Chapter Forty-Four: The Storm Approaches

Today, Mo Qinghan wore an ivory knee-length dress, with a pale pink trench coat draped over it. Her hair fell loosely around her face, the neat bangs making her look even younger, yet nothing could conceal the pure allure of her features.

Lin Mo, who stood beside her, saw Mo Qinghan blushing and silent, and laughed, “Qinghan, relax a little. Gu Yan is just joking with you! We’re all old friends who grew up together, so we never know when to stop with our jokes.”

Zhang Yu, unable to contain himself, immediately asked, “Big brother, do you know this young lady?”

Lin Mo simply smiled, saying nothing, and cast a glance at He Zheyu—a look that signaled he should handle the rest himself. He scrutinized He Zheyu’s face for a moment, noticing faint bruises, and asked with concern, “Old Third, what happened to your face?”

At this, Mo Qinghan, who was drinking water, suddenly choked and coughed for quite a while, then looked at He Zheyu with embarrassment. He Zheyu, as if nothing had happened, handed her a tissue and replied in an utterly calm tone, “I got hit by my girlfriend’s rival.”

The moment he spoke, laughter erupted in the room. Gu Yan, Zhang Yu, and Lin Mo collapsed over the table, howling, while Mo Qinghan stared at the three, bewildered by their reaction.

Zhang Yu laughed so hard tears threatened to spill, yet managed to say, “Old Third… you’ve… you’ve given us a year’s worth of jokes.” Then he continued laughing.

He Zheyu looked at the three who were nearly hysterical, his expression cold and detached. “Enough. I’m about to start a project in Africa. Why don’t Second Brother and Fourth Brother go scout it out for me?”

At once, Zhang Yu and Gu Yan pressed their hands over their mouths, struggling to stifle their laughter. Lin Mo, still smiling, remarked, “I’m not under your jurisdiction, Old Third.” Then he added, “Zhang Yu, Gu Yan, that’s enough. Don’t scare Qinghan.”

After a long pause, the atmosphere at the table gradually returned to normal. Unlike before, there was now Mo Qinghan among them.

After the meal, Mo Qinghan sat quietly beside He Zheyu, listening as Lin Mo, Zhang Yu, Gu Yan, and He Zheyu reminisced about their days from kindergarten through university. As she watched their faces glow with nostalgia, she finally understood why the four of them always found time to gather together.

As people grow older, what they pursue becomes simpler; for He Zheyu, Lin Mo, Zhang Yu, and Gu Yan, all they wished for was to carry their brotherhood to the final moments of their lives.

Feeling thirsty, Mo Qinghan picked up the kettle and found it empty. Lin Mo told her, “Out the door, second room on the right, there’s hot water.”

She took the kettle and left.

Seeing Mo Qinghan step out, Zhang Yu finally voiced the question he had been holding back, “Old Third, you’re not serious about this, are you?”

“Do you think I’m pretending?” He Zheyu replied.

Zhang Yu continued, “Everyone in Nan City knows your fiancée is Zhao Yiya, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, whose background matches yours. She’s the one who will be your legitimate wife. Even if Old Mr. He is willing to turn a blind eye, Zhao Yiya will never let her go. Are you planning to keep her hidden forever, letting her live in the shadows, unknown and unloved, as a mistress for life?”