After Xie Yizhao went upstairs, Xie Heng also returned to his room and thought for a long time.

Although he didn’t fully grasp what his Dad meant, he decided to follow his Dad advice and convince Xu Jiaming to talk to his Mom.

At the very least, there was one thing his Dad said that stuck with him. This might not be a dead end, which meant the situation wasn’t as bad as they had thought.

He trusted his Dad’s judgment.

Whether it would work or not, he had to try. Doing something was better than doing nothing.

He truly considered Xu Jiaming a friend, and besides, Xu Jiaming had helped him a lot. He hoped Xu Jiaming could stay.

---

While the father and son were having a rare heart-to-heart, Lu Xi was also having dinner with Yang Yihan.

And Lu Xi learned a shocking secret from her.

The night before, she had invited Lu Xi out. She had just returned with Xu Jiaming and planned to stay for a few days, so she was free to meet up.

Since a friend had invited her, Lu Xi definitely had to go. She and Yang Yihan had always gotten along well, and they hadn’t seen each other for over a month since Yang Yihan had been filming in another city.

After work, Lu Xi asked her driver to take her directly to the restaurant. Yang Yihan arrived early and was waiting in a private room.

When she saw Lu Xi, Yang Yihan was delighted and pulled her to sit down.

“The dress you designed for me for Christmas was absolutely stunning! I wore it to a celebration party, and so many people asked about the designer.”

Lu Xi smiled and said, “Well, thank you for promoting my little shop! But a beautiful dress needs a beautiful person to bring it to life.”

The two exchanged compliments, and the atmosphere remained lively.

During dinner, Yang Yihan ordered a bottle of wine.

Lu Xi was tempted but politely declined, saying that she was too much of a lightweight and would just stick to juice.

Yang Yihan simply smiled and didn’t insist. Since Lu Xi wasn’t drinking, she drank by herself.

A gathering between women, with good food and drinks, plus their natural chemistry, meant there was no shortage of conversation. Lu Xi was having a great time, but by the time she realized something was off, Yang Yihan had already finished more than half the bottle on her own.

Lu Xi : “…” Huh?

She wasn’t sure about Yang Yihan’s alcohol tolerance.

For someone with a high tolerance, this might not be much, but drinking should still be done in moderation. It wasn’t good for Yang Yihan’s health to drink too much.

Lu Xi advised her, “You should drink less. You still have to go home later.”

Unexpectedly, the word ‘home’ struck a nerve with Yang Yihan, and she suddenly became overwhelmed with sorrow, covering her face and crying.

Lu Xi was stunned.

Her eyes widened in panic as she quickly moved closer to comfort Yang Yihan, handing her tissues to wipe her tears.

“Did something happen at work?”

But Lu Xi clearly remembered that Yang Yihan had a film releasing during the Spring Festival, and its box office and reviews were both great. She had even taken the two Xie’s to the theater to support Yang Yihan.

“No… it’s about my family.” Yang Yihan spoke in a muffled, sorrowful voice.

Lu Xi frowned.

Her son, Xu Jiaming, was a well-behaved, sensible child—the model son. There was no way he could have upset Yang Yihan.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Lu Xi’s mind. “Could it be… your ex-husband?”

Yang Yihan shot her a quick, wary glance.

She hadn’t planned to say anything, but at that moment, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

To her family, she had to be strong. To her agent and assistants, they were just colleagues, she couldn’t confide in them. Only with a friend could she truly speak freely.

Though she hadn’t known Lu Xi for long, they got along well. And now that Lu Xi had brought up her ex-husband, her emotions completely unraveled.

She poured out everything that had happened over the Spring Festival.

Including her plan to send Xu Jiaming abroad to escape from her ex-husband.

Lu Xi was utterly shocked.

Was this man for real? He cheated and ran off before, leaving Xu Jiaming behind without a second thought. Now he had the nerve to come back, shamelessly claiming his son? His face was truly thick.

Lu Xi finally understood why Yang Yihan had been crying.

She could now deeply relate to the feelings of a mother.

Matters between adults could be solved with divorce. As long as he stayed far, far away, no one cared about him. But when it came to the child, that was a different story. That was her weakness, too.

“But… are you really going to send Xiao Xu abroad? Isn’t that a bit too drastic?”

From Yang Yihan’s description of her ex-husband, he was ambitious yet impractical, obsessed with speculative business ventures, vain, and prideful. A man like that, who cared so much about appearances, wouldn’t push things too far if he wanted to save face.

He claimed he wanted to mend his relationship with his son and take care of him in the future.

But Lu Xi suspected the real reason was that he was drowning in debt and wanted to use this as leverage to force Yang Yihan into paying for him.

Hearing Lu Xi’s words, Yang Yihan nodded. “He already hinted at it, exactly that. I know I could get rid of him with money, but if I give in this time, he’ll taste the benefits and come back to threaten me again!”

Yang Yihan gritted her teeth in hatred, unwilling to be controlled by him like this.

Lu Xi patted her hand. “I get it. Using your own son to threaten you? What a piece of trash.”

Yang Yihan let out a deep sigh and fell into a long silence before finally speaking. “He’s using Xiao Ming’s parentage to blackmail me… Xiao Ming is actually my sister’s child. I adopted him.”

Lu Xi was momentarily speechless.

She never expected Xu Jiaming to have such a complicated background.

Now she understood why Yang Yihan was in such a dilemma. She had worked so hard to keep this secret all these years, just so Xu Jiaming could grow up without worries.

A sudden thought crossed her mind. “Does Xiao Xu himself know?”

Yang Yihan shook her head.

She and her sister had been very close. When they were young, their family had struggled financially, and it was her sister who worked to pay for her education.

After her sister got married and gave birth to a child, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. The treatment was expensive, and Xu Jiaming’s biological father took all their savings and ran, abandoning the infant. He had never been seen since.

At that time, Yang Yihan had just graduated. By sheer luck, she was scouted by an agent and landed a commercial, which kickstarted her career in the entertainment industry.

With the money she earned, she tried to fund her sister’s treatment. But the cancer was already in its late stages. After a few months of struggle, her sister passed away.

At that time, Yang Yihan’s career was just beginning to take off. Despite opposition from many, she insisted on adopting the child.

Back then, even her ex-husband had supported her decision. The whole family agreed to keep Xu Jiaming’s true parentage a secret, believing it was a way to protect him.

Yang Yihan clenched her fists. “I never thought he’d use this against me now. He’s saying that if I don’t pay his debts, he’ll tell Xiao Ming that he’s not my biological son!”

Lu Xi’s heart skipped a beat.

Xiao Heng had once mentioned that Xu Jiaming wanted to become a neurosurgeon in the future…

A strange thought crept into her mind. Could it be that Xu Jiaming already knew?

After all, that child was extraordinarily intelligent.

---

Lu Xi returned home, still lost in thought.

She had comforted Yang Yihan for a long time. Fortunately, after crying for a while and getting a little drunk, Yang Yihan ended up venting her anger by cursing her ex-husband. Lu Xi joined in without hesitation.

As they cursed, Lu Xi ended up taking a few sips of alcohol herself, which only made her curse even more vigorously. Before long, Yang Yihan had fallen asleep.

Lu Xi called the bodyguard to carry Yang Yihan to her assistant’s car so she could be taken home safely.

Lu Xi wasn’t sure if her suspicions were correct, so she decided to keep quiet for now.

But she felt awful.

She had barely eaten anything while talking to Yang Yihan, and now she didn’t have much of an appetite either. Instead, her head felt light, her chest tight, and her mood foul. She just wanted to curse someone out.

---

Xie Yizhao was in his study but had been paying attention to the sounds outside.

As soon as he heard Lu Xi return, he immediately put down his work and went to greet her.

Meanwhile, Xie Heng was in the living room playing video games. He moved even faster.

The moment he saw Lu Xi enter, her cheeks flushed and her steps unsteady, he quickly rushed over to support her.

“Ms. Lu, you’re doomed! You actually drank in secret outside? I’m telling my Dad on you!”

Xie Yizhao walked over and took Lu Xi from Xie Heng’s arms, letting her lean against him instead.

He pressed the back of his hand to her warm, rosy cheek and sighed helplessly. “How much did you drink?”

Lu Xi looked up at him.

Then, she grabbed his tie, glaring fiercely. “Xie Yizhao, are you a scumbag?”

Xie Yizhao met her intoxicated gaze and pursed his lips. “I’m not.”

“That’s good. If you dare to be a scumbag, I’ll break you first, then chop you up and feed you to the dogs!” Lu Xi frowned, her expression serious and full of disdain.

Xie Yizhao cleared his throat.

He suddenly felt a chill somewhere.

Then, Lu Xi raised her eyes and saw Xie Heng standing nearby, watching with a gloating expression.

She pointed a finger at him. “You—the one grinning like an idiot—are you a scumbag?”

Xie Heng’s smile froze.

He suddenly recalled Lu Xi’s earlier threat and felt a wave of panic.

His face turned pale. A drunk Ms. Lu was terrifying!

He quickly shook his head and swore, “I’m innocent! I don’t even have a girlfriend, who would I be a scumbag to?”

---

The three boys had been sitting in the fast-food restaurant for almost an hour.

After listening to Xu Jiaming talk about his family at the beginning, the atmosphere fell into silence.

Xie Heng didn’t even know what to say. At this moment, he couldn’t offer any advice or help his friend because this wasn’t the kind of problem they usually encountered at school. This wasn’t something that could be solved with a fight.

Even Song Siyang, who was usually a chatterbox, could only sit there anxiously.

They were still too young, what could they do? Even though they were all furious after hearing what had happened, even though they thought Xu Jiaming’s father was disgusting and their fists itched with the urge to hit that man, they knew that a beating wouldn’t solve this problem.

Ironically, Xu Jiaming seemed to be the calmest among them.

It wasn’t that he didn’t feel anger or hatred. On New Year’s Eve, when that man showed up at his grandmother’s house for the first time, if his grandmother hadn’t held him back, he would have gone up and beaten that man to a pulp.

Especially in the days that followed, seeing him act more and more shamelessly, relying on his status to get his way—Xu Jiaming, who had always been composed and well-mannered, couldn’t help but curse out loud.

But over the past ten days or so, he had calmed down a lot.

Especially when he saw how worried his grandmother and mother were. The more concerned they were, the more he had to suppress his emotions.

His grandfather had passed away two years ago. Now, he was the only man in the family. If he panicked now, they would have to take care of him instead, and that was the last thing Xu Jiaming wanted.

But he was still too young…

Xu Jiaming suddenly realized that even though he had always been the best among his peers, there was still so little he could do.

The only thing he could do was not cause them any trouble and follow his Mom’s arrangements.

He knew that with such a sudden change, Yang Yihan was the one worrying the most.

She was already busy with filming, and now, because of him, she had to turn down a project. She was supposed to join a production team after the New Year, but now she had to ask the director for leave to deal with his situation first.

Xu Jiaming’s eyes were dark and unreadable. He remained silent for a long time.

After finishing their meal, the three boys found the atmosphere dull, so they went back to their neighborhood to play basketball for a while. But none of them were really in the mood. The sun hadn’t even set yet, and they already felt restless and bored, deciding to head home early.

Xie Heng was always sharp.

And today, he paid special attention to Xu Jiaming’s emotions. While they were playing, he noticed several times that Xu Jiaming kept watching the road, his eyes wary of the cars passing by and the pedestrians on the sidewalk.

Xie Heng could guess why. Xu Jiaming was probably worried that his father would come looking for him.

On the way home, Song Siyang parted ways with them at an intersection, leaving just Xie Heng and Xu Jiaming.

When they were close to home, Xie Heng finally spoke up. “Actually, you don’t have to worry. Security here is really strict. Unless a resident brings him in, outsiders can’t just walk in.”

He had grown up here. He knew the rules well.

Xu Jiaming nodded.

He knew that too, but Xie Heng didn’t understand what kind of person his father was. His father used to be wealthy, and he had once owned a house here. Knowing other residents wasn’t out of the question. If that man really wanted to get in, that man would find a way.

“It’s fine. My Mom is already working on my paperwork to go abroad.” Xu Jiaming’s voice was calm, as if he had already come to terms with it.

But Xie Heng didn’t think this situation was ‘fine’ at all.

He felt that after this New Year, Xu Jiaming had faced so much trouble that he had become more reserved—more mature, even.

But Xie Heng didn’t think this kind of growth was a good thing…

“But do you actually want to leave? Do you really want to go?” Xie Heng stopped at his front door and asked.

Xu Jiaming lowered his gaze, pressed his lips together, then shook his head. “I don’t know.”

The question was meaningless.

Even if he didn’t want to go, what could he do? He knew his Mom wasn’t the kind of person to force him, and if he truly refused, she wouldn’t make him leave. But then, she would worry about him, maybe even stay behind to look after him.

And if that happened, what was the point? It was better for him to leave.

When Xie Heng got home, the first thing he did was look for Lu Xi.

He had gotten used to confiding in her whenever he had something on his mind.

But Lu Xi wasn’t home. The greenhouse was empty, and she wasn’t in the living room or the study either. When he asked the butler, he found out she hadn’t returned yet.

The butler said, “Madam said she was having dinner with a friend and would be back later.”

“I see…” Xie Heng frowned. “Which friend?”

The butler replied, “I think it’s the neighbor next door, Miss Yang.”

Xie Heng was momentarily stunned. Wasn’t that Xu Jiaming’s Mom?

He had overheard Lu Xi chatting with other ladies before, and they always talked about all sorts of things. He had a feeling that Xu Jiaming’s Mom had probably come to his Mom as a close friend for advice.

Maybe they were talking about that issue.

Suddenly, Xie Heng felt much more at ease.

This was a good thing! Maybe Ms. Lu could persuade Xu Jiaming’s Mom or help Xu Jiaming’s Mom come up with a solution. Maybe even a way for Xu Jiaming to stay.

Even though he knew the chances were slim, even if it didn’t work out, at the very least, Lu Xi could be there to comfort Xu Jiaming’s Mom.

Xie Heng had always felt that even though Lu Xi often bickered with him and left him speechless, when she actually wanted to console someone, she had a way of making them feel at ease.

He, for one, always enjoyed talking to her.

During dinner, Lu Xi still hadn’t returned, but Xie Yizhao arrived just in time.

Seeing only Xie Heng at the dining table, he glanced upstairs and asked, “Where’s your Mom?”

Xie Heng : “Went out with Xu Jiaming’s Mom next door.”

Xie Yizhao nodded, said nothing, and sat down to eat.

Dinner between father and son was just like their occasional breakfasts—always carrying a faint sense of awkwardness in the air.

Every time the butler saw them, he felt like they were two strangers forced to share a table at a restaurant.

Still, compared to before Madam arrived, the relationship between Master and Young Master had improved quite a bit. At least now, they could peacefully sit down and have a meal together, right?

When Madam was around, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. After dinner, the three of them would chat on the sofa or go for a walk together.

