“Wan, it’s just been a month, and you can’t recognize me?”

He deliberately put on a sad look, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Seeing such an expression on Zhang Qilin’s face, Si Wan immediately lost her bearing.

“It’s not like that, Brother Lin.”

Before she dumped the broken glass into the trash can, Si Wan hurried over to Zhang Qilin, anxious to explain.

Zhang Qilin involuntarily stepped back and smirked at Si Wan.

“Come on, I’m just kidding, you don’t have to silence me for good!”

Looking blankly at Zhang Qilin, Si Wan spoke with grievance.

“Brother Lin, what are you talking about?”

He pouted and pointed at the sharp glass fragment in Si Wan’s hand.

Looking in the direction of his finger, she saw the glass in her own hand.

The broken piece looked just like an ice blade.

She finally took the hint. It turned out Zhang Qilin was joking with her.

With an aggrieved expression, she turned around to dump the broken glass.

“Ah…”

A scream came out, and Si Wan was startled with her back towards Zhang Qilin.

“why are you so careless?”

He quickly rushed over, took Si Wan’s hand and examined carefully.

He couldn’t help but frown. But when he looked up, he saw Si Wan’s face blushing because of the laughter she was holding back.

“Now we’re even.”

Quickly drawing back her hand, she sat back proudly in her chair, and Zhang Qilin was left there in a daze.

Her face lit up with victorious joy.

This man was different now. In the past, facing Si Wan, Zhang Qilin was always obsequious. Never did he dare to joke with her.

But thanks for his little joke, Si Wan was snapped out of her anxiety. Once again, she became her former self—a naughty, lively and somewhat capricious girl.

Behind her bland expression was fervent passion, which was only known to Zhang Qilin in the past, and in the future as well.

Shooting an ardent glance at Si Wan’s delighted look, Zhang Qilin gave a faintly discernible smile.

He sat opposite Si Wan with ease, and they faced each other head-on.

The air seemed to have become thinner. Si Wan presently turned on the air conditioner.

“Rare as it is, should Junior Master Zhang remember a minor creative director like me?”

Her overtone was filled with blame.

For over a decade, they had been living in the same city. They were so near but hadn’t even encountered for once in the streets. If it was not for Yan Xiuya’s spur-of-the-moment decision, maybe it would still be impossible for Si Wan and Zhang Qilin to meet.

“Should dignified Junior Mrs. Gong need my concern?”

Even though they could meet, so what? Nothing could be changed, only grief was intensified.

“Huh, then why are you here today?”

Turning her head with anger, she looked away.

“I’m here to check on your recovery. Rumor has it you were hurt severely!”

“Then why didn’t you visit me in the hospital?”

He was at a loss for words. He did go there, but Junior Master Gong peremptorily intercepted them all at the hospital door.

He waved grievance. Clearly, it was Gong Siming’s fault again.

“It was Gong Siming again, right?”

Hearing Si Wan’s affirmative tone, Zhang Qilin helplessly waved his hand.

There was no point in denying it. Besides, Si Wan was smart enough to figure out what Gong had done.

“Well then, I forgive you, after all, you are my brother!”

There was unshakable determination in her joking tone.

Brother. Zhang Qilin felt a twitch in his heart.

He knew his chance was slim when Gong Siming was around. But Gong Siming declared he had signed the divorce agreement, and that was why he felt justified in coming here for Si Wan.

Beyond his expectations though, he had been positioned as her brother! But how could he give up so easily?

“I don’t need such a capricious sister! Ming might need one.”

She hadn’t expected such remarks from Zhang Qilin. But Si Wan couldn’t allow herself to leave him any hope.

“Brother Lin, you are different from him. I’ll part with him and won’t see him again, but he will always be the man I loved. You, however, no matter who I am with, you’ll always be my dear brother. I can’t afford to lose you.”

The truth was always hurtful, as if his bleeding heart was taken out, stabbed hard, stitched and stuffed back.

But he could neither cry for pain nor fight back because the consequences would be unbearable.

She had made herself clear, and he certainly understood her subtext. Even if Si Wan parted with Gong Siming, she might choose anyone except him, which made his heart sink.

The frustration on his face was immediately replaced by a grin.

“Ha-ha, I won this time! Little Wan, you are no match for your brother!”

He squatted down while laughing, trying to conceal his sorrow behind the tears of hilarity.

The plot was supposed to be sentimental rather than hilarious.

Launching a punch as a gift, Si Wan saw Zhang Qilin holding his arm in pain, so she raised her victorious fingers!

Swaggeringly, she trotted around Zhang Qilin for several laps.

At the sight of such a happy and lively Si Wan, Zhang Qilin gave a heartfelt smile as well.

It turned out he didn’t need anything or any so-called response from her. Seeing her joyful look was enough for him.

It was not that bad for them to become siblings. At least, he could openly care about, help and protect her.

At least, he could get closer to her.

Si Wan still had unfinished business. They joked with each other for a while, or to be more precise, Si Wan made fun of Zhang Qilin. Then, they went back to their own work.

It was not as hard or embarrassing as she had imagined. Everything turned out to be simple and wonderful.

Every now and then, Zhang Qilin would pull tricks on Si Wan. This man was strong in willpower, debonair in others’ minds, and thin yet tough in Siwan’s heart. Finally, he could live through this day like a normal person.

He could joke around like a man of flesh and bones, no longer showing his poker-face or hiding quietly in a corner.

Under the sun, Zhang Qilin looked quite handsome and could meet all the women’s expectations of their mates.

To kill the time, he decided to read the books in Si Wan’s office. The office was so quiet that only the sound of Si Wan tapping on the keyboard could be heard.

The door was banged open, and Xiaoyu hurried in.

“Director Si, the chairman asks for your and Junior Master’s presences.”

What was so serious that both of them were required to go?

She took a doubtful look at Zhang Qilin, who was reading a book, only to see the bewilderment on his face.

Losing no time, they rose to their feet and walked towards the Chairman’s Office.

The moment when they reached the door, Zhang Qilin’s cell phone rang.

Taking out his phone, he couldn’t help but frown. It was an unexpected text message from Yan Xiuya.

Si Wan had already opened the door. Casting a glance at Zhang Qilin, she whispered to him and asked him to enter, but the man was staring at his phone with a stern look.

He waved at Si Wan, signaling that he needed to answer a call and urged her to enter first.

After Si Wan got in, Zhang Qilin walked into the conference room nearby with his phone before he dialed a number.