Chapter 6

“What are you doing here?” Yan Zhimo asked coldly.

Bai Murou froze. An incredulous expression appeared on her fair, delicate face. “Zhimo, how can you say something like that to me? Of course I came here to visit Mom.”

She lovingly caressed the faces of the two children behind her. Looking as though she had been bullied and was about to cry, she said to Yan Zhimo, “Don’t speak to me like that. You’re frightening your younger brother and sister.”

Behind Bai Murou, seventeen-year-old Yan Zhixing held the hand of his twelve-year-old sister, Yan Zhiyue. With a stiff expression, he kept his head lowered without saying a word. His entire body practically screamed, “I was forced to come.” When their mother used them as shields, he even shrank backward, doing his utmost to minimize his presence.

Yan Zhimo swept an indifferent gaze over the two children. He would never forget how, when he was only a teenager, Yan Zuyi had suddenly walked into their home one day with Bai Murou, who was holding a baby. Without the slightest shame, Yan Zuyi had told Yan Zhimo’s sickly mother, “From now on, we’re all family. You need to get along with Murou and not make things difficult for her.” He had then pointed at Yan Zhixing, who was only a little over a year old at the time, and said to Yan Zhimo, “This is your younger brother, Yan Zhixing.”

How ridiculous. His mother had been so gravely ill. How could she possibly make things difficult for a healthy, young, and beautiful woman?

Two years after Bai Murou entered their home, his mother’s health deteriorated rapidly, and she soon passed away. Yan Zuyi impatiently married Bai Murou, and two years later, she gave birth to Yan Zhiyue.

Yan Zhimo was far older than the two children. They had feared him since they were young and remained as quiet as invisible people whenever they were at home. Although Yan Zhimo had initially detested them, after all these years, his attitude had faded into indifference and disregard. His disgust and resentment toward Bai Murou, however, remained as strong as they had been ten years ago.

Jian Anmian silently watched the drama while privately marveling at how complicated the grudges within wealthy families could be.

Yan Zhimo sneered. “May I ask in what capacity you came to visit my grandmother? I don’t recall the Yan family ever acknowledging your position.”

Bai Murou’s expression changed. Glancing at Yao Xiandie, whose eyes were gradually becoming confused again, she said tearfully, “Zhimo, I know you’re anxious because of the activity on your Second Uncle’s side and want to obtain Grandma’s shares as soon as possible. But you can’t come asking Grandma for money immediately after getting married. How do you think that would make her feel?”

Yan Zhimo’s expression instantly darkened. His gaze shot toward Bai Murou like a blade. His icy, detached voice sent chills down one’s spine as he enunciated each word. “Bai Murou, do you insist on discussing this in front of Grandma?”

His grandmother held shares in the Yan family company. Knowing that she didn’t have much time left, she wanted to divide them among her children before she passed away. She had given everyone else their portion, but Yan Zhimo alone had received nothing. An investigation revealed that his Second Uncle had interfered. Taking advantage of Grandmother’s confused state, he had manipulated her into signing an agreement stipulating that Yan Zhimo could only receive his portion of the shares after getting married.

Yan Zhimo hadn’t initially planned to claim them so soon. However, his Second Uncle had been making too many moves lately, leaving the company extremely unstable. Obtaining his grandmother’s shares would greatly help him, which was why he had entered a contractual marriage with Jian Anmian.

Bai Murou was merely a delicate white lotus and remained afraid of Yan Zhimo. Seeing that he was genuinely angry, she hurriedly closed her mouth and didn’t dare make another sound.

“Qingxiong, why did you come so late today? The movie is about to start.” Yao Xiandie petulantly smacked Yan Zhimo, having become confused again.

Yan Zhimo resembled his grandfather, Yan Qingxiong, more than anyone else. Whenever Yao Xiandie became confused, she easily mistook him for his grandfather.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Please allow me to apologize,” Yan Zhimo said with a sigh.

He had no idea what year his grandmother had returned to this time, so he could only play along.

“Mianmian, go outside for a walk. I’ll stay with Grandma a little longer,” Yan Zhimo said.

Jian Anmian obediently agreed and hurriedly escaped without looking back.

Six people were crammed into such a small room. His social anxiety was about to flare up.

Afraid that Yan Zhimo might do something, Bai Murou forced herself to speak despite his icy gaze. “I’ll stay too. I haven’t visited Mom for a long time, so this is a good opportunity to talk with her.”

Yan Zhixing quickly raised his head, looking eager to leave as well.

Yan Zhimo suddenly said, “Yan Zhixing, you’re a boy and stronger than the others. Stay and help me massage Grandma’s legs.”

