Chapter 262 Waiting for You to Love Me More

"Yuxuan, I... I have something to tell you." Zhao Yanan's cheeks flushed, a hint of embarrassment showing her seriousness.

Chu Yuxuan's playful smile softened, and his gaze grew more affectionate. "What is it?"

Zhao Yanan took a deep breath and said seriously, "I think I... have a special feeling for you. It's not because you saved me, it's... I don't know when it started, but I often feel the urge to see you. Sometimes, when I eat something delicious or hear an interesting story, I want to share it with you. Ever since you moved into my home, I look forward to getting off work early every day, just to have dinner with you... I don't know what this means, but books say... this is how it feels when you fall in love with someone."

At this point, Zhao Yanan looked into Chu Yuxuan's eyes and took a deep breath, "I think... I might be falling in love with you. But I'm not sure if it's love. I don't understand, I really don't. You said you love me and will love me for the rest of your life. Is that true?"

Chu Yuxuan, unable to contain his excitement, nodded frantically, "Absolutely! It's the undeniable truth, I swear on my life!"

Zhao Yanan lowered her head slightly, "I don't think I can be sweet and gentle."

Chu Yuxuan smiled, "I love your feisty side."

Zhao Yanan said, "I'm not a good cook."

Chu Yuxuan replied, "Then I'll do the cooking, and you can handle the dishes."

Zhao Yanan's grip tightened, "But... I have a psychological disorder."

Chu Yuxuan said, "I'm not exactly normal either."

Zhao Yanan bit her lip, "If you have the patience, could you wait for me a little longer?"

Chu Yuxuan smiled warmly, "I've always been waiting. There's no rush, not at all. I'll wait, bit by bit, until you love me a little more."

Zhao Yanan felt a flutter in her heart, her eyes filled with guilt and emotion.

After a moment, she suddenly changed the subject, asking, "Yuxuan, do you know how to use a gun?"

Chu Yuxuan smiled and nodded. There was no hiding it now.

Zhao Yanan took a deep breath, "So, the stories you told me last time when you carried me down the mountain... were they true?"

Chu Yuxuan's smile froze for a moment, then he said, "Wife, marrying a bandit—does that scare you?"

Zhao Yanan asked in return, "Did you really go through all that abuse?"

Chu Yuxuan smiled and gently squeezed her cold hand, "It's all in the past."

Zhao Yanan slowly leaned forward, resting her cheek on Chu Yuxuan's chest, her voice choked with emotion, "Why... why did you have to go through all that? Why you, of all people?... Yuxuan, I... I really feel so much pain for you."

Chu Yuxuan gently stroked her back, grinning mischievously, "So... shall we sleep?"

Zhao Yanan raised her eyes, giving him a resentful look, and said, "You're so annoying, always so inappropriate..."

With that, she suddenly kissed him!

Chu Yuxuan was overjoyed, but after a brief moment, his brow furrowed in apparent pain.

When the kiss ended, as Zhao Yanan stood up, Chu Yuxuan's lips were already bleeding.

"Big liar!" Zhao Yanan said, full of reproach, "If you let anyone else bite your lips again, I'll tear them apart myself!"

Only then did Chu Yuxuan realize that his earlier excuse about having a "sore mouth" hadn't fooled his wife at all. Now, he didn't argue anymore. Though his lips hurt, his heart felt sweet. He chuckled, "Wife, is this you asserting your dominance?"

Zhao Yanan gave him a sidelong glance, "You can refuse, but it's not like I can give you a proper response right now..."

Chu Yuxuan sat up straight, gave her a quick peck on the lips, and smiled, "From now on, only you get to bite them."

After a bit of playful teasing, Zhou Xiaoruo suddenly called, crying, "Yanan, Kaizi's awake! He's so lucky—finally, this stubborn guy pulled through! He almost scared me to death!"

Zhao Yanan also breathed a sigh of relief, "I'll go check on him."

Turning to Chu Yuxuan, she said, "I'm going to see Liu Kai and my godmother. It's my fault they got caught up in this."

Chu Yuxuan nodded, "Let Third Brother take you."

"Alright." Zhao Yanan paused and then asked out of the blue, "Pu Cheng, which brother is he? And what about Minister Chu? I've always noticed something unusual about your relationship with them."

