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Chapter 192
Chapter 191: It’s Hard to Be in Love
The moment she stepped through the door, Wen Yan almost thought she had walked into the wrong place.
It was very dark inside the living room.
Yet magically, wherever her feet trod, a flowing, radiant footprint would be left behind.
Clearly, the carpet in the house had been meticulously replaced.
With every single step taken, it felt as though countless crushed diamonds were shimmering beneath her feet.
At this moment, Wen Yan felt as if she were stepping upon a starry sky.
And for every additional step forward she took, the living room brightened a point more than before.
By means of this hazy light, Wen Yan discovered that the arrangement of the entire living room seemed to have been altered.
While around her, for the time being, she had not seen a single person other than herself.
"Mom? Dad? Eldest Brother? Second Brother, Fourth Brother? Have you all hidden yourselves? I already know this is a birthday surprise you prepared for me. Hurry up and turn on the lights!"
As soon as Wen Yan's voice fell, a neat chorus of 'Happy Birthday' immediately resounded within the living room, and the overhead lighting brightened fully along with it.
Only then did Wen Yan discover that the entire living room had actually been decorated into a tender and dreamlike pastel purple tone—this was her favorite color recently.
"So beautiful! So dreamlike!!!"
Looking at the family before her eyes, Wen Yan was once again moved to tears.
Today was her birthday, but she had already been moved to tears twice.
"Thank you, everyone! I feel as if I've entered a castle—and also the lighting beneath my feet, how was this made?"
While speaking, Wen Yan threw herself happily toward Su Yang: "Mom, you guys are so good; I like this surprise so much."
Su Yang smiled and embraced Wen Yan in her arms: "As long as you like it, it means we didn't decorate in vain. Though as for what principle this light beneath your feet operates on, even I can't explain clearly—if you're really interested, go ask your eldest brother in a moment; this was all arranged by him bringing people over."
"Wuu wuu wuu, thank you, Eldest Brother!"
Wen Yan was truly very happy today, stepping forward and giving Shen Jingxiu a big embrace.
Shen Jingxiu hadn't expected Wen Yan would suddenly hug over; for a while, his pair of hands didn't even know how they ought to move properly.
Dazed for a second, he only then opened his mouth: "Happy birthday."
"Very happy! Thank you, Eldest Brother!"
Yet just as he extended his hands preparing to return the hug to Wen Yan for a moment, Shen Jingchuan standing beside him suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, see those flowers? They were all personally moved down from the car by me—back and forth, it nearly ran a pair of my shoes into ruin."
"Really? Then you truly are too amazing—the shoes were made of paper, right!" While teasing Shen Jingchuan, Wen Yan threw herself over into Shen Jingchuan's arms.
Shen Jingchuan didn't have any hesitation, opening both arms and receiving Wen Yan with a full embrace.
Familiar with the gesture, he patted twice on Wen Yan's back: "I went to watch your movie. Although it wasn't a genre I like, you acted very well—it's just a bit too pitiful. Promise Brother, next time don't act in this kind of role anymore, okay? Seeing it makes my heart ache!"
Wen Yan hummed a scoff: "It's precisely to make you audience members' hearts ache! This is the skill of an actor."
"Fine, fine, fine, you're the most amazing, alright? Beating the one beside you to a pulp, leaving him a hundred and eighty blocks behind."
Shen Jinghe off to the side: "............" Whom had he provoked or bothered? "Wen Yan, come over, come to my side."
"No way!" Shen Jingchuan wouldn't let the person go, "Why go over? You're not some hot commodity either."
Wen Yan was speechless: "............You are so naive, Fourth Brother. But today I have to bestow my favor equally. Normally wanting to hug Second Brother once isn't easy at all! The line of people queues all the way into outer space!"
Having said that, Wen Yan ran away from Shen Jingchuan's side; when hugging onto Shen Jinghe, Wen Yan even intentionally made a grimace toward Shen Jingchuan.
"Mmm~ Second Brother is so fragrant, truly a hot commodity."
"Tsk! I see you just said that on purpose for me to hear—how fragrant can he be? Hurry up and wash your hands, it's time to prepare to eat."
"No rush, no rush!" Wen Yan rapidly whipped out her phone, "I haven't taken photos yet; let me take a photo first."
"Still needing you? Mom already arranged a photographer long ago; see what Aunt Zhang is holding in her hands?"
"Doesn't matter—what Aunt Zhang took is what Aunt Zhang took, and what I took is what I took."
However, Wen Yan didn't delay too much time either; after click-clicking a few shots, she immediately went upstairs.
"You guys go sit down first; I'm going upstairs to change into a beautiful dress."
Though claiming to go change clothes, Wen Yan actually had other arrangements.