Yan Zhixing: “…”

He wanted to burst into tears!

Yan Zhixing was furious but didn’t dare speak. He agreed sullenly, reluctantly released his sister’s hand, and walked over with a stiff expression.

“Mr. Yan, may I go outside?” Yan Zhiyue gathered her courage and asked cautiously.

Yan Zhimo didn’t like them calling him “Brother,” so they had always addressed him as “Mr. Yan.”

Yan Zhimo gave a soft “Mm,” and Yan Zhiyue immediately pushed open the door and fled as though her backside were on fire. She didn’t care in the slightest how resentfully her biological brother was staring after her.

…

Jian Anmian didn’t want to take a walk. He only wanted to find somewhere quiet to sit and rest. Being able to lie down would have been even better.

The garden was filled with blooming flowers. Arches and covered walkways woven from vines stretched peacefully into the distance, with numerous wicker chairs arranged beneath them.

This body was allergic to pollen. Although Jian Anmian wore a mask, he still didn’t dare approach the flowers. He casually chose the nearest wicker chair outside the flower-covered area.

The moment he sat down, however, the chair swayed twice beneath him, making his head spin.

Jian Anmian’s expression instantly changed, and he hurriedly got off.

This body’s motion sickness was far too severe. He couldn’t even sit on a swing, and spinning around twice in place would make him dizzy.

Jian Anmian had no choice but to abandon the wicker chair and find a sturdy chair with a backrest instead. The moment he sat down and closed his eyes, he began dozing off.

…

After Yan Zhiyue came outside, she immediately spotted Jian Anmian sitting in the garden. Her heart stirred, and she ran over with quick little steps. Silently encouraging herself, she planted her hands on her hips and loudly called toward Jian Anmian’s back, “Hey! Jian Anmian!”

Jian Anmian remained motionless and didn’t respond.

Yan Zhiyue took a deep breath and launched into a rapid tirade. “Give up, Jian Anmian. The person Brother Yan truly likes is actually Brother Luochen, not you!”

“…”

“Brother Yan only married you for the shares. He doesn’t truly like you! You merely relied on being Brother Luochen’s biological younger brother and bearing a slight resemblance to him to seduce Brother Yan. You’re nothing but a substitute!”

“…”

“Once Brother Yan obtains the shares, I advise you to leave on your own and obediently surrender your position. It never belonged to you in the first place. You’re only holding it temporarily. If you know what’s good for you, you should return it to Brother Luochen yourself. Otherwise, once Brother Luochen comes back, Brother Yan will definitely kick you out!”

“…”

“Hey, Jian Anmian, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you listening to me?”

After chattering for a long time without receiving a single response, Yan Zhiyue finally sensed that something was wrong. Her delicate brows furrowed, and she lifted her skirt to walk around and look at him. Her face immediately reddened with fury.

He… He was actually asleep?!

So no one had listened to anything she said? She had spent all that time talking to herself and lecturing the air?!

Yan Zhiyue instantly became angry out of embarrassment and vigorously shook Jian Anmian’s shoulder. “Jian Anmian! Jian Anmian, wake up!”

While Jian Anmian was sleeping groggily, he continuously heard the clear, noisy chirping of a young girl beside his ear. He opened his drowsy eyes and saw Yan Zhiyue glaring furiously at him while speaking.

A stranger! And she was so close!

Jian Anmian’s social anxiety instantly flared up. He shrank into the chair like a turtle and quietly asked, “Little Sister Yueyue, what’s wrong?”

Little… Little Sister Yueyue?

Yan Zhiyue was instantly dumbfounded.

Because of the awkward circumstances surrounding her birth, she had never had many friends. Brother Yan refused to acknowledge her and never addressed her by name. Her biological brother, Yan Zhixing, was also the cool and aloof type who only called her by her full name and never called her his little sister. In all her life, this was the first time anyone had addressed her so affectionately. Her face immediately turned bright red, and she snapped in embarrassment, “Who gave you permission to call me that?!”

“I’m sorry.” Jian Anmian froze briefly, then readily apologized.

Yan Zhiyue became unhappy again. What was wrong with this person? Why was he so obedient? He must have used this pretended good behavior to deceive Brother Yan into marrying him!

Yan Zhiyue straightened her small body, arrogantly raised her chin, and looked down her nose at Jian Anmian. “Hey, did you hear what I said earlier?”

“I’m sorry. I fell asleep and didn’t hear it. Could you say it again?”

She knew it! What a nuisance!

Yan Zhiyue had no choice but to repeat everything she had said.