It was better when Madam was home…

The butler felt both comforted and worried, wondering when Master and Young Master would become closer.

He shook his head slightly and was about to go eat.

Just as he turned around, he witnessed something shocking.

Xie Heng picked up the plate of braised fish in front of him and placed it in front of Xie Yizhao. Then, he swapped it with the plate of vegetables in front of his Dad. “You like this, so eat it.”

Not only was the butler stunned, but even Xie Yizhao paused for a moment.

The butler remembered that Master did indeed like fish. On the other hand, Xie Heng, like Madam, found eating fish troublesome.

The maid who brought the food was new. Otherwise, the staff usually arranged the dishes according to the three family members’ preferences.

But that wasn’t the main point.

The real question was—what was going on with Young Master today? He was actually showing concern for Master!

Could he be running a fever?

Xie Yizhao didn’t have as many thoughts as the butler.

He just found his son’s behavior unusual today and vaguely felt that his emotions seemed off.

Xie Yizhao didn’t reject Xie Heng’s gesture. He picked up a piece of fish and put it into his bowl. After eating it slowly, he looked at Xie Heng and asked, “Do you need my help with something?”

Xie Heng was momentarily stunned.

He instinctively denied it. “No, why?”

Xie Yizhao smiled slightly. “Oh? Then why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”

Xie Heng choked for a second.

Why did it feel like his Dad was implying he was being suspiciously nice for no reason?

He scoffed, feeling a little aggrieved. “Come on, you’re my Dad. What’s wrong with me taking care of you a little? Seriously…”

Listening to his son grumble, Xie Yizhao raised an eyebrow. But the amusement in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he said, “Then I misunderstood you. My apologies.”

Hearing his Dad apologize, Xie Heng was startled again.

But his mood suddenly improved.

Not bad. His Dad admitted his mistake right away. That was a good trait. Unlike Xu Jiaming’s Dad, who had done so many wrong things and was still hurting his own son. Absolutely shameless.

Xie Heng looked at his Dad with newfound respect.

Seeing his son staring at him, eyes shining with what seemed like admiration, Xie Yizhao was at a loss for words.

During meals, Xie Yizhao wasn’t talkative, and neither was Xie Heng. So, father and son quietly finished eating.

When Xie Yizhao put down his chopsticks, signaling that he was done, Xie Heng suddenly called out, “Dad… wait a second.”

Xie Yizhao looked at him. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

He knew it. His son wasn’t being nice for no reason.

Xie Heng had thought it through before deciding to confide in Xie Yizhao.

His Dad wasn’t an ordinary person. His Dad was so capable. Maybe his Dad would have a way to help Xu Jiaming?

So, he explained what had happened to Xu Jiaming. Of course, he didn’t mention the name, just said it was a friend from school. After finishing, he asked, “Don’t you think his father is awful?”

That was a very childish way to put it.

Seeing his son’s indignant expression, Xie Yizhao remained calm, but he could understand Xie Heng’s feelings.

He had been Xie Heng’s age once. He understood how much friendships mattered at this stage, how one would get angry on behalf of a friend. It was a good thing.

But that didn’t mean he supported Xie Heng getting involved in someone else’s family matters.

So, he simply responded in a neutral tone, “Yes, that man is indeed a terrible father.”

Xie Heng didn’t notice that his Dad was only making an objective statement without any emotional involvement. He was happy to hear the agreement. “Right? He’s so awful. Do you have any way to help them?”

Xie Yizhao : “How do you want to help?”

“Well… drive his father away so he doesn’t have to go abroad?”

For Xie Yizhao, solving this problem wasn’t difficult. To a child, it might seem impossible, but in reality, it was just a matter of using the right connections and methods.

But this was someone else’s family business. He had no reason to intervene.

He wasn’t the overbearing CEO from the novels Lu Xi liked to read—the kind who meddled in everything just to show off his power.

Just as he was about to shake his head and refuse, he saw Xie Heng looking at him with wide, expectant eyes.

Xie Yizhao hesitated.

If he rejected his son outright, would that discourage him from ever seeking his help in the future?

Normally, Xie Heng only confided in Lu Xi.

Even though Xie Yizhao was self-aware enough to know this was probably because Lu Xi wasn’t around, leaving him as the only option, he still couldn’t help but feel a little happy.

He inexplicably felt a sense of relief, as if he had finally gotten a little closer to his son.

Besides, any friend who could make this little guy speak up on his own must be very important to him.

Xie Yizhao hoped that his son could have more genuine friends.

He looked out the window in the direction of Xu Jiaming’s house, already having some suspicions in his mind.

Xie Heng was still waiting for his Faf’s answer, completely unaware that the heavily censored story he had told had already been deciphered by his Dad.

Xie Yizhao spoke gently, “First, you need to confirm your friend’s own wishes. Does he really not want to go abroad?”

“He’s not happy about it anyway.”

Xie Yizhao objectively suggested, “Then you should persuade your friend to talk to his Mom himself and try to stay.”

Xie Heng looked troubled. “But what if his scumbag father keeps harassing him?”

Xie Yizhao shook his head and said calmly, “That’s something his parents need to handle. If he has an opinion, he can communicate with his Mom. She won’t ignore his thoughts… Besides, his family situation sounds complicated, but it might not be a dead end.”

There was one more thing Xie Yizhao didn’t say to Xie Heng directly.

In his view, this matter wasn’t serious enough to require immediately sending the child abroad. Instead, it seemed like Xu Jiaming’s mother was either feeling guilty about something or being threatened by her ex-husband.

If sending the child away was the only solution, then it seemed like all they needed to do was keep it from the child.

If the mother and son could talk things through, perhaps the problem could be resolved.

Xie Heng looked at his Dad’s authoritative yet gentle expression and nodded in half-understanding.

---

That night, Lu Xi originally planned to stay up late to celebrate the New Year and go to bed after midnight.

After dinner, she turned on the living room TV, which hadn’t been used in a long time. Like most families that night, she watched the Spring Festival Gala while snacking.

Lu Xi couldn’t remember the last time she had watched the Gala.

It must have been at least ten years. After she became more aware of things, every New Year’s Eve, she would find an excuse to go back to her room or go out to meet friends instead of watching the show with her Uncle, Aunt, and two younger cousins downstairs.

Even though they invited her every year, Lu Xi always felt that they, as a family, should have time to themselves—to truly enjoy their family reunion.

She never went to her Uncle and Aunt to complain, even when she once overheard her cousin telling someone at school that she was only staying with them because her parents had passed away and she had nowhere else to go.

She never told anyone that she once heard her Aunt ask her Uncle if they could convince her to apply to an out-of-town university so she wouldn’t be living with them anymore.

But in the end, Lu Xi still chose a local university.

She wouldn’t wrong herself just to accommodate someone else’s wishes. She wasn’t about to make a spiteful decision and go far away just because of one comment from her Aunt. However, after starting college, she only lived on campus for a short while before moving out to rent an apartment. She only occasionally returned to her Uncle’s place during the holidays.

After her parents passed away, they left her some assets, and after entering university, she also bought her own property. She was never reliant on staying with relatives.

But by then, she had already deeply understood one thing: only in her own home, with people who were truly family, could she feel relaxed and comfortable.

Like now. This was what a real New Year felt like.

To be honest, the Spring Festival Gala… was pretty boring. Neither Xie Yizhao nor Xie Heng found it entertaining.

But strangely enough, even though none of them enjoyed it, no one suggested changing the channel or leaving for their rooms.

The three of them sat on the sofa. Well, more accurately, only Xie Yizhao was properly sitting. Lu Xi lounged against him without a care, while Xie Heng lay on the opposite sofa, playing on his phone.

Each of them was engrossed in their own screen, with the Gala as nothing more than background noise. But it still felt lively.

After a while, Lu Xi got bored and suggested playing a game.

When it came to gaming, Xie Heng was the expert. He was already playing PUBG, and Lu Xi was intrigued, saying she wanted to join.

Xie Heng gave her a doubtful look. “Are you sure you know how to play this?”

Lu Xi : “If I don’t know, can’t I learn?”

“…” Could he even say no?

By the time his current round ended, Lu Xi had already convinced Xie Yizhao to download the game as well. She looked at Xie Heng expectantly. “Add us to your game!”

Little Xie exchanged a look with Old Xie, both seeing helpless indulgence in each other’s eyes.

Fine, might as well treat it like playing with parents for a festive family game night.

And so, staying up to watch the Gala turned into staying up to play games.

But within half an hour, Lu Xi lost interest. Her poor skills frustrated her, so she quit the game in irritation.

She grabbed a pillow, watching a skit on TV while occasionally glancing at Xie Yizhao’s gameplay.

She had to admit, he was pretty good.

His movements were smooth, his reactions quick, and he even figured out some settings on his own without Xie Heng’s guidance. By the third match, he and Xie Heng secured a win.

Lu Xi’s eyes sparkled, and she clapped enthusiastically like a seal.

“Wow, amazing! Are you sure this is your first time playing?” she asked, full of admiration. “Carry me next time!”

Xie Yizhao responded calmly, “It’s my first time, but carrying you won’t be a problem.”

Across from them, Xie Heng banged the table in protest. “I’m good at this too! Why don’t you ask me to carry you?”

Lu Xi shot back mercilessly, “Find a girlfriend first, then you can carry her.”

“…”

Xie Heng felt his Dad was getting ridiculous. His Dad had even learned how to carry a teammate in a game. Was this really his usually serious and stoic CEO Dad?

Lu Xi really wanted to stay up until midnight, but her biological clock was too strong. On top of that, she had drunk alcohol earlier, so by around 10:30 PM, she started feeling drowsy. Before long, she had dozed off against Xie Yizhao.

Xie Yizhao put down his phone, adjusted her head gently, and stroked her hair. In a soft voice, he asked, “Do you want to go to bed?”

Too sleepy to open her eyes, Lu Xi simply nodded.

With practiced ease, Xie Yizhao lifted her into his arms. Before heading upstairs, he glanced at Xie Heng. “You too, go to bed early.”

Judging from his Dad’s tone, it was clear his Dad wasn’t coming back downstairs.

Xie Heng swiftly got up, turned off the TV, exited the game, and followed his parents upstairs.

Since he was carrying Lu Xi, Xie Yizhao opted for the elevator to avoid waking her.

When they reached the second floor, Xie Heng stepped out.

Rubbing his ear, he quickly turned back and muttered, “Happy New Year in advance.”

Then, as if embarrassed, he rushed off to his room.

Soon after, Xie Yizhao heard the sound of his door closing—almost like he was in a hurry.

With gentle eyes, Xie Yizhao let out a quiet laugh. He looked down at Lu Xi, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, and his gaze grew even softer.

---

The New Year wasn’t as wonderful as Lu Xi had imagined.

She thought she could relax at home for a few days, enjoying her time freely, but she forgot one thing.

During the New Year, relatives and friends would come to visit.

Even though the Xie family didn’t have many relatives, there were still some, and with Xie Yizhao’s extensive connections, there were even more friends.

Not to mention others—just over a decade ago, when Xie Yizhao had first joined the Xie Corporation, he had fallen out with several uncles and forcibly removed their influence from the company. Back then, some of his relatives had hated him so much that they wished to never see him again.

But now? Those very same uncles were bringing their children and grandchildren over to visit him.

Xie Yizhao simply turned a blind eye, maintaining a surface-level peace.

As for their attitude toward Lu Xi, they were very polite, so polite that she could sense the deliberate effort behind it.

Their main goal? To curry favor.

Lu Xi found it somewhat exasperating, but as long as the visitors were respectful, she responded in kind, keeping things cordial. However, for those who tried to butter her up with luxury bags and watches, hoping to use her to get closer to Xie Yizhao for benefits, she flatly refused to accept any gifts, smiling as she returned them.

Her reason was straightforward and irrefutable: “I already have these. Giving me more would be pointless.”

The smarter ones immediately understood her rejection.

Then there were those who were either too slow to catch on or simply pretending not to understand, continuing to bring up the topic.

For such situations, Lu Xi had her own way of handling things.

She would smile and bring up Xie Heng. “Oh, by the way, my son has been doing great this year! This semester, his grades improved by nearly a hundred ranks. How about your child’s grades?”

Coincidentally—or perhaps not—most of these relatives’ children were academic underachievers…

And so, the conversation usually hit a dead end right there.

Once, while passing through the living room, Xie Heng happened to overhear Lu Xi bragging about him.

He was baffled. He had only improved by 88 ranks in total over two exams, so where did the extra twelve come from?

After the guests left, he couldn’t help but ask Lu Xi about it.

Lu Xi blinked innocently. “Rounding up.”

Xie Heng : “Thanks, I never knew that’s how rounding worked.”

Lu Xi patted his shoulder encouragingly. “Keep it up! Praise leads to progress. You’ll improve even more next semester.”

“That’s a given,” Xie Heng replied confidently.

He considered his winter break quite fulfilling.

After the New Year holiday, Lu Xi’s studio resumed work. She gave each employee a red envelope to start the year, not a huge amount—666 yuan¹ per person—but enough to make everyone happy.

That included Xie Heng.

She called each employee into her office individually to hand out the red envelopes and discuss their goals for the year. After all, as the boss, she needed to maintain good relationships with her team.

When it was Xie Heng’s turn, she handed him a red envelope with a smile. “New Year’s red envelope, good luck and success in your studies! Be a good boy.”

Xie Heng’s mouth twitched.

Studying hard was fine, but what was with the “be a good boy” part?

But with the red envelope right in front of him, tempting him, he took it anyway. Clearing his throat, he tried to act composed. “Got it. When have I ever not been good?”

Lu Xi tilted her head and unceremoniously recalled, “Hmm… we could trace it back to last year, when you refused to acknowledge me as your Mom and accused me of forging a paternity test.”

“…” Xie Heng’s face darkened. “Can we not bring up black history?”

Lu Xi, ever good-natured, agreed, “Alright, I won’t mention it anymore this year. I’ll bring it up next year when I give you another red envelope.”

Xie Heng rolled his eyes and left her office.

Having his past mistakes brought up? Not fun.

But getting a red envelope, and knowing he’d get another next year? That was pretty nice.

On the first day of the New Year, his Dad and Ms. Lu gave him a red envelope.

During breakfast, Lu Xi dangled the red envelope in front of him. “Say ‘Happy New Year’ to me and your Dad, and you’ll get your red envelope.”

Xie Heng didn’t hesitate in the slightest. “Happy New Year!”

He took the red envelope, but something felt off.

It was thin.

So thin that he could barely feel any money inside.

Seeing his reaction, Xie Yizhao chuckled knowingly. “Go ahead and open it.”

Xie Heng opened the envelope and pulled out a thin slip of paper—a bank deposit certificate.

His eyes widened as he read the number.

One million?

He looked up in disbelief at Xie Yizhao and Lu Xi. “Are you sure this is for me?”

