Chapter 219: Son, of the Yan family

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang exchanged glances but said nothing; Zhang Hong and Old Yan dared not speak more; Wu Maowen and Yan Xin huddled in the corner, while Little Aunt merely watched the show.

It was Grandmother Yan, relying on her age and status, who stepped forward to break the silence.

She looked kindly at Fan Xiaopang: "Girl, you're the Jin Suo, aren't you?"

Mentioning Jin Suo was a taboo for others, but not for this old lady.

Fan Xiaopang's smile lit up again, her voice sweet and obedient: "Yes, Grandma, my real name is Fan Bingbing—just call me Bingbing."

With Grandmother Yan breaking the silence, Zhang Hong and Old Yan finally snapped out of it—no matter what, guests had come to visit; they couldn't leave them hanging.

So both sides began exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves.

Originally, in Fan Xiaopang's plan, her self-introduction tag was supposed to be 【Yan Li's girlfriend】.

But Dong Xuan was watching from the side like a tiger, and after much hesitation, Fan Xiaopang still chose not to mention it.

Fan Xiaopang didn't bring up her relationship with Yan Li, and the Yan family didn't foolishly ask.

Just moments ago, Dong Xuan had directly introduced herself as Yan Li's girlfriend—now another publicly recognized girlfriend appeared, and the atmosphere was already so awkward.

No one would spell it out; everyone understood silently.

If they did spell it out, two girlfriends laid bare on the table—how would they even host them? Besides, no one knew Yan Li's true feelings; saying the wrong thing could backfire.

After exchanging pleasantries with the Yan family, Fan Xiaopang finally greeted Dong Xuan.

"You came too."

"Mm."

Dong Xuan gave a cool reply, then looked at Fan Xiaopang: "Uncle and Aunt just arrived, and you're already here—quite fast."

Fan Xiaopang smoothed her hair: "I'm still a step behind you, aren't I?"

On the surface she sounded calm, but inside she was gritting her teeth.

That bastard really dotes on her—he let Dong Xuan come to the family on his very first day, yet gave her not even a hint.

Luckily, she'd bribed someone to learn of the Yan family's arrival in Jingcheng, then drove nonstop from Baoshi Yixian to Jingcheng, and with fragments of Yan Li's past words, she found the right place—though late, at least she wouldn't let the Dong woman steal all the advantage.

But Fan Xiaopang would never say this in front of Dong Xuan.

On the contrary, she'd loudly claim she'd learned all this from Yan Li—even take credit for the house itself.

"... Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, what do you think of this house? Knowing you're not used to apartments, when Yan Li bought this sihe academy, I strongly recommended this one—it's quiet amid the bustle, right next to Houhai and Shichahai, perfect for living and leisure."

Dong Xuan's eyes widened slightly, her heart sinking—was this house bought by Fan Xiaopang and Yan Li together?

She'd only just learned about this house two days ago from Yan Li—how intimate had this fox and that dog-man become already?

Wu Maowen and Yan Xin were also stunned; the former, as Yan Li's close aide, knew almost everything about him, the latter, as the house's caretaker.

How had they never heard Fan Xiaopang was connected to this house?

Yan Xin's mind turned faster—he shook his head at Wu Maowen, mouthing silently.

"Bragging."

The story Fan Xiaopang told was known only to her and Yan Li.

Yan Li wouldn't—and had no reason to—expose her; so she could naturally take credit in front of Zhang Hong and the others, while subtly undermining Dong Xuan.

"..."

Watching Fan Xiaopang now clearly taking control of the conversation, while Dong Xuan grew quiet, even slightly flustered, even Wu Maowen—who'd been rooting for her—couldn't help shaking his head.

Cultivating inner energy was fine, but combat skills couldn't be weak.

Even seasoned martial masters had been killed by unknown novices with a single knife thrust—no matter how strong your inner power, if you can't fight, you're just a showpiece.

Dong Xuan's performance against Fan Xiaopang was even weaker than Qin Lan's.

But Wu Maowen was mistaken—Dong Xuan wasn't being weak against Fan Xiaopang; she simply felt the timing and setting were wrong.

In front of Grandmother Yan, Zhang Hong, and Old Yan, on their first meeting—whoever lost composure first lost points.

