Chapter 17

Chapter 17

He had quite a lot to deal with tonight—there was a bidding proposal to discuss, and an investment in a film project to evaluate. In the middle of it, he was called to the film set by a few of Cheng Yan’s indirect remarks, and that delay ended up costing him several hours.

After returning just now, he only quickly took a shower and then started a video conference that lasted over half an hour.

When Aunt Yun went upstairs earlier to deliver him coffee, she casually mentioned that He Wei was cooking in the kitchen.

Yan Huai knew exactly who she was cooking for.

Today was Yan Chen’s birthday, but the Yan family was usually busy and didn’t really take such days seriously.

Yet He Wei had taken it to heart instead.

He had softened and brought her to the Yan residence, but she was now busying herself cooking dinner for another man.

Yan Huai absentmindedly listened to the company board members rambling for a long while, and after the meeting ended, he immediately opened the door and came out.

—He might as well not have come out at all.

Yan Huai stood at the stairway for a few seconds, then withdrew his gaze.

He concealed his emotions extremely well. His eyes were dark and deep. Even though the anger rising in his chest was churning wildly for no reason, his expression remained unchanged, and the way he looked at He Wei and Yan Chen was no different from looking at two stones.

He went to the refrigerator, took a can of chilled beer, then went back upstairs.

He Wei didn’t even notice him.

Her attention was still on Yan Chen. The man opposite her was eating noodles gracefully. The Yan family’s habit of “no talking while eating or sleeping” was strictly observed—he didn’t say a single word during the meal.

Ten minutes later, the bowl of noodles was finally empty.

He Wei glanced at the clock, then at the completely empty bowl, and curved her lips slightly. “Was it good?”

Yan Chen took the tissue she handed him, wiped his mouth, and smiled back at her. “It was especially good.”

He Wei watched as he threw the used tissue into the trash bin, then stood up, walked to the fridge, and took out a can of cola. “Wei Wei, want something to drink?”

“No, I won’t drink.”

Her period was coming in these next couple of days, and she couldn’t take anything cold.

So Yan Chen only took one can, opened it, and took a sip. “So tell me—what gift do you want to give me?”

The corners of his lips lifted slightly, his smile handsome and carefree.

He Wei looked at that strikingly handsome face and thought that, indeed, every romance novel seemed destined to have a good-looking male lead.

As if if the male lead didn’t look decent, it wouldn’t even qualify as a romance novel.

Yan Chen was very handsome—sharp brows and bright eyes, a high nose bridge, thin lips, and a firm jawline.

He matched every description of a male lead in novels.

He Wei suddenly felt a little pity, but that feeling didn’t last more than a few seconds. She lowered her gaze and glanced at the clock again.

It was almost midnight.

He Wei repeated once more, “Happy birthday, Yan Chen.”

“Just you coming today already makes me very happy.”

Across the table, Yan Chen reached out and held He Wei’s fingertips. “Wei Wei, this is the most unforgettable birthday I’ve had in over twenty years.”

He had, for the first time, felt what it was like to be cared about.

He Wei’s lips curved. “Yan Chen—”

“Mm?”

“Let’s break up.”

Yan Chen froze for a moment, then laughed again. He probably thought she was joking like last time. He brushed his fingers lightly against He Wei’s fingertips. “Wei Wei, stop messing around.”

He Wei pulled her hand back. “I’m serious.”

She lifted her eyes, her gaze gentle yet direct. “I’ve thought a lot these past few days.”

The corners of Yan Chen’s lips pressed together. He didn’t speak.

He Wei didn’t wait for his response either, continuing on her own. “We’re not compatible—family, personality, career… at least right now, none of it matches.”

Yan Chen remained silent.

He Wei let out a breath. Moisture gathered in her eyes, making them look slightly teary as she tried her best to appear sincere. “The Yan family is wealthy and powerful, but my family is different. You know my situation… And you’ve already started taking over the company, but I don’t even have any fame yet. My name might not even be known by many people if you say it out loud.”

“He Wei…”

“Let me finish.”

He Wei continued, “I know what you were like before being with me. I know you used to play around outside a lot. I don’t mind all that…”

As if.

She paused for a few seconds. “But what about you, Yan Chen? After being with me, you haven’t touched any other women, have you?”

Yan Chen’s breathing tightened.

If He Wei hadn’t brought it up, he had gradually gotten used to a restrained, almost abstinent life.

But the moment she said it, he immediately felt a fire ignite in his lower abdomen.

He Wei lowered her eyes again. “So I’ve been thinking these past few days—you want things from me that I can’t give you. And we’re not even on the same level to begin with. The longer we stay together, the more I can’t help but care.”

Most importantly, when she was with him, she saw Yan Huai far more often.

But she didn’t say that.

Her tone didn’t fluctuate much, yet somehow everything she said made it hard to doubt her.

Yan Chen stared deeply at the woman across from him.

Of course he liked He Wei—otherwise he wouldn’t have restrained himself just because she was pure and conservative, and even more unbelievable, he really hadn’t touched any other women during this time either.

Yan Chen sighed. “Is being with me really that stressful for you?”

He Wei nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it these past few days, and I haven’t even been sleeping well.”

Yan Chen’s gaze fixed, and he indeed saw faint dark circles under her eyes.

Although those dark circles were actually from He Wei staying up late reading scripts a few days ago.

