Chapter 11 : In the Warmth of the Moment

Are you free tomorrow?

After sending the message, Wang Yue waited anxiously for a reply. Yet, by the next morning, her message still remained unread. Despite trying to stay calm, her imagination ran wild. The night before, she had constantly glanced at her phone, hoping for a response from Chen Fan.

"Could it be that he doesn't remember how to use his phone? Or maybe he's just busy? Or… maybe he's with his fiancée and deleted my contact to avoid misunderstandings?"

"Hmph, who cares about him? It's fine whether he comes or not," Wang Yue muttered, tossing her phone onto the bed. She stood there for a moment, staring at the blank screen as if willing it to light up. With a frustrated sigh, she shook her head and headed toward the kitchen.

The faint aroma of freshly brewed tea greeted her as she entered, the clatter of utensils filling the cozy space. Her mother, Ye Lan, stood at the counter, carefully arranging plates on a tray. Wang Yue hesitated near the doorway, still half-absorbed in her thoughts about Chen Fan.

"Did you ask him to come?" Ye Lan asked, her voice breaking through Wang Yue's reverie.

"Are you really that eager to invite him, Mom? Who knows—maybe he's not as good as he seems," Wang Yue muttered.

"Wang Yue, what are you saying? You sho—"

Before Ye Lan could start lecturing, Wang Mei's voice rang out from behind them.

"Sis! Your boyfriend's calling you!"

Swish!

Wang Yue immediately bolted toward her room, grabbing her phone from Wang Mei's hands. As she clutched her phone, she shot her sister a glare. "Watch your mouth! We're just friends."

"I know, I know. Who'd want to date a crazy girl like you?" Wang Mei teased with a smug grin.

Ignoring her sister's jab, Wang Yue checked her phone and saw a new message from Chen Fan:

Sure, where do you want to meet?

----

After sending his reply, Chen Fan received Wang Yue's response along with a location pin and a request to meet two hours later. Deciding to make the most of the time, he prepared himself before heading to the designated place.

Looking at the destination on the map, Chen Fan paused and took a second look. Isn't she a little too naive to invite a man she just met yesterday to her house? He shook his head and thought inwardly, Thank goodness I'm a gentleman.

Click.

The door opened, and Chen Fan was greeted by Wang Yue, dressed in casual clothes that weren't too revealing. Noticing her slightly damp hair, he couldn't resist teasing her.

"Not only did you invite me to your house after just meeting me, but you even just got out of the shower and tried to look good for me? Your intentions seem a little impure, huh? So, when do you plan to confess? If it's now, I'll accept it right away," Chen Fan said, spreading his arms wide as if inviting a hug.

"Wha—who wants to confess?! It's my mom who wants to see you. If it weren't for her, do you think I'd want to see you again?" Wang Yue retorted, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Weren't you the one who said you'd repay me no matter what? Seems like you're all talk," Chen Fan quipped with a smirk.

"No, that's—" Before Wang Yue could finish, she caught sight of Chen Fan's playful expression and realized he was teasing her. "Stop talking and just come in."

Laughing at her reaction, Chen Fan decided to drop the banter and followed her into the house.

As Wang Yue led him to the living room, Chen Fan noticed two figures waiting—one older, one younger.

"Hello, Sister! Thanks for having me," Chen Fan greeted cheerfully.

"Who are you calling 'sister'? That's my mom!" Wang Yue corrected, looking exasperated.

"Ah?" Chen Fan blinked in surprise before recovering quickly. "I'm sorry, Miss Wang. For a moment, I thought you were Wang Yue's little sister."

"You—!" Wang Yue's face darkened as she realized the implication of his words—he was saying she looked older than her mother.

Ye Lan, however, chuckled softly. "Hahaha, just call me Auntie," she said warmly. She glanced at the young man before her, impressed by his casual yet polite demeanor. Combined with his good looks and the fact that he had saved her daughter the day before, her opinion of Chen Fan was growing increasingly favorable.

"Big Brother, you're so handsome! Are you my sister's boss?" Wang Mei piped up, her eyes sparkling as she admired Chen Fan's face and instinctively associated him with being a good person.

looking at wang mei, chen fan couldnt help but melt at how adorable she is. chen fan squatted at her height level and speak with a lower tone but still oudible to the other two 

"Let me tell you the truth. Ever since your sister saw me yesterday, she hasn't stopped pestering me to make her my follower."

Hearing Chen Fan's words, Wang Mei blinked a few times, glancing between him and Wang Yue. After a moment, she nodded to herself as though everything suddenly made sense.

"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Wang Yue interjected, cutting in before the conversation could veer further off course.

"What do you mean? We're just introducing ourselves," Chen Fan replied innocently, pretending not to catch Wang Yue's meaning. Turning back to Wang Mei, he gently patted her head. "My name is Chen Fan."

"I'm Wang Mei," the little girl replied, her eyes slowly closing as she leaned into Chen Fan's hand, clearly enjoying the head rub. "Don't mind my sister—she's just been single for too long. That's why she's coveting your handsome face, Brother."

"Stop talking!" Wang Yue raised her voice slightly, her frustration bubbling over at their playful banter.

"Yue, it's not polite to interrupt other people's conversations, you know," Ye Lan chimed in with a teasing smile.

