After the New Year, Ye Mingxuan finally fulfilled Tan Sizhe’s wish and went to spend the winter at the Tan family’s ancestral home.
Bai Yu drove him there: “The boss is busy at work, so he asked me to bring you. Everything’s been prepared at the ancestral home. No need to bring luggage—just move right in.”
Ye Mingxuan thanked him from the backseat.
The car drove through the forest-lined avenue and stopped before the mansion. When Ye Mingxuan got out, he was surprised to see a young boy dressed in a suit coming out to greet him.
The boy was handsome and adorable, with delicate features on his small face. He gave Ye Mingxuan a gentlemanly bow: “Hello, cousin-in-law!”
Ye Mingxuan froze. “Yangyang?”
Yangyang replied, “It’s me!”
He took Ye Mingxuan’s hand and led him inside. “My cousin asked me to take good care of you. From now on, I’m your exclusive bodyguard!”
“What do you mean ‘take care of him’? Just don’t cause trouble for Mingxuan.” With a soft female voice, the woman Ye Mingxuan had seen on TV that night stepped out.
Tan Jing wore no makeup, her bare face retaining an air of elegance as she emerged in a pale gold coat with a fur collar: “Mingxuan, hello.”
Ye Mingxuan stood stiffly at attention: “Hello, Auntie.”
Tan Jing beckoned Yangyang to her side: “This is my son, Yangyang. He’s just started eighth grade and can be quite a handful. If he disturbs you, please let me know.”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head: “Not at all.”
Tan Jing smiled, then leaned down to whisper to Yangyang: “Later, take your cousin upstairs to play. Remember what I said—she’s not feeling well, so don’t jump all over her, okay?”
Yangyang: “Got it, got it! Let’s go play upstairs, cousin!”
He pulled Ye Mingxuan upstairs. Tan Jing waved from below: “We’ll call you when dinner’s ready!”
Ye Mingxuan followed Yangyang upstairs. Just as they entered the game room, Tan Sizhe messaged asking if he’d arrived. Ye Mingxuan snapped a photo of Yangyang playing games and sent it over.
Sizhe: [If you’re tired, go rest. Let him play by himself.]
Ye Mingxuan replied: 【Not tired.】
Sizhe: 【If you want to go out, just tell the driver.】
Ye Mingxuan: 【Okay.】
Sizhe: 【See you tonight.】
Ye Mingxuan tucked his phone away and sat down on the plush carpet to play games with Yangyang.
Two hours later, the character Ye Mingxuan controlled knocked Yangyang’s character to the ground for the nth time.
Yangyang rolled around on the floor, whining, “I’m done! I’m done! Why is Mingxuan Brother so good at this?!”
Ye Mingxuan scratched his head sheepishly. “Just… just got lucky.”
Yangyang rolled to his feet. “Mingxuan, you’re so smart! You pick things up so fast.”
“My mom showed me videos of you playing piano. My cousin said you only practiced for a month or two—that’s incredible!”
Ye Mingxuan froze. “Did… did my father mention me to you?”
“Of course! The day after my cousin’s wedding, our whole family knew about it.” Yangyang, wise beyond his years, winked at Ye Mingxuan.
Ye Mingxuan’s face flushed bright red, like a boiling teapot, steam practically puffing from his head.
The hum of a car horn echoed through the courtyard. Yangyang reacted instantly, scrambling to his feet and dashing to the window. “Grandpa’s back! Mingxuan, let’s go downstairs!”
Downstairs, Grandpa Tan stepped out of the car with Ah Jin, freshly groomed. The dog’s coat gleamed in the sunlight. He leaped down, immediately strutting proudly around the fountain.
Suddenly, it caught a familiar scent and darted over to Ye Mingxuan as he emerged. It circled him, then pressed its head against his stomach and rubbed against him twice.
Ye Mingxuan patted Ah Jin’s head. “Ah Jin, it’s been a while.”
He looked up and called to Grandpa Tan: “Grandpa.” ”
Old Master Tan grinned from ear to ear: “Mingxuan, isn’t Ah Jin remarkably perceptive?”
Yangyang looked confused: “Why does Ah Jin like Mingxuan’s belly so much?”
He unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his own little belly and patting it: “Ah Jin, come here. I have a belly too.”
For the first time, Ye Mingxuan saw a look of disdain on a dog’s face. Ah Jin wagged his tail once and turned away.
