This chapter is brought to you by Peach, thanks for the ko-fi! ♡ ～(‘▽^人)
Chapter 16 – Do you know Xie Heng? That’s my son, go ask him. (Part 2)
Finally reaching the first floor, a servant saw her and hurried over to attend to her, asking what she would like to eat.
Lu Xi thought for a moment. She didn’t know what to eat; she always had a poor appetite during her period.
“I’ll go check the kitchen.” She wanted to see what ingredients were available to get some inspiration.
The Xie family had two kitchens, one for the masters and one for the servants. With few people in the house, now just three including her, the kitchen was not large, and the refrigerator was just the right size.
Unexpectedly, Xie Heng followed her again.
Seeing Lu Xi looking at him with confusion, the young man raised his chin. “I’m hungry too. I want to eat something.”
Fine, he was growing, so he should eat more.
Lu Xi finally settled on a bowl of chicken noodle soup, something light that she could manage to eat.
“Then, I’ll have the same,” Xie Heng said.
The servant was somewhat surprised. It was rare for the young master to eat such light food; he usually loved spicy dishes.
Lu Xi left the kitchen and walked to the garden to get some fresh air.
As expected, the little troublemaker followed her again.
He looked at the sky, looked at the flowers, but did not look at her.
Holding her water cup, Lu Xi looked at him with some amusement. “Does the Young Master also have the leisure to appreciate flowers?”
Xie Heng choked a bit. “It’s my garden. Can’t I walk around in it?”
Thinking of the awkward incident with Xie Yizhao earlier, Lu Xi now felt uneasy around Xie Heng, especially remembering how he came to be there, making her want to curl her toes in embarrassment.
“Fine, Young Master, take your time. I’m going inside.”
Lu Xi hurriedly tried to leave.
Xie Heng frowned in displeasure. “Why are you always avoiding me? I didn’t invite those people today.”
Although it had something to do with him, how could she blame him for everything?
Xie Heng’s eyes drooped, his shoulders slumped, lacking his usual arrogance.
Lu Xi found it strange and asked back, “Why are you always following me?”
“…I’m not following you.”
“If you’re not following me, how do you know I’m avoiding you?” Lu Xi looked at him with interest.
“…,” he was speechless.
Lu Xi thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled, somewhat surprised and unbelieving, “Could it be that you’re worried I’ll faint and that’s why you’re following me?”
Xie Heng coughed a few times, his blue hair almost standing on end.
He took his hand out of his pocket, rubbed his reddening ears, switched his phone from his left hand to his right, avoiding her gaze. After almost half a minute, he awkwardly muttered, “So what if I am? This Young Master likes it.”
Lu Xi was stunned, her eyes slowly widening, and then she couldn’t help but laugh.
Hahaha, he was so funny. How could this silly goose be so cute?
She laughed so hard that her stomach started to ache.
At first, Xie Heng was mocked, which made him quite angry. He was concerned about her, but she reacted like this, which made him so angry that he wanted to storm off.
Seeing her uncomfortable look, Xie Heng became nervous again: “Are you alright? How about I… support you?”
Lu Xi : ?
What’s going on? Why has this unfilial son suddenly become so sensible?
In the evening, there was an emergency at the company that needed Xie Yizhao to handle. He stayed in his study for two hours, and when he returned to the bedroom, he found that Lu Xi was not on the bed.
“Xiao Xi?”
He didn’t see her in the bathroom either.
Xie Yizhao had always been calm. Over the years, he had experienced many ups and downs, and nothing could faze him anymore. But at this moment, he suddenly felt a bit panicked.
Could she have… disappeared again?
Although Lu Xi had said that she wouldn’t leave again this time, and Xie Yizhao knew that she wouldn’t just disappear from home for no reason, he was still a bit uneasy.
Until he asked the servant and saw Lu Xi in the dining room on the first floor.
Sitting beside her, eating the same chicken noodle soup, was Xie Heng.
Only then did Xie Yizhao feel at ease, but he was also a bit surprised by this scene.
