Chapter 77: Zhiyi, will you be my girlfriend?

Chapter 77: Zhiyi, will you be my girlfriend?

Dongfang Yuyan and Dongfang Zhiyi had the right to object, but it was rather strange for Zhang Ke-ting to shout out. Ignoring Dongfang Yuyan's murderous glare, Zhuo Nan turned his head to look at Zhang Ke-ting with a questioning look.

Zhang Ke-ting simply couldn't stand Zhuo Nan. In her heart, she thought, didn't you just refuse the marriage proposal right in front of Elder Dongfang? How is it that in the blink of an eye, you're dragging a young girl into a bedroom? You're simply a beast in human skin. She let out a cold snort and turned her head away.

When Dongfang Zhiyi cried out, she only felt that things were developing much too quickly between the two of them. Today was merely their fourth meeting, and they were already going into a bedroom?

Zhuo Nan only felt that Dongfang Zhiyi's behavior at this moment was rather endearing, like someone who acts like an ostrich out of shyness. Compared to her, Lan Qian was much more passionate and bold.

He asked softly, "Miss Dongfang, may I?"

Dongfang Zhiyi lowered her head, and as if making a great resolve, she nodded.

Zhuo Nan smiled faintly and said, "Alright then, let's go upstairs." With that, without even glancing at Dongfang Yuyan standing nearby, he took the lead and walked up the stairs.

Dongfang Zhiyi was just about to follow when she was pulled back by Dongfang Yuyan, who called out earnestly, "Miss..."

Dongfang Zhiyi smiled faintly and said softly, "Nanny, remember what you promised me."

Dongfang Yuyan was instantly rendered speechless and stood there, her face flushing red to the roots of her ears.

This must have been Dongfang Zhiyi's first time being alone with a boy. Her little face was flushed pink, and seeing this, Zhuo Nan couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing. At that moment, Dongfang Zhiyi was wondering inwardly: Could Zhuo Nan's request to talk with her just be an excuse, and once they got up there, would he actually want her to keep him company? If that really was the case, should she submit to him or resist?

She raised her head with a hint of bashfulness to glance at Zhuo Nan. Meeting his gaze, she immediately felt a bit self-conscious and shyly lowered her head again.

Through brainwaves, Zhuo Nan perceived Dongfang Zhiyi's inner thoughts. He smiled faintly and said, "Miss Dongfang, please sit down and don't be nervous. The reason I asked you to come up is indeed because I have something to discuss with you."

Hearing Zhuo Nan's words, Dongfang Zhiyi relaxed, but a sense of loss suddenly welled up in her heart. When that feeling appeared, even Dongfang Zhiyi herself was startled—could it be that she genuinely wanted to go to bed with him?

There was always a trace of lingering sorrow on Dongfang Zhiyi's face, which made her somewhat different from the other girls Zhuo Nan had encountered before. When a man saw a girl like Dongfang Zhiyi, an impulse to protect her would always arise in his heart. Although Zhuo Nan also strongly desired to protect her, he knew that he couldn't do so right now. Before his own affairs were fully resolved, he had to refuse Dongfang Zhiyi's romantic affections.

Composing his mind, he said, "Miss Dongfang..."

Dongfang Zhiyi covered her mouth and smiled, interrupting Zhuo Nan. She then said, "Zhuo Nan, you don't need to call me Miss Dongfang anymore. Just call me Zhiyi."

When she smiled, she possessed the gentle, refined, and modest beauty unique to women of the Central Plains. For a brief second, Zhuo Nan almost lost his composure, but fortunately, Brother Nan was no ordinary mortal. Aside from not having salted eggs hanging from his eyes, he was a match for Ultraman in every other aspect.

Zhuo Nan smiled and nodded, then continued, "Zhuo Nan—Zhiyi, I know that I was able to come out unscathed this time largely because you helped a great deal."

Hearing Zhuo Nan's words, Dongfang Zhiyi recalled the scene from that night when she had threatened her grandfather with a pair of scissors, and a wave of guilt welled up inside her. Noticing the change in Dongfang Zhiyi's expression, Zhuo Nan thought to himself, "I didn't say anything particularly unusual."

Thinking of this, Zhuo Nan began to use his brainwaves to probe Dongfang Zhiyi's mind. Today was indeed the first time he had used brainwaves to pry into a friend's privacy, but when the images presented themselves before him, Zhuo Nan instantly regretted it. He would rather not have known what method Dongfang Zhiyi used to persuade her grandfather.

In the imagery before him, Dongfang Zhiyi's face was covered in tear tracks, and the pair of scissors in her hand had already pierced into the flesh of her chest. The seeping blood had stained her white pajamas. An inexplicable ache gripped Zhuo Nan's heart. This young girl had actually used her own body as an instrument to coerce her grandfather for his sake; her feelings for him were no less profound than those of Lan Qian and Xinxin. Suddenly, Zhuo Nan felt like a complete scoundrel. A girl could go to such lengths for him, yet here he was, intending to reject her.

Observing Zhuo Nan's shifting expression, Dongfang Zhiyi asked with concern, "Zhuo Nan, what's wrong? Do you feel unwell somewhere?"

In that instant, Zhuo Nan made a decision. He believed that Lan Qian would understand him, and Xinxin would understand him as well. He would use his entire heart to love Dongfang Zhiyi properly. He stood up, walked over to Dongfang Zhiyi, squatted down halfway, and looked at her with water-like tenderness. "Zhiyi, can you let me see your chest?"

