Chapter 19 He is so fierce

Xie Yan’s clothes were disheveled, sweat beading on his forehead. His dark eyes were deep and unreadable, full of complicated emotions as he stared at Xue Qingdai.

Xue Qingdai’s pale fingers clutched the edge of her sleeve. She was timid, and she knew full well that someone like the male lead, Xie Yan, wasn’t someone she could just throw tantrums at.

“Hurry up and come with me—your third brother is nearly going mad looking for you,” Xie Yan said, trying to sound gentle, but his tone still cracked. He was scared out of his wits and had run all over the place. Her disappearance had mobilized the entire family, including his own parents. Even the military district leaders had been informed that his little fiancée had vanished.

Li Zhonghao chuckled awkwardly, his thick skin saving him again. “Indeed, young ladies shouldn’t wander off. It’s dangerous out there these days.”

It seemed like Xie Yan had forgotten about him, which wasn’t a big deal—but Xie Yan still wasn’t the kind of man who doted on delicate women. The way he spoke, no matter how gentle he tried to sound, probably wasn’t something a spoiled girl could accept.

“Xiao Xie,” Li Zhonghao added, “Be a little gentler to the young lady.”

Xue Qingdai pouted and chimed in, “I agree with what he said.”
“Xie Yan, who said you could speak to me so harshly?”
“If you talk nicely, I’ll listen. I’m not unreasonable.”
“Where’s my third brother?”

Xie Yan was so frustrated by her attitude he felt like he might develop an ulcer. He hadn’t eaten all day, only wanting to find her as soon as possible.

She had wandered alone into the area near the train station—an extremely dangerous place where a few fugitives were still on the run.

Xie Yan was furious, but he didn’t want to tell her too many terrifying and gruesome details, afraid it would scare her.

“He fainted. He’s at the Xie residence,” he said.

Xue Qingdai’s tears fell instantly. “Take me to him, quickly.”

Xie Yan carried her without hesitation, letting her wipe her tears on his already crumpled clothes.

Li Zhonghao looked left and right—clearly, he had become the extra wheel in this situation.

Xue Qingdai clung to Xie Yan’s waist as she sat on the back seat of his black bicycle. Even in her dazed state, she could tell that his back felt very different from her third brother Xue Yongkang’s.

Xie Yan’s build was broad and strong. While riding, he kept glancing back to check on her, asking if the bumps were too much. He rode quickly but steadily.

Xue Qingdai’s panic over her brother’s fainting slowly eased as she saw the calmness in Xie Yan’s expression.

The alleyways were paved with neat gray bricks, everything looking a little worn. Most of the courtyard houses were shared by multiple families.

Outside many of the grayish-blue houses were potted plants, some still clinging to patches of green.

Xie Yan’s neighbor was an elderly man who liked to walk birds. His courtyard gate was wide open, with a few cages of larks not yet hung up. Their chirping echoed brightly, as if welcoming spring to the capital.

They passed Xiangfeng Grocery and then rode another five minutes into a quieter area before arriving at the Xie residence.

“Get off,” Xie Yan said, parking the bike.

Only after making sure Xue Qingdai had safely dismounted did he push the bike inside and lean it against the courtyard wall.

Xue Qingdai stepped into the Xie family house cautiously. Crossing the wooden threshold, her heart tightened.

She’d come to the capital to break off the engagement. Now she was stepping into Xie Yan’s family home, potentially facing his parents too. Calling off the engagement would only get more complicated from here.

Someone knocked on the Xie family door with a copper knocker.
“Xiao Xie, your little fiancée’s been found!”
Bang bang bang —the sound was muffled but solid.

Aunt Liu from the neighboring courtyard had just finished lunch and had heard the commotion next door. She knew the Xie family was wealthy and usually low-profile. This was the first time they were being so loud—all for their youngest son’s fiancée.

“She’s been found. She’s just shy…”

Xie Yan’s Zhongshan jacket was already wrinkled, and now it was smeared with tears and tugged in all directions by Xue Qingdai.

She was always acting tough around him, but the moment anyone else was present, she’d burrow into his arms like a baby deer.

