Chapter 24 Twenty-Four Fires

On stage, Yan Duo was so embarrassed she almost wanted to vanish on the spot, while An Yixin in the audience smiled with narrowed eyes, snapping several photos of the two with her phone. In the pictures, one smiled shyly while the other beamed brightly—they looked more and more like a perfect match, truly a couple made in heaven!

An Yixin enlarged the photo, shaking her head at Ji Ran’s smile. Duoduo said Ji Ran never smiled, that he wasn’t happy—but the truth was, her son’s smile today was happier than any she’d ever seen before. And this uniqueness, Yan Duo probably never noticed it at all.

After the photo was taken, Ji Ran naturally removed his hand from Yan Duo’s shoulder, acting like a gentleman—as if his earlier gesture was merely a senior’s concern for a junior, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

When Yan Duo came off the stage, many girls she knew looked at her enviously and said things like, “You’re so lucky to stand next to Ji Ran for a photo,” “I’m so jealous of you,” and “If I’d known Ji Ran was coming to present the award, I would have worked harder on my paper too.”

Ji Ran is a rare presence in the entertainment industry with both exceptional looks and outstanding acting skills. Combined with his clean personal image and avoidance of scandalous rumors, he has won the affection of many female fans. In fact, most female students at film academies are among his admirers.

Yan Duo smiled on the surface, but inwardly scoffed. Not only was she standing with him, but they had also slept together. Yet, if you all knew what he had just said, would you still like him?

At this moment, the awkwardness in Yan Duo’s heart hadn’t faded. Setting aside the fans’ adoration for their idol, she simply found him particularly detestable. yuedudi.com

Returning to their original positions, several parents took turns examining the certificate, while Yan Yi stared at the blush on his sister’s face and curled his lips in disdain.

“You, married to him for over half a year, and now just standing together for a photo—still getting shy? How pathetic!”

Yan Duo shot her brother a sidelong glance. “Which eye of yours sees me blushing? Bro, you must be nearsighted.”

Was she shy? Clearly, she was angry!

Yan Yi didn’t argue with her either. On stage earlier, her flushed face avoiding Ji Ran’s gaze—clearly on the verge of fainting from excitement yet stubbornly standing beside her idol—made it obvious to anyone that she was embarrassed.

The awards ceremony continued, but Yan Duo no longer paid attention. She silently complained about Ji Ran’s unexpectedly malicious side while trying to mentally reset herself, urging her thoughts to quickly move past that moment and return to normal.

As the graduation ceremony was about to end, Yan Duo had completed her mental preparation and fully recovered. She took out her vibrating phone from her bag and saw that Ji Ran had sent her a message.

“I’ll wait for you at the school gate. We’ll go to the Meida Hotel for dinner later—I’ve reserved a private room.”

Yan Duo was a bit surprised—did Ji Ran have time to have dinner with them? Come to think of it, he seemed quite idle lately. When she left home, he was there, and when she returned, he was still at home, barely going out.

“Okay, see you later.”

After the ceremony, Yan Duo mentioned Ji Ran’s arrangements, and everyone had no objections. They each got into their cars and headed out of the school.

When they reached the main gate, Yan Duo deliberately searched through the glass and indeed spotted Ji Ran’s car in an inconspicuous corner. He seemed to have noticed them too, following their car as they all headed to the hotel.

Xu Yarou observed Yan Duo’s actions and smiled. “Although Xiao Ji doesn’t talk much, he’s very considerate in his actions. He’s quite good.”

Although Xu Yarou hadn’t initially been optimistic about Duo’er and Ji Ran’s marriage, after interacting with him a few times, she realized Ji Ran was far better than she had imagined. He handled many aspects well, especially this time with the award ceremony for her daughter.

In Xu Yarou’s perception, there aren’t so many coincidences in the world; most coincidences are simply intentional acts by someone with ulterior motives.

