Ye Mingxuan lay sprawled on the bed for two hours before rising.
He sat cross-legged on the mattress, peering down at the small red mole. It had transformed from a deep crimson, its surrounding snow-white skin now a vivid red—like a lurid flower blooming in the icy wilderness.
It was utterly shameful, doing such things in the Tan family mansion.
Earlier, Ye Mingxuan had clamped his lips shut, terrified even the slightest sound might be heard.
In the room, besides Ye Mingxuan’s gasps, only Tan Sizhe’s swallowing echoed. Transmitted through physical contact, it rang in his head like a bell.
Thinking of this, Ye Mingxuan closed his eyes in utter collapse.
Still trembling slightly, Ye Mingxuan felt thirsty. He got out of bed and tiptoed to pull on his pants.
A knock sounded at the door. Ye Mingxuan looked up, quickly pulled up his pants, and walked over to open it.
Uncle Ma stood in the doorway, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting the hallway light. “Mr. Mingxuan, you’re awake. Would you like dinner? It’s ready.”
Ye Mingxuan shifted aside, murmuring awkwardly, “Sorry, Uncle Ma. I didn’t go down for dinner.”
“No need to apologize. Mr. Tan already informed us,” Uncle Ma beckoned the maid carrying the dishes inside to set them down.
“Then we shan’t disturb your rest. Mr. Tan is currently in the garden with Ah Jin. Should you need anything, you may find him there.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded vigorously.
After closing the door, Ye Mingxuan didn’t head straight to the table. Instead, he walked to the window and pulled the curtains open a crack.
A sliver of sunlight streamed in, momentarily dazzling his eyes. Everything in the garden came into sharp focus.
Autumn had arrived. Some of the saplings’ leaves had turned yellow, some red, while others still clung to their vibrant summer green.
Clouds like rainbow-colored layers stacked upon each other stretched across the sky, a breathtaking sight.
The ground was carpeted with red and yellow fallen leaves. Tan Sizhe, now in casual clothes, knelt on one knee and tossed a frisbee into the air. Ajin, wagging his tail, shot forward with a whoosh, caught the frisbee mid-air, landed, and then trotted back to Tan Sizhe, tail still wagging.
Tan Sizhe retrieved the disc, ruffled A Jin’s head, and fed him a biscuit.
He tossed the disc again, sending A Jin to fetch it, repeating the cycle.
After watching A Jin for a moment, as if sensing something, Tan Sizhe looked up toward the upstairs.
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes widened as he locked gazes with Tan Sizhe. The other man seemed to smile, and Ye Mingxuan immediately pulled the curtains shut, blocking the view outside.
Returning to the table, Ye Mingxuan lifted the pot lid. The milky-white fish soup’s aroma wafted toward him.
His stomach growled uncontrollably. Ye Mingxuan clutched his belly. “You’ve already gained so much weight, how can you still be hungry?”
His stomach growled even louder. Ye Mingxuan’s weight-loss mission ended before it even began. He picked up a piece of rich yet not greasy fish and stuffed it into his mouth.
After eating his fill, Ye Mingxuan rubbed his belly, which felt even rounder than before the meal.
He: “…”
He dashed to the bathroom and squatted for a while, determined to shed those extra pounds in a civilized manner.
Half an hour later, he emerged, patted his still-round belly, and sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
Ye Mingxuan looked up: “Sir?!”
Tan Sizhe closed the door. Having just finished exercising downstairs, he was lightly sweating. He took off his jacket: “You seem down. Was dinner not to your liking?”
Ye Mingxuan: “No, dinner was delicious.”
The chef here is top-notch, the flavors exceptional.
“Then why the gloomy mood?” Tan Sizhe drew near, his warm breath brushing against Ye Mingxuan. “Could it be… you missed me?”
Ye Mingxuan froze: “Wh-what?”
Tan Sizhe raised an eyebrow. “I saw someone peeking at me in the garden just now.”
Ye Mingxuan: “!”
He really saw me!!
