Liang Yu Feng had once considered "changing" Lan Lan, but it was only for a fleeting moment. He couldn't force her to change; he could only wait for her to do so willingly. He had already kept her by his side, and any further pressure would be counterproductive.
Xing Zheng, having witnessed Liang Yu Feng fall ill from standing in the rain for Lan Lan years ago, now watched him in a similar state and suddenly chuckled. He mused that in matters of the heart, it was always a case of one willing to be hurt and the other willing to inflict it.
From the moment their relationship began, Liang Yu Feng and Lan Lan's dynamic had been set. Even though Liang Yu Feng was now "different from before," in the realm of romance, he could never gain the upper hand with Lan Lan.
With this thought, Xing Zheng could only pat Liang Yu Feng's shoulder and say, "Keep at it."
Among Lin Mei, Lan Lan, and Feng Feng, Lin Mei was likely the easiest to approach in matters of romance. Both Lan Lan and Feng Feng were too carefree, especially Lan Lan. It was evident she didn't place much importance on romantic relationships. Yet, Liang Yu Feng was a man consumed by love.
That evening, the group stayed at Lin Mei's house for dinner. Xiao Yue and Lin Zheng De had prepared a lavish meal. Lan Lan ate with gusto, and during the meal, she didn't forget to praise her godson, "This little one is truly adorable. Those double eyelids, those big eyes—I've never seen such a cute child!"
Xiao Yue smiled and replied, "Your future child with Yu Feng will surely be beautiful too."
Xiao Yue had always assumed they were a couple, the kind who would eventually marry. She didn't follow the news much, so she was unaware of Liang Yu Feng's fiancée.
Lan Lan gave a dry laugh and chimed in, "That's right. My genes are good, so if I have a daughter, she'll definitely be pretty. Or perhaps, we could arrange a marriage between her and my godson."
"You say that after you've had her," Lin Mei said, amused by Lan Lan's jest. She didn't take the comment seriously, as she couldn't imagine Lan Lan having children.
Liang Yu Feng was usually a man of few words, and he remained unusually quiet during dinner. When Lan Lan mentioned that a daughter would be beautiful, he began to imagine what their child might look like, growing more expectant with each thought.
After leaving Lin Mei's house, Liang Yu Feng and Lan Lan got into the same car. Once inside, Lan Lan was still reminiscing about the child's cuteness, "I never realized children were so fun before. So soft and adorable, I just wanted to hold him all the time."
It was rare to hear her express such fondness for anyone. Liang Yu Feng felt that Lan Lan's doting on the child was akin to her acquiring a limited-edition handbag.
"Consider it," Liang Yu Feng suddenly said four words that seemed rather out of the blue. Lan Lan looked at him, puzzled, "What?"
"Having a child," the words had been held back for a long time, finally able to be spoken. "You like them so much, we can have one too."
"We?" Lan Lan acted as if she had heard something utterly unbelievable. She pointed at herself with her beautifully manicured finger, "Me and you? A child?"
Liang Yu Feng gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white, but he forced himself to keep his voice calm. "Is there a problem?"
"Of course, there's a problem! A big one!" Lan Lan exclaimed. "Don't even think about it. I won't have children with you. If you want a child, go find your fiancée to have one."
"Why?" Liang Yu Feng was insistent on getting an answer. "If not with me, who do you want to have one with?"
"Firstly, I have no plans to have children at the moment. What I said to Teacher Xiao earlier was just a joke." Lan Lan believed Liang Yu Feng might have gotten the wrong idea because of her comment. "Secondly, even if I were to have a child, it would be around the age of forty. With today's advanced technology, I can have my own child without a man. There are plenty of high-quality, genetically superior options in the sperm bank."
Liang Yu Feng's face gradually turned pale. "You'd rather go to a sperm bank than have my child?"
"...What kind of comprehension skills do you have?" Lan Lan frowned, wondering why he was becoming increasingly sensitive. "I just meant that if you want a child, find someone else to have it with. Don't have ideas about me. I'm not interested."
However, he only wanted to have a child with her.
Unfortunately, he didn't voice this thought. He then fell silent, not mentioning the matter of children again. They returned to the hotel without much conversation. Although he was usually quiet, his demeanor today was clearly different from his usual self.
Lan Lan was very sensitive to others' emotions. After finishing her shower, she couldn't help but ask him, "Are you angry?"
While showering, she had thought it over carefully. Liang Yu Feng had likely changed after she said she wouldn't have children with him.
"No," Liang Yu Feng replied. "You sleep. I'll take a shower."
He seemed to be avoiding something and turned to leave, leaving Lan Lan to watch him enter the bathroom.
She wasn't very good at coaxing men, and she didn't understand why Liang Yu Feng would be upset just because she said she wouldn't have children with him. He shouldn't be so arrogant as to think his genes were so good that she would be upset by refusing to have a child with him.
After Liang Yu Feng finished his shower, he didn't return to the bedroom. Instead, he stood by the window in the living room outside the suite. Lan Lan walked out and stopped behind him. "What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?"
"It's nothing," his answer was the same as before. "You go to sleep."
Lan Lan: "..."
Coaxing men was difficult, and coaxing a man like Liang Yu Feng was even more so. After repeatedly hitting a wall, Lan Lan decided to give up. She left him and went back to sleep.
Liang Yu Feng, however, maintained his posture, continuing to stand by the window. He didn't return to the bedroom to rest that night, instead sleeping on the sofa outside.
In the morning, Lan Lan woke up to an empty bed. When she went to the living room, she realized Liang Yu Feng hadn't slept there at all last night.
This was too abnormal. He usually wanted to hold her in his arms even while sleeping. Now he had actively chosen to sleep separately from her...
He must not have slept well last night; there were dark circles under his eyes, and his complexion looked a bit haggard. Seeing Lan Lan emerge, he showed no inclination to speak to her.
"Did I upset you?" Lan Lan asked again, trying to probe the reason. "Mr. Liang, can we talk directly? You're being so hesitant, and I can't guess what you're thinking."
Liang Yu Feng remained silent, bypassing her to walk inside. Lan Lan, having lost patience, grabbed his wrist. "Liang Yu Feng!"
"I'm fine," Liang Yu Feng said. "You go by yourself today. I'll catch up on sleep at the hotel."
"Whatever you say!" Lan Lan's temper flared. After asking for so long with no progress, who wouldn't be upset?
Therefore, she left Liang Yu Feng behind and went to Lin Mei's house with Feng Feng.
She stayed there for the entire day.
In the evening, Lan Lan returned after dinner. As the car stopped in front of the hotel, Lan Lan suddenly remembered Liang Yu Feng's haggard appearance that morning.
Lan Lan decided to let Feng Feng go up first. She went to the restaurant on the third floor, packed a dinner for Liang Yu Feng, and brought it up.
Liang Yu Feng's listless state suggested he wouldn't be inclined to eat on his own.
Lan Lan ordered Chinese food, specifically some of the dishes Liang Yu Feng often made for her. Once she had them, she went upstairs.