“Knock, knock.” A knock sounded at the bedroom door, and Yan Yunning immediately perked up. She kicked at Xuan Yanyu’s leg beneath the covers. “Go open the door.”

The man carefully fastened every button on Yan Yunning’s open pajama top before getting up to open the door.

“Daddy.” Xuan Yunhao rubbed his eyes and stared at Xuan Yanyu for a good while. It was only when Yan Yunning spoke that the little dumpling pattered over to her.

“Mommy.” The little dumpling threw himself into Yan Yunning’s arms, his little mouth trembling with grievance. “Baby dreamed about a monster. So scary.”

Xuan Yanyu, who had followed right behind, pinched the bridge of his nose. “Pathetic!”

Yan Yunning soothingly patted the little dumpling’s back, her voice very gentle. “Don’t be afraid. Daddy and Mommy are here. Daddy and Mommy will protect you.”

“Mommy.” The little dumpling circled his small arms around Yan Yunning’s neck, and before long, drowsily closed his eyes.

“Hubby~” Yan Yunning’s voice was extremely soft as she looked at Xuan Yanyu with coquettish eyes.

Xuan Yanyu was helpless against her. “Permitted.”

Yan Yunning smiled sweetly. “Hubby is the best.”

She gently laid the now-sleeping little dumpling on the bed, tucked the blanket over him, and blew Xuan Yanyu a kiss. “Hubby, I’ll leave it to you.”

If the baby got thirsty in the night, or hungry, or needed the bathroom, or kicked off the blankets, all of that would need someone to take care of it.

Xuan Yanyu’s large palm covered Yan Yunning’s fair and delicate swan neck, applying just a little pressure to close the distance between them. He bent down and brushed his lips lightly against hers in a feather-light kiss. “Wife, it’s all right.”

Yan Yunning swallowed, removed a certain someone’s hand, pulled the blanket over herself, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Xuan Yanyu gave a low laugh. He reached up to turn off the light and lay on his side, holding the soundly sleeping little dumpling in his arms.

He wasn’t particularly sleepy. Gazing at the large and small figures before him, the smile at the corners of his lips deepened, and his gaze softened like water.

This was the happiness he had wanted.

Him + her + their little ones.

The next day, the morning light outside the window filtered through the curtains into the room. The little dumpling’s eyelashes fluttered, and he was the first to open his eyes.

The moment he opened them, he was met with Xuan Yanyu’s enlarged, handsome face. The little dumpling blinked in confusion before remembering that he had stumbled over here half-asleep to Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning’s room the night before.

“Daddy.” Xuan Yunhao poked at Xuan Yanyu’s long eyelashes with his small hand.

“Stop fussing.” Xuan Yanyu clasped his little hand and held him even tighter.

The little dumpling pursed his small lips. He was going to be late for school.

——

At nine thirty in the morning, Xuan Yanyu and Xuan Yunhao finally appeared in the main hall.

Ye Chen spotted Xuan Yanyu and rushed over anxiously. “Mr. Xuan, you’ve finally come downstairs. I’ve been waiting for you since seven-thirty. There’s a meeting in five minutes. Would you like to have breakfast in the car?”

As he spoke, Ye Chen pulled a meat bun and a bottle of milk from his pocket and held them out toward Xuan Yanyu.

Xuan Yanyu glanced at him. “There’s a meeting in five minutes? Is my phone just for decoration?”

Ye Chen told the truth. “How would I dare call you and disturb your rest?”

“…” Xuan Yanyu couldn’t be bothered to say more and strode out of the main hall.

Watching Xuan Yanyu and Ye Chen walk out one after the other, Xuan Yunhao kicked at the carpet underfoot. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Young Master, please go have breakfast first.” Xiao Wan smiled and sent someone to the kitchen to prepare the little dumpling’s breakfast.

Xuan Yunhao toddled over on his short little legs and flopped down on the sofa. “Where’s my mommy?”

“Madam went to the company early this morning.” Xiao Wan handed him a cup of milk.

“Oh.” The little dumpling sipped his milk in small mouthfuls. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Xuan Shi’an coming downstairs, and his eyes lit up. “Grandpa!”

Xuan Shi’an thought he was hearing things. He looked up and fixed his gaze on Xuan Yunhao, who was dangling his little legs on the sofa, then strode over quickly. “Darling, why are you still at home?”

The little dumpling smacked his lips. “Grandpa, Daddy overslept, so I was late. Grandpa, you call teacher and tell her that Baby didn’t skip kindergarten on purpose. It’s because Daddy told Baby not to make a fuss, so Baby was good and waited for Daddy to wake up.”

Xuan Shi’an let out a slow breath. “You rested in your dad and mom’s room last night?”

“Mm-hm.” The little dumpling drank down the last drop of milk and licked his lips with his little tongue.

Xuan Shi’an’s eye twitched. Out of his three grandchildren, not one had ever spent a night in that young couple’s room before. They rest together just one time, and the child ends up late for kindergarten!!!

“Ring-ring.” The phone rang. Xuan Shi’an saw it was the principal calling, cleared his throat, and answered.

“Mr. Xuan, Xuan Yunhao’s teacher says he hasn’t come to class today.”

Principal Liu chose his words carefully. “Is the child unwilling to come, or is he feeling unwell? I called his mother, and she told me to call his father and ask.”

“I called his father, and his father asked me to check with you why the child hasn’t come to kindergarten.”

Xuan Shi’an drew in a sharp breath. “He’ll come this afternoon. Something came up this morning and delayed things.”

“Oh, alright. Then you take care of your business, Mr. Xuan. I won’t keep you.”

After hanging up, Xiao Wan led the little dumpling off to the dining room for breakfast.

Wen Shuyun came downstairs and, seeing the grumpy old man, asked curiously, “First thing in the morning — who managed to irritate you?”

“It was Yanyu,” she added with certainty.

Other than Yanyu, no one could make him this angry.

Xuan Shi’an took a sip of tea. “Ruirui slept in the master bedroom last night. Yanyu overslept today, making Ruirui late for school. Late is late, fine. But when the principal called him, he told the principal to ask me why Ruirui hadn’t come to kindergarten.”

Wen Shuyun poured him more tea and smiled helplessly. “It was definitely because Yanyu assumed you’d have someone take Ruirui to kindergarten, which is why he said that.”

Xuan Shi’an snorted. “Quite capable of him — he watches Ruirui for just one night, and the child is late the very next day.”

Wen Shuyun muttered under her breath, “It’s all because you spoiled him from a young age. It’s hardly surprising he’d say you caused Ruirui to be late.”

Xuan Shi’an: “…”

So it was his fault???

——

Jueye Club — top-floor private room.

Four servers gave a light knock on the private room door, then after three seconds pushed it open, set out the drinks, and knelt briefly on one knee to fill the glasses.

“Yanyu-bro, why didn’t you bring sister-in-law along?” Xie Yan crossed his legs and patted Xuan Yanyu’s shoulder with an overly familiar hand. “Did sister-in-law also go back to her family home?”

Xuan Yanyu lazily twisted the diamond ring on his ring finger. “Business trip.”

“Oh?” Xie Yan raised his glass and took a sip. “No rush then. We can drink slowly tonight.”

Mu Heng clinked glasses with Xie Yan. “I’ll keep you company for one.”

Beneath the crystal chandelier, a server whose name tag read “Intern: Sweet as Honey” heard their exchange and her eyes flickered. She knelt on the floor, poured out the water from the ice bucket, then added fresh ice.

She then took a clean square cloth and wiped down the floor.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a bespoke suit jacket on the sofa. She stood and carefully folded the jacket.