Chu Yuxuan didn't hold back, "Pu is Fourth Brother, and Tony is Fifth Brother."

Zhao Yanan thought for a moment and asked, "You're the eldest. What about Second Brother? And Xiaoqing?"

Chu Yuxuan smiled mysteriously, then leaned close to Zhao Yanan's ear and whispered something.

Zhao Yanan's eyes widened in disbelief.

Moments later, Zhao Yanan left the hospital room, and the brothers rushed in.

Fourth Brother maintained his eternal calm, Xiaoqing was timid but concerned, and Fifth Brother laughed wickedly at the sight of his eldest brother's bloodied lips. Third Brother, however, stood by the bedside, full of guilt. He muttered, "Big Brother, I'll go home and kneel tonight..."

Chu Yuxuan kicked him, "Kneel, my foot!"

Third Brother protested, "Then at least yell at me! I feel terrible."

Chu Yuxuan laughed, "Why would I yell at you? Are you insane? This wasn't your fault. Even our cunning Chu Zhiqing didn't foresee Ye Yongsheng pulling this move. Stop beating yourself up. Now hurry, take your sister-in-law to see her friend and buy some gifts on the way. Got it?"

Third Brother muttered an "Oh," and seeing the goofy smile on Chu Yuxuan's face, couldn't help but grumble, "Big Brother, did you get your brain damaged in the fight..."

Fourth Brother sighed, "Aigoo..."

Xiaoqing added, "Third Brother, maybe, ah... just watch fewer Transformer movies."

Fifth Brother quipped, "Xiaoqing, I suggest you take him out to sunbathe more—evaporate some of that brain water."

Third Brother glanced at the three of them, pouted, then said to Chu Yuxuan, "Big Brother, I'll take off now."

When Zhao Yanan arrived at the hospital, her two friends were bickering.

Liu Kai, pale and weak, said, "That knife missed my manhood by centimeters!"

Zhou Xiaoruo shot back, "Missed? Shouldn't you be disappointed? It's not like you were using it anyway."

"Hey, you wicked witch! I may not use it, but I've still got it! You? Let me tell you a joke. One day, Nezha and the Dragon King's third son were drinking. Nezha downed ten bowls, and then said, 'It's your turn, Dragon Brother!' The third son drank eighteen bowls and said, 'You can't keep up! Call for help! Where are your two brothers? I haven't seen them!' Hahaha... Oh no, I can't laugh. My stitches will burst open..."

Zhou Xiaoruo, fuming, was about to strike him when Zhao Yanan walked in.

Liu Kai forced a weak smile when he saw her, "You just remembered me now, you heartless girl?"

Zhao Yanan's eyes welled up with tears, choking her words.

Liu Kai exaggeratedly waved his hand, "Oh, go cry over your man, I'm not dead yet! And hey, did you know that the knife hit my appendix? This was a blessing in disguise!"

Zhou Xiaoruo quipped, "If they had castrated you, that'd really be a blessing in disguise."

Liu Kai shot back, "Hey, where are your brothers now? Where are they?"

Zhao Yanan burst into laughter.

Her life had always been plagued by misfortune, but heaven still showed her mercy, giving her two loyal friends.

And a man who cherished her like a treasure and loved her with all his heart.

After visiting Liu Kai, Zhao Yanan went to see his mother. This disaster had made Zhao Yanan feel immensely guilty, but Liu's mother didn't blame her. If anything, she felt a bit guilty herself. But between her son and her goddaughter, what mother wouldn't make the same choice?

Fortunately, the outcome wasn't tragic, and nothing remained unsaid.

It was late at night when Zhao Yanan and Zhou Xiaoruo finally left the hospital.

As they walked to the parking lot, Zhou Xiaoruo suddenly asked, "Is your man doing alright?"

Zhao Yanan took a deep breath, "Three broken ribs, a moderate concussion, and at least seven or eight external wounds. He's wrapped up like a dumpling."

Zhou Xiaoruo smacked her lips and sighed, "Yanan, I really misjudged him before. I'll admit it now."

"Admit what?"

"I'll admit that you've found yourself a good guy."