Chapter Forty-Two: Confession

When Wen Yichen said this, Jiang Muwen couldn't help but politely imagine the scene of him entering the bathroom. Instantly, her face flushed a bright red.

"No... no need... I'll wait for you outside..." Jiang Muwen smiled awkwardly before obediently settling herself on the sofa in the living room.

As time ticked by, Jiang Muwen sat waiting on the sofa. Suddenly, she noticed Wen Yichen's phone screen light up—once, then again, and again, as if someone was bombarding him with messages.

Her gaze naturally drifted to his screen. Though she couldn't make out the exact content, she unexpectedly noticed that all the messages were from the same person: Xia Manman.

Jiang Muwen was well aware of Xia Manman's feelings for Wen Yichen. Whether it was a woman's sixth sense or the instinctive alertness toward a rival, whenever she saw Xia Manman seeking out Wen Yichen, Jiang Muwen always felt that Xia Manman had feelings for him. The thought made her heart feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

She almost wanted to grab Wen Yichen's phone and send Xia Manman a message like, "Stop looking for me, just go away!" But she didn't have the courage to do so.

She didn't know how much time had passed before Wen Yichen called for Wen Yixin from the bathroom several times. Wen Yixin, looking highly unwilling, finally went in. A few minutes later, he came out again with a look of utter distaste and plopped down next to Jiang Muwen. Instantly, a strong scent of medicinal ointment wafted into her nose.

Wen Yixin's behavior piqued Jiang Muwen’s curiosity. She looked at him, lips parted as if to ask something, but felt too embarrassed to voice her question.

Before she could speak, Wen Yixin spoke first, lazily scrolling on his phone. "Xiao Wenwen, when are you going to make my brother yours?"

At his words, Jiang Muwen's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't stupid; she instantly understood his implication. But she was caught off guard and stared blankly at him. "Ah...?"

"If you make him yours, I won't have to stick plasters on him anymore." As Wen Yixin spoke, he sniffed his hand with distaste, wrinkling his brow and shaking his head.

For a straightforward guy like Wen Yixin, being in the bathroom with a younger man, especially his shirtless little brother, helping him put on ointment—well, it was more than a little awkward. If it weren't his own brother, he wouldn't have done it at all.

At these words, Jiang Muwen felt her ears grow hot. "But this..."

But this wasn't something she could achieve just by nodding her head...

Wen Yixin seemed to see right through Jiang Muwen’s thoughts, and a meaningful smile played on his lips. "You kids, your little secrets are all too obvious to me. Let me tell you, Wen Yichen is such a brooder, I can tell at a glance he—"

"Who are you calling a brooder?" Wen Yixin was abruptly interrupted by Wen Yichen before he could finish.

Jiang Muwen looked up, her gaze following the sound. There stood the young man, dressed in casual pajamas, his hair still damp, holding a towel in his well-defined hand as he carelessly dried his wet hair. His fringe flopped across his forehead, and a faint mist lingered in his clear eyes.

Jiang Muwen had seen Wen Yichen emerge from the bathroom like this more than once, but each time, her heart would flutter madly all over again.

Wen Yixin shot a glance at Wen Yichen and teased, "Who else but you?"

Just as Wen Yixin was about to joke, "If you don't want this childhood engagement, let me have it," Wen Yichen's phone rang—the sound of an incoming voice call.

Wen Yichen was busy drying his hair. He glanced at the screen and said, "Help me answer it."

Jiang Muwen's gaze followed the screen. The caller was none other than Xia Manman. If it had been Bai Xu, she would have picked up without hesitation, but this wasn't Bai Xu.

She hesitated for a moment and didn't answer. "It's Xia Manman..."

Upon hearing this, Wen Yichen’s brows furrowed slightly—a fleeting gesture that no one seemed to catch. "Answer it," he said.

The phone was still ringing, but Jiang Muwen hesitated, unsure if she should pick up. What if Xia Manman wanted to share a secret with Wen Yichen? Would it be inappropriate to put it on speaker?

While she was still wrestling with her thoughts, Wen Yixin, unable to resist, reached out, answered the call, and put it on speaker.

"Hello?" came a gentle, soft voice from the other end.

"Go ahead," Wen Yichen replied.

"I thought about it and decided it was better to wish you a happy birthday in person."

As Xia Manman finished, Wen Yichen's hand paused mid-motion as he towel-dried his hair. For some reason, he sensed that this call was about more than just a birthday greeting.

"Thank you," he replied.

"By the way, did you see the messages I just sent you?" Xia Manman continued.

"No," Wen Yichen answered bluntly. He seemed unwilling to waste a single word on her.

"I've been trying to chat with you these past few days... I hope I haven't bothered you. Actually... there's something I've always wanted to tell you... it's just... I really like you..."

As soon as Xia Manman finished speaking, silence fell over the room. The three of them froze, as if time itself had stopped.

The first to be struck dumb was Jiang Muwen. She sat there, stunned, staring at the phone screen as if she could see Xia Manman through it. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest, as if she had been struck by lightning.

Jiang Muwen and Wen Yichen had never been together, but after Xia Manman’s confession, she suddenly felt as if Wen Yichen was about to be taken from her. A thousand possible responses flashed through her mind—acceptance, rejection—but if he accepted, it would feel like a public execution for her.

The second to be shocked was Wen Yixin. He stared at Wen Yichen in disbelief—who would have thought that his usually stoic little brother would have a girl confess to him? If Wen Yichen accepted, would he have to change his future sister-in-law?

Both their gazes landed on Wen Yichen. He stood there, lips parted, clearly not expecting Xia Manman to make such a move. After a pause, he finally spoke: "I'm sorry. My parents have already arranged a childhood engagement for me."