Not to mention she was playing the role of the gentle, considerate daughter-in-law; if she clashed with Fan Xiaopang, her persona would collapse.

Dong Xuan even suspected Fan Xiaopang wanted her to fight back!

Fan Xiaopang was a celebrity, and over the past few years, the public image of her was: dominant, gorgeous, cunning, unapproachable, surrounded by controversy.

Undoubtedly, this persona was terrible for a daughter-in-law—especially compared to Dong Xuan, whose virtuous wife-and-mother aura was stacked to the max.

To break the deadlock, she needed to provoke Dong Xuan into a fight.

After all, she wasn't a good persona to begin with; everyone would accept her fighting over Yan Li.

But if Dong Xuan fought back, her persona would collapse too; the Yan family would see they were both the same kind—perhaps even feel betrayed and disgusted.

Fan Xiaopang could not only erase the persona disadvantage, but possibly even win goodwill by posing as genuine and down-to-earth.

So Dong Xuan chose to endure, holding firm to her gentle, good daughter-in-law persona.

In fact, she even hoped Fan Xiaopang would provoke and bully her in front of the Yan family.

That way, she could use her own kindness and thoughtfulness to highlight Fan Xiaopang's arrogance and rudeness, widening the persona gap further.

But Fan Xiaopang wasn't stupid—since Dong Xuan wouldn't take the bait, she wouldn't attack either; she simply kept showcasing herself.

And after brief contact, she noticed Grandmother Yan seemed to favor her more—so she redoubled her efforts to flatter her.

Dong Xuan's eyes weren't dull either—she sensed Zhang Hong's warmth toward her, and began chatting more with her.

"Oh no!"

Old Yan's heart jolted.

These two... clearly hadn't done their homework—they didn't realize Yan Li's mom and grandma were only outwardly harmonious; taking sides now would easily offend the other side.

Without lingering, he strolled out and found Wu Maowen: "Has Yan Li arrived?"

"No, my brother went to the X Bureau for a meeting—he's tied up for now, won't be back for a while."

Earlier, watching the live stream via Wu Maowen's phone, Yan Li realized today wouldn't spiral out of control, so he'd stayed to finish the meeting.

"What a big heart."

Old Yan truly admired his son's psychological resilience—two girlfriends had shown up at the door, and he was still holding a meeting. No wonder this kid got rich.

"Sir, don't rush. Isn't this fine? Nothing's breaking out."

Just a moment ago, Yan Xin had been panicking, but now seeing Dong and Fan both calm and composed, he grew optimistic again.

"I hope so."

Old Yan still felt uneasy. To be honest, facing these two… daughters-in-law—one a big star, one a university teacher—and with his son away, this kitchen-cook father-in-law from a restaurant couldn't help feeling insecure.

Zhang Hong, however, adapted to the new role very well, probably due to her constant preparation back home—her mental readiness was solid.

So what if she's a big star and a university teacher? My son's still a billionaire, a rising business tycoon…

…

After chatting for a long while in the main room, Fan Xiaopang told Yan Nainai and the others, then stood up to go to the restroom.

After she left, Dong Xuan thought for a moment, then also said she needed to use the restroom.

Zhang Hong panicked and instinctively grabbed Dong Xuan, stopping her: "Xiao Dong, Yan Li is coming back soon."

Dong Xuan understood her meaning and smiled gently: "Auntie, I'm just going to the restroom."

As she stepped out, the Yan family exchanged glances. Auntie took the initiative to speak.

"Should I go check on her?"

Yan Nainai shook her head: "Don't interfere. Act as if you know nothing. Wait for Yan Li to return."

Not only did no one move, Yan Nainai also called Wu Maowen and Yan Xin into the house from the courtyard.

The Sihe Academy's restroom was in the northwest corner, renovated to be hardly different from the house's bathroom, except it was a squat toilet.

Dong Xuan had originally waited by the door, but upon seeing Wu Maowen and the others enter the house, she didn't wait at all—she knocked on the door.

"I'll wait for you by the gate. Want to talk?"

"Mm."

Dong Xuan stepped out first. After a while, Fan Xiaopang came out too. Since there might be cars or people passing through the alley, Fan Xiaopang voluntarily invited Dong Xuan to her G.