He knew his family was wealthy, and a million wasn’t much for his Dad, but he had never held so much money in his own hands before.

Xie Yizhao explained, “Your Mom and I each contributed 500,000. It’s in a fixed deposit for three years. By then, you’ll be in college, and you can use it however you like. Buy a car, start a business, it’s up to you.”

Lu Xi curved her almond eyes at him with a smile. “Consider this a growth fund for my little cub. How you spend it is entirely up to you.”

After all this time, Xie Heng had long since grown accustomed to her calling him little cub.

It was a little embarrassing, a little cheesy, but also very endearing—like he was a cherished little kid.

Now, standing outside Lu Xi’s office, holding the red envelope she had just given him, Xie Heng felt his palm grow warm and his heartbeat quicken.

He was beyond happy.

She had already given him a huge red envelope once before, and now she was giving him another one. Ms. Lu truly loved him.

Xie Heng felt completely surrounded by her affection, and he was absolutely certain of it.

Back at his desk, he couldn’t resist pulling out his phone, snapping a picture of the red envelope, and preparing to send it to the group chat with Song Siyang and Xu Jiaming.

For once, he finally understood why Lu Xi loved posting on social media.

Because when one’s happy, they just want to show off!

A few days ago, when he received the big red envelope, he’d been tempted to share it then, but he held back. The amount was too large, and flaunting it wouldn’t have been appropriate. In this regard, he was a lot like Xie Yizhao: both preferred making money in a low-key manner.

But today’s 666 yuan? That was totally fair game!

Xie Heng opened the group chat, just about to send the picture, when he saw three new messages from a minute ago.

Song Siyang : [Damn it, winter break is almost over! Ahhh, I’m gonna lose my mind!]

Xu Jiaming : [I might be transferring schools next semester.]

Song Siyang : [?]

Xie Heng froze for a moment, then quickly sent a question mark of his own.

[You’re transferring? To First High? Isn’t that school about the same as ours?]

It was nearly five minutes before Xu Jiaming finally replied.

[I might be going abroad for school.]

---

At 12:30, Xie Heng took the subway to a commercial pedestrian street and met up with Xu Jiaming and Song Siyang at a fast-food restaurant.

They had both just arrived as well.

It was Song Siyang’s idea to meet up in person. Some things were hard to explain over text.

They hadn’t seen much of each other this winter break. As soon as vacation started, Xu Jiaming went to his grandmother’s place in another city for the New Year, while Song Siyang traveled abroad with his parents.

Just this morning, Song Siyang had wanted to gather everyone for a basketball game, only to be blindsided by Xu Jiaming’s sudden transfer news.

He was going abroad? Wasn’t that way too abrupt?

Xie Heng ordered some food, absentmindedly stuffing a french fry into his mouth as he asked, “Did something happen?”

Like Song Siyang, he found the news shocking.

With Xu Jiaming’s grades, he could easily get into the country’s top universities and have a great future.

Xu Jiaming was silent for a moment before answering, “It was my Mom’s decision.”

Xie Heng and Song Siyang exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening.

No matter how rebellious they could be, they knew that when a parent made a decision, it was hard for a child to change it.

Especially as outsiders, they were in no position to interfere.

“But… why?” Xie Heng couldn’t help but ask. “Is it to give you a better education?”

Xu Jiaming shook his head, the corners of his lips pulling into a bitter smile. His usually bright, clear eyes were now shadowed. “It’s because of my father.”

The way he said ‘father’ was filled with undisguised disgust.

It was not indifference like Xie Heng’s feelings toward Xie Yizhao. No, this was outright loathing.

Xie Heng knew that Xu Jiaming’s parents had divorced early. He had never brought up his father before, and they had never asked.

Even Xu Jiaming himself hadn’t expected to ever cross paths with that man again.

His parents divorced when he was six years old. He remembered it clearly. His father had cheated, leaving his Mom for another woman who wasn’t as beautiful or as elegant as she was.

At the time, he hadn’t understood what cheating meant. He only knew, from his Mom’s reaction, that it was something terrible.

After the divorce, his father took the other woman abroad. Over the years, he only made the occasional perfunctory phone call, showing no real concern.

Then, on New Year’s Eve, his father suddenly showed up at his grandmother’s house, kneeling at the door and insisting on seeing him.

The commotion drew the attention of all the neighbors.

Yang Yihan was furious and had her assistant drive him away.

But a grown man wasn’t so easily deterred. From that day on, he showed up at his grandmother’s house every day, making a scene.

Yang Yihan quickly found out that he had lost everything to gambling. His house, his car, even his shares in his company. His mistress had left him, and a serious illness had left him a shadow of his former self.

Xu Jiaming saw through it all. Lowering his gaze, he murmured, “Now that he has nothing left, he suddenly remembers he has a son and wants me to take care of him.”

There was no way Yang Yihan would let that man ruin Xu Jiaming’s life.

Knowing that the man had Xu Jiaming’s address and school information, and that the man could harass him anytime, she decided the best way to protect her son was to send him abroad, far away from that wretched man.

Xie Heng frowned deeply as he listened.

Aunt Yang was absolutely right. If that wasn’t a wretched man, what was?

Looking at Xu Jiaming, Xie Heng suddenly thought of his own Dad.

It might not be the best time for this, but… compared to this scumbag, his Dad suddenly seemed like a great man.

He used to resent his Dad so much, but at least his Dad had never abandoned him or kicked him out…

Maybe it was time to stop butting heads with Old Xie so much.

He should be a little nicer to his Dad.

---

1. In Chinese culture, the number 666 is considered a very lucky number. It means that things are going smoothly and successfully. The number is pronounced as “liù liù liù” (六六六), which sounds similar to “liū liū liū” (溜溜溜), a phrase that means “everything goes smoothly.” ↩︎

---

It was impossible for Lu Xi to make a choice.

All she could do was blink innocently at the two men, trying to get away with playing cute.

Xie Heng looked completely unimpressed, while Lu Xi immediately furrowed her brows and took the offensive. “Why are you still standing here? Shouldn’t you be packing up and heading to work? Do you still want your salary or not?”

Xie Heng begrudgingly shut his mouth. “Fine, CEO Lu, you win.”

As he stormed out of the walk-in closet, Lu Xi swiftly turned around and planted a quick peck on a certain man’s lips. “Alright, alright, you’re the most handsome. The kid won’t be able to compete with you for at least another ten years.”

Xie Yizhao remained silent.

He couldn’t shake the suspicion. If Xie Heng asked again next time, would Lu Xi just brush him off like this too?

Lu Xi smiled at him meaningfully. “But honestly, I’d rather not eat burnt tomato and egg stir-fry or exploding fish-fragrant shredded pork. CEO Xie, let’s leave the New Year’s Eve dinner to the professionals, shall we?”

With that, she quickly made her escape.

There was no helping it, someone had to tell the hard truths. The kitchen and the chefs at home had already been through enough; no need to torment them further.

It was just a mess this time, but next time, the kitchen might actually explode.

Xie Yizhao : “…” He felt completely wronged.

---

Most of the pre-New Year’s workload had wrapped up, at least at Lu Xi’s small studio. With only a few days left before the holiday, the office atmosphere had noticeably slackened.

Lu Xi didn’t mind.

As long as everyone got their work done, she didn’t care if they slacked off a little. Besides, she wasn’t immune to the temptation of slacking off herself.

That evening, after dinner, the housekeeper approached Lu Xi.

“Madam, we’re planning a big cleaning before the New Year. We’d like to sort through the storage room. Would you be available tomorrow to help decide what to keep and what to throw away?”

Although the house was spacious enough, the butler was a little superstitious. According to his hometown’s customs, getting rid of old and unused items before the New Year could bring good fortune in the coming year.

Lu Xi nodded. “Tomorrow night works. But what exactly is in the storage room?”

She knew there shouldn’t be much of her stuff in there. Most of her belongings were either in the walk-in closet or still in her bedroom. Ever since she arrived here, she had already thrown out a lot of things herself.

If any of her things were in the storage room, Xie Yizhao would have told her.

The housekeeper replied, “There are some of Master’s and Young Master’s thingsm mostly Young Master’s… Oh, Madam, could you ask him to join us? Just in case we throw out something he still needs.”

That was no problem.

---

The next day was the last working day before the holiday. Knowing that some colleagues had flights or trains to catch home, Lu Xi let everyone leave work two hours early. Xie Heng also stayed at the studio instead of heading home early, waiting to leave together with Lu Xi.

On the way back, Lu Xi mentioned what the butler had asked her the night before.

Xie Heng was completely indifferent. “Do I need to be there? I don’t think so. Just let them throw things out.”

He didn’t think there was anything important in the storage room.

Lu Xi glanced at him. “Are you sure? I heard a lot of your old stuff is in there. There might even be some embarrassing memories.”

A sudden chill ran down Xie Heng’s spine.

He just remembered. His old textbooks and exam papers had been stored away by the butler. Those things were definitely blackmail material!

Now he deeply regretted not throwing them out earlier…

“Never mind, I’d better check for myself. I’m free tonight anyway.” Xie Heng immediately changed his tune.

Lu Xi smirked. “So there is something embarrassing in there, huh?”

“…Of course not. I just don’t want you guys to throw away something important,” Xie Heng said stiffly. Truthfully, now that his grades had improved, he felt nothing but secondhand embarrassment about his past self. The last thing he wanted was for Lu Xi to see any of it. He just needed to find a way to discreetly destroy everything.

Lu Xi just smiled without calling him out.

The kid was growing up and getting more self-conscious. She had to be mindful of his pride.

Even if she wanted to laugh, she would do it in secret.

---

The storage room was on the right side of the first floor, near the servants’ quarters, so Lu Xi rarely came to this part of the house.

The butler unlocked the door. The room was tidy, though it carried the scent of old belongings.

The windows were shut tight, so he hurried over to open them for ventilation.

Lu Xi didn’t mind the smell. It reminded her of old books, evoking a feeling of time passing. She curiously looked around the room.

Shelves lined both sides of the space, stacked with discarded household items. On the floor, over a dozen neatly arranged storage bins sat waiting.

The housekeeper pointed at them with a smile. “These are all Young Master’s. We’ve already sorted through Master’s belongings.”

He looked over at Xie Heng.

Lu Xi also smiled at him. “Well, it’s all yours. Go ahead and sort through it. Keep what you need, toss what you don’t.”

Xie Heng pressed his lips together. “Got it. I’ll do it myself. You can leave if you don’t have anything else to do.”

Lu Xi found that a little odd.

Were all these really embarrassing memories? Otherwise, why was he reacting so strongly?

She considered it for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.” She turned to leave.

“…Forget it. If you want to stay, go ahead.” Xie Heng crouched down, fiddling with the latch on the nearest storage bin. He couldn’t help glancing at Lu Xi. “You’re not mad, are you?”

Lu Xi : ?

Did she seem like someone who got mad over nothing?

She walked over to him, reached out, and gave his buzzed head a little pat, humming lightly. “Just hurry up and clean up already. You talk too much.”

Xie Heng had long since grown accustomed to her habit of ruffling his hair. His hair used to get messy when she did it, but now, with its short, bristly texture, even he found it uncomfortable to touch. Yet she didn’t seem to mind at all.

He opened the storage box.

Seeing that it was filled with textbooks, Xie Heng secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Lu Xi casually pointed at it. “Can I take a look?”

Xie Heng said, “Go ahead, but there’s nothing interesting, just textbooks.”

Knowing himself well, he was sure the books were still practically new, with no notes inside.

Lu Xi randomly pulled one out. It was a third-grade Chinese textbook.

She opened the cover. In the middle of the first page, written in blue ink, were the two characters : [Xie Heng].

The spacing between them was unusually wide, as if they weren’t quite familiar with each other.

Lu Xi’s lips curled up.

Oh, wow. She would never complain about his current messy handwriting again. It was miles better than what it used to be!

At that moment, she made up her mind. This year, she was definitely getting Xie Heng a calligraphy practice book.

Flipping a few more pages, her lips twitched.

…What the heck?

The illustration of a famous poet on the page had been given a creative makeover. Xie Heng had defaced it with huge black glasses, bright red blush on the cheeks, exaggerated lipstick, and even a string of popsicles in his hand.

Lu Xi : “…”

That wasn’t all. She had done her fair share of doodling in textbooks back then, but Xie Heng had taken it to another level. Not only had he drawn over the images, but he had also blacked out every single character that had holes.

Lu Xi felt the urge to sigh.

Seriously, if he wasn’t an academic underachiever, who was?

Noticing her prolonged silence and strange expression, Xie Heng grew uneasy and quickly leaned over to check.

The moment he saw the page, he froze for a second, then felt his scalp tingle. Without hesitation, he reached out to snatch the book away.

Lu Xi simply let go, allowing him to take it.

But just as he lifted the textbook, a loose sheet of paper fluttered down. Lu Xi reached out and caught it effortlessly.

It was a lined composition sheet.

Lu Xi read the title aloud : “My Dream…”

She immediately realized it was an old essay written by Xie Heng. She paused, glanced at the boy, then smiled and handed it back to him. “Here, I won’t read your embarrassing past.”

Xie Heng took it, feigning indifference, but his eyes skimmed over the words at lightning speed. Thankfully, it was just a short elementary school essay, only two or three hundred characters, so he finished it in an instant.

Catching sight of a certain phrase, his ears turned slightly red. He swiftly crumpled the paper into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket, mumbling, “It wasn’t anything interesting anyway.”

Lu Xi raised an eyebrow.

Her gaze flickered playfully as she grinned at him. “But I think I saw the word ‘Mom’ in there. Were you talking bad about me?”

“No… I mean, I wasn’t saying anything bad!”

Xie Heng was telling the truth.

Lu Xi wasn’t upset; she simply nodded lightly and continued flipping through the other textbooks, her expression calm.

Yet Xie Heng couldn’t help but steal glances at her, feeling a bit anxious. How much had she actually seen? Did she really think he was badmouthing her?

A few minutes later, he gave up.

Lu Xi wasn’t even paying attention to him. She was too engrossed in reading a passage from the textbook. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed him approaching.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out the crumpled paper, and carefully smoothed it out.

Frowning slightly, he examined it.

It was still wrinkled, but at least it was readable now.

Xie Heng held it out to Lu Xi, lowering his gaze and speaking awkwardly. “Fine, just read it. But no laughing.”

Lu Xi arched a brow.

She hadn’t wanted to invade his privacy, but since he was offering, why not?

Earlier, she had been dying to know what he had written about her. Now that she had the chance, she immediately took the paper and read it seriously, word by word.

Watching her, Xie Heng grew even more embarrassed.

She was reading it like it was some kind of literary masterpiece, which only made him more self-conscious.

His fingers curled involuntarily.

At first, Lu Xi had expected it to be hilarious. After all, it was a third-grader’s composition. But as she read on, her heart grew quiet, and a soft place deep inside her was touched.

It was as if she could hear a young, innocent voice murmuring sadly beside her.

