Seeing Yan Yunning extend the spoon toward him again, the little dumpling turned his gaze to Xuan Shi’an. “Grandpa…”

“My dear child, Grandpa has things to attend to. Whatever you need to say, come find Grandpa after he’s finished.” Xuan Shi’an pulled Wen Shuyun along and hurried out of the dining room.

“Did Mom and Dad eat enough?” Yan Yunning glanced sideways at Xuan Yanyu.

“They should have eaten enough.”

“Probably not.” Xuanzhao Ran, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.

Xuan Yanyu peeled a shrimp and put it in Yan Yunning’s mouth. “If they didn’t eat enough, they’ll come back downstairs later.”

Yan Yunning chewed the shrimp and instructed Qiuci and Xiao Wan to bring the dishes up to the elders’ room.

“All right, all right — once you’ve eaten, go upstairs and get ready for the meeting.” Yan Yunning swallowed the soup Xuan Yanyu fed her.

“Understood, my wife.” The man elegantly wiped his hands and beckoned to Xuan Yuncheng. “Son, have you eaten enough? Once you’re done, come upstairs with Daddy.”

“Daddy, I’ve eaten enough — I’ll go upstairs with you.” The little dumpling, eager to escape from having to eat vegetables, looked up at Xuan Yanyu with bright, shining eyes and opened his arms wide.

Xuan Yanyu looked down at him and flicked him on the forehead. “You stay here and eat with Mommy.”

Xuan Yun-yao turned his head away with a huff.

“Let’s go, Daddy.” Xuan Yuncheng hopped down from his chair.

Xuan Yanyu walked around, picked up the usually quiet and composed little one, and headed out of the dining room.

Only the two little ones were left in the dining room. Xuanzhao Ran picked up her bowl and moved to sit in the seat Xuan Yanyu had just vacated. “Sister-in-law, do you think Father will agree to me and Jiang Xian?”

Yan Yunning thought of this young girl’s phone call — how nervous she had sounded, afraid that Xuan Shi’an wouldn’t approve — and let out a quiet sigh. “Why don’t you test the waters first?”

She thought he’d probably agree. The Jiang family’s background was a reasonable match for Ranran.

But she couldn’t quite read the old man’s mind, and she didn’t dare make Ranran any promises.

Xuanzhao Ran poked at the rice in her bowl. “I can’t. What if Father does the same thing he did before — secretly driving apart me and Qiuci — and secretly drives a wedge between me and Jiang Xian?”

Yan Yunning coaxed the little dumpling into taking a bite of his vegetable porridge before saying, “That’s exactly why I’m telling you to test the waters first rather than being upfront about it.”

“Oh.” Xuanzhao Ran slowly sipped her porridge, her gaze landing on the quietly eating Xuan You-yi.

“Auntie.” The little girl blinked and smiled sweetly.

“Good girl.” Xuanzhao Ran ruffled her hair.

——

After dinner, the little girl was carried off by Xuanzhao Ran, and Yan Yunning took Xuan Yun-yao out for a walk.

“Madam. Young Master.” They had barely stepped out of the main hall when they came face to face with Qiuci walking toward them.

Yan Yunning nodded, then noticed the resignation letter in Qiuci’s hand. Her gaze paused on it. She recalled that Xuan Xixi had mentioned before that Qiuci had elderly family members to support and wouldn’t lightly resign — so why was he resigning now?

“Madam, I happen to have run into you. I wish to resign and respectfully request your approval.” Qiuci bowed and courteously held out the resignation letter.

Yan Yunning didn’t take it. She smiled and asked, “Have you found a new position?”

The hand holding the resignation letter tightened. “Not yet.”

Yan Yunning looked at him, and in a distant way was reminded of the Qiuci in the book. “Qiuci, you could look for a new position first before considering resigning. You should know — at your current salary, any new job you take will certainly…”

“Madam, I understand.”

Yan Yunning let out a soft sigh. “Walk with us for a while.”

Qiuci hesitated for a moment, then put the resignation letter away. “Of course, Madam.”

