Chapter 669 - 449: You’ve Come at Just the Right Time

"It’s not a question of whether I’m willing to or not. If I really used marrying you to pressure her, it would mean I was just using you. That goes against my original intentions. My thinking has changed since then. Let’s just let things happen naturally... I don’t want to look back later and regret not cherishing this time, only to remember..."

Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment, then added faintly, "that all we did was argue."

"’You’re too soft-hearted. You’ll never get the future you want that way,’" Jiang Yao replied softly, disagreeing.

"’If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. Let a flower be a flower, and a tree a tree. Let Ningning be herself...’"

Chen Yuan picked up the pillow Jiang Ning had tossed on the bed and straightened it, then folded the blanket Jiang Yao had rumpled.

It was late at night.

A cool breeze drifted in through the window.

Jiang Yao watched him with a cool gaze, saying nothing more.

"Alright, how about we focus on our trial marriage for now? Try to argue less with your sister and get along peacefully. It would be a huge favor to me. Even if you’re not thinking about the future, please don’t let my memories of the three of us together be filled with nothing but you two endlessly bickering."

"’I’m not the one who wants to argue with her. You still don’t get it—my sister is the one who can’t stand me.’"

"’With the kind of ideas you have, it’d be a miracle if Ningning understood.’"

As Chen Yuan spoke, he gently ran a finger down Yaoyao’s delicate little nose, a gesture full of affection.

"’Then do you understand?’"

"’I’m barely getting used to it.’"

"’How about this? Getting used to it now?’" Jiang Yao hugged his arm, snuggled up, and gave him a fleeting, butterfly-light kiss on the cheek.

"’It’s okay.’"

"’Then how about this?’"

The moment the words left her lips, Jiang Yao pushed him down, straddling him. She leaned in to give him a long, passionate kiss, her soft lips pressing against his.

Their breaths mingled hotly.

Chen Yuan reminded her, "Your sister just went to wash her face. She’ll be back any second. What if she sees us?"

"’Didn’t you say this was a trial marriage? Does that mean no kissing in a three-person marriage? We’re supposed to have babies after we get married... There’s nothing wrong with me testing her tolerance first, right?’"

"’You have a point...’"

They were like children playing a silly game, trading kisses back and forth. This was how their rare nights together should be—immersed in sweetness and intimacy. After all, they were a couple in the honeymoon phase of their relationship.

He stroked Jiang Yao’s hair as it fanned out over her shoulders, contentedly breathing in her scent. A wave of satisfaction washed over him.

Not to mention, doing this on the bed in the sisters’ own home added a unique thrill.

It felt like a child finally growing up, exploring the forbidden corners of an unknown world. The novelty and the slight flutter of his heart were irresistibly captivating.

"’Have you ever thought about having babies in the future?’"

Their faces were only inches apart.

So close that if Jiang Yao blinked, her eyelashes would brush against his cheek.

Her voice, languid and content, held a new, magnetic quality, and her bright, limpid eyes shone with curiosity.

"’I have. I even had a dream about it.’"

"’Really? *That* kind of dream?’"

"’What are you thinking? It was just about our married life. You and Ningning gave birth to sextuplets at the same time.’" Recalling the dream, Chen Yuan found it absurd and broke into a smile. "’It was pretty wild.’"

"’We’re not broodmares! How could we possibly have that many kids? It’s like birthing a litter of pigs.’"

"’Dreams are like that, always a little divorced from reality. The funniest part was that the six baby girls looked exactly like the two of you. My head was spinning.’"

The comical way Chen Yuan described it, combined with his long-suffering expression, sent Jiang Yao into a fit of giggles.

Just then, as luck would have it, Jiang Ning opened the door and walked back in.

The moment she entered, she saw the intimate scene and froze on the spot.

"’Ningning, perfect timing.’"

"’Per... perfect for what?’"

"’I’ve got a free arm over here. Come on over and let me hug you too,’" Chen Yuan said earnestly, his eyes full of sincerity.

Jiang Ning stared at him, shocked and bewildered, thinking she must have misheard.

She stammered for a moment.

Finally, blushing, she managed to choke out a reply.

"’No way.’"

"’Why not?’"

"’You’re already holding Yaoyao, and you still have the nerve to ask me that? I have to say, you’re getting more and more shameless,’" Jiang Ning said, clearly annoyed.

"’Didn’t you just say we should try to get used to married life? Well, this is what I imagine married life to be. The three of us can’t spend our whole lives avoiding each other...’"

Jiang Ning just stood there, listening to Chen Yuan’s "excuses."

"’You need to change your mindset. Dating and marriage are different. You’re still treating me like I’m only your boyfriend, and that’s not right. The three of us are, for all intents and purposes, married.’"

You had to hand it to him, Chen Yuan was an expert at twisting things to his advantage.

He spoke about their "marriage" with such conviction.

It sounded completely ridiculous, but the way he put it, it almost made a strange kind of sense.

Even Jiang Yao was impressed that he could come up with such twisted logic so quickly. She saw him in a new light.

Jiang Ning closed the door, feigning calm. But when her gaze fell on his hand wrapped tightly around Jiang Yao’s waist, her eyelid twitched violently, and her expression became strained.

It was the kind of micro-expression a person can’t control.

But Chen Yuan was still on a roll.

"’The most serious problem we’re facing right now is exactly what you just mentioned, Ningning—we all need to be more tolerant of each other. Otherwise, what’s the point of this trial marriage? Since we’re all trying to be responsible for our lives, what’s the harm in adapting for a month and a half? Ningning, I have to call you out on this. Right now, your possessiveness far outweighs your tolerance, wouldn’t you agree?’"

"’Of course it does! I’m a normal woman,’" Jiang Ning retorted, her beautiful eyes glaring slightly. "’Not a saint.’"

"’Then try to be a little more tolerant,’" Chen Yuan said, beckoning to her. "’Come here. Experience what it’s like for three people to share their warmth.’"

Jiang Ning hugged her arms, standing rooted to the spot as she stared at him for a full minute.

To put it bluntly,

her stare made Chen Yuan’s scalp tingle, and a few drops of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. But he held his ground under the pressure and said nothing more.

Finally, Jiang Ning walked over, met his gaze, and stopped by the side of the bed.

An expectant look immediately filled Chen Yuan’s face.

"’Experience this!’"

With lightning speed, Jiang Ning snatched a pillow and smashed it into his face.

Chen Yuan cried out in pain.

"’Hmph! I admit you have a point, but I still can’t stand it! That’s what being a woman is like. Do you get it now?’"

Jiang Ning pulled up the covers, slid into bed, and awkwardly turned her back to him, leaving Chen Yuan with nothing but the sight of her elegant back. Anyone could see she was still fuming.

Clutching his cheek, Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses.

"’You deserved that.’"

On his other side, Jiang Yao whispered into his ear.

"I thought we agreed to be tolerant of each other? How could you go back on your word after just a few minutes?" he grumbled toward Jiang Ning’s back.

"’Even adapting has to start with small steps. You can’t just go all-in right from the start,’" Jiang Yao said, comforting him while holding back a laugh. "’Alright, alright, it’s getting late. We should get some rest.’"