Dean Yu Qing’s heart fluttered slightly at those words, but she turned her face away sulkily and huffed:
“I’m not someone nobody wants. You don’t need to pity me!”
Yan Zhen felt terribly awkward as well. He harbored no strong romantic feelings toward the Yu Family elders, but after all the time they’d spent together, he simply couldn’t bear the thought of severing ties completely.
“It’s not pity,” he said. “I just think things shouldn’t end like this.”
“Then what do you want?” Dean Yu Qing demanded fiercely. “Do you want me and Bailan to kneel down and beg you?”
Yan Zhen pinched his chin, pretending to mull it over:
“That’s not out of the question.”
Dean Yu Qing instantly flew into a rage, her ample bosom heaving as she smacked a certain someone’s arm with all her might:
“Scram! You heartless bastard! Only someone blind would fall for you!”
The room fell deathly silent the moment the words left her lips. All the women wore hostile expressions, and Long Ying even puffed out her cheeks.
This outburst had lumped them all together.
Dean Yu Qing realized her mistake at once. Her allies shot her looks that screamed “idiot,” leaving her utterly deflated. She let out a weak “Hmph,” pretending nothing had happened.
Yan Zhen wrapped an arm around Dean Little Aunt’s slim waist, cleared his throat, summoned his manliest demeanor, and spoke with utmost seriousness:
“I’m truly sorry for deceiving everyone. But as I said before, I won’t marry into the Yu Family—not even temporarily. Everything else stays the same, and I’ll shoulder every responsibility I owe.”
The women at the table listened quietly. Yan Zhen paused, then went on:
“As for your mother-in-law, I’ll come clean with her later, whatever the consequences. I know I’m a bit of a playboy, but I’ll treat each of you with all my heart. I won’t let go until you do… okay?”
“Idiot.” Mentor Yu Xuan seized her lover’s hand first, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I’ll never let go—not even in death. Don’t you dare say things like that.”
Yan Zhen gave a shy smile and turned to Cai Lian on his other side. She had quietly pinched the hem of his robe, her face impassive and silent. Warmth flooded his heart.
“That’s enough talk. Everyone, sit down and eat.”
With that, Yan Zhen delivered a sharp smack to Dean Little Aunt’s thigh. She let out a high-pitched moan, then glared at him once she recovered.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why’d you hit me?”
Yan Zhen kept a straight face:
“Sit back down. Does Little Aunt plan to eat on my lap or what?”
Dean Yu Qing blinked, then looped her arms around Yan Zhen’s neck and struck a haughty pose:
“What’s wrong with that? I’m sitting right here. Makes you mad, doesn’t it~?”
Smack!
Another crisp slap rang out, showing her no mercy.
Dean Yu Qing yelped sharply, her pretty face turning bright pink. She sprang off Yan Zhen’s lap, both hands flying to cover her rear.
This time he’d struck her backside, sending a tingling jolt through her like an electric current. One more, and she’d die of embarrassment.
The other women eyed her strangely, as if to say, “So this is what a secretly passionate tsundere looks like?”
Dean Yu Qing couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to flee, but bolting would mean surrender. After agonizing hesitation, she meekly returned to her seat, inwardly cursing the little scoundrel.
The mood grew awkward once more, though subtly different from before.
Mentor Yu Xuan considered for a moment, then picked up a piece of perfectly marbled braised pork belly and held it to Yan Zhen’s lips:
“Try this, Yan Zhen. It’s even better than mine.”
Still, the mentor pampers me… Yan Zhen smiled faintly:
“Is it? Let me see.”
“Ahh— Mmm. How is it?”
“Mmm, yum! Delicious. Here, Mentor—you eat some too.”
Yan Zhen picked up a piece of pork and fed it to Mentor Yu Xuan.
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and parted her rosy lips, accepting the morsel from her lover.
Their tender exchange stirred the other four women. Long Ying blinked cutely and wheedled:
“Yan Zhen Zhen, I want some too.”
Yan Zhen offered her another piece of meat. She snapped it up with her mouth and savored the fragrant, melt-in-your-mouth texture, declaring it utterly divine.
“So yummy~”
Without hesitation, Long Ying thrust the chicken drumstick—now bearing a massive bite mark—toward Yan Zhen and gushed:
“Yan Zhen Zhen, this one’s amazing too!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched at the sight of the gap, but he leaned in for a bite. His mouth filled with savory juices as he chewed and nodded approvingly:
“Nice and fragrant.”
Long Ying beamed at the praise, her emerald eyes sparkling. She devoured the rest with happy “ah-mm” sounds, finding it even tastier now.
Yan Zhen swallowed his bite, licked the grease from his lips, and turned to Cai Lian:
“Want to try some, Cai Lian? I’ll feed you.”
The Sovereign Lady blinked, took a delicate sip of wine, and replied coolly:
“No need.”
“Then you feed me.”
“…”
Cai Lian wasn’t accustomed to public displays of affection around “strangers,” but her husband’s pleading gaze wore her down. She grabbed her chopsticks, snagged a meatball, and popped it gently into his mouth.
“Eat.”
“Thanks, Cai Lian~”
Yan Zhen beamed at Wife Lady like a puppy, making her cheeks heat as she whipped her head away. Undeterred, he announced:
“Two pieces of pork belly left. Aunt, Little Aunt—who wants one?”
Shui Bailan adjusted her glasses and smiled slyly:
“Will you feed us?”
“I’ll feed Aunt, but Aunt has to feed me too.”
“Sounds fun. How exactly?”
“…”
How else but mouth-to-mouth?
Yan Zhen suddenly realized Aunt was a pro at this.
No wonder they say glasses make the wearer secretly passionate!
Though the one beside her took the cake.
“And Little Aunt? Me feeding you, or you feeding me?”
Dean Yu Qing bit her lip, muttering reluctantly:
“I’m… on a diet.”
“Oh. Suit yourself, then.”
“Hmph!”
“That won’t change anything. You turned it down.”
“Who said I did? One piece won’t ruin my figure.”
“Little Aunt, real dieters would call you out for that.”
“Mind your own business!”
The atmosphere warmed bit by bit, though true harmony eluded them—Cai Lian hadn’t exchanged a word with Dean Yu Qing or Shui Bailan the entire meal.
Once dinner ended, Mentor Yu Xuan said goodbye to Little Aunt and Aunt. She headed back to her cave residence with Yan Zhen, Cai Lian, and Long Ying.
The hour was still early, but Yan Zhen shooed Long Ying off to bed. He then settled on the bed, one arm around Mentor Yu Xuan and the other around Cai Lian.
No sooner had they sat than Mentor Yu Xuan spoke up:
“I’m sorry, Sister Cai Lian. I never told you about my family.”
Cai Lian remained peeved but kept her tone even:
“It’s got nothing to do with you. Blame the guy eyeing the pot while eating from the bowl—too guilty to fess up.”
That someone coughed awkwardly and mustered an innocent look.
Mentor Yu Xuan sighed wistfully:
“It’s not Yan Zhen’s fault. It’s mine.”
She never should have gone on about how wonderful he was back home, or let him treat the elders’ ailments. Otherwise, how would things have come to this? Sigh…