Yan Duo withdrew her gaze and replied with a smile, “He’s always been wonderful.”

So wonderful that she would always like him, give him the best things, and wish for him to have the greatest happiness.

Xu Yarou held Yan Duo’s hand and said, “Then you two stay happy together always.”

As a mother, her greatest wish is for her daughter to be with the one she loves and to be happy forever.

Yan Duo smiled without speaking, resting silently against her mother’s shoulder.

As the driver, Yan Yi had been listening to the conversation between his mother and younger sister. At this moment, he glanced at his sister through the rearview mirror. The emotions in her eyes were something Yan Yi, an engineering student, couldn’t quite describe, but he could clearly sense her unhappiness.

When the car arrived at the Meida Hotel, Yan Duo didn’t see Ji Ran’s car. It wasn’t until she went upstairs that she realized Ji Ran had arrived before them.

After greeting several elders, Ji Ran sat down beside Yan Duo.

Before dinner, Anyixin suddenly realized with a delayed reaction, “Oh my, isn’t Sizhe that kid also at Duoduo’s school?”

After all, he was family. Ji Changhai put down his chopsticks and said to Ji Ran, “Give him a call and ask.”

It’s not too far from the school, just a ten-minute drive. If it’s convenient for him, having a meal together wouldn’t be a problem.

Ji Ran lied without batting an eye: “No need, I’ve contacted him. He’s not on campus today. I’ll treat him separately tomorrow—it’s the same.”

Ji Changhai heard this and didn’t dwell on it further, picking up his chopsticks to continue eating.

An Yixin muttered under her breath, “It’s fine if he doesn’t come—saves everyone the awkwardness.”

Ji Sizhe actually pursued Duoduo, a girl An Yixin had long noted down in her book and didn’t favor him for.

The Yan family was unaware of the inside story behind the trending topic back then. When Yan Duo said it was a misunderstanding, they simply took it as such and didn’t react further.

Yan Duo heard Ji Ran say he wanted to invite Ji Sizhe to dinner and asked curiously, “You’re treating him?”

Ji Ran nodded. “He’s been back in the country for several days but hasn’t visited home yet. I told him to come tomorrow.”

Yan Duo’s lips twitched. She initially wanted to explain that she had nothing to do with Ji Sizhe, but then she remembered he had already overheard their conversation at noon. There was no need to say more. Besides, she was flying to City S tomorrow afternoon and might not even see him, so whether he came or not didn’t matter.

After finishing their meal, Yan Duo and Ji Ran watched as their parents from both families got into their cars and left before they boarded the last car together to go home.

It was fine when there were more people around, but now that the two of them were in such a cramped space, Yan Duo felt a bit uneasy again.

She had been staring out the window since getting in the car, clearly signaling her disinterest in conversation. Fortunately, Ji Ran showed no intention of talking either, which made Yan Duo feel slightly more at ease.

After about ten minutes, Ji Ran remained silent, so quiet it was as if he wasn’t even there. Unable to resist, Yan Duo turned her head slightly, pretending to stretch her neck while stealing a glance at him. Only then did she notice Ji Ran reclining in the seat with his eyes closed, resting—perhaps even asleep.

Afraid of being caught staring for too long, Yan Duo didn’t dare look any longer. She turned back and pulled out her phone to scroll through it.

The school was quite far from Ji Ran’s home, and with the added traffic, Yan Duo had been scrolling on her phone for half an hour and they still hadn’t arrived.

If pretending to do neck exercises earlier was an act, Yan Duo’s neck was genuinely uncomfortable now. She rotated her neck to ease the pain when suddenly, a hand landed on the back of her neck.

Yan Duo instinctively shrank her neck and looked at Ji Ran with confusion.

After massaging her neck, Ji Ran pulled her into his arms and said, “It’ll take a while to get home. You can lie on me and play.”

Yan Duo stiffly lay in Ji Ran’s embrace, looking up at him with eyes as if she were staring at a stranger.

