Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Early the next morning, Xu Xinyi, still sleeping in bed, heard a knock at the door.

She had been filming day and night for the TV series Bei Bei’s Promotion and had barely slept since the production started. After Yi Yang returned to the country, she had asked the director for two days off for personal matters. Finally, she was able to catch up on rest.

Last night, she had even told Butler Chen not to fetch her for breakfast in the morning. But now, someone was knocking at her door, and Xu Xinyi felt annoyed.

Through her sleepy haze, she only vaguely heard the words “the Old Master is back.”

“The Old Master is back?!”

Her body jolted, and she tossed the quilt aside. She had thought he wouldn’t return until next week. Why was he back today?

She glanced around, realizing she was alone on the messy bed. Yi Yang hadn’t slept with her last night; he had gone to another room.

Whatever. She might as well face it. Xu Xinyi ran her fingers through her hair, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

“Butler Chen, what’s the matter?”

The old butler smiled. “The Old Master returned early this morning and is downstairs. The Old Madam asked me to tell you and the young master to get up quickly.”

“Okay, Yi Yang and I will head down in a minute.”

After Butler Chen left, Xu Xinyi hurriedly checked several nearby rooms, but Yi Yang was nowhere to be found.

Where exactly did that bastard sleep last night?

The third floor was divided into east and west wings, with a central common area housing the stairs. Since the east wing was empty, Xu Xinyi suspected he had slept in one of the west wing rooms.

Moving quietly so the people downstairs wouldn’t hear—especially the Old Master, who would immediately notice if the married couple were still sleeping separately—she headed toward the west wing.

From the living room, she faintly heard Mrs. Yi’s voice:

“Dad, let me help you upstairs so you can rest.”

The footsteps moved closer, and at that moment, the door of the nearest west wing room opened. Yi Yang appeared in the doorway in his pajamas, hair disheveled, just waking up.

Their eyes met.

The footsteps upstairs grew louder.

It was too late. Grandpa couldn’t see them like this. Xu Xinyi had no time to explain. Swiftly, like a swallow, she jumped onto Yi Yang, wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist, clinging to him like a sloth on a tree trunk.

Yi Yang, still half-asleep, staggered back until his broad back hit the wall.

Bang! Their foreheads collided.

“Hiss—” Yi Yang’s eyes darkened, and his back ached. Xu Xinyi, dangling on his front, panted in pain.

“Xu Xinyi! Get down!” Yi Yang growled.

The footsteps abruptly stopped. Yi Yang looked over, still holding Xu Xinyi, and saw the Old Master being helped upstairs by Mrs. Yi.

“Grandpa?” Xu Xinyi asked, twisting to look back. “Grandpa, are you really back?”

The Old Master didn’t seem upset. Mrs. Yi, however, frowned. “This early in the morning, what are you two doing? Haven’t even worn your shoes! Are you not coming down?”

Xu Xinyi, still clinging to Yi Yang, explained, “Knowing Grandpa was here, I rushed to greet him and forgot my shoes. Yi Yang helped me because he cares about me. Mom, don’t blame him.”

The Old Master waved off her words kindly. “Alright, young people are like this. Yi Yang, carry Xinyi back to your room. She must be cold without shoes.”

Xu Xinyi, feeling emboldened by the Old Master’s presence, thrust her foot into Yi Yang’s hand. Her feet were tender and white, with clear rosy toenails. Yi Yang’s face darkened as he held her, but he endured and carried her back to their room.

“Honey, I know you don’t like me, but now that Grandpa is back, even if you don’t, cooperate for his sake.”

“Get down.” Yi Yang ordered.

Xu Xinyi slid down and pouted. “Oh, I still dare to do it next time.”

Yi Yang angrily went to the bathroom to wash his hands. Afterward, they got dressed and went downstairs.

The Old Master returned to the breakfast table after a short rest. Xu Xinyi, noticing his silver hair, felt melancholic.

“Grandpa, you came back early without saying anything. Are you all right?”

“I’m old but strong. What could be wrong?” he laughed, patting her hand. “But where is Yi Yang?”

“He’ll be here soon.”

Yi Yang appeared, dressed in a suit, looking composed despite the past few days’ chaos.

“Grandpa,” he greeted.

The Old Master, aware of Yi Yang’s accomplishments, nodded with satisfaction. “Not bad!”

“Grandpa, the only thing missing is a great-grandson,” the Old Master teased.

“Grandpa, we’re still busy with work. Xinyi is filming, so it’s not the right time. We’re young; there’s no hurry.”

“There’s no hurry? What if I’m buried before then?”

“Grandpa, you’ll live another hundred years!”

Mrs. Yi interjected. “Dad, let’s have breakfast first.”

Xu Xinyi sat beside Yi Yang, smiling brightly. “Honey, what do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.”

“I’ll do it myself,” Yi Yang replied.

“I’ll do it!” she insisted, taking the toast, spreading butter and honey, and feeding it to him.

“Hubby, say ah\~.”

Yi Yang stared at her, his expression warning her not to overdo it. Still, Xu Xinyi persisted, feeding him two slices of toast.

Yi Yang’s hand clenched under the table, but he remained composed. He called for two cups of coffee, one for Xu Xinyi. She frowned at the bitter black coffee but drank it obediently, under the Old Master’s amused gaze.

“Thank you, husband,” she said.

“You wait for me,” Yi Yang muttered, his eyes dark but his tone softening.

The Old Master watched them, smiling. Their relationship had clearly warmed over time, something he hadn’t expected to see after two years.

Yi Yang glanced at his watch. “Grandpa, it’s getting late. I’ll go to work. You rest. We’ll talk later.”

“Go ahead,” the Old Master replied.

As Yi Yang got up, Xu Xinyi spotted his slightly crooked tie. She moved to fix it, yanking a bit too hard. Yi Yang nearly choked on his breakfast and coughed violently.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. Husband, are you all right?” she asked.

“All right. I’ll go first,” he gritted out.

“Wait a minute,” Xu Xinyi said, pouting.

“…Again, what, what?” Yi Yang asked, exasperated.

“Darling, kiss.”

Yi Yang froze.

⸻

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