The essay began with Xie Heng recounting a scene from a TV show he had watched at home.

In the show, a police officer captured a criminal and rescued a kidnapped child, reuniting the child with their parents.

Of course, his writing was clumsy, riddled with spelling errors and even some pinyin¹.

In the second paragraph, he wrote about his dream.

[My dream is to be a police officer because they are amazing! They can find lost kids! When I become a police officer, I’ll definitely be able to find my Mom. Also, also, they know kung fu and are really good at fighting! Once I find my Mom, I can protect her too!]

Lu Xi finished reading and fell into a long silence.

She held the wrinkled paper in her hand, unmoving.

Xie Heng stood beside her, suddenly feeling nervous.

“W-What’s wrong?” the boy asked, his voice uncertain. “I really wasn’t badmouthing you.”

Then, he heard the faint sound of her sniffing.

A taut string in Xie Heng’s mind was suddenly tugged.

His entire back stiffened, his thoughts in chaos. He had no idea what to do.

What do you do when a girl cries?

No, what do you do when your Mom cries?!

Not far away, the butler and a few servants were busy, their backs turned, oblivious to the scene. Xie Heng’s brain went blank for a few seconds before he snapped back to reality, growing anxious.

He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a pack of tissues.

Then, hesitantly, he reached out and gently tapped Lu Xi’s shoulder with it.

She glanced at the tissue, then looked up at the boy again. Her eyes were red, her nose was red too, and her voice carried the restrained tremor of someone holding back tears.

“What?” she said, trying to sound unaffected. “I’m not crying.”

With that, she snatched the tissue and wiped her eyes with deliberate composure.

Xie Heng : “…”

Alright, if she said she wasn’t crying, then she wasn’t crying.

Even as he thought that, he couldn’t help but keep watching Lu Xi, wanting to make sure she was really okay.

Soon, Lu Xi pulled herself together. She stood up, returned the tissue to Xie Heng, and though her eyes were still faintly red, a smile had already returned to her face.

When she first read those innocent yet earnest childhood words, her heart ached. She wanted to reach through time and hug that young version of Xie Heng—so pitiful yet so endearing! It really tugged at her motherly instincts.

But then, when she looked at him now, she saw a tall, upright young man.

She realized that his dream had begun all the way back in third grade.

Maybe even he hadn’t realized it yet—this wasn’t just a fleeting impulse.

Though he was still a high school student now, he had already grown into someone warm, driven, sincere, and righteous. Someone who could fight to protect her, who knew to offer a tissue when she was upset, and then quietly stand by without intruding.

How wonderful.

Lu Xi had the urge to reach out and ruffle his hair. But when she saw the way he was watching her so nervously, something stirred in her heart, and she thought of something even more important.

She handed the composition paper back to him and smiled gently.

“Show it to your Dad,” she said. “He’ll understand. He’ll support you.”

Xie Heng was momentarily stunned.

For a brief second, he was caught off guard, but then his gaze cleared. He looked at Lu Xi, uncertain.

Would his Dad really support him just because of an old essay?

Xie Heng took in Lu Xi’s words, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk to his Dad about it—let alone when or how. The idea of showing his childhood essay, filled with genuine emotions, to his Dad was embarrassing.

Besides, he had no idea how to answer his Dad’s questions.

Why did he have this ambition? The reasons in the essay might have moved Lu Xi, but they might not be enough to convince Xie Yizhao.

He figured he’d wait until after the New Year to bring it up.

Xie Heng didn’t want to risk an argument before the holiday. This New Year was important—to him, and to his whole family.

Besides, New Year’s Eve was almost here.

---

On the night of Lunar New Year’s Eve, the kitchen was busy preparing a grand feast according to the pre-planned menu.

When Lu Xi walked into the dining room, the first thing she noticed was a large, succulent fish placed prominently in the center of the table.

That day, Xie Yizhao didn’t go to the company at all, staying home from morning till night. As for Xie Heng, he had slept in until the afternoon. And Lu Xi? She had already decided. Until work resumed, she wouldn’t think about anything work-related. The holiday was for indulgence.

As they sat down to eat, Lu Xi made a bold declaration:

“Tonight, I’m eating to my heart’s content. No one better stop me.”

Xie Heng was speechless. He responded in the most straightforward way possible:

“It’s not like anyone ever stops you. I even bring you snacks all the time.”

Lu Xi ignored him, instead looking at Xie Yizhao. Then, she glanced at the bottle of red wine on the table, blinking expectantly.

The wine had been a gift from Yang Yihan when she moved in.

Lu Xi had stored it away and forgotten about it, until she happened to pass by the wine cabinet today and decided it was the perfect occasion to open it.

Xie Yizhao pressed his lips together briefly before saying in a calm tone, “Eat as much as you want, but forget about the wine.”

Lu Xi wasn’t going to listen to him. She grabbed the bottle and the corkscrew beside it.

“I’m just having one glass,” she declared confidently. “You two can handle the rest.”

Her words carried a forceful determination, almost like a threat.

But soon, she was met with an awkward dilemma.

She couldn’t open the bottle.

The cork was nearly shredded from her efforts, leaving her hands covered in bits of wood, but the wine remained sealed.

Lu Xi frowned. Was this a sign from the universe that she wasn’t meant to drink tonight?

Xie Yizhao never really intended to stop her in the first place. It was just wine, and they were at home. He wasn’t that controlling.

Watching her struggle, he let out a quiet chuckle and patted her hand lightly.

“I’ll do it.”

Lu Xi, exhausted, gladly handed him the bottle and sat back, leaving the task to him.

Xie Heng, who had been about to step in, paused mid-movement. He leaned back against his chair, took a sip of water, and pretended nothing had happened.

He had realized something.

His Dad loved showing off in front of Lu Xi.

Hmph. It was just opening a bottle of wine, who couldn’t do that? And yet, his Dad had deliberately waited until she struggled before stepping in to help.

So calculating.

Still, Xie Heng decided to let his Dad have this moment. He could let the old man show off in front of his wife.

After opening the bottle and letting the wine breathe for a bit, Xie Yizhao poured Lu Xi half a glass. Ignoring her pointed look, he then poured himself the same amount.

Finally, he glanced at Xie Heng, who was eyeing the wine longingly. With a small smile, he poured him half a glass as well.

Lu Xi, though tempted, knew her limits. Red wine had a strong aftereffect, and she was well aware of her own drinking capacity. Half a glass was enough.

At this moment, the house was quiet, occupied only by the three of them.

The butler and other servants had all gone home for the holiday, leaving the three to enjoy their New Year’s Eve dinner as a family.

The feast was lavish. Besides the exquisite dishes, there was even a bubbling hotpot, adding warmth and festivity to the meal.

Outside, the courtyard had been decorated with small red lanterns chosen by the butler, creating a truly festive atmosphere.

The streets were nearly empty. By now, most people were at home, gathered around dinner tables, celebrating the New Year with their loved ones.

It’s the end of one year and the beginning of another.

Lu Xi raised her glass with a smile. “Happy New Year! Next year on New Year’s Eve, we have to sit at this table again—eating, drinking, chatting, and staying up together!”

Xie Heng lifted his glass in sync, smiling easily.

Xie Yizhao glanced at Lu Xi, then at Xie Heng.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but he felt a strange sense of illusion, as if this scene were a dream—so perfect it felt unreal.

He had only spent one New Year with her. He had thought he would never get another chance.

But this was real. Because even in a dream, he wouldn’t dare to wish for this.

A faint smile touched Xie Yizhao’s lips as he clinked his glass against theirs. “Not just next year. Every year from now on, we’ll be together.”

Lu Xi downed the last sip of her drink in one go, then shook her head. “That’s impossible. At best, we have another ten years.”

Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng both froze.

They had misunderstood what she meant.

Xie Heng, who now knew Lu Xi’s true identity, grew anxious. “Why not? Where will you go in ten years?”

Xie Yizhao didn’t react as strongly.

His expression turned serious, a bitterness rising in his throat. He instinctively reached for his glass, only to find it empty. His gaze darkened.

Lu Xi was exasperated by the buzz-cut kid’s overreaction. She laughed in frustration. “What are you even thinking? Where else would I go? I meant you. Once you’re married, are you still going to spend New Year’s with us instead of your wife?”

Xie Heng was speechless.

Only now did he relax, though he still frowned. “I’ll only be twenty-six in ten years. Who gets married that early?”

And what was with her phrasing, acting like he was freeloading off them? He was still a kid!

Lu Xi thought for a moment, then nodded seriously. “That’s true. Who knows when you’ll even find a girlfriend? Sigh.”

Xie Heng : ? Was that sigh necessary? Was that any way to act?

Noticing the man beside her also letting out a quiet breath of relief, Lu Xi grinned sweetly. She hooked her pinky around his and swayed it slightly, her voice laced with tipsy playfulness. “Ah, I’m suddenly worried… What if Xiao Heng never finds a girlfriend and never gets married?”

Xie Yizhao’s voice was impossibly gentle. “Then there’s no choice. We’ll just have to keep him.”

---

1. Pinyin is a system that uses the Roman alphabet to represent the sounds of Mandarin Chinese. It helps people read and pronounce Chinese characters. Each character has a pinyin spelling and a tone mark. For example, the character for “hello” is 你好, and its pinyin is nǐ hǎo. ↩︎

---

Soon after the butler finished, the several servants nodded in agreement.

No one knew what would become of the kitchen under the hands of the father and son, but chances were high that Madam wouldn’t be getting a delicious breakfast when she woke up.

In this household, everyone understood one thing: the needs of Master and Young master could be set aside, but Madam’s comfort must be ensured.

A servant was immediately sent out to buy breakfast.

Madam usually woke up around nine, so if they left now, the food would arrive just in time.

Meanwhile, the two people in the kitchen remained oblivious to all this.

However, Xie Yizhao, having had more years of experience than Xie Heng, quickly thought of something important and called the butler in.

“Have someone buy some of Madam’s favorite food and keep it ready,” he instructed. Just in case his cooking attempt ended in disaster.

Xie Yizhao preferred to leave nothing to chance. He didn’t want Lu Xi to go hungry because of his mistakes.

The butler reassured him, “Don’t worry, Master, I’ve already ordered someone to buy it.”

Xie Yizhao gave him a look.

The butler’s expression shifted slightly as he realized he had misspoken. Nervously licking his lips, he tried to explain, “No, Master, I didn’t mean it that way…”

Xie Heng chuckled. “Pfft! Dad, what Uncle Chen meant is that he doesn’t think we can make Madam’s breakfast.”

Xie Yizhao glanced at him indifferently. “And what exactly are you so pleased about?”

Xie Heng’s smile froze.

Right… the butler seemed to be looking down on his cooking skills too…

The butler realized he had just offended both father and son. Sweat formed on his forehead as he quickly excused himself from the kitchen.

Xie Yizhao shook his head slightly, not taking it to heart. “Has the head chef woken up yet? Have him come here.”

The butler nodded and immediately went to fetch the chef.

Xie Heng was confused. “Why call the chef over? I don’t need help, I can just follow the recipe.”

Xie Yizhao ignored him.

He wasn’t cooking to prove a point or to compete with anyone. He believed in being results-oriented. The goal was to make an edible dish, whether or not he did it completely on his own didn’t matter.

Soon, Chef Wang entered the kitchen, looking bewildered.

He was confused as to why Master had summoned him.

Xie Yizhao got straight to the point. “I’m going to make tomato and egg noodles. Watch me, and correct me if I do something wrong.”

Correcting Master? Chef Wang didn’t dare. He quickly nodded and assured, “I’ll keep an eye on things for you.”

Still, he couldn’t help but wonder. If Master needed guidance even for a simple dish like tomato and egg stir-fry, then he had serious doubts about Master’s cooking skills.

For a chef, the kitchen was his domain, an important space not to be casually invaded.

But this was his employer… He suddenly felt a little worried but dared not voice it.

He glanced at Xie Heng.

Noticing the skepticism in the chef’s eyes, Xie Heng lifted his chin defiantly. He walked to the cutting board, slapped a piece of pork with visible reluctance, and said, “I don’t need your help. I can handle it myself.”

Chef Wang grew even more anxious.

The kitchen was spacious, with three cooking stations.

Xie Heng and Xie Yizhao each took a side, not interfering with each other.

To prove his independence, Xie Heng insisted that Chef Wang stay on his Dad’s side—he didn’t need any guidance.

He didn’t care what his Dad was doing.

Last night, Xie Heng had already decided. He would make fish-fragrant shredded pork, a dish both he and Ms. Lu liked.

He had looked up the recipe. Though it had many ingredients, the steps seemed straightforward. As long as he cut the ingredients properly and followed the order, it shouldn’t be difficult.

However, Xie Heng hadn’t anticipated one thing—being stumped by a piece of pork.

He had eaten plenty of meat before but had never handled raw meat himself.

Taken from the fridge’s fresh-keeping section, the pork was cold, soft, and had a strange texture that made his skin crawl.

Luckily, he found a pair of gloves in the cupboard. Putting them on made handling the meat slightly more tolerable.

First, he washed the meat, patted it dry with kitchen paper, and placed it on the cutting board, ready to slice.

Holding the knife, he hesitated, measuring the meat horizontally and then vertically.

He couldn’t figure out where to start.

Chef Wang couldn’t hold back. “Young Master, do you need help? I can slice it for you—”

“No need!” Xie Heng insisted on doing it himself.

It was just cutting meat—how hard could it be?

Taking a deep breath, he decided to cut the meat into slices first before cutting it into strips. He had never done it before, but that seemed like the logical order.

Theoretically, that was correct.

In practice, however, his lack of experience made it difficult.

The knife was sharp, but the meat was too soft. Xie Heng wanted to cut the strips as finely and evenly as possible, as the recipe advised for even cooking. He was very focused. But several times, he almost cut his fingers.

Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

And he had only finished one-fifth of the meat.

Chef Wang finally couldn’t bear it. He took out pre-cut pork strips from the fridge and handed them over. “Young Master, use these instead. It’s already 8:30.”

The servant buying breakfast hadn’t returned yet.

If Madam woke up and found no hot meal, who would be blamed—him or them?

Xie Heng sighed. He checked the time and realized things weren’t looking good. He had no choice but to swallow his pride and accept the meat strips.

Why didn’t they tell him earlier? He had wasted so much time!

He glanced at his Dad’s station.

The ingredients were chopped, the eggs were beaten. His Dad was already preparing to cook.

Xie Heng grew anxious.

Just then, his Dad’s phone rang.

It was a call from a shareholder. Xie Yizhao had to pause, wash his hands, and step out to answer.

Xie Heng’s eyes lit up.

He hoped the call would last a while!

Seizing the opportunity, he quickly got back to work—slicing carrots, cutting the soaked wood ear mushrooms, mixing the sauce… Following the recipe step by step, he gradually got into a rhythm.

In about ten minutes, everything was ready.

