Seeing her like this, how could Qi Chengyan maintain a stern demeanor?
He reached out and pulled her close, a sense of helplessness washing over him.
He finally understood that reasoning with her was useless, and scolding or being harsh wouldn't work.
The moment they disagreed, she would burst into tears.
In the end, it was he who felt distressed.
He sighed silently, drawing her into his embrace.
"I wasn't scolding you."
Cheng You sobbed, her breath catching, her eyes and nose red, feeling utterly wronged.
She had been so happy to be able to move out today.
But before she could even share her joy with him, she had been reprimanded.
How could anyone not feel wronged in such a situation?
"Don't cry, I was wrong."
Cheng You was typical of someone who pushed their luck. Hearing him admit fault, she huffily demanded, "Then tell me, where were you wrong?"
"I was wrong everywhere."
Cheng You snorted, casting him a glance. There was no sincerity in his apology; it was too perfunctory.
"I'll move out tomorrow."
She didn't want to live in the same place as him.
Qi Chengyan had no choice but to coax her gently, "If I wasn't worried, why would I bother?"
But what could he do when he had such an unruly partner, other than indulge her?
Fine, at worst, he would clear away the trouble for her and protect her.
"Stop crying, or people will think I've bullied you."
Cheng You's little mouth could have hung a bucket. Hearing his words, she pouted even higher.
"You *are* bullying me!"
Qi Chengyan's gaze deepened, and he suddenly leaned in, capturing her red lips and kissing her forcefully.
"Youyou, *this* is called bullying," he murmured huskily.
Cheng You's lips parted slightly, her red lips glistening, looking succulent and vibrant.
Her eyes suddenly widened, and she covered her mouth.
"That's cheating!"
How could he kiss her when she wasn't paying attention?
This was the first time Qi Chengyan had kissed a girl, and her lips were so soft.
They were like the sweetest poison in the world, making him willingly addicted.
"Let's go back, get some sleep."
Cheng You refused, tugging at his sleeve and swaying it, saying in a娇声 (sweet, delicate voice), "I won't. You kissed me, I have to kiss you back."
Otherwise, it would be too unfair.
Qi Chengyan was speechless. He gently stroked her head.
"Sleep."
Cheng You: "???"
That's it? She glared indignantly at his retreating back.
That night, Cheng You was destined to have a restless sleep.
She touched her lips, recalling the sensation of that moment.
Her head seemed to be burning, her mind a blank, unable to think at all.
Now, savoring the memory, her lips still tingled.
So this was what kissing was like.
Sweeter than any candy she had ever bought.
...
Cheng You couldn't sleep, and neither could Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian.
Cheng Tianhua was still lamenting that the duck he had caught had flown away.
Song Yulian was filled with regret, her intestines turning green.
Why had she instigated Cheng Tianhua to get the money back, and why had she done this for him?
Now, they hadn't gotten the money, their reputation was ruined, and they had pleased no one.
She and Cheng Tianhua didn't speak all night. When they woke up in the morning, their faces were pale.
They didn't even make breakfast before going to Old Zhao's house to find Cheng Tao.
On the way, they didn't dare to look up and greet anyone, wishing they could have worn masks.
They knocked on Old Zhao's door early in the morning, their faces full of sorrow. Wang Hongxia sighed at their bad luck.
But Song Yulian couldn't afford to care about that. "Cheng Tao, Mom really doesn't know what to do this time."
Cheng Tao still had morning grumpiness on her face. She had heard about what happened yesterday.
It wasn't just Song Yulian who was embarrassed; she felt embarrassed too!
"Mom, you caused this mess yourself. If you don't know what to do, do you expect me to?"
She nudged Zhao Yunlin twice, signaling him to get up.
His mother-in-law was watching; how could he still sleep?
Zhao Yunlin got up impatiently, put on his clothes, and walked out without even a glance at Song Yulian.
Song Yulian was very displeased, pointing at his retreating back and saying, "Look at his attitude!"
Cheng Tao couldn't manage his attitude. What she wanted to ask now was what Cheng Tianhua's attitude was.
"Mom, how did you come up with the terrible idea of stealing Cheng You's money? Did Dad say anything to you?"
Song Yulian was full of complaints, "He agreed to it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have done it."
It was something they had planned together, yet now she was the one taking the blame.
She was truly unwilling.
"Since he agreed, why didn't you let him do it? Why did you have to do it, and then bear the consequences?"
Song Yulian wiped her tears, "I can understand him. After all, he's now connected with Deputy Director Qian, and he'll need money for many things in the future."
Cheng Tao scoffed, "Nonsense. Yunlin said Dad wants to marry Cheng You off to Deputy Director Qian's eldest son. His eldest son is exactly eighteen, the same age as Cheng You. Even if they don't get married now, they can get to know each other, and then marry when they're closer."
"What? That can't be! How can such a good opportunity fall to Cheng You! She doesn't deserve it!"
That was the son of a deputy director, with a better background than Zhao Yunlin.
If she had known this would happen, she might as well have had Cheng Tao marry him.
Cheng Tao said mockingly, "I said the same thing. Why should she marry so well? Even if she marries, she shouldn't marry his son! It would be much better if she married Deputy Director Qian directly!"
She had thought about it for a long time. Cheng You staying at home was always an eyesore.
It would be best to marry her off as soon as possible.
As for who she would marry, she thought about it for a long time.
It was only after hearing Zhao Yunlin mention Cheng Tianhua's intentions that she had this idea.
Song Yulian heard this and immediately rejected it, "If she really marries Deputy Director Qian, what if she sways him later and opposes us? Wouldn't that be even more troublesome? This won't work either."
It would be best if she married a simple farmer, far away.
No matter how you looked at Deputy Director Qian, he was still a deputy director of the commune.
Cheng Tao snorted coldly and said with a smile, "Mom, don't just see Deputy Director Qian as an official. Yunlin said that for his first marriage, he married a divorced woman with two sons. That's because he couldn't have children, so after his first wife died, he never remarried and resigned himself to raising these two sons."
Others say he was devoted to his ex-wife, but that was just a facade.
If he couldn't have children, and he remarried, wouldn't that expose him?
Moreover, how his ex-wife died, Zhao Yunlin had vaguely overheard some more secretive things, but Cheng Tao dared not tell her.
In any case, the Qian family was not a nest of blessings, but a tiger's den.
This was perfect for Cheng You.
Hearing this, Song Yulian felt more balanced.
If Cheng You married in, with two stepsons and no children of her own, she might end up alone in her old age.
Thinking of this, she felt much better.
"But he's never married. Why would he agree to marry Cheng You now?"
Cheng Tao remained silent.
Why? Of course, it was because of Cheng You's peerless beauty and figure.
Any man who saw her would like her, let alone someone like Deputy Director Qian.
Although he was unmarried, he was known to be quite wild in private and particularly fond of young girls with bright colors.
"Yunlin and I will handle this matter. You stay put for the next few days and don't cause any more trouble."