Seeing that G—the very car that had once graced the front page of entertainment gossip—Dong Xuan grew angry and shook her head.

"Just a few words."

The two stood beneath a tree not far from the courtyard gate. Dong Xuan spoke first, bluntly.

"I don't care if you're sneaking around with Yan Li—men straying a little is normal—but you thinking of moving in as Yan's wife? Impossible. Stay away from Nainai and Uncle and Auntie, or don't blame me for being uncivil."

Qin Lan had dared to snap back at Fan Xiaopang even during her time in "The Investiture of the Gods," let alone Dong Xuan.

Previously, in "Huan Tian Xi Di," Dong Xuan was the legitimate, acknowledged girlfriend.

The "Shuang Bing" rumors were all later developments, so Dong Xuan held absolute psychological superiority over Fan Xiaopang.

Fan Xiaopang even admitted it: "Yes, knowing you and Yan Li were together, I still moved in was a bit uncouth."

"Good you understand…"

Before Dong Xuan could finish her sarcasm, Fan Xiaopang replied: "But if it's uncouth, what can you do about it?"

Fan Xiaopang's bright oval face showed a hint of disdain: "Frankly, besides being first, what advantage do you have? Clinging to those campus feelings, pretending you're childhood sweethearts—when it comes to being stolen from, even childhood sweethearts get stolen from."

"Drive me away, and someone else will come. Yan Li's net worth keeps rising, and more women are eyeing him. Can you hold him?"

Dong Xuan shot back: "Can you?"

"Definitely stronger than you."

Fan Xiaopang radiated confidence: "In looks, figure, personality, career synergy—no woman suits Yan Li better than me. Only I can make all those other women dare not even dream of him."

"Arrogant."

Dong Xuan sneered: "You act like Yan Li can't live without you. In truth, you're just an artist under him scraping by. It could be you, or Li Bingbing, or even one of the Four Little Blossoms."

"Flattered by a few sweet words for the money, you've lost all sense of proportion. If he truly cared for you, I wouldn't be the first one here today."

Dong Xuan wasn't stupid. At first, she'd been fooled by Fan Xiaopang, but just now, she'd been mentally replaying everything—slowly, the truth dawned.

Yan Li had clearly arranged for her to visit his family—he wouldn't have slipped Fan Xiaopang in too.

He couldn't possibly have returned to Beijing just bored, and sat back to watch them fight.

Though she didn't know how Fan Xiaopang found out about Yan Li's family or this place, it was definitely done behind Yan Li's back.

Fan Xiaopang hadn't expected Dong Xuan to catch on so fast, but she wasn't alarmed—she declared boldly.

"Talking nonsense is pointless. Yan Li—I'm taking him. Bring your moves. Let's settle it with action."

Fan Xiaopang had avoided Dong Xuan for various reasons before, but that didn't mean she feared her.

Now that it was out in the open, she wouldn't hide or evade anymore. From now on, everyone fights for themselves.

As she stepped toward the courtyard, Fan Xiaopang suddenly remembered something and turned back.

"By the way, since we once played sisters, let me remind you—Qin Lan, that woman personally designated as my boyfriend, was the one you hooked up with during your breakup. Who knows which of you was the other woman?"

"Whoever's the other woman is still better than you—you can't even rank as a fourth or fifth."

Dong Xuan's mouth shot back without hesitation, but inside, her mind was a tangled mess.

She'd always held herself as the rightful queen among all of Yan Li's women—until this oddball Qin Lan appeared.

On her way back to the main room, Dong Xuan cursed Yan Li in her heart until he was covered in blood and mud.

She and Yan Li broke up before graduation, but just over a month later, they "reconciled."

Of course, Yan Li's version was that they never reconciled—he just didn't sleep apart. She'd thought he was just sulking, never imagining he had other plans.

…

"Achoo."

Yan Li, having left a certain bureau, sneezed, didn't care, and kept driving toward Yangjiao Deng Hutong.

He drove slowly, using the road time to urgently think of a strategy.

Today's not going to turn into a fight!

But how to handle these two women afterward, and how to explain things at home—that's the real problem.

He drove straight into the alley, and Yan Li had no solid plan, nor did he dwell on it.

