Tan Sizhe put the box back and walked to the balcony to find Ye Mingxuan. Ye Mingxuan spotted him: “Sir.”
“Yangyang wants to come over to our place to play. Would you be willing?”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes lit up. “Yangyang? Sure, sure.”
Tan Sizhe fell silent. Ye Mingxuan seemed happier hearing about Yangyang than seeing him. Why? Was it because they rarely met?
Had Ye Mingxuan lost his novelty for him? They’d only been married half a year—was he already facing the seven-year itch?
His heart clenched suddenly. Ye Mingxuan caught Tan Sizhe’s fleeting emotion and asked, “Honey, what’s wrong?”
Tan Sizhe shook his head and stood up. “Nothing. I’ll have Yangyang over for dinner tomorrow night.”
Ye Mingxuan hummed in acknowledgment, watching Tan Sizhe’s heavy footsteps as he left. His mouth opened to call him back, but hesitation closed it again.
Aunt Fu noticed the heavy silence in the house. Both Ye Mingxuan and Tan Sizhe seemed preoccupied, exchanging fewer words at the dinner table.
She tried her best to liven things up, but the two men only offered polite, half-hearted responses.
No way. Not long after Mr. Mingxuan got depressed, now Mr. Tan is too?
Why? Aunt Fu glanced around the room, thinking perhaps the space lacked sufficient yang energy. She deliberately pulled open every curtain in the house.
The next day, Yangyang arrived. The moment he entered, he started clamoring, “Cousin! I wanna play computer games!”
Tan Sizhe: “Eat first. You can play for a bit after dinner.”
Yangyang gave a half-hearted “Okay” and started walking toward the dining table, but Tan Sizhe grabbed him by the collar.
Tan Sizhe: “After eating, take Mingxuan brother to play too. Ask him what he likes.”
Yangyang, wise beyond his years: “Got it, got it! Can’t stand you married folks—trying to surprise each other but always beating around the bush.”
Tan Sizhe: “…”
Ye Mingxuan descended the stairs, spotted Yangyang, and called out to him with a smile. Yangyang scampered over, clinging to him like a little butterfly fluttering around Ye Mingxuan.
Tan Sizhe: “…” He pulled Yangyang back again. “Keep your distance.”
Today’s dinner table was livelier than usual. Yangyang chattered nonstop—one moment recounting his “romantic escapades” at school, the next sharing the latest games he’d been playing.
Ye Mingxuan listened attentively while serving Yangyang food. As Yangyang wolfed down his meal, rice grains clung to his mouth, and Ye Mingxuan gently wiped them away.
Seeing Yangyang, Ye Mingxuan thought of the child growing inside him, his heart softening. If only his child could be as adorable as Yangyang.
Ye Mingxuan glanced down at his belly, his anticipation for the child’s arrival growing stronger.
Yangyang puckered his lips, basking in Ye Mingxuan’s care. Turning his head, he caught Tan Sizhe staring at him intently. Yangyang shuddered.
Ye Mingxuan: “What’s wrong?”
Yangyang: “N-nothing! No need for you to fuss over me, cousin! Ha ha, I can feed myself!”
Ye Mingxuan nodded: “Oh, eat up then. You’re still growing.”
Yangyang buried his head in stuffing a chicken drumstick, thinking his cousin was being way too stingy.
Tonight Yangyang was staying in the guest room. Ye Mingxuan felt a child visiting like this deserved extra care, but Yangyang insisted it wasn’t necessary.
Tan Sizhe told Ye Mingxuan, “You go rest. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded, his belly protruding as he headed upstairs. Tan Sizhe closed the door and called Yangyang over: “How’s the task I gave you?”
Yangyang shook his head: “Didn’t get anything else out of him. Just that he likes drawing.”
Tan Sizhe fell silent for two seconds before sighing: “Got it. Go to bed early. Auntie told you not to stay up late.” “
Yangyang: “Got it.”
Tan Sizhe closed Yangyang’s door and went upstairs to find Ye Mingxuan. As he approached the study door, he saw Ye Mingxuan placing the bracelet box into his backpack.
Hearing the sound, Ye Mingxuan turned around, hastily zipping up his backpack before walking over. “Sir.”
Tan Sizhe lowered his eyes: “Go take a shower.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded: “Okay.”
He wasn’t sure if Tan Sizhe had seen the box. Judging by Tan Sizhe’s unruffled expression, he probably hadn’t? Ye Mingxuan flashed Tan Sizhe a smile and headed toward the bedroom.
