Dessert

"I... don't think I'm ready for a relationship right now," Ye Shuang said seriously.

"I know, of course I know." Chen Qin suddenly smiled. "You haven't moved on yet, so I'm willing to wait. It's just..."

"If I keep waiting like this, will there be a result?"

"Right?"

Ye Shuang didn’t answer Chen Qin directly. Instead, he continued washing the dishes in the sink. "Chen Hai once told me he hoped we’d end up together, since we grew up together and have such a good relationship."

"I told him it’s not that you’re not good enough for me—it’s that I’m not good enough for you."

Chen Qin immediately protested, "I don’t care about that! Even if you had nothing!"

Ye Shuang chuckled. "The truth is, I didn’t explain the real meaning behind those words to Chen Hai. It’s not just about material things."

"I gave her so many years, only to be abandoned in the end... Of course I feel bitter. I lost too much there, gave up too much."

"Someone like me... my soul is already full of scars." A trace of bitterness flickered across Ye Shuang’s smile.

"Your love is too radiant. How could someone like me ever deserve it?"

The kitchen fell silent for a few seconds.

Then, Ye Shuang suddenly felt a tug on his collar. Chen Qin had grabbed him, pulling him close until their faces were almost touching.

"I don’t understand any of this! I don’t care about who deserves who!" she shouted. "Just forget about that woman already! Even if you’re just a rebound, it’s going to be me!"

Ye Shuang couldn’t help but laugh. Chen Qin was as domineering as ever—but that was just who she was.

Realizing she’d gotten too worked up, Chen Qin gradually calmed down, her cheeks flushing slightly under Ye Shuang’s gaze. She let go of his collar, crossed her arms, and huffed.

"You’re just going through a breakup phase right now. I won’t argue with you." She seemed to decide against provoking him further.

"Hurry up and finish the dishes. I’m celebrating your birthday."

"How are we celebrating?"

"I was going to buy you a cake," Chen Qin continued, "but I didn’t know your address, so I gave up."

"How about we go to a dessert shop? I know a good one. We’ll treat it as your birthday celebration."

Ye Shuang pointed at Chen Qin’s stomach. "Didn’t we just eat?"

"Don’t you know girls have a separate stomach for desserts?" Chen Qin raised an eyebrow.

"Fine..." Ye Shuang finished the dishes and returned to the living room.

In one corner of the sofa sat Bai Yuyou, her long hair cascading down her back as she playfully teased a cat named Yiwan. The curtains swayed gently, scattering fragments of sunlight across her delicate face.

Noticing Ye Shuang’s return, she stood and walked over.

"Want to go for dessert?" Ye Shuang reached out and lightly pinched Bai Yuyou’s cheek—though Chen Qin didn’t see it.

"Yes." The girl answered without hesitation.

Of course. Girls really do have two stomachs.

"Ye Shuang," Bai Yuyou suddenly spoke.

"What’s up?"

"Keke said she’s coming over to play."

Ye Shuang thought for a moment. "Why don’t we invite her to join us for dessert?"

"Okay."

Hearing their conversation, Chen Qin immediately interjected, "Who’s Keke? Are you hiding another girl?"

"Yuyou’s friend," Ye Shuang replied, exasperated.

"You keep calling her ‘Yuyou.’ What about me?"

"What?"

"My name. What do you call me?"

"Yours is already two characters. What’s there to change?" Ye Shuang found it odd but humored her. "Qin?"

"No. Change it." Chen Qin pondered, then declared, "Call me ‘Qin baby.’"

"Most people shorten three-character names to two. You’re the opposite—turning two into three."

"Then call me ‘Qin Bao.’"

Seeing Chen Qin’s childish pout, Ye Shuang couldn’t help but laugh. "Fine. It’s just a nickname."

"Just a nickname? Then call me ‘wife.’"

"Uh..."

At that moment, Bai Yuyou suddenly spoke up. "I’m also wife."

Chen Qin’s gaze instantly locked onto Bai Yuyou. The atmosphere turned awkward.

Knock knock knock.

A sudden rapping at the door shattered the tension.

Ye Shuang exhaled in relief and went to answer it.

"Brother! Happy weekend!" Tang Keke’s cheerful voice rang out.

"You came at the perfect time," Ye Shuang said with a smile.

"Eh? Really? You’re that happy to see me?" Tang Keke grinned, but the moment she stepped inside, she noticed Chen Qin standing there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

She glanced at Bai Yuyou.

What...

Is going on?

"B-Brother, I just remembered I have homework! I’m going home now!" The cowardly Tang Keke immediately sensed danger and tried to flee, but Ye Shuang grabbed her by the collar.

"You’re already here. Let’s all go for dessert."

"Eh?!"

In the end, the four of them piled into the car.

Chen Qin sat in the passenger seat, silent, staring out the window.

Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou occupied the back.

"What’s happening...?" Tang Keke whispered to Bai Yuyou, who simply replied that she and Ye Shuang were married.

Tang Keke’s face went blank. (0v0)

I should’ve stayed home.

That woman didn’t seem ordinary at all—her expensive jewelry alone was intimidating, not to mention her aura.

"Chen... Qin Bao, you already knew about this," Ye Shuang said, amused by Chen Qin’s obvious sulking.

Chen Qin’s chest rose and fell dramatically before she finally turned back. "Mm."

Somehow, being called "Qin Bao" dissolved her irritation. She might not even have realized how easily she was pacified.

"Where’s the dessert shop?" Ye Shuang asked.

"I’ll send you the location." Chen Qin connected her phone to the car’s display and pulled up a map to a large shopping plaza.

After parking in the underground garage, they heard a voice.

"Bai Yuyou? What are you doing here?"

Ye Shuang turned and recognized Wu Ya—the girl who’d framed Bai Yuyou before. He hadn’t expected to run into her here.

Wu Ya looked haggard. Since being expelled, she hadn’t slept well, her spirit nearly broken.

Two men stood beside her, their expressions darkening as they approached.

Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke exchanged glances.

"Are they friends of that girl?" Chen Qin suddenly asked.

"No." Ye Shuang quickly explained the past incident. Chen Qin frowned. "This isn’t good."

"Why? Do you know Wu Ya?" Ye Shuang wondered if she had powerful connections.

"No. I’m wearing a skirt. It’s not convenient to fight."

Ye Shuang: "..."