Not waiting for his Dad to return, he turned on the stove and heated the oil, starting with the pork strips.

The household had top-quality non-stick cookware, and since he had drained the meat properly, there was no oil splattering. He followed the recipe and stir-fried until the pork turned white before setting it aside.

Meanwhile, Xie Yizhao returned to the kitchen.

A servant informed him that Madam seemed to be awake.

He knew her habits—she moved slowly, taking time to wash up and put on makeup. She’d take at least half an hour, which was just right.

He glanced at Xie Heng’s progress.

His expression remained neutral, but he subtly sped up his own actions.

Fortunately, his dish was simpler. With all the ingredients ready, he could move straight to cooking.

Chef Wang observed every step, even reminding him when to add oil, how to judge the oil temperature, and how to peel the tomatoes.

Thanks to the guidance, Xie Yizhao’s scrambled eggs weren’t perfect but were at least passable.

Now, he just had to stir-fry the tomatoes and mix in the eggs.

At this point, he felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. He was confident he could finish the dish.

While Xie Yizhao was stir-frying tomatoes, Xie Heng also began cooking the side dishes.

Having gained some confidence from his earlier experience stir-frying shredded pork, Xie Heng was relaxed this time, even feeling the urge to hum a tune.

After stir-frying the carrots for a bit, he added the shredded wood ear mushrooms, planning to wait until they were cooked before adding the shredded pork and sauce—then the dish would be complete.

However, at that moment, the wood ear mushrooms, reacting to the heat, suddenly started crackling in the pan.

Lacking experience, Xie Heng didn’t immediately realize something was wrong.

But Chef Wang, who had been keeping an eye on him, did. His expression changed, and just as he was about to warn him, the wood ear mushrooms acted faster than his words.

*Crackle!*

*Bang!!*

…

A series of loud pops erupted from the pan, making Xie Heng frown.

When he had added the pork and carrots earlier, there had been some sizzling, but it hadn’t been this loud…

Holding the spatula, he considered whether he should stir-fry it a bit, but before he could, the commotion in the pan intensified.

Soon, several pieces of wood ear mushrooms literally ‘popped’ out of the pan, sounding just like firecrackers.

Xie Heng was stunned. “Holy crap!!”

Was this about to explode?! He didn’t actually want to blow up the kitchen!

Even Xie Yizhao was drawn over by the noise, and the servants at the door peeked in curiously.

The wood ear mushrooms were so aggressive that some even flew into Xie Yizhao’s pan.

Xie Heng panicked, instinctively reaching for a lid to cover the pan, but Chef Wang reacted first. He quickly stepped forward, turned off the stove, and then covered the pan.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Xie Heng’s heart was racing. He was scared out of his wits. Who knew cooking could be this dangerous?! This was more thrilling than riding a roller coaster.

As he struggled to calm down, a faint burnt smell reached his nose.

Did he burn his dish?

Chef Wang smelled it too. He frowned, sniffed the air, then glanced at Xie Yizhao’s side. His expression immediately darkened.

“Master, your dish is burning!” He rushed over and started stirring Xie Yizhao’s pan.

Xie Yizhao was speechless.

Looking into the pan, he saw the slightly charred tomatoes and twitched his lips.

He had been too focused on watching Xie Heng’s disaster and had forgotten he was cooking too.

Not only were the tomatoes burnt, but a few blackened pieces of wood ear mushrooms had also landed in his pan, as if mocking him.

Xie Heng leaned in, then burst out laughing. “Dad, you burned your dish!”

Xie Yizhao gave him a glance but said nothing.

It was too late now.

He put down the spatula, washed his hands, dried them, then turned around expressionlessly and smacked Xie Heng on the head. “Shut up, don’t be noisy. Your Mom is still sleeping.”

Xie Heng pouted but didn’t argue.

He felt like his Dad was getting way too comfortable hitting him these days.

But now… what should they do?

Was there still time to redo it?

Xie Heng frowned in thought, while Xie Yizhao remained calm, though clearly not in a good mood.

It had been years since he had failed this badly…

Just then, footsteps sounded from the hallway, growing closer.

Both father and son were very familiar with that sound. They simultaneously turned toward the door, their expressions subconsciously tense.

Soon, a soft, slightly lazy voice rang out. Lu Xi had arrived.

“Why is it so noisy? Is someone setting off fireworks?”

Xie Heng immediately lowered his head, toes practically digging into the floor.

Noticing that none of the servants answered and everyone looked awkward, Lu Xi turned her gaze toward the kitchen and asked, “It smells bad. Did something burn?”

Xie Yizhao didn’t have time to look away. Before he could react, he accidentally locked eyes with his wife.

Lu Xi stood at the doorway, surveying the mess in the kitchen with a frown, tilting her head slightly as if piecing things together.

At first, she instinctively wanted to laugh. This scene was undeniably comedic.

But then, she caught the faint embarrassment in Xie Yizhao’s expression and the silent, downcast look on Xie Heng’s normally proud face. That stubborn profile exuded an indescribable sadness.

Lu Xi’s heart softened in an instant.

She couldn’t laugh anymore.

She just felt deeply touched.

Even though both of them had failed, they had tried to cook just to make her happy. The thought made her nose tingle, and she suddenly wanted to hug them both.

The butler, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least the kitchen hadn’t exploded. And thanks to his foresight, breakfast had already been bought, so no one in the family would go hungry.

But this morning’s meal was noticeably quieter than usual.

Xie Yizhao barely spoke, and Xie Heng seemed distracted, occasionally sneaking glances at Lu Xi.

Lu Xi finished a serving of shrimp dumplings and some rice rolls. Feeling satisfied, she set down her chopsticks, and the two men instinctively stopped eating as well.

Lu Xi glanced at Xie Yizhao, then blinked playfully at Xie Heng. “Come with me upstairs.”

Now it was her turn to comfort them.

Even Xie Heng didn’t ask why. He just shut his mouth and followed her upstairs.

As Lu Xi linked arms with Xie Yizhao, he couldn’t resist lowering his voice and frowning slightly as he confessed, “That burnt dish was mine. But I was set up.”

Lu Xi pursed her lips, nodding in agreement. “Mhm, blame it all on the kid.”

Xie Heng didn’t hear his Dad tattling on him. He was too busy angrily leaving a bad review on the recipe he had followed.

[★☆☆☆☆ Why didn’t they warn me that wood ear mushrooms explode?! I got scammed big time!]

---

Upstairs, Lu Xi led them to the dressing room and took out the New Year outfits she had prepared for them.

She urged them to try them on.

Xie Heng’s was a puffer jacket, while Xie Yizhao’s was a sleek black coat.

Her choices were intentional. Xie Heng was still young and liked running around outside, so warmth was the priority. Meanwhile, Xie Yizhao was always chauffeured around and rarely spent time in the cold, so his outfit needed to focus on style!

Xie Heng wasn’t too happy about the difference.

Looking at his own reflection, then at his Dad’s, he felt the contrast was too obvious.

His Dad, tall and lean, looked like a fashion model in that coat—sharp and stylish. Meanwhile, he himself… looked a whole size bulkier.

Pouting, he ruffled his short buzz cut, feeling helpless.

When would he finally grow up…

Lu Xi, however, was very pleased with her choices. She linked arms with both of them, feeling delighted. “Not bad, you both look handsome!”

She couldn’t help but think smugly—why is our family’s visual game so strong?

Suddenly, Xie Heng spoke up. “So, who’s more handsome, me or Dad?”

Lu Xi blinked. “You’re both handsome?”

Xie Heng chuckled. “Don’t be vague. Let’s say, for New Year’s Eve dinner, you could only choose between two dishes—Dad’s burnt tomato and egg stir-fry or my exploding fish-fragrant shredded pork. Which one would you eat?”

Lu Xi was stunned.

That was as bad as asking her who she’d save first if they both fell into a river.

She turned to Xie Yizhao for help.

Do something! The kid was attacking her now!

Xie Yizhao lowered his gaze, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He even squeezed her hand lightly and smirked. “Yeah, Xiao Xi, I’m curious too. Whose dish would you eat?”

Lu Xi was speechless.

Whoever said these two didn’t resemble each other must be blind. Their scheming personalities were exactly the same!

---

Lu Xi had casually mentioned the issue with Mrs. Xia to Xie Yizhao, and thought it would take some time to resolve.

But just three days later, she got a call from the security captain.

His voice sounded familiar. When he introduced himself, she immediately remembered. He was the same person who had investigated Zhou Wenyuan for her before.

Back then, he had been incredibly efficient, finding accurate information at lightning speed. She had been thoroughly impressed.

And now, he was helping her again.

He worked for a security company under Xie Yizhao’s name and was highly efficient. Investigating Zhou Wenyuan required a trip out of town, which took some time. However, Mrs. Xia’s social connections were practically out in the open, simple and straightforward.

The security captain figured that if Lu Xi didn’t mind the trouble, she could have figured it all out herself with just a few phone calls.

When Lu Xi finished listening, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

How should she put it…? She could more or less understand why Mrs. Xia was targeting her.

It was both within her expectations and yet also unexpected.

So, Mrs. Xia was actually Xiao Feiyuan’s aunt?

That day, when Xiao Feiyuan harassed her and got beaten up, he had lain by the pool for at least ten minutes. At the time, Lu Xi hadn’t paid attention to the greenhouse area, but those ladies’ group members must have seen it. Mrs. Xia had been among them.

This was confusing.

If she wanted to stand up for her nephew, why didn’t she step forward at the time? After all, it was Xie Yizhao who beat the guy up!

Was it because she found Xie Yizhao too difficult to deal with, but thought that Lu Xi—being just a ‘fleeting new favorite’ of his—was easy to bully? So, she deliberately came after Lu Xi instead?

Lu Xi was speechless.

She felt that Mrs. Xia was simply too low-level. So low that if she put effort into dealing with Mrs. Xia, it would feel beneath her.

Besides, all Mrs. Xia did was spread some rumors here and there, the combat effectiveness was pitifully weak. Lu Xi couldn’t even be bothered with her.

When Xie Yizhao came home from work, Lu Xi casually mentioned the matter to him.

Holding her tablet, she continued watching her drama in high spirits. Mrs. Xia’s antics hadn’t affected her mood in the slightest.

With a relaxed expression, she said, “I don’t care how you handle it, just make sure Mrs. Xia stays far away from me and stops buzzing around me.”

A few days ago, she had told him the same thing, and the very next day, he had contacted Mr. Xia.

He had been polite on the phone. After all, even though Mr. Xia was on a downward trajectory in every aspect, Mr. Xia was still older than him. Xie Yizhao had no intention of using his current power to seem like he was bullying Mr. Xia.

His father had taught him years ago that the higher one stands, the more humility they should maintain.

However, his attitude was firm.

He made it clear to Mr. Xia that he didn’t want Mrs. Xia to have any further contact with his wife, in any way, because Mrs. Xia was causing his wife distress.

Based on Mr. Xia’s reaction at the time, Xie Yizhao was certain that Lu Xi wouldn’t be harassed again.

But he didn’t tell Lu Xi about this. He knew she didn’t like to be disturbed while watching her dramas, especially by mentions of people she disliked.

So, he simply walked over, gently ruffled her hair, glanced at her screen, and casually asked, “What are you watching?”

She seemed completely engrossed.

Lu Xi beamed. “A celebrity cooking show. It’s actually pretty good! Do you want to watch with me?”

She patted the seat beside her, enthusiastically inviting him.

“No, I have some things to take care of in the study.”

For some reason, a rather unpleasant memory surfaced in Xie Yizhao’s mind.

He frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on one of the guests’ chef hats.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Do celebrities even know how to cook?”

Lu Xi shot him a glance. “Of course! Why are you so biased?”

She pointed at the male guest standing in the center, skillfully flipping a pan. “Take him, for example—handsome, great at cooking, and even has the same surname as you.”

Xie Yizhao : “…”

After a brief pause, a helpless smile appeared on his handsome face. “Is that so? Then I suppose I should start learning from him.”

If he didn’t get the hint now, he would have lived in vain all these years.

Lu Xi deliberately blinked, her bright almond eyes full of innocence. “I wasn’t implying anything.”

Xie Yizhao chuckled, his fingers running through her silky hair before brushing against her cool earlobe. “Mm, you’re just motivating me.”

Lu Xi giggled at the ticklish sensation and dodged slightly. “Yes, it’s love-driven motivation!”

---

One way or another, Xie Yizhao knew he had to take action.

He sent a message to Li Xiao, telling him that he wouldn’t be coming to the office tomorrow and that he had something to take care of at home.

As an assistant, Li Xiao naturally complied with whatever his boss required. Given Xie Yizhao’s intense work schedule, he probably deserved a few days off anyway.

However, out of curiosity, Li Xiao asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”

There was a brief silence on Xie Yizhao’s end.

Perhaps because he was at home and had just finished talking with Lu Xi, his usual imposing aura had softened considerably. With a lighthearted chuckle, he replied, “Not much… but do you know how to cook?”

Li Xiao was momentarily stunned.

Of all the things he expected his boss to ask, this was definitely not one of them.

But he quickly recovered and responded, “I can’t do anything too complicated, but I can handle basic home-cooked dishes. Are you planning to learn how to cook?”

Xie Yizhao responded with a simple “Mm,” then added, “I’m planning to cook for my family on New Year’s Eve, just some home-style dishes. Do you have any beginner-friendly recipes?”

When it came to cooking, Xie Yizhao readily admitted he was a complete novice. He knew his limits.

With little time left, he couldn’t afford to be overly ambitious. Rather than attempt a grand feast and risk a disaster, he decided it was safer to stick to simple home-style dishes.

Li Xiao suddenly realized what was going on. CEO Xie was planning to impress his wife… or at least, show off just a little.

And from Xie Yizhao’s tone, he could detect a hint of unease.

Clearly, cooking was a skill that lay completely outside his boss’s expertise.

Suppressing his amusement, Li Xiao earnestly recommended a dish: scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

“Isn’t that too simple?” Xie Yizhao frowned slightly.

Li Xiao defended his choice seriously: “Not at all. Tomato and egg stir-fry may be simple, but it’s the most beloved home-style dish in the country. Most people love it. It’s flavorful, balanced with both protein and vegetables, and has a great sweet and tangy taste. It was the first dish I ever cooked, and I nailed it on my first try.”

Xie Yizhao raised an eyebrow.

He was somewhat tempted.

He remembered that Lu Xi did, in fact, love this dish—and never seemed to get tired of it.

“Thanks, I’ll give it a try tomorrow.”

After hanging up the phone, Xie Yizhao immediately searched for a recipe on his phone. It did seem quite simple.

But he liked to be thorough in everything he did.

So, early the next morning, after waking up, he put on his usual running attire. He walked to the bedside, leaned down, and planted a gentle kiss on Lu Xi’s cheek before quietly leaving the room.

But today, he had no plans to go for a run.

