Chapter 78: I’m Not Even Afraid, What Are You Afraid Of?

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: I’m Not Even Afraid, What Are You Afraid Of?

Yang Xiaofei froze for a moment, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

But her expression quickly returned to normal. In the same tone as before, she said, "No problem, as long as you can make me fall in love with you. When two people are in love, intimacy is only natural. I wouldn’t refuse."

Wang Chenning immediately backed down. "Just pretend I never said that!"

"I thought you were a confident man." Yang Xiaofei’s gaze grew clear, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly. "Why not give it a try?"

"This has nothing to do with confidence!" Wang Chenning shook his head and shot back a question of his own. "Is your only goal for me to fend off your suitors?"

"Exactly!" Yang Xiaofei nodded. "I’m sick to death of them, so I was hoping you could help me."

"Do you take me for a fool?" Wang Chenning shoved the car door open. "Your suitors are all scions of powerful families. If I start competing with them for you, I might get myself killed and not even know how it happened."

"Since when are you afraid of anyone?" Yang Xiaofei remained unfazed, watching him with a placid expression as he prepared to get out. "I’ve stated my terms, and you can state yours. This is a partnership. We both get what we need."

Wang Chenning refused outright. "Not interested! There are plenty of men who’d be willing to help you. Find one of them!"

Yang Xiaofei said no more, simply pushing her door open and getting out.

Yang Xiaofei had come to see Yang Liansheng straight after returning from Europe, and Wang Chenning had come with her. Yang Liansheng, who was recovering well, was so delighted his eyes crinkled into a smile.

He insisted Yang Xiaofei and Wang Chenning stay for dinner and had a sumptuous meal prepared.

It was just the three of them for dinner; no one else was invited.

During the meal, Yang Liansheng brought up the young couple’s marriage arrangement.

"You two aren’t getting any younger. Why don’t we set a date for a formal engagement and decide on a wedding date?"

Yang Xiaofei kept her eyes downcast and said nothing.

Wang Chenning knew she wouldn’t voice an opinion, so he had to bite the bullet. "Grandpa Yang, there’s no rush. Xiaofei and I haven’t seen each other in years; we’re practically strangers. How about we wait until we get to know each other better before discussing this? After all, a marriage should be built on a foundation of love."

After speaking, he nudged Yang Xiaofei with his foot, signaling for her to say something as well.

But to his surprise, Yang Xiaofei said, "Grandpa arranged the marriage. I’ll leave all the future arrangements to him as well!"

After she finished, she even shot a glare at Wang Chenning.

Yang Liansheng looked from Wang Chenning to Yang Xiaofei, then finally said, "I’ll contact Chongjiu and have him come to Yandu. Once he’s here, we can all discuss this together. How does that sound?"

"Alright." After a moment’s thought, Wang Chenning agreed.

After dinner, Yang Xiaofei gestured for Wang Chenning to take a walk with her in the courtyard.

The plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, their delightful fragrance filling the air.

The two strolled amidst the scent of plums, but neither spoke a word.

Once they reached the pavilion, Yang Xiaofei finally spoke. "Why didn’t you just tell my grandfather the truth?"

Wang Chenning played dumb. "What truth?"

"That you want to break off the engagement!"

Wang Chenning gave a wry smile. "Let’s wait until he’s made a full recovery. I’m afraid of agitating him again! It’s still cold out. When the weather warms up, he’ll be completely better. We can talk to him about serious matters then."

Yang Xiaofei turned her head to look off into the distance. After a moment, she said softly, "I have to attend a birthday celebration in a few days. You’re coming with me."

Wang Chenning shook his head. "I never agreed to pose as your fiancé!"

"You already played the part of my fiancé at the airport," Yang Xiaofei said, looking at him expressionlessly. "In a few days, it’s Li Mingchao’s grandfather’s eightieth birthday. The old man already called to invite me personally."

"Oh, so you’ve learned that goading someone works better than ordering them around?" Wang Chenning said, deliberately leaning closer to her. "And here I haven’t even called you out for announcing I was your fiancé without my permission."

Yang Xiaofei didn’t pull away. She just looked at him quietly. "Didn’t you hug me in public?"

Wang Chenning chuckled. "That was a courtesy hug!"