When soldiers come, send generals to meet them; after all, he'd already imagined this day before.

After parking, Yan Li stepped through the courtyard gate. Yan Xin saw him as if a savior had arrived and rushed to report.

"The two of them stepped out for a few minutes alone. When they came back, the atmosphere changed—especially Dong Xuan, like she'd been wronged."

Dong Xuan got wronged?

Yan Li wasn't surprised. He'd seen Fan Xiaopang's skills—he knew Dong Xuan stood no chance against her.

But…

Yan Li entered the main room and quickly scanned the scene. Dong Xuan looked crestfallen, her eyes faintly red. Zhang Hong and Xiao Sheng were chatting with her.

On the other side, Fan Xiaopang sat beside Grandma, her expression unchanged—but her peach-colored eyes kept darting toward Dong Xuan.

Indeed, being wronged depends on when you're wronged.

When Fan Xiaopang first approached Dong Xuan, it was because Dong Xuan led the isolation of Seeing Huo Siyan and organized the harassment of Huang Shengyi. Plus, she'd debuted as a martial heroine—Fan Xiaopang had misjudged her as a tough opponent.

What she didn't know was that Dong Xuan's specialty was playing the pitiful little daughter-in-law—her acting was deeply refined.

Yan Li judged her as outwardly soft, inwardly strong—but that "soft" part? Only those who've experienced it truly know…

Seeing Yan Li return, Fan Xiaopang stood up first to greet him, taking his bag with practiced ease.

"You're back. Was the meeting tiring?"

Dong Xuan arrived a moment later, casting a wounded glance at Fan Xiaopang, stepping aside without approaching, only gazing tenderly at Yan Li and speaking softly.

"Are you hungry? I'll go buy you something to eat."

Fan Xiaopang paused, then smiled brightly: "Yan Li's back too—no need to buy anything. I'm treating us out to dinner. It's also a welcome for Grandma and Uncle and Auntie."

Dong Xuan hesitated: "Auntie, Uncle, and Grandma came all the way from Zaoshi and spent time talking with us—they must be tired. Going out would be too much trouble."

"That's true. Then let's get food delivered."

Fan Xiaopang didn't argue. She pulled out a stack of cash and car keys from her bag and handed them to Yan Xin.

"Xiao Xin, I don't know what Grandma and the others like to eat. Run an errand for me—take my car. Don't skimp. Buy the best."

Aren't you supposed to be playing the sweet, obedient little daughter-in-law?

I'll be the sharp, capable mistress of the house. A daughter-in-law being sweet alone isn't enough—she must be able to handle things and get them done.

With Yan Li's arrival, Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang, who had merely been performing and subtly sabotaging each other moments ago, now became visibly active—even engaging in minor confrontation.

Zhang Hong and the others were caught off guard, but Yan Li didn't flinch.

"Xiao Xin, order the meal. Wu Maowen, go buy me something to eat nearby—I'm hungry."

Yan Li responded to both Dong and Fan's suggestions, then gave orders to Fan Xiaopang and Dong Xuan.

"You two, don't stand around. Huanhuan and my mom wash the dishes. Bingbing and my little aunt help Grandma make the bed."

You want to show off? Fine—show off properly!

Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang glanced at him, said nothing, and pulled Zhang Hong and Xiao Sheng off to their tasks.

Old Yan, who'd witnessed the whole thing, shook his jowls, silently pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and sighed.

"From your grandfather, to your uncle, to me, to your uncle, and now your married cousin—three generations of Yan men, and you're the only one who didn't waste his life."

Yan Li waved his hand calmly: "Just everyday stuff—nothing worth mentioning."

While the women busied themselves, Yan Li and Old Yan, two men, didn't idle either. They rearranged tables and chairs, moved furniture where the layout didn't suit.

After finishing, Yan Li smoked in the courtyard. Dong Xuan, feeling the dishes and utensils were insufficient, came over while washing up and asked him to call Yan Xin to order extra utensils.

Yan Li nodded, reached for his phone—when Dong Xuan suddenly pointed at his waist: "There's a bug."

"Where?"

"Don't move. I'll get it."

