

"Bao’er, it’s nothing major. I can handle everything myself. I can’t bear the thought of putting you and the children through that ordeal. I’ll drive, so the round trip will only take two days. Bao’er, I just can’t," Li Xiu said, gazing at Zhou Lian, his tone as gentle and doting as always.

Relenting under his gaze, Zhou Lian pouted unconsciously. "Fine," she said, a little reluctantly. "I’ll listen to you."

"Don’t be sad. Your parents have already agreed to live here in the Capital City from now on. They’ll come back with Huaitai and Yizhen after the New Year is over," Li Xiu said, coaxing her softly with an affectionate kiss.

"Really? My mom is so stubborn. How could she agree so easily?" Zhou Lian’s eyes widened. "Jin Chen, did you do something? Don’t make things hard on yourself. If my parents really don’t want to stay in the Capital City, then just let it be." But then she immediately figured it out. ’He must have promised her something. Otherwise, there’s no way Mom, with her old-fashioned way of thinking, would have ever agreed!’

"It’s nothing. I didn’t promise anything," Li Xiu said, spouting nonsense with a perfectly straight face as he gently stroked her soft hair. "I just mentioned that with Huaitai and Yizhen studying here in the Capital City, if your parents left, it might affect the boys’ schooling. And you know how much your mother cherishes her eldest grandsons!" ’I can’t possibly tell her the real reason her mother is staying is that she’s worried about her,’ he thought.

Seeing the two walk confidently out of the study, Zhou Lian arched an eyebrow. A teasing smile played on her lips as she looked at Ping’an. "Well, well. The blockhead finally gets it. I have to say, it’s amazing that the Liu Family’s girl could fall for a clueless block of wood like you."

Ping’an stared at Zhou Lian, completely baffled. ’I haven’t done anything to get on her bad side today, so why is she laying into me?’ Confused, he asked, "Sis, what’s wrong? I didn’t do anything to provoke you!"

Thrown by his blunt response, Zhou Lian was at a loss for words. In a huff, she strode forward, grabbed Liu Shengnan’s arm, and pulled her into the study. She glanced back at the two men in the courtyard and said, "Don’t disturb us!"

"Jin Chen, what’s with my sister? She doesn’t seem angry, does she?" Ping’an asked, scratching his head in confusion as he watched Zhou Lian swiftly drag his brand-new sweetheart into the study.

Having no patience for the emotionally clueless guy, Li Xiu said irritably, "Go do some work in my study. And don’t bother your sister and your ’wife’!"

Ping’an watched Li Xiu disappear into the kitchen, glanced uncertainly at the door to Zhou Lian’s study, then back toward the kitchen. Shrugging, he trudged reluctantly toward the other study. ’I wonder what Sis is going to say to my girl.’ Though he was worried, he didn’t dare interfere. ’Other people might not know her, but I sure do. My sister looks as harmless as a rabbit, but she’s a fox in rabbit’s clothing—smart and cunning. Honestly, I really don’t dare make her angry. Never mind how fiercely protective Jin Chen is of her; she’s more than capable of messing me up all on her own.’

’Something about Zhou Lian’s attitude toward Liu Shengnan feels off,’ Ping’an mused. ’Logically, she shouldn’t have ever met her before, but since last night, it’s like she’s clairvoyant. Or... did Shengnan and I give something away without realizing it, letting that fox of a sister of mine pick up on it?’