After listening, Jian Anmian: “…”

There it was—the threat from the protagonist gong’s relative telling him to get lost.

But this little sister’s threat wasn’t very impressive. She hadn’t even slapped him in the face with a check.

After Yan Zhiyue finished, she saw that Jian Anmian still had no reaction. He looked foolishly blank and didn’t even know to become angry after being bullied. Dissatisfied, she puffed out her cheeks. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Jian Anmian smiled softly. “I already know.”

Yan Zhiyue looked stunned. “Huh?”

“I already know everything you just told me.” Jian Anmian smiled shyly. “Thank you for reminding me.”

Yan Zhiyue: “…”

Hey, she hadn’t said all that to remind him! She was telling him to hurry up and get lost!

With that topic concluded, their surroundings suddenly fell silent again.

Jian Anmian had social anxiety. If someone didn’t initiate a conversation with him, there was no possibility that he would initiate one himself.

Yan Zhiyue was also a tsundere. She had firmly decided that if he didn’t speak, then neither would she.

They sat in silence for several minutes. Just as Jian Anmian was about to fall asleep again, Yan Zhiyue finally couldn’t endure it any longer and took the initiative to speak to him.

“You said you already knew everything, but you don’t actually know everything. Brother Luochen saved Brother Yan’s life. Otherwise, why would Brother Yan like him so much? As the saying goes, when someone saves your life, you should repay them by offering yourself in marriage. Brother Luochen is supposed to marry Brother Yan! They’re a match made in heaven, a destined couple! If they were in a novel, they would be the protagonist gong and shou! Their positions can’t be reversed, and their pairing can’t be broken apart! Cannon-fodder male supporting characters like you always end up dying without even a place to be buried. I’m warning you!”

Yan Zhiyue became increasingly excited as she spoke, her entire face turning red. She looked ready to weep [unauthorized copy]bitterly over their magnificent love.

Jian Anmian understood. This little sister had clearly read too many novels and accidentally projected them onto reality.

But this really was a novel. Unfortunately, she didn’t know that she was supporting the wrong couple.

Her Brother Yan’s official partner was actually Jian Anmian. Her Brother Luochen was the cannon-fodder supporting character destined to die without a burial place.

The truth in the novel was that the protagonist shou had been the one who saved the protagonist gong during childhood. However, the protagonist gong mistakenly believed that Qin Luochen had saved him, which was why he had always regarded Qin Luochen as his white moonlight.

Jian Anmian naturally couldn’t tell Yan Zhiyue any of this. He could only smile and quietly listen to her speak.

Yan Zhiyue was in the middle of an impassioned speech when she suddenly realized that hers was once again the only voice in the garden. She stopped and saw Jian Anmian gazing at her with those quiet, gentle eyes. She instantly bristled again and looked away with a red face. “Why are you staring at me like that? And you’re not saying anything! You’re so strange! How annoying!”

Jian Anmian wore a doting auntie smile. “…”

This was a textbook tsundere. It was his first time encountering one in reality. He had stolen content found inspiration for a character.

Oh, right. He had almost forgotten that he wasn’t an author anymore.

Sorry. Occupational habit.

At that moment, Yan Zhimo’s deep voice came from nearby. “What are you talking about?”

Yan Zhiyue immediately pressed her legs together, straightened her posture, and lowered her head. All she lacked was a formal bow. “Mr. Yan.”

“Mm.” Yan Zhimo responded before looking at Jian Anmian and asking in a low voice, “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

Jian Anmian froze and hurriedly took out his phone. Only then did he discover that its battery had died and it had switched off at some point.

“I’m sorry. My phone ran out of power. I didn’t ignore your call on purpose.”

Yan Zhimo felt slightly better. “It’s fine. Remember to check it regularly in the future and keep yourself reachable.”

He then looked at Yan Zhiyue, and his gentle voice instantly turned cold. “Why didn’t you answer your phone either?”

Yan Zhiyue jumped in fright. What? Brother Yan had actually called her too?!

Her heartbeat accelerated as she opened her phone and checked. When she raised her head again, she looked ready to cry. “I’m sorry. I… My phone was on silent, and vibration was turned off. I couldn’t hear it ringing.”

She had actually missed Brother Yan’s call!

It was the first time Brother Yan had ever called her, and she had missed it!

Waaah, she didn’t want to live anymore!

“Pay attention in the future,” Yan Zhimo ordered indifferently. Then he naturally took Jian Anmian’s hand. “Come on. We’ll say goodbye to Grandma, then get ready to go home.”

