The man seemed busy and didn’t reply immediately.
Ye Mingxuan stared at the message screen, shoving a cola chicken wing into his mouth.
…
Tan Sizhe led Ah Jin inside. One maid took the leash while another collected the gloves Tan Sizhe removed.
Ah Jin wagged his tail, tongue hanging out, before trotting off.
Old Master Tan entered the living room. “Isn’t it hot outside?”
“Yes.” Tan Sizhe sat beside his grandfather and poured him tea.
“At my age, I can’t even walk the dog myself. Ah Jin could break my old bones.” Old Master Tan accepted the delicate teacup.
“He’s growing fast and has a big appetite.”
“That’s true. When we first got him, he was barely bigger than your sister’s teddy bear.”
Grandpa Tan sipped his tea with a smile. “By the way, how are things between you and Mingxuan lately?”
“They’re okay.”
“I was worried at first, afraid you two wouldn’t get along after marriage. I even wanted you to date for a while before tying the knot. I didn’t expect you’d just go ahead and do it without saying a word.”
The wrinkles at the corners of Old Master Tan’s eyes smoothed out. “Seeing how well you two are doing now, I feel a bit more at ease.”
“You were always so solitary growing up, hardly any friends, not close to your siblings either. I genuinely feared you might not even find a wife.”
Tan Sizhe gave a faint smile, the corners of his mouth tugging slightly. “Thanks to Grandpa looking out for me.”
“That’s right. Your parents left you in my care while they went off traveling the world without a care. Who else was going to look after you?”
Thinking of his parents, who were probably off gallivanting somewhere right now, Tan Sizhe chuckled wryly. “They like to have fun. Let them enjoy themselves.”
“Grandpa, do you want to travel too?”
“Nonsense! I never said that!”
After shouting, Old Tan remembered: “Your father sent a gift a few days ago. He said it’s for Mingxuan. Take it home with you later.”
Tan Sizhe: “Alright.”
Grandfather and grandson chatted a little longer. Tan Sizhe had to return to the office and asked Bai Yu to go upstairs and fetch the gift.
Before leaving, Tan Sizhe turned back: “Grandpa, Dad said they’ll come back for the New Year. After the holidays, they’ll take you abroad with them.”
Old Tan snorted. “I won’t let them take me. I can go on my own.”
Tan Sizhe chuckled and walked out the front door.
Bai Yu placed the gift in the trunk and slid into the driver’s seat.
The afternoon heat was intense, the sun scorching the earth fiercely. With the AC on inside the car, it cooled down quickly.
Tan Sizhe undid the top two buttons of his shirt, rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing his lean arms with prominent veins.
He lifted his phone and tapped into Ye Mingxuan’s chat window.
【What classes do you have this afternoon?】
Ye Mingxuan was napping with his head on the desk. He’d been sleeping more frequently lately, feeling drowsy as soon as afternoon rolled around.
He attributed it to eating too much at lunch combined with the sweltering heat, which left him feeling exhausted.
The phone vibrated twice. Ye Mingxuan lifted his head, squinting, and reached for it.
Seeing Tan Sizhe’s message, Ye Mingxuan replied: [Morning Philosophy.]
[Mm, it’s pretty hot. Watch out for heatstroke. Find somewhere cool to stay.]
[Got it. I’m at the library. It’s pretty cool here.]
[You can go home for lunch from now on. I’ll have the driver pick you up.]
Ye Mingxuan blinked his almond-shaped eyes twice and replied: [No need, sir. I’ll just rest here at school.]
[Would you like some cold drinks this afternoon? I can have someone bring them over.]
[No need, no need. I’m not thirsty. Thank you, sir.]
【What about ice cream?】
【No, thank you, sir.】
“……” Tan Sizhe unconsciously furrowed his ink-wash-painting-like brows. “Why?”
“Huh?” Bai Yu glanced at the rearview mirror. “What do you mean, why? Are you asking about the case opened by the resort?”
“Why,” Tan Sizhe stared coldly at the screen, “is he not spending my money?”
“……” Bai Yu nearly veered off course, gripping the wheel tightly, utterly bewildered. “Huh?”
“Check Mingxuan’s bank statements for today.” Tan Sizhe tapped his phone.
Bai Yu: “Huh??!”…
A University Confession Wall: “Looking for the guy in the photo! Saw him in the cafeteria today—how can someone be both handsome and beautiful?!”
“Wow, seriously? When did our school get such a rare gem?”