When coming downstairs, she brought two bags down with her, but she intentionally didn't let the family see, instead placing them in a certain spot outside the dining room to hide them away.
Just taking her seat, Su Su'ang explained a couple of sentences to Wen Yan: "I asked your third brother two days in advance, thinking to say today is your birthday and have him come home to gather together, but currently he's still out in another province unable to get away. If he were here, our family would be all complete today."
"I know, Mom. Just as I stepped through the door, I received Third Brother's message. He wished me a happy birthday and told me to pay attention to checking for express deliveries recently—although he didn't state it explicitly, I guess that must be a birthday gift he's sending me."
"That's good then; in his heart he still has you, this younger sister. Come on then, let's dig in, let your dad speak a few words first."
For important occasions, Shen Yuan speaking first was a tradition of the Shen family.
Aunt Zhang had already poured red wine for everyone long ago.
Shen Yuan raised his glass, face carrying a smile: "Today is Yanyan's birthday, so this glass wishes Yanyan to have today every year, and have this moment year after year. Hopefully every year in the future on your birthday, our whole family can gather together."
This was a beautiful vision; after Shen Yuan's words landed, everyone raised their glasses one after another.
Yet right at this time, Wen Yan's phone placed to the side suddenly rang out.
If this were a call placed by an ordinary person, Wen Yan would immediately press it off, and then find time to send a message over explaining to the other party that she was currently busy.
However, this call Wen Yan could not hang up on—she was even afraid that missing it by a second would cause her to miss the call entirely.
"Mom, Dad, sorry, I have to answer a very, very important call. Thank you for Dad's blessings."
Having finished speaking, Wen Yan gulped down the red wine in her glass in one go, then swiftly picked up the phone, got up, and left the table.
Everyone present except for Shen Jingchuan developed curiosity toward this call.
Wen Yan actually used two 'verys' in a row just now... so who exactly was calling on this phone?
Could it surprisingly be that important? Even more important than the whole family gathering together to celebrate her birthday?
And the answer to this question was 'yes'.
Su Yang even turned back to look outside the dining room: "This child, why did she run so fast? Don't even know who placed the call; I see her soul is practically gone. Running outside wearing such a thin dress, not even afraid of the cold."
The rest of the family didn't know who the person placing the call was, but Shen Jingchuan, sitting beside Wen Yan, had seen it.
The name displayed on the incoming call was Qin Yulong, which was to say——Shen Zhirou.
"Hello! Yulong," only after walking out the main door and reaching the outdoors did Wen Yan open her mouth.
Because currently Qin Yulong's intention could not be determined yet, Wen Yan didn't dare to lightly make this call in front of Su Yang and Shen Yuan, for fear of letting things slip herself.
"I thought this phone number of yours wasn't in use anymore. During this period of time I've been continuously trying to contact you, but no one ever picked up your phone."
On the opposite side, Qin Yulong's voice quickly sounded out.
Her voice sounded somewhat exhausted: "Apologies, during this period of time I've been busy all along, because my dad fell ill, and I've been in the hospital taking care of him, so I didn't get around to contacting the outside world. Today my dad and I just returned from the hospital, saw your missed call, so I returned this call to you."
"So that's how it is, then is your dad alright?" Wen Yan had also thought Qin Yulong might have lost contact because something happened at home; turns out her dad really was ill.
Qin Yulong gave an 'mhm': "Thank you for your concern; my dad has already passed the critical period. I've already seen the dirt about me online—it's just that I didn't expect the conflict between Fu Yiqing and me would implicate you. I also saw the pinned post on your social feed; thank you for speaking up for me."
"No need to thank me! What I spoke was original truth to begin with."
Having finished saying this line, the two fell into a brief silence.
Because Qin Yulong was originally a person of few words, and although Wen Yan was a walking atmosphere setter, someone else's dad had only just passed the critical period and returned from the hospital; for the subsequent words, Wen Yan was truly somewhat embarrassed to open her mouth, afraid of causing the other party's aversion, doing a bad thing out of good intentions.
After a few seconds, it was still Qin Yulong who opened her mouth first.
"Your side has already reported to the police for handling, right? How is the progress now? Have you been tracking it?"
"Oh, yes. But I've already handed it over to a lawyer to handle; I personally am not in contact with Fu Yiqing."
"Good, you indeed ought to do this. Then for the subsequent matters, you don't need to care anymore either."
"Mhm."
"By the way, I saw online that your movie premiere was very successful; congratulations to you."
"Thanks!" Wen Yan broke into a heartfelt smile, "Hearing your voice sounds like you're very exhausted; putting myself in your shoes, I feel you should have been very busy and tired these past few days, yet I didn't expect to still be able to receive your blessings—I'm quite happy."