With only a few days left until New Year’s Eve, he decided to take advantage of his day off. Since Lu Xi was still asleep, he would attempt the dish in advance.

If it turned out well, he could also make a bowl of tomato and egg noodles—another of Lu Xi’s favorites.

That way, when she woke up, she could enjoy a breakfast made by him.

Xie Yizhao headed toward the kitchen, but as he approached the door, he saw several servants standing there, looking troubled.

As soon as they spotted him, they looked as if they’d seen their savior. “Master, please go in and take a look! Young Master is inside, and he kicked us all out. He said he wants to make breakfast himself.”

They were on edge. Xie Heng didn’t even know the basics of cooking—he couldn’t even turn on the gas stove properly! Wasn’t he just making a mess?

Xie Yizhao’s gaze darkened slightly.

Unexpected. Normally, he and this rebellious son of his had no tacit understanding. And yet, today, they had somehow managed to have the exact same idea.

“It’s fine, I’ll go check,” Xie Yizhao reassured them. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, “By the way, do we have tomatoes and eggs in the kitchen?”

The servant paused for a moment. “Yes, sir. Would you like tomato and egg noodles for breakfast? I can make it for you.”

Xie Yizhao : “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

Servant : “…?”

Oh no. Oh no.

One was bad enough. Now there was another one?

These two had never set foot in the kitchen before, why were they suddenly determined to cook?!

Xie Yizhao didn’t bother with their reactions. He strode into the kitchen and immediately locked eyes with Xie Heng, who was munching on a raw carrot.

Xie Heng crunched down noisily and frowned. “What are you doing in here?”

Xie Yizhao glanced around the kitchen and spotted the refrigerator. Walking over, he opened it and began searching for the ingredients he needed. Without looking back, he answered calmly, “The same thing you are.”

“…Seriously? There’s another kitchen in the house, you know. Can’t you go there?”

Xie Yizhao : “No. If you want to go, go ahead.”

Of course, he knew there was another kitchen. But it was an open kitchen, and it was located close to Lu Xi’s bedroom. He didn’t want to risk waking her.

Xie Heng had obviously considered the same thing, so he had no intention of leaving either.

Before long, Xie Yizhao took out a tomato and two eggs. Ignoring Xie Heng’s startled expression, he retrieved bowls, chopsticks, and a clean plate from the disinfection cabinet. He placed the eggs aside and prepared to slice the tomato first.

Xie Heng watched his Dad’s smooth, efficient movements, and suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Why did his Dad seem so… steady?

Could it be… his Dad was secretly good at cooking?

As Xie Yizhao rinsed the tomato, he noticed Xie Heng stepping closer out of the corner of his eye.

“Dad, you’re not seriously making tomato and egg stir-fry, are you? Isn’t that too basic?”

Xie Yizhao remained unfazed by his son’s childish taunt. He simply countered, “Oh? And what are you making?”

Xie Heng puffed out his chest proudly. “Fish-fragrant shredded pork¹! Ms. Lu loves it!”

Xie Yizhao curled his lips into a subtle, silent smile. “Doesn’t matter. She likes tomato and egg stir-fry more.”

“…”

Neither of them had shut the kitchen door.

So, outside, the housekeepers heard every word of their conversation.

By this time, the butler had also woken up. Upon hearing about the situation, he hurried over.

One of the servants anxiously whispered, “What should we do? Both Master and Young Master are cooking. Do they even know how? Should we wake Madam and ask her to stop them?”

The butler pondered for a moment before making a wise decision. “Send someone to Madam’s favorite restaurant and buy some dim sum. Just in case she wakes up and has nothing to eat.”

---

1. 鱼香肉丝 (yú xiāng ròu sī) is a classic and extremely popular dish from Sichuan cuisine. Despite its name, which literally translates to “fish-fragrant shredded pork,” it does not contain any fish. The name comes from the fact that the dish is prepared using a specific seasoning sauce that is traditionally used for cooking fish in Sichuan. This sauce is what gives the dish its unique, complex flavor. ↩︎

---

Xie Heng regretted his words as soon as he said them and immediately wanted to find an excuse to back out.

Lu Xi, however, was looking forward to it.

She thought to herself that whether New Year’s Eve dinner was homemade or a fancy meal out, it was always the same ingredients and flavors. Tasty, yes, but nothing new.

But if her little cub made it himself, that would be a whole different story.

Lu Xi had never cooked before and had no plans to start. She hated the smell of oil and smoke. While she admired the online influencers who made beautiful and delicious dishes, her enthusiasm for cooking extended only to collecting recipes—not actually using them.

It was just like workout videos online—’saving them is basically the same as doing them,’ but actually doing them? Not happening.

With this thought, Lu Xi’s eyes lit up. She dug out all the recipes she had ever saved and sent them to Xie Heng in one go.

Then, she looked at him with sparkling eyes. “You can pick any of these to make. I’m fine with anything, I’m not picky.”

Xie Heng looked at the recipes. Each one complicated enough to give him a headache.

He let out a cold laugh. “Wow, thanks a lot. These all look soooo easy!”

Lu Xi, acting as if she didn’t catch his sarcasm, nodded with a bright smile. “Exactly. It’s because they’re easy that I’m letting you make them.”

Xie Heng : “…”

His usual snarky attitude was completely ineffective against Lu Xi. Not only did it not work, but it seemed like she had actually out-sassed him.

This was rough.

Xie Heng instinctively glanced at the butler standing nearby, who was smiling pleasantly. He shot him a look, silently begging for help.

But the butler just continued to smile and said, “Young Master is becoming more and more mature, cooking for Madam now!”

Xie Heng : …Shut up, please.

If he backed out now, wouldn’t that mean admitting he was immature?

He spent the entire afternoon agonizing over a way out, but no solution came to him. That evening, when Xie Yizhao came home, Xie Heng saw his Dad and felt a spark of hope.

His Dad knew his abilities well and would never allow him to mess up the kitchen.

Sure enough, during dinner, Lu Xi brought it up. “Xiao Heng is going to show off his skills. He’s personally making the New Year’s Eve dinner!”

Xie Yizhao was briefly stunned.

Xie Heng was even more shocked.

Don’t make it sound like he was cooking the entire feast!

“I’m just making one dish, just one. I’m very busy,” Xie Heng huffed, tilting his chin up as he looked at his Dad. “So? Do you have anything to say?”

Xie Yizhao replied calmly, “Good luck. Look how happy your Mom is. Don’t let her down.”

Xie Heng : “…”

Stop adding pressure!

He strongly suspected his Dad was setting him up.

Xie Heng took a deep breath and glanced at Lu Xi. Inwardly, he had already given in.

She genuinely looked so happy. If he backed out, she’d be really disappointed.

“Fine, I’ll do my best. But Dad, this is Ms. Lu’s first New Year at home. Aren’t you going to do something special too?” Xie Heng smiled slyly, his deviousness well hidden. “How about you make a dish too? That would make her even happier.”

Lu Xi blinked, looking between Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng. “Don’t make things hard for your Dad. He doesn’t know how to cook. He’s never even set foot in a kitchen.”

Xie Heng smirked and played along. “Oh? And here I thought my Dad was amazing at everything. Guess not, then.”

Xie Yizhao suddenly felt that he had been quietly eating his meal, yet somehow fallen into a trap his wife and son had dug for him in advance. Had they planned this together?

Still, whether to step into the trap or not was his choice.

He set down his chopsticks, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two of them.

Lu Xi and Xie Heng both looked completely innocent, but he could sense their scheming.

After a moment, he smiled faintly. “Alright, I’ll give it a try too.”

He had to admit, no matter how composed he was, there were some people who made him want to show off. At the very least, he didn’t want to seem incompetent in front of her.

Besides, even if this was a trap, it was just cooking one dish. How hard could it be?

Xie Heng was thrilled. He hadn’t expected his Dad to fall for the bait so easily. It was like his Dad’s intelligence had suddenly taken a nosedive, getting tricked by just a few provoking words.

Or maybe Xie Heng had just gotten smarter.

Either way, his Dad was just as clueless in the kitchen as he was. At least Xie Heng had made instant noodles before. If he messed up, he wouldn’t be the only one looking bad. His Dad would be right there with him.

Lu Xi, of course, saw right through Xie Heng’s reluctance. And she could tell that Xie Yizhao had only agreed with great reluctance.

But honestly, she hadn’t expected much from the father-son duo.

Xie Heng aside, even Xie Yizhao, who seemed capable of everything, was just a regular human. They have their own strengths and weaknesses. She doubted either of them had any hidden culinary talent.

But it was New Year’s. The most important thing was having fun. This was a great way to keep them busy, and who knew? Maybe it would even bring them closer.

With less than a week left until the new year, Lu Xi’s studio announced an early holiday. They would be off from two days before New Year’s Eve until the ninth day of the new year—ten days of vacation in total.

Most companies give eight or nine days off, but when Lu Xi’s holiday notice was announced, the entire office erupted in excitement.

The moment they saw Lu Xi, compliments were thrown around like they were free.

“CEO Lu is the best! Where else can you find a boss who gives ten days off?!”

“A boss like CEO Lu deserves to make a fortune!”

“CEO Lu will definitely earn big money next year!”

…

Lu Xi smiled modestly and waved her hand, signaling them to stop the flattery and get back to work.

She didn’t tell them the truth that they had all misunderstood. The real reason for the extended holiday was that she wanted more time off. So, she simply decided to let everyone take a break together. That way, they’d see her as generous rather than a lazy boss.

Besides arranging the holiday, she also took care of salaries, year-end bonuses, and New Year’s gifts.

She had some cherries at home that tasted amazing, so she decided to give each employee two boxes as a New Year’s gift.

Everyone was delighted.

Except for Xie Heng, who had a big problem with it.

Why did everyone else get some, but he didn’t? Did part-time employees not deserve New Year’s gifts?

At the time, Lu Xi was busy and had no time to deal with him. Xie Heng didn’t dare to bother her either, so he turned to her assistant instead.

Wei Ning just laughed when she heard him. “Xiao Xie, I asked CEO Lu about it. She said she’s not giving you any. If you want cherries, go home and eat them.”

The rest of the office overheard and couldn’t help but cover their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Xie Heng : “…”

He was very upset.

As the boss’s family member, not only did he not get extra perks, and now he was even being discriminated?

Thankfully, when it came to his salary, Lu Xi was fair. He clocked in and out like everyone else, got paid strictly by the hour, and even had two payment options: daily or monthly. Xie Heng chose to settle at the end of the month. He wasn’t worried about her running off, and getting a lump sum felt more rewarding.

Lu Xi had been incredibly busy lately.

As the year-end approached, she had to send gifts to important clients to maintain relationships. Even the clothing factory received a few gifts. These gestures weren’t necessary, but business was all about fostering goodwill. As long as she could afford it and had a good relationship with the recipients, maintaining these connections was worthwhile.

This was something Xie Yizhao had casually mentioned to her before. He never preached to her from the pedestal of a successful businessman, but Lu Xi was always happy to listen. Sometimes, she even sought out his advice herself.

She wasn’t foolish. With a business tycoon right beside her, of course, she had to learn from him whenever possible. He was the kind of person financial programs wanted as a guest, willing to pay him a seven-figure appearance fee. Yet, this tycoon lay beside her every night, ready to answer any question she had.

Even when his explanations got too deep and hard to grasp, she didn’t mind.

If she understood even one out of ten things he said, it was still invaluable knowledge.

Aside from work-related tasks, Lu Xi made time to work overtime on a special project: designing clothes for Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng.

Ideally, they could wear them during the New Year. Nothing would be more meaningful than donning outfits designed by her.

More importantly, she felt obligated to do so.

After receiving that check, she had cashed it the very next day. Her personal savings had grown handsomely, but she still owed him thirty outfits. That weighed on her conscience…

As for Xie Heng, she decided to design something for him too, as a New Year’s gift.

This also aligned with her long-term plans. Her studio currently catered exclusively to female clients and focused on womenswear. After the new year, she planned to hire another designer to share the workload so she could start learning menswear design.

She had mentioned this idea to Xie Yizhao in private. He had no objections and didn’t discourage her enthusiasm. He simply reminded her to clarify her brand’s core competitive edge and choose the right market. Having new ideas was great, but prioritization was key.

Lu Xi understood his point.

He was warning her not to chase too many things at once, or she might end up achieving neither.

She got it.

For now, her studio would remain focused on womenswear. As for menswear, she was still in the experimental phase, using the Xie father and son duo as practice models. Only when she felt confident in her ability to design a mature menswear line would she officially launch it.

She appreciated Xie Yizhao’s well-timed advice.

Because he wasn’t just someone who spoke well. He was reliable.

---

At seven in the morning, the villa district was quiet, but cars occasionally passed by on the driveway, and quite a few people were out jogging.

As the most prominent figure in this neighborhood, everyone here—whether they knew him well or not—recognized Xie Yizhao.

Upon seeing him, people greeted him one after another, and he nodded in response.

However, when they noticed Xie Heng jogging beside him, their expressions turned slightly subtle.

This was the first time anyone had seen Xie Yizhao jogging with his son… Wasn’t their relationship supposed to be terrible?

For Xie Heng, this was also his first time going out at this hour.

Normally, he would just be waking up, getting ready for breakfast and school. Once in the car, he would put on his headphones and doze off, never realizing that so many people in the neighborhood were out jogging at this time.

There were people of all ages—even little kids with tiny legs running alongside their parents.

He couldn’t help but swallow.

With this many people around, there was no way to race. This wasn’t a track field. If he accidentally crashed into an elderly person or a child, that would be a disaster.

Xie Yizhao stretched his limbs briefly, glanced at the dazed Xie Heng, and without a word, started running ahead.

Xie Heng snapped back to his senses, frowned, and quickly followed.

Seriously? Just starting to run without even waiting for him?

Before leaving the house, they had agreed to go jogging together and talk about why he had been targeting his Dad. But running wasn’t the best time for conversation, and there was no rush.

But Xie Heng didn’t care, he was impatient by nature.

“You called me out here—what exactly do you want to say—”

As soon as he spoke, a gust of winter wind rushed into his mouth, making him choke and almost cough. Xie Yizhao shot him a cool glance, and he flushed with embarrassment, clamping his mouth shut and focusing on running.

They jogged past their own house, turned left, and after about ten minutes, they reached Song Siyang’s house.

“……”

He was speechless.

Just how far had he run?

Xie Heng was already bored.

He didn’t like jogging—especially this slow-paced kind. It wasn’t exhausting, but it was dull and monotonous. He preferred playing basketball, the kind of explosive and intense sports. That was fun.

He couldn’t help but glance at his Dad’s back.

Sometimes, he really admired his Dad.

How could his Dad keep up this morning jog routine for so many years? Didn’t his Dad ever get bored?

But today, Xie Heng unexpectedly ran a full five kilometers. He was a little tired, but it wasn’t as boring as he had imagined.

Maybe it was because his Dad was here. It distracted him. While running, he kept wondering what exactly his Dad wanted to talk about.

