Chapter 110: The Brother-in-Law Finally Wins the Beauty's Heart

9:00 PM, at the Beach Seafood Restaurant, table number eight by the shore.

Under the dim, amber lights, the place was packed. Amidst the noisy environment, Chen Zhuo looked visibly nervous.

Taking a sip of his drink, Le Xiaotian smiled and asked, "Still nervous?"

Chen Fang, feeling a sense of frustration, added, "You, aren't you usually quite proud? How come you're falling apart now?"

Chen Zhuo gave a wry smile. "Sis, brother-in-law, please, don't tease me."

Looking back on recent events, Chen Zhuo felt a bit dazed. After a performance a few days ago, Qiu Mengyue had actually started paying attention to him. During the days they spent rehearsing *The Freak*, she had called him 18 times and sent over a hundred text messages.

She cared about him!

Watching Chen Zhuo as if he were sitting on pins and needles, Le Xiaotian smiled without saying a word. Then, he remarked, "She’s here."

Following his gaze, Chen Fang saw the girl her brother was fond of. Well, she looked decent enough.

Chen Zhuo stood up immediately. "Me-Mengyue, over here."

Hearing the call, Qiu Mengyue hurried over. Before she could even ask about the situation, Chen Zhuo began the introductions: "Mengyue, this is my sister, Chen Fang, and this is my brother-in-law, Le Xiaotian. Sis, brother-in-law, this is my classmate, Qiu Mengyue."

As they shook hands, there was a flash of unmistakable shock in Qiu Mengyue’s eyes.

Although Chen Fang was a stranger to her, she had heard of her. Yet, seeing her now, she looked even younger than herself, radiating an intoxicating charm. What on earth was going on?

And her brother-in-law was actually the recently famous Le Xiaotian?

After the introductions, Chen Fang asked with a smile, "Xiao Zhuo, is this your girlfriend?"

Glancing at Qiu Mengyue, Chen Zhuo replied, "Oh, no, not at all."

Chen Fang asked, puzzled, "Didn't you say you had a crush on your classmate? It's not her?"

At that moment, Le Xiaotian secretly pressed a trigger.

Before long, excited screams erupted across the beach. The reaction was purely due to the large number of actors involved.

"Wow, that's the Blue Whale BB-23 cruise ship! There are only three in the entire Fama!"

"Wow, it really is! Who could this be?"

"Wow, who is that beauty? Could she be a daughter of the Bai family?"

As the cruise ship docked by the shore, the crowd's cheers grew louder, and the atmosphere intensified.

Likewise, Bai Lan appeared once again, and her target was, naturally, Le Xiaotian’s table.

Reaching the table, Bai Lan said respectfully, "Hello, sir. Hello, Dr. Chen."

"Haha, Lieutenant Bai, no need for formalities. Sit, sit," Le Xiaotian said with a radiant smile.

Bai Lan pulled up a stool and sat next to Chen Zhuo, her sarcasm surfacing again. "Oh, why are you here too?"

Seeing Bai Lan leaning on Chen Zhuo’s shoulder, Qiu Mengyue felt the intense animosity one feels toward a rival. She cursed inwardly, thinking this woman was too shameless. She didn't even know how to read the room; she wasn't worthy of Chen Zhuo. "Why wouldn't I be here?"

An embarrassed Chen Zhuo pushed Bai Lan away, playing the peacemaker. "Haha, let's just focus on dinner tonight. Let's not talk about these things."

Bai Lan looked aggrieved but said with firm resolve, "I’m heading into battle in a few days. I don't know if I'll live or die. Chen Zhuo, you can't be like this. You clearly don't have a girlfriend, yet you won't give me a straight answer. Give me an answer tonight—yes or no. If yes, we get married immediately. If no, then forget it. Sir, please judge this for us."

Le Xiaotian nodded sternly. "Xiao Zhuo, what you're doing is wrong. How can a grown man lack such courage? If you fail Lieutenant Bai, I won't forgive you."

Chen Fang raised her voice. "What are you doing? Have you forgotten how Mom and Dad raised us? These past few days, after hard rehearsals, Bai Lan still cooks for you, brings you water, and washes your clothes. I’ve seen it all. You’re turning down such a great girl—does your conscience not hurt? Bai Lan is such a wonderful girl; Mom and Dad would surely love her. Besides, you're not young anymore. Don't use your 'career' as an excuse all the time. Can't you have a career while married? That classmate you have a crush on is playing games with you. What woman wouldn't know someone has a crush on her?"