“Isn’t that Ye Mingxuan from Civil Engineering? I remember he wasn’t this handsome at the start of semester.”
“That back-to-school photo was so outdated. Not that he looked old-fashioned—it was just the clothes didn’t suit him. Plus his hair was too long, hiding his eyes.”
“Damn it, I knew it! Even those dowdy clothes and overly long bangs couldn’t hide his world-class beauty! Just change his wardrobe and his looks would shine to the max, hahaha!”
“Such delicate skin studying civil engineering? It breaks my heart, sis. He has this melancholic aura, more like a painter.”
“When I first saw him, I thought he was studying art—he’s so full of artistic flair.”
Slam! Ye Yufan slammed her phone face-down on the table, grinding her teeth in anger.
“Yufan, don’t be angry.” Wang Zilu handed her the milk tea. “Ye Mingxuan really did look quite handsome today.”
“What’s so nice about it? It’s just some two-hundred-yuan knockoff from a street vendor!”
“Is he wearing knockoffs?”
“Of course! No brand label on the clothes—definitely street vendor stuff.”
Ye Yufan stretched out his arm. “What I’m wearing is the Cloreza Rainforest Collection. Now that’s high-end.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Zilu sat beside him. “Yufan, do you have a lot more luxury brands at home?”
“Of course!”
“Could you show us around? We’d love to see them!”
“Sure. Come over on the weekend, and I’ll give you the tour.”
“Great!”
Ye Yufan didn’t know that Ye Mingxuan was wearing a custom-made piece by internationally renowned designer Qi Lin.
At that moment, the designer’s creation was draped over Ye Mingxuan as he slept, face down on his desk.
Ye Mingxuan had intended to pay attention in class, but the history lecture held a peculiar magic that lulled him into drowsiness.
So, not long into the lecture, Ye Mingxuan joined the students in the back rows, all lying face-down on their desks asleep.
By the time they woke up, class had ended.
Ye Mingxuan felt guilty, thinking he’d let down Tan Sizhe, who’d given him the iPad.
Lin Jiale opened her eyes, yawned deeply, and saw everyone chattering away. “Huh? Class isn’t over yet?”
“……”
When Ye Mingxuan returned home, Aunt Fu came out to greet him. “Mr. Mingxuan, back so early today?”
“Yeah, only one class this afternoon.”
“Well then, the master had some snacks delivered. Please have some, Mr. Mingxuan.”
Aunt Fu brought out trays of fruit and pastries, along with matcha Oreo shaved ice.
“Mr. Mingxuan, try some.”
Ye Mingxuan looked at the delicacies on the coffee table and swallowed hard.
He walked over to the sofa, set down his bag, sat down, and scooped up the ice cream, eating it slowly with small bites from the spoon.
Since marrying his master, he had eaten more delicious things than in the previous decade.
Ye Mingxuan ate quietly, making no chewing sounds, leaving no crumbs or spills.
He popped a grape into his mouth, its sweet-tart juice bursting in his mouth.
After eating so quietly for half an hour, Tan Sizhe returned.
Ye Mingxuan stood up: “Sir.”
Tan Sizhe slipped on his slippers, walked over, and sat beside him. Ye Mingxuan felt the warmth radiating from Tan Sizhe’s sun-kissed skin, a cozy heat in the air-conditioned living room.
He pushed the fruit platter toward Tan Sizhe and withdrew his hand to clutch the throw pillow.
For some reason, Ye Mingxuan sensed Tan Sizhe was in a bad mood.
Was it something at work?
Tan Sizhe speared a piece of seedless watermelon with a silver fork. “Sweet?”
Ye Mingxuan nodded. “Mm.”
“What about the ice cream? How’s this flavor?”
“It’s delicious, thank you, sir.”
Ye Mingxuan stared at the ice cream, its surface pockmarked with indentations he’d left behind, and decided against handing it to Tan Sizhe.
He stood up. “Would you like some, sir? I can get you a fresh one.”
“No need,” Tan Sizhe grabbed his arm with a large hand, applying gentle pressure. Ye Mingxuan sat back down, the soft sofa cushioning him slightly.
Ye Mingxuan murmured an “Oh” and hugged the pillow.
The living room was eerily quiet, only the cool breeze from the air conditioner blowing.
Ye Mingxuan felt chilled and rubbed his arms.
“Cold? There’s a blanket in the bedroom.”
“No need, I’m fine.”
“Why?”
