Li Tang and Wang Suzhen felt that their son had already delayed things for many years. Now that he finally came back and brought a wife, it would definitely upset Little Qiao. But since this had already happened, they thought it best to clear things up quickly instead of prolonging the pain, lest they continue to cause trouble. As the two of them talked in the room, they could also explain to Yurong, saving everybody from the current awkwardness and doubt.

Zhang Yurong also thought this was a good idea. These things should be explained clearly by Li Yan, who was directly involved. Discussing things in the room could also prevent any slip-ups; if it was mentioned casually that Li Yan's girlfriend was Yu Xiaodi or something, things would get even more chaotic.

Qiao Huanxuan herself thought this arrangement was for the best. Although she heard that Li Yan had returned with a wife, people generally referred to a girlfriend as a wife, so she didn't think in that direction. In her view, Li Yan must have brought back a shield. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask directly in front of everyone, so questioning privately would be better to match their intentions.

Initially thinking minority should obey majority, but scanning around, her father's suggestion surprisingly gained everyone's approval. 4 to 1, what more could he say?

"Haha, yes, Qiao Huanxuan, it's been a while since we last met. Let's chat inside!"

Qiao Huanxuan smiled and said to them all, "Sure, the dumplings you made must be delicious, I definitely want to try them."

Yurong exchanged a smile with her. Though aware of Qiao Huanxuan's unrequited love for Li Yan, she couldn't act petty when the other spoke so magnanimously. Plus, this could be a start! Li Yan would inform her of their situation and would gradually tell more people. The only question left is whether after hearing the truth, Qiao Huanxuan will still join in eating the dumplings with a smile.

...

Li Yan led Qiao Huanxuan into the bedroom and shut the door. They were making dumplings in the living room, the house was small, and the soundproofing was poor. Even with the door closed, they still had to speak quietly.

"What's going on?" Qiao Huanxuan asked in a lowered voice.

Li Yan let out a bitter laugh, sat down on the bed, and spoke softly, "If I say the person outside—Yurong—is my wife, would you believe it?"

Qiao Huanxuan sat beside him, "You're talking nonsense! Isn't she the president of your company? You can trick your parents, but you can't fool me that easily."

Li Yan felt helpless; in this day and age, how is it that no one believes the truth?

"Did you say to your family you had a girlfriend, and since Yu Xiaodi couldn't come back with you, you asked Zhang Yurong to fake it?" Qiao Huanxuan began her analysis, then urgently added, "You can ask me! I'm more than willing to be your girlfriend, even if it's fake. Besides, when you're not around, I've come to your home many times. Asking me to pretend is more fitting!"

Li Yan rolled his eyes, ask you? Then the fake would turn real! Both sets of parents have met, they're from the same place, how could I escape? You can't escape a temple when you're a monk!

Seeing he wasn't responding, Qiao Huanxuan continued, "You didn't answer my calls or contact other classmates because you were afraid that seeing this would make me sad, right? Thanks for your concern, but you don't know that I come to your house every year to inquire about you!"

Li Yan felt a pang of emotion; she was completely truthful. Except for maybe her initial youth and shyness, she diligently inquired about him year after year after university, waiting persistently for over a decade.

"Huanxuan, I truly..." He started to speak about past romantic debts, wanting to say whether owed or not, but stopped himself.

Qiao Huanxuan wasn't too heartbroken, instead, she guessed optimistically, "I get it. You surely agreed with Zhang Yurong for her to act as your girlfriend at your home, then after the holiday, you'll act as her boyfriend at her place. Otherwise, you would have convinced Wen Qianyi to pretend instead."

Convinced she had figured it out, her spirits weren't too affected. After all, although previous trips resulted in not seeing Li Yan, this year, she was happy to have seen him in his hometown.

"Forget it, since it's come to this. I will cooperate with you, and won't ask questions that could embarrass you. But..." Qiao Huanxuan stood and started examining the room.

Having visited Li's house many times over the years, she knew its layout well. Though never having entered inside, she was familiar with the two-bedroom setup; naturally, it would be parents in one bedroom, and the two of them in the other—thus...

"Do you sleep together?" Glancing at the newly bought double bed with festive sheets and bedding, Qiao Huanxuan couldn't help but feel a slight sting of jealousy. Though she had shared a bed with Li Yan, that held different significance, especially as this now bore parental endorsement! Sharing this room marked potential recognition by elders and possibly excluded her from future consideration.

"Ridiculous! Would you have me sleep on the floor?"

