Chapter 58 – Is It Too Soon?

Yan Fanxuan held two large paper bags in her hands, smiling as she said, “It’s almost the Dragon Boat Festival, isn’t it? Mom made a lot of zongzi and asked me to bring some over for you.”

She often came here and never treated herself as an outsider, making a move to enter the house as she lifted her foot and said, “Knowing you don’t like meat, Mom specifically asked Aunt Xiao from next door to buy salted duck eggs — “

“Xiao Fan, wait a moment,” Yan Ankuo unusually stopped Yan Fanxuan from entering the house, instead turning back to say, “We have guests at home.”

Yan Fanxuan hadn’t noticed at first, but with this said, she finally saw the obvious red mark on her brother’s neck, widening her eyes in shock, “Ah? You… brought someone home?”

Yan Ankuo was afraid Bian Ji would feel awkward and didn’t speak, but this silence was already considered an admission. Yan Fanxuan was even more shocked, shouting loudly, “Shit! Brother, you really are my brother!”

Yan Ankuo hurriedly covered her mouth, asking her to lower her voice, and only then did she lower her volume to ask, “How long has it been? Last time when I asked you, you ignored me, but this time I should at least get to meet him, right?”

“About this…” Yan Ankuo hesitated for a while, estimating that Bian Ji should have gotten dressed properly by now, he then moved aside slightly, pointing to the person outside the door and saying to Bian Ji, “Let me introduce you, this is my sister, Yan Fanxuan.”

The moment she saw Bian Ji, Yan Fanxuan’s polite smile froze on her face, stammering, “Chief Bi-Bi-Bian.”

Bian Ji was taken aback for a moment, then selected a smile and said, “Hello, I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“Ah!” Yan Fanxuan couldn’t care less about maintaining calmness in front of her superior, turning around to question her brother, “I didn’t expect it either!”

Yan Ankuo walked over to Bian Ji, “…Why don’t you go to the restaurant first?”

Bian Ji knew that he was doing this to avoid his own embarrassment, looking at Yan Fanxuan and seeing that she had no objections, he then left the scene.

Yan Fanxuan pursued relentlessly, “Brother, quickly explain, what’s going on?”

With the party involved absent, Yan Ankuo could ignore the facts and speak confidently, “After I asked you for his schedule last time, I started pursuing him.”

Yan Fanxuan found it hard to believe that her brother was actually such a person, “For so long, you didn’t even hint anything to me?”

“I never hide anything when I talk about him.” Yan Ankuo turned the tables, “You’re just too slow.”

“…” Yan Fanxuan knew her verbal skills were inferior to her brother’s, pinching the bridge of her nose and saying angrily, “When did you get together?”

“Two months ago,” Yan Ankuo said.

“Just two months, and you’ve already brought him home?” Yan Fanxuan was completely speechless, “This house wasn’t decorated as your marital home?”

Yan Ankuo didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, “What’s wrong with a marital home? You also come over to play frequently.”

“Can this be compared?” Yan Fanxuan knew she couldn’t argue, so she changed the topic, “Does Mom know? Are you planning to introduce him to her? When are you getting married?”

“Yesterday was just a special situation, I brought him over to stay for the night, what are you thinking?” Yan Ankuo explained, telling her not to spread rumors when she went home, “Mom doesn’t know yet, I’ll find the right time to officially introduce Bian Ji to her.”

Yan Fanxuan calmed down, realizing that her brother was indeed seriously cultivating this relationship, “Are you sure?”

Yan Ankuo said with certainty, “I’m sure.”

“Sigh, don’t blame me for pouring cold water on you. Working in our industry, it’s… pretty unsuitable for a stable life.” Yan Fanxuan had only recently joined the industry and hadn’t even boarded a passenger plane yet, but she had already seen many of her colleagues leave, “However, your job isn’t much better, so in a way, you two are quite well-matched!”

Yan Ankuo was amused and annoyed, “Thanks.”

“Brother, I’m serious,” Yan Fanxuan, who had never been in a relationship, actually began playing the role of a relationship mentor, “You and Lin Yu used to always fight because you rarely saw each other, I thought this time you’d find someone more stable, but…”

Yan Fanxuan paused, “Aren’t you afraid of repeating the same mistakes?”

Yan Ankuo thought about it and said, “Even if I’m scared, I still have to do it.”

Facing challenges head-on, this was Yan Ankuo’s current mindset, but it actually went against his principles. As a lawyer who planned his schedule down to the minute, taking things step by step would cause him extreme anxiety.

