Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Not Open and Aboveboard

This meal was enjoyed by Yi Roujing, Hua Yiran, and Shu Yujie, while Deng Yiyi didn’t eat a single bite, and Cheng Yijin found it hard to swallow.

After Baozi finished lunch, he fell asleep in Xu Ancheng’s arms on the way home. When they reached Baiqian Village and put Baozi under the covers, Xu Ancheng pulled Yi Roujing into the room.

"Take it off, I’ll give you a massage."

Yi Roujing then noticed two charcoal basins in the room, and already felt sweaty in her padded jacket.

"I’ll take a bath first." Yi Roujing finished washing her hair and showering, and came out to find the room even hotter, lying on the bed, enjoying Xu Ancheng’s service.

"Your hair is almost dry, take off your clothes." Xu Ancheng wrung out Yi Roujing’s hair, set down the towel, and picked up the red flower oil.

"Mm, this smell is really strong." Yi Roujing wrinkled her nose.

"If I don’t spread it out now, you’ll suffer tomorrow; Hua Yiran’s skills are not low."

"Mm, Yiran is quite impressive." Yi Roujing echoed with a compliment.

"But still, my wife is more impressive." Xu Ancheng’s words were gentle, but his strength was not small.

"Softer."

Yi Roujing didn’t know when she fell asleep; she only knew the massage was very comfortable.

At that moment, Yi Roujing wasn’t the only one being massaged; Hua Yiran was too, having been taken to Ni Yan’an’s room by Ni Yanqing.

"I can do it myself." Hua Yiran coughed lightly.

"It’s not like I haven’t massaged you before." Ni Yanqing raised an eyebrow.

"Yan Qing." Hua Yiran’s face rarely reddened, "That was when we were kids. We’re not kids anymore."

"Yeah, I know," Ni Yanqing thought of Xu Ancheng’s words and sighed deeply, "Last time when you fell asleep while practicing at the martial arts field, I carried you back to the guest room and even massaged you."

"I wondered how I got to my room that time, without any symptoms." Hua Yiran wrinkled her nose, a look of sudden realization on her face.

Realizing something belatedly, her eyes widened, and she suddenly wrapped her arms around herself, quickly stepping back a few steps, putting more distance between herself and Ni Yanqing, "You, you, you..."

"Yes, that’s exactly what I have in mind." Ni Yanqing scoffed, "Letting you only see that Cheng San, can’t you see me?"

"My relationship with your brother is good, but not to the point of taking care of siblings, and you feel nothing, am I not special enough to you?"

"Ni Family’s martial arts field is not open to outsiders; I invited you, let you use it freely, fed you whatever you wanted, and whenever you came to our house, didn’t we have everything prepared?"

"The house has clothes for you to change into, toiletries, and even a room just for you." Ni Yanqing pointed to the guest room, "This room has been occupied only by you since it was refurbished."

"I’m harboring those kinds of thoughts for you, so just tell me if you are okay with it or not." Ni Yanqing moved forward as he spoke, forcing Hua Yiran to sit on the edge of the bedside cabinet, backing her against the wall.

"I’m getting on in years, not marrying or looking for a partner, just hoping you’ll wise up soon. Once you do, will your eyes be blind now, finally able to see?" Ni Yanqing bent down, his eyes straight on Hua Yiran.

"Thump thump thump—" Hua Yiran never imagined she would have such a moment facing Ni Yanqing, her heart seemed to leap out of her chest, her cheeks uncontrollably flushed, eyes unable to meet his.

"Do you still like him?" Ni Yanqing asked softly.

Hua Yiran honestly shook her head; she wasn’t a fool, she had once felt something for Cheng Yimo.

But when Deng Yiyi bashfully revealed that Cheng Yimo liked her, Hua Yiran didn’t know what to do. Her immediate response was disbelief; while she wouldn’t ask Cheng Yimo directly, in front of others, when Deng Yiyi and Cheng Yimo behaved closely and ambiguously, Cheng Yimo’s actions seemed to confirm their relationship, and he didn’t refute the teasing he heard.

Hua Yiran knew her feelings for Cheng Yimo calmed down; regardless of who Cheng Yimo liked, since he chose to be close to Deng Yiyi, she couldn’t like such a man anymore.

Ni Yanqing smiled upon hearing this, his lips curling, his expression softening entirely, "Then be with me, with marriage in mind. I’m not getting any younger; I don’t want to see others flaunting their partners or offspring before me."

"I..." Hua Yiran couldn’t say anything because Ni Yanqing suddenly leaned in and captured her lips, holding tight for a moment before pushing away, but the warmth lingered on her lips.

"You’ve taken my first kiss, so you have to be responsible for me." Ni Yanqing chuckled softly, "You didn’t push me away, so that’s a yes. I’m going to tell my parents now."

Ni Yanqing couldn’t stop smiling, darting out of the guest room.

Hua Yiran couldn’t believe her eyes, staring at the closed door, feeling she was being taken advantage of, yet hearing words suggesting she was the one taking advantage, feeling confused. It was the first time she encountered such a thing in years, and she didn’t remember Ni Yanqing being this way; what was going on?

Hua Yiran instinctively cupped her cheeks; they were hot—she felt like she was burning up.

"Oh my, a breath of spring, big brother, you’re experiencing new life." Jiang Bomeng saw Ni Yanqing coming out with joy written all over his face.

"Ancheng is not just an experienced one." Ni Yanqing said, passing Jiang Bomeng without a pause.

Jiang Bomeng was both surprised and delighted, immediately catching up, "Big brother, what advice did Ancheng give you, tell me."

"Why should I, so you can trouble my sister?" Ni Yanqing eyed Jiang Bomeng, "Don’t be a beast, my sister’s still young. Didn’t I say before that even if you like her, you must wait until she’s an adult to let her decide?"

"I haven’t said anything so far." Jiang Bomeng said in grievance, "Big brother, consider our shared plight, isn’t it fair for me to ask for some open advice?"

Ni Yanqing rarely blushed, turning his eyes from Jiang Bomeng, walking quickly away. Jiang Bomeng understood: the advice wasn’t straightforward, not suitable for him.

Ni Yanqing’s heart was still pounding, the sweet touch lingering in his mind; he didn’t know how he got carried away and kissed her.

"Brother—" Lost in thought, Ni Yanqing didn’t notice Ni Yan’an, who startled him by suddenly appearing.

"Whoa—" Ni Yanqing stepped a large step back, leading Ni Yan’an to scrutinize him for a long time.

"Grandparents, and parents are looking—" Before Ni Yan’an finished, Ni Yanqing strode off.

Ni Yan’an caught up quickly outside the room as she heard her own mother, Yin Shuzhen, joyfully laughing.

"Where’s Yiran? You talk about dating her, yet you don’t formally introduce her to our parents here." Yin Shuzhen gushed, "Oh, introducing her during the meal before would have been perfect, everyone would know."