The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly froze.

Ruan Qiutang was halfway through tidying up her silk scarf when her hand remained suspended in mid-air.

Just as Si Congshan was about to sit down, his body bent halfway, as if someone had pressed the pause button.

Zhou Wanqing's teacup stopped at her lips, but she forgot to drink it.

The frown lines between He Jian'an's eyebrows deepened.

Only He Huaipu's gaze lingered on his grandson's hand for a moment before shifting away.

He held the cup of Longjing tea, slowly blew away the floating leaves, and took a sip.

Si Yimian stood next to He Sichen, her whole being relaxed as he held her in his hand.

Zhou Wanqing's gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a moment.

"Si Chen, Mian Mian, what do you mean by this?"

He Sichen didn't reply to her. He pulled out a chair for Si Yimian to sit down before taking his own seat.

He placed Si Yimian's hand on the table, their fingers intertwined.

"I've called everyone here today to inform you of something."

"Mianmian and I are planning to get married next month."

Zhou Wanqing shook the cup of Biluochun tea in her hand, splashing some tea onto the table.

She realized what was happening, pulled out a tissue, and pressed it against the wound; her expression had already betrayed her rage.

She turned her head to look at He Jian'an first, then turned back to look at He Sichen.

"Hold a wedding?"

"Si Chen, what are you talking about?"

He Sichen picked up the teapot and filled the cup in front of Si Yimian to seven-tenths full. He only looked up when the spout was straightened.

"Aunt Zhou, what I just said was a notification, not a discussion with you."

He put the teapot back on the saucer, then took out two small, dark red notebooks from the inner bag and placed them on the table.

"The certificate has been issued and is now legally valid."

"I respect everyone's right to know, but I have not left the decision-making power to anyone else."

Seeing this, He Jian'an choked on his tea, nearly dropping the gaiwan in his hand.

He Jian'an asked in a deep voice, "When did this happen?"

"This morning."

"Why didn't you discuss it with your family beforehand?"

He Sichen raised his eyes and met her gaze calmly.

"We've discussed it, Mianmian agreed, and I agreed too. It's passed with two votes."

"Marriage is a matter between Mianmian and me; we only need to discuss it with her."

Si Congshan picked up his teacup and took a big gulp. The tea was freshly poured hot water, which scalded his tongue.

He leaned back in his chair and looked at He Sichen.

"He Sichen, when did you and my daughter begin our relationship?"

Two years ago.

The whole table fell silent again.

Si Congshan's pupils dilated slightly.

In other words, her daughter was already with He Sichen before she went abroad.

While He Nanxian was still her fiancé, and while the two families were still discussing the Lighthouse Project, they secretly talked about it for two years right under everyone's noses.

Si Congshan was silent for a moment, then said, "Two years ago?"

"You kept it a secret for two years?"

He Jian'an put down his teacup completely.

"Si Chen, isn't what you did a bit inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with it?"

He Jian'an was momentarily speechless at the question, and Zhou Wanqing chimed in from the side.

"Mianmian's engagement with Nanxian was only dissolved two years ago, and you're already marrying her? What will outsiders think? What will Nanxian think?"

"Aunt Zhou."

He Sichen turned his head to look at her, his tone still calm and composed.

"A reputation, if it's meant to be ruined, it'll be ruined long ago."

"Since Nanxian has turned the page so easily, the He family's reputation shouldn't need me to bail them out."

Zhou Wanqing pursed her lips, speechless, after being silenced by his words.

She turned her attention to Si Congshan and Ruan Qiutang, trying to find allies.

"Congshan, Qiutang, say something!"

"If word gets out, what will the He family be called?"

"My older brother married my younger brother's ex-fiancée. People think our family is living in a soap opera."

Ruan Qiutang did not respond to Zhou Wanqing's words.

She raised her eyes, her gaze passing over the table and landing on Si Yimian.

Actually, she already knew even without He Sichen saying it.

Mianmian changed completely the moment she moved into the apartment opposite He Sichen's.