"What?" Dongfang Zhiyi was startled. Zhuo Nan had just been acting so affectionate—could it be that it was only to look at her breasts? It must be said that Dongfang Zhiyi had misheard; Zhuo Nan had said the chest area, but she had heard it as her breasts.

In her shock, Dongfang Zhiyi raised her hands to shield her chest, and with a tone resembling a plea for mercy, she said, "Zhuo Nan, please don't be like this. Now is not the time."

Seeing Dongfang Zhiyi's expression, Zhuo Nan broke out in a cold sweat internally... Damn it, this girl had misunderstood! He hurriedly explained, "Zhiyi, no, I don't want to look at your breasts. I just want to check your chest area..." After saying this, Zhuo Nan himself realized that this was essentially the exact same thing—what was the difference between the chest area and breasts?

Dongfang Zhiyi's expression grew increasingly troubled. It wasn't that she was unwilling to give herself to Zhuo Nan, but deep down, she was a conservative girl. While she didn't necessarily insist on waiting until their wedding night to give herself to Zhuo Nan, at the very least, it should happen after the two of them officially declared themselves a couple.

Although she liked Zhuo Nan very much, until today, the two of them had only met four times, and Dongfang Zhiyi still felt somewhat unable to let her guard down completely.

Zhuo Nan pondered in his mind; this issue had to be clarified. He took a deep breath and said, "Zhiyi, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean anything else." Having said that, Zhuo Nan glanced at Dongfang Zhiyi and, seeing her nod slightly, finally set his mind at ease. He continued, "The reason I wanted to look at that place of yours..." At this point, Dongfang Zhiyi lowered her head shyly.

Zhuo Nan gave a dry cough and proceeded, "Is because I know what you did for me that day. I simply wanted to show my concern for you."

As soon as Zhuo Nan finished speaking, an expression of utter disbelief appeared on Dongfang Zhiyi's face. She had already told her nanny strictly forbidden to mention what happened that day to Zhuo Nan; how could Zhuo Nan possibly know?

She opened her mouth to ask, but heard Zhuo Nan say, "Zhiyi, you don't need to ask who told me. I won't tell you. In any case, it's enough that I know." With that, he reached out and took Dongfang Zhiyi's small hand, finding it soft and smooth within his grasp.

Dongfang Zhiyi's hand was caught by Zhuo Nan. She tried to pull it back once, but failing to do so, she simply let him hold it. Although her face felt somewhat burning with embarrassment, her heart was filled with sweetness. She could feel Zhuo Nan's care and tenderness toward her.

Zhuo Nan smiled faintly and continued, "Zhiyi, I suppose you know that I already have two girlfriends. Are you certain you can accept that?"

Without even thinking, Dongfang Zhiyi blurted out, "I can..."

After saying this, she shyly lowered her head, not daring to look at Zhuo Nan again. Observing her expression, Zhuo Nan let out a soft sigh and said, "Zhiyi, I cannot guarantee right now that I will definitely marry you. Do you understand?"

Zhuo Nan's words were very clear, and they made Dongfang Zhiyi somewhat sad. Every woman hopes to marry the boy she loves, but she understood in her heart that precisely because Zhuo Nan already had two other girlfriends, he himself was uncertain whom he would ultimately marry. Thinking of those two other girls, Dongfang Zhiyi raised a question: "Who will you marry in the end?"

This question truly stumped Zhuo Nan. Looking at Zhuo Nan's conflicted expression, Dongfang Zhiyi suddenly found it rather amusing. The way a man carried an emotional burden for three women looked truly adorable. She let out a soft laugh, and Zhuo Nan looked at her in mild confusion.

Dongfang Zhiyi stood up, looking remarkably relaxed and cheerful as she said, "Zhuo Nan, you don't need to answer me. I know that at least in your heart, the three of us girls are all on equal ground. As for the question of whom you will ultimately marry, we can talk about that in the future. As long as we can be happily together right now, there's no need to consider the rest. I won't pressure you, nor will I become a burden to you. Here in Beijing, right here, you belong only to me..."

Zhuo Nan gazed in a daze at the Dongfang Zhiyi standing before him. This was a girl who loved boldly and hated fiercely; when she loved, she expressed it openly and clearly, without calculating gains and losses, and without fretting over the future. Suddenly, Zhuo Nan discovered that he might truly have been wrong—perhaps being with her was not a bad thing at all, but rather a joyful one.

"Zhuo Nan, can I give you a hug?" Zhuo Nan blurted out such foolish words with a blank expression.

Dongfang Zhiyi looked at his silly appearance and playfully scolded, "If you want to hug me, then just hug me, you fool..."

Entranced within Zhuo Nan's embrace, Dongfang Zhiyi appeared utterly tranquil. Her body was exceptionally soft, and at that moment, not a single trace of impure thought remained in Zhuo Nan's mind. He only wanted to hold her quietly just like that, letting her feel his genuine affection, embracing her with his broad chest, tolerating her, and cherishing her with a sincere heart.

Looking deeply into Dongfang Zhiyi's eyes, Zhuo Nan asked softly, "Zhiyi, will you be my girlfriend?"

At that moment, Dongfang Zhiyi's eyes grew moist. Zhuo Nan's words acted like a catalyst for her tears; they fell uncontrollably—tears of happiness, of joy, of bliss. The corners of her lips curved upward into an intoxicating smile, and she nodded heavily. "Zhuo Nan, I am willing."