158: Chapter 158 I don't believe it, I want to verify the cards.

Ye Hongyuan picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, set it down, looked at his daughter, and sighed.

"A grown daughter can't be kept at home."

His tone was filled with emotion, helplessness, and a hint of reluctance.

"I've raised this girl for over twenty years, and now her heart has flown off to someone else."

Ye Xueying looked up from her hands, gazed at her father, and her face flushed as if it were about to catch fire.

"Dad, I didn't."

Her voice was very small, and she clearly lacked conviction.

Ye Hongqiang chimed in with a smile.

"You didn't? If not, why were you looking at your phone first thing this morning? Why were you absent-minded while eating? Why didn't you even eat a few bites of the lion's head meatballs your aunt made?"

Ye Xueying opened her mouth, but couldn't find any words.

Su Wan smiled to smooth things over and placed a lion's head meatball into Ye Xueying's bowl.

"Alright, alright, stop teasing her. Xueying, eat your food and ignore them."

Ye Xueying lowered her head, picked up the meatball, and ate it in small bites.

Her face was blazing red, and her heart was beating rapidly.

But the corners of her mouth just wouldn't stop curling upward.

She thought of Wang Yang.

She remembered him standing at the ward entrance; even though so many people didn't believe him, he wasn't flustered at all, just standing there quietly.

She thought of his slightly furrowed brow while taking her grandfather's pulse, looking as serious as if he were handling a matter of utmost importance.

She recalled him saying, "Don't worry, I have a way."

She remembered the moment her grandfather opened his eyes; her tears wouldn't stop flowing, and he stood by her side, watching her with a faint smile on his lips.

She thought of the park, where he held her hand, their fingers interlaced.

His palms were large and warm, completely enveloping her hand.

She remembered him saying, "I like you."

She remembered when he kissed her; his lips were soft and hot.

She remembered him saying, "For the rest of my life, I will treat you well."

The corners of Ye Xueying's mouth curled higher and higher, and her face grew redder and redder.

She stuffed the meatball into her mouth and chewed hard, trying to suppress that smile.

It wouldn't be suppressed.

Elder Ye looked at her, a smile on his lips and eyes full of affection.

Ye Hongqiang looked at her and shook his head with a smile.

Su Wan looked at her with a gentle, smiling gaze.

Ye Hongyuan looked at her, sighed, picked up his teacup, and took another sip.

The whole family watched her, all smiling, but no one spoke again.

Some things don't need to be stated too clearly.

The maiden is willing, it's just unclear if the lad has the same feelings.

...

The private room quieted down, and most of the dishes on the table had been cleared.

A few pieces of braised pork remained, and only the complete skeleton of the steamed mandarin fish was left.

The plate of salt and pepper shrimp was piled with shells, the dry-fried green beans were finished, and most of the matsutake chicken soup had been consumed.

Luo Shiyun leaned into Wang Yang's embrace, her face flushed, eyes half-closed, like a cat that had eaten its fill and was basking in the sun.

Her fingers fiddled lightly with his collar, one by one, slow and leisurely, without any real purpose—she just didn't want to let go.

Wang Yang's arm was around her waist, through her black turtleneck sweater.

His palm pressed against the curve of her waist, feeling warm.

"So full."

Luo Shiyun's voice was soft, filled with satisfaction and a hint of playfulness.

She rubbed her face against his neck.

"Brother Yang, today's food was delicious."

Wang Yang smiled.

"You liked it?"

Luo Shiyun nodded and let out an "Mm."

"I liked it. It's been a long time since I ate this well."

Her voice was light, as if she were speaking about an ordinary matter, but her eyes felt a bit warm.

Wang Yang looked down at her with a smile on his lips.

"Are you really full?"

Luo Shiyun nodded again.

"Really. Look, my stomach is bulging."

As she spoke, she patted her stomach lightly, as if to prove something.

Wang Yang raised an eyebrow.

"I don't believe it. I need to verify the goods."

Luo Shiyun was stunned for a moment, not yet realizing what he meant.

Wang Yang's hand had already slid from her waist to her lower abdomen.

Through the sweater, his palm pressed against it, pushing down gently.

Luo Shiyun shuddered, and her face turned red instantly.

"Brother Yang—"

Wang Yang didn't move his hand away, rubbing her stomach gently through the sweater.

His palm pressed against her lower abdomen, feeling the slight curve of the bulge and the warm body heat.

"Mm, it really is bulging. You ate quite a bit."

Luo Shiyun's face was as red as if it were on fire; she gripped his wrist, wanting to push him away, but couldn't bring herself to use any force.

"You, don't touch, it's ticklish."

Wang Yang smiled, his hand not stopping.

"What's ticklish? I'm just checking if you're full."

Luo Shiyun bit her lip, unable to speak, and could only bury her face in his neck, her ears burning red.

Wang Yang rubbed her stomach a couple of times, feeling it wasn't enough.

His fingers reached under the hem of her sweater, his fingertips touching the skin on her waist.

Luo Shiyun stiffened, letting out a soft hum.

"Brother Yang, don't—"

Before she could finish, Wang Yang's hand was already inside.

His palm pressed directly against her lower abdomen.

Without any barrier, his warm palm pressed against her slightly bulging belly.

Luo Shiyun's lower belly was soft and fleshy.

Because she had just eaten, it was indeed bulging a little, like a small arc.

The skin was as smooth as satin, warm and soft.

When he pressed his fingers down, the flesh sprang back—it was bouncy and felt incredibly good.

Wang Yang's fingers rubbed gently on her stomach.

Pressing here, pinching there, as if playing with some fun toy.

"Sister Shiyun, your stomach is fun."

Luo Shiyun's face was red enough to bleed; she huddled in his embrace, gripping his collar until her knuckles turned white.

"You, stop talking."

Wang Yang smiled, his hand not stopping, continuing to rub her stomach gently.

"You have a great figure. Your waist is so thin, and your stomach is so soft."

Luo Shiyun buried her face deeper, her muffled voice coming from against his neck.

"It's ticklish, Brother Yang, really ticklish. Stop moving."

Wang Yang's hand stopped, resting on her stomach, not moving.

"Ticklish? Then how about this?"

Luo Shiyun bit her lip.

"It's, it's alright. It's just that your hand is very hot."

Wang Yang lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"Hot? Then is it warm?"

Luo Shiyun's face was red enough to bleed, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

She bit her lip, hesitated for several seconds, and her voice was as small as a mosquito's hum.

"Mm. Warm."

Wang Yang laughed, the sound very light, emanating from his chest, causing her face to feel ticklish.

His hand rubbed her stomach twice more, then slowly withdrew.

His fingertips slid across her waist, causing a slight tremor.

Luo Shiyun let out a sigh of relief, her whole body softening in his arms like melted water.

Wang Yang patted her on the bottom.

"Let's go. I'll take you for a walk to digest."

Luo Shiyun looked up at him, her face flushed, eyes watery.

"Where to?"

Wang Yang smiled.

"Shopping. Walking after a meal is good for your health."

Luo Shiyun looked at him, the corners of her mouth slowly curling up, and she nodded.

"Okay."

The two of them stood up, and Wang Yang took her hand, fingers interlaced.