Chapter 96: An Absurd Decision

He narrowly escaped disaster, but the woman he loved most, Lan Jie, left him just like that. The sweet days meant for their family of three had barely begun before they ended abruptly. With both his wife and child gone, Ke Sen was plunged into unbearable pain, sinking into lethargy day after day, unable to move past the agony of loss. All these years, he could never forget Lan Jie, nor could he accept another woman.

That was true until he met Meng Yi’er.

The first moment he laid eyes on her, Ke Sen was stunned. He had never imagined there could be someone in this world who so closely resembled his beloved Lan Jie. Especially those large, expressive, star-like eyes—so pure, so sincere. It was as if one could peer into her eyes and glimpse the innocence and kindness within her soul.

If he hadn’t been certain that Lan Jie’s parents had only one daughter, he would have suspected Meng Yi’er was Lan Jie’s biological sister. The circumstances of their meeting made the whole thing even more unbelievable: Meng Yi’er had found the token of affection Lan Jie had given him. Ke Sen felt as though everything was orchestrated by God, granting him a chance to make up for what he owed Lan Jie.

So, from the moment he met Meng Yi’er, he decided to pursue her, to make her his wife.

He could no longer give Lan Jie his love; he hoped Meng Yi’er could take Lan Jie’s place, bear the love he had for her. It was absurd, he knew, but at least it allowed him to channel his feelings of guilt. Ke Sen dragged himself out of his tangled thoughts, sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Silently, he admonished himself: Whatever happens, he will not let Meng Yi’er go easily.

—

Yan Yichen returned to Riverside Garden. It was late, and the neighborhood was quiet, the only sound the gentle rustling of lush leaves as the wind swept through the streets. The breeze carried delicate, sweet floral scents through the air. Despite the peaceful scene before him, Yan Yichen’s mind was in turmoil. The words Ke Sen had spoken—he had proposed to Meng Yi’er—kept circulating in his mind.

When he reached the base of his building, Yan Yichen looked up, gazing silently at the lit window on the top floor, his dark eyes softened by the glow. He lingered for a long moment before swiping his card, entering the building, and taking the elevator to the twenty-eighth floor.

As the elevator doors chimed open, a gentle voice reached his ears.

“Yan Yichen…”

Instinctively, Yan Yichen lifted his gaze. A slender figure rushed toward him, her expression anxious. The calm darkness in his eyes gave way to surprise the moment he saw Meng Yi’er. But her look was not so joyful; rather, it was filled with urgency—and even anger.

She fixed her round eyes on him, fuming as she demanded, “Where have you been?! It’s so late! Where’s Fluffy?”

Yes, the familiar tone, the familiar scolding. So this girl was worried about Fluffy?

Yan Yichen quickly concealed the surprise in his eyes, a faint disappointment rising inside him. He tugged at his lips, his dark, profound gaze glancing indifferently at Meng Yi’er. As he unlocked the door, his voice was lazy:

“Fluffy’s at home…”

He pushed the door open and stepped aside, gesturing for Meng Yi’er to enter first.

Meng Yi’er flicked on the lights, walked into the living room, and turned to lean against the back of the sofa, arms folded, looking at Yan Yichen with earnest eyes.

“Where did you go exactly? I’ve been waiting for you for ages…”