Bai Lan added the final blow, "That's right, Zhuozhuo. You said you had moved on—were you lying to me? Your sister and brother-in-law are both here; it’s not right for you to play with my feelings like this, is it?"

Chen Zhuo was stunned, and Qiu Mengyue was now anxious. "Who—who said he doesn't have a girlfriend?"

Le Xiaotian and Chen Fang exchanged a subtle look—it was working. Bai Lan looked her straight in the eyes. "And you are?"

Qiu Mengyue blushed. "I... I..."

Seeing she still couldn't make up her mind, Bai Lan decided to give her another push. "Chen Zhuo, things have reached this point, and she is here, as are your sister and brother-in-law. Give me a straight answer. Choose me, and we will start a new life together; no matter what you do, I will fully support you. If you're afraid for me because I’m going into battle, I can give up my military career. But if you choose her, then continue being a 'backup' that no one knows about."

Qiu Mengyue was displeased. "What kind of talk is that? Why wouldn't he have a future if he chose me?"

Bai Lan retorted sharply, "Because he gives you whatever you ask for, yet you pretend not to know. Every time you have a breakup, you need him to keep you company. Do you really take him for a fool? You can't even remember the things he's done for you, so I conclude that he has no future with you."

She then continued to Chen Zhuo, "Zhuozhuo, even if you think you aren't outstanding, I know you are a rare, good man. You are naive yet mature, you have dreams and ideals, you are hardworking, gentle, and considerate. I have always wanted to find a life partner like you. You might think my situation is quite good, but I’m not young anymore, and it’s hard to find a suitable person in the military camp. I’m not a very forward person, but I know that when I meet someone like you, I should seize the opportunity. I don't want to regret the second half of my life."

The scene fell silent. Chen Zhuo and Qiu Mengyue both looked distressed.

After a moment of silence, Bai Lan murmured, "Fine, I understand."

After saying this, Bai Lan stood up and walked away. "Sir, Dr. Chen, excuse me, I have something to attend to, I’ll head back first."

Chen Zhuo turned his head. "Bai—Xiaolan, Xiaolan!"

Seeing that Chen Zhuo wanted to persuade her but made no move to stand up, Le Xiaotian kicked him hard under the table and scolded him loudly, "I’m telling you, Xiao Zhuo, how could you be like this? Lieutenant Bai has her dignity, too. It’s not easy for a girl to go this far. You’re being unreasonable!"

Chen Fang added, "You little brat, do you really think you're such a prize?"

Glancing at Le Xiaotian, Chen Zhuo snapped out of it.

He wised up, stood up, and chased after Bai Lan. "Xiaolan, don't go, listen to me."

Bai Lan kept walking, and Chen Zhuo kept chasing. "Xiaolan, Xiaolan!"

Finally, with the same scene playing out and the build-up of these past few days, the sense of crisis in Qiu Mengyue’s heart finally exploded. She stood up and chased after them.

A moment later, seeing Chen Zhuo getting further and further away, she shouted from behind, "Chen Zhuo!"

Chen Zhuo turned around.

Qiu Mengyue said, "Chen Zhuo, I didn't know you had a crush on me all this time. I didn't know you liked me."

Taking out a cigarette, lighting it, and taking a deep drag, Chen Zhuo thought of his brother-in-law and sister's advice. He gave a bitter smile. "I used to think that too, but did you really not know?"

Qiu Mengyue was speechless. Then, she added, "Alright, I admit it, I knew. But I never thought of it in that way. I just saw you as my good classmate, my good friend. Because you never gave me a chance to really understand you."

Chen Zhuo wanted to say, *How much more clearly could I have expressed it?* But he remained silent.

Since Qiu Mengyue was now emotional—aided by the appropriate background music—her eyes welled up with tears. "These past few days, I’ve been looking at your social media posts and your old messages to me at the hotel. Last night, you said you were ready to give up, and I even left you messages and sent you texts. Did you see them?"

*I never thought of giving up; my brother-in-law made me post that,* Chen Zhuo wanted to interject, but he didn't dare.

At this moment, Qiu Mengyue slowly walked toward Chen Zhuo, her emotions finally erupting. "I'm asking you, before you fall into despair, can't you try one more time, courageously? If you can be brave enough to give up, why can't you be brave enough to tell me to my face? If you had given me a chance to know earlier how good you were to me, and how sincere your feelings were, would I have ended up like this? Would I be so stupid as to not remember the things you've done for me? Ah, sob..."

Seeing Qiu Mengyue begin to sob softly, Chen Zhuo said nothing. This time, he didn't hesitate; he stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace.