Chapter 27: Wait for Me; No Matter How Late, I Will Definitely Come.

With the intersection blocked, Cheng Wanyue had no choice but to stop. From childhood to adulthood, she had never been one to shy away from anything.

“My name is Cheng Meili—’Meili’ as in ‘beautiful.’ I’m 30 years old, divorced with a child. Now that we’ve met, what next?”

Chi Yue tilted his head and smiled. Cheng Wanyue didn’t shake his hand, but he didn’t feel awkward either, naturally withdrawing his hand.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

Cheng Wanyue countered, “How old are you?”

“22.”

Only then did Cheng Wanyue take a closer look at Chi Yue, from head to toe, and then at the motorcycle in front of her.

He wasn’t wearing any accessories, but the watch on his wrist could buy a house in a second or third-tier city. Cheng Wanyue didn’t know much about cars, but she had friends who raced, and through them, she had learned about some brands and even attended races. The mostly black motorcycle Chi Yue was riding was likely more expensive than his watch.

“I see,” Chi Yue placed his helmet on the handlebars and got off the bike, walking toward Cheng Wanyue. “So here’s the thing—I want to date you.”

Earlier, his father had slapped him, leaving a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

Cheng Wanyue’s eyes conveyed clearly: I’ve eaten three more years of rice than you; don’t try this nonsense on me.

“Kid, did your brain get scrambled by that slap?”

When Chi Yue heard her calling him “kid,” he realized he was younger than her. But she looked younger, and even if she wasn’t, they should still be around the same age. He had taken a year off during his sophomore year, otherwise, he would have graduated in June.

“Maybe,” Chi Yue said, “Perhaps I was enchanted by your magic just now. For those ten minutes, all I could think about was how to win you over, but you rejected me.”

Chi Yue wasn’t the type to persistently chase after someone. People usually chased him, clinging to him. He had never pursued anyone before.

Having already been rejected, further纠缠 would only leave a bad impression.

“Beautiful girl, where are you going?” He didn’t know her name yet, and perhaps it was better that way. Knowing might make him obsess over her. “It’s hard to get a taxi here—there must be at least twenty people ahead of you in line.”

“Home,” Cheng Wanyue glanced at her phone. The ride-hailing app showed that there were currently 27 people in line.

Chi Yue took a white helmet out of the bike. “Today, I’ll just take you home. I’m not a good person, but I don’t do bad things either. If we meet again in the future, I’ll confirm something.”

“What do you need to confirm?”

“How long the feeling of love at first sight will last.”

Chi Yue wasn’t new to being hit. In the moment he almost retaliated against his father earlier, he saw this beautiful warrior.

The night wind was still quite hot. Cheng Wanyue wasn’t interested in him, but the bike was impressive.

“This bike of yours is pretty cool.”

“I’m not too bad either,” Chi Yue helped her put on the helmet. “In a hurry? If not, I’ll take you for a spin first.”

“... The helmet feels a bit big.”

“No woman has ridden my bike before. This helmet is for backup—it’s meant for men, so it’s bound to be big on you. Make do with it.”

Cheng Wanyue exited the ride-hailing app, raised her right hand to adjust the helmet, and glanced at Chi Yue’s guitar before getting on the bike.

His father had wanted to destroy that guitar. Just as race car drivers cherish their cars, musicians hold their instruments dear.

When the guitar hit the ground, Chi Yue had considered retaliating.

“The guitar must be broken—it seems difficult to repair.”

Chi Yue smiled at her, “Isn’t God compensating me for it?”

Cheng Wanyue needed to get home early today. “Don’t ride too far; I’ll just experience it briefly.”

“Too late—you’re already on.”

The motorcycle sped past on the road, leaving even the evening breeze behind. This thrilling freshness was addictive.

Cheng Wanyue had felt similarly addicted when she first bought a sports car.

What was supposed to be a ten-minute ride turned into twenty, and Chi Yue cruised around the city for half an hour before heading toward her home.

After entering the elevator, Cheng Wanyue suddenly realized she had forgotten to return the helmet to Chi Yue. She went back downstairs. Chi Yue was still at the entrance of the residential complex, waving at her from afar. Before she could approach, he rode away.

She had just experienced his speed; running with two legs wouldn’t catch up even if she ran herself to death.

It would be a pity to throw it away, so she had no choice but to carry it upstairs.

Twenty minutes ago, Cheng Yanqing had posted a photo in the family WeChat group, having picked up both Cheng Yuzhou and Yan Ci.

Thankfully, she hadn’t returned too late.

Standing at the door, Cheng Wanyue rummaged through her bag for her keys while glancing at Qing Hang’s WeChat profile picture.

He hadn’t contacted her for several days.

Could it be that after sleeping on it, not only had there been no progress, but it had even regressed from thirty percent to ten?

Was she really that bad?

Impossible! How could she be bad!

That day, Qing Hang said he would pick her up, but Cheng Yanqing had replied to the message using her phone, firmly declining. Surely it couldn’t be because of that...

As Cheng Wanyue was pondering, Qing Hang’s call came through.

With nowhere to put the helmet and unable to find her keys, she stood at the door to answer the call. “Dr. Qing has been quite busy these days, huh? How does he still have time to call me?”

“Not too bad, about the same as usual,” Qing Hang had just left the pet store. “Are you off work?”

“Hmph, I’m ignoring you. Even if I am off work, I’m busy. There’s a handsome guy waiting for me.”