Dong Xuan reached out, placed her fingers on Yan Li's waist, pinched hard with two slender fingers, then watched him grimace as she lightly clapped her hands.

"Gone."

Dong Xuan returned to wash dishes. Yan Li rubbed his waist, called Yan Xin, and turned to find Fan Xiaopang standing before him, holding a quilt.

"It's hot—no need to cover with this. Where should I put it?"

Yan Li stepped back warily, fearing an ambush—but seeing Fan Xiaopang's hands were full, he relaxed.

"Put it in the main bedroom's wardrobe. Let my mom sort it out later."

"Alright."

Fan Xiaopang turned to leave with the quilt. Yan Li's guard dropped—when suddenly, she stepped back, her flat-heeled leather shoe crushing down hard on his foot, then wore an innocent expression.

"Oh, by the way—I checked the weather forecast. Jingcheng might cool down these next few days. Nights get chilly. Better keep it."

Damn it!

Yan Li shook his foot, then noticed Old Yan stepping out of the main room, calmly lowering his foot.

"Where's the broom? I'll sweep the yard—pebbles got into my shoes."

…

With Yan Li holding things together, and both Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang needing to maintain appearances,

Though there was a faint whiff of tension, overall, the meal passed harmoniously.

After eating, Grandma Yan declared she was old and needed rest.

The house was too small—everyone should return to their own homes.

Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang had no objections—but one thing: it was getting late. Wasn't it unsafe for a woman to drive alone? Shouldn't someone give them a ride?

Everyone turned to Yan Li. He glanced at the darkening sky, then stood up silently.

"I'll take you."

But who to send first, and who second—that matters.

On the surface, sending someone first seems to show greater regard for them, but sending someone last might actually mean you deliver them straight home.

So Dong Xuan volunteered to yield: "Bingbing lives farther away—send her first."

"No, no need."

Fan Xiaopang affectionately tugged at Yan's grandmother: "Send you first—I'll have more time to chat with Grandma."

"Send you—I'm not in a hurry."

"I'm not in a rush either—send you first, you're on the way."

"…"

Why don't you two draw lots?

Yan Li volunteered that after dropping everyone off, he'd return home to stay with his parents—after all, it was his first day in Jingcheng, and he feared they might feel unsettled.

But on this matter, Yan Li's word held little value with Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang.

In the end, Old Yan and Zhang Hong stepped in to mediate, insisting their son must return home to sleep that night—only then did they quell Dong and Fan's suspicions, or rather, save face for the couple.

…

Dong Xuan lived nearby, so Yan Li dropped her off first.

As soon as they got in the car, Yan Li began explaining that Fan Xiaopang's appearance today had nothing to do with him—he had no idea how she'd come.

Dong Xuan listened silently, then suddenly asked: "She said you and Qin Lan got together right after we broke up—is that true?"

Damn—it was only because traffic was heavy and they were driving slowly that Yan Li didn't stomp the accelerator into the car ahead.

"She's talking nonsense—I…"

Halfway through his sentence, Yan Li suddenly remembered: on New Year's Eve, when he'd confronted Fan Xiaopang, to make himself seem deeply attached to Qin Lan and force Fan to back down, he'd embellished many stories about his past with Qin Lan.

Among them, he'd indeed claimed that he and Qin Lan had started dating right when Dong Xuan broke up with him.

But whether that claim was accurate, Yan Li himself couldn't say for sure.

When he met Qin Lan, he had just broken up with Dong Xuan; later, they rekindled their old flame, but they never clearly declared they were back together.

During that time, his relationship with Qin Lan advanced rapidly—he never formally confessed, but they tacitly accepted their bond; after the SARS outbreak intensified their emotional connection, they moved in together.

So when exactly he reconciled with Dong Xuan, and when exactly he confirmed his relationship with Qin Lan—this was a tangled mess no one could untangle.

Yan Li didn't much care to untangle it—he admitted he was playing both sides.

After thinking it over, Yan Li said: "It's a long story—let me drop her off first, then I'll explain everything to you at home, okay?"

"Fine."

Dong Xuan glanced at him, nodded in agreement, and Yan Li dropped her off at Beiying Community, then returned to Yangjiaodeng Hutong to pick up Fan Xiaopang.