Yan Chen had been holding back for too long. His self-control wasn’t like Yan Huai’s; he could lose control at any moment. So when He Wei brought up breaking up today, he actually felt a faint sense of relief.

But he didn’t show it on his face, still frowning as he asked softly, “Can we still meet in the future?”

He Wei nodded. “Let’s just be friends first.”

Not meeting was impossible.

Otherwise, if the favorability dropped, she would be completely finished.

Yan Chen nodded. “Wei Wei, I’ll always like you.”

He Wei was more than happy to hear that.

She curved her lips slightly, but her words were very perfunctory. “I wish you happiness in the future too.”

He Wei stood up. “Then I’ll head back first.”

“Uncle Liu isn’t here today. Wei Wei, it’s already late, and you’ve been filming all day—you must be tired. Just stay in the guest room tonight. I’ll have Uncle Liu send you back tomorrow morning.”

He Wei frowned slightly.

“Don’t worry, it’s the guest room, not my room.”

Yan Chen smiled. “It’s so late already, I wouldn’t feel at ease letting you go home alone.”

After a few seconds of hesitation, He Wei turned to look at the thick night outside, then agreed.

The Yan residence had many rooms—dozens of large and small ones. The room she would be staying in tonight was the same one she had stayed in during her previous life.

On the second floor, near the stairway.

Since she had stayed overnight in the Yan residence in her previous life, she was quite familiar with this guest room.

The room was not large, decorated in white and light blue tones—clean and fresh.

He Wei first went to the bathroom and took a hot shower. When she came out, she was only wrapped in a bath towel.

She washed her shirt and underwear, then put them into the dryer before coming out of the bathroom.

It was already past midnight.

He Wei scrolled through her Moments feed once, but she had no desire to sleep. She tossed her phone onto the bed and rolled around for a few minutes, only becoming more awake.

She simply sat up again and sent a message to Cheng Nuo: 【I’ve rejoined the single ranks.】

Cheng Nuo was a typical night owl and definitely wouldn’t be asleep at this hour. He replied quickly: 【Damn, you broke up?】

【Yeah.】

【You finally broke up!】

Cheng Nuo: 【If it weren’t so late today, I would’ve definitely taken you to the most expensive place to celebrate. We’d drink until we drop!】

He Wei: “……”

Cheng Nuo: 【Why did you break up? Did you catch him cheating?】

【Mutual breakup.】

【It wasn’t because he cheated?】

【Of course not.】

While He Wei was typing, a sudden rush of warmth surged downward in her lower abdomen, accompanied by a sinking, cramping pain in her uterus—

Her period had arrived.

He Wei didn’t have time to continue chatting with Cheng Nuo. Afraid of staining the bed, she hurriedly got out of bed, put on her slippers, and rushed to the bathroom. Sure enough, there was blood.

She sat on the toilet, quickly sending a message to Yan Chen: 【Yan Chen, are you there?】

After a few minutes, Yan Chen replied: 【I’m out right now, what’s up?】

He Wei felt extremely frustrated and icy inside.

Yan Chen: 【If there’s anything, you can call Aunt Yun. Her room is on the first floor, right below your guest room.】

He Wei thanked him and quickly got off the cold toilet seat. Not daring to make too much noise, she grabbed her phone and hurried out of the room.

Outside, all the lights were off, the surroundings pitch black, with only the light from her room spilling out.

He Wei couldn’t find the switch outside, so she turned on her phone flashlight and tiptoed downstairs.

Aunt Yun was probably asleep. The door was closed, and from underneath, there wasn’t even a trace of light visible.

Besides, even if Aunt Yun wasn’t asleep yet, at her age she probably didn’t even need sanitary pads anymore. He Wei let out a breath and felt even more frustrated.

She asked the system: “This doesn’t count as a hardship point, right?”

“It doesn’t, Host.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

This time, the system finally proved somewhat useful, proudly saying: “Detected that the storage room has the items the Host needs.”

He Wei: “……”

Where is the storage room?

The system: “Next to the kitchen.”

He Wei followed the system’s directions. She had only taken a few steps when the flashlight suddenly went out, and then her phone vibrated lightly in her hand.

Low battery, automatically shut down.

He Wei’s eyesight was fairly good, but at night it dropped significantly. Especially right after the light went out, her eyes couldn’t adjust. She closed them for several seconds. Just as she opened them again, a light suddenly appeared in her vision.

With a “click,” someone turned on the wall lamp in the living room.

He Wei was startled and instinctively grabbed the collar of her bath towel, holding it tightly so it wouldn’t fall.

The next second, before she even had time to turn around, a man’s voice sounded behind her: “He Wei?”

“……”

What do you even call this.

When it rains, it pours.

He Wei shrank slightly into the shadows. “President Yan…”

Yan Huai walked closer, his gaze drifting over her body almost carelessly. “What are you doing?”

He Wei’s face heated up. “Looking for something…”

“What thing?”

He Wei noticed he placed his cup down; he was probably coming downstairs to brew coffee and work overtime.

She coughed. Knowing she couldn’t get what she needed without telling the truth, she steeled herself and said, “I… got my period.”

Yan Huai’s hand, which had been reaching for the kettle, paused. He turned his head to look at her.

The girl’s shoulders were exposed, her skin very fair, still faintly pink from a recent shower. Her long, slender legs were tightly pressed together.

Yan Huai’s gaze landed almost immediately on the small mole at her chest.

He more or less guessed what was going on. His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and the corner of his lips curved faintly. “Wait for me a few minutes.”