Over half an hour later, Liu Changqing got ready to leave.

Though Chu Lan was clearly reluctant, she didn’t say much—she just smiled brightly, leaned against the headboard, and looked at him holding that big bag of fruit.

“When will you come again?”

“……”

Liu Changqing paused for a second, then glanced at Chu Fang, who was peeling an apple nearby.

He noticed her hand momentarily freeze.

Returning his gaze to Chu Lan’s hopeful face, Liu Changqing hesitated, but still answered.

“I’ll come when I have time.”

“…Okay then.”

“Well, I’m heading out.”

Not wanting to prolong the goodbye and risk seeing her disappointed, Liu Changqing quickened his pace and left without lingering.

The door closed behind him.

The smile on Chu Lan’s face faded slightly.

Leaning against the bed, she turned her head and softly said to her sister, who was still peeling fruit:

“Sis… thank you for everything.”

“……”

Chu Fang’s head snapped up in shock, staring at her sister.

On Chu Lan’s face was nothing but sincere gratitude.

----------------------------------------

It took Liu Changqing nearly twenty minutes to drive back home.

Standing outside his front door, he first composed himself—making sure no one could tell he was in a different mood.

He opened the door, plastered a smile on his face, and called out:

“Strawberries—brought them back!”

After saying that, he slipped on his indoor slippers and was about to head toward the bedroom.

But after two steps, he suddenly stopped.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone sitting on the couch.

Holding the bag of fruit, he turned and saw Chen Dafu lounging there, munching on sunflower seeds.

He froze.

When Chen Dafu noticed Liu Changqing had returned, he lifted a hand with mock formality and greeted him.

“Yo, the errand boy’s back?”

“…How’d you get in here?”

“Your wife let me in. By the way… what took you so long just to buy some strawberries?”

As he said that, his eyes landed on the massive bag of fruit Liu Changqing was holding.

Excited, he put down the seeds, stood up, and rubbed his hands together like a little gremlin.

Grinning mischievously, he asked,

“Mind if I try some? Not gonna lie, I love strawberries!”

“In your dreams. These aren’t for you.”

“Oh, come on, don’t be so stingy!”

“Do you know how far I had to drive to get these? You’re not broke—go buy your own!”

“But I like your strawberries!”

Chen Dafu closed in, and Liu Changqing shot him a disgusted look while waving him away.

But despite his complaints, Liu Changqing still reached into the bag and handed him a small handful of loose strawberries.

“Go wash them yourself.”

“Sweet!”

Chen Dafu happily trotted off to the kitchen with the fruit.

Liu Changqing let out a sigh and pushed open the bedroom door.

Inside, An Yuanyao had already gotten up.

She was sitting at the vanity, patting hydrating toner onto her face.

Hearing the door open, she turned to look at him.

When she saw the strawberries in his hand, her eyes lit up with surprise.

She stood up and walked over.

“Took you long enough. Were none of the nearby shops selling them?”

“Don’t even ask—I had to hit five different places before I finally found some!”

“You’re the best!”

Smiling wide, she reached out to take the strawberries.

But just as her hand neared the bag, she suddenly stopped.

The cheerful look on her face faded, and her brows furrowed.

She leaned closer to Liu Changqing and sniffed.

She froze.

Then looked up at him, stunned.

“…Why do you smell like perfume?”

“Perfume?”

Liu Changqing was caught off guard. He looked down at himself, lifted a sleeve, and sniffed.

Nothing. Just a faint scent of detergent.

When he didn’t respond right away, An Yuanyao leaned in again and sniffed more closely.

Then confirmed:

“There’s definitely something. It’s faint, but I can smell it… Wait, is that disinfectant too?”

“……”

Women are terrifying, Liu Changqing thought.

Still, he replied helplessly:

“I bought the strawberries from a fruit stand next to the hospital.

After buying them, I had to use the restroom, so I went into the hospital for that.

The perfume smell you’re talking about… maybe it’s from the fruit vendor’s daughter or something. I didn’t notice anything.”

“…Alright then.”

His explanation was reasonable and believable.

An Yuanyao didn’t press any further. She took the strawberries from him and opened the plastic bag to look inside.

“Mmm… they look delicious.”

“I’ll wash them for you.”

Liu Changqing took the bag back and left the room, heading to the kitchen.

He filled a small basin with water and began washing the strawberries.

Meanwhile, Chen Dafu—who had already washed and started eating—swallowed a mouthful, then stood nearby and said:

“Li Chongming is done for. You heard?”

“Yeah. Heard about it.”

“Life’s got a wicked sense of humor… who would’ve thought we’d start the new year with something this entertaining.”

He popped another whole strawberry into his mouth.

“Oh—and when I went home for the holidays, my dad said Ye Rong’s other shareholders are getting restless.

This year’s losses are more than the past few years combined. Plus—”

“Get to the point.”

Liu Changqing turned off the tap, drained the basin, and set it aside.

Then he looked at Chen Dafu and said,

“You didn’t come all the way here just to gossip about Ye Rong.”

“……”

Chen Dafu went quiet for a moment.

His usually joking expression faded.

He didn’t even reach for more strawberries.

For once, he looked… a little melancholic.

He sighed. Time to come clean.

“…Actually, over the holiday, I told my parents about Gu Xiyu.

And my dad—he’s not on board.”

“He’s against it? Wait—you and that girl are already dating?”

“Almost. I was this close to getting her to say yes.”

“Then why would you bring it up now if it’s not even official?”

“Because I’m serious, okay?!”

Frustrated, Chen Dafu continued,

“You don’t get it. When I went home, my dad dragged me around to meet some of his friends…

Said we were just going out for dinner, but surprise—it was a matchmaking ambush!”

“That’s not so bad. Free matchmaking—what’s there to complain about?”

“Complain?! One girl was just twenty—a total baby.

Another just came back from overseas. She’s five years younger than me. I’m twenty-six!

What am I supposed to do, rob the cradle?!”

Liu Changqing gave it a second of thought.

“How old is Gu Xiyu?”

“Nineteen. Why?”

“……”

Liu Changqing was speechless, staring at the very man pouting about age gaps.

Chen Dafu…

Really mastered the art of double standards.