Yan Fanxuan fell silent along with him, after a long while, she patted his shoulder and joked half-seriously, “Then I wish you good luck! Chief Bian is famous for being handsome, kind-hearted, enthusiastic, and generous. Brother, you have quite a few rivals!”

“I of course know that.” Yan Ankuo looked towards the direction of the restaurant. The person sitting there was staring blankly out the window, like a paper cutout about to fall.

Yan Ankuo’s gaze suddenly became deep, he said heavily, “That’s why I want to keep him by my side.”

Yan Fanxuan didn’t stay long, the real delivery arrived soon after. She conveniently found an excuse to leave first, bidding Bian Ji farewell, “Chief Bian, I’m going home now.”

“Okay, be careful on the way,” Bian Ji knew that she would soon be flying economy class, so he wished her luck and said, “Hopefully we can see each other on the plane next time.”

“I’ll work hard,” Yan Fanxuan waved her hand, glancing at Yan Ankuo, “If my brother bullies you, tell me. I’ll complain to Mom and discipline him!”

Yan Ankuo questioned her loyalty, “Taking sides against your family?”

Bian Ji laughed, “Don’t worry, he won’t bully me.”

Yan Ankuo raised his eyebrows, looking pointedly at Bian Ji’s ears, seemingly reminding him of something that happened not long ago.

Bian Ji immediately fell silent, subconsciously touching his earlobe, trying to hide those blushes.

After Yan Fanxuan left, Bian Ji could finally have a proper breakfast.

Yan Ankuo asked, “Still feeling unwell?”

Bian Ji shook his head, soups and broths indeed had a magical effect on the stomach, drinking something hot did make him feel much better, “No problem, I guess I was just hungry earlier.”

Yan Ankuo smiled, “Good.”

After Bian Ji finished eating and wiped his mouth, he heard Yan Ankuo say, “Xiao Fan reminded me just now, shouldn’t we tell our parents about us?”

Bian Ji’s soup spoon fell, clattering in the bowl with a crisp sound.

Meeting friends, going home, meeting parents, cohabiting, this was the process from dating to marriage in the secular sense.

These steps were happy, romantic, and warm for Yan Ankuo, but for Bian Ji, they were repeated breakthroughs of self-imposed boundaries.

“Isn’t it… too soon?” Bian Ji’s momentarily eased annoyance started up again, he frowned and said, “We’ve only been together for a short time, do we have to disturb our parents already?”

Because his previous relationship experience was unpleasant, Yan Ankuo was more eager this time and paid more attention to boundaries. He was afraid of losing his lover and also afraid of scaring him away by pushing too hard.

Yan Ankuo calmed his breathing, forcing himself to be understanding and said, “True, it’s too soon. Let’s talk about it later then.”

Bian Ji let out a breath of relief.

This action was captured by Yan Ankuo, he asked sensitively, “Meeting my family will bring you trouble?”

A normal person wouldn’t be troubled by this, after all, it represented the other party’s desire to take things seriously with them, so Bian Ji shook his head, “I just feel it’s a bit sudden.”

“Then let’s not meet them yet,” Yan Ankuo stroked his hair, “Let’s not talk about this anymore, what do you want to do next?”

Bian Ji tugged at the corners of his mouth, deciding to say the truth, “I want to go home first.”

Yan Ankuo was taken aback, asking, “But aren’t you flying tomorrow?”

“Mm,” Bian Ji lowered his head, not giving a reason, “But I want to go home first.”

Yan Ankuo nodded and said, “Then… when you have time, I want to talk about our future.”

Bian Ji hung his head and said, “Okay.”

He could see some disappointment in Yan Ankuo’s eyes, but some things weren’t like inviting friends to dinner, they couldn’t be compromised simply through love.

Because he left in such a hurry, Bian Ji didn’t even have time to visit the turtle that sent messages randomly.

On the way back to the apartment, the two people each harbored their own thoughts, neither in high spirits, they remained silent throughout the journey.

Just before getting off the car, Bian Ji seemed to want to make up for something, placing a kiss on Yan Ankuo’s head.

“When I finish flying this time, I can take a break, how about we go out and play then?” Bian Ji invited.

Yan Ankuo stroked his hair, “You don’t need to arrange anything to accommodate me, I know you’ve been busy lately, we can choose another time to be together.”

Bian Ji showed a troubled expression, “I’m afraid you’ll be unhappy.”

Because of what happened after breakfast.

“I won’t be unhappy,” Yan Ankuo said seriously, “I just hope you trust me and are willing to discuss everything with me.”

Bian Ji nodded, “Then let’s find another time to go out?”

Looking at his heavy expression, Yan Ankuo said, “You know I’m not referring to traveling.”