Oh my! He...
In that moment, she could think of nothing; her mouth hung open in sheer astonishment.
"Shunchen Ge..." Her throat was parched, and she struggled to produce a sound.
"Hmm?" He responded lazily, his dark eyes igniting with a burning desire.
Initially, he had only meant to tease her, but now he found himself utterly consumed by the need for more. He leaned in and kissed her lips.
Unlike the tender and affectionate kisses from before, this one was fiery, causing her entire body to tremble. Yan Xiaono closed her eyes, collapsing weakly into his embrace.
This unfamiliar sensation filled her with a sense of fear. Yet, deep within, there was also an undeniable anticipation.
He paused for a moment, sensing her hesitation.
"Xiaono, if I didn't long for all of you, I could simply remain content as your brother... Do you understand?" he asked roughly.
"I understand," she responded obediently, like a young student.
Duan Shunchen smiled, a look of approval in his eyes.
"I love you, from the bottom of my heart, and I want to cherish you. This is different from how I feel about Rouyin."
"Shunchen Ge..." Yan Xiaono blinked her dazed, watery eyes, feeling an overwhelming shyness, yet still she spoke with determination, "I... I am very clear about my feelings, and I know exactly what I'm doing."
"Oh?" Duan Shunchen raised an eyebrow, his heart secretly elated.
Though the rapid progression took her completely by surprise, being desired so intensely by the man she loved felt so sweet, so tender, so blissful!
But then, Duan Shunchen suddenly stopped all movements, gazing at her with eyes full of tenderness tinged with restraint.
"Shunchen Ge?" She looked at him, confused as to why he was pulling back.
"It's moving too fast…" he said, striving to maintain his composure.
"Hmm, honestly, it is a bit fast… But aren't you... eager for this?"
"I want you, but will you give yourself to me?"
"Hmm!" Yan Xiaono blushed deeply, her eyes sparkling with clarity and courage. She mustered all her strength to say what was in her heart, "Because I love you so much, Shunchen Ge! My heart, my body, everything... If you desire me, I will give it all to you! I truly want to be with you."
"Silly girl!" He gently caressed her hair, his heart swelling with emotion.
"Xiaono, I do desire you, but we have all the time in the world. Matters like this should be taken slowly," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. This small gesture, though fleeting, carried an ocean of love and tenderness.
"Shunchen Ge…" She knew, without a doubt, that he was protecting her, thinking of her well-being.
"It's late, you should rest now." After all, he was no saint. Being so close to her in the darkness, their proximity could easily lead to trouble.
"Oh!" Yan Xiaono's face fell. Why did time with him seem to pass so quickly?
"Come, let's go…"
Duan Shunchen picked up the lighter and reignited a small flame, his other arm wrapping around her as he gently guided her back to her room.
What he didn't know was that that night, Yan Xiaono was so electrified that she couldn't sleep a wink.
The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Duan Rouyin rushed into Xiaono's room, eagerly probing for details. "Well? What happened? Sis, did you and Big Brother...?"
"Shh!" Yan Xiaono quickly covered her mouth, and only when Rouyin signaled with her eyes that she would no longer shout did her little mouth regain its freedom.
"Sis, considering how hard I worked to turn off the power, you should at least tell me how things went with Big Brother. What progress have you two made?"
"Oh, so it wasn't a power outage—it was your doing!" Yan Xiaono suddenly realized.
"Of course! I was creating an opportunity for you!" Rouyin grinned mischievously.
"Well, then thank you, little rascal." Yan Xiaono smiled and playfully pinched her cute little nose. The clever girl's schemes truly worked wonders!
"Wow!" Hearing the implied meaning in her words, Rouyin's eyes sparkled. "So I really helped? That's awesome!"
"Shh! Don't make it so obvious!" Yan Xiaono quickly went to cover her mouth again, but this time, Rouyin nimbly dodged her hand.
"It's not something shameful, why are you afraid of people knowing?"
Rouyin thought she was worried about family opposition. "Sis, don't worry. Dad and Mom aren't old-fashioned. They don't care about family backgrounds, and they won't interfere with Big Brother's happiness. As long as Big Brother is willing to date, they'll be thrilled. Besides, they love you so much..."
"But letting people know feels... so embarrassing..." Yan Xiaono clasped her hands together. "Rouyin, my dear sister, please promise me, don't tell anyone!"
"Don't tell anyone? So, you're planning to have a secret affair with my brother?" Rouyin teased playfully.
"No, it's just... it's not the right time yet! I... we're not really together yet. It would be so awkward if people found out, Rouyin, please, promise me, don't say anything for now!" Yan Xiaono blushed deeply, speaking in a soft, hesitant tone. "It really isn't the right time yet..."
"Then, when will the right time come? Are you waiting for the fire to burn through the paper?" Rouyin winked, mischievously teasing her.
"Rouyin! Be serious!" Yan Xiaono scolded her, embarrassed.
Although Duan Shunchen had kissed her and confessed his feelings, her heart still felt uneasy. She feared that it might have all been a dream from the night before.
Would he change his mind? Would he back away? Her heart fluttered with uncertainty.
Even if he didn't retract his decision and truly wanted to be with her, no one could guarantee that a relationship would bloom and thrive.
Thus, for now, it was better to keep it a secret. She had to make sure Rouyin kept this secret for her!
