Wen Zhiyan finished speaking, looking at Fang Miaomiao nervously.
Fang Miaomiao also looked at Wen Zhiyan, blinking without speaking.
Time ticked by, and the silence around them felt like a sharp knife piercing his heart, bit by bit.
It hurt, but he didn't know what to say.
Wen Zhiyan's initial joy gradually turned to disappointment, and the light in his eyes slowly faded.
Did she... not like him?
That's why she hadn't spoken?
This realization made Wen Zhiyan feel like he couldn't breathe.
"It's, it's okay. You don't need to feel uneasy or have any other emotions because of my confession just now. These are all my own feelings." Wen Zhiyan forced back his inner disappointment, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "Miaomiao, you don't need to carry too much of a burden."
It's fine. If Miaomiao doesn't like him now, he'll definitely make her like him later.
"Pfft."
Fang Miaomiao couldn't hold back her laughter.
Wen Zhiyan looked at Fang Miaomiao, who was laughing heartily opposite him, with a rare expression of confusion and surprise.
"You?"
"Wen Zhiyan, you're still like a child." Fang Miaomiao spread her hands and looked at Wen Zhiyan innocently. "Didn't you just say not to let me speak?"
"What, you confess, you also reject, performing a solo act, am I your audience?"
As she spoke, Fang Miaomiao stood up and walked to Wen Zhiyan's side, leaning one hand on his wheelchair and the other, rather dominantly, lifting his chin.
"Miaomiao?" Wen Zhiyan stared intently at Fang Miaomiao above him. Like a young man in his twenties, his heart pounded wildly.
"Wen Zhiyan, what I want to tell you is, I like you too."
"What?"
Fang Miaomiao placed a kiss on Wen Zhiyan's forehead. Looking into his eyes, which reflected only her, she said word by word, "I said, Wen Zhiyan, I like you."
Wen Zhiyan clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. "What did you just say?"
Fang Miaomiao looked at the obvious nervousness and anxiety on his face and repeated herself. "I said, I like you. Fang Miaomiao likes Wen Zhiyan."
"Originally, I wanted to confess to you first. I didn't expect you to say it before me." Fang Miaomiao said with a hint of helplessness. "You confessed, and then you wouldn't let me speak, creating a whole drama in your head."
"I..." Wen Zhiyan suddenly felt his ears burning, and he was too guilty to meet Fang Miaomiao's gaze.
"Wen Zhiyan, I like you, not because you're rich." Fang Miaomiao said, her face not blushing.
When did she start liking Wen Zhiyan?
Perhaps it was when he helped her without considering the cost.
Or perhaps it was when Old Madam Ran spoke to her, and Wen Zhiyan stood by her side.
Or, more superficially, she was captivated by Wen Zhiyan's handsome face and his deep eyes.
In short, in her eyes, Wen Zhiyan was perfect in every way.
"I like you, I like you immensely."
Wen Zhiyan coughed a few times, too shy to meet Miaomiao's eyes.
He knew Miaomiao liked him, she didn't need to say it multiple times.
"Why don't you dare to look me in the eye?" Fang Miaomiao chuckled and pretended to be sad. "Is it because you were joking just now, and you don't like me at all, right? That's why you don't dare to meet my gaze."
"No."
Hearing Fang Miaomiao's doubtful words, he suddenly looked up and saw her looking at him with teary eyes.
She was crying?
Was it because he hadn't responded in time?
Seeing this, Wen Zhiyan felt heartbroken and panicked. He fumbled and reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of Fang Miaomiao's eyes.
"Dad, how can you bully Mom?"
Fang Miaomiao's eyebrows slightly rose.
Oh dear, she might have gone too far.
Wen Zhiyan's hand froze in mid-air.
"Mom, don't be scared, I'll protect you."
Fang Miaomiao had intended to say it was a misunderstanding, but when she met the little one's eyes, an inexplicable sense of guilt washed over her.
Then, she let Wen Yan'an pull her away.
Before the door closed, she cast a helpless glance at Wen Zhiyan.
After the door was closed.
Wen Yan'an sat opposite Wen Zhiyan like a little adult.
"An'an."
"Dad, you can't bully Mom."
"Mom cried when she heard you were in a car accident."
Actually, he had woken up when Mom was startled awake by a nightmare.
But seeing Mom rush to find her phone, he knew he couldn't open his eyes.
He obediently kept his eyes closed, hearing Mom tell the Dad on the phone to leave.
He heard Mom's suppressed sobs.
But he couldn't step forward. He knew that if he did, Mom would have to consider his feelings while also trying to hide things from him.
He couldn't be a burden to Mom.
"I'm sorry."
"Dad."
"I'm here, Dad is always here."
Wen Yan'an said with red eyes, "You have to live well. Mom and I can't live without you."
"Good boy." Wen Zhiyan beckoned to Wen Yan'an. "Dad will always be here. Dad will protect you and Miaomiao."
"Then, will you still bully Mom?"
Wen Zhiyan: "..."
Did he learn this change of mood from Miaomiao?
"Young Master Wen Yan'an, when did you see me bullying your mother?"
"Just now, with my own eyes."
When Mom carried him to the room, he had actually already woken up.
But thinking they had something to discuss, he stayed in the room obediently, only to hear Mom sobbing a while later.
Wen Zhiyan, recalling Fang Miaomiao's somewhat schadenfreude look just now, shook his head with a wry smile. "You misunderstood."
He had no choice but to explain the key points of what had happened.
Unexpectedly, Young Master An'an's expression became even more varied.
"Dad, confessing is a very serious and solemn matter."
Not only did Dad not confess properly, but Mom stole his thunder. And after that, he just stood there foolishly, not knowing how to react.
Wen Yan'an felt his father was a bit difficult to handle.
"Young Master Wen Yan'an, I think you can go to first grade this year."
Wen Yan'an wrinkled his nose. "I'm only five years old."
"Preschool."
Now that he and Miaomiao were considered a couple, he couldn't have a little third wheel constantly around.
"No."
Those children were too immature and often bullied others. He didn't want to go.
"If I have to go, I want to go to first grade."
"I don't want to break the law," Wen Zhiyan said calmly.
"Going to first grade at five years old is illegal?" Wen Zhiyan looked at his father in confusion.
"Of course. Why would I lie to you? I'm older than you and know more."
Wen Yan'an glanced at him, stood up from the sofa, and said, "I'll go ask Mom," before running towards the bedroom.
The living room fell silent.
Only then did Wen Zhiyan unfold his tightly clenched hands.
They were covered in sweat and had red marks from him pinching himself.
Looking at them.
He couldn't help but laugh out loud. He was with his Miaomiao.