【Meow~ Meow~ Meow~】

Yan Yunning stood frozen in place. Could someone please tell her what on earth had gotten into her husband???

The voice message finished playing and automatically looped again. 【Wife, I’m a big idiot. I’m sorry it took me until now to dare tell you.】

【Wife, I really am a big idiot.】

She could tell that Xuan Yanyu had said those words through gritted teeth. Mixed in with his voice were sounds of gleeful laughter. Yan Yunning touched her belly and hesitated for a moment, wondering whether or not to go downstairs.

They should know to have some sense of restraint, right?

She hesitated for only two seconds before changing out of her bathrobe and into the bright red slip dress that Xuan Yanyu had prepared for her to wear on their wedding day. She stepped out of the room.

In the living room, Xie Yan was doubled over laughing, holding a tube of lipstick he had bought from who knows where.

Mu Heng stood holding his phone, snapping photos non-stop.

“The outfit’s not quite right. Take off the dress shirt and just wear the suit jacket,” Mu Heng said, directing the scene as he reviewed his photos.

Pei Shuluo couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “My sincerest apologies, Brother Yu. This was all Mu Heng’s idea. We had no way to refuse.”

Mu Heng grinned and distanced himself from the blame. “Brother Yu, I only suggested it. I’m not the one who actually did it.”

Yan Yunning pressed her hand to her forehead. He was timid yet still stirring things up.

She stopped at the top of the staircase, in no hurry to go down.

Xie Yan raised an eyebrow, laughing with great amusement. “Don’t worry, today is Brother Yu’s happy day. How could he possibly bother holding it against us?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Rest easy, all of you. Brother Yu won’t hold it against us.” Pei Shunian laughed softly.

Xuan Yanyu draped his long legs over the coffee table and curved his lips into a playful smirk. “If you know it’s my happy day, why haven’t you left yet?”

“Today is such a rare occasion. How could any of us bear to leave?” Mu Heng tucked his phone into his suit pocket and pressed down on Xuan Yanyu’s legs, his voice full of excitement. “Hurry up. Let’s put some eyeshadow on Brother Yu too. I want more photos. What an opportunity.”

Mu Heng hollered as he called for action, and Yan Yunning, who had been leaning against the stair railing, rose on her tiptoes and peered downward. On the man’s naturally fair and strikingly handsome face, there was a heart on each cheek, and beside each heart, three little red cat whiskers had been drawn.

She wanted to take another look, but Xie Yan and the others had already surrounded Xuan Yanyu, blocking her view entirely.

“My Lady, you should head back upstairs for now. Mr. Xie and the others probably won’t be leaving anytime soon,” Ye Jian said, stepping forward to advise her when he noticed Yan Yunning standing at the top of the staircase.

It was rare to have a chance to prank Little Master Xuan when Little Master Xuan wouldn’t even get angry. How could they possibly leave so easily?

“How long have they been at it?”

Ye Jian thought for a moment. “Ever since Little Master Xuan came downstairs, it’s been going on right up until now.”

Yan Yunning rested her arm on the stair railing, propping her cheek on her hand as she looked down at the group laughing and carrying on. “That’s been at least two hours. And they still haven’t had their fill?”

Ye Jian glanced over at Yan Zhiyi, who had brought out a bottle of baijiu and set it back on the table, then gave a small shrug. “Quite clearly, they haven’t. But you needn’t worry, my Lady. Mr. Xie and the others won’t truly cause any trouble. It’s all just a bit of good-natured teasing.”

“Ha ha ha.”

Hearing Mu Heng slam the table and burst out laughing, Yan Yunning glanced toward the sofa. Xie Yan was holding a stemmed wine glass and topping up Xuan Yanyu’s drink, though very little actually made it into the glass — most of it spilled onto his dress shirt.

Xuan Yanyu looked up at Xie Yan. One man was seated, the other standing and holding the bottle. If Xie Yan were to then tilt Xuan Yanyu’s chin up with his hand… well…

“Sister-in-law.”

“Sister-in-law.”

“…”

Yan Yunning touched the tip of her nose. She had been spotted. The corners of her mouth curved into a faint smile, and she gave a small nod.

Xuan Yanyu looked up and saw the girl leaning languidly against the stair railing. She was dressed in a bright red slip dress with a shallow V-neckline that revealed just a hint of her graceful figure.

The hem was trimmed with ruffle detailing, the shoulder straps were delicate and slender, and the sides featured a subtle slit design. Her fair and exquisitely delicate face, paired with her loosely cascading, lightly wavy hair, was utterly captivating.

