Chapter 146: Yanyichen's Secret (5)

Meng Yi'er let out a soft sigh and furrowed her brow.

Her brother was still the same, not changing at all; he still worried about her every move and felt the need to manage her in everything.

"Listen to me."

Gu Yunchen's deep, mellow voice carried an unquestionable tone of authority.

"Alright."

She was almost jumping for joy. Although she had been back in the country for some time, she had neither personal connections nor influence. Trying to find someone who had been missing for over a decade was simply like searching for a needle in a haystack.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time before Meng Yi'er called out doubtfully.

"Brother?"

When no one answered, she tentatively called out again in a soft voice.

"Brother, are you still there?"

"Mm..."

After a long while, Gu Yunchen suppressed the turbulence in his heart, and his deep voice came faintly from the other end of the line.

Meng Yi'er hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, her sweet, clear voice carrying a hint of delight.

"Brother, there is something I want to tell you..."

"What is it?"

"I..."

I've fallen in love.

Ring, ring, ring...

The sudden, urgent ringing of the doorbell interrupted what Meng Yi'er was about to say. Puzzled, she got up and walked toward the door. Who could possibly be visiting this late?

"Xiao Yi, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Brother... I can't talk to you right now. Someone is ringing the doorbell, I have to hang up..."

"Wait, who is it?"

Gu Yunchen's voice was noticeably much more alert.

"I don't know."

"Don't hang up yet. Why would anyone be there this late? Go open the door first, and I won't hang up until I confirm you're safe."

Meng Yi'er gave a soft sigh. "Brother... I'm not a child."

Her brother was still the same, not changing at all; he still worried about her every move and felt the need to manage her in everything.

"Listen to me."

Gu Yunchen's deep, mellow voice carried an unquestionable tone of authority.

"Alright."

Meng Yi'er's delicate face suddenly flushed a brilliant red. She pulled the pillow over her head and rolled around the bed twice in shy embarrassment.

What on earth was this man thinking?

"I'm sleepy again. Goodnight."

Yan Yichen quickly sent a smiling-face emoji.

"Goodnight."

"I'll wait for you to have breakfast together tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

Putting down her phone, Meng Yi'er tossed and turned on the bed in excitement for a while longer before finally falling asleep.

In the next apartment, Yan Yichen still could not sleep. Thinking of everything that had happened tonight, the cold and handsome expression on his face softened, replaced by a gentle and shallow smile.

He had finally told her, at the most appropriate moment, the secret hidden deep in his heart for so long. He felt as though a heavy burden had instantly lifted from his mind. Initially, he had been somewhat apprehensive, fearing that she might have long forgotten their childhood memories, but fortunately, she still remembered everything, and they had reaped a sweet reward together.

He had never experienced such an intense sense of happiness as he did tonight.

Yet, regarding that night six years ago, he still lacked the courage to tell her—lacking the courage to tell her that it was he who had taken her innocence on the night she was drunk.

He worried, and he was afraid.

He worried that she would leave him because of it, and he was afraid that he would lose her as a result.

He could not bear to lose her again, nor could he bear to lose this hard-won happiness.

...

The next morning

Meng Yi'er stood at the entrance of Yan Yichen's home. The door was opened by a woman in her forties or fifties. Seeing Meng Yi'er standing at the door with a stunned expression, Aunt Yun's kind and amiable face broke into a look of pleasant surprise.

"Are you Miss Meng? I am Aunt Yun. Our young master said a young lady was coming, but I didn't quite believe it... I never expected it to be true."

With that, Aunt Yun enthusiastically took Meng Yi'er's hand and looked her up and down.

She looked at her as if she were a rare and precious treasure, pleasantly surprised and deeply moved.