Lu Nian didn’t know when she had fallen asleep.

All she remembered was sleeping soundly, feeling fuzzy, and then, it seemed like someone had picked her up, and she trusted completely, without any resistance.

Her consciousness seemed to be immersed in a warm embrace, stretching and comforting.

She heard someone say by her ear, “Don’t sleep here.”

“I’m so sleepy,” Lu Nian murmured, still not fully awake, her voice soft and sticky due to the alcohol and drowsiness.

The arm holding her stiffened for a moment.

He whispered, “…Sleep when we get back.”

Lu Nian grumbled unwillingly, not wanting to wake up.

She turned her face slightly, snuggling comfortably against the chest of the person holding her, warm and reassuring.

The alcohol made her brain numb, and she fell asleep again.

Qin Si frowned.

This burden was both sweet and bitter.

In his arms, she felt light as a feather yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Ming ge asked in a hushed tone, “Not letting her stay overnight?”

The young man frowned, coldly asking, “Stay here?”

Ming ge hesitated, “…”

He scratched his head, “Sleep on your bed, isn’t it wide enough? One little girl can’t take up much space, and if there are two…”

But he met the young man’s gaze, shut up reluctantly, and persisted, “Or go to the riverside? You’ve already fixed up the house for her, can’t she sleep in another bedroom?”

This house was clearly prepared for this purpose, as if he didn’t know.

Qin Si didn’t lift his eyes. “Go get the car.”

“Okay, okay,” Ming ge said, going inside to fetch the car keys, muttering behind his back, “You’re a man, why are you fussier than those delicate flowers.”

He clearly liked her so much, yet did nothing. What’s wrong with letting her stay overnight? Tomorrow they could have breakfast together to welcome the new year, wouldn’t that be perfect?

The car arrived at the Lu family estate.

Lu Yang was already waiting at the door, and the young man lifted her out of the car.

“What did you do to my sister?” Lu Yang’s face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot, almost roaring.

He hadn’t forgotten to observe.

Lu Nian was wrapped in a coat that clearly wasn’t hers, and she seemed to be wearing a dress underneath, her black hair scattered, her face leaning against his chest.

“She’s asleep,” Qin Si said coldly.

His eyebrows furrowed, and he asked coldly, “Can you speak louder?”

Lu Yang’s fingers trembled, lowering his voice, “I’m telling you, Nian Nian is not yet of age, and if you dare to do anything, it’s illegal.”

A hint of a mocking smile appeared at the corner of the young man’s lips, a familiar sneer with a hint of disdain. “Do what? Like what?”

Lu Yang’s face flushed red, unable to say anything.

He leaned in closer to take a look.

Lu Nian’s exposed skin seemed normal, without any strange marks.

Finally, Lu Yang relaxed a bit and reached out his hand. “Give Nian Nian to me.”

Qin Si hadn’t said anything, but in his arms, Lu Nian frowned in her sleep and pushed away Lu Yang’s outstretched hand without mercy.

Without any hesitation.

The girl’s head turned slightly, her back facing Lu Yang, still nestled in the young man’s arms, gently arching against him, sleeping comfortably.

Lu Yang’s expression was extremely ugly.

He turned to the young man angrily. “You were the one who took Nian Nian away last night, right? Uncle knows about it. Do you think you’ll get away with it?”

Qin Si asked, “Will you tell Lu Zhihong?”

His tone was disdainful, without a hint of fear, only certainty.

In the darkness, his beautiful narrow phoenix eyes were cold and deep.

Lu Yang realized that he couldn’t read the young man’s emotions at all.

Lu Yang’s lips moved, but he didn’t say anything.

His recent performance at the Lu Family hadn’t been very smooth.

Lu Yang was a typical case of aiming too high, with ambitions far exceeding his abilities.

His actual performance in the Lu Family over the past six months had been evident to everyone.

Although the higher-ups knew his identity, in fact, he was a legitimate relative of the Lu Family by blood, it’s already a few generations ahead. A distant relatives to be exact.

It was just because Lu Zhihong had a high opinion of him that Lu Yang had his current position in the Lu Family.

Letting Lu Nian run away tonight, whether she was abducted or ran away willingly, was a serious dereliction of duty on his part.

Of course, he didn’t dare to tell Lu Zhihong, not even let a whisper of it leak out.

The young man saw through him.

The young man in front of him was very different from the stubborn, lonely little wolf cub he had known in his childhood.

He suddenly realized.

The staff at the Lu Family estate had all been sent off by Lu Yang, and the corridor was quiet, illuminated only by dim lights.

Lu Nian was placed on her own bed.

The bedding was a bit cold, nowhere near the warmth of the young man’s embrace. He gently set her down, but Lu Nian still didn’t want to let go.