Yangyang: “……”
Tan Jing laughed until she was breathless, shooing her son inside. She turned to Old Master Tan and Mingxuan: “Come in and eat. It’s more lively with Mingxuan here today.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded and followed Grandpa Tan inside. He now practiced portion control during meals, so he exercised restraint when faced with the fried chicken, braised pork knuckles, and Dongpo pork on the table.
By the time they finished eating, it was past seven. The entire estate was shrouded in deep darkness, with the moon hanging hazily on the horizon.
Ye Mingxuan watched cartoons with Yangyang for a while. Spotting oil pastels on a corner table, his eyes lit up like two little light bulbs. He asked Yangyang if he could borrow them to draw.
Yangyang told him to take whatever he wanted. After thanking him, Ye Mingxuan took the drawing board and oil pastels back to his room.
He quickly showered, dried his hair, and emerged to lie on the bed. Resting the easel against his legs, he began scribbling with the crayons.
By the time Tan Sizhe returned, Ye Mingxuan had long since fallen asleep, still clutching his crayons.
Tan Sizhe, who had intended to greet his little wife with a welcome ceremony upon entering the room, froze.
He shed his coat, loosened his tie, and sat beside Ye Mingxuan. Gently, he drew the sketchpad from the boy’s grasp, watching carefully to see if Ye Mingxuan stirred.
Turning the paper over, he saw Ye Mingxuan had painted a fountain. Beautiful wisteria vines entwined around it, surrounded by vibrant blooms. A golden retriever lay sprawled beside the fountain.
Ye Mingxuan had painted the fountain in the front yard of the old house, along with Ah Jin.
The scene and composition were exceptionally beautiful. Tan Sizhe admired it for several minutes before gathering the paper and oil pastels, placing them on the desk….
The next day, Ye Mingxuan was awakened by birdsong outside the window. He struggled to open his eyes as his body stirred, a dense, itchy sensation spreading through his limbs and bones.
The damp, hot sheets felt scorching against his skin, making him shiver uncontrollably. Ye Mingxuan’s mind cleared instantly. He looked down and saw a prominent bulge rising like a mountain beneath the covers. Startled, he yanked the sheets away.
Tan Sizhe knelt there, his bangs damp with sweat, plastered to his forehead. His eyes were as dark as ink. Realizing he’d been discovered, he lifted his head and licked his lips.
Ye Mingxuan frantically pulled his legs back, trying to sit up. “Sir…”
Tan Sizhe pinned him down. “The welcome ceremony. Did you like it?”
Such excitement first thing in the morning. Ye Mingxuan covered his flushed face: “Did you return last night, sir?”
Tan Sizhe gave a hoarse reply, pinching Ye Mingxuan’s jaw. “How come you’ve lost weight after visiting your grandmother’s?”
Ye Mingxuan pouted. “The food at Grandma’s is lighter.”
Fearing Tan Sizhe might misunderstand, he added, “It’s all fish and shrimp—nothing vegetarian.”
Tan Sizhe flicked his cheek, smooth as cream. “You were already asleep when I came in last night.”
Ye Mingxuan murmured in acknowledgment, then began searching around.
Tan Sizhe said, “The painting’s on the desk.”
Ye Mingxuan relaxed and lay back down. Tan Sizhe, who’d been sweating under the covers earlier, now had his hair half-dry. He wrapped an arm around Ye Mingxuan from the side. “Did you play with Yangyang for a long time yesterday? Are you tired?”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head. “Not tired.”
Tan Sizhe said, “I’m heading to the office soon. If you’re still sleepy, rest a bit longer. I’ll have them call you for lunch.”
Ye Mingxuan replied, “I’m fully rested. I’ll get up soon.”
Tan Sizhe: “Alright, I’ll sleep a bit longer then.”
He held Ye Mingxuan close, nuzzling his neck twice. Since Ye Mingxuan’s pregnancy, his body temperature had risen, making him feel like a big portable heater in Tan Sizhe’s arms.
It had been nearly half a month since Ye Mingxuan last saw Tan Sizhe. Being held felt like stepping into another world, yet in this moment, his heart was utterly still—because Tan Sizhe’s embrace felt so incredibly comfortable.
So comfortable that… he drifted back to sleep. When Ye Mingxuan woke again, Tan Sizhe was already gone.
