When Xie Yizhao finished playing the piece, he turned around and saw two faces—one big and one small—on the sofa, both staring at him with starry eyes.
The man was slightly startled and couldn’t help but clear his throat.
Lu Xi was one thing. He was used to seeing that expression on her face, like when she was watching a drama and saw an actor she found handsome.
But right now, her gaze was even more intense and direct than those times.
Even someone as composed as him couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable under such fervent attention.
Xie Heng was even stranger. Though he was trying hard to keep a straight face, his eyes were gleaming, and the corners of his mouth were lifted in a barely contained smile. Even his blue hair seemed to be standing up more energetically than usual.
This son of Xie Yizhao usually only gave him headaches. Rarely did his son ever look this… endearing.
In fact, when Xie Heng was little, he used to run up to him when he came home from work, looking up with a bright, cheerful face and calling out ‘Dad’ enthusiastically.
But as time passed and he got busier, coming home less and less, their communication dwindled, and the distance between them grew.
At some point, he suddenly realized that it had been a long time since Xiao Heng had waited at the door for him to come home.
The night deepened. Unbeknownst to them, darkness had already settled outside.
Seated at the piano, tonight’s Xie Yizhao looked softer than usual. His typically cold and distant aura had mellowed. He raised an eyebrow at the two of them. “Well? Satisfied?”
Xie Heng was feeling guilty. He remembered the