Chapter 104: Brothers and Best Friends

There were seven or eight boxes in total, ranging from large to small. The most daunting part was that every single one was incredibly heavy; there was no telling what was packed inside. Could it be that every woman moves house this way? It was hard to imagine how she had managed to transport all these things here.

After finally getting all the boxes to their designated spots, I wiped the sweat from my forehead. I noticed Lin Yiyang sitting alone on the living room sofa, his head bowed, seemingly occupied with something.

"Yangyang, it’s time for us to go home," Lin Chuan said.

"Dad, but... but Sister Xiaoyue told us to wait for her a little longer," Lin Yiyang replied, looking up with a murmur.

I had been so busy working that I hadn't paid attention to the rest of the room. Hearing my son’s words, I looked around and realized that Wang Yue was nowhere to be seen.

Just then, a sizzling sound came from the kitchen. Immediately after, Wang Yue called out loudly, "Yangyang, wait a little longer! Dinner will be ready in a moment. Nobody is allowed to leave—you have to stay and help me warm up my new home today!"

A wry smile appeared on Lin Chuan's face. Shaking his head helplessly, he decided to wander around the apartment.

To be honest, the place wasn't very big, but everything was arranged in perfect order; there wasn't a hint of clutter. Moreover, there was a faint, pleasant fragrance lingering in the air—it smelled much better than the perfumes those other women wore. Lin Chuan couldn't help but sniff deeply, greedily drawing the scent into his lungs.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, dinner was ready. It was a simple spread of four common, home-cooked dishes.

Wang Yue walked in wearing an apron, carrying bowls and chopsticks. She smiled and said, "Don't just stand there, sit down and eat. I just moved in, so I don't have any high-end ingredients—you’ll have to make do with this."

"Haha, this is already very good," Lin Chuan said.

Wang Yue offered a faint smile, said nothing more, and turned back toward the kitchen.

At that moment, Lin Yiyang ran over from the living room and climbed into his chair. Staring at the four fragrant dishes, he kept swallowing hard. However, he didn't pick up his chopsticks; he knew that since he and his father were guests, they had to be polite. Even if the "host" was his beloved Sister Xiaoyue, the rules still applied.

Lin Chuan was very satisfied with this. He had never actually lectured his son on such things, but the boy seemed to understand naturally. And he was only five years old.

A moment later, Wang Yue returned from the kitchen. Seeing that Lin Chuan and Lin Yiyang were sitting at the table without touching their food, she smiled and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Aren't you hungry?"

"Sister Xiaoyue, my little tummy has been growling for ages," Lin Yiyang murmured, patting his stomach plaintively.

"Then let's stop it from growling. Dig in!" Wang Yue said, placing a bowl full of rice in front of him.

The little guy looked excitedly at his father. Seeing his nod of approval, he wasted no time picking up his chopsticks and diving in. Between bites, he exclaimed, "Sister Xiaoyue, your cooking is so delicious!"

"Haha, if you like it, come over often. Sister Xiaoyue will cook for you every day," Wang Yue said, sitting in another chair with a smile.

Lin Yiyang nodded vigorously, unable to speak as his mouth was already stuffed with food.

Lin Chuan was hungry too, especially watching his son wolf down the meal. He was itching to pick up his chopsticks and grab a rib for himself. But he couldn't; Wang Yue was right there, and he couldn't afford to lose face in front of her. There was no choice but to endure it, no matter how hungry he felt.

Wang Yue seemed to notice something. She picked up her chopsticks, placed a rib into Lin Chuan’s bowl, and said, "Come on, try it and tell me what you think of my skills."

Lin Chuan, determined to save face even if it meant suffering, offered a slight smile. He picked up his chopsticks unhurriedly and took a small bite... his expression shifted instantly.

*Damn, this rib is actually quite good.* It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet and savory. Most importantly, the fat was rich but not greasy, making it incredibly refreshing to eat.

Though he thought this, he still had to play it cool. He placed the rib back in his bowl and said, "I didn't expect you to be such a good cook."

"There are many things you haven't expected," Wang Yue said with a calm smile. "For instance, today—you didn't expect to become my neighbor, did you?"

"Uh... that’s true. Why did you suddenly come to the capital? And surely, becoming my neighbor wasn't just a coincidence?" Lin Chuan frowned.

"Haha, Beining couldn't hold me anymore, so I wanted to come to the capital to see what it was like. As for why I’m your neighbor... well, let’s just say I have a good friend, and you have a good brother," Wang Yue said vaguely.

Hearing this, Lin Chuan’s face darkened, and he felt a sudden, itching urge to throttle someone. Yuan Ye. It had to be that guy Yuan Ye who leaked his whereabouts in the capital. But weren't Tang Qinru and Yuan Ye enemies? When did they team up to conspire against him?