He sat up, a hint of disappointment in his expression. Patting his cheeks to clear his head, he got out of bed to wash up.
After lunch with Grandpa Tan and the others, Tan Jing found staying home unbearably boring and suggested going to the hot springs.
So the Tan family driver was put to work again, ferrying Tan Jing, Yangyang, and Ye Mingxuan to the hot spring resort.
Grandpa Tan said he had business to attend to and wouldn’t be joining them, leaving just the three of them. Tan Jing had booked private hot springs, with a pool in each room.
Ye Mingxuan’s room featured a natural hot spring pool sprinkled with rose petals. The temperature was gentle enough for a pregnant woman to soak for half an hour. After a brief soak, Ye Mingxuan felt completely relaxed, but he restrained himself from staying too long and stepped out to dry off.
Tan Jing informed him there was a tea restaurant downstairs. If they didn’t feel like soaking in the hot springs and got bored, they could go sit there for a while. Just mention her name when ordering.
Bored in his room, Ye Mingxuan strolled downstairs in his bathrobe.
He spotted the café Tan Jing had mentioned and was about to enter when a sharp cry pierced the air: “Ye Mingxuan?! What are you doing here?!”
Ye Mingxuan frowned, turning to see Ye Yufan’s eyes filled with shock and anger.
He didn’t understand why Ye Yufan always reacted so dramatically whenever he saw him. Ye Mingxuan replied, “Soaking in the hot springs.”
“You came to soak in the hot springs?” Ye Yufan clenched his fists. “You came here to soak in the hot springs? Did Tan Sizhe bring you?”
This hot spring resort was no cheap place. Ye Mingxuan would never have come here on his own in a million years. The only possibility was that Tan Sizhe had brought him.
Although Ye Xiangkai had warned Ye Yufan not to cause trouble, the sight of Ye Mingxuan made him forget all caution. “Answer me! Who brought you here?”
Ye Mingxuan wanted nothing to do with Ye Yufan and turned to leave. But Ye Yufan wouldn’t let it go. Suddenly, someone blocked his path. Ye Yufan stumbled back a few steps. “Who are you?!”
Ye Mingxuan turned, startled. “Jiale?”
Lin Jiale flashed him a grin before turning to Ye Yufan. “What? You get to come here, but Mingxuan doesn’t?”
With his best friend by his side, Ye Mingxuan found his courage. Standing beside Lin Jiale, he declared, “Yeah, I like coming here.”
Ye Yufan sneered coldly, “A lowly commoner like you dares to hang around here? You’ve got some nerve.”
Lin Jiale rolled up his sleeves, itching to slap someone. “Who do you think you’re talking about?”
Seeing Lin Jiale’s clearly unprovocable demeanor, Ye Yufan didn’t dare confront him head-on. He turned and walked into the tea restaurant. “The one who’s most worked up is the one being talked about.”
Lin Jiale: “You—!”
Ye Yufan raised an eyebrow smugly, but the next second, a waiter blocked his path: “Sorry, sir, you can’t go in.”
“.” Ye Yufan’s eyes widened. “Why not?”
Waiter: “This restaurant is for VIP customers only. You’re not a VIP.”
Ye Yufan: “What VIP?”
The waiter pointed at the bracelet on Ye Mingxuan’s wrist: “This is VIP.”
Ye Mingxuan froze, glancing down at his own bracelet—the one Tan Jing had given him before coming.
He raised his hand: “This one? Can I go in now?”
The waiter opened the door: “Of course, sir. Please come in.”
Ye Mingxuan smiled, not forgetting Lin Jiale: “He’s my friend. Can he come in too?”
Waiter: “Certainly.”
Lin Jiale excitedly grabbed Ye Mingxuan’s hand: “Let’s go in together!”
Ye Mingxuan stepped one foot inside the door. Just as he was about to lift his other foot, he paused, turned to look at the utterly shocked Ye Yufan, and—driven by some sudden urge to perform—said respectfully: “Young Master, we’ll go in first then.”
Even the dim-witted Ye Yufan could detect the sarcasm in his tone, and his temper flared. “You—!”
“Young Master~ The lowly ones are going in first~ You, being of higher standing, should wait outside~” Lin Jiale stuck her tongue out at him, then slung her arm around Ye Mingxuan’s shoulder as they entered the restaurant.
Half a minute later, Ye Yufan’s furious shrieks echoed from outside the restaurant.