The corners of Yang Xiaofei’s lips tilted up. "And what if Li Mingchao or Lin Annian wanted a ’courtesy hug’ too?"

They were so close that Wang Chenning could clearly see his own reflection in her pupils, along with her long eyelashes and exquisitely shaped eyebrows.

Her scent was even more intoxicating than the plum blossoms, enough to make a man feel drunk.

"I’m tired. I’m going to head back and get some rest soon," Wang Chenning said, refusing to discuss the matter any further.

"Help me with my jet lag." Yang Xiaofei lowered her gaze. The dim light of the evening was just enough to hide the blush on her cheeks. "I’m exhausted from my trip. Help me recover. I brought you a gift from Europe. I’ll give it to you in a bit."

"Alright." Wang Chenning finally relented. "For a gift, I suppose I can help you recover."

’This woman made a fool of me. I’ll get her back for this.’

"Then let’s go. To my place." Without waiting for his reply, Yang Xiaofei turned and walked out of the pavilion.

However, neither Wang Chenning nor Yang Xiaofei drove this time. Instead, they got into the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Driving at night was tiring and unsafe—after hearing Yang Xiaofei’s reasoning, Wang Chenning tossed his car keys to her bodyguard.

As the car pulled away from the Yang family’s villa, Yang Xiaofei turned her head to look at Wang Chenning.

"What are you looking at?" Wang Chenning touched his face.

"I never thought you’d come to Yandu and turn the entire city upside down." Yang Xiaofei watched him with a placid expression. "You’ve beaten up people no one else would dare to touch, taken Li Garden Hall from Li Mingchao, and snatched the Cyan Cloud Clubhouse from Luo Yuqing. I’ve never met anyone as lawless as you."

Wang Chenning laughed. "When you say ’lawless,’ is that an insult or a compliment?"

Yang Xiaofei turned her head away again. "In any case, I’m quite impressed."

Wang Chenning deliberately teased her. "When a woman says she’s impressed with a man, doesn’t that imply she’s starting to like him?"

Yang Xiaofei didn’t take the bait, merely gazing quietly at the passing nightscape.

They didn’t exchange another word for the rest of the drive.

Wang Chenning was glad for the quiet and closed his eyes to rest for the next half hour.

Just as the car was approaching her villa, Yang Xiaofei said softly, "Li Mingchao and Lin Annian won’t let you get away with this."

"I know. One wants to marry you, and the other wants to marry your sister. Of course they hate my guts," Wang Chenning said with a smile. "But don’t worry. Soon, they’ll be nothing more than a pair of dogs working for me."

Wang Chenning’s words made the color drain from Yang Xiaofei’s face. "What are you planning to do?"

"Actions speak louder than words," Wang Chenning said, refusing to elaborate.

Yang Xiaofei didn’t press him.

As before, Yang Xiaofei didn’t allow Lv Qinglan or any of her other staff to accompany her, letting only Wang Chenning into the villa.

Once inside, she went to take a shower, telling Wang Chenning to help himself to some fruit.

About half an hour later, Yang Xiaofei finally emerged from her shower.

The sight of Yang Xiaofei walking out after her shower made Wang Chenning’s eyes widen.

Yang Xiaofei was wearing only a loose-fitting nightgown, her long hair fanned out over her shoulders. Wang Chenning’s sharp eyes noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra underneath, and the strands of her hair draped just so, concealing what lay beneath.

"You’re either very bold, or you really don’t see me as a man," Wang Chenning said, walking up to her. He inhaled her fragrance and teased playfully, "Aren’t you afraid that dressing like this in front of me will turn you from a girl into a woman?"

"Lv Qinglan is the mistress of Li Mingchao’s cousin, Li Mingbo." Yang Xiaofei completely ignored his teasing, her voice calm. "She will definitely report everything that happened tonight to both Li Mingchao and Li Mingbo."

Wang Chenning was astonished. "And you still keep someone like that around?"

Yang Xiaofei shot him a sidelong glance, a lazy expression on her face. "If I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of?"

"Fine. Then let’s make sure she knows you’re fulfilling your duties as a fiancée!" As he spoke, Wang Chenning suddenly swept Yang Xiaofei into his arms, crossed the distance to her room in a few quick strides, and kicked the door shut behind him...