Xuan Yuncheng raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Xuan Yanyu with an expression that was difficult to put into words.
Xuan Yanyu looked in puzzlement at Xuan Yun-yao, who was muttering to himself in the distance. Without a doubt, he was bound to stir up some trouble in a moment.
“Take all the carpets away for me. Replace them with soft double-layered bordered rugs.”
Xuan Yanyu turned his gaze toward Xuan Shi’an. At his insistence on making a mountain out of a molehill, the servants removed the real silk carpet that had only been laid down two days ago.
“Dad.” Xuan Yanyu pinched the bridge of his nose. “What does Xuan Yun-yao’s fall have to do with the carpet?”
Xuan Shi’an paid him no mind, directing the servants to remove everything he considered unsafe and replace it with new things.
Xuan Yanyu decided not to invite further frustration, rose from the sofa, and headed upstairs.
At eight o’clock in the evening, Yan Yunning finally returned to the Xuan residence. After greeting Xuan Shi’an and Wen Shuyun, she picked up Xuan You-yi and went straight upstairs.
“Xiao Wan, have the kitchen prepare the food. If Ningning gets hungry later, she can come downstairs and eat right away.” Wen Shuyun said with concern.
“Yes, Madam.”
“Grandpa, Grandma, does baby look good?”
The little dumpling stood at the top of the staircase, raised his tiny hands, pressed his thumb and index finger against either side of his chin, striking a cocky little pose — his little face identical to Xuan Yanyu’s — grinning in a way that was utterly adorable.
“Dear child, what on earth are you doing this time?” Xuan Shi’an looked the little dumpling up and down. Freshly bathed, the little dumpling had a length of pale pink fabric — resembling a bed sheet, embroidered with little rabbits wearing bow ties — wrapped around his waist and secured with a necktie.
Very much the look of a young girl.
“Grandpa!” The little dumpling bounced down the stairs, spinning in circles in front of Xuan Shi’an and Wen Shuyun. “Just tell me whether baby looks good or not.”
Xuan Shi’an’s gaze drifted to Xuan Yuncheng standing behind the little dumpling and gave a meaningful blink.
The latter raised his eyebrows, walked over to the sofa and sat down, saying lazily, “Grandpa, I’d advise you not to ask. Just say he looks good and send him back upstairs.”
Xuan Shi’an: “……”
“Grandpa?” The little dumpling had nearly spun himself dizzy, yet still hadn’t heard anyone praise him. His little temper flared. “How come Mommy says Daddy looks good, but Grandpa and Grandma won’t say Ruirui looks good?”
“Ahem.” Wen Shuyun took hold of the little dumpling’s arm and pulled him into her embrace, struggling to find the words. “Did you dress up like this because you were copying your father?”
The little dumpling gave a resounding “Mm.”
Xuan Shi’an cleared his throat and took the little dumpling from Wen Shuyun’s arms. “My dear child, this doesn’t look good. Your mommy was only saying that to humor your daddy — she had no choice but to say it looked good. We’re not going to copy him.”
“Really?” The little dumpling clearly didn’t believe it.
Xuan Shi’an spoke with great seriousness. “Why would Grandpa lie to Ruirui? From now on, don’t copy your daddy. Your mommy only said it looked good because she didn’t want to hurt your daddy’s feelings — in truth, it doesn’t look good at all.”
The little dumpling nodded, half-understanding.
Seeing this, Xuan Shi’an quickly had a servant fetch the little dumpling’s pajamas, then tossed aside the bed sheet he had been wearing and helped him change into them.
“Now this looks good — our Ruirui is so handsome.” Xuan Shi’an smoothed out the little dumpling’s clothes and took his tiny hand, spinning him in a circle. “Far more handsome than your daddy.”
The little dumpling let out a few giggles, then grabbed Xuan Yuncheng’s hand, blinking his big eyes. “Brother, let’s go find Mommy.”
Watching the two little ones step into the elevator, Xuan Shi’an glanced at the little rabbit bed sheet on the sofa and gave a light cough. “Tell Yuyu to be more mindful in the future — he’s rubbing off on my precious grandchild.”
