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“So you’re saying An Yao confessed her feelings to you?”

“Uh… I guess that counts as a confession.”

“Really? Has spring arrived? No, wait—spring should be over by now, shouldn’t it?”

Meanwhile, Ye Shuang was on the phone with Chen Hai in the office. The guy had called first thing in the morning, so Ye Shuang had assumed something serious had happened.

“You didn’t do anything to that young lady, did you?”

“Fuck off. How could I? We’re completely innocent—way purer than you and Bai Yuyou.”

Chen Hai’s remark made Ye Shuang feel that something didn’t quite add up.

So were they innocent or not?

Still, judging from Chen Hai’s voice, it seemed nothing had happened between them.

“So what do you think? You must like that girl quite a bit. She’s gentle, exactly your type, and she knows how to take care of people. She’s sensible, too.” Ye Shuang continued, “If you want to move on quickly from your last relationship, starting a new one isn’t necessarily a bad idea.”

“I…” Chen Hai hesitated on the other end of the line.

“What is it? You can’t let go of Feng Shan, even though you clearly disliked her so much before.”

“When we first broke up, I felt pretty happy and relieved…” Chen Hai answered honestly. “But after some time passed, I started feeling… unsettled.”

Hearing this, Ye Shuang sighed. “Then think it over yourself. I won’t try to persuade you.”

“And there’s also Qiaoqiao…”

“Chen Hai.”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t know whether I should keep this from you… but I think I’d better tell you.” Ye Shuang finally spoke.

“Huh? What the hell are you being so mysterious about? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for An Yao?”

“…”

“Actually, you have another son. Feng Shan didn’t get rid of him.”

The moment Ye Shuang finished speaking, the other end of the phone fell silent—so silent that Ye Shuang could hear Chen Hai breathing, as though he were taking deep breaths.

“You’re… serious?”

“Yeah. If the timing is right—no, the timing is definitely right—she really didn’t terminate the pregnancy. Feng Shan gave birth to the child in secret.” Ye Shuang continued, “Your uncle and aunt seem to be planning to bring Feng Shan back.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?!”

“Chen Qin found out by asking around. Feng Shan didn’t tell us herself. It seems she intended to give birth to the child and raise him in secret. At first, she wouldn’t even admit it.”

“You know, being with An Yao would be a good thing for you, but it wouldn’t necessarily be good for An Yao.”

Whether it was Chen Hai’s family background or the complicated relationship involving his ex-wife—not to mention the fact that Chen Hai hadn’t completely moved on yet—all of it made things difficult.

“I… I know.” Chen Hai understood that as well. Besides, he didn’t even know what he truly felt about An Yao. He only saw her as a younger sister.

“Fuck! I called you because I wanted to relax and chat for a bit, but now I’m even more stressed!”

After saying that, Chen Hai hung up.

Ye Shuang didn’t say anything else. He simply set down his phone and continued with his work.

…

Meanwhile, Chen Hai tossed his phone onto the bed and irritably ran a hand through his hair.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lowered his head and remained silent.

The sunlight outside was a little too hot. Chen Hai looked around the spotless room and took a deep breath. She really was a good girl.

But just as Ye Shuang had said, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing for An Yao.

The difference in their social statuses was simply too great.

He had already experienced this with Feng Shan. Many gaps couldn’t be bridged with a mere declaration of love.

Just then, his phone rang again.

He glanced at the screen and saw that it was an unfamiliar number.

“Hello!” Chen Hai assumed it was a sales call, so his tone came out rather sharp.

“Daddy?”

The voice on the other end immediately softened Chen Hai’s tone. “Qiaoqiao, what’s wrong? Why are you calling Daddy from this phone?”

“It’s my cousin’s phone. Qiaoqiao missed you, but Mommy wouldn’t let me call you.” With that one sentence from his daughter, Chen Hai’s heart began to ache. “It’s because Daddy isn’t good enough.”

Hearing that Feng Shan wouldn’t even let Qiaoqiao call him, Chen Hai seemed a little angry. “How could your mother do that?”

“Daddy…”

“What is it, Qiaoqiao?”

“Do you miss Mommy and me?”

“I miss you, Qiaoqiao.”

“What about Mommy?”

His daughter’s question left Chen Hai stunned for several seconds. He opened his mouth, but no answer came out.

In the end, all he could say was, “Your mother doesn’t miss me, so Daddy doesn’t miss her either.”

“But sometimes Mommy stares at Daddy’s picture and spaces out. She sits in her room like that. She misses Daddy too…”

“Weren’t Mommy and Daddy very much in love at first?”

“Qiaoqiao wants to see Daddy. I want Mommy and Daddy to make up…”

“Daddy…”

By the end, her voice had turned into sobs.

Chen Hai: “…”

After hanging up, Chen Hai rubbed his face and took another deep breath.

…

In the early hours of the morning.

The barbecue stall was as busy as ever, bustling until midnight.

An Yao worked hard alongside Chen Hai to help out, but her face had remained faintly flushed all evening. She didn’t even dare look Chen Hai in the eye.

It wasn’t until they had closed for the night and were putting everything away together that Chen Hai suddenly spoke.

“An Yao.”

“C-Chen Hai.” An Yao shuddered.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Hai suddenly chuckled. “An Yao, were you confessing your feelings to me yesterday?”

An Yao lowered her head, and her ears began to turn red as well. “I…”

“What do you like about me? Is it because I helped you with those things, and you want to repay me?”

“No!” An Yao immediately shook her head. “I feel that you’re a really good person, Chen Hai. I don’t know why, but…”

“I-I like you.”

After saying those words, An Yao seemed to have used up the last of her courage. She closed her eyes and waited for his answer.

Chen Hai silently looked at her. In the end, he merely smiled and said,

“An Yao, you’re a good girl.”

An Yao froze for a moment. As if she understood what he meant, she raised her head, her eyes gradually growing moist.

When she had spent time with Chen Hai before, he would often joke around and ask her what she thought of him. Most of the time, An Yao would give him the “nice guy” answer.

But now…

“So that’s how it is. I’m sorry, Brother Chen. I guess I was just imagining things.” An Yao tried hard to wipe the tears from her eyes.

“I…” Chen Hai had originally wanted to explain, but in the end, he said nothing. By then, An Yao had already covered her face and run off.

Chen Hai watched her retreating figure in silence. After a few seconds, he took out a cigarette and lit it.

He pulled out his phone and called Ye Shuang.

“Hmm?” Ye Shuang sounded as if she had still been asleep, but she answered the call groggily.

“It’s three in the morning. Come out for a drink.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Yeah. I’m sick in the head.” Chen Hai laughed and crushed out his cigarette with a finger.

“You…did you give An Yao an answer?” From Chen Hai’s tone, Ye Shuang seemed to understand what had happened.

“She’s just a young girl who doesn’t know any better. I have to be the one who does. I’m just a divorced, washed-up old man—how could I possibly be worthy of her feelings? I have to take responsibility, too.” Chen Hai glanced at the barbecue stall behind him, thought for a moment, and said, “I want to go back to the company tomorrow. Do you still need someone?”