Since when did these two get along so harmoniously? Just a few days ago, Xie Heng was still shouting that Lu Xi was just a stepmother and he would never accept her.
At that time, Xie Yizhao had said he would talk to Xie Heng, but Lu Xi waved it off, saying it wasn’t necessary.
She didn’t seem anxious at all.
Unexpectedly, in such a short time, the two of them seemed to be getting along quite well.
Xie Yizhao pursed his lips, watching this scene, and for once felt a sense of warmth at home.
Lu Xi saw him coming over and raised her eyebrows: “Finished with work?”
“Mm, just a small matter.” In Xie Yizhao’s words, even the biggest problems seemed insignificant.
Lu Xi glanced at Xie Heng, who was silently eating his noodles without greeting his Dad, then looked at Xie Yizhao and couldn’t help but smile.
Is this really a case of ‘like father, like son’?
Lu Xi didn’t plan to interfere in their father-son issues; that was Xie Yizhao’s job to handle, not hers.
“By the way, where’s my gift?” Lu Xi hadn’t thought of it earlier when she was feeling unwell.
Xie Yizhao was slightly taken aback.
The fact that she asked for the gift meant she was feeling better.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Wait a moment.”
He had put the gift in the cloakroom earlier. Since it was almost ten o’clock, and Lu Xi had let the servants go to rest, he had to get it himself.
Taking the elevator, he quickly returned.
As soon as Lu Xi saw the brand logo on the gift bag, her eyes lit up.
She had always loved this brand of jewelry; every piece was well-designed, combining classical and modern styles, and it suited her perfectly.
She couldn’t even bother to eat anymore and eagerly unwrapped the gift, her face beaming with joy.
Lu Xi took out a choker. It had a vintage design, with an advanced-quality black lace ribbon adorned with a large emerald that looked to be over twenty carats, surrounded by delicate pearls. She immediately liked it.
Old Xie really had a good eye, it hit her taste perfectly!
When Xie Heng saw her smiling brightly, eyes gleaming, he felt a pang of fear in his heart.
This was exactly like the time she made him try on clothes!
Would she make him try on jewelry next? Put a necklace or earrings on him? No way, he would never give in, not even if she was his real mom!
“I’m done eating!” Xie Heng put down his chopsticks, planning to escape.
Lu Xi glanced at him. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going back to my room, why?”
“Wait,” Lu Xi remembered something, shifting her gaze from Xie Heng to Xie Yizhao, looking at these two similar handsome faces—one serious, one rebellious—she suddenly smiled. “Your Dad also brought you a gift, don’t you want to ask him for it?”
Xie Heng paused.
He sneered, losing the obedient tone he had when talking to Lu Xi, and now spoke with disdain and a cynical smile. “Do I even need to ask? He wouldn’t actually bring me anything.”
Just one look at his Dad’s stern expression was enough to know what his Dad was thinking.
In his Dad’s eyes, he was nothing but an unworthy troublemaker.
Xie Yizhao glanced at Xie Heng coldly.
Xie Heng leaned back rebelliously, still defiant but said nothing more.
No matter what, deep down he still felt a bit intimidated by his Dad. Even though his Dad never hit or scolded him, his Dad’s presence alone was enough to command respect.
“I left it by your room door earlier, go check it yourself,” Xie Yizhao said.
Xie Heng was stunned.
No way, did his Dad really bring him a gift?
When Xie Heng went back to his room, he actually saw a gift bag at the door. He hesitated for a moment, still in disbelief.
When he opened it and saw the gaming console he specifically requested, Xie Heng was dumbfounded.
The black matte finish felt premium to the touch, and even the color and model were exactly what he wanted.
How could this be? Did something happen to his dad to make him change so much?
Or could this all be because of her…
He put down the console, deciding not to play it for now. He already had a similar one, just the difference between domestic and international versions; this one was more valuable as a collector’s item.
After showering, Xie Heng lay down to play some games.
Song Siyang was online too.