Her small hand still held onto his sleeve, unwilling to release it.

“Let go,” he said softly.

Lu Nian vaguely found the voice familiar and made a sound of acknowledgment, still feeling aggrieved and muddled.

From childhood to now, that voice seemed to have said many times to her things like to keep her distance, not to touch him, to let go.

But this time, the voice seemed gentler than those times… carrying emotions that her currently muddled mind couldn’t comprehend.

Yet, she obediently let go, as she always did.

Whatever he said, Lu Nian did.

And she… acted in such a way that she had never shown in front of him or Lu Zhihong.

Lu Yang’s expression couldn’t have been worse.

Leaving Lu Nian’s bedroom, he said to Qin Si, “I don’t know what kind of soup you’ve fed Nian Nian.”

“But let me tell you, you won’t succeed,” he said to Qin Si. “Nian Nian’s future has already been planned by Uncle. Someone of your status is absolutely impossible.”

Even if Nian Nian were momentarily misguided, Lu Zhihong would never agree to them being together.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You want to become the master of the Lu Family by these despicable means. Dream on.”

The young man’s voice was indifferent. “As I’ve told you, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Lu Yang’s patience had reached its limit. He roared in a low voice, “What exactly do you want?”

He simply couldn’t believe that one person could be good to another without any ulterior motives.

Being so close to Nian Nian, Lu Yang absolutely didn’t believe that Qin Si had no hidden agenda.

The young man replied coldly, “To do what she wants me to do.”

Anything she wanted, he would do.

With a tall figure, handsome features, and a special aura that was hard to describe, he exuded indifference, restraint, and maturity, with almost no flaws except for his slightly pale complexion.

Lu Yang couldn’t imagine that the little wolf cub they used to bully, who was covered in bruises every day, had grown up to look like this.

His face flushed red, feeling stifled and fearful, yet unable to say anything.

Yes, he suddenly came up with an explanation for himself.

If it wasn’t for the Lu Family’s money, he must be seeking revenge, for the Lu Family, for himself and Lu Zhihong, preparing to use despicable means to take revenge on his daughter.

Lu Yang took a few deep breaths, feeling somewhat relieved in his heart.

He had figured it out. The key to this matter was Nian Nian’s attitude. As long as…

Qin Si had already turned and left.

He had almost no good memories of the Lu Family estate, but he couldn’t deny that it was the place that could most stir his emotions.

But this time he left, his mood was different from before.

Lu Nian slept until noon the next day, feeling refreshed and energized, feeling like she hadn’t slept this well in half a year.

She remembered running out yesterday and having a perfect New Year’s Eve dinner with Qin Si.

Qin Si was a man of his word since childhood, so when he said he would repay her with a New Year’s Eve dinner, he followed through, which was quite like him.

She hummed a tune. “Miao Miao!”

Miao Miao pushed the door open.

Lu Nian asked, “Did Dad come back?”

Miao Miao said, “Sir is still at the company.”

“How did I come back yesterday?” she asked Miao Miao, feeling a little nervous.

She had been too happy yesterday. When she thought about it, she had really made a mess for Qin Si and the others.

Miao Miao said, “Mr. Lu Yang brought you back.”

Lu Nian paused.

Miao Miao whispered, “Don’t worry, Mr. Lu Yang told me that he won’t tell Sir about this matter and will try his best to cover it up.”

“And, he also said, ‘If Nian Nian wants to go out in the future, she can tell me in advance, and brother will help.'” She repeated Lu Yang’s words, smiling, “Mr. Lu Yang is a good brother.”

… Lu Yang actually acted like a good person this time?

Lu Nian was suspicious, not very willing to believe it.

But she remembered that she had been drunk at the time.

It should have been Qin Si who sent her back.

She didn’t know if they had argued, remembering that they were never harmonious when they were young.

She picked up her phone from the bedside table and sent Qin Si a message, “Happy New Year!!”

It was just a simple New Year’s greeting with no content. She didn’t expect Qin Si to reply.

Sure enough, after she finished washing up, changed her clothes, and had her meal, Qin Si still hadn’t replied.

After drinking her milk, she sent another message, “What are you doing?”

After a while, she received a reply, “Working.”

Lu Nian thought, “On New Year’s Day… Won’t they even take a break?”

“Thank you for treating me yesterday QWQ,” she texted.

“I’m just returning the favor for what you treated me before,” came the reply.

Lu Nian thought, “Oh.” So it wasn’t willingly after all. He’s quite clear about that.

But she had eaten so much last night, so she had balanced out the treat.

Her phone remained silent after that, with no further replies from him.

Lu Nian hesitated.

Looking at Qin Si’s name in her contacts, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to open the chat and message him, even though she knew his replies would be brief and few words long.