Seeing Chen Yang frozen in place, Qin Qiu frowned. "If you're not willing, then forget it!"

"I'm willing! Of course, I'm willing!" Chen Yang nodded hastily. "It's not every day my wife asks me to cook for her. How could I refuse? It's my honor, you know?"

"Besides, we happen to have a blackfish at home. It should have purged its earthy taste by now, perfect for soup!" With a playful smile, Chen Yang took the car keys from Qin Qiu's hand. "Let's go, honey, we're heading home!"

「In the office.」

Watching the scene unfold, Zhou Yufei was overcome with envy, which quickly soured into intense jealousy.

Yes, she was jealous! At the same time, she was starting to find Qin Qiu irritating. She had seen how much Chen Yang had humbled himself over this long period, yet Qin Qiu always remained as cold and distant as a thousand-year-old block of ice that would never melt. No matter how much passion Chen Yang showed, she remained completely unmoved.

While she found Qin Qiu irksome, she also felt sympathy, even pity, for Chen Yang. Here was a full-grown man, constantly trying to win a woman over, only for her to give him the cold shoulder time and again, yet he persisted, never giving up. Had he no pride left?

Because of this, she was more convinced than ever that Chen Yang was not the Zhennan Prince.

Who was the Zhennan Prince? A man whose mere presence at the gates of Hanyun Valley made the Barbarian Military Guards voluntarily retreat thirty miles! How could such a man of iron will grovel like this before a woman?

In the end, she also pitied herself. She had finally found a man who made her feel something, but he was married. And despite her advances, he did everything he could to resist.

Heh… Wasn't she a woman pursued by thousands and adored by tens of thousands? And yet, she had ended up in such a predicament.

Was it pitiful?

Of course, it was!

Of the eighty thousand characters in the world, the one for 'love' is what wounds the most. The ancients certainly didn't lie.

However, giving up just like that was not her style.

As she watched Chen Yang and Qin Qiu gradually disappear from sight, Zhou Yufei murmured to herself, "Is it wrong for me to pursue what I want?"

「In the car.」

Qin Qiu rolled down the window, resting one arm on the frame while sweeping her bangs back with her other hand. "So, tell me about that military friend of yours."

Chen Yang snuck a glance at Qin Qiu. He was now one hundred percent certain that his wife was genuinely jealous.

He couldn't help but feel a secret thrill of delight.

"When I first joined the military, I was in charge of material requisitions for a while," Chen Yang explained truthfully. "She and I were around the same age, so we naturally had more to talk about. As we spent more time together, we slowly got to know each other. Later, I was sent to the front lines, and we gradually lost touch. The camaraderie among Martial Guards doesn't distinguish between men and women! That's why seemingly intimate gestures like putting an arm around someone's shoulder are common."

Qin Qiu didn't respond, staring out the window for a long moment before saying, "I can tell she likes you."

Chen Yang was speechless.

Qin Qiu turned to face him. "I saw it in her eyes! And it's not just a crush; she likes you a lot!"

"Impossible!" Chen Yang denied it instantly. "You must have misread the situation!"

Ignoring his denial, Qin Qiu continued, "You've certainly been wronged while staying at my family's home, and my mother doesn't even treat you like a human being. I know you've been putting up with it, but you don't have to. Just say the word, and I'll go with you to file for divorce right now."

SCREECH!!

Chen Yang slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt in the middle of the road. Even through the closed windows, they could hear angry shouts from outside.

"Honey, what are you talking about? I love you! And I will only ever love you!" Chen Yang stared intently at Qin Qiu, his voice firm. "I'm too busy loving you to even think about a divorce. Even if you wanted one, I would die before I signed the papers!"

First startled by the sudden stop, Qin Qiu was then left gaping in astonishment at his raw confession. They had been together for a few months, but had they ever exchanged such sweet words?

After meeting his gaze for two seconds, she quickly looked away. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, her heart was pounding, and a blush crept up her cheeks.

Moreover, a wave of sweetness unexpectedly washed over her heart, and she felt a great sense of relief. If this had happened in the past, she would have been disgusted, as if she'd eaten something vile, and would have erupted in anger. But now… What… what was happening to her?

Qin Qiu turned her head back toward the window, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in her mind.

"Honey, I'm sticking with you for life, no matter how you treat me!" Chen Yang declared firmly.

"How can you be so shameless?" Qin Qiu couldn't help but retort before urging, "Aren't you going to drive?"

Seeing that she had dropped the subject of divorce, Chen Yang heaved a huge sigh of relief and restarted the car with a grin.

A moment later, he teased, "Honey, are you jealous?"

"I am not!" Qin Qiu flatly denied it.

Chen Yang just smiled foolishly. He knew his wife was truly jealous.

And if she's jealous, it means she really cares!

"What are you smiling at?!" Qin Qiu demanded, keeping her eyes fixed on the view outside. She didn't dare turn around, afraid he would see her blushing face.

"I'm not smiling, not at all! Haha…" Though he said he wasn't, his laughter only grew more exaggerated.

Qin Qiu was left speechless.

「Back home.」

As soon as they got out of the car, Qin Qiu said, "You should go have dinner with her. My mom and I will just eat something simple."

"I'm not going," Chen Yang said. He had already decided in the car that for his wife's sake, he would have to let Sun Yuli down.

To his surprise, Qin Qiu shot him a sharp look. "How can you back out after you've already agreed? Besides, she really did us a huge favor. You have to treat her to this meal, no matter what!"

As she spoke, she took a bank card from her purse and handed it to him. "Be generous. Take her somewhere nice. The PIN is my birthday."

Chen Yang was stunned.

Does this woman's mind always change so quickly?

"Alright, I'll go after I've cooked dinner!" He took the card and, without waiting for her reply, rushed toward the villa and straight into the kitchen.

Watching his retreating figure, an inexplicable smile touched the corners of Qin Qiu's lips.

This man might not have any great abilities or any background, but at the very least, his love for her was wholehearted and pure. Perhaps there truly is no such thing as perfection in this world. You really can't have your cake and eat it, too.

Less than an hour later, three dishes and a soup were neatly arranged on the dining table. Chen Yang had put special effort into the blackfish soup; after all, it was what Qin Qiu had specifically requested.

Qin Qiu walked over. "Go change your clothes and hurry. Don't keep her waiting too long."

"Where are you going so late?" Luo Sulan demanded.

"Chen Yang has to meet a client! Don't mind him, let's eat," Qin Qiu said, pulling her mother down to sit. She quickly changed the subject. "Where's Xiaomo? I feel like I haven't seen her all day."

"Humph! As if a good-for-nothing like him could have clients to meet," Luo Sulan sneered. "I bet he's just using a 'client meeting' as an excuse to go fool around outside!"

Ignoring her sharp words, Chen Yang changed his clothes and left.

「Meanwhile, at the Sun Family Mansion.」

Just as Sun Yuli was leaving, a richly dressed woman instructed a nearby servant, "Inform Leng Lingyun of the young lady's whereabouts at once!"

"Yes, Madam!"

The woman muttered in discontent, "That girl… Honestly, what's so great about some lowly Martial Guard? He's only meeting her because he sees our Sun Family's high status and wants to climb the social ladder!"

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