“It’s because Ranran has a boyfriend now and you want to leave — isn’t that right?”

Qiuci lowered his head, watching the little dumpling ahead of them carefree and kicking a small stone along the path, and gave a small smile. “Madam, the Second Young Miss having a boyfriend has nothing to do with me. I’m not resigning because of her.”

“Qiuci, then what is your reason for resigning?”

“Madam, I simply wish to return to my hometown to develop there.”

“I see.” Yan Yunning nodded. “You are still formally in my father’s service, so you’ll need to submit your resignation to him for approval.”

“Madam, I…”

“Uncle Qiuci, don’t go — can you give me a piggyback ride?” Since Qiuci had always been at Xuan Shi’an’s side, Xuan Yun-yao was quite familiar with him.

Yan Yunning’s brow creased. “Ruirui, why did Mommy bring you out?”

The little dumpling said meekly, “To… to take a walk.”

“Then how can you ask your uncle to carry you?”

“Mommy, baby knows it was wrong.” The little dumpling trotted a few steps and wrapped his small hands around Yan Yunning’s hand, swinging it back and forth. “Mommy, don’t be upset.”

“Mommy isn’t upset. We’ll go around two more times, and by then Daddy and Brother will probably be done with the meeting. We’ll go back to find Daddy then.”

“Okay.” The little dumpling nodded obediently, swinging Yan Yunning’s hand as he hopped and skipped forward.

Yan Yunning glanced sideways at Qiuci. “Qiuci, I still hope you’ll think it over carefully.”

Qiuci’s lips parted slightly. In an almost inaudible voice, he said, “Madam, I… there’s no way I can… no way I can watch the Second Young Miss be with someone else. Leaving is for the best.”

Yan Yunning looked up at the clear blue sky. The sharp sunlight made her lashes flutter and half-close. In the story, Ranran had liked Qiuci — but Qiuci had never seemed to like Ranran back. They had no future together.

In real life, Qiuci’s background was something Father didn’t think highly of. Six years had worn out every last bit of Ranran’s love for Qiuci, and she had come to care for Jiang Xian, who doted on her in every way. They had no future together here, either.

One could only say they were simply not fated.

“I respect your choice. Give me the resignation letter — I’ll pass it on to Father on your behalf.”

The rims of Qiuci’s eyes went faintly red. His voice came with difficulty. “Thank you, Madam.”

Yan Yunning accepted the letter. “Is there anything you’d like me to convey to Ranran?”

Qiuci smiled, his hand at his side curling into a fist. “I hope she is happy. Always happy.”

Yan Yunning’s lashes trembled slightly. She did not speak.

——

Third Floor — Side Bedroom.

Xuanzhao Ran had estimated that Xuan Yanyu’s meeting would be nearly over by now. She carefully tousled Xuan You-yi’s hair, then took a silk scarf and tied it loosely around the little girl’s hands.

The little girl blinked, her innocent face alight with excitement. “Auntie, what game are you going to play with Jiaojiao?”

Xuanzhao Ran stroked the little girl’s hair. “Sweetheart, just cooperate with Auntie for a photo — make a crying face for me.”

The little girl’s large, bright eyes blinked at Xuanzhao Ran.

Xuanzhao Ran tickled the tip of her small nose. “Sweetheart, you’re so adorable — no wonder your daddy is especially fond of you.”

At those words, Xuan You-yi’s chubby little face broke into a beaming smile.

The little girl wouldn’t cooperate, so Xuanzhao Ran took another silk scarf and had the little girl hold it in her mouth while she snapped a photo. Then she edited in tears herself until she was satisfied, opened Xuan Yanyu’s chat window, and sent the photo along with the messages:

[Do you recognize this person? Your daughter is in my hands. If you want your precious daughter back, you must agree to one demand!!!]

[I said you MUST agree!!!]

[Otherwise, she stays with me~]

After sending the messages, Xuanzhao Ran picked up a small comb and tidied the hair she had messed up on the little girl.