Xuan Yanyu was clearly in a poor mood. Without a word, he sank into a half-reclined position on the sofa, eyes half-lowered as he idly turned his phone over in his hands.

Xuan Zhaoyang walked over and nudged his foot with hers, the corner of her mouth curving up. “Didn’t Dad say you weren’t coming back tonight? What brought you home?”

“Stay away from me.” The man shifted his long legs back a little.

Xuan Zhaoyang rolled her eyes at him. “Xuan Xixi, you should be thanking your lucky stars Dad is looking out for you. Otherwise, I’d knock your teeth out.”

A snort of laughter escaped from Xuan Yanyu’s throat.

Xuan Zhaoyang balled her hand into a fist — then from the corner of her eye caught sight of Yan Yunning heading their way. In an instant, her expression transformed, her eyes softening with warmth. “Ningning~ do you have a boyfriend? Let your sister set you up with someone.”

“Xuan Zhaoyang!” Xuan Shi’an was so annoyed his teeth itched.

“Dad, Dad — I’m going to drive Momo to school.” The little one’s father scooped the little one up, threw Xuan Zhaoyang a look that clearly said you’re on your own, and made his exit at remarkable speed.

Xuan Zhaoyang rolled her eyes at his retreating back. Fast runner.

“Not yet, Sister — let’s add each other, and you can introduce someone to me later.” Yan Yunning noticed that Xuan Yanyu gave a little start when he saw her, then clenched his back teeth, his temple pulsing with visible irritation.

She raised an eyebrow, her smile brilliant.

“I’ll set you up right now.” Xuan Zhaoyang squinted in amusement as she and Yan Yunning exchanged contact information.

“Ningning, don’t listen to Zhaoyang — the people she introduces are no good.” Xuan Shi’an shot Xuan Zhaoyang a sharp look.

“That’s not true at all, Ningning — ignore my dad, he’s just talking nonsense. Trust your sister.” Xuan Zhaoyang lifted her chin and tilted her head toward Xuan Shi’an.

Xuan Shi’an pressed his lips together lightly. “Go easy on him. I’m staying out of it.”

“Yes!” Xuan Zhaoyang tucked her phone away, casually cracked her knuckles, and sauntered unhurriedly toward Xuan Yanyu.

“Come on, Ningning — let’s go have dinner.” Xuan Shi’an stepped up beside Yan Yunning, his tone as gentle as could possibly be. “As for finding a boyfriend — don’t rush, that’s Uncle’s opinion. Our family’s Yueer and you would suit each other rather well, I think.”

Yan Yunning lowered her gaze with a slight smile. “Uncle, I don’t think we’re well-suited.”

Xuan Shi’an pressed his lips together, and somewhere inside him he could have sworn he heard the sound of his heart breaking.

——

Dining Room.

Xuan Yanyu made his unhurried entrance after everyone else had been seated. Xuan Shi’an had just opened his mouth, ready to direct him to sit beside Yan Yunning — when the man had already seated himself there of his own accord.

“Where’s Sister?” Xuan Zhaoran didn’t see her, and her brow furrowed slightly.

“Second Young Miss, the First Young Miss said that from now on, as long as Young Master is home, she will not set foot in the Xuan Residence — and that no amount of pleading would bring her back either.” Qiuci came forward and cleared away Xuan Zhaoyang’s bowl and chopsticks.

“What is it this time.” Wen Shuyun shot Xuan Yanyu a sideways look.

Send this insufferable boy packing — but she couldn’t make her own daughter stop coming home either.

Xuan Yanyu picked up the soup ladle and served a portion of soup into a bowl for Yan Yunning, setting it in front of her. He lifted his eyes. “No idea.”

Yan Yunning smiled. “Thank you.”

The corner of Xuan Yanyu’s mouth curved upward. “You’re welcome.”

Yan Yunning glanced at him.

Xuan Shi’an took in the scene, a teasing smile spreading across his face. “Yueer, you don’t have anything on these next few days, do you? Take Ningning out and show her around — and remember, you absolutely cannot let Ningning get hurt.”

Xuan Yanyu took a measured bite of food. “I’ll think it over.”

“You can think it over all you want— haha.” Xuan Shi’an let out a couple of strained laughs.

“Hiss——” Xuan Yanyu moved aside the hand that had been pinching at his thigh from the moment his father started talking, and in the same motion clasped it in his palm.

Xuan Shi’an and Wen Shuyun looked at him with quizzical expressions.

Yan Yunning cleared her throat and tried with all her might to pull her hand free — entirely without success.