Just then, Xie Yizhao stopped.

For him, daily jogging was a habit, five kilometers was nothing. He was only slightly out of breath.

Xie Heng, on the other hand, was panting heavily and feeling incredibly thirsty.

Without a word, Xie Yizhao walked over to a vending machine by a flowerbed, bought two bottles of water, and handed one to Xie Heng.

“…Thanks.” He took it and gulped down a huge mouthful.

Just as he was enjoying the refreshing sensation, Xie Yizhao said, “You should drink water slowly after exercising.”

Xie Heng froze mid-gulp, instinctively slowing down.

Of course, he knew that. His PE teacher had said the same thing. But when he played sports and got overheated, he never cared about such details.

Still, in front of his Dad, he obediently followed the advice.

After finishing his water, he noticed they were standing beside a flowerbed with several plum trees—white blossoms emitting a cool, delicate fragrance. The tiny flowers bloomed beautifully on the branches.

Xie Heng took a deep breath, inhaling the subtle floral scent.

Suddenly, he felt that those five kilometers weren’t a waste, and his mood improved.

Xie Yizhao checked the time. It was probably a good moment to talk.

Seeing that Xie Heng’s breathing had steadied, he pointed to a nearby bench. “Let’s sit and talk.”

Xie Heng unconsciously straightened his posture.

Once seated, he still felt a little uneasy, but Xie Yizhao spoke calmly. “Are you upset because I don’t support you becoming a police officer?”

Xie Heng was stunned. “Of course not!”

Xie Yizhao was slightly surprised.

He felt that his relationship with his son had improved significantly. Although not as good as with Lu Xi, but far better than before. Other than this career issue, he couldn’t think of anything else he had done to upset his son.

After a brief pause, he said, “Then tell me. I’m listening.”

He was genuinely curious.

“Fine, I’ll tell you.” Xie Heng had initially planned to investigate on his own, but since the prime suspect had presented himself, he might as well interrogate him face-to-face. “I heard that you signed a prenuptial agreement with Ms. Lu. Is that true?”

Xie Yizhao was momentarily taken aback.

He had never expected to hear those words from Xie Heng’s mouth—just as he had never expected his son to discuss corporate annual reports with him. Both seemed equally bizarre.

He frowned slightly. “Who told you that?”

Xie Heng wasn’t great at language class, but he was good at explaining things. In just a few sentences, he relayed what he had heard yesterday and then impatiently pressed, “So, is it true or not?”

Realizing that this matter involved that nosy Mrs. Xia again, Xie Yizhao’s frown deepened.

But soon, his expression smoothed out, returning to his usual calm demeanor. He glanced down, casually brushing a stray petal from his leg, and said in a cool voice, “Yes, it’s true.”

“……”

Xie Heng immediately sat up straight.

He found it hard to accept.

Logically, he understood that prenuptial agreements were a legal way to protect one’s assets. But emotionally, he couldn’t accept that his own Dad would use such a thing against his own Mom. It felt too cold.

Xie Heng held in his frustration for a long time, his chest rising and falling as he inhaled the cold fragrance of the plum blossoms, trying to calm himself down. But he couldn’t help it.

“Dad, do you have any idea how many people want to pursue Ms. Lu?” He scoffed. “I guarantee, if they had the chance to marry her, they wouldn’t dare ask her to sign a prenuptial agreement.”

Xie Yizhao : “…How many?”

Xie Heng, looking incredibly proud on Lu Xi’s behalf, replied, “Let’s not even talk about distant admirers. Just in the office building above ours, the CEO of that tech company had a huge crush on her. He used to send flowers every day.”

Xie Yizhao’s gaze darkened slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. “And then?”

“Then, he found out that Ms. Lu was married and had a son, so there was no ‘then.’” Xie Heng shot his Dad a meaningful look.

That look practically screamed : “You’re blocking Ms. Lu’s chances at romance.”

Xie Yizhao’s furrowed brow relaxed a little.

Setting aside the distractions, he had never imagined having this kind of conversation with Xie Heng before. One, because he never saw the need, and two, because he never thought Xie Heng would care.

But clearly, his son was more mature and perceptive than he had assumed.

Xie Heng cared about Lu Xi, which also meant he cared about his parents’ marriage and this family.

If Xie Yizhao continued to treat him as an ignorant child, looking down on him and thinking there was no need to say too much, then it would be Xie Yizhao’s own failure as a father.

Xie Yizhao lowered his gaze, a trace of a gratified smile flashing through his eyes.

In fact, in this matter, he didn’t handle things as well as his son did.

Lu Xi was right. Although their son was impulsive and reckless, he was also sincere and straightforward, and that was part of his charm.

Clearing his throat, Xie Yizhao said, “That’s right. Your Mom and I signed a prenuptial agreement for certain reasons. But that agreement was shredded in the paper shredder in my study a long time ago.”

“Huh?” Xie Heng was stunned for a moment.

He couldn’t help but rub his short hair and asked, “So… is the agreement still valid?”

Seeing the clear expression of legal ignorance on his son’s face, Xie Yizhao smiled slightly. “For me, it’s no longer valid. But Lu Xi’s copy should still exist. As long as she tears hers up too, the agreement will be null and void.”

Xie Heng’s expression turned a little odd.

He took his time processing this information, and after a long pause, he blinked in confusion and asked, “But… why?”

His question was vague, because his mind was a mess with too many things he wanted to ask.

Why sign it in the first place?

Why did his Dad unilaterally destroy it? And why not tell Lu Xi?

Why were adults so complicated?

Xie Yizhao chuckled, roughly guessing the thoughts swirling in Xie Heng’s mind.

As for the past, he couldn’t fully explain it. The only thing he understood clearly was his own feelings now. “I did this because I want her to have everything I have. And I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want to pressure her or make her feel like I was trying to buy her love with money.”

As for when he would tell her… Xie Yizhao hadn’t decided yet.

He wanted to wait for the right moment. One where he was sure Lu Xi could accept everything happily and with peace of mind.

Xie Heng listened quietly, not interrupting, though his confusion only seemed to deepen.

It was almost funny to watch.

Xie Yizhao raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t understand, just forget it. You’ll get it when you’re older.”

Few kids liked hearing that kind of statement, and Xie Heng couldn’t help but scoff. He glanced at his Dad’s calm expression, then stretched lazily, jumped up, and reached for the white plum blossoms high above him.

His expression was relaxed, and he said with a teasing smile, “But I did understand one thing. You’re not as much of a scumbag as I thought.”

Xie Yizhao’s lips twitched, his expression unreadable.

He stood up as well and, without hesitation, smacked Xie Heng on the head, catching him completely off guard. “Brat, let’s go home.”

Xie Heng was stunned.

How was his Dad always so quick with his hands?

And fine, he’d go home—but why hit him?

---

At first, Xie Heng was still annoyed, and thought of complaining to Lu Xi once they got back.

But when they finally arrived home and saw Lu Xi already up, sitting in the dining room having breakfast as usual, smiling sweetly at both him and his Dad, all his frustration vanished in an instant.

Lu Xi had no idea what the father and son had talked about outside.

And she didn’t ask.

All she knew was that when they came back together this time, even though they still acted like they didn’t get along, at least Xie Heng wasn’t openly hostile to his Dad anymore.

Progress was progress.

Even Xie Heng thought so.

His final exam results had just come out. He’d moved up thirty-one ranks, just as Xu Jiaming had predicted.

As Xu Jiaming had said, the higher you climbed, the harder it was to improve. Someone like Xu Jiaming, who remained firmly in first place, had pretty much reached his limit, at least within their school.

At this rate, if Xie Heng wanted to improve even further next time, he’d have to put in more effort than ever.

But that was a problem for next semester—or rather, after the New Year.

For now, Xie Heng planned to relax during the winter break, especially during the upcoming holiday.

This was their family’s first truly complete New Year’s celebration. Everyone would be there.

In the past, New Year’s Eve dinner usually consisted of just him and his Dad. The kitchen would prepare a big feast, but with only the two of them eating, and barely talking, the atmosphere felt cold and awkward.

Xie Yizhao would usually finish quickly and retreat to his study.

Xie Heng would lose his appetite, no matter how good the food was.

Sometimes, his Dad wasn’t even home, away on a business trip, and he wouldn’t bother staying either. He’d just go out and spend the holiday with his friends.

But this year was different.

With Lu Xi around, if his Dad wanted to be a decent man, his Dad definitely stay home for the holiday.

And because Lu Xi was here, even the house staff seemed more enthusiastic about preparing for the New Year.

Before, there had been no hostess in the house, and the master and young master didn’t really celebrate, so the chores were often done half-heartedly. It was all very perfunctory.

But not this year.

Now, the whole house was being thoroughly cleaned, groceries and festive ingredients were being stocked up, and traditional cured fish, sausages, and preserved meats were all being prepared properly.

Even the kitchen was getting ready for the big meal, consulting Lu Xi about the New Year’s Eve menu so they could plan ahead.

Lu Xi sat on the sofa, flipping through the menu the butler had brought her. It was the kitchen’s preliminary selection, and she could add or remove dishes as she liked.

She had decision fatigue.

The kitchen staff had done a great job listing all their usual favorites, so she didn’t see any need to change anything.

So, she called Xie Heng down to take a look.

Xie Heng plopped down beside her, studied the menu seriously for a moment, then suddenly had a thought and sneaked a glance at Lu Xi.

“Ms. Lu… do you know how to cook?” he asked cautiously, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

Lu Xi immediately crushed his hopes with a bucket of cold water. “I can steam rice. Does that count?”

She was instantly met with Xie Heng’s merciless laughter. “Haha, that’s hilarious.”

Lu Xi didn’t hold back either—she pinched his soft, youthful cheek. “Oh? And you? Can you cook? Why don’t you make something?”

Of course, Xie Heng couldn’t. He had never even washed rice before.

But could a man back down?

“Fine, I’ll do it. Just wait and see, there will be at least one dish from me at our New Year’s Eve dinner.” Xie Heng rubbed his face and made a bold declaration.

Lu Xi blinked playfully. “Alright, I’ll be waiting. Just don’t mess it up.”

“…”

Crap. His face was already hurting in advance.

The chances of failure seemed alarmingly high. What was he going to do?

---

Xie Heng made it home just before dinner.

The butler told him that Ms. Lu and his Dad had just arrived, so he raised an eyebrow and strode straight into the dining room.

The moment he walked in, he saw Ms. Lu and the ‘suspect’ sitting on the sofa—sitting very, very close, their faces practically touching.

*Ugh*. He couldn’t bear to look…

Xie Heng turned his head away in disdain and coughed loudly a few times.

Lu Xi and Xie Yizhao both turned to glance at him. Lu Xi’s eyes lit up. “Where did you go this afternoon?”

“Played a script murder game.” Xie Heng strolled over lazily and sat down next to Lu Xi.

Xie Yizhao raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze landing on Xie Heng before flicking to the many empty seats on the sofa. He suddenly felt that his son was seriously lacking in awareness.

Why did his son have to squeeze in with them?

“Didn’t you say you’d be working in the morning and studying in the afternoon? Why’d you run off to play?”

Caught off guard by the question, Xie Heng instinctively sat up straighter. “I can study at night just the same.”

Xie Yizhao asked calmly, “Speaking of which, how were your final exam results?”

“…” Xie Heng immediately tensed up and frowned. “The grades aren’t out yet. How would I know?”

He thought for a moment, then got the feeling that his Dad was deliberately picking on him. He couldn’t help but say, “Wow, what an honor. CEO Xie, the big boss who makes loads of money every day, actually cares about the grades of an underachiever like me.”

Right after he finished, he saw the corners of his Dad’s mouth twitch, and his Dad’s face darken slightly. Xie Heng immediately shifted over a little.

His Dad had long arms. He had to be on guard in case his Dad reached over to smack his head.

Lu Xi was listening in confusion.

Even though she found it a little funny—she did enjoy watching this father and son go back and forth—Xie Heng had just recovered from being sick. That gave him a big sympathy advantage in her book, and she didn’t want him to get scolded. So she reached out and patted Xie Yizhao’s hand in a soothing gesture.

She blinked at him playfully.

No hitting. He’s your own son. At least wait until he’s fully recovered before disciplining him.

Xie Yizhao was very receptive to her gestures. He pursed his lips, shot Xie Heng an irritated glare, but ultimately didn’t make a move.

Having calmed this side down, Lu Xi then turned to Xie Heng.

Thinking back to how pitiful he looked when he was sick just a few days ago, she didn’t have the heart to scold him. But a child couldn’t be too spoiled. Otherwise, they’d get used to it.

Lu Xi asked, “So are you throwing a tantrum at your Dad, or are you acting spoiled?”

…?

Xie Heng was speechless. “I’m not a kid. Who’s acting spoiled?”

Xie Yizhao finally couldn’t hold back. He let out a quiet chuckle and said leisurely, “Oh? I wonder who it was, just two nights ago, clinging to my wife and refusing to let go.”

“…”

Xie Heng’s temples throbbed. He was at his limit.

That incident was already embarrassing enough. Why did his Dad have to bring it up again? Did his Dad think it was funny?

He immediately bristled and shot back without thinking, “And what about you? I wonder who it is that clings to my Mom all day long. You have the nerve to call me out?”

Xie Yizhao: “…”

He clenched his fists.

This brat was really pushing the limits of his patience and self-control.

Lu Xi had a headache.

Ugh. These two. Why were they so childish? She was done. She didn’t want to be the family mediator anymore. If they wanted to fight, so be it.

She smoothed out her skirt, stood up, and said, “You guys take your time arguing—I’m going to eat.”

To show her determination to stay out of the tedious father-son dispute, she deliberately picked a few dishes and had the servant bring them to her study upstairs.

She specifically chose the newly made dishes from the kitchen that night, leaving the leftovers Xie Heng had packed to Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng.

What she didn’t know was that after she left, Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng suddenly lost interest and ended their battle on their own.

Like a stage without an audience, even the actors would find it meaningless.

No matter what strange mood Xie Heng was in tonight, Xie Yizhao felt he was quite innocent in all of this.

He didn’t continue arguing with Xie Heng because he wasn’t as childish as his rebellious son.

Likewise, he had no intention of upsetting Lu Xi or making her worry about their relationship.

After dinner, some time passed before Xie Yizhao knocked on Lu Xi’s study door.

He was about to say, “Sorry,” but before the words could leave his mouth, Lu Xi’s eyes lit up upon seeing him. She pulled him inside, pressed his shoulders, and made him sit down in the chair.

Xie Yizhao thought she was still angry and didn’t expect such enthusiasm from her.

Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled like stars.

Only then did he relax, smiling as he asked, “What’s up?”

“My dear smartest darling!” Lu Xi’s sweet tone was practically free-flowing. “I remember you know a really good private detective. Can you introduce him to me?”

Xie Yizhao paused at her words. “Who do you want to investigate?”

