Chapter 7

After leaving the nursing home, Yan Zhimo drove toward the Yan residence.

The Yan family lived in a prestigious gated community for the wealthy. Far from the noise and bustle of the city center, it was surrounded by dense woodland and expanses of grass. The environment was quiet and elegant, with each detached villa separated from the next by a considerable distance.

The car passed through several security checkpoints before finally driving through an intricately crafted iron gate.

Beyond the gate was a vast lawn, with an exquisitely carved Western-style fountain at its center. They passed several flower beds and small groves in succession before a magnificent, extravagant mansion finally appeared in the distance, towering ahead of them. Even then, they had to drive for another half a minute before reaching it.

The butler had been notified the moment their car entered the iron gate and had been waiting outside for some time. When Yan Zhimo arrived, he respectfully stepped forward to welcome him.

Yan Zhimo tossed him the car keys, took Jian Anmian’s hand, and slowly walked toward the villa’s entrance.

Jian Anmian nervously took a deep breath. Here it came. This time, his journey of torment was truly about to begin, wasn’t it?

The villa’s doors slowly opened.

His sister-in-law, Luo Manxiang, wore her dark hair in a high, elegant bun and was dressed in a graceful black qipao that accentuated her figure. She welcomed them enthusiastically. “Zhimo, you’re finally back. Everyone in the house has been waiting for you so we can start eating.”

A young man peeked curiously from behind her. He was only about two years older than Jian Anmian. The moment he saw them, he shouted with overflowing enthusiasm, “Uncle! Auntie!”

All three people present froze.

Their nephew, Yan Chengyu, grinned from ear to ear like a eunuch who had just seen the emperor and empress.

He first turned to Yan Zhimo with an ingratiating expression. “It’s only been a few days, yet Uncle has become even more imposing and distinguished, even more handsome and dashing! No wonder my heart began racing the moment I woke up this morning, while the blood inside my chest inexplicably surged and boiled. It turns out you were coming today, Uncle! My respect for you is as endless as the mighty rivers and as uncontrollable as the Yellow River in full flood. Uncle, you are a dragon among men, a phoenix among beasts, a crane standing among chickens, the king of all creatures, a natural business genius, an immortal descended to the mortal realm, and the controller of the economic lifelines of billionaires!”

Then, he turned toward Jian Anmian and declared passionately, “Auntie, you may not believe me when I say this, but I never understood the meaning of the words, ‘There is a noble gentleman, as though cut and filed, as though carved and polished.’ But the moment I saw you today, I suddenly attained enlightenment! If anything could describe my first impression of you, it would have to be, ‘His jade ear ornaments gleam; the jewels on his cap shine like stars.’ You are as beautiful and moving as warm, flawless jade, and you sparkle like the gemstones decorating a ceremonial cap. You’re even brighter than the stars and Milky Way in the heavens! Your temperament is as gentle as the breeze, and your character as noble as green bamboo. No wonder Uncle likes you so much! You and Uncle are simply a pair of golden boys, a match made in heaven, a fated couple! Absolutely perfect together!”

Jian Anmian: “…”

Yan Zhimo: “…”

Luo Manxiang: “…”

Jian Anmian shuddered in despair, goose bumps scattering all over the floor.

What happened to the promised torment? Was Yan Chengyu planning to drown him with an assault of excessive flattery?

Yan Zhimo felt slightly dazed. No one had ever dared say anything so embarrassing to him before. Had his nephew always possessed this kind of personality?

Luo Manxiang remained frozen for a long time. When she finally returned to her senses, her expression instantly became as ugly as though she had eaten excrement.

She had indeed told her son to watch himself when he met Yan Zhimo and the others and not speak carelessly. But she absolutely hadn’t meant for him to grovel like a shameless simp who had become the living embodiment of exaggerated flattery! She had completely lost face!

Luo Manxiang laughed awkwardly twice and said through gritted teeth, “Haha, Chengyu, honestly. Are you really that happy to see your uncle and little auntie? Why is your mouth never this sweet normally? Look, you’ve made your little auntie shy. Why are you all still standing at the door? Hurry inside and sit down. I’ll go upstairs and call Dad, then tell everyone that Zhimo is back so they can come down for dinner.”

“You’re too courteous, Sister-in-law.” Yan Zhimo nodded and led Jian [unauthorized copy]Anmian into the living room.

Yan Chengyu followed closely behind them like an eager lackey, grinning cheekily. “Uncle, Auntie, I—”

“Chengyu!” Unable to watch any longer, Luo Manxiang shot Yan Chengyu a cutting glare and ordered darkly, “Come upstairs with me and call your father and the others.”