Li Yan replied vexedly. Speaking of sharing a bed held its annoyances—the first night was spent hugging warmly together. Yet since he had vowed not to touch her thereafter, they lay under separate covers. Despite Yurong hinting she wished to cuddle, bound by his promise as a man, he refrained. If it were like before where they had separate rooms, all would've been fine. But lying side by side on the same bed now with separate bedding made for challenging nights.

"Then you..." Qiao Huanxuan also saw the two quilts and said knowingly, "I understand, though you sleep in the same bed, you use separate quilts."

"..." Li Yan wanted to refute, but that was indeed the truth.

"Sigh... what a pity." Qiao Huanxuan leaned closer to him, her eyes seductive like silk, breathing softly like orchids.

"Who says? I'm not young anymore, my parents are eager for me to get married." Qiao Huanxuan smiled bitterly.

Li Yan was stunned, and then realized that Qiao Huanxuan was only a year younger than him. For a girl at this age, even if not married, she should at least be dating, otherwise, no matter how successful she is in her career, her parents undoubtedly would be worried. And the fact that she's delayed until now is undoubtedly because of him!

Another year is about to pass, and for Qiao Huanxuan, it's time to give her closure and not let her continue to be delayed.

"Huanxuan, sit down, there's something I need to tell you."

Li Yan patted the spot beside him, gesturing for her to sit down, ready to tell her about his relationship with Zhang Yurong.

Instead, Qiao Huanxuan changed her mood, directly stepping forward, sitting on his lap, then hugging him, leaning in and saying, "Speak!"

Li Yan broke into a sweat, the two of them in this state would be disastrous if seen by others. They had only closed the door when they came in, it wasn't locked, even if his parents didn't come over, Yurong might come in.

Li Yan was speechless, this person gets crazy when she's in the mood. And he couldn't shout at her, nor did his gentle persuasion seem to work.

"Yurong outside is my wife."

To the deep bombshell he threw, Qiao Huanxuan didn't seem to react, instead, she leaned forward, saying, "I know, outside I give you face and won't expose you. Inside... you're mine!"

Li Yan took a breath, seriously saying, "Qiao Huanxuan, I don't want to deceive you any longer, I'm actually married. Zhang Yurong is my wife, I'm not fooling my parents, they know."

Qiao Huanxuan concentrated slightly hearing this, "Don't joke like this!"

"It's not a joke." Li Yan smiled bitterly, "You've met Zhang Yurong before, even if you don't know her well, you at least know a bit of her personality, and you know her status. If she weren't my wife, could we sleep in the same bed?"

Qiao Huanxuan was stunned, the news really was hard for her to accept, no, it was downright indigestible.

"Why?"

"There's no why, my dad and her dad have a life-or-death friendship, so they matched us up. We've been married for almost a year, but since she wasn't long promoted to the president of Paradise Group, her position wasn't stable, and our identities had a disparity, we haven't made it public. Her father thinks highly of me, wants to nurture me, then we can make our relationship public. So in front of outsiders, she and I act like just superior-subordinate relationship, of course, I could rise from a clerk to now a manager because of this connection." Li Yan said frankly.

Qiao Huanxuan was overlooking him, listening as if it were an unrelated story.

"Really, I'm absolutely not lying to you, why did everyone just agree to let us come in? It's to clarify this matter with you, so you won't be further delayed."

"What about Yu Xiaodi?" Qiao Huanxuan wasn't easy to pacify, she directly asked the pivotal question, "If Zhang Yurong is your wife, then how is Yu Xiaodi your girlfriend? You have a wife with looks, body, wealth, and power, but in less than a year you start having an affair? Hmph! Didn't expect me to come, didn't prepare a script, huh?"

Li Yan smiled bitterly, "That's indeed my wrongdoing. You know I have a girlfriend, yet we continue... just like with you and me. In fact, Yurong also knows about Yu Xiaodi, including that Yu Xiaodi knows about my relationship with her."

Qiao Huanxuan was shocked, recalling the first time she met Zhang Yurong was on Yu Xiaodi's invitation, and she even introduced her intentionally as Li Yan's first love, which felt strange at the time. Why introduce her to the company leader like that, in retrospect their attitudes really didn't jell well.

(This year I will return to my LP hometown for the New Year, but to not affect updates, I'm splitting into two trips, buying tickets before the rush to let my wife and children go back first. Since writing time can't be guaranteed after I return, and it's inconvenient to access the internet, I will continue to write and update, only going back close to the end of the month around the New Year. Updates might not be aggressive, but won't largely affect.) (To be continued, for more details, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author and legal reading!)