After just one look, Xuan Yanyu picked up his suit jacket from the sofa and draped it over Yan Yunning’s shoulders.

Red dress paired with a black suit jacket, her smile curving her eyes into soft crescents. At her side stood a man in a white dress shirt and black trousers, with a bone structure of superior refinement — tall, handsome, and elegantly built.

Mu Heng couldn’t help himself. “Sister-in-law is truly beautiful. Brother Yu is barely worthy of her. In conclusion: a fine match indeed.”

Without a word, Xuan Yanyu proceeded to fasten every button on the suit jacket he had draped over Yan Yunning’s shoulders — securing it completely shut.

“Wife, let me take you back to the room first.” Xuan Yanyu took hold of Yan Yunning’s arm, guided it around his neck, and then scooped her up into his arms.

Seeing this, Ye Jian and Ye’an tactfully went over to attend to Xie Yan and the others.

Yan Yunning’s fingers brushed away the lipstick whiskers on Xuan Yanyu’s face, and she tapped him lightly on the tip of his nose. “I can go back on my own. You head downstairs and keep your friends company.”

“Taking you back to the room is more important…” His gentle fingertips grazed below her lower abdomen, and the man’s footsteps came to an almost imperceptible pause. His voice had gone husky. “Wife, let’s go back to the room.”

Yan Yunning’s fingertips stilled. She cleared her throat. “I only wanted to borrow your phone.”

Xuan Yanyu’s throat bobbed. “Is that so?”

“It is.” Yan Yunning blinked at him with complete sincerity. She reached into his suit pocket, took out his phone, unlocked it, and nestled her head against his shoulder. Cheek to cheek with Xuan Yanyu’s handsome face — now adorned with hearts and cat whiskers — she snapped a few photos together with him.

“Darling, you’re actually a little bit cute.” Yan Yunning pointed to the photos in the camera roll, her voice tinged with laughter. “You look just like a little kitty, sitting nicely and waiting for its owner to give it a pat on the head.”

Xuan Yanyu: “…”

“Give me another little ‘meow.'” Yan Yunning, suppressing a laugh, poked at his little cat whiskers.

“…” Xuan Yanyu said nothing. He pushed open the bedroom door, set Yan Yunning down on the bed, and crouched down to slip her slippers off for her. His fingertips gently tilted her chin up. “You rest first.”

“Go on downstairs,” Yan Yunning said, lifting the bright red brocade quilt and tucking herself in.

The man let out a helpless, low laugh. He walked around to the head of the bed, leaned down, and pressed his lips close to the girl’s ear, his forehead touching hers. His voice came out low and husky. “Meow~”

Yan Yunning’s eyes lit up. She reached a hand out from under the quilt and ran it through his hair. “Xuan Xixi, make your voice a little more adorable.”

“Now you’re making demands.” Xuan Yanyu tapped her lightly on the forehead. “Be a good girl and sleep. Don’t wait up for me.”

Yan Yunning pouted. “Why not?”

“I had some drinks tonight, so naturally certain things are off the table. It wouldn’t be good for the little one.”

Yan Yunning let out a soft sound of surprise. “Is that what I meant? What I meant was — are you not coming back tonight?”

“…” Xuan Yanyu pinched the tip of her nose. “Why would I not come back? Once our friends have left, I’ll come straight upstairs.”

“Understood, understood. Off you go.” Yan Yunning magnanimously waved him away.

The man gave a soft laugh, tucked the quilt snugly around her, pressed a kiss to the girl’s forehead, and only then left the room with reluctant steps.

——

Three days later, Xuan Yanyu accompanied Yan Yunning for the post-wedding return visit to her family home, and the two of them came clean about everything to her father and mother.

They would have found out sooner or later. The baby was already over five months along, and with just over four months left until the due date, there was no way to keep it hidden any longer.

Her father and mother took a moment to absorb it all, but they both came to accept the truth.

Just over four months later, Yan Yunning gave birth to her and Xuan Yanyu’s child — a chubby, fair-skinned baby boy who looked strikingly like Xuan Yanyu.

Xuan Shi’an opened the list of names he had long since prepared. After deliberating for quite some time between the two names Xuan Yunheng and Xuan Yunzhao, he finally settled on “Xuan Yunheng.”

Nickname: “Xiaoxiao.”

The little one, cherished and adored beyond measure, was not only the apple of both the Xuan and Yan families’ eyes, but a presence around whom all the stars seemed to revolve.

【— Main Story Complete】