He pulled Xie Heng into the game and, while getting ready, connected their voice chat. “What’s going on? I heard Ruan Tian left your house crying for a long time. Did your stepmother give her a hard time?”
Xie Heng : “Are you crazy? Who asked her to come to my house for no reason?”
Song Siyang was stunned, then laughed, “What’s going on, Brother Heng, speaking up for your stepmother now?”
Xie Heng: “Shut your mouth, stop calling her my stepmother all the time, show some respect!”
Song Siyang : ?
Did his Brother Heng take the wrong medicine today?
His parents had met the new Mrs. Xie in the neighborhood. They came back saying how young and beautiful she was. His Mom even got mad and scolded his Dad.
She looked just over twenty. If she wasn’t called Xie Heng’s stepmother, should she be called Xie Heng’s mother?
The next day, Lu Xi was still resting at home, Xie Yizhao went to work, and Xie Heng continued to laze around at home, not going to school.
In the past, Lu Xi thought, as long as Xie Heng was fine and not causing trouble, it didn’t matter if he lazed around. After all, his Dad was rich enough to support him for several lifetimes.
But when she saw Xie Heng playing games standing up, sitting down, and lying down…
Lu Xi couldn’t help but feel annoyed with him, even though he had a handsome face.
No, if this continues, this kid will be ruined.
She was afraid that if this continued, while Xie Yizhao might tolerate this wastrel, she couldn’t. She would kick him out once he became an adult to avoid the constant annoyance.
Since the Young Master had nothing to do, she would find something for him to do.
Even if it meant arguing with her, it would at least train his speaking skills and stress tolerance.
In the afternoon, Xie Heng came back after playing basketball, took a shower, and sat in the living room fiddling with his phone.
Lu Xi walked over, sat down on the other side of the sofa, took off her shoes, and comfortably half-lay down, saying to him, “Go out and get me a cup of milk tea.”
Xie Heng glanced at her, lying there like an empress, ordering him around like a eunuch, and speechlessly asked, “Can’t you order delivery?”
Lu Xi : “It’s a new internet-famous spot, the line is at least three hours long, they don’t take delivery orders.”
She paused, then said indifferently, “You’re a young man who can run and jump, do you expect me, an old, weak, sickly person to go? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“…” Xie Heng couldn’t even focus on his game and couldn’t help but scrutinize the woman.
At most, she could be considered weak and sickly now.
Old? Disabled?
She must think he’s brain-dead!
Song Siyang : [Brother Heng, what are you spacing out for, standing there like a live target!]
Xie Heng quickly typed a line : [Not playing anymore, going to get milk tea.]
Song Siyang : …Since when did Xie Heng become so girly and start liking milk tea?
Xie Heng scratched his hair, his blue hair highlighting his handsome face, looking particularly like a beautiful and tragic male lead from a youth pain movie. He put away his phone, got up from the sofa impatiently, and left without a word.
Lu Xi blinked.
No way, he can’t take a joke, only said a few words and he’s pouting and leaving? He used to argue with her for a bit.
Tsk, his fighting spirit is getting weaker.
Not fun.
Half an hour later.
The butler came to Lu Xi, showing her his phone, “Madam, Young Master has something for you.”
Xie Heng had sent two pictures.
The first showed a long line of people, with no end in sight.
The second was the milk tea shop’s menu, stating a limit of four cups per person.
The butler didn’t understand the meaning, the young master only said to show it to madam, and after madam saw it, she had a meaningful smile, looking very pleased.
Lu Xi didn’t expect Xie Heng to actually go get milk tea?
What happened to never letting this evil stepmother have her way?
Lu Xi was puzzled, but having milk tea to drink was the best. She happily ordered two signature cups, and even ordered one for the butler.
“Thank you, Madam.” The butler finally understood, the Young Master was being ordered to queue for milk tea.
It definitely wasn’t for the Young Master himself, the Young Master never liked sweet things.
Madam really had skills!
She managed to order the family troublemaker to queue for her milk tea! No wonder she could win over the Master in just a few days.