Chapter 665 - 445: Not on the Same Side?

The atmosphere in the bedroom was oppressive. Though the room was spacious, the walls seemed to press inward, and the air felt as if it were being sucked out inch by inch, making it hard to breathe.

The two sisters, once as close as one, were now as if enveloped in separate, thin films, an invisible barrier having formed between them.

Every breath was like tugging on a heavy, wet cloth, making one’s chest feel tight.

Both of them were busy with their own things.

They seemed busy.

But Jiangg Ning’s mind wasn’t on her task at all. She kept zoning out.

Jiangg Yao, on the other hand, was observing her sister’s reaction.

Ningning had been quite happy earlier in the evening. However, after hearing such sudden news, her whole mood soured. Her mind was filled with a single thought—her sister and Chen Yuan were getting engaged.

’Unbelievable.’

She’d been mulling it over for so long after snapping out of her daze, but she still couldn’t believe the news was real.

’Why was it so sudden?’

’Why would Chen Yuan make such a huge decision without discussing it with me?’

’After such a long tug-of-war, why did it have to end like this?’

’Why did he have to change his mind now, after we’d grown so used to each other’s presence, shared so many unforgettable moments, and gone through happiness and hardship together?’

’Even... continuing those painful, struggling times seems better than this outcome.’

Jiangg Ning’s mind was a mess. She couldn’t think anything through, only zoning out again and again.

Nearby,

Jiangg Yao watched her sister’s distraught state.

As her own sister, perhaps what Yaoyao should have felt welling up inside her was a shared pain... or compassion, or pity, or something...

And yet, strangely, she felt none of these things.

Instead, Jiangg Yao watched with cold detachment, a fire smoldering in her heart.

She subconsciously bit down hard on her lip.

"You don’t have to put on that act for me. You want to have your cake and eat it too—stick to your principles and be with Chen Yuan. Doesn’t that just mean I’m the one who has to slink away in defeat? The world doesn’t work that way! You can’t have everything you want! He likes me. Are you going to deny that, too? In your eyes, is my relationship with him so cheap that it can be tossed aside just for your happiness?"

Jiangg Yao’s voice broke into a sob, and she couldn’t stop herself. "Just like last time! He considered breaking up with me to fulfill his promise to you, just to make you happy... By what right?"

She wiped away a tear.

"Hah. He compromised, and you still weren’t willing. How ridiculous."

Hearing her sister’s words, Jiangg Ning felt a surge of irritation.

"He learned that when you love someone, you should stand firm. That’s a good thing. He rediscovered his principles. I’m not against it."

"If you’re not against it, then who is that long face for?"

"I’m not making one."

"Don’t make me laugh."

"I’m just not," Jiangg Ning’s brow furrowed deeply. "You got the outcome you wanted, and you’re still not satisfied? Are you going to rub it in and declare your victory now?"

"I’m afraid you’ll play the victim to make him feel sorry for you and take back what’s mine."

Every word from Jiangg Yao was a piercing blow. Jiangg Ning felt that if she didn’t counter every single accusation, she would fall completely into the trap her sister was weaving and lose Chen Yuan forever, with no other possibility for the rest of her life.

"What kind of bullshit are you spouting? Give you an inch and you take a mile?"

PITTER-PATTER—

The sound of extremely light footsteps came from the hallway outside on the second floor.

Despite their heated argument, both sisters were sensitive enough to catch the sound. They abruptly fell silent.

Jiangg Yao quickly got off the bed, ran to the door, and unlocked it.

"I’m giving your own words back to you now: just make sure you don’t regret this in the future!" she said in a rushed, clipped voice.

Then she climbed back into bed.

Feigning nonchalance.

She went back to applying her face mask.

"It’s so cold out there." The door was pushed open, and Chen Yuan walked in, shivering. "I’m freezing. I should’ve dried off more thoroughly. The temperature drop at night is huge. A big house isn’t always a good thing; it’s so drafty."

"There’s a full-body dryer in the bathroom. What if you catch a cold?"

Jiangg Yao draped a bath towel over his shoulders, sounding a little exasperated.

"I’m not used to those things," Chen Yuan said, still trembling. He pulled back the covers, slipped inside, and was immediately hit by a fragrant scent. A blissful expression appeared on his face. "So comfortable... Now this is what I call a proper bed."

Having gotten used to sleeping in the sisters’ bed, Chen Yuan had the illusion that all the places he’d lived in before were just dog kennels.

But in reality, most guys just don’t have high standards for where they live; as long as it’s clean and tidy, it’s fine.

He was blissfully closing his eyes. Having just showered, a warmth spread from his limbs throughout his entire body.

"You and Yaoyao are getting engaged?" Suddenly, a question came from beside him.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH—"

Chen Yuan shot up in bed, coughing violently as if he’d choked on his own saliva.

His eyes were wide with shock as he looked at the frowning Jiangg Ning.

"Is it true?" she pressed, her voice tinged with an unwillingness to accept it.

Chen Yuan turned his head to look at Jiangg Yao.

Yaoyao, however, acted as if she’d done nothing, looking up at the ceiling with an innocent expression. ’Wow, this ceiling is really... a ceiling,’ she seemed to be thinking.

"Well, yes... but don’t get the wrong idea, Ningning. I told her that after we resolve this current issue, I’d discuss our relationship—the three of us. Yaoyao said she was willing to marry me, and since there was no reason to delay, I decided to settle things for the two of us. I just haven’t had a chance to discuss it with you yet..."

"We don’t need to wait for that issue to be resolved. We can discuss it right now. All three of us are here," Jiangg Ning insisted.

"Is that really necessary...?" Chen Yuan felt a headache coming on. "What time is it? We should all be sleeping."

"No. I can’t sleep," she said, shaking her head.

"If she wants to talk, then just talk to her. What’s there to hide? I don’t get it. You can’t hide the engagement from her forever. You agreed, and that’s that. He’s willing to marry me, and I’m willing to marry him. So what about it?" Jiangg Yao snorted.

Chen Yuan threw off the covers, reached out to grab Jiangg Yao, and pulled her to a corner of the room.

The two of them turned their backs.

Chen Yuan looked back at Jiangg Ning, whose eyes were red-rimmed, and gestured. "I’m just going to have a word with Yaoyao. Ningning, just wait a second. It’ll be quick."

"What are you doing?" Jiangg Yao grumbled unhappily, pouting as she tried to pull away.

"What do you mean, ’what am I doing?’ I should be asking what *you’re* doing! Come with me!"

Bare-chested, Chen Yuan dragged Jiangg Yao out into the dim hallway.

He didn’t close the door.

The sound of their hushed argument carried clearly back into the bedroom.

...

"What did you say to your sister?"

"Nothing much. Just that we’re getting engaged, getting married, and having babies."

"Are you doing this on purpose?" Chen Yuan suddenly felt dizzy. He forced himself to calm down and asked in a low voice, "Is that what I said? What I meant was, since you’re willing, I promised to settle things between us first to put your mind at ease, and then deal with your sister’s side of things slowly—"

"I asked. She’s not willing to take it slow. She said that even if you tried for a lifetime, she wouldn’t agree. She just doesn’t want to marry you with me. She wants me to admit defeat and back out, so the two of you can live happily ever after~" Jiangg Yao said, deliberately raising her voice.

"What do you mean, you asked? Did I tell you to ask?" Chen Yuan’s brow furrowed instantly.

"Are you yelling at me?" Jiangg Yao’s eyes reddened as she stared back at him.

Chen Yuan: "?"