Wen Shuyun lifted her teacup and took a sip. “You go tell him yourself. I’m not going.”
Xuan Shi’an’s eyes went wide. “And how am I supposed to say it?”
Wen Shuyun shot him a look right back. “Then how am I supposed to say it to my own son? It’s probably just a misunderstanding.”
Xuan Shi’an: “……”
——
Third Floor — Master Bedroom.
Yan Yunning reclined against the headboard while Xuan Yanyu lay half-sprawled over her, his cheek resting against her collarbone, his long arms encircling her slender waist, eyes lazily closed.
“My wife, is work very busy? You didn’t come home to eat with me today.”
Yan Yunning stroked his hair, her eyes and brows softening with tenderness. “It wasn’t work. Didn’t Ruirui and Jiaojiao tell you? Ranran called me — I went to see Ranran.”
Xuan Yanyu gritted his teeth slightly. “Your son said you don’t want me anymore.”
Yan Yunning burst out laughing.
Xuan Yanyu pinched her waist, the corners of his lips pressed together. After a moment he said, “You went to a wedding today — did you run into anyone you know?”
“Hmm?” Yan Yunning cupped the man’s handsome face in both hands and raised an eyebrow slightly. “Sweetheart, I went to attend a wedding — would I go to someone’s wedding if she weren’t someone I knew?”
Xuan Yanyu: “……”
Yan Yunning flicked his long lashes lightly, her voice soft. “What did you want to say?”
The man took her hands and pressed his lips to them. “How is it that neighbor of yours still isn’t married?”
Yan Yunning smiled with a teasing look. “Why? You’re so concerned about whether he’s married or not? Are you planning to send him a gift?”
Xuan Yanyu gave a dismissive huff. “I’m just afraid that when he gets older, no young woman will want to marry him.”
“That won’t happen. Lulu is only twenty-six this year — the perfect age for romance. Lulu isn’t even in a hurry, so why are you?”
The man deliberately rubbed his hair against Yan Yunning’s chin to express his displeasure.
“Stop it.” Yan Yunning felt the tickle and laughed as she tried to dodge him.
“Mommy, Brother and I are coming in~” The little dumpling called out politely from the doorway, little hands on the door handle as he pushed it open.
“Get out.” Xuan Yanyu didn’t even lift his head as he uttered those two words.
The little dumpling kicked off his shoes on his own and climbed onto the bed. “I don’t want to. I have things to say to Mommy.”
Xuan Yuncheng walked over and sat down in the swivel chair, waiting for the moment his little brother would inevitably provoke their father and get chased out — so he could be there to comfort him.
Xuan Yun-yao grabbed Xuan Yanyu’s hand and tried to drag him up, but finding it hopeless, he looked at Yan Yunning with a deliberately adorable expression. “Mommy, stop letting Daddy hug you — you hug baby instead. Baby is cuter than Daddy.”
Yan Yunning smiled warmly. “All right, then go and call your sister over.”
“Hmm?” The little dumpling blinked, not quite understanding, but obediently climbed off the bed and ran to Xuan You-yi’s room.
The whole family lived on the third floor, so it took less than a minute for the two little ones to appear in the master bedroom.
“Mommy, Daddy, are you looking for me?” The little girl rubbed her eyes, her tiny soft voice especially sweet and pillowy.
Hearing that little baby-voiced “Daddy,” Xuan Yanyu sat up and scooped the little girl from beside the bed and settled her onto it.
“Mommy, Mommy~” The moment Xuan Yanyu moved away, the little dumpling threw himself into Yan Yunning’s arms and claimed the spot he had just vacated.
Yan Yunning laughed and pinched his little cheeks. “What is it you wanted to say to Mommy?”
Xuan Yanyu leaned down close to Xuan You-yi and said quietly, “Sweetheart, go call your brother over — let’s all listen together and hear what your little brother wants to say.”
“Okay.” The little girl walked to the head of the bed, stretched out her little arm, and tugged at Xuan Yuncheng’s sleeve. “Brother, take off your shoes and come sit on the bed. Little brother has something to say.”