Xuan Shi’an narrowed his eyes, then bent forward and peered under the table. He saw the two of them holding hands beneath it, and the smile spreading across his face simply could not be suppressed.

After the meal, everyone drifted off in various directions, and only Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning remained in the main hall.

The man reclined lazily against the sofa, his legs propped on the coffee table, and asked with a low laugh, “Yan Yunning — did you meet Chu Sihang today?”

Yan Yunning looked up at him with sparkling eyes. “I did. He’s so handsome — next to you, I mean, it’s not that — it’s that you can’t hold a candle to him.”

Xuan Yanyu straightened up slightly and gave a light laugh. “Have you gone blind?”

Yan Yunning kept her fake smile on. “What, I can’t speak the truth?”

The corners of the man’s mouth tilted, and his slender fingers reached out to flick at Yan Yunning’s slightly wavy hair ends. “Chu Sihang never left his office today. You might be having hallucinations — would you like me to take you to the hospital?”

“No need.” Yan Yunning swatted his hand away and shifted herself further along the sofa, putting some distance between them.

Xuan Yanyu frowned. He seized her by the arm and pulled to draw her back — but the sudden loss of balance sent Yan Yunning tilting sideways, and the tip of her nose accidentally knocked right into the lower region of his abdomen.

The man drew in a sharp breath, his throat bobbing faintly.

The warmth and the change pressing right against her nose made Yan Yunning pause for a fraction of a second.

She got to her feet, cleared her throat a couple of times, her gaze drifting to one side as she carefully avoided lifting her head. “Are you… are you alright?”

After half a beat, the man let out a low “Mm.”

Yan Yunning looked at him with unbothered curiosity. “Served you right even if you weren’t — who told you to pull me.”

Xuan Yanyu lowered his voice. “Yan Yunning, have you got absolutely no sense of embarrassment?”

If a girl found herself in this kind of accidental situation, she would normally feel awkward or embarrassed — wouldn’t she?

Yan Yunning looked him up and down from her standing height. “For you? Hardly.”

“Yan Yunning!”

Yan Yunning tilted her head. “What are you shouting for?”

The man lifted his eyes to meet hers. Yan Yunning blinked back at him, all wide-eyed innocence.

Xuan Yanyu curved his lips with a roguish slant. “Yan Yunning — have dinner with me tonight, outside. Otherwise, I’ll tell your brother what just happened.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Yan Yunning kicked him squarely in the shin without a moment’s hesitation.

The man stood up, patted the top of her head, and smiled. “Think it over carefully.”

“Get lost!”

Xuan Yanyu let out a cold scoff. “Jinzhi always says his little sister is gentle and sweet. I’d say not a single word of that matches you.”

Yan Yunning smiled. “My brother says his good friend Yueer is a perfect gentleman, but with a bit of foolishness. I’d say only the foolishness fits.”

“Is that so? So Jinzhi talks about me like that behind my back.” The corners of the man’s mouth pulled into a slow smile. He reached into his suit pocket, produced a cigarette, and bit down on the tip. “Thank you for enlightening me, Ningning. I see this friend of mine in a whole new light.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

“Dinner outside tonight.” Whatever thought crossed his mind, Xuan Yanyu plucked the cigarette from his mouth and tapped it lazily against Yan Yunning’s forehead. “Did you hear me?”

“Not going. I’m not hungry.”

The man laughed under his breath. “Tsk. Not hungry is fine — you can just watch.”

Yan Yunning reached out and pressed a finger to his collarbone. “Xuan Yanyu, what ridiculous thing are you saying? Have me just sit there and watch you all eat? Am I out of my mind? Who does that?”

“Weren’t those your own words just now — that you weren’t hungry?” Xuan Yanyu replied languidly.

“……” Yan Yunning was momentarily stumped. After a pause she said, “I’m not wasting any more words on you.”

A quiet, low laugh rose from the man’s throat. “Eight o’clock tonight. I’ll come find you in your room.”

“You are not welcome.”

Xuan Yanyu paid no attention to this. “In a couple of days, come abroad with me — we’ll be back in three days.”

“I’m not going.” The mention of going abroad was enough to irritate her. “Take Shiyao with you.”

“She’s going too — but not with me. She’s going on her own.”

Yan Yunning let out a derisive laugh. “Then I’m still not going. Xuan Yanyu, what are we to each other? What right do you have to ask me to go with you? If you want company, your former girlfriend should be the one accompanying you.”

Xuan Yanyu looked at her displeased, frowning expression, raised his brow slightly, and said, “What former girlfriend? Didn’t you read the statement?”