In the past, when He Nanxian was mentioned, there was a light in his eyes but also a sense of unease, like a little deer chasing the moon, running hard but not necessarily catching up.

She never mentioned Nanxian again after that, but instead talked about Doctor He every day.

When Ruan Qiutang went to deliver the things that time, she knew that some things no longer needed to be asked.

Two years ago, on the day Mianmian left the country, she noticed the marks on Si Yimian's neck when she was adjusting Si Yimian's collar.

At that time, she knew better than anyone the circumstances under which her daughter would allow someone to leave such marks on her.

He Sichen is a man of few words, but he is steady in his work.

Ruan Qiutang had a clear idea of ​​what made Bi He Nanxian better.

"Mianmian, have you thought it through?"

Si Yimian looked into Ruan Qiutang's eyes and nodded without hesitation.

"I've made up my mind."

Ruan Qiutang nodded in understanding, then looked at He Sichen.

She formally began to re-evaluate the person who would be spending the rest of her daughter's life with the attitude of a mother-in-law.

"Si Chen, Mianmian is young and sometimes seems shrewd, but she's actually soft-hearted."

"She made some mistakes in the past, and I don't want her to make them again."

He Sichen sat up straighter, his gaze level with Ruan Qiutang's.

"Won't."

"With her, there are only straight paths, no detours."

Ruan Qiutang stared at him for a while, then looked away.

She turned to look at Si Congshan beside her and reached out to pat the back of his hand resting on his knee.

"The child's choice to go to the mountains is one we respect."

Si Congshan's lips moved slightly. He looked at his daughter, then at He Sichen, and finally swallowed all his words, letting out a muffled "hmm."

He really couldn't say anything against it.

He Sichen is one of the most reliable and dependable people in the entire Beijing circle.

If he were Mianmian, he would also choose He Sichen, not the indecisive He Nanxian.

Having been a father for over twenty years, Si Congshan was suddenly informed that his daughter had married, and he still needed a strong cup of tea to process it.

In the end, Si Congshan stated: "Whoever Mianmian chooses, I will accept."

"After what happened with Nanxian, I realized that the marriage contract is not as important as her own happiness."

He glanced at Zhou Wanqing.

"Mrs. Crane, the matter of the engagement is long gone."

"Now that the two children have registered their marriage, it's legally settled. As their elders, we shouldn't let things get too ugly."

Seeing that the two had expressed their opinions, Zhou Wanqing's expression darkened slightly.

He Huaipu raised his hand, picked up the teacup, and slightly gestured towards Si Congshan and Ruan Qiutang.

"Congshan, Qiutang, this cup of tea is for you."

"Mianmian is more than a match for any of my He family's grandsons."

"Si Chen is lucky to have married her."

He paused and glanced at He Sichen.

"If you ever mistreat Mianmian in the future, I'll be the first to object."

He Sichen picked up his teacup and tapped it against the rim of He Huaipu's bowl.

"There won't be that opportunity."

He Huaipu smiled, took a sip of tea, and put the bowl back on the table.

Then he glanced at everyone at the table and ended the conversation.

"Alright, things are cleared up, let's start eating."

……

He Nanxian learned the news of Si Yimian's marriage to his brother the next day.

He went to find He Sichen immediately.

As He Sichen pushed open the office door, he was just putting the pen cap back on and looking up.

"Remember to knock next time."

He Nanxian didn't close the door, nor did he go inside; he just stood under the door frame.

"You and she got your marriage certificate?"

He Sichen didn't move, and put the pen back on the pen holder.

"Um."

"Just say what you want to say."

He Nanxian remained silent for a long time, then straightened up, pulled out a chair opposite his desk and sat down, his posture shifting from attack to confrontation.

"I can't let her go."

After listening, He Sichen tapped his finger lightly on the table and then spoke.

"Is it the Si Yimian of the past that you can't let go of, or the Si Yimian of the present?"

He Nanxian's brow twitched, and his fingers unconsciously curled up.

"The one from before."

Upon hearing this, He Sichen scoffed.

"You liked the old Si Yimian so much."

"How come I didn't notice that her soul is no longer the same as before?"