Yan Zhiyue followed eagerly behind them. Filled with regret, she switched her phone to vibrate and stolen contentswore never to turn it off again. Not a trace remained of her previous arrogance.

When they returned to Grandmother’s room, she was lying in the wicker chair, basking in the sun as she dozed.

Yan Zhixing wore an extremely sour expression as he diligently massaged Grandmother’s legs like a miserable laborer.

Bai Murou, meanwhile, was as quiet as a mouse while massaging Grandmother’s shoulders. Dried tear tracks remained on her face. There was no telling what sort of threats Yan Zhimo had subjected her to inside the room earlier.

When Yan Zhiyue saw that her mother had been crying, she hesitated for two seconds before walking over and stroking her face.

The atmosphere felt extremely strange. Jian Anmian was deeply uncomfortable. His social anxiety had flared up far too many times today.

Bai Murou took Yan Zhiyue’s hand and straightened. A trace of fear appeared in her gaze as she looked at Yan Zhimo. “Zhimo, Auntie will take your younger brother and sister home first. Remember to come back early for dinner.”

Yan Zhimo responded coldly, “Mm.”

Yan Zhixing sprang up from where he was crouching and eagerly followed Bai Murou out.

In the blink of an eye, only Yan Zhimo, Jian Anmian, and Grandmother remained in the room.

Holding Jian Anmian’s hand, Yan Zhimo walked over to Grandmother and crouched beside her. He said softly, “Grandma, we’re leaving now. We’ll come back to visit you again after some time, all right?”

Yao Xiandie’s clouded eyes stared at Yan Zhimo for a long time, but she remained confused. “Qingxiong, you mustn’t be late again next time.”

Yan Zhimo obediently agreed. “Yes. I’ll definitely be punctual next time and won’t keep you waiting again.”

“Goodbye, Grandma,” Jian Anmian said softly.

Yao Xiandie raised her head. When she saw Jian Anmian’s face, she grinned foolishly. “What a pretty young lady.”

Jian Anmian smiled shyly and waved at Grandmother. Then he turned and allowed Yan Zhimo to lead him toward the door.

At that moment, Yao Xiandie’s unhurried voice suddenly came from behind them. “Zhimo, where is your father?”

Yan Zhimo froze and abruptly turned around, meeting Yao Xiandie’s clear, loving eyes.

“Grandma, you’re lucid again?” Yan Zhimo hurriedly strode back and crouched in front of Yao Xiandie.

Yao Xiandie lovingly stroked Yan Zhimo’s face. “My good grandson, hurry and take those shares. Don’t let those little bastards bully you.”

Yan Zhimo lowered his eyes. Cradling his grandmother’s withered hand, he gently rubbed his cheek against it. “I understand. Thank you, Grandma.”

Yao Xiandie remained silent for two seconds. “Zuyi… still hasn’t come to visit me.”

Yan Zhimo clenched his fist and merely said, “Grandma, I’ll make him come and visit you.”

His scumbag father, Yan Zuyi, was utterly useless but had been arrogant, conceited, and stubborn since birth. Even when Yao Xiandie was young, she had been unwilling to hand the company over to him.

After Yan Zhimo grew up, Yao Xiandie doted even more on this exceptionally talented grandson. Meanwhile, the relationship between Yan Zhimo [Read on BaiLianTales]and his father was extremely hostile.

Yan Zuyi believed his mother hated him and was deliberately trying to drive him to his death, so he had unilaterally severed ties with Yao Xiandie. Even now, when Yao Xiandie had little time left, the stalemate continued.

Yao Xiandie contemplated his answer for two seconds as though she had understood something. Her expression instantly became deeply desolate. Yet in the next moment, she quickly became confused again and called Yan Zhimo “Qingxiong” over and over.

Yan Zhimo leaned over and kissed Yao Xiandie’s cheek. “Grandma, take good care of yourself.”

Yao Xiandie shyly covered her face.

Yan Zhimo said, “Mianmian, say goodbye to Grandma.”

Jian Anmian hurriedly said, “Goodbye, Grandma.”

The next second, a warm kiss carrying the clean fragrance of soapberry landed on Jian Anmian’s cheek.

Yao Xiandie beamed. “Pretty young lady, you must take good care of yourself.”

Warmth slowly flowed into Jian Anmian’s chest. The care the man had given his grandmother was selflessly passed from the elderly woman to Jian Anmian.

Jian Anmian froze. Then, blushing, he gently pressed his rosy cheek against Grandmother’s dry, warm face and whispered, “Thank you, Grandma. I will. You too.”

Take good care of yourself.