Chapter 666 - 669: Building Relationships
Chapter 666: Chapter 669: Building Relationships
In the twilight's soft light, the man stood under a faint golden glow, holding an overly colorful ice cream cone. The scene was somewhat bizarre, but more so, it felt like something indescribable was budding.
Tang Xin hesitated for a moment, then pursed her dry lips and reached out to take the ice cream cone. This was the first "gift" she willingly took from this man.
Looking up at Li Dun, she noticed his one visible eye was fixed on her, causing her heartbeat to quicken. She quickly looked down.
What was happening to her? Why did she feel this way? Was it just because this man bought her an ice cream?
But from childhood to adulthood, aside from her late mother, no one had ever bought her ice cream.
After a long while, Tang Xin hadn't eaten the ice cream and instead quietly said, "I'm sorry. I was a bit excessive just now."
Li Dun shook his head. "It's nothing. I don't usually mingle with crowds, so I don't pay much attention to such details. As long as Miss Tang believes I didn't mean to bully the kids, it's fine. To be honest, I'm honored by my choice. After all, a woman who is so gentle with other people's children will surely be an excellent mother to her own. I think when we have children in the future, Miss Tang Xin will be a wonderful mother."
"Children?" Tang Xin nearly dropped the ice cream, her brows knitting in embarrassment and urgency. "Master Li, what are you talking about?! Please stop saying such meaningless things. It's impossible between us."
Li Dun's previously earnest expression turned mischievous. He chuckled, "Miss Tang Xin, whether it's possible or not isn't for words to decide; it's something felt with the heart. Anyway, I'm confident about our future. Now, eat your ice cream before it melts."
Tang Xin wanted to say more, but Li Dun had already walked back to their table.
From the beginning, Yang Chen and the others had been watching everything unfold. Cai Ning softly said beside Yang Chen, "Actually, she's not a bad person at heart."
Yang Chen looked at Cai Ning in surprise. "You seem to know something."
"It's a guess, a woman's intuition," Cai Ning said with a gentle smile.
Yang Chen raised an eyebrow. "She could be faking it."
Cai Ning shook her head. "My intuition tells me she's genuine."
"Huh," Yang Chen shrugged. "I hope our heroine's intuition is accurate."
Tang Xin, of course, didn't hear any of this. After standing in a daze for a while, she returned to the table and took a long time to finish her ice cream.
Since Li Dun didn't buy ice cream for Cai Yan, they continued with dinner as planned.
After a hearty meal, Li Dun sent Tang Xin home, while Yang Chen drove the two sisters back to the Cai residence.
As they neared home, Cai Yan, still troubled by the day's fiasco, leaned over from the back seat, wrapping her arms around Yang Chen's neck. Pouting, she said, "Yang Chen, am I too stupid? I feel like banging my head against a wall every time I think about what happened today. What if someone I know saw it?!"
Yang Chen freed a hand to pat her head. "No one said anything. Why are you overthinking?"
"Do you really not think I'm stupid?" Cai Yan asked doubtfully. "Look at my sister; she never gets into such situations."
Cai Ning, sitting in the passenger seat, shook her head helplessly, remaining silent.
Yang Chen squeezed Cai Yan's cheek and said, "A woman who lives her life with sincerity is beautiful no matter what. Compared to many women who live with their brains, our Yan Yan could never be considered stupid."
Cai Yan blinked, then suddenly pinched Yang Chen's neck joyfully, "Darling, I knew you were the best!"
"Hey, hey," Yang Chen said, annoyed. "It's fine to think I'm nice, but don't strangle me! I'm driving!"
Cai Yan giggled, "Since you're so understanding, I won't sleep with my sister tonight. I have a gift for you!"
Yang Chen's heart warmed. He had forgotten about the lonely night before. "What gift? Give me a hint."
"You'll see tonight," Cai Yan said slyly.
Yang Chen's mind raced. Looking at Cai Ning, he grinned wickedly. "Ning'er, why don't you join us?"
Cai Ning, as if expecting this, turned on the car stereo and cranked up the volume. "I'm listening to music."
Cai Yan laughed. "Sister, you're blushing! Darling, look, she's blushing!"
In the dim light, Cai Ning felt even more embarrassed. She finally couldn't stand it and glared at Cai Yan, turning her sister's face away.
Back at the Cai residence, Cai Yunsheng and his wife were watching the news in the living room. Seeing Yang Chen bring the sisters home, Jiang Shan stood up excitedly and asked, "Yang Chen, you're back! Have you eaten? Would you like some tea?"
Yang Chen, eager to head to Cai Yan's room, declined politely. But before he could leave, Jiang Shan called out, "Yang Chen, wait a moment. I have a question."
Yang Chen thought, just say it already! I'm in a hurry to be with your daughter! But he kept a calm face and said, "What do you want to ask, Auntie?"
Jiang Shan, a bit embarrassed, smiled awkwardly. "Since our Cai family is now related to your Yang family, I was planning to prepare a gift for Old Master Yang. But since Yan Yan and Ning'er will be spending time with Ruoxi, I should send something to her too. I've known Ruoxi since she was little but don't know her preferences well. Could you give me some advice?"
Yang Chen smiled wryly. "There's no need, really. Ruoxi lacks nothing."
"Even if she doesn't lack anything, we still need to send something," Jiang Shan said, looking somewhat troubled. "I just talked to Ruoxi on the phone. She seemed unhappy when she heard about you all. I want to help Ning'er and Yan Yan build a good relationship with her so that it won't be too awkward when they meet in the future."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chen almost dropped his eyes out of their sockets!
"What did you say?!" Yang Chen exclaimed, his expression instantly stiffening.
Jiang Shan looked at him strangely and asked, "What's wrong? I said Ruoxi seemed a bit unhappy. But I understand, in big families, which proper wife would be happy with her husband having other women, even if she agrees on the surface? That's why military families have an advantage. Men generally don't have too many women around them, just like our old Cai. He wouldn't dare even if he had the chance."
Yang Chen nearly collapsed to the ground. Jiang Shan seemed to be his nemesis, capable of causing any trouble!
Although he never intended to keep the Cai sisters a secret from Lin Ruoxi forever, he didn't expect Jiang Shan to reveal everything to Ruoxi all at once!
What's worse, hearing about it through Jiang Shan made it seem like he was deliberately hiding it, which would only make Ruoxi even more upset.
"Mom, why did you make such a decision without asking Yang Chen?" Cai Yan, realizing the seriousness of the situation, stomped her foot anxiously.
Cai Ning also looked troubled but helpless.
Jiang Shan, sensing something was off, thought for a moment and asked, "Could it be that Ruoxi didn't know about your situation until now?"
Cai Yan couldn't even be bothered to answer, rolling her eyes and letting out a long sigh.
Jiang Shan quickly covered her mouth, feeling a bit embarrassed as she sat back down on the sofa.
Yang Chen collected his thoughts and turned to ask Cai Yunsheng, "General, why didn't you stop her?"
Cai Yunsheng smiled bitterly, "I was about to tell you. I wanted to stop her, but she made the call before I saw it. I only found out afterward. But since these are the facts, it was bound to come out eventually. You've made your bed, now lie in it."
"It's over! Ruoxi will hate me! I wanted to find a chance to apologize to her in person," Cai Yan said, feeling distraught.
Yang Chen rubbed his forehead, considering whether he should call Lin Ruoxi. But thinking she might still be angry, he decided to act as if he knew nothing for now. Fortunately, they were about to return to Zhonghai soon, and he could explain everything then.