Once he finished dinner and got back, he would definitely give Yuan Ye a call to get to the bottom of this. In reality, what bothered Lin Chuan more was that Yuan Ye had known about Wang Yue’s plans all along and kept it from him. That alone was enough to warrant a death sentence.

"By the way, what are your plans now that you're in the capital? Are you still planning to be a preschool teacher? Do you want me to ask around for you?" Lin Chuan asked, maintaining a calm facade.

"No need. I already found a job before I came here. It's a kindergarten not too far from here. The scale is decent, so I’ll work there for now. If a better opportunity comes along later, I’ll just switch," Wang Yue said with a smile, taking a bite of rice.

Lin Chuan nodded and finally couldn't resist—he finished the rib in his bowl in a few bites.

As they ate and chatted, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. If it weren't for the fact that Lin Yiyang was struggling to keep his eyes open, they might have talked until midnight.

Back home, Lin Chuan sat by the bed, watching his sleeping son, his mind racing with countless thoughts. Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. To avoid waking the boy, he hurried to the living room to check it.

One look was all it took to make his blood boil.

"I was just about to find you, and you actually have the nerve to call! Tell me, was it you who told Wang Yue I was in the capital?" Lin Chuan said, feigning anger.

"Huh? What’s going on? Xiaochuan, have you been drinking? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Yuan Ye’s voice came from the other end, sounding bewildered.

"Cut the crap. You’re the one who told Tang Qinru my address in the capital, right?" Lin Chuan wasn't about to be fooled by his little tricks. Ever since they were kids, every time Yuan Ye did something, he would act innocent. Even after all these years, that bad habit hadn't changed.

"Hehe, we were chatting a few days ago, and I did mention it to Tang Qinru... I didn't think she would tell Wang Yue! Wait! Hang on, from the sound of it, did Wang Yue go to find you?" Yuan Ye realized he couldn't hide it any longer and confessed.

"Find me? Hmph, she moved in right next door. She's my neighbor now," Lin Chuan gritted his teeth. So it really was that guy.

"Wow, this girl is something else! Traveling thousands of miles to the capital just to be your neighbor? Tsk tsk tsk... what kind of devotion must that be to sacrifice everything for someone? If someone did that for me, I’d be so moved I’d..."

"Enough nonsense! Why are you calling, anyway? How did the bidding session go today?" Lin Chuan interrupted, unable to stand him any longer.

"It was a huge success! The first quarter's bidding is done. You wouldn't believe how hard these companies fought to get ad space on our show *If You Are The One*. It’s a shame you weren't there to see the spectacle; it was truly something..." Yuan Ye was so excited he nearly recounted every single detail. Finally, he added mysteriously, "Xiaochuan, do you know how much ad revenue we made today?"

"How much?" Lin Chuan was a bit surprised.

"A full 100 million! Hehe, and that’s just for the first quarter! If we keep this up—100 million per quarter—we’ll make 400 million a year... This single program alone brings in one-third of the total revenue of those major TV stations combined! Hahaha!" Yuan Ye laughed uncontrollably.

Hearing this, Lin Chuan’s jaw almost hit the floor. 400 million—it was an astronomical figure. In the past, he wouldn't have even dared to dream of such a thing. But now, he had suddenly become a millionaire?

Lin Chuan felt a surge of emotion, yet he didn't let it go to his head.

Suddenly, Yuan Ye’s tone shifted, becoming serious. "Xiaochuan, do you remember when we went to Beining to get sponsorship from Liu Dashan?"

Lin Chuan paused, wondering why he was bringing that up out of the blue.

"I remember. What about it?"

"And you remember what happened at the bar, right?"

"Yeah, I remember."

"Xiaochuan, you’re not getting any younger—you’re pushing thirty. You have a son to raise. Don’t look at the money we have now; even if you owned the whole world, you still need a woman by your side, don't you? Let the past be the past. Cherish what’s in front of you. Why do you think she traveled all this way to the capital? Think about it." For the first time, Yuan Ye spoke with such sincerity.

Lin Chuan fell silent. A silhouette appeared in his mind, shifting from blurry to clear. That person was Wang Yue, his new neighbor.

At some point, Yuan Ye had hung up the phone; Lin Chuan hadn't even heard his final words. He sat on the sofa, staring at the phone for a long time. Without realizing it, he typed out a few words: "Do you have time tomorrow?"

But when he reached the contact field, he stopped. He didn't know if he should send it, knowing what it would mean if he did.

Just as he was hesitating, the phone vibrated again—a new message.

Lin Chuan, already conflicted, jumped in surprise. When he looked at the screen, he realized the message he had been typing had already been sent.

Frantic, he opened his inbox to see who was being so intrusive. When he tapped it open, he couldn't help but laugh.

It was another text from Yuan Ye: "Brother, go for it! I’ll always have your back!"