How could anyone not misunderstand? A young woman rushing urgently to find an unmarried man with such impatience—it was bound to raise eyebrows.

Sanmao couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild. Their brother Kaizi was indeed an outstanding man, but Anxin was undoubtedly a beauty, with her bright eyes, white teeth, and a perfectly proportioned figure. Together, they seemed like a match made in heaven.

Anxin: “…”
You’re the one interested in Kaizi. Your whole family is interested in Kaizi.

Anxin was exasperated at Sanmao’s leap of logic. Did his mind only operate in terms of love and hormones? Couldn’t a man and a woman interact for professional reasons? With a deep sigh, she fixed Sanmao with a serious expression.

“Sanmao, listen to me carefully. Stop entertaining those ridiculous thoughts. I really do have important business with your brother Kaizi, and it involves your wallets.”

Her tone was stern, and Sanmao’s jaw dropped, his face turning red with embarrassment. After stumbling over his words, he finally managed to say, “Oh… uh… I was just joking! Don’t take it seriously, okay?”

Given how desperately Anxin had pressed him for Kaizi’s whereabouts, it wasn’t a stretch for Sanmao to think otherwise. Who else would chase down a man like this without reason? He couldn’t help but overthink.

But Anxin wasn’t interested in entertaining his awkward apologies. “I don’t care about your joke, but please don’t think like that again. I have no such intentions toward your brother.”

Her words were firm and straightforward. She was, after all, still married. Until her relationship with Bai Yichen was fully resolved, she had no intention of letting thoughts of another man creep into her life.

Sanmao looked visibly dejected. “Fine, fine. I admit I was wrong for matchmaking where I shouldn’t. Happy now?”

He still thought Kaizi was a great catch—rough around the edges, sure, but solid in character. Yet Anxin’s disinterest left him puzzled. Why did she see Kaizi as just another guy?

Before Sanmao could spiral further, Anxin’s impatient voice interrupted.
“Enough with the nonsense. Just tell me where Kaizi went, and be specific.”

Her tone was sharp. They didn’t have time for idle chatter, and Sanmao’s laid-back attitude was starting to grate on her nerves.

Sanmao, realizing her urgency, sighed. “Alright, alright. No need to rush. I’ll tell you.”

He shared Kaizi’s location, though reluctantly. Anxin quickly grabbed a pen and jotted it down on her hand, then held it up for confirmation.
“Is this the right address?”

Sanmao glanced at the scribbled words and nodded. “Yeah, that’s it.”

Without another word, Anxin headed for the door, shouting as she left, “I’m off to find Kaizi now. You or Xiao Zhong don’t wander off; I might need you both later.”

Sanmao: “…”
He watched her retreating figure, baffled. What could be so urgent that she not only needed Kaizi but also wanted him and Xiao Zhong on standby?

Returning to her rented home, Anxin was greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked food. An Yang had already prepared dinner, and the house was eerily quiet—her twin brothers, An Wen and An Wu, were nowhere to be seen.

Anxin stepped into the kitchen, where An Yang was plating dishes. There was a pot of white radish and pork rib soup, stir-fried garlic sprouts with cured meat, sautéed greens, and a refreshing cucumber salad. Everything looked delicious.

Anxin scanned the kitchen. “Where are An Wen and An Wu?”

An Yang, wiping her hands, replied, “I sent them to deliver dinner to Mom. Better than letting them run wild all day.”

The twins had grown accustomed to the area and often wandered off to play with neighbors or other children near the hospital.

“Oh, and hasn’t Brother-in-law arrived yet?” An Yang added, suddenly recalling Bai Yichen’s usual routine of visiting after work.

For days now, Bai Yichen had been commuting to the city after work to spend evenings with the family and visit Chen Hongyan in the hospital. His routine was predictable—until today.

“I’m sure he’ll be here soon,” Anxin replied while washing her face, careful to avoid smudging the address written on her hand.

Her thoughts, however, were elsewhere. How was she going to explain to Bai Yichen that she needed to borrow the jeep to find Kaizi in the countryside? She had no other means to cover such a long distance, especially with the sun already setting.

As Anxin contemplated her next move, a familiar figure appeared at the doorway. Tall and rugged, the man carried the weariness of the day but was framed beautifully by the crimson hues of the sunset.

“What are you two talking about?” Bai Yichen asked, his deep voice cutting through the air.

Anxin looked up, her face still damp, meeting his gaze. Before she could speak, An Yang piped up…