On this day.
Yan Qinghe, dressed in a purple satin robe with cloud patterns, kept examining himself in the bronze mirror.
"Strange!"
"Something seems off with this outfit. Why does it look different from when Shu wore it?"
Yan Wu leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, mockingly remarking without mercy: "The clothes say it's a problem with the person."
He then casually picked up a red robe and tossed it to Yan Qinghe: "Wear this one, it's more festive!"
....... Dressed festively, Yan Qinghe arrived early at the agreed location with Li Shuchen, who was wearing a purple robe.
One incense stick later.
As soon as they entered, seeing their combination of bright red and purple, Qi Huan could barely contain her laughter.
Red and purple together, what a sight!
However, in Li Shuchen's eyes, it became that he really liked this outfit on him.
Last night, Yan Qinghe had said he looked good in purple, so today he chose another purple robe to wear for Huan.
Seeing only Qi Huan had arrived, Yan Qinghe craned his neck to look outside: "Where are the others?"
Qi Huan deliberately played dumb: "Who?"
A few days ago, after returning home, An'an's eyes had been swollen from crying for several days.
It was time to make Yan Qinghe anxious, to push him a little.
Hiding the mischievous glint in her eyes, Qi Huan began to leisurely peruse the menu.
She knew Yan Qinghe all too well.
Yan Qinghe finally couldn't resist scratching his head anxiously and asked: "Where's your cousin?"
Seeing the fish had taken the bait, Qi Huan put down the menu and wiped away non-existent tears: "Alas......"
"What happened?" Yan Qinghe grew more anxious.
"My cousin's marriage fell through."
Under the threat of Old Lady Song's walking stick, the Song family's patriarch abandoned his intentions and politely declined the Liu family's proposal.
Liu Zisheng smiled gently, not taking it to heart.
A great man need not worry about finding a wife.
Marriage should be based on mutual affection.
If this match didn't work out, there would be others. He would eventually meet a girl who admired him.
But Madam Liu couldn't understand it. How could her excellent son be rejected?
Were the Songs blind?
Song You'an had come of age three years ago and was still unmarried. How could an old maid who couldn't get married look down on her son?
This was utterly intolerable!
Madam Liu began insinuating at banquets that Song You'an had some hidden ailment!
When the news reached Elder Madam Song's ears, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront Madam Liu, but Qi Huan caught hold of her sleeve.
"Aunt, please don't be rash."
"If you say it like this......"
After listening to Qi Huan, Elder Madam Song smoothed down her sleeves and walked over gracefully and politely.
"Madam Liu, has our An'an done something wrong?"
"At the palace banquet, your daughter falsely accused An'an of being vain."
"Today at this banquet, you've been implying that our An'an is ill......"
At these words, Madam Liu's expression immediately became flustered.
The reason she had been so reckless in slandering Song You'an was partly due to another consideration.
She had assumed that Elder Madam Song, being overly protective of her daughter, would surely come to argue with her upon hearing the rumors.
Then she could act weak, and Elder Madam Song would gain a reputation for being overbearing and unreasonable.
This would lead people to speculate that the marriage fell through entirely due to issues with the Song family.
But she hadn't anticipated that Elder Madam Song would show rare rationality this time.
First showing weakness, then bringing up past events, and finally circling back to this matter......
The crowd's reproachful gazes all fell on her.
Liu Yiting's behavior, which had nearly been forgotten, was brought up again.
A woman who had been considering arranging a marriage with her instantly avoided her like the plague. No one likes a daughter-in-law who causes trouble, has a sharp tongue, and lacks intelligence.
Madam Liu's plan backfired, and her words lost all credibility, ultimately not harming An'an.
But in Qi Huan's retelling, it became: "An'an was deeply hurt. She's planning to cut off her hair and become a nun!"
"You know, An'an's hair is not accepted by the secular world. Uncle and Aunt don't dare to let her marry casually, and she's also feeling hopeless. How pitiful, our An'an is only eighteen, must she spend her entire life in a convent with nothing but an oil lamp and Buddha?"
"An'an said no one would be willing to marry her true self......"
"I'm willing!"
Yan Qinghe suddenly put down his wine bowl, blood rushing to his head.
His alcohol tolerance wasn't very good. Half-drunk, he lunged towards Li Shuchen: "Brother, as the eldest, you're like a father to me. Can you propose to Miss Song on my behalf?"
Let's give a hard slap to the face of those who say Song You'an can't get married.
Li Shuchen's gaze finally shifted from Qi Huan's lively and charming face to Yan Qinghe's drunken one, and he asked coolly:
"Out of pity?"
Yan Qinghe hiccupped and shook his head vigorously: "No. I want to marry her, ...... I'm fond of her."
At this moment, Qi Huan deeply regretted that she couldn't use her phone. Otherwise, she would have recorded a video of this confession in an instant to play for Song You'an.
After a moment's thought, she gently coaxed: "My cousin is still crying at home. Do you want to go comfort her in person?"
The drunk Yan Qinghe was particularly compliant: "Yes!"
"Shu, press his sleep acupoint!"
Qi Huan brought them both into her space and, after returning to the Song residence, went to find Song You'an in Qing'an Courtyard.
"An'an, ask your maids to withdraw. I have something private to tell you."
Song You'an had been feeling low for several days but seemed to have returned to normal.
At least in front of her family, she always wore a faint smile, but her reddened eyes and gaunt face betrayed her true state.
She always listened to her cousin and promptly dismissed her attendants.
"An'an, let sister show you a magic trick—I'll make a person appear! First, close your eyes."
"...Alright."
Once her eyes were closed, Qi Huan brought out Yan Qinghe.
Li Shuchen promptly released Yan Qinghe's acupoint and slapped him awake.
Suddenly finding himself in a different place, Yan Qinghe was a bit dazed.
Seeing the little rabbit, he still remembered what he had said earlier: "I want to marry you! I'm fond of you!"
Song You'an was startled, her eyelashes trembling as she opened her eyes.
At this moment, a maid anxiously asked from outside: "Miss?"
"It's- it's nothing, Cousin is just telling a story, deliberately lowering her voice to imitate a man......"
The drunk Yan Qinghe was not cooperating. He continued to repeat: "I......"
He had barely uttered a syllable when Song You'an, flustered, covered his mouth with her hand.
Song You'an stood on tiptoe, her cheeks flushed as she said: "I heard you, keep your voice down."
"Oh." Yan Qinghe lowered his eyes to look at her: "Then do you still want to marry Young Master Liu?"
"......I never wanted to."
"Weren't you very shy and fond of him before?"
"......No! I told you, I don't like him."
"When?" Yan Qinghe frowned.
But that was no longer important. What mattered now was: "What do you think of me?"
"......Very good." Song You'an's heart was pounding like a drum.
"Will you marry me?"
Cornered by his persistence, Song You'an raised her moist eyes and finally said bravely: "......Yes."
"I like you, Yan Qinghe."
"I like you even more, Song You'an."
As they confessed their feelings to each other, Qi Huan turned her back to them, huddling in a corner of the room, pretending to be a vase, trying her best to minimize her presence so they could express themselves freely.
The two didn't disappoint her.
May all lovers in the world end up together.
At this moment, Song You'an wrinkled her nose, sniffing the alcohol in the air, and advised: "You... you should drink less."
"Alright."
"Shu says that it's a virtue for men to listen to their wives."
"......Who- who's your wife?"
Yan Qinghe laughed heartily: "An'an is my wife, I'll propose right away!"
Song You'an's face turned as red as if it might drip blood: "My parents might not agree......"