"Mom!" Wang Yue looked at her mother, wide-eyed, clearly not expecting her to team up with Chen Fan and Wang Mei against her.

Ignoring her daughter's indignant expression, Ye Lan turned to Chen Fan with a warm smile. "Xiao Fan, have you eaten yet? Auntie just made my signature dish. Wang Yue loves it so much she always asks for seconds!"

"Mom! What are you saying?" Wang Yue protested, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Of course, Auntie. I'm glad I didn't eat before coming—it sounds like I made the right choice," Chen Fan responded with an easy smile.

Ye Lan chuckled lightly at his response, clearly pleased, while Wang Mei eagerly grabbed Chen Fan's hand and started tugging him toward the kitchen.

"Come on, Brother! You'll love it. Mom's cooking is the best I've ever had!" Wang Mei declared enthusiastically.

With a soft laugh, Chen Fan allowed himself to be pulled along, followed by Ye Lan, who seemed in high spirits. Meanwhile, Wang Yue stood frozen in place, stunned and seemingly forgotten as the cheerful trio left her behind.

--

In the kitchen, the four of them sat around the table, two on each side. Chen Fan sat beside Wang Mei, while across from him were Wang Yue and Ye Lan. The three happily enjoyed their meal, chatting and laughing occasionally, while Wang Yue sulkily picked at her food, looking out of place.

Why does this food have to taste so good? she thought, begrudgingly savoring each bite. Eventually, she abandoned her plan of acting upset and silently polished off her plate.

"Xiao Fan, have you just arrived in the city?" Ye Lan asked with a hint of curiosity, capturing Wang Yue's attention. She was eager to learn more about Chen Fan's background.

"Yes, Auntie," Chen Fan replied. "I arrived yesterday. I'm from a small village up north."

"Where are you staying?" Ye Lan inquired further.

"I stayed in a hotel last night. I'm planning to rent a place soon," Chen Fan explained.

"I know someone who rents out a place. Don't worry, it's a nice one, and the price is reasonable. I'll reach out to her later."

"Thank you, Auntie. I appreciate it. I'm sorry to trouble you."

"It's no trouble at all," Ye Lan reassured him with a smile. "If you weren't there, I don't even want to think about what might've happened."

"It's nothing, Auntie," Chen Fan replied modestly. "I was just doing what anyone would do. No need to thank me."

"I understand, but I insist on repaying you," Ye Lan said, her tone softening. "A mother can't help but be grateful for someone who protects her child."

At her words, Chen Fan couldn't help but think back to Wang Yue's determination the day before, and he noticed the resemblance between her and her mother.

"Then, if I ever have trouble in the future, I'll shamelessly ask for your help, Auntie," Chen Fan said with a warm smile, wanting to ease their minds.

"Of course," Ye Lan said, her smile widening. "You're welcome here anytime, just consider it your home."

Wang Mei cheerfully suggested, "Why don't you stay here, big brother? We can have sister sleep on the sofa, and you can take the room!"

Wang Yue's face darkened at her sister's words. Just wait until I teach you a lesson tonight, she thought inwardly, though her gaze lingered on Chen Fan, waiting for his response.

Chen Fan glanced at Wang Mei and then smirked at Wang Yue. "I'd love to, but I think I'd rather not wake up with your sister plotting something. Who knows, maybe she'll try to trick me because she covets my handsome face."

Wang Yue's eyes widened in disbelief. "Excuse me?!"

"Sis, you should just go live somewhere else so that big brother can stay here," Wang Mei continued, making Wang Yue feel a throb in her forehead.

Wang Yue's face darkened further upon hearing Chen Fan's words. "Then let's wait until your sister gets married, then I can stay here."

"Who wants to marry you?" Wang Yue retorted quickly, her disbelief clear.

"Who said I wanted to marry you?" Chen Fan added with a teasing grin.

"Yes, sister, you're not worthy!" Wang Mei chimed in, her words clearly getting under Wang Yue's skin. "You should find your husband quickly and leave this house."

Ye Lan, quietly enjoying the back-and-forth, smiled softly to herself. Sensing that Wang Yue might snap at any moment, she decided to intervene.

"Mei, Brother Chen has other things to do. It would be more convenient for him to stay closer to work," Ye Lan said gently, hoping to steer the conversation away.

Wang Mei, clearly disappointed, nodded dejectedly, though she wasn't pleased with the outcome.

Once the meal was finished and the table cleared, Ye Lan and Wang Yue moved to the sink to wash the dishes. Meanwhile, Wang Mei, with wide, pleading eyes, asked Chen Fan for permission to sit on his lap. With a small nod, he allowed her to climb up and settle comfortably, a bright smile lighting up her face.

As Chen Fan watched Wang Mei giggling and enjoying herself, with Ye Lan and Wang Yue playfully bantering nearby, a soft smile spread across his face. What a warm atmosphere, he thought. A chuckle escaped him, drawing Wang Mei's attention. She looked up at him, her big eyes blinking as if questioning his behavior. Chen Fan playfully ruffled her hair, causing her to giggle and close her eyes in contentment.

In that moment, Chen Fan found himself enveloped in a new kind of happiness, and a quiet sense of longing stirred within him. There was a sense of direction, a purpose, even if it was just beginning to take shape. That spark—small yet bright—was the fire that would guide him, helping him find his place in this world.