Ji Ran looked at her with an open expression, waiting for her to gradually adjust, but Yan Duo’s next move left him utterly frustrated.

After a minute, Yan Duo reached out to feel Ji Ran’s forehead, then touched her own and muttered, “No fever… Could he have been possessed?”

Ji Ran: ……

Ji Ran’s face darkened as he held back from saying anything, refusing to look at Yan Duo and instead turning his gaze out the window.

Yan Duo found his expression amusing and didn’t say anything more, leaning comfortably against his chest as she resumed scrolling through her phone.

By the time they got home, it was already past nine. After taking a shower, Yan Duo started packing her luggage. When Ji Ran came out of the bathroom, she told him, “I’m going on a business trip tomorrow afternoon and will be back the day after tomorrow.”

Ji Ran was drying his hair and merely responded with an “Mm,” seemingly unsurprised.

Since the business trip was only for two days, there wasn’t much to prepare. She finished packing in less than half an hour, washed her hands, and climbed into bed.

Lying in bed, Yan Duo recalled how Ji Ran had teased her on stage that afternoon. She made up her mind to firmly reject their evening “marital obligations” later, even coming up with four solid reasons. But Ji Ran didn’t seem to have any such intentions—after reading for half an hour in bed, he turned off the light and went to sleep.

Yan Duo: ???

Staring at Ji Ran’s peaceful sleeping face, Yan Duo felt nothing but frustration and irritation—why wasn’t he following the usual script? She was leaving on a business trip tomorrow, and he didn’t even take the chance to fulfill his “obligations”? Had all her carefully prepared rejection reasons gone to waste?!

After sulking alone for a while, Yan Duo decided to jot down all her reasons so she could use them in the future. With that thought, she finally felt calm enough to sleep again.

The next day, when Yanduo woke up, it was already ten in the morning. While getting water after brushing her teeth, she happened to hear someone ringing the doorbell.

“Yan Duo, could you open the door?” Ji Ran’s voice came from the kitchen.

Yan Duo let out an “oh” and went to the door with her hair down. At this hour, the only person likely to come was probably the cooking auntie, so Yan Duo didn’t pay it much mind. But when she opened the front door, both people on either side of the threshold froze—though Yan Duo’s shock lasted only an instant, Ji Sizhe stood there with his mouth hanging open, completely stunned.

“Senior, is this Block B8 of Qushui Huating?” As he spoke, Ji Sizhe glanced outside, as if trying to confirm he hadn’t misread the building number earlier.

“Yes, this is the place. Come on in,” Yan Duo replied.

Ji Sizhe glared at her, “Then why are you here?”

At this moment, Yan Duo was wearing loungewear, clearly having just woken up without even washing her face. What was she doing here? Did she sleep here last night? What was her relationship with Uncle? Friends with benefits?

Ji Sizhe’s mind raced wildly—one moment thinking his uncle was truly lucky to have experienced what he himself hadn’t, the next moment doubting Yan Duo’s character. Was she really that kind of person?

Yan Duo looked at the stunned Ji Sizhe and smiled, “I live here. If I’m not mistaken, you should call me Auntie.”

As if to validate how correct Yan Duo’s words were at this moment, Ji Ran’s voice suddenly echoed through the house.

“Duo, is that my nephew Sizhe? Let him in!”

Ji Sizhe stood at the doorway, hearing the “death sentence” pronounced by his uncle, his feet as if filled with lead, unable to move for the longest time.

Is there anyone more awkward than him? Chasing his aunt in front of his uncle, badmouthing his uncle in front of his aunt—no wonder his uncle invited him over yesterday. It was clearly a lesson, with a side of feeding him dog food!

Ji Size could perfectly predict what was about to happen next. At this moment, all he wanted was to be back at school—so many delicious foods, so many fun activities, and so many beautiful girls. Why on earth had he thought it was a good idea to go visiting?