"Your very first movie entering the industry selling big—this is indeed a matter worth being happy about. Also, wishing you a happy birthday."
Wen Yan was somewhat surprised: "You actually know today is my birthday?"
"Yes, searching your name on the internet, ranking first is today's movie roadshow site; I saw you cut the cake."
"Thank you!"
"No need to thank me. Implicating you leaves my heart very guilty; Fu Yiqing must have made you feel very uncomfortable these past few days. Birthdays are all meant to receive gifts; turning around, I will also send you a gift."
"No need!" Wen Yan immediately opened her mouth to refuse, "Receiving your blessing is actually enough; there's no need for a gift."
"It's needed—Fu Yiqing ought to pay a price for her actions."
"Oh~ you mean this..." Wen Yan understood; Qin Yulong meant she was going to strike back at Fu Yiqing.
Turns out the birthday gift she spoke of just now wasn't a birthday gift in the traditional sense.
"Mhm. Then I'll hang up first. When results come out, you will see them online; my dad's side is calling me."
"Alright, then let's keep in touch—if this number isn't used anymore, remember to definitely tell me."
"Rest assured."
Qin Yulong hung up the phone very quickly.
Not having asked what she wanted to ask, Wen Yan was somewhat disappointed.
Because of worrying that she was cold, Su Yang, who was holding a coat and standing at the doorway waiting, took in this expression of Wen Yan's in her eyes.
She knew Wen Yan specifically went outside to answer the phone precisely because she didn't want the family to hear, so she intentionally waited until after Wen Yan finished the call before stepping forward to drape the clothing over her.
"Running outside dressed like this on such a cold day, not cherishing your own body in the slightest."
"Tee-hee," Wen Yan smiled pleasingly at Su Yang, "I just have this kind of personality, rash and hurried; if I did everything in an orderly fashion like Eldest Brother, then that wouldn't be me."
While speaking, the two had already returned once again to the dining room.
After starting to eat, the more Su Yang thought, the more she felt something wasn't right.
After eating just a few bites, Su Yang asked out of nowhere: "Yanyan, you couldn't be keeping us in the dark and being in love, right?"
"Ah?" Wen Yan was instantly stunned by the question, "How could that be? Mom, are you talking about the call just now? No, really no. Mom, raise your head and look at my three brothers.
"Look at them—which one of them isn't a dragon or phoenix among men? Setting character aside for now, just talking about appearance—in the entertainment industry with so many handsome guys, I haven't seen few who are even handsomer than them.
With these several brothers as fine jade before me, how could other crooked melons and split dates easily enter my eyes? I am bound to be one of the people in this world for whom it's hardest to fall in love! Because my taste, from the moment I entered this house, was destined to have already grown up to the ceiling!
Tsk, it's all to blame on Mom and Dad having such good genes! Sigh, hard, being in love is hard—harder than scaling the blue skies."
Everyone: "............" Should she be praised for kissing up well, or should she be praised for kissing up well!
Flattering the whole family in one go, and making everyone feel comfortable!
However, Shen Yuan spoke up; he was in a good mood today, even starting to actively play matchmaker.
"This indeed is also a problem. Jingxiu, I remember you have a very good relationship with that kid from the Ji family; isn't it about time he returned to the country? How about finding another day to introduce him to Yanyan to get acquainted?"
Shen Jingxiu's movement picking up food paused slightly for a moment.
Hadn't this been discussed once before? If he remembered correctly, Wen Yan had said she didn't want to be in love right now.
His brows knitted slightly: "Lately it's been relatively busy; I haven't contacted him for a long time. But I heard him say before that recently he seemingly has no plans to return to the country."
Just as his words landed, the phone in his pocket vibrated twice.
Without looking he also knew it was a message sent by a certain person surnamed Ji, because before the meal the two were still communicating.
However, after listening to what Shen Jingxiu said, Shen Yuan had already severed his thought of playing matchmaker: "In that case then forget it; the person isn't even in the country, useless."
Wen Yan: "Right, right, right, better forget it; my work recently is very earnest, and I still want to continue rising upward—where would I have time to be in love?"
The atmosphere on the dining table very quickly became lively and warm.
After cutting the cake, it arrived at the gift-unwrapping segment.
For the gifts sent by everyone, Wen Yan liked every single one, and without exception they were all very valuable.
After thanking them one by one, Wen Yan suddenly stood up.
"Dear Mom and Dad, and several brothers—every time it's always me receiving your gifts, actually even I myself feel a bit embarrassed. Therefore, taking advantage of today's good day of gathering, I have also prepared a gift for everyone! Although not as valuable as what you prepared, I hope you won't dislike it!"
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Check out this other novel I am currently translating: THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER it is very interesting. i picked it up and fell in love with it.
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