His expression shifted unpredictably. “I… I was admiring the scenery.”
“Oh, the scenery,” Tan Sizhe nodded. “That scenery was quite handsome.”
“…”
Ye Mingxuan, his hair tousled, gave a blank “Oh” and watched Tan Sizhe enter the bathroom….
In the game room, Zhao Dongxuan and Ye Xiangkai sat playing chess while a servant stood nearby topping up their champagne glasses.
Ye Yufan was curled up on an ornate sofa playing with his tablet.
Ye Xiangkai made a move and looked up at the maid. “I heard from Old Master Tan that there’s a wine cellar in the basement?”
The maid replied, “Yes, it’s Mr. Tan’s private cellar. He’s quite passionate about collecting fine wines.”
Zhao Dongxuan asked, “What kind of rare wines does he have? Could you get us a couple bottles to try?”
The maid replied apologetically, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Ye. These are all Mr. Tan’s private collection. Without his permission, we can’t just take them.”
Zhao Dongxuan was displeased. “Mr. Tan is my son-in-law! What’s wrong with me taking some of his wine?”
The maid replied, “I’m sorry, Madam, but Mr. Tan doesn’t allow anyone to enter the wine cellar without permission.”
“Am I ‘anyone’? I’m family to the Tan household!” Zhao Dongxuan declared. “Mr. Tan’s mother-in-law! Whatever belongs to Mr. Tan belongs to my son—and naturally, to me too!”
“Guess what happens if I go tell Old Master Tan about this? Do you think you’ll still have a place in the Tan family?”
The maid’s face paled. “Madam…”
Zhao Dongxuan snapped, “Go get the wine now, or you’ll be sorry.”
The maid nodded and went out, closing the door behind her.
The young girl, encountering such a fierce customer for the first time, lowered her head and began to sob quietly. Wiping away her tears, she made her way downstairs.
“Xiao Li? Why are you crying?”
Xiao Li looked up. “Uncle Ma…”
Uncle Ma, now dressed in a traditional Chinese robe and wearing round black-rimmed glasses instead of his gold-rimmed ones, asked her, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Li tearfully recounted what had just happened.
Uncle Ma frowned, patting the little girl’s shoulder kindly. “It’s okay. I’ll give you the key to the wine cellar.”
Xiao Li: “But Mr. Tan…”
Uncle Ma smiled: “Go inside and take any bottle from the right shelf. Those are the cheapest wines—the ones Mr. Tan didn’t want.”
Xiao Li blinked, forgetting to wipe her tears.
Uncle Ma continued, “They won’t be able to tell the difference anyway. Just tell them it’s Romanée-Conti.”
“Got it.” With Uncle Ma backing her up, a sly gleam flashed in Xiao Li’s eyes. “Don’t worry, Uncle Ma. I promise to get the job done.”
Half an hour later, Zhao Dongxuan and Ye Xiangkai were sipping their “Romanee-Conti.”
Xiao Li stood nearby, watching Zhao Dongxuan squint her eyes in enjoyment, and couldn’t help but giggle.
Zhao Dongxuan frowned. “What are you laughing at?”
Xiao Li pursed her lips. “Sorry, Madam. I just remembered something funny.”
Zhao Dongxuan rolled her eyes and waved her off. “Get out, get out. Don’t spoil our drinking mood.”
Xiao Li nodded, set down the wine bottle, and left.
Closing the door, Xiao Li thought of Zhao Dongxuan’s expression and shook her head.
Mr. Mingxuan is so handsome and has such a good temper—how could he be so different from Zhao Dongxuan and the others?
Ye Mingxuan doesn’t look anything like Zhao Dongxuan’s child.
…
Uncle Ma hurried to the study to tell Tan Sizhe about the incident.
Tan Sizhe turned a page in his book: “Mm, got it.”
Uncle Ma: “Xiao Li’s been wronged. I plan to give her a few days off.”
Tan Sizhe nodded: “Whatever you decide is fine.”
Uncle Ma glanced at Ye Mingxuan, who sat engrossed in a book amidst the walls of books.