“…Oh. All right.” Yan Chengyu had no choice but to follow Luo Manxiang upstairs, looking reluctant to leave.

Seeing Jian Anmian continue staring upstairs, Yan Zhimo snapped his fingers in front of his face. “What are you thinking about?”

Jian Anmian blinked. After hesitating for two seconds, he tried to put it tactfully. “Your nephew… is very lively.”

Yan Zhimo clicked his tongue. “You’re being too tactful. Just say there’s something seriously wrong with him.”

Jian Anmian: Pfft, how savage.

Yan Zhimo continued, “And what do you mean, my nephew? He’s your nephew now too, even though he’s two years older than you and is about to start his junior year of university.”

Jian Anmian: Ah.

Yan Zhimo turned his head to look at Jian Anmian. He raised a hand and gently touched the stray hair behind Jian Anmian’s ear. Curling his lips, he said meaningfully, “That’s what happens when I’m fashionable enough to marry a little wife twelve years younger than me.”

Jian Anmian’s ears instantly turned red. He shrank his neck like a small animal and said in a slightly trembling voice, “Mr. Yan…”

Pretending not to understand, Yan Zhimo asked, “Hmm? What’s wrong? You’re my wife. Am I not even allowed to touch you?”

As he spoke wickedly, he pushed his luck further by sliding a hand around Jian Anmian’s waist. He tugged Jian Anmian firmly toward him and pulled him into his arms.

Stinking… Stinking hooligan! qnq

Jian Anmian trembled with embarrassment but didn’t dare resist. With reddened eyes, he stared nervously at the elevator doors, terrified that a large group of people would emerge at any moment and see the man teasing him.

Just as Jian Anmian became so nervous that he was on read the original at bailiantales.com the verge of hyperventilating, the elevator doors opened with a ding.

Yan Zhimo swiftly released him. Without the slightest change in expression, he stood and led Jian Anmian toward the dining table to prepare for the meal.

Jian Anmian’s heartbeat was already irregular from the man’s teasing. When he raised his head and saw the dense crowd of people seated around the table, his social anxiety instantly flared up.

Yan Zhimo smilingly introduced everyone to Jian Anmian one by one, and Jian Anmian obediently greeted each of them in turn.

The eldest brother, Yan Zhihai, was already in his forties. Although he was only a little over ten years older than Yan Zhimo, he looked nearly as old as Yan Zuyi. Heavy bags sagged beneath his eyes, his pupils were murky, and his narrow back was slightly hunched. He looked woodenly at Jian Anmian and nodded in acknowledgment.

Luo Manxiang cast Yan Zhihai a disdainful glance, then warmly and forcefully urged Jian Anmian to sit down.

Yan Chengyu stared eagerly at Jian Anmian, apparently intending to suck up to him some more, but Luo Manxiang forcibly suppressed him.

Bai Murou still wore that delicate, fragile white-lotus appearance. Her watery eyes made her look pitiable as she gave Jian Anmian a melancholy, sensitive smile that made his scalp prickle.

The siblings Yan Zhixing and Yan Zhiyue had once again returned to silently pretending to be air.

Only when Jian Anmian greeted Yan Zuyi did the older man act as though he hadn’t heard anything. He didn’t even glance at Jian Anmian. With a dark expression, he merely snorted before sitting down with the support of his eldest son.

Jian Anmian felt terribly awkward. Being publicly humiliated in front of so many people made him instinctively seek protection from Yan Zhimo, so he quietly edged a little closer to him.

Yan Zuyi noticed Jian Anmian’s movement and sneered contemptuously. “Something so low-class it can’t even be presented in public.”

Jian Anmian remained stunned for several seconds before realizing that the scumbag father had just insulted him.

So… did this count as being tormented?

His first experience of torment since transmigrating into the book felt surprisingly strange.

Jian Anmian looked expectantly at Yan Zuyi. He suddenly became curious about what even more excessive things the scumbag father might say.

However, in the next second, Yan Zhimo heavily set his teacup on the table with a loud clatter. His lowered lashes concealed his icy eyes as he said mildly, “Dad, the ENT department at Central City Union Hospital has quite a good reputation. I’ll make an appointment for you when I have time.”

Yan Zuyi froze. “What do you mean?”

Yan Zhimo stroked the side of his cup with one finger and raised his eyes to look at him indifferently. He slowly enunciated each word. “If there’s something wrong with your ears, you should seek treatment promptly. Mianmian greeted you just now. Are you deaf?”

The room instantly became so quiet that even a needle dropping would have been audible.

Jian Anmian: “…”

Had his torment… even lasted one second?

Dazed.