Compared to his explanation to Dong Xuan, Yan Li adopted an interrogative tone toward Fan Xiaopang, who had shown up uninvited.

"How did you know this house and that my parents came to Jingcheng?"

Fan Xiaopang wasn't one to be easily cornered—she shot back: "When your uncle and aunt came, you told Dong Xuan but not me—what's the meaning of that? Am I not good enough for you? Or not worthy enough to meet your parents?"

"Does Qin Lan know? Where exactly do you place me? I've tolerated all your messes, but you can't just ignore me?"

"Why can Dong Xuan and Qin Lan go to your parents' house and play the perfect daughter-in-law, while I can't even show my face?"

"I came here on purpose—I want your parents to know I'm your future daughter-in-law. If you ever betray me and become Chen Shimai, I'll storm right to their door and make them give me justice."

"…"

Yan Li, rattled by Fan Xiaopang's outburst, softened his tone: "I mainly didn't tell you because I thought you'd be busy."

This was indeed something he hadn't thought through properly—he'd made a poor arrangement, and Fan Xiaopang had every right to be upset.

But one thing at a time—he'd been careless, but what about her planting a spy?

"Let's call it even."

Fan Xiaopang refused to betray her informant, trying to brush it off—Yan Li sneered.

"I don't need you to tell me—I can find out anyway."

Not to mention his intelligence network—only a handful of people even knew about this, so it was easy to trace.

Fan Xiaopang grew uneasy—she didn't mind being caught, she had ways to wiggle out of it, but if others got dragged into it, she might lose her job.

Reluctantly, she confessed to Yan Li, taking full blame and begging him not to retaliate against the others.

Only then did Yan Li realize the source of the leak—it was Hu Ya.

Before returning to Jingcheng, he'd specifically instructed Hu Ya to organize his work schedule, telling her his parents had just arrived and he'd be spending time with them—work should be reduced if possible.

Hu Ya was his Imperial Court of Ceremonial's Chief Supervisor—she would never secretly share information with Fan Xiaopang or the others behind his back.

But since she primarily handled company affairs, she knew little about Yan Li's personal life and didn't realize this was sensitive—she might even have assumed all the women were aware, and when assigning tasks, she'd plainly stated the reason.

What Hu Ya didn't know was that one of her subordinates—a clerk—had been won over after Fan Xiaopang joined the company.

That clerk didn't know whether the information was useful, but on the off chance it might pay off, he passed it along to Fan Xiaopang.

Fan Xiaopang received the tip and immediately came to Jingcheng—all of this happened within a single day, leaving no time for Yan Li or even the system to react.

"That doesn't add up."

Yan Li sensed a flaw—even if Hu Ya leaked the news of his parents' arrival, she couldn't possibly have known they'd be staying at a Sihe Academy.

Fan Xiaopang smiled: "Don't you remember you once told me your parents refused to live in high-rises, and that if they moved to Jingcheng, they'd need a private courtyard?"

"And you showed me the address of this Sihe Academy—you bragged about how you'd found a top-tier courtyard near the Prince Gong's Mansion."

"I… said that?"

Yan Li wasn't sure—he thought he might have, but it was just a casual remark, and with so many women, he truly couldn't recall.

Fan Xiaopang concluded: "Once you connect those two things, the range narrows—this city isn't that big, I recognize your cars, and since you just moved in, your comings and goings weren't hard to track."

"With skills like yours, why be an actor? Why not become a detective?"

Yan Li couldn't help but complain, but Fan Xiaopang let out a smug little hum, pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then poked Yan Li.

"Your little schemes won't slip past my eyes. Best behave yourself."

When they arrived, Yan Li told Fan Xiaopang to get out, but the latter unfastened his seatbelt and pulled him toward the stairs.

"What are you doing?"

Yan Li dodged: "You made a promise—you can't break your word."

Fan Xiaopang sneered: "I agreed to come back and spend the night, but I never said when. That's not breaking the deal. Hurry up, or I'll do you right here in the car."

This little bitch is getting worse and worse!

Yan Li sighed helplessly—there was nothing left but to finish this quickly.

More than half an hour later, after showering, Yan Li patted Fan Xiaopang's butt: "I'm leaving."