At breakfast, Duan Rouyin purposely swapped her usual seat and placed Yan Xiaono next to Big Brother.
Although she had promised to keep her sister's and Big Brother's relationship a secret, that didn't stop her from enthusiastically creating opportunities for them.
"Hey, are you still half asleep? How did you end up sitting next to me?" Duan Mingsi asked, looking at his younger sister with a puzzled expression.
"You're the one who isn't awake!" Rouyin retorted with a smirk.
If one paid just a little attention, it was easy to see the intense affection between Big Brother and Sis, yet neither he nor anyone else had noticed!
"Did you sit here just to annoy me?"
"Today I'm in a good mood, so I don't feel like arguing with you." Rouyin happily ate her breakfast, keeping the secret in her heart that only she knew.
"Tsk, how strange, you actually said you don't want to argue with me. When did you change so much?"
"You have no idea how many things I know!" Duan Rouyin said proudly, secretly savoring the fact that only she knew about the growing closeness between her older brother and Yan Xiaono.
One day, when this secret came to light, she imagined her younger brother's stunned expression, and she would smugly tell him, "You fool, who's as slow as you? I've known about their relationship for ages!"
"Eat your food and stop grinning like an idiot," Duan Mingshi remarked, nudging his little sister with his elbow, silently reminding her to maintain some decorum.
"Mind your own business!" Duan Rouyin shot back, eyes flashing.
Watching the exchange, Duan's mother shook her head. Both Mingshi and Rouyin were her children, yet they were so dissimilar in temperament, unlike…
Her gaze softened as she looked at Duan Shunchen and Yan Xiaono, who appeared far more like siblings.
Duan's mother sighed wistfully, If it weren't for what happened twenty years ago, I might have had a daughter like Xiaono, at this age.
But never mind… She's my daughter now, in spirit if not in blood. Perhaps fate has sent her to fill the empty place left in our family…
"Duan Shunchen," Duan Hongtian's voice cut through her thoughts, "How are the arrangements I asked you to handle coming along?"
"Eh?" Duan Shunchen met his father's questioning gaze.
"I'm talking about the household registration issue. Xiaono's been living with us for almost a month now. We can't delay this any longer."
"Dad, there's no rush..." Duan Rouyin interjected without thinking.
"No rush? Don't forget, Xiaono is now a member of our family. I want her registered without further delay!"
Duan Shunchen exchanged a quick glance with Yan Xiaono before setting down his mug. "I understand, Dad, it's just... I've been really busy lately."
"You can't put work ahead of family, Shunchen! A man's career is important, but family is a thousand times more so!" Duan Hongtian stated firmly, his voice resolute.
"Yes, Dad. I'll take care of it," Duan Shunchen replied vaguely, casting a look at Xiaono, one only the two of them understood.
His words didn't refer to processing her registration, but rather to discussing whether it was time for their family to know about their relationship...
"What's the rush? Yan Jie won't run away," Duan Rouyin muttered under her breath.
"You... always nagging! Weren't you the one so eager for Xiaono to be your sister? Why the change in attitude now?"
"You don't get it!" Duan Rouyin glared at her older brother.
If she hadn't promised to keep their secret, she would have wanted to shout from the rooftops that her older brother and Yan Xiaono were together!
"Hey, weren't you just saying you're in a good mood and don't want to argue? Now look who's using bad language?" Duan Mingshi teased, undeterred.
"As if my mood would stay good after dealing with you!" She grumbled, turning her frustration on him.
"This is my fault now?" Duan Mingshi shrugged nonchalantly. If she really wasn't bickering with him, he'd think something was wrong!
"Hmph!" Duan Rouyin stuck her tongue out at him.
"I'm leaving, so I won't have to endure seeing you ruin my appetite," Duan Mingshi declared, wiping his mouth and tossing his napkin aside.
"Wait!" Duan Rouyin quickly grabbed her backpack and chased after him.
"Mingshi, what now?" he asked, surprised by her sudden change of plans.
"I'm riding with you to school."
"What?" Duan Mingshi blinked, caught off guard. His little sister always rode with their older brother to school. Now she was asking to go with him? "You're sure? Didn't you say last time you'd rather ride a wild motorcycle than mine?"
"Shut up! I changed my mind. Is that a problem?" Duan Rouyin hastily caught up with him, determined to hop on his motorcycle.
She winked back at Xiaono, her way of giving them more time together.
Yan Xiaono smiled brightly in return, touched by Rouyin's thoughtfulness.
"It's time we head out too," Duan Shunchen said, finishing his coffee.
"Right," Yan Xiaono hastily grabbed her blue backpack. The thought of being alone with Duan Shunchen in the car made her heart flutter with sweetness.
"Goodbye, Mom and Dad. I'm off to school!" she called, rushing out the door before her face could betray her embarrassment.
"That girl is so lively!" Duan Hongtian and his wife exchanged smiles. Since Yan Xiaono arrived, the house had been filled with more life and joy.
"Mom, Dad, I'm off to work," Duan Shunchen said, picking up his briefcase.
"Duan Shunchen, when are you going to bring a wife home? This family will be complete then!" Duan's mother said habitually.
Duan Shunchen simply smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Once their relationship was revealed, he couldn't imagine how surprised his family would be! He was certain his parents and grandmother would be thrilled, especially since they all loved Xiaono so much.