Seeing that Ye Qian refused her offer, Yun Xi didn't press the matter further.
"So be it. Then consider this a debt I owe you.
The next time you visit our Yun Family, I'll ensure you're treated properly."
She hesitated, then added.
"Oh, right—when are we... when are we going back to my home?"
The moment those words left her lips, heat bloomed across Yun Xi's cheeks.
Something about the phrasing felt strange, as though she were bringing her fiancé home to meet her parents.
An indescribable awkwardness coiled in her chest, but the words were already spoken. She couldn't take them back now.
Ye Qian caught the odd inflection immediately. His lips curved into a charming smile, and he leaned closer, voice teasing.
"What's this, Xi'er? Are you so impatient that you wish to take me back to meet my in-laws already?"
The word 'in-laws' struck Yun Xi like lightning. Her breath caught in her throat.
Good heavens!
Impatient to meet his in-laws? Had their relationship developed so quickly?
Why wasn't she—the person supposedly involved—aware of it?
Her slender, pale finger jabbed toward Ye Qian, her face crimson as a sunset. She had never expected him to be so shameless.
"You—! Qian'er! How can you say such things?
Who are your father and mother-in-law? They're your uncle and aunt! You already know them!
We don't have that kind of relationship! Don't spout nonsense!"
Though her denial rang fierce and immediate, her heart didn't reject the notion at all. Instead, a trace of sweetness bloomed within her chest.
Yun Xi noticed the shift in her own feelings and felt a jolt of alarm.
Could it be... that I truly like Qian'er?
Originally, she'd believed the bond between them resembled that of siblings—close, comfortable, familiar.
But judging by her current reaction, it seemed she had fallen deeper than she'd realized.
There was no repulsion in her heart, no instinct to refuse him.
Watching Yun Xi's flushed face, Ye Qian saw nothing amiss in her reaction. He caught the flicker of happiness in her eyes, subtle but unmistakable.
What did that mean?
It meant Yun Xi was already moved.
Their Affection level had climbed to seventy-nine points—just one point shy of entering an entirely new stage.
"What's wrong, Xi'er? You seem displeased by what I said."
Ye Qian's tone cooled abruptly, the warmth draining from his voice.
"If that's the case, perhaps we should forget it. I won't accompany you to the Yun Family after all."
The sudden shift in his demeanor sent a spike of panic through Yun Xi's chest.
She hadn't wanted to reject him, nor was she truly angry about the word 'in-laws'—she'd only been shy.
But Ye Qian's abrupt change in attitude caught her completely off guard.
Anxiety flooded her thoughts. Had her voice been too loud just now? Had her words made Ye Qian uncomfortable?
One frantic thought tumbled after another, and Yun Xi spiraled into deep self-reflection.
She scrambled to figure out what she should say, what she should do, to ensure Ye Qian wasn't upset with her.
Her mind raced, but she found herself utterly inexperienced. She had no idea what words would soothe him, and the helplessness only made her more anxious.
Cautiously, she glanced at Ye Qian's calm, unreadable expression. She softened her voice as much as she could, making it gentle and tentative.
"Qian'er, you... please don't be angry. Just now was... it was my fault.
I shouldn't have been so fierce. Please, don't be upset?"
She genuinely held a strong impression of Ye Qian. If everything crumbled over a single careless sentence, she couldn't accept it.
Yun Xi's attitude had flipped completely. Ye Qian's lips curved upward, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
He reached out and gently took her hand, his gaze locking onto hers with unwavering intensity.
"Xi'er, so by your own admission, you're acknowledging that your parents are my father and mother-in-law?"
Pinned beneath that penetrating stare and pressed by such pointed words, Yun Xi felt her composure crumble.
Her gaze grew unfocused. She felt as though she desperately needed help right now—preferably someone to sweep in and rescue her from this situation.
Why had everything shifted so suddenly? Was this still the seemingly cold Ye Qian from mere moments ago?
Wait—could it be... that he'd done all of this on purpose?
The realization struck her like a thunderclap.
Yun Xi looked up at Ye Qian again and found that his previous indifferent mask had vanished entirely, replaced by a cheerful, smiling expression.
"You—! Ye Qian! I'm going to be angry if you keep this up!"
How could she not realize she'd been played? Ye Qian hadn't been angry at all—he'd simply been putting on a performance for her benefit.
Watching Yun Xi's furious expression, Ye Qian pulled her gently forward. In an instant, she tumbled into his embrace.
"Let go this instant! Otherwise, don't blame me for getting truly angry!"
She struggled hard, but found herself completely under his control. The feeling of helplessness irritated her deeply.
Yet now that she was already in his arms, how could Ye Qian possibly let her go so easily?
"Xi'er, it seems you care about me quite a lot.
The moment you saw my expression change, you immediately changed your tune.
Tell me... am I right?"
Yun Xi was rendered speechless. She could only continue struggling in silence, unwilling to admit the truth.
His warm breath ghosted across her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Heat flooded her earlobes, and her struggles weakened bit by bit.
Ye Qian gently lifted Yun Xi's chin.
Seeing her exquisite face so close—every delicate feature illuminated by the soft moonlight—he slowly lowered his head.
Yun Xi watched his handsome face draw nearer and nearer. Her heart clenched as though gripped by an invisible hand, and nervousness surged through her entire body.
The shy young woman quickly closed her eyes, countless thoughts flashing through her mind in rapid succession.
What will happen next? What will Ye Qian do?
Her mind overflowed with these questions. Yet after a long, breathless moment, she felt... nothing.
Confused, Yun Xi cautiously opened her eyes—only to find Ye Qian watching her with a half-smile, amusement glittering in his gaze.
How could she not understand that she'd been played yet again?
Fury ignited in her chest, and she shoved Ye Qian away with all her strength.
"Hmph! I'm leaving first!"
Without waiting for a response, Yun Xi turned on her heel and strode away, her anger palpable.
She'd actually harbored a tiny thread of expectation just moments ago, only to have it shattered in an instant.
Overwhelmed by shame, Yun Xi could only feign anger as a shield. Because she truly couldn't think of any other way to face him right now.
Perhaps only by pretending to be angry could she preserve even a shred of her dignity.
Seeing Yun Xi leave without hesitation after pulling free from his embrace, Ye Qian followed her at an unhurried pace.
The System hadn't prompted any decrease in Affection, which confirmed his suspicion—Yun Xi wasn't truly angry. She was merely pretending.
Yun Xi probably never imagined her feigned anger would be so transparently obvious to him.
Beneath the vast night sky, Yun Xi returned to the qilin carriage. She wasn't particularly familiar with this area and would have to rely on Ye Qian's carriage to return home.
Though she appeared quite angry on the surface at this moment, her heart brimmed with nothing but shyness.
She hadn't expected to close her eyes so involuntarily just moments ago, as though her body had acted on instinct, beyond her conscious control.
This is truly... too shameful!