Tan Sizhe’s gaze lingered quietly on Ye Mingxuan’s backpack before he lowered his eyes and closed the door….
Yangyang only stayed at their home for one day. The next morning, Tan Jing came to pick him up, and the two stayed for lunch.
Before leaving, Tan Jing handed Tan Sizhe tickets to an art exhibition: “I heard you wanted to see Qi Lin’s show. An old classmate gave me a few tickets the other day—these are practically impossible to get. Remember to thank me.”
Tan Sizhe: “Thanks, Auntie. I’ll treat you to dinner when I go.”
Tan Jing: “Alright, gotta go—Mingxuan!”
Ye Mingxuan stepped out. Tan Jing winked at him: “Come visit us next time!”
“Sure!” Ye Mingxuan replied happily.
Tan Jing left, and soon after, Tan Sizhe headed to the office. Ye Mingxuan finally had time to focus on his own affairs.
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked to the commercial district. Finding a DIY silver jewelry shop, he discussed prices with the clerk. Satisfied with the cost, he sat down, took out the bracelet, and pondered what inscription to engrave on it.
Ye Mingxuan knew this bracelet was inexpensive for Tan Sizhe, and he also knew simply giving this gift would seem half-hearted.
So Ye Mingxuan planned to engrave something on the back of the silver clasp to make it more special.
After finalizing the design, he began working. The shop was quiet. The owner, a woman with chestnut curls framing her cheeks, was curled up on the sofa texting a friend: 【You’re nearby? Could you grab me a drink? That place doesn’t do delivery, and I’m busy with customers here.】
The other person replied, “Okay.” The boss glanced over at Ye Mingxuan’s table but saw him engrossed in his work and didn’t want to disturb him, so he lowered his head to play with his phone.
Half an hour later, Yu Sen arrived carrying drinks. Jian Dan looked up: “You’re finally here! I’m practically dying of thirst!”
Yu Sen: “The line at that place you mentioned was crazy long. I waited forever to get these.”
Jian Dan took the drinks: “Thanks. You won’t believe who came into my shop today—this incredibly handsome guy.”
Yu Sen: ?
Jian Dan pointed in a direction: “Over there.”
Yu Sen followed her gaze and spotted a familiar face.
Ye Mingxuan was buried in work when someone tapped his table corner. He looked up, surprised: “Brother Yu Sen?”
Yu Sen sat across from him: “What a coincidence! The owner here is my friend. I came to deliver drinks and ran into you.”
Jian Dan observed them. “You two know each other? You should’ve said so earlier! Since you’re Yu Sen’s friend, I’ll give you a discount!”
Ye Mingxuan hadn’t expected such a coincidence either. Jian Dan placed two glasses of lemonade beside them. “Take your time chatting. Could you keep an eye on the shop for me? I need to step out.”
Yu Sen: “Aren’t you afraid we’ll rob you?”
Jian Dan took her bag off the wall and headed out. “If we do rob you, that’s fine. I’ve been wanting to change jobs anyway.”
Yu Sen: “You’re
Yu Sen: “Aren’t you afraid we’ll rob the place?”
Jian Dan grabbed his bag from the wall and headed out: “If you do rob it, great—I’ve been wanting to change jobs for ages.”
Ye Mingxuan sat on a small stool watching their conversation. After Jian Dan left, only Yu Sen and him remained. Yu Sen turned and noticed the items on the table: “Did you come here to get engraving done?”
“Yeah.”
“This bracelet… did you buy it as a gift?” Yu Sen froze. He recognized the bracelet—it cost over four thousand yuan. In his mind, Ye Mingxuan wouldn’t buy something like this for himself. If he did buy it, it must be a gift for someone.
Thinking of Tan Sizhe, Ye Mingxuan gave a faint smile: “Yeah.”
Yu Sen’s heart began to race wildly. He remembered the last concert, when Ye Mingxuan had looked at him with that same smile—beautiful and endearing.
So this bracelet was meant for him?
Yu Sen had previously worried that Ye Mingxuan had someone he liked, but now it seemed his concerns were unnecessary.
At this thought, Yu Sen’s fair cheeks flushed slightly. “Actually, it’s fine if you don’t engrave anything. As long as the sentiment is there, whoever receives it will love whatever gift you give.”
