The term “boyfriend” made Meng Fu Yuan immediately tighten his arms around her.

Chen Qing Wu initially intended to give him a quick hug and leave, but she didn’t expect Meng Fu Yuan to hold her against the door and lower his head to find her lips again.

Barely a touch, and they couldn’t help but kiss deeply once more.

At this rate, they wouldn’t be able to separate tonight. Chen Qing Wu, panting, lightly pushed him, “…It’s almost been twenty minutes.”

Meng Fu Yuan snorted coldly, “In such a hurry to see him?”

Chen Qing Wu’s shoulders shook with laughter.

With difficulty, she finally left Meng Fu Yuan’s room.

As she stepped into the corridor, all the accumulated shyness of the night flooded back. She touched her face, still remarkably hot.

She took deep breaths, calming herself down as she descended the stairs. At the stairway, she patted her cheeks several times and took a deep breath, feeling her turbulent emotions settle.

Walking towards the backyard, she pushed the door open.

Outside, the wind and snow were swirling. A thin layer of snow had already settled on the treetops in the yard.

On the wooden table under the tree shadows, several white glass candles were burning. In the night, the flickering candlelight reflected off the snow, giving the hazy orange light a warm appearance.

Next to the candles, there was a bouquet of roses wrapped in black paper. In the snowy scene, the red roses appeared even more delicate.

Meng Qi Ran was pacing in the yard, looking somewhat anxious.

He had changed into formal attire at some point, wearing a dark gray suit with a black overcoat. His tall and slender figure exuded an elegant and refined aura.

Chen Qing Wu was taken aback by the unexpected scene, hesitating for a moment.

At that moment, Meng Qi Ran noticed her, “Qing Wu.”

He finally remembered to push back the sleeve of his coat and check his watch.

It had already been twenty minutes. The anxiety of waiting had made it impossible for him to articulate his words fully, so he hadn’t even noticed the passage of time.

Chen Qing Wu walked towards Meng Qi Ran.

When she reached him, she smiled, “Why are you in formal attire? Are you going out?”

Meng Qi Ran just looked at her, “Listen to me first.”

“Mm… go ahead.”

Meng Qi Ran didn’t speak immediately. He seemed a bit nervous, smoothing his wrist.

Chen Qing Wu rarely saw him like this. He was usually the type to be at ease even before a final match.

Meng Qi Ran lowered his eyes, taking a deep breath. After a long preparation, he finally looked up, meeting Chen Qing Wu’s gaze, “Qing Wu, there are things I’ve been avoiding. You were right; I didn’t want to take responsibility or give up my freedom. For the past six months, I’ve been trying to make up for it, but it seems like everything I did pushed you further away. Maybe I grew too slowly… I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I never blamed you…”

“Let me finish.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded.

“I’ve thought it through. It’s not about making up for anything, and it’s not because I’m not used to losing you. Qing Wu, I genuinely like you… and I want to show you my determination.”

Meng Qi Ran paused, reaching into his coat pocket.

A moment later, a small square box appeared in his hand.

Chen Qing Wu, shocked, realized what this overly formal gesture meant.

She suddenly felt a sense of sadness, not for herself but for Qi Ran.

Perhaps those who have been troubled by love can’t bear to see others walk into an impossible path.

Unable to bear it, she spoke up quickly, just before Meng Qi Ran could reveal his intentions, “Qi Ran, I need to tell you something first.”

Meng Qi Ran paused.

Chen Qing Wu instinctively clenched her fingers, “…I’m with someone I like.”

Meng Qi Ran was stunned.

“I told you before that I’d tell you who it was when we got together…”

She stopped because Meng Qi Ran suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her right hand.

Chen Qing Wu followed his gaze.

The silver ring on her ring finger.

Meng Qi Ran felt a pang of suffocation.

When she interrupted him, he had already sensed something.

But when it was confirmed, it still hit him like a lightning strike.

Like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand, yanked out violently.

Unable to continue pretending not to know.

The kiss marks, the lighter, the subtle atmosphere between them, the slightly off “Brother Yuan” address… and the night of the Dragon Boat Festival last year when he drove her back to Dongcheng overnight, lying about it being for work.

Meng Qi Ran’s heart sank, “Is it Meng Fu Yuan?”

“…Yes.”

“Why?”

Chen Qing Wu was speechless.

Conflicting emotions filled Meng Qi Ran’s chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

He didn’t necessarily expect a result, only wanting to show his determination to Qing Wu—nothing else mattered. He was willing to bow his head for her.

All his attempts to get closer over the past six months had seemed futile. He had no chance to show his sincerity.

It was as if she had drawn an unbreachable boundary. Inside, they could maintain their childhood friendship; outside, nothing was allowed.

The name she murmured in her fever dream, he couldn’t be sure it was him.

It was a gamble, hoping she still had a sliver of reliance on him.

Like a gambler who had lost everything, discovering one last chip.

Desperate for a last chance at a comeback.

But he couldn’t deceive himself.

Qing Wu had never called his name with such formality. The name after “Meng” wasn’t “Qi Ran.”

He thrust the box into Chen Qing Wu’s hand and quickly walked away.

The backyard door opened and slammed shut with a gust of wind.

Seeing Meng Qi Ran so furious, Chen Qing Wu panicked, quickly placing the box on the wooden table and chasing after him.

As she reached the living room, she heard a commotion from the second-floor stairway.

Chen Qing Wu hurriedly ran up the stairs, stopping on the second-floor landing and looking up.

Meng Fu Yuan, who had changed his clothes, was blocked by Meng Qi Ran.

