Upon hearing Yi Anguo's words, Chen Ting naturally understood his meaning. Aside from a bitter smile, she felt helpless against him. She didn't dare to push him too hard, as she knew perfectly well that if she insisted on an immediate answer, she would be the only one hurt. In the end, not only would she suffer a loss of face, but she might also permanently lose the chance to be with Yi Anguo.

Ever since she was a child, she could effortlessly have anything she wanted. This was because she had a good father who could unconditionally satisfy her every wish. But her affection for Yi Anguo was the sole exception; he wasn't someone she could possess just because she wanted to.

Chen Ting could sense that Yi Anguo liked her too, but his affection was more like that of an older brother for a mischievous and willful younger sister. This wasn't the kind of affection Chen Ting desired. She wanted Yi Anguo to fall in love with her, the love between a man and a woman. She wanted him to marry her and make her his wife, not his sister.

But now, it seemed there was still a long road ahead before she could make Yi Anguo fall in love with her and be willing to take her as his wife.

However, Chen Ting had always been strong-willed. As difficult as the path was, she refused to admit defeat. She believed that with enough persistence, an iron rod could be ground into a needle and dripping water could wear through stone. One day, she was certain she would succeed.

Yi Anguo's securities investment studio was handling an ever-increasing amount of capital and a growing portfolio of stocks, which necessitated a larger team of traders. The original studio was no longer big enough. Yi Anguo had to consider relocating, as managing a dispersed team would be too difficult.

There was still space available in phase four of Blue Coast, right next to Anjing Trading Company. The entire fourth floor spanned 3,000 square meters. Anjing Trading Company occupied 500 square meters, property management took up another 500, a public restaurant used 500, a gaming arcade occupied 800, and 700 square meters remained temporarily vacant.

The floors below housed a supermarket and a shopping mall, making the fourth floor difficult to lease. If it were prime real estate, it wouldn't be occupied by a gaming arcade and a public restaurant. The restaurant itself was quite spacious and offered cheap meals, serving as a canteen for the employees of the mall, the supermarket, the property management company, the gaming arcade, and Anjing Trading Company. It was also open to the public, so any shoppers could dine there. But despite the low prices, the restaurant wasn't very crowded and was contracted out to a private operator.

The remaining 700 square meters would be more than enough for a new securities investment studio. The space was open and, crucially, it wouldn't be a waste. After all, he owned the property. Leaving it vacant was a waste; using it himself was not.

Yi Anguo was examining stock charts on his computer when Li Sisi knocked and entered. He froze for a moment, unable to recall the last time they had met and spoken.

"Si Si! What brings you here?" Yi Anguo stood up, greeting her with a smile. "You're so busy, yet you came all this way to bring me food."

"You're my man. Isn't it only natural for me to bring you food?" Li Sisi replied, a rare smile gracing her face. She had hardly smiled at all since the accident.

"Si Si, you're smiling! I haven't seen your smile in so long," Yi Anguo said, stepping forward and happily taking her hands.

"If you like seeing me smile, then I'll smile for you more often," Li Sisi said, looking at the man before her.

"That's a deal. From now on, you have to smile every time you see me!" Yi Anguo said with a laugh.

"I know. Now, eat up," Li Sisi said, smiling again. "Is my smile really so beautiful? I never knew."

"I love to see the corners of your lips, the arch of your brows. White clouds in the blue sky, just like your smile," Yi Anguo suddenly recalled a song. He let go of her hands and began to sing softly.

"Your smile is so beautiful, like a flower in spring, blowing all the worries and sorrows away."

"Your smile is so beautiful, like the summer sun. The entire world, in this moment, is as lovely as a painted scroll."

"That's a lovely song. Who sings it? How have I never heard it before?" Li Sisi asked, her own smile growing even brighter.

"You don't have to praise my singing. I'm well aware that I'm tone-deaf," Yi Anguo said with a chuckle.

"I wasn't praising your singing," Li Sisi explained with a smile. "I was saying the lyrics are beautifully written. If someone who could actually sing performed it, it would sound wonderful."

"It seems I'm really not cut out for singing!" Yi Anguo said, feigning a look of devastation.

Seeing his crestfallen expression, Li Sisi couldn't help but laugh again. "Though your singing isn't the best, I still love it when you sing to me. But please don't go tormenting any other girls with it, alright? From now on, if you want to sing, just sing for me," she comforted him with a laugh.