“Mrs. Xia, though I don’t know her real name.” Lu Xi then recounted what had happened at the banquet, the rumor she heard, and how Mrs. Xia had come to the studio today to cause trouble.

She had a feeling Mrs. Xia wasn’t just picking a fight out of boredom. She wanted to know the real reason.

Xia…

Xie Yizhao was silent for a moment before saying, “I think I know who it is. Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it. I promise she won’t bother you again.”

Lu Xi blinked. “Really?”

The man nodded, gently squeezing her hand as he looked into her eyes. “Really. But only if you don’t mind me taking care of it for you.”

Lu Xi was momentarily stunned, then smiled with curved brows and eyes. “Why would I mind? I’d love for you to handle it. I can’t be bothered to waste time on petty people.”

Seeing her proud little expression, Xie Yizhao couldn’t help but smile as well.

Lu Xi gazed down at him, eyes filled with delight.

She liked the Xie Yizhao who childishly argued with Xie Heng, full of spirit and a bit adorable. But she also liked the Xie Yizhao who now calmly took care of trouble for her.

He sat by the floor lamp. He had broad shoulders, long legs, handsome features, deep eyes. There was an indescribable allure to him.

“Thanks for the help, Hubby.” Lu Xi leaned in and kissed him without hesitation.

Xie Yizhao cupped her delicate chin, ready to pull her onto his lap.

But Lu Xi suddenly stopped, lightly pressing a fist against his chest.

Her bright eyes held a teasing glint, and her voice was soft and melodious. “Since you’re already helping, why not do me one more favor?”

Xie Yizhao gazed deeply at her. “Anything you want.”

Lu Xi stepped back, leaned against her desk, and tapped a pen against his chest. “Go talk to Xie Heng and figure out why he’s always targeting you.”

Xie Yizhao pinched the bridge of his nose.

He really didn’t want to bring up that rebellious son at such a moment. It killed the mood.

He gave her a helpless glance. “So you knew he was targeting me all along?”

“You’re the mature Dad; he’s the half-grown cub. You two should learn to solve your own problems.” Lu Xi pulled Xie Yizhao up and pushed him out of the study.

Before closing the door, she left him with a meaningful remark: “I like mature men who can handle problems.”

Xie Yizhao : “…”

He was speechless, then let out a soft chuckle, touching the corner of his lips thoughtfully.

From her words, he caught an unspoken message.

If he couldn’t resolve this issue—talk things out with Xie Heng and make Xie Heng stop targeting him—he could forget about having a peaceful time alone with Lu Xi in the future.

That was a threat with serious weight to it.

As he passed by Xie Heng’s room, he hesitated.

He thought he heard the sound of a video game inside.

“…”

Forget it. Better let the kid cool down overnight. He’d talk to him tomorrow.

Xie Heng had no idea that, under the looming threat of Ms. Lu, his father was preparing to have a heart-to-heart with him.

The next morning, Xie Heng woke up as usual, planning to head downstairs for breakfast before waiting for Lu Xi to go to the studio together.

But in the living room, he unexpectedly ran into his Dad.

Xie Yizhao was dressed in black athletic wear, clearly about to go for a run.

Xie Heng pressed his lips together, deciding not to greet his Dad today.

But his Dad spoke first. “Want to go for a run with me? We can talk about whatever issues you have with me.”

Xie Heng smirked rebelliously. “Sure. But just so you know, I run fast. You might not be able to keep up.”

Xie Yizhao remained unfazed, raising an eyebrow. “That’s what you thought last time before you tried to fight me.”

---

When Xie Heng returned empty-handed, Xu Meng’s eyes lit up. “Did you give the bag back to her? Did she say anything?”

Xie Heng glanced at her, his gaze somewhat evasive. He nodded first, then shook his head.

At the time, he had just shoved the bag into that woman’s hands and turned away without even looking at her reaction.

Seeing Xie Heng’s serious yet slightly dazed expression, Xu Meng thought he must have been scolded by the woman. She felt a little guilty.

Despite his tall stature, he was still just a high school freshman.

Technically, as the receptionist, it was her responsibility to handle this. But Xie Heng, being a loyal kid, had stepped in to help her out.

Xu Meng quickly took out her phone. “Thanks a lot for earlier. Let me buy you a bubble tea. What do you want?”

Normally, Xie Heng would refuse.

He always felt embarrassed letting a girl treat him.

But today, he had too much on his mind and didn’t overthink it. He simply nodded. “Anything’s fine. I’m not picky.”

Ah, she loved guys like this—cute, loyal, and not fussy!

Since she already felt guilty, and Xie Heng had been a great help at the front desk these past few days, making her job easier without her salary decreasing at all, she decided to be extra generous today and ordered two of the more expensive drinks.

When the bubble tea arrived, Xu Meng went to the restroom, so Xie Heng picked it up at the door.

He glanced at the receipt on the paper bag and froze.

Over 100 yuan for two drinks? Even pricier than what Ms. Lu usually ordered.

Cherry Strawberry Boba Supreme?

He unwrapped it and took a sip. It tasted okay—not worth over 50 yuan, in his opinion. He wouldn’t spend that much himself.

He’d have to work almost two hours to earn that back.

When Xu Meng returned and saw him already drinking, she took a sip of her own and smiled. “How is it? Good?”

Since she was treating, Xie Heng nodded against his better judgment.

But he couldn’t help asking, “How much do you make a month? Is it a lot?”

Xu Meng was startled and instinctively glanced toward Lu Xi’s office.

Employees weren’t allowed to discuss salaries, that was the rule. But… Xie Heng wasn’t really an employee. He was the boss’s son. Even if she didn’t tell him, he could find out.

So she lowered her voice and said, “Four thousand five.”

Xie Heng was stunned. He looked at Xu Meng, then at the bubble tea in his hand. Suddenly, the 50-yuan drink felt unbearably heavy.

She earned so little—less than his allowance—and yet she was willing to buy such expensive drinks for him.

She really was a kind and generous person.

Xu Meng noticed Xie Heng’s odd expression. “What? Is there something wrong with that salary?”

“No, no, just asking,” Xie Heng quickly took another sip to calm himself. Then he asked, “By the way, do you have a boyfriend?”

Xu Meng chuckled. “Nope. Why? You want to introduce me to someone?”

Xie Heng replied seriously, “Not really. I just wanted to say—when you do find one, never go for a broke guy. Or one who’s rich but stingy. And definitely not one who makes you sign a prenup. Absolutely not.”

Xu Meng: ?

Why did he sound so serious, like he was mad at someone? Should she just nod?

Meanwhile, Lu Xi was completely unaware of this little drama.

Not long after Mrs. Xia left, Lu Xi sat in her office, still thinking about it.

Had she offended that woman somehow?

Though she doubted Mrs. Xia, with her family background and limited intelligence, could actually harm her, the whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth. She hated the feeling of being targeted.

Like a mosquito buzzing in her ear. Not a serious threat, just really annoying.

Thinking back, she couldn’t figure out what she had done to upset Mrs. Xia.

Maybe just failing to entertain her pointless lecture, making her lose face?

Either way, she had no interest in taking that woman’s money. It doesn’t worth the potential trouble afterward.

Lu Xi couldn’t figure out Mrs. Xia’s problem, but at lunchtime, she did notice something off about her son.

Since Xie Heng was going home that afternoon, she took him out for lunch before having the driver take him back.

The restaurant was in the mall next to her office building, a busy area. Normally, her employees either ordered takeout or ate at the food court in the basement, where the meals were cheap but hit-or-miss in taste.

But Lu Xi, worried that her son was still recovering from an illness, took him to a nicer place on the sixth floor.

“My treat. Order whatever you want, just make sure you eat well before heading home,” she said generously.

Xie Heng took the tablet to place his order, his expression indifferent, as if he wasn’t very interested. He casually selected a few items and handed it back.

Lu Xi glanced at the order.

Just two dishes and a soup.

She frowned. That was way less than his usual appetite.

So she added three more dishes. The waiter hesitated and kindly reminded her, “Ma’am, it’s just the two of you, this might be too much food.”

Lu Xi didn’t even consider that possibility. Did they underestimate Xie Heng’s appetite?

With full confidence, she refused to cancel anything. “Serve them all.”

She ate little, but Xie Heng could eat a lot.

However, unexpectedly, Xie Heng was acting strangely today. He seemed to have little appetite. Even his favorite braised pork was left half-uneaten, while the fish and vegetables, which he didn’t like much, were barely touched.

Lu Xi had always had poor battle power, and besides, she had to maintain her figure.

A lot of food was left on the table.

Worried that he might not be feeling well, Lu Xi looked at him with concern. “What’s wrong? Why are you eating so little?”

Xie Heng was speechless.

He felt like he had already eaten two big bowls of rice and quite a lot of food. Why did she still think he wasn’t eating enough?

The boy muttered, “It’s plenty. I’m not a pig.”

Lu Xi frowned. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

Xie Heng : “…”

He couldn’t help glancing at Lu Xi’s bowl. There was still half a bowl of rice left, and given her cat-like appetite, he really didn’t understand how she had the nerve to comment on his eating.

Pressing his lips together, he said, “I can’t eat anymore. Let’s pack it up. I’ll eat it later tonight.”

After all, this meal wasn’t cheap. It was paid for with Ms. Lu’s money.

Besides, wasting food wasn’t good.

But today, his appetite was just off, and his mood felt gloomy.

Even though he knew that Xie Yizhao was his Dad, who had raised him and provided for him, and that he should treat both parents fairly, he still couldn’t help but feel that Ms. Lu had been treated unfairly. He felt like she got the short end of the stick.

Lu Xi nodded. Naturally, she wouldn’t force him.

Ten minutes later, Xie Heng was carrying the packed food as he and Lu Xi walked back to the office building entrance. Only after seeing him get into his family’s car did she turn around and go inside.

Midway, Xie Heng received a message from a few school team friends who were out playing a script murder game. They invited him to join.

He changed his mind on the spot.

He asked the driver to take the packed food home and drop him off at the game venue.

Xie Heng didn’t play script murder games often. His usual entertainment was either gaming or playing basketball. He had only tried it once before with his classmates, but the experience was enjoyable. He liked playing detective-themed scripts, enjoying the process of following the clues, peeling back layers, and uncovering the truth.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t in high spirits today.

When one’s mind is preoccupied, the game experience suffers.

But no one really noticed his silence. After all, Xie Heng wasn’t a talkative person to begin with. Besides, someone else was even quieter than him today.

Halfway through the game, a girl suddenly burst into tears.

Xie Heng had just been speaking when he was interrupted by the sound of crying. He looked over and saw that it was someone he didn’t know—a girl who seemed to be the girlfriend of a third-year senior.

The senior immediately stopped playing and hurried to console her, handing her tissues and leading her outside.

The remaining players were left confused, unsure of what had just happened.

It was a full half-hour before the senior finally returned, looking exhausted.

He had taken his girlfriend home, but no matter how much he tried to comfort her, she wouldn’t stop crying.

He felt distressed but helpless because the problem she was facing wasn’t something someone their age could solve.

Someone couldn’t hold back anymore. “What’s the issue? Maybe we can help if you tell us.”

Xie Heng wasn’t keen on getting involved in other people’s personal matters. He also wasn’t as curious as the others. Right now, he was just listening quietly, not planning to comment. He just found it a bit boring.

However, when the senior sighed and said that his girlfriend was crying because her parents were getting a divorce, Xie Heng couldn’t help but lift his eyes and glance at him.

Everyone else fell silent.

This was something none of them could really help with.

One person chuckled. “My parents got divorced a few years ago, but I didn’t cry. They were always fighting anyway, so it was for the best.”

A few others casually chimed in, saying their parents had also divorced long ago.

“Same here. They haven’t officially split yet, but my stepdad and stepmom are already lined up,” said a boy sitting next to Xie Heng, his face cold.

The others looked at him sympathetically.

Even Xie Heng glanced at him.

That was a lot of information to process. He took two seconds to digest it, then suddenly felt that the guy was quite pitiful.

He usually just played basketball with the school team, occasionally eating or drinking with them. Their interactions were never that deep. This was the first time he realized that half of them had divorced parents.

The few whose parents were still together didn’t look too happy either, as if their family situations weren’t great.

The atmosphere turned somber in an instant.

These teenagers, usually carefree and full of youthful energy, might have seemed dazzling in school and among their peers, but when it came to their parents, they were powerless children.

Some had learned to endure in silence, using rebellion as a shield, pretending they didn’t care at all.

One of the boys who was closest to Xie Heng noticed his silence and smiled. “What about you? What’s your family situation like?”

Everyone knew that Xie Heng’s Dad had recently remarried, and his new stepmother was exceptionally young and beautiful.

At least for now, he didn’t seem to be facing the issue of divorce.

Caught off guard, Xie Heng paused for a moment. After thinking for a while, he gave a vague reply: “It’s okay, I don’t really know.”

For some reason, the other boy suddenly looked at him with a hint of envy.

“My parents’ divorce was like a war. They completely tore into each other—almost started fighting in court over dividing the assets, even though neither of them lacked money.” He let out a bitter laugh. “I really don’t get these adults. Back when my Dad was courting my Mom, he was so generous—buying houses, buying cars. But now that they’re divorcing, they treat each other like enemies.”

Xie Heng didn’t know what to say.

He wasn’t good at comforting people, so he just patted the other person’s shoulder in silence.

There wasn’t much else to do.

He imagined the scene for a moment. It must have been ugly. He hoped nothing like that would ever happen in his own family.

But to be honest, he didn’t really understand adults either. Especially his Dad.

Whenever he was in front of Xie Yizhao, Xie Heng always felt a little inferior—not as capable, not as smart, never able to figure out what his Dad was thinking.

From what he could see, his Dad treated Ms. Lu really well. Sometimes, he would accidentally catch them whispering to each other, being all affectionate and lovey-dovey. It was honestly too much for him.

Besides, his Dad had never remarried all these years and was still looking for her. If that wasn’t love, then what was?

Xie Heng had always thought his parents had a great relationship.

As long as Ms. Lu didn’t get snatched away by some younger guy outside, he wouldn’t end up being a child of divorce.

That’s why, when he heard today that his Dad had actually signed a prenuptial agreement with Ms. Lu, he was so shocked.

To the point of feeling completely at a loss.

If his dad loved Ms. Lu, why would he sign something like that?

Ms. Lu wasn’t short of suitors. She had amazing qualities, and she was a proud person. Why did she agree back then? Why didn’t she just tear up the agreement and throw the pen in his Dad’s face?

Xie Heng couldn’t help but feel wronged on her behalf.

If things really happened this way, then as far as he was concerned, his Dad was in the wrong.

But you couldn’t convict someone without evidence.

Xie Heng wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t as impulsive as before. He wasn’t about to label his Dad as a scumbag just because of a few gossipy words from some woman.

Until he found out the truth, Xie Yizhao was just a suspect.

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