"Get lost…"

Fan Xiaopang couldn't resist kicking him, then sucked in a sharp breath—this beast, his waist felt like it was nearly broken…

…

He detoured to a clothing store open all night, bought a new outfit, changed, then drove back to Beiying Community.

Dong Xuan hadn't slept; she was curled up on the sofa waiting for him. Yan Li explained upon entering.

"I went home to visit my grandparents. Waited until they fell asleep before coming back."

Dong Xuan didn't say whether she believed him; her attention was now mostly on Qin Lan.

Yan Li reached to wrap his arm around her, but Dong Xuan sidestepped—he stepped forward and forcibly pulled her into his arms.

"I've been running around all day—she just moved in, nothing's set up. Pour me a glass of water."

"So now you've earned a reward?"

Dong Xuan shot back, but Yan Li played dumb, insisting she pour it. She pinched him, then got up to get him water.

Hmm—not too angry!

Yan Li wasn't thirsty—he was just testing how mad Dong Xuan was.

Probably because he'd deliberately arranged for her to meet his family today; even with Fan Xiaopang causing trouble, it proved he valued her. Dong Xuan's mood wasn't bad.

If Fan Xiaopang hadn't brought up Qin Lan, Dong Xuan might not have been upset with Yan Li at all—she'd have directed her anger at Fan Xiaopang instead.

When Dong Xuan returned with the water, Yan Li took two sips, then wrapped his arm around her slender waist again and began his performance.

"…When you broke up with me, I acted calm on the outside, but I was heartbroken. I went to Hengdian just to escape the pain."

"…I was in a strange place, my spirits low, life unbearable—then I happened to meet her… She patiently comforted me, helped me slowly crawl out of the shadow…"

"…She came all the way to Jingcheng to find me. I was torn… When I helped you land 'Snow Goddess Dragon,' I meant to make it up to you, then end things for good—but at the last moment, I couldn't let you go…"

"…Actually, there's one thing I've always hidden from you—that's SARS… When you were locked in school, it was her who took care of me…"

"…."

If what he told Fan Xiaopang was embellished, what he told Dong Xuan was half-truth and half-lie.

In summary, the core points were two.

One: Qin Lan and he had deep feelings—say less about breaking up.

Two: Though he was at fault for this situation, Dong Xuan bore significant responsibility too.

Yan Li knew exactly Dong Xuan's weakness.

The breakup was his fault—Dong Xuan hadn't done anything wrong.

But now that Yan Li's status had soared, women kept flocking to him, "devotedly" clinging to him—the dynamic had shifted.

What was once a normal couple's quarrel had, through deliberate manipulation, become Dong Xuan "abandoning" Yan Li.

The excuses were ready-made: broke up after graduation, thought Yan Li had no future, then when he rose to fame, came crawling back, pretending it was all about "campus love."

This logic held up—even Qin Lan had always believed Dong Xuan was this kind of person.

Even if she wasn't, Qin Lan was willing to believe it.

She wasn't alone—many others thought the same: conspiracy theorists, Dong Xuan's haters, dual-bing fans, Yan Li's extreme fans, and some anonymous "well-meaning" individuals.

For example, someone on Tianya claimed to be Dong Xuan's college classmate and leaked a similar story, with vivid details.

Yan Li checked with his system—it really was one of Dong Xuan's college classmates, and the person genuinely believed Dong Xuan had abandoned Yan Li only to come back after his rise.

The reason for the leak? Jealousy—Dong Xuan had landed a top-tier diamond bachelor, so the classmate wanted to expose her "true colors."

Because of so many suspicions, Dong Xuan had grown vague.

She knew the breakup originally had nothing to do with this, but she couldn't be sure Yan Li wouldn't be influenced by these "abandonment" conspiracy theories, or swayed by those foxes, and grow suspicious.

So Dong Xuan was sensitive about the breakup—she avoided mentioning it whenever possible.

Now, by linking Qin Lan to their breakup, Yan Li made Dong Xuan's anger feel hollow.

Seeing this, Yan Li pressed his advantage—soothing her with sweet words while subtly reasoning with her.

He didn't sweep it under the rug entirely, but he stabilized her—for now, he'd slowly simmer her like a frog in warm water…

(End of Chapter)