Qing Hang knew she was referring to Cheng Yuzhou and Yan Ci. “I’ll wait my turn. Tomorrow will come around eventually.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Cheng Wanyue vaguely thought she heard a cat meowing. She looked left and right, but there was no cat in the corridor—it must be on his side. “Qing Hang, have you switched to being a veterinarian?”

“A cat by the roadside.”

“A stray cat?”

“No.”

“Someone else’s cat—why does it keep following you?”

“I don’t know either,” Qing Hang gently stroked the small cat’s round head, and the cat nestled into his palm. “Cheng Wanyue, wait for me tomorrow. No matter how late it is, I’ll definitely come find you.”

Although he had mentioned it beforehand, and his superior hadn’t scheduled him for a night shift, no one could guarantee that there wouldn’t be any emergencies with the patients.

During those three years of high school, Cheng Wanyue never blew out candles or cut her cake with Cheng Yanqing. Her cake was always saved until the end, waiting for Qing Hang to arrive before making a wish.

“Mm,” she agreed.

Qing Hang waited for her to hang up first.

“Wait, let me ask you something,” Cheng Wanyue looked down at her toes. “Am I really bad in bed?”

After much thought, Qing Hang on the other end of the phone finally replied, “You’re very good.”

“Bye!”

Cheng Wanyue hung up, fished out her keys from her bag, opened the door, and the three men sitting on the sofa all turned to look at her simultaneously.

How did they get home before her?

Cheng Wanyue took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. The apartment’s soundproofing was excellent—she had tested it—they couldn’t have heard anything.

The pressure from the three men was overwhelming. If it were just Cheng Yanqing, Cheng Wanyue could easily brush him off with her eyes closed. But with Cheng Yuzhou present, even ten of her wouldn’t stand a chance.

Her first instinct was to run. “I walked into the wrong place, sorry.”

Cheng Yanqing sneered. “Wrong place, huh? Leave the keys on the shoe cabinet before you close the door, and don’t bother coming back tomorrow. Go sleep under the bridge.”

Cheng Wanyue immediately shut her mouth, lowered her head, and braced herself for the scolding. She was still holding the helmet, with nowhere to hide it.

Yan Ci casually asked, “Whose bike was that downstairs just now?”

He had gone downstairs to buy alcohol and happened to see it.

Cheng Wanyue replied, “A friend’s.”

Cheng Yuzhou spoke up, “Boyfriend or girlfriend?”

“Boyfriend… No, male friend,” Cheng Wanyue almost bit her tongue. “Cheng Yuzhou, don’t deliberately mislead me.”

Cheng Yuzhou nodded, “Motorcycle girl, quite stylish, quite cool.”

“Thanks, though I’m only somewhat stylish and somewhat cool.”

“Yan Ci said you were about fifty meters behind him. Just an ordinary male friend—what were you dawdling outside for?”

See, she knew they hadn’t heard anything about her performance. “Oh, I was taking a call at the door. It’s so late—what are you three still doing awake? Aren’t you tired from the flight?”

Cheng Yanqing exaggeratedly raised his voice, “Oh, so you know it’s late? Who were you gallivanting with today? What cowardly man only dares to sneak around? How ugly must he be to be such an eyesore?”

“Who’s sneaking around?” Cheng Wanyue always acted openly. “He’s not ugly; he’s much more handsome than you.”

Cheng Yanqing nudged Cheng Yuzhou’s arm. “See? Didn’t I say she’s been acting suspicious lately?”

Cheng Yuzhou asked again, “We came all this way to celebrate your and Cheng Yanqing’s birthday. Where did you go?”

Cheng Wanyue glanced around, looking left and right, up and down. “Nowhere special—I just came back after work.”

“Did you meet with Qing Hang?”

“No! Not at all!”

Cheng Yuzhou appeared to understand. “That’s settled then.”

Cheng Wanyue’s composure crumbled: Ayu, save me! Quickly take your husband away.

Cheng Yuzhou glanced at Cheng Yanqing out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t meddle in her friendships. Don’t nag like an old woman. Annoying girlfriends is one thing, but annoying your sister is another.”

He stood up first, walked to the door to help Wanyue with her things, and let her change her shoes. “Have you been happy these days?”

“Mm, mm!”

“That’s good.”

“I missed you so much, Brother!” Cheng Wanyue hugged him tightly, while also complimenting Yan Ci, “Yan Ci, you’ve gotten even more handsome.”

Yan Ci reciprocated politely, “You’ve become even prettier too.”

Cheng Yanqing watched their deep sibling bond with twitching lips. “Cheng Yuzhou, you sly devil!”

Cheng Wanyue added fuel to the fire nearby, “Brother Zhou, that ugly eight-legged creature is cursing you.”

“It’s fine—let him be jealous,” Cheng Yuzhou calmly replied. “After all, I’ve already gotten my marriage certificate, but his girlfriend hasn’t accepted his proposal yet.”

“Holy crap!” Cheng Yanqing hooked his arm around Yan Ci’s neck. “Cheng Yuzhou verbally attacked us—listen to him! Is that even human talk? Heartless, utterly devoid of humanity!”

Yan Ci shook off his arm. “He’s attacking you.”

“Yan Ci, tonight you’re sleeping in the toilet. No bargaining, no discussion—this is my rented place, and I make the rules.”

“I’ve already booked a hotel—a five-star one.”

Cheng Yuzhou added, “Yan Ci and I booked the same hotel. We won’t squeeze in with you.”

Cheng Yanqing, “...”