"So, Miss Qin Yue, would you... give me a chance to take care of you for the rest of my life?"

She looked at me for a long, long time.

Then, she suddenly let out a soft "pfft" and laughed.

Although she still had tear tracks on her face, the smile was like sunshine after the rain—bright and brilliant.

"Aiden."

"Yes?"

"You, really..." She shook her head, then stood on tiptoes and kissed my lips firmly.

"Are so annoying."

Chapter 10

"Me? Annoying?"

I was left between laughter and tears by her sudden remark, and I pinched her cheek, "Where am I annoying?"

"Everywhere! You're annoying everywhere!" She wrinkled her nose and began counting on her fingers, "Before, you were blind and senseless, acting like you were going to die for a certain woman; that was annoying! Later, after knowing the truth, you acted like a prince of vengeance, turning everything upside down; that was still annoying!"

She paused and added another sentence, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

"And now... now your confession is so sudden, not giving me any time to prepare at all—that’s the most annoying thing!"

Looking at her cute appearance with blushing cheeks and shifty eyes, my heart softened into a complete mess.

"Well then... does Miss Qin intend to keep this 'annoying' guy, or does she plan to return the merchandise?" I teased her on purpose.

"As for that..." Her eyes rolled, and she deliberately dragged out her tone as if pretending to be profound, "Since it's already been unwrapped and it would affect secondary sales, then... I'll reluctantly accept it."

"Just accept it?" I raised an eyebrow, unsatisfied with the answer.

"Then what else?" She crossed her arms, striking a haughty pose that seemed to say, "What more do you want?"

I laughed, reached out, and pulled her back into my arms. Lowering my head to her ear, I said ambiguously, in a voice only the two of us could hear: "Just accepting isn't enough; you have to handle the after-sales service too. Lifetime warranty, returns and exchanges are available... but only if I’m the one doing the exchanging for you."

"In your dreams!" Her face turned deep red instantly, like a ripe apple, and she reached out and pinched my waist. "Who wants a lifetime warranty with you!"

Although she said that, her arms wrapped around my waist tightened even more.

Holding her, feeling the real touch of warmth and softness in my embrace, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally landed completely.

"Qin Yue."

"Hmm?"

"Don't do anything stupid again in the future." I sighed, my voice filled with lingering fear. "Do you have any idea how crazy I went during those two days you were playing hide-and-seek?"

"It serves you right." She said in a muffled voice in my arms. "Who told you to be so dumb, unable to even tell if I was really sick or pretending."

"It's my fault for being dumb. It's all on me." I admitted my mistake immediately with a good attitude. "From now on, I'll believe whatever you say. Even if you say the sun rises in the west, I'll believe you."

"Smooth talker." She was amused by me, rubbing against my chest like a satisfied cat. "But, Aiden, during the time I was hospitalized, it really wasn't an act. Back then... my mind was truly chaotic and I was so scared. Every time I closed my eyes, it was that hideous face, and the feeling of falling down the stairs..."

As she spoke, her body trembled involuntarily.

My heart tightened, and I immediately held her tighter, pressing a soothing kiss to the top of her hair.

"I know, don't be afraid. It's all in the past now." I comforted her softly. "With me here from now on, I won't let anyone hurt you again."

"Mm." She nodded, her voice thick with nasality. "Back then, I lived in nightmares every day. Only by seeing you could I feel a shred of security. So I thought, if I turned into a child who remembered nothing but you, wouldn't you never leave me?"

"You fool." My heart broke hearing that. "I never intended to leave you in the first place."

"I didn't know that." She said aggrievedly. "I was afraid you'd find me a burden, afraid you... afraid you were only being nice to me out of guilt. Once Vanessa's business was resolved, I thought you'd feel there was no need to be responsible for me anymore."

"How could that be?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Qin Yue, in your heart, am I really such a scumbag who discards people after getting what he wants?"

"Weren't you like that with Vanessa before? Attentive for two years, and then you broke it off just like that—cleanly, without any mess." She muttered.

"That's different." I said earnestly. "With her, it was cutting losses in time. With you, it is where my heart truly belongs."

The person in my arms instantly fell silent.

I lowered my head and found that the tips of her ears were red enough to bleed.

This little demoness usually acts so fierce and fearless, so why is she so pure and shy when it comes to love talk?

I was in high spirits and couldn't resist teasing her again.

"Why aren't you speaking? Are you overwhelmed by my eloquence?"

"...Aiden, shut up!"

We lingered in the sanatorium garden for a long time, ignoring everyone else.

We only reluctantly parted when a doctor came to remind us that it was time for Qin Yue to take her medication.

The subsequent treatment went much more smoothly than I had imagined.

Perhaps it was because the knot in her heart was untied, or perhaps my companionship played a role; Qin Yue's PTSD symptoms improved day by day.

She stopped having nightmares, her emotions became much more stable, and the smiles on her face grew more frequent every day.

However, she still habitually clung to me.

Wherever I went, she followed like a little tail.

When I was on video conferences, she would move a small stool, sit beside me, and read books quietly.

When I processed documents, she would brew tea and knead my shoulders.

When I cooked, she would put on an apron and help out, though most of the time she was just making a mess.

When Chloe came to see us and witnessed this, it was so sweet it made her teeth ache.

"Tsk tsk tsk, I really can't bear to look. Aiden, how can you still have any trace of being the heir to the group? You're a total 'henpecked husband'."

"Sister, what are you saying?" Qin Yue immediately became unhappy, putting her hands on her hips to defend me. "Aiden isn't henpecked; this is... a sign that he loves me!"

"Yes, yes, a sign that he loves you." Chloe surrendered with a laugh. "You two, hurry up and get better, then go get registered at the civil affairs office. Stop ruining my eyes here."

"Not in a hurry!" Qin Yue blushed and made a face at her.

Two months later, Qin Yue’s physical and mental state had basically returned to full health.

On the day she was discharged, the sun was shining just right.

Uncle and Auntie Qin came to pick us up, and seeing their daughter return to her former vigor, they were moved to tears.

"Aiden, thank you." Auntie Qin held my hand and said gratefully. "You've worked hard during this time."

"Auntie, please don't say that; it's what I should have done."

"What 'should have done'!" Uncle Qin stood to the side, huffing and puffing at me. "Young man, I admit you took good care of my daughter. But, don't think it's that easy to marry my daughter!"

"Dad!" Qin Yue stamped her feet in protest.

"Quiet!" Uncle Qin glared at her and continued his "lecture" to me. "If you want to marry our Yue, first: you take care of all the housework; second: all your salary cards are to be handed over; third: no unnecessary contact with any other women, especially those actresses in the entertainment industry!"

"Dad! What are you saying!" Qin Yue's face turned beet red.

Looking at my future father-in-law's "selling the daughter" stance, far from feeling harassed, I felt a warmth in my heart.

I nodded solemnly at Uncle Qin.

"Uncle, please rest assured. For the first point, I guarantee I will do it—Yue's hands are for shopping, not for chores; for the second point, all my assets can be transferred to Yue's name after marriage; as for the third point..."

I turned to look at Qin Yue, my eyes filled with doting and love.

"In my eyes and in my heart, from now on, there will only be one leading lady. Any other birds or flowers are, to me, no different from the rocks on the side of the road."

My words left everyone present stunned.