Lan Yixian looked at the scene in front of her, her gaze resting on Liu Zhiyue’s face.

She was slightly dazed.

She had thought for a long time that, in certain ways, Liu Zhiyue resembled Liu Changqing quite a bit.

Maybe it was because the father and son shared similar features, and that overlap made her feel this way.

As time passed, she slowly recovered from her initial shock.

Her eyes shifted subtly to glance at Liu Zhiyue, who was looking at her, and then to her daughter who was still in his arms...

“Zhiyue...”

Lan Yixian tried to say something.

“You and Shiyan are still young. This whole ‘liking someone’ thing... could just be a misunderstanding.”

“It’s not a misunderstanding. I do like your daughter.”

With that response, Liu Zhiyue slowly let go of Zhou Shiyan.

But the moment she felt his arms relax, Zhou Shiyan tried to slip away from him.

Unfortunately, she didn’t succeed.

Liu Zhiyue wasn’t about to let her escape—he immediately grabbed her arm.

Gripping it tightly.

She struggled a bit, symbolically, but clearly couldn’t break free.

Her tone—rarely heard like this—carried a trace of urgency.

“Liu Zhiyue, let go... don’t do this in front of my mom.”

But Liu Zhiyue didn’t respond.

After a brief moment, he simply led Zhou Shiyan further into the room.

Until they stood right before Lan Yixian.

His head bowed slightly.

Liu Zhiyue looked at Lan Yixian, who sat at the edge of the bed.

“Aunt Lan, my dad already told me. So... tonight, I want to say something to you.”

“……”

Lan Yixian didn’t reply.

She had a good idea what he was going to say.

And sure enough—

Liu Zhiyue looked serious, unusually so.

He looked at her, enunciating clearly:

“Please let me take care of your daughter. When we’re of age, allow us to be together with the goal of marriage.”

“……”

“Don’t do this, don’t say stuff like that in front of my mom. I’m begging you...”

Lan Yixian didn’t respond.

Instead, it was Zhou Shiyan who was clearly torn by his words.

On one hand, she had to admit—hearing Liu Zhiyue say all this made her happy.

But on the other hand... she was afraid her mom would overthink it.

If the two of them really got together, then the two families would become in-laws... and then her mom would constantly be seeing Liu Changqing and his wife.

How would that feel for her mom?

Liu Zhiyue looked into her eyes.

There was a hint of apology in his gaze after hearing her pleading tone.

He had thought about that possibility, too.

But if she expected him to give up his happiness because of their parents’ generation—

He couldn’t do it.

Maybe that was cruel to Aunt Lan.

But Liu Zhiyue didn’t want to spend the rest of his life with no connection to Zhou Shiyan.

He liked her.

That was enough. He wasn’t going to overthink the rest.

Staring at the two kids in front of her, Lan Yixian lowered her eyes.

Her face revealed no emotion.

Like she was lost in thought.

A long moment passed before she looked up again—at Liu Zhiyue, and at her daughter, whose arm was still in his grip.

“Can you keep that promise?”

“Mom!”

Zhou Shiyan immediately cried out upon hearing the question.

She turned to her mom and saw that her face had gone very serious.

“I can keep it.”

“……”

Another long silence. Lan Yixian’s thoughts were a mystery.

In the end, a smile once again appeared on her face.

She nodded.

“I believe in you and your father.”

“Thank you.”

The conversation echoed in Zhou Shiyan’s ears, leaving her stunned.

She looked at her mother, then turned to Liu Zhiyue beside her.

No...

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this...

“Mom, you can’t do this...”

“Shiyan, it’s okay.”

“……”

Facing her daughter, Lan Yixian gave a heartfelt smile.

“As your mom, all I want is for you to be happy. Zhiyue... is an outstanding young man. I feel at ease entrusting you to him.”

“Mom...”

“If you two have things to talk about, go outside. It’s getting late—I’m a bit tired.”

She said this to Liu Zhiyue.

Of course, he understood what she meant.

He gave a nod in response, then led Zhou Shiyan toward the door.

This time, Zhou Shiyan let him pull her along without resisting.

She didn’t struggle anymore.

The door closed behind them.

In the small room, only Lan Yixian remained.

She looked at the door, at the spot where the two children had just left.

Eventually, she turned and lay down slowly.

Lying on the bed.

Lan Yixian didn’t close her eyes, nor did she make a sound.

She just stared blankly into the distance.

That child...

Really does resemble Liu Changqing.

Downstairs.

Only then did Liu Zhiyue finally let go of Zhou Shiyan’s hand.

And in that exact moment, the quiet Zhou Shiyan suddenly felt like something had been taken from her.

She instinctively reached forward.

Liu Zhiyue noticed.

And Zhou Shiyan, realizing what she had just done, panicked a little and tried to pull her hand back.

But it was too late.

Her hand was caught—

Firmly held by Liu Zhiyue.

“If you like it this way, I can hold your hand forever.”

“I...”

She only managed to utter one syllable before trailing off.

Zhou Shiyan lowered her head.

Looking at the hand Liu Zhiyue was holding.

In the dim light downstairs, under the faint glow, she could see his hand clearly.

“Why did you come?”

“Because... I didn’t want to live with regrets.”

“Why did you have to appear in my life...”

“Well, that’s not really something I can control. Maybe the heavens arranged it that way.”

“Why... why did I fall for you...”

“What a coincidence. I fell for you, too.”

She lifted her head to look at Liu Zhiyue as he said those words.

The mask she was so good at wearing—was completely gone now.

That cold, distant look of hers was just an act.

It was how she protected herself growing up, a defense she learned early on to keep from being bullied by her peers.

He was just someone who didn’t matter... just a chubby kid last year...

So why? Why did it hurt when she saw him talking to other girls...

Why...?

“There’s no why.”

The words came from Liu Zhiyue.

It was as if he could hear her heart, and that was his answer.

He slowly raised his hand, placing his palm gently on her cheek.

Like he was admiring something precious.

“For the rest of your life... don’t even think about running away from me.

I won’t allow it.”