“Really?” Ye Mingxuan’s mood lifted considerably upon hearing this. “But I’ve already started engraving. I might as well finish it.”
Yu Sen nodded quietly, holding his lemon water. He sipped while watching Ye Mingxuan, whose eyes sparkled with a soft, gentle radiance.
Ye Mingxuan now carried an innate magnetism. Simply standing there, he seemed bathed in a holy glow, radiant and dazzling.
Yu Sen struggled to describe it, only knowing his heart fluttered more and more for Ye Mingxuan.
“Who are you people?!” Jian Dan’s voice echoed from the doorway. Ye Mingxuan and Yu Sen turned to see her storming in, fuming. “Some shady person was lurking by the door just now, filming something.”
Yu Sen: “You don’t recognize him?”
Jian Dan: “No.”
Yu Sen: “Maybe he just thought your shop decorations were beautiful.”
Jian Dan: “Really? Then I’ll allow him to take a few photos.”
Ye Mingxuan watched the bustling entrance, feeling a vague unease he couldn’t quite pinpoint.
…
The vast CEO’s office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Bai Yu, unusually serious, observed Tan Sizhe’s expression.
Tan Sizhe stared at the scattered photos on the desk. Picking one up, Ye Mingxuan’s bright smile with Yu Sen stabbed painfully into his eyes.
Freshness? Tan Sizhe closed his eyes, feeling nearly suffocated.
Bai Yu said, “I think there must be some misunderstanding here.”
“Even though you two haven’t known each other for half a year and your relationship isn’t solid, even though Ye Mingxuan always meets with him behind your back, even though Ye Mingxuan has been cold toward you lately, it doesn’t necessarily mean he likes someone else!”
Tan Sizhe crumpled the photo, his sharp gaze piercing Bai Yu. Bai Yu surrendered: “I won’t say another word.”
Recalling Ye Mingxuan’s behavior these past days, Tan Sizhe felt as if a chunk had been carved out of his heart, only to have scalding oil poured over it.
Is he the reason you’ve lost all appetite?
“They knew each other long before this,” Tan Sizhe stated, his words hanging in the air.
Bai Yu froze. “You mean… Ye Mingxuan had someone else in his heart before marrying you?”
Tan Sizhe remained silent. Ye Mingxuan had been forced into this marriage. He’d only confirmed she’d never had a boyfriend—but whether she harbored feelings for someone else? He had no idea.
He’d always assumed Yu Sen’s affection for Ye Mingxuan was one-sided, so he’d never given Yu Sen a second thought. But now…
Seeing Tan Sizhe’s grim expression, Bai Yu sensed the gravity of the situation. “Mr. Tan, are you okay?”
Bai Yu: “Oh…” He stood up to leave, glancing back once before closing the door.
Wang Xu had been waiting by the door for ages. As Bai Yu emerged, he muttered incessantly: “It’s over. It’s all over.”
“What’s over?”
Bai Yu: “Mr. Tan is genuinely heartbroken this time.”
…
Ye Mingxuan hadn’t finished carving the characters yet. He left the bracelet at the shop for safekeeping and headed home before dinner.
As soon as he entered the house, Aunt Fu came up to him: “Mr. Mingxuan, you’re finally back!”
Ye Mingxuan: “?”
Aunt Fu: Hurry upstairs and see what’s wrong. The master came home in a foul mood and has locked himself in his room.”
Ye Mingxuan glanced up at the stairs, unsure what had happened. Aunt Fu’s words suggested Tan Sizhe was in a terrible state.
He set down his bag and headed toward the bedroom. The second floor was usually quiet, but today it felt eerily still.
Ye Mingxuan knocked on the door, turned the knob, and entered. He found Tan Sizhe lying on the bed, buried deep under the covers.
“Sir?” Ye Mingxuan’s heart tightened, fearing Tan Sizhe might be ill. He hurried to the bedside and crouched down. “Sir, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Tan Sizhe struggled to open his eyes. Ye Mingxuan noticed the slight redness around his eyes. The man’s voice was hoarse. “Nothing. Just sleepy.”
Ye Mingxuan exhaled in relief. “Glad to hear it. Are you very tired, sir? I won’t disturb your rest then.”
“Don’t go,” Tan Sizhe grabbed Ye Mingxuan’s arm.
Ye Mingxuan paused, crouching back down. “Sir?”
Tan Sizhe’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Against the gray bedding, his complexion looked pale. “Don’t leave. Stay here with me.”
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