After figuring this out, Li Bin's mindset shifted instantly.
Looking at Qiao Shanshan's messages, he tossed off a casual reply: "Just woke up, you're up early! I couldn't sleep last night." Then he didn't bother explaining more, shut off his phone, and got up to wash up.
After cleaning up, he checked his phone again.
Qiao Shanshan: Are you a pig? Sleeping in this late? What were you up to last night?
Qiao Shanshan: Don't you have work?
Qiao Shanshan: Ignoring me again?
Qiao Shanshan: You're not working today?
Qiao Shanshan: Hey! Say something! Where are you?
Seeing her string of messages, Li Bin smirked smugly and replied offhandedly: "Freelancer."
Qiao Shanshan: What do you do? So free?
She replied right away, but Li Bin didn't rush to answer. He turned off his phone and crept to Wen Ting's door, listening.
Her shoes were still by the stairs—she hadn't left yet—but there was no sound from her room. Probably still crashed from drinking too much last night.
Li Bin checked the time—11 a.m., almost lunchtime. He knocked and called out, "Wen Ting, you up? Time to eat."
He wanted to gauge her mood and closeness to him. What he'd done to her last night was pretty damn sleazy, and he'd been worried she might remember.
"Eat by yourself, I'm not hungry," came Wen Ting's annoyed voice through the door.
Li Bin scratched his head awkwardly. Her attitude was still shitty! Did she… have some awareness last night? Did she remember what he did?
Nah, that didn't add up. If Wen Ting knew he'd pulled something that filthy, she'd be pissed as hell. With her fiery temper, she'd probably storm out and slap him twice.
Just then, Wen Lan came upstairs after hearing the noise. "Brother-in-law, you're finally up! If you slept any longer, the lunch I made would've gone cold."
Wen Lan smiled, stepping up beside him, glancing curiously at Wen Ting's door. "Brother-in-law, Wen Ting's still not up?"
"You made lunch yourself?" Li Bin stared at her, stunned. In his memory, this was Wen Lan's first time cooking anything!
"Yep! What's wrong? Any problem? I made it special for you!"
Wen Lan proudly nudged him. "Come downstairs and try my cooking."
Li Bin felt a warm, happy glow in his chest.
Wen Lan had on light makeup today and wore the dress he'd bought her yesterday, looking even more charming and gorgeous.
Thinking of her kissing him last night, Li Bin got bold. He suddenly grabbed Wen Lan, pulling her into his arms, gazing deep into her shy, flushed face, and leaned in for a passionate kiss.
"Brother-in-law! Don't push it!" But Wen Lan stuck her finger on his lips, blocking him. With a twist of her soft, slender body, she slipped out of his grasp.
"Brother-in-law, don't forget—you're my sister's husband! We can't do anything to betray her! Even if you like me, you've got to control your feelings from now on! There's a saying: 'Born of passion, stopped by propriety.' We both need to restrain ourselves! If you keep this up, I'll have to start avoiding you..."
Wen Lan's playful yet serious tone carried a soft, firm warning.
Li Bin got it instantly. Wen Lan did have feelings for him—she'd felt that spark too! But as his sister-in-law, anything too intimate would cross ethical and moral lines. She didn't want to betray her sister or ruin the family. In the end, she chose distance, turning her feelings into sibling-like affection.
"Born of passion, stopped by propriety." That kiss last night might've been her final intimate move, sealing her feelings for him away.
Realizing this, Li Bin's heart sank with disappointment.
That gut-wrenching mix of longing and loss hit harder than his high school crush on the school beauty! He sure as hell didn't want to play the gentleman and just let it stop at propriety.
But he knew now—especially at a time like this—he had to wait. Wait for the perfect moment when Wen Lan could toss aside ethics, shame, and guilt, and give in to a reckless, all-out fling!