Chapter 10 — My Best Friend's Older Brother Took Responsibility for Me

Ye Zhiyi showed me her phone. "Is this woman not giving up?" I skimmed it without speaking. Li Hangzhi, sitting beside me, placed a peeled shrimp in my bowl. "Eat your food." "Okay."

After dinner, Li Yingqiu held my hand, nagging tirelessly: *Wonderful, now I don't have to worry! When do you two plan to hold a makeup wedding? Want to move to a bigger house? Call me Mom whenever you like, Hi Bao!* From start to finish, all I could do was blush and nod. Ye Zhiyi sat beside us munching melon seeds while watching the show.

At ten in the evening, I returned to my room. The room next door was still lit. After showering, I stood on the balcony for fresh air. Wind rustled the monstera leaves, revealing a beam of light through the gap.

"Come over," a voice called from next door—very deep.

I looked toward the monstera plants; behind the leaves stood a figure. Li Hangzhi leaned against his balcony railing in a long-sleeved white home shirt, top two buttons undone, looking far more relaxed than in his trench coat by day. Yet still extraordinarily handsome—so handsome one couldn't look away.

"Planning to stand there forever?" "If I come over just because you tell me to, it makes me look unprincipled." He said nothing more. A few seconds later, he walked over himself—stepping around the connecting balcony into my space.

Very tall—taller than in my memory. The familiar white tea scent drifted over again.

"Frightened today?" "A little." "Angry?" "A little too." "Why?" "Did you know who I was from the very start?"

He didn't answer immediately. "Ye Zhiyi posts often on Moments; there were many photos of you. Last year she showed me your social media, saying her best friend was a styling designer who took great photos." "And then?" "Then I followed your account. Watched it for half a year." "..." What did that mean? Silently observing me for half a year, and when I grabbed him at the bar door, he just followed along?

"Then why didn't you tell me you were her eldest brother?" "You didn't ask." "I asked your name, and you only texted back a surname!" "You didn't ask further either." I was speechless.

He looked at me, seemingly waiting for something. I looked at him too. The night breeze from the balcony blew in, quite cold. He unbuttoned his outer jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

"I'll drive you to work tomorrow." "No need—I can drive the Fit." "That car is due for maintenance; I'll drive you tomorrow." "Ye Zhiyi will gossip if she knows." "Let her say what she wants." "If your parents see, won't they think it's progressing too fast?"

He paused briefly. "We've been married for half a month. To me, this speed is already too slow." "..." I pulled the jacket tighter. He stood right before me, light backlighting him, outlining his figure with a thin halo. This man... from now on, he wouldn't just be an avatar, a name, or short texts on a phone. He was my husband, standing right before me in flesh and blood.

The next morning, Li Hangzhi drove his Maybach to take me to work. The black car smoothly stopped in front of the company lobby. Just as I opened the door to step out, he suddenly spoke up.

"I'll pick you up for lunch at noon." "No need..." "Twelve o'clock," he said in a tone leaving no room for refusal.

I closed the car door and entered the company. Xiao He was already waiting at the workspace. "Sister Wan! What car did you come in today? I saw from the window—a shiny black Maybach! Your friend's car?" "My husband's." Xiao He's jaw dropped. "Sister Wan, you have a husband?!" "Yes." "Since when?" "Just recently." "...So sudden!" She processed the info for a few seconds, eyes glowing. "Your husband drives a Maybach?! He must be super rich!" "Just average."

I put on my uniform, preparing to start work. In the hallway, I bumped into another stylist from the same team, Qiu Nian. She had been here for three years as a veteran designer. Seeing me, she merely nodded slightly without greeting. Xiao He sidled over, whispering, "Sister Qiu is a bit cold—don't mind her. She used to be the lead designer; after you took Miss Wen's order, management seems to think you're suitable to promote as the primary candidate. She seems to have opinions about it." "I didn't take Miss Wen's order—Miss Wen named me specifically." "I know, but Sister Qiu doesn't think so." I didn't comment further; anyone in the workplace understood that some conflicts couldn't be resolved just by explaining. Two clients in the morning went smoothly. At exactly twelve noon, my phone rang.

Zhi: *I'm downstairs.*