Meng Qi Ran, his eyes wide with anger, had grabbed Meng Fu Yuan by the collar of his black sweater.

“I ask you, is it true?”

“Of course, it’s true.”

“Why? Qing Wu is someone I like. Why did you make a move on her?!”

“I should be asking you that. You made Qing Wu wait for you for so many years. Do you deserve to say you like her?”

“That’s between me and her. How could you take advantage of the situation…”

“Because I love her more than you do.”

The determination in his voice was palpable.

Meng Qi Ran, breathing heavily, unable to think clearly due to anger, swung his fist without hesitation.

Chen Qing Wu cried out in alarm, stepping forward.

Meng Fu Yuan, however, looked down calmly and reassured her, “It’s okay, Qing Wu.” His voice was unusually calm.

His glasses askew, Meng Fu Yuan pushed them back with his finger, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and coldly asked, “Do you want to keep fighting?”

The two brothers were evenly matched in physique. If Meng Fu Yuan wanted to block the punch, there was no reason he couldn’t. Most likely, he intentionally didn’t dodge.

He always remembered the responsibility of nearly causing Qi Ran to drown back then, so taking a punch from him seemed like paying a debt.

Meng Qi Ran’s chest heaved violently.

Meng Fu Yuan grabbed his arm and forcibly pried his hand from his collar. “Qi Ran, you’ve been leading for twenty-five years. That’s roughly a third of a person’s life. You should reflect on why you wasted a third of Qing Wu’s life. Don’t ask me for an explanation; no one owes you anything.”

“You…”

“Also, do you dare tell Qing Wu? When you lost that study room competition to me, what was the content of that competition?”

This statement struck Meng Qi Ran like a thunderbolt, rendering him speechless.

At this moment, a noise came from the direction of the tea room.

Hearing the commotion, the parents from both sides rushed out.

They gathered at the staircase, all looking up. Qi Lin saw that something was wrong and hurriedly ran up, “What’s going on? Arguing is one thing, but why did you get physical…”

Meng Qi Ran took a sharp breath, avoiding both Meng Fu Yuan and Chen Qing Wu as he quickly headed downstairs.

As he passed by Qi Lin, she reached out to grab his arm. He gently grasped her arm and then released it.

“Qi Ran…”

Meng Qi Ran pushed past Meng Chengyong, who was coming to meet him at the foot of the stairs, and strode toward the door.

Chen Qing Wu hesitated only for a moment before running down the stairs and chasing after him.

Outside, the cold wind was howling. She was only wearing an open-collar sweater but paid no heed to the cold as she ran through the front yard to the gate.

Sure enough, after a moment, Meng Qi Ran came out of the garage on his motorcycle.

Without thinking, Chen Qing Wu rushed into the road and extended her arm to block him.

Meng Qi Ran braked suddenly.

By this time, the others inside had also followed out.

Qi Lin looked anxiously at Meng Qi Ran and Chen Qing Wu.

Chen Qing Wu stepped forward, grabbing the handlebars of the motorcycle, and looked up at Meng Qi Ran, who was seated.

He was clearly overwhelmed by his emotions, having forgotten to wear his helmet.

“Qi Ran, calm down.”

Meng Qi Ran’s hand rested on the throttle, looking at her coldly.

“I know it’s hard for you to accept. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. If you feel hurt, I’m sorry. You can confront me, or even yell at me, but don’t risk your life.”

“Do you care?” Meng Qi Ran scoffed.

Chen Qing Wu closed her eyes for a moment, “Let me ask you, do you care? If you think it’s okay for me to live with guilt for the rest of my life in case something happens to you, then go ahead.”

She released her grip and stepped to the side, clearing the way for him.

Meng Qi Ran stood still for a moment.

At this moment, anger, pain, regret, and helplessness mixed inside him like boiling lava, making it unbearable and leaving him no outlet.

Finally, he punched the gas tank cover and took a deep breath.

He turned off the engine, got off the bike, and pulled his coat tighter, walking away with his head down.

Qi Lin hurriedly stepped forward, “Qi Ran…”

Chen Qing Wu looked at her, “Auntie, let him be alone for a while.”

Qi Lin stopped in her tracks, watching Meng Qi Ran’s retreating figure with worry.

Suddenly, she realized that another problem loomed.

Meng Qi Ran wouldn’t have such a big argument with his brother for no reason unless…

At this moment, Chen Suiliang spoke up, “Fu Yuan, what exactly happened?”

Meng Fu Yuan looked ahead at Chen Qing Wu.

Qi Lin also turned to look, “Qing Wu…” She shook her head, her expression pleading: Don’t say it, don’t say it.

Chen Qing Wu saw her expression.

She looked past Qi Lin at Meng Fu Yuan.

At that moment, Meng Fu Yuan’s heart tightened.

It felt like his lifeline was once again in her hands, subject to her will.

Even though their feelings were mutual, facing all the pressure wasn’t easy.

If she backed out now, he wouldn’t blame her.

However, Chen Qing Wu didn’t hesitate for a second and walked straight toward him.

In his life, no one had ever chosen him so resolutely.

Meng Fu Yuan’s eyes warmed, and he extended his hand to her.

As she walked those few steps, it felt to him like reliving the past six years.

When she reached him, she offered her hand.

Meng Fu Yuan grasped it tightly.

The wind and snow outside were relentless, and she had come out chasing after someone without even putting on a coat. Her fingers were so cold—what if she got a fever again?

Without thinking, Meng Fu Yuan put his arm around her shoulders, letting her lean into him.

Although he was only wearing a sweater, he wanted to share some warmth with her.

He looked at the four shocked parents opposite and calmly said, “Qing Wu and I are together.”