"So who really sings that song, and what's its name? I want to download it. I really like it."

"Ah, you won't be able to find this song or download it," Yi Anguo said proudly. "That's because I sang it just for you. I wrote it myself, so where would you download it?"

"The song's title is 'Your Smile is So Beautiful.' When we have time, let's go to a recording studio and record it. The song will be my gift to you."

"Really?" Li Sisi said, finding it hard to believe. "You really wrote this song yourself, as a gift for me? Since when did you learn to write songs?"

"Of course, it's true," Yi Anguo said earnestly. "Ever since your accident, I haven't seen you smile. I was hoping you'd recover soon, rediscover your smile, and let go of all the sadness and worries. I wanted you to be happy and joyful again."

"I was inspired and just wrote this song."

"Anguo! Thank you," Li Sisi said, deeply moved. "Ever since we met, you've always been helping me and putting up with me. If it weren't for you, my sisters and I don't know what we would have done."

"Silly girl, why are you being so formal with me?" Yi Anguo consoled her. "You're my woman. Isn't it my duty to help you?"

Seeing Li Sisi finally free from her sorrow, stepping out of the shadows and once again blooming with her smile, youth, and beauty, Yi Anguo was truly happy for her.

"Are you planning to fatten me up like a pig?" Yi Anguo couldn't help but smile wryly as Li Sisi took dish after dish from the food containers and arranged them on his desk. "Why is there even wine? Red wine, at that? What on earth is today?"

"Today is the anniversary of the day we first met. Did you forget?" Li Sisi said.

Yi Anguo hadn't specifically remembered the date, but thinking back, he could vaguely recall it. "I can't believe it's already been two years since we met," he said, nodding. "But shouldn't we be having this meal and wine tonight?"

"What difference does it make? The restaurant is so busy in the evening, when would I have time to drink with you?" Li Sisi said, rolling her eyes at him.

"You should rest when you need to and relax when you can. There's no need to put so much pressure on yourself," Yi Anguo advised. "Seeing you pour all your energy into work, so busy and tired every day... it doesn't sit right with me."

As they drank and talked, Li Sisi shook her head. "My parents are gone. It's just us three sisters now. As the eldest, it's my responsibility and duty to take care of my two younger sisters. I have to earn money to support their education. That is my obligation."

"Ting Ting is only a year from graduating, and Shan Shan is growing up. How much could their education possibly cost? Besides, you have me," Yi Anguo said with a smile. "Since they both call me brother-in-law, I have to live up to the title! Would I let them go without money for school, or let them go hungry?"

Li Sisi looked at him and shook her head. "Anguo, I know you treat me and my family very well. When my parents were alive, my dad wasn't very kind to you. He looked down on you and made things difficult, but you never resented him and always treated him well."

"I always thought that we would eventually get married. We'd become one family, with no distinctions between us. It would have been natural for you to treat them well and spend money on them. Why would we need to keep score?"

"But now... I'm no longer worthy of you. I can be your woman, but I can't marry you."

Although Yi Anguo had never really planned on getting married, hearing Li Sisi say this still made him uncomfortable. "You don't need to act like you've committed some great sin just because you can't have children. Of course, being able to is wonderful, but if you can't, it's not that serious. Many famous women in history never had children, right?"

"And they still lived wonderful lives. If you love children, you can treat Xin Yi as your own, or we could adopt. None of that is a problem."

"You don't have to persuade me. This is fine, really," Li Sisi said suddenly. "Anguo, there's something I want to ask you, and you have to tell me the truth."

"Ask me anything. As long as I know the answer, I'll tell you the truth," Yi Anguo nodded.

Li Sisi hesitated for a moment before asking, "What do you think of my little sister, Shan Shan?"

"Shan Shan? What about her? She's great," Yi Anguo said, confused as to why Li Sisi was suddenly asking for his opinion on her sister, Li Shanshan.

"But do you like her?" Li Sisi pressed.

"She's your sister. She's beautiful, sensible, obedient, gentle, and cute. Every time she sees me, she greets me with a sweet smile and calls me 'brother-in-law.' Of course I like her," Yi Anguo said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

What brother-in-law wouldn't like his little sister-in-law, after all?

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