Chapter 449 - 296: Chen Yuan Takes the Initiative, Luring Ningning and Yaoyao to His Room
The arrival of Mr. Chen and Liu He had an impact on his peculiar relationship with the twins, but it wasn’t all bad.
At least his parents had proposed a solution.
Although the chances of this solution succeeding were minuscule, and it would almost certainly shatter their current harmony, even that slim possibility was enough to make Chen Yuan dread the aftermath.
It forced him to constantly imagine what would happen if he went along with Liu He’s decision and chose Ningning.
He imagined being alone with Jiangg Yao, telling her the plan face-to-face... He could just picture her expression. The girl who had always been so sweet and obedient to him might just snap. Slapping him a couple of times was a very real possibility.
To everyone else, it was a stopgap measure, but to Yaoyao, it would be a betrayal. It would mean everything she had entrusted to him would come to nothing.
The bitterness of it all was self-evident.
So, in a way, the proposal had actually solidified Chen Yuan’s resolve. In a moment of clarity, he understood what he truly wanted deep down.
’The future?’
’A vague and uncertain future.’
’He wasn’t going to think about it.’
’All that mattered was seizing the present and maintaining the wonderful, harmonious relationship he had now.’
’Whether it was Ningning or Yaoyao, he didn’t want to give up either of them. Having to choose—*that* would be the real cataclysm. The mere thought of it made his heart clench, filling him with an indescribable, suffocating pain.’
’He wouldn’t betray either of them.’
’They had both given so much. Why did one of them have to get hurt?’
’He was a grown man. Why couldn’t he be the one to stand before Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao and shield them from this?’
Lying in bed, once he’d worked through the crux of the issue, Chen Yuan felt an indescribable sense of relief.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind already churning with unscrupulous plans. Just like Ningning and Yaoyao at the start, he was so head over heels in love that he couldn’t be bothered with the consequences. As long as he could keep them, any method was worth considering.
’How can I make my parents completely give up on the idea of adopting a goddaughter?’
’It’s simple, really.’
Chen Yuan lowered his gaze, a shameless thought forming in his mind. ’I just need to sleep with them. Create a fait accompli.’
’That way, any notion of a "pure" brother-sister relationship becomes a fantasy.’
’My parents’ whole assumption rests on the premise that nothing has happened between me and the twins, that everything can still be changed.’
It was a classic case of: the higher-ups have their policies, and the people have their countermeasures.
...
The sky above the city was a deep, dark canopy, brilliant with a river of stars.
Next door, the two sisters had finished their nightly routine. A girl’s pre-bed ritual is naturally more involved; applying face masks and the like was an essential step.
Chen Yuan opened Green Bubble to his chat screen.
「Are you asleep, Yaoyao?」
He sent the message directly.
’The plan was officially underway.’
...
"Hey, hey, hey! I didn’t message my Young Master, but he messaged me! Sister, look!" Jiangg Yao, who had been lounging against a soft pillow, shot upright at the sight of the message, waving her phone in Jiangg Ning’s face.
"Are you waving it that fast because you’re afraid I’ll actually be able to read it?" Jiangg Ning asked, trying to get a clear look at the message.
"I’m not trying to let you see it. I’m just showing off."
"What’s there to show off about? It’s just a message..." Jiangg Ning waved a dismissive hand, feigning indifference as she turned, slipped on her slippers, and went to draw the curtains.
Jiangg Yao huffed, stuck out the tip of her tongue in a little grimace, and then quickly typed a reply:
「Not asleep...」
「What’s up, Young Master?」
Her phone quickly buzzed twice.
Chen Yuan:
「Is Ningning next to you?」
Jiangg Yao:
「Confused Raccoon.JPG」
’He finally messages me late at night, and he’s asking for Ningning?!’
’Didn’t you two already exchange contact info?’
The corner of Jiangg Yao’s mouth twitched as she typed back, annoyed:
「Yeah, she’s lying next to me.」
「Why, you miss her?」
「If you miss her, go talk to her. Don’t message me. (disdain)」
「(hmph) (hmph)」
「Next Door.」
After just a few messages with Jiangg Yao, a smile tugged at Chen Yuan’s lips. Yaoyao always had the ability to bring him endless joy. Even her jealousy was adorable.
He’d been feeling down after arguing with his parents, but Jiangg Yao’s messages were a comfort.
It only strengthened Chen Yuan’s resolve.
He sent another message out of curiosity:
「Did you two hear any strange noises?」
Jiangg Yao:
「No, it’s really quiet.」
「What happened? Young Master, why are you being so hesitant...」
「Just say what’s on your mind.」
Chen Yuan:
「It’s nothing.」
「I just sneezed really loudly, so I was curious if you heard it.」
Jiangg Yao:
「Huh?」
She was genuinely baffled by her Young Master. He was being so weird in the middle of the night. Their two suites were separated by several walls and were specially soundproofed.
’How could they possibly hear a normal sneeze?’
Jiangg Yao’s gaze drifted upward. She touched her still-damp hair, trying to guess what was really on Chen Yuan’s mind that he was so hesitant to say.
She turned her head slightly.
A face suddenly appeared right beside her on her left.
"Sis! You scared me," Jiangg Yao said, patting her chest. "You were completely silent, sneaking up on me like that."
"What are you two talking about?" Jiangg Ning asked, looking at her phone screen.
"If you want to look, just say so. It’s not like I won’t let you."
Jiangg Yao simply shoved the phone into her sister’s hands. "Chen Yuan just asked if you were here," she said, pulling the covers up and staring at the blurry ceiling.
"Yaoyao, go turn on the light."
"The lamp is on."
"I mean the main room light. Chen suddenly wants to video call. Here, look."
CLICK.