Tough inside, but clingy outside—and still wanted to call off the engagement?!

Xie Yan gently patted her back. “Be good, say hello to Aunt Liu.”

This neighborhood, close to People’s Park, was a good place for retirement. Nearby lived some of Xie Songshan’s old comrades and relatives.

Xue Qingdai only reached Xie Yan’s chest in height. Her petite frame and dewy face—now red from leaning against him—made her look even more delicate.

Softly, obediently, she followed instructions: “Aunt Liu~”

Aunt Liu wore old clothes with oil stains, her black-and-white hair combed neatly, dish rag still in hand.

“Good, good. Xiao Xie, the girl your father picked for you is a real beauty. But you’re too harsh with her—she’s clearly young and very obedient.”

Xue Qingdai nodded vigorously and looked up at Xie Yan’s unreadable eyes. Still, she added sweetly, “Auntie, you’re right. I’m very obedient.”

Xie Yan pried her little hands off his shirt and held them firmly.
“Auntie, we’ll head inside now.”

Aunt Liu replied, “Alright. I’ll fry some radish fritters later—come get some when they’re done.”

Xie Yan smiled, “Sure. Thank you, Auntie.”

The spacious courtyard was currently home to only three people.

Xie Yan’s eldest brother, Xie Yun, was a professor at Jing University and had a dorm on campus. Very proper and traditional, he didn’t want to live with his younger stepmother.

Lately, Xie Yun’s son had wanted to bring his girlfriend to stay at the family home, but Xie Songshan had asked his wife Zhang Shuying to refuse.

So, for now, the household was quiet.

In the courtyard, water flowed softly in a stone channel.

Xue Yongkang lay on the pearwood daybed and suddenly woke up with a start.

“Daidai! Where did my little sister go?! It’s all my fault—I shouldn’t have gotten so busy and lost track of time!”

Seeing him about to run out without even putting on shoes, Xue Qingdai rushed over from a distance. She nearly tripped but was caught by Xie Yan.

“Your brother’s fine. The doctor prescribed some medicine,” Xie Yan reassured her.
“And you’re fine too. Went out to see a doctor on your own, didn’t you?”

Xie Yan seriously suspected that Xue Qingdai was here to drive him crazy.

He’d told her very nicely before he left not to wander off.

And yet here she was, carefree and clueless, happily exploring messy alleys.

Xue Yongkang and Xue Qingdai were crying together, wiping each other’s tears like they had just gone through a life-and-death parting. Xie Yan quietly backed away.

In his own room, he opened a bottle of red flower oil and rubbed it on the painful spot on his ankle. Thinking about how Xue Qingdai had never tried radish fritters before, he took a few eggs and went next door to trade them for some freshly fried ones.

Xue Qingdai had secretly checked her third brother’s pulse and confirmed there was nothing serious—just irregular sleep and exhaustion. The fatigue, coupled with the scare, had caused him to faint. Thankfully, Xie Yan had helped call a doctor. If her third brother had collapsed in some deserted corner in the capital’s winter, things could’ve turned out much worse.

“Little sister…” Xue Yongkang opened his mouth a few times but didn’t speak. No one in the family could really control their little sister; no one had any strict principles. Seeing how well Xie Yan managed her, safely bringing her home, he finally felt at ease. This brother-in-law was decent.

“Little sister, tell me—how did Xie Yan bring you back?”

Xue Yongkang made no mention of how she had snuck out on her own. In this family, anyone who went against the little sister would be in trouble. They could only keep a closer eye on her themselves and stop her from going to dangerous places.

Xue Qingdai waited for a while. Her third brother’s tone was cautious and gentle, showing no sign of blame. Compared to that, why had Xie Yan been so impatient and harsh? Her third brother was still the best.

If Xie Yan had just been a bit gentler earlier, she might have treated him better too. She’d only snuck out once, yet he had made such a fuss—he even got his parents involved in the search! Just thinking about having to face Xie Yan’s parents made her head ache.

Not all parents spoiled her like her own did.

“Third brother, Xie Yan was so fierce… he even scared me!”