Chapter 586: Chapter 586

He was tired, but as the oldest brother, he couldn’t show it. He was the backbone of his brothers and had to put on a composed front whether he wanted to or not.

The brothers pitied him, he knew, but the tenderness Baobao showed, the way she considered him, spoke openly about standing and bearing with him, becoming his strength, his reliance, was something he had never experienced before in his life.

"Baobao..." he wanted to ask, with such concern for him, what place did he hold in her heart? But the words didn’t reach his lips before he swallowed them back.

He caressed her cheek, and then, he did something that surprised even himself— he suddenly kissed her!

Dong Huiying was stunned.

The kiss was brief, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of water, barely making contact before pulling away.

Despite this, Dong Huiying was still dumbfounded, unable to come back to her senses.

Zhi Chen’s heartbeat raced. His feelings for her were not vows of undying love but more like gentle streams, supporting each other in mutual comfort. During the days when Shujun went missing, they endured hardships together, they shared a heavy secret known only to the two of them, they had experienced the same pain.

Now, as he gazed down at her, all he saw was confusion etched on her face.

"Do you understand my heart?" he asked her.

Dong Huiying was speechless, still looking stunned.

She didn’t know if she understood before, but now she was certain she did.

"Why haven’t they come back yet?"

Outside Xihui Courtyard, Liang Yuening crouched like a puppy in the yard, looking out and wondering to himself. Dong Huiying had hurriedly taken the big brother away, but after waiting for some time, neither of them had returned, and his stomach grumbled. Looking up at the sky, it was already midday.

Liang Haoming held a knife, a gift Dong Huiying had given him back in Kaoshan Village. He cherished it too much to use it normally and took such good care of the large knife that he even kept it with him when eating and sleeping.

He slowly lowered his gaze to the knife, stroking the blade, then blankly looked up at the sky filled with snow.

Liang Yuening suddenly jumped up, rushing out of the yard with delight. He saw the little girl with a face red to the extreme, and the big brother with an indulgent yet helpless expression.

Huh, what happened? What went on?

Dong Huiying hurried forward, her mind in disorder as she recalled that kiss.

At some point, Zhi Chen had become someone special in her heart.

This man, they had shared their joys and sorrows, he was gentle, resolute, generous, and considerate. He had subtly become an indispensable part of her life, her pillar of strength. During the long nights and days when Shujun disappeared, she felt like she was falling apart, and it was him who had held her together; they comforted each other...

Dong Huiying’s face flushed even redder!

Zhi Chen was no Shujun; he didn’t reveal his feelings easily and would never joke about such matters. If he wasn’t certain of his own feelings, how could he have done such a thing?

Her round eyes widened in shock, her cheeks burning with fever not abating.

Yixuan was originally in the house accompanying the two sickly patients of the family, but when he came out and caught sight of Dong Huiying, he paused momentarily, then looked at the big brother and noticed his gaze fixed on Dong Huiying, both of them covered in a fair amount of snow.

His eyes flashed subtly.