He sighed: “Such a good kid, why did he have to end up with parents like that?”
Uncle Ma didn’t know Ye Mingxuan wasn’t actually the Ye family’s child; Tan Sizhe hadn’t told him.
Sighing again, he left, but not before reminding Tan Sizhe that the book was upside down.
Tan Sizhe: “…”
He righted the book.
Uncle Ma exited, leaving only the two of them in the vast study.
Tan Sizhe closed the book, walked behind Ye Mingxuan, and braced his hands on either side of the sofa. Leaning close, his face nearly touching Ye Mingxuan’s, the scent of his body wash wafted over him.
Ye Mingxuan was engrossed in a particularly gripping part when he felt an itchy tingle on his cheek and warm breath brushing against him.
He turned his head and saw Tan Sizhe’s handsome face mere inches away, nearly dropping the book. “Sir!”
Tan Sizhe leaned closer. “What are you reading?”
Ye Mingxuan’s cheeks flushed slightly as he held the book cover forward. “This.”
“A novel?”
“Mm.”
“You prefer reading novels?”
“…Yeah.”
Ye Mingxuan hadn’t read many novels growing up. He only got the chance to read some when classmates brought them to pass around in class or during reading lessons.
His dull, monotonous life needed novels to spice things up.
Ye Mingxuan felt a bit embarrassed, unsure how Tan Sizhe would judge his fondness for novels.
Tan Sizhe pondered for a moment. “If you enjoy them, I’ll have someone stock more novels in the study when we return. You can take your time reading them.”
Ye Mingxuan was taken aback. “Sir, that’s too much trouble…”
Tan Sizhe chuckled. “It’s no trouble. Consider it a reward for you.”
“?”
“You did quite well this afternoon.”
“!!!”
Ye Mingxuan bit his lower lip. The memory of the man’s nimble tongue flushed his cheeks crimson.
Gazing at his little wife, his cheeks flushed like apples, Tan Sizhe hooked his chin and stroked it gently, his fingertips brushing against smooth skin.
“Sir!” Ye Mingxuan hugged his knees and scurried away.
Tan Sizhe lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, “I won’t tease you anymore.”
He sat beside Ye Mingxuan, wrapping a large arm around his waist. “Read me a story.”…
Out of sheer boredom, Ye Yufan wandered around outside.
The Tan family mansion had many rooms. Idly, he tried pushing doors—most locked tight.
“Unbelievable.” Ye Yufan grew impatient. As he wandered, he caught sight of an opulent door, a faint glow seeping through the crack.
Someone inside? Curiosity piqued, Ye Yufan approached, his hand resting on the doorknob, ready to push.
“Young Master Ye.”
“Ah!!” Ye Yufan jumped in surprise. Turning to see Uncle Ma, he froze. “Uncle Ma.”
Uncle Ma: “Though the Tan family mansion isn’t overly strict, there is one rule: don’t wander out at night. Not every room is open for exploration.”
“…” Ye Yufan glanced at the closed door, reluctantly conceding. “Got it. I’ll head back to my room.”
Uncle Ma: “Take your time, Young Master Ye.”
Ye Yufan stormed off, gritting his teeth. Uncle Ma raised an eyebrow, pressed his ear against the door, and quietly pried open a crack in the study door.
Warm light filled the room. Tan Sizhe’s slender form was curled up on the sofa, his head resting on Ye Mingxuan’s shoulder as he rested with his eyes closed.
Ye Mingxuan was curled up in a tiny ball, a book resting on his lap. His raven-feathered eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes as his mouth moved steadily, patiently reading the story aloud.
As he read, Ye Mingxuan’s head began to nod, and he drifted off to sleep.
Just as Uncle Ma was about to close the door, he suddenly saw Tan Sizhe open his eyes.
He paused, his hand lingering on the doorknob.
In the warm, yellow glow of the lamp, the man carefully took the book from Ye Mingxuan’s hands. Leaning down, he gently pushed aside the sleeping youth’s bangs and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
