Volume One, Chapter Six: Your Sister Is Doing Just Fine

The matter with Xia Xiaoman was temporarily resolved, and Xia Xiyin felt much more at ease. She knew Zhou Yuan deliberately teased her with that question, so she couldn’t help but lift her head slightly, flashing him a coquettish smile as she countered, “So, you don’t want to share the same room with me?”

Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Without further words, he gently pinched her chin and kissed her deeply.

Xia Xiyin’s heart pounded as she returned his kiss. Whether it was out of gratitude or a sense of guilt for expressing her feelings improperly, she felt subordinate at this moment, indebted to him, which naturally led to a compliant demeanor.

Unable to resist, Zhou Yuan soon had her pressed down on the bed. His hand slowly slipped beneath her clothes.

When their skin touched, Xia Xiyin snapped back to reality, placing her hand to stop his advance. Opening her eyes, her voice husky, she whispered, “Don’t. Xiaoman is still here.”

Seeing her flushed cheeks and pleading eyes, Zhou Yuan tenderly kissed her forehead, then rose, pulling Xia Xiyin to sit beside him at the head of the bed.

They sat in silence for a moment before Xia Xiyin spoke first.

“Yuan,” she played with his fingers teasingly, “I’m a bit worried. You’re the CEO used to living in a big house—can you really live comfortably in my little nest?”

Zhou Yuan smiled. “Then what? If I don’t stay here, will your pride be able to handle it?”

Embarrassed, Xia Xiyin smiled shyly. “Am I being a bit pretentious?”

“That’s not what I mean,” Zhou Yuan said, tracing their intertwined fingers. “Actually, I’d prefer if you moved in with me instead. Just the two of us, it would help our relationship grow.”

“I never imagined that just starting to date you would bring you such trouble,” she said, blaming herself.

Zhou Yuan replied, “Trouble? Don’t overthink it.”

Looking at him earnestly, Xia Xiyin sincerely praised, “Yuan, at the company, you seem so stern and unapproachable, but I didn’t expect you to be so gentle, understanding, and warm-hearted in private.”

Zhou Yuan smiled. “Xinyin, you should understand that my tenderness and understanding are reserved only for you. To others, I’m still the strict, impartial, and unyielding man.”

Hearing this, Xia Xiyin’s cheeks flushed. “Then I’m really lucky.”

After a brief pause, she asked cautiously, “You like me, right?”

She asked because it all felt unreal—too smooth, too dreamlike for her.

“I accepted your confession, we’ve slept together, and I helped your brother. Do you think I like you or not?” Zhou Yuan looked exasperated, tapping her head lightly. “Don’t ever ask such silly questions again.”

“When did you start liking me?” Xia Xiyin persisted curiously.

Zhou Yuan smiled and countered, “Then when did you start liking me?”

Xia Xiyin let out a silly “Ah,” then chuckled nervously. “That… is a secret.”

“Hmm, mine’s a secret too,” Zhou Yuan said, keeping the mystery just like her.

Not daring to press further, Xia Xiyin let the secret remain.

That evening, Xia Xiaoman prepared a lavish dinner to express her gratitude to her brother-in-law.

“Brother-in-law, you’re used to delicacies, so today we’re serving some home-cooked dishes to change things up,” Xia Xiaoman said with a grin as she ladled corn and pork rib soup.

“The dishes look good,” Zhou Yuan complimented, picking up his chopsticks and first offering some stir-fried pork to Xia Xiyin.

“Brother-in-law, I don’t know your preferences, so I made some popular dishes. Try them,” Xia Xiaoman said, setting the soup in front of him. “My sister loves this soup, and I think you might too.”

Watching her brother and brother-in-law exchange playful banter, Xia Xiyin smiled, “Alright, alright, stop fussing.”

“Yeah, brother-in-law’s family, let’s eat,” Xia Xiaoman laughed, feeding him a piece of shrimp.

With the high-interest loan collector gone, the house effectively saved, and a formidable brother-in-law gained, Xia Xiaoman found renewed hope. He now had a goal: to work hard, earn money, and pay off debts. Once a person has a goal, they gain motivation. He felt the dark clouds had passed.

After their joyful meal, Xia Xiyin returned to the living room sofa to play on her phone, while her brother-in-law and brother busied themselves in the kitchen.

“Xiaoman, what are your plans for the future?” Zhou Yuan asked, peeling an apple.

Xia Xiaoman paused her scrubbing, then asked eagerly, “Brother-in-law, I want to know how to become rich like you.”

Zhou Yuan smirked. “I didn’t start from scratch, so you can’t just learn it from me. But if you want to start a business, I can help.”

“A business?” Xia Xiaoman looked puzzled. “I don’t know what to do. I’m not good at studying, didn’t get into college, and lack experience.”

Zhou Yuan looked up at him. “Experience isn’t only found in college. It’s everywhere, in many forms.”

“Brother-in-law, what do you think I should do?” Encouraged, Xia Xiaoman hurried over to Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan finished cutting the apple, arranged the pieces on a plate, then sliced some watermelon. “I think you have a talent for cooking. Would you like to explore the culinary field?”

“Me? Talented?” Xia Xiaoman was flattered but modest. “I think I’m just average.”

“Don’t belittle yourself,” Zhou Yuan said, biting into the watermelon. “Blue Ocean Restaurant belongs to my company. If you’re interested, I can get you in to gain some experience. How about that?”

Xia Xiaoman’s jaw dropped. “Brother-in-law, that nationally renowned Blue Ocean Restaurant is yours? Yours?”

Zhou Yuan was eating watermelon with one hand, lifting Xia Xiaoman’s chin with the other.

“Brother-in-law, I’m interested. I want to learn,” Xia Xiaoman clung to Zhou Yuan’s arm like holding a money tree, flattering him. “How did you end up falling for my sister?”

Zhou Yuan laughed at the question, freeing himself and carrying the fruit plate out. “She’s beautiful, capable, honest, and kind. Why wouldn’t I like her? You little brat, your sister’s doing great!”

“Tsk tsk,” Xia Xiaoman muttered, watching his back as he walked away, then took a bite of his own “love’s leftovers.”

Back in the living room, just as Zhou Yuan set down the fruit plate, a phone on the coffee table rang. Xia Xiyin instinctively glanced at it. The caller ID displayed the word “Grandmother.”