Back at the villa, Yan Yunning paid no attention to the sulking Xuan Yanyu and patiently sat the two little ones down for a talk.
Once the two little ones realized they’d said something wrong, they circled around Xuan Yunsheng and offered their apologies. Only then did Yan Yunning head upstairs to check on her husband, who was in the middle of a sulk.
In the bedroom, Xuan Yanyu took the photo frame from the desk, deftly unlatched the clips on the back, and drew out the two marriage certificates. He set the frame back down, then walked into the dressing room, picked out tomorrow’s suit, and slipped the certificates into the inner pocket.
Yan Yunning pressed a hand to her forehead. Six years, and every single time they returned to her parents’ house, Xuan so-and-so would bring along the marriage certificates without fail. At first she hadn’t understood it, and honestly she still didn’t quite understand it — why he needed to bring them whenever they went to her parents’. Today, though, she thought she might finally get it.
“Honey, are you upset?” Yan Yunning approached him, hooking her little finger around his.
Xuan Yanyu turned, and with that small motion, caught Yan Yunning by the wrist and drew her down onto the bed. His gaze was deep and heavy as he looked at her delicate face.
With her arms pressed back above her head, Yan Yunning found herself looking up at the man hovering just inches away — his features strikingly beautiful, his lips flushed a faint rosy pink from the wine, as though brushed with a gloss. She swallowed.
The air between them was faintly laced with the soft scent of wine. Unable to help herself, Yan Yunning tilted her head up, and her lips “accidentally” brushed against the man’s tempting mouth.
Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “Don’t try that.”
Yan Yunning’s gaze was perfectly serene. “It was an accident.”
The man’s fingertips traced over her fingers. He leaned in close to her ear, voice low. “You cut Jingye off — you mean I’m not allowed to hear? You only like listening to Wen Zhilu sing? Is that it?”
Yan Yunning let out a quiet laugh. “Honey, did you think Xiaxia sounded good tonight?”
Xuan Yanyu bit her ear gently, his voice low and husky. “Don’t change the subject.”
Yan Yunning’s lashes fluttered. Looking utterly pitiful, she bit her lip. “That hurt~”
Knowing full well she was putting it on, Xuan Yanyu released her and stretched out flat on the bed.
Yan Yunning shifted closer, nestled her head on his arm, and softened her voice. “Honey, answer the question I just asked.”
Xuan Yanyu curled his arm, his elbow settling in front of Yan Yunning’s neck, and drew her gently toward him. His tone was measured and even. “Not particularly.”
Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever heard Jingye sing?”
The man’s brow knitted together. “No.”
“Honey.” Yan Yunning rubbed the tip of her nose against the man’s palm. “Then let me tell you — Jingye’s singing isn’t great either.”
Xuan Yanyu’s throat moved. “So what you’re saying is that only Wen Zhilu sings well?”
Yan Yunning grinned and leaned toward him. “Honey, you’re so clever — that’s exactly what I mean.”
The man’s cool gaze drifted slowly to Yan Yunning’s face, which wore a brilliant smile.
Yan Yunning blinked. “Baby, setting everything else aside — if it were you, and you had to choose between someone with a lovely voice and someone with an unpleasant one, wouldn’t you also only want to listen to the one who sings beautifully?”
“What does that really say about anything? It’s just looking out for your own ears.” Yan Yunning kissed his fingers. “Liking the sound of Zhilu singing just means Xiaxia and Jingye aren’t very good singers — nothing more. After all these years, how can you still be jealous over Zhilu?”
Xuan Yanyu pinched her earlobe. “Because you cut off what Jingye was saying.”
Yan Yunning cupped his face in her hands. “You think that by stopping Jingye from finishing, I proved that I like listening to Zhilu sing. Is that it?”
A smile flickered through Xuan Yanyu’s dark pupils. “My wife, you’re so clever — that’s exactly what I mean.”
“……” Yan Yunning’s fingertip traced lightly along the man’s collarbone. Her tone took on a deliberate edge. “So what if I do like listening to Zhilu sing?”
The man’s voice rose at the end with a knowing lilt. His slender fingers tilted up her chin. “My wife, very well — I do hope you can keep up that boldness all night.”
Yan Yunning: “?”
Xuan Yanyu curved his lips and strolled out of the room in very good spirits.
Yan Yunning: “?”
Ten minutes later, the man returned holding a short white lace slip nightgown.
The fabric was so sheer that even without holding it up to the light, Yan Yunning could see the hand gripping it — the tips of Xuan Yanyu’s fingers visible through the translucent material.
“My wife, let’s go — time to shower together.”
Yan Yunning: “……”
——
The following morning, at around eleven, the family boarded a private plane and departed for Yuanjin City.
An hour later, they arrived at the Zhaolangethan Villa Estate.
Father Yan and Mother Yan had long been waiting in the living hall to welcome them.
“Grandma, Grandpa—”
“Grandpa, Grandma—”
“……”
The moment the three children stepped into the living hall, they began calling out. Xuan Yunzao practically launched himself into Mother Yan’s arms, clinging to her neck and refusing to let go.
“Why did you arrive so late?” Father Yan looked toward Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning.
“Grandpa, Mommy is sick.” The small girl clasped Yan Yunning’s hand and explained in her soft little voice.
“What happened?” Father Yan and Mother Yan asked at once, with concern.
Yan Yunning smiled gently, her voice noticeably huskier than usual. “Dad, Mom — just a cold. It’s nothing serious.”
Mother Yan, hearing Yan Yunning’s small, kitten-like voice, shifted the little one in her arms and came toward her, pressing a hand to her forehead. “You caught a chill? Have you taken your medicine?”
Yan Yunning quietly tucked her hand behind her back and gave someone’s waist a hard pinch.
“She has. Dad, Mom, she took it before we left.” Xuan Yanyu caught Yan Yunning’s hand in return and looked toward Mother Yan with a smile. “Mom, I’ll take Ningning upstairs to rest first. The children are in your and Dad’s hands.”
“Of course, of course.” Mother Yan turned and asked the household helper to prepare a cup of warm honey water for Yan Yunning and made sure she drank it before sending the two of them upstairs.
“Lao Yan, do you think our Ningning is worn out from juggling work and taking care of the family?” Mother Yan said, a note of worry in her voice.
“It can’t be that. Ningning doesn’t go out for business dinners at the company, and she doesn’t work overtime.” Father Yan paused, then glanced at the three children who were all merrily chattering away. “The three children don’t need Ningning to look after them either — they’ve had nannies and helpers from the start.”
Mother Yan thought about it and supposed he was right. When the three children were very small, Ningning had simply looked in on them here and there — she hadn’t even needed to hold them.
With the nutritionist, the helpers, and Shuyun all around, Ningning hadn’t needed to manage a thing — she was free to simply rest and tend to her health.
Xiao Yue had even made sure not to have Ningning breastfeed in person, so as not to disturb her sleep at night.
“It’s just a minor cold — not the kind of tiredness that leads to illness.”
Father Yan gave a sigh and a small smile. “If you want to talk about wearing yourself out for the family, it’s Old Xuan and his wife who truly have — those children were all looked after by the two of them personally when they were small. They put far more of themselves into the grandchildren than we ever did.”
“And once the children were old enough to start forming memories, the old couple handed them back to Xiao Yue and Ningning. They thought of everything before we did.”
Mother Yan smiled. “True.”
“Come on, let’s take the children out for a walk.” Father Yan took the little one from Mother Yan’s arms and set him down to walk on his own, then bent down and lifted Xuan Youyi into his arms.
“Let’s go, little ones — Grandma and Grandpa will take you out to play.” Mother Yan held out both hands and took one small child in each.