What to Dream

Several hours earlier—

"Uncle Chen, I might... not be able to stay for dinner tonight." Ye Shuang looked at Chen's Father and suddenly spoke up.

As soon as the words left his mouth, both Chen's Father and Chen Qin turned their eyes toward him. Chen's Father looked slightly taken aback but still patiently asked, "Your aunt already made soup. Won’t you stay?"

Chen Qin also found it odd, though she seemed to vaguely realize something, her beautiful eyes blinking once.

Facing the man he respected second only to his own parents, Ye Shuang took a deep breath and decided to explain the situation—he had responsibilities to uphold and promises to keep. If things continued as they were, Bai Yuyou wouldn’t see him return home tonight.

Trust was like a mirror—once shattered, even if repaired, it would never be whole again.

"I made a promise to celebrate a child’s birthday. I’m sorry, Uncle Chen... I’ll definitely come by another day to apologize." Ye Shuang stood up and bowed slightly in apology, guilt weighing on him for disappointing Chen's Father and Mother’s kindness.

Chen's Father silently watched him, the air around them seeming to freeze solid.

Hearing no response, Ye Shuang remained bowed. He knew full well—though Chen's Father was gentle and warm with his family, it didn’t mean he was truly mild-tempered. After all, Chen's Father was a true heavyweight, someone many couldn’t even dream of getting close to, no matter how hard they tried.

The moment Ye Shuang spoke those words, an invisible pressure surged around him. But he didn’t regret it. The Chen family wouldn’t miss him tonight, but for Bai Yuyou, it was an entirely different matter.

He remembered the kitchen light at five in the morning, remembered the girl’s clumsy efforts to prepare a birthday gift for him.

"You’re such an outstanding young man. How could you let love trouble you like this?" Chen's Father finally spoke, sighing with disappointment. That woman had harmed Ye Shuang’s parents—if not directly, she was still involved. Yet, to his surprise, Ye Shuang remained entangled with her.

No matter how much he valued Ye Shuang, this was a fatal flaw.

"D-Daddy, it’s not what you think." Chen Qin quickly intervened, breaking the awkward tension. "A-Ye isn’t going to see his ex."

In her urgency, she even slipped into the nickname she privately used for Ye Shuang.

"Not his ex?"

"No, it’s another girl," Chen Qin explained.

Chen's Father’s expression grew even more complicated.

He snorted lightly. "You’re still covering for him, huh?"

Chen Qin’s heart was a mess, but she roughly explained how Ye Shuang had ended up on the streets and was later helped by a kind-hearted girl.

"Something like that happened?" Chen's Father was surprised, silently analyzing Ye Shuang’s motives. If it wasn’t about his ex... then it was easier to accept. From Chen Qin’s words, Ye Shuang’s actions seemed more like repaying kindness and fulfilling a strange sense of responsibility. As a man, Chen's Father didn’t dislike this side of him.

He had thought Ye Shuang was still hung up on his ex.

But if that wasn’t the case, his sense of responsibility and commitment only made Chen's Father admire him more.

"I’m sorry, Uncle Chen. I’ll definitely visit another time," Ye Shuang said. After all, he had grown up under Chen's Father’s care, and this wasn’t the right way to handle things.

Chen's Father waved it off. "No need for all that trouble. Just bring the poor kid you mentioned over for dinner."

Then he scolded half-jokingly, "You brat, do you really think our Chen family is that heartless?"

"Remember, this is your second home. Old Ye asked me to take good care of you."

Ye Shuang felt warmth in his heart. "Thank you, Uncle Chen. But about dinner... maybe next time—"

Chen's Father kicked at him. "Next time my foot! Go pick her up!"

Ye Shuang reflexively dodged, then glanced at Chen Qin before hurrying off to his car.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen's Father turned to his daughter. "Qin-mei, what do you think?"

Chen Qin forced a faint smile, her emotions unreadable.

"Daddy... I really like him. What should I do?"

Her voice carried a hint of dejection. "But he says he’s not good enough for me..."

Chen's Father, having been through it all, spoke with seasoned wisdom. "That kid just has too much free time. Give him a company to manage—keep him busy, and he won’t have time for nonsense."

"As long as he’s not hung up on that Zhao family girl, he’ll be yours eventually. You two are the best match, don’t worry..."

Chen Qin suddenly muttered in protest, "Hmph, it’s not like I have to have Ye Shuang. Your daughter is plenty pretty—"

"Then change the photos on your nightstand first," Chen's Father shot back, giving her a look. "A young lady shouldn’t have her nightstand covered in pictures of Ye Shuang. People will laugh."

Chen Qin’s fair face flushed bright red in an instant.

"You—you went into my room!"

"Don’t accuse me. The housekeeper mentioned it after cleaning."

Chen Qin stood up, her cheeks burning, and stomped toward the kitchen. "I’m ignoring you!"

"Ungrateful girl, can’t even take a joke."

......

Meanwhile, Ye Shuang drove into the flow of traffic, glancing at the darkening sky outside the window before speeding up slightly.

Plip. A drop of water hit the windshield, followed by a steady patter as light rain began to fall.

Ye Shuang turned on the wipers, the red brake lights ahead blurring through the water.

"Rain at rush hour... hopefully it won’t get worse." He murmured, planning to text Bai Yuyou that he was on his way.

But when he reached into his pocket, his heart sank.

Frowning, he checked the other pocket—his phone was missing. He must’ve left it on Chen Qin’s table.

Ye Shuang grimaced, checking the rearview mirror to see a long line of cars behind him.

Turning back now would mean getting stuck in traffic.

"Why do I keep losing my phone?" Sighing, he resigned himself to the slow crawl of vehicles ahead.

It took an extra hour and a half to reach the apartment complex—between the rain, congestion, and a minor collision blocking two lanes, the cars had inched forward at a snail’s pace.

Without an umbrella, Ye Shuang parked and dashed through the rain to the building entrance. Though the distance was short, his clothes were damp by the time he got there.

At his doorstep, he fished out his keys and opened the door—

A familiar figure sat at the dining table, half-asleep, her eyes barely open.

"Yuyou... Yuyou..." Ye Shuang walked over and gently called her name.

A few seconds later, the girl slowly opened her eyes, her voice drowsy and clinging with a hint of coquetry. "Ye Shuang… am I dreaming?"

Ye Shuang reached out and gently tapped her forehead, unable to hold back a laugh.

"Silly, what kind of dream would this be?"