The younger sister trailed Jian Fei, her shy demeanor keeping her close by.
Ke Teng walked to the car without saying a word.
Ke Teng could tell she had very little experience with men; her admiration and appreciation were written all over her face.
He felt a pang of sadness that she was so easily swayed.
Before they got into the car, he opened his arms to the sisters.
"Dinner was delightful, thank you both for your kind hospitality. May I have a hug?"
The younger sister naturally dared not.
She saw Ke Teng as her brother-in-law, how could she hug her brother-in-law?
Shyly, she pushed Jian Fei forward.
Ke Teng put one arm around Jian Fei and pulled the younger sister with his other hand.
"A hug, a hug. I've never had a younger sister before. You'll be my sister from now on. Give your brother a hug."
Upon hearing this, the younger sister, as Jian Fei's sister, couldn't help but shed tears as she felt his warm embrace.
He was so tall and broad-shouldered, his chest so solid.
Honestly, women are like this.
No matter how many times they remind themselves to be strong and independent, they still long for the embrace of a man to lean on.
Lying in bed, the sisters chatted.
The younger sister said that seeing someone as outstanding as Ke Teng suddenly made her feel that heartbreak wasn't so painful.
She seemed to have a realization, that her previous self was like a frog in a well, mistaking any man for the whole world.
Now she knew that person was utterly unworthy.
"Sister, when my hearing is better, I want to go to Tongcheng, to Shangcheng to look for work. I don't want to stay in this place forever, do you think it's okay?"
Of course, it was okay.
Although the younger sister's education was not high, she was very capable and hardworking since childhood.
Thousands of people could survive in big cities with their own hands, so why couldn't she?
"In the future, I also want to find an excellent boyfriend, a boyfriend as excellent as yours, handsome, gentle, and tolerant."
"Not like the men in our small towns who think they're amazing just because their parents can buy them a house in Sunshine Peninsula."
"I feel like I've grown up all of a sudden. You must be good to him. You are my life idol, you know?"
Jian Fei felt a bit stifled by her sister's words.
She had been busy with various things all afternoon, with no time for overthinking, and didn't feel much longing for Ke Teng.
But now...
The whole family was discussing him, praising him.
In the quiet of the night, when she was finally free, she, too, began to appreciate Ke Teng's many good qualities.
His voice, his smile, his every move, just as Ke Teng had said, were unforgettable.
Looking at their chat history on her phone from earlier in the day, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.
She really wanted to message him, to talk to him.
But she didn't dare.
She was afraid Ke Teng would sense her unusual feelings, her attachment, she was afraid of scaring him.
She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, no matter what. As soon as she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with him.
After tossing and turning for a long, long time, her phone suddenly vibrated.
Jian Fei snatched it up almost instantly and opened WeChat.
It was a message from Ke Teng!
She beamed with delight!
"Are you asleep? I miss you so much, I can't sleep."
These few words felt like the most wonderful thing in the world.
They made Jian Fei intoxicated, made her fall.
She reread the message again and again, greedily, suppressing the euphoria in her heart.
"Not yet. I can't sleep either."
Ke Teng replied instantly: "Are they all asleep then?"
"It seems they've all fallen asleep."
"Then can you come out? If it's convenient, I can pick you up, okay?"
Like secretly dating in school, afraid of being caught by parents, Jian Fei's heart pounded.
Ke Teng missed her and wanted to see her late at night!
Ah—
"Where do you live? Will it be too much trouble for you to come all this way?"
"No. I'm used to having you around. If you don't come, I really won't sleep well tonight. Are you willing to come out?"
Willing!
Seeing Ke Teng's words, Jian Fei had completely cast all reason aside!
She knew she wouldn't sleep well tonight without him, and she had also quietly grown accustomed to his presence, so she was very willing!
But she was still a little hesitant, still unsure why Ke Teng would do this.
She couldn't help but indulge in the common fault of all women: digging for answers.
"Ke Teng, I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Are you different from other second-generation rich people? I mean in terms of emotions."
Ke Teng replied without hesitation, "Yes."
"I don't know if my father told you about my past, but I'm the type of person who would risk their life for love."
"Once I set my heart on someone, it's for life. Would you think I'm stupid for saying this?"
How could that be?
A man who's a "love-struck fool" in love, isn't that the definition of a romantic?
What woman wouldn't want to meet such a man?
However, upon reading these words, while Jian Fei felt happy, she also felt a sense of regret.
If he would risk his life for someone he loved, then he must have risked his life for other women before.
She wondered how outstanding a woman had to be to deserve such a gesture.
Jian Fei really wanted to ask: Do you love me now?
But she still didn't dare.
Enjoy the present, don't overthink it, Jian Fei, enjoy the present!
At least you can clearly feel that he is devoted to you now, that he truly has feelings for you. Why demand so much?
Jian Fei struggled for a moment, then finally made her decision. She got up and put on her clothes.
"Come pick me up. I'm coming out now."
She tiptoed out of the door and ran to the intersection. Under the streetlights, she immediately spotted the familiar black car and the man leaning against it.
Jian Fei felt like she had suddenly become the heroine of an idol drama.
This man was waiting for her at her doorstep.
He was actually waiting for her at her doorstep in the middle of the night!
Such a dreamlike event could happen to her someday!
With a spring in her step, she rushed over and threw herself into Ke Teng's embrace.
It was as if they hadn't seen each other for a long time, their longing so deep they held each other tightly, as if they wanted to fuse each other into their hearts to feel satisfied.
"When did you get here? Are you cold? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I was afraid you'd be asleep, and that it would be inconvenient for you to come out so late at night. But after thinking about it for a long time, I couldn't resist wanting to see you."
Ke Teng lowered his head, cupped her face, "Do you miss me?"
Jian Fei nodded vigorously without hesitation.
Ke Teng smiled happily, "Then you're not going back tonight. What if your family finds out?"
"If they find out, so be it. I'm an adult now, what's wrong with having a boyfriend?"
Haha, he had implicitly admitted he was her boyfriend.
Ke Teng pinched her nose and leaned down to kiss her lips.
"You think so much, then I'm relieved. Let's go, get in the car."
Back in the car, they didn't start the engine immediately. They looked at each other, and a crackling current seemed to weave through the air between them.
Neither spoke, but their movements were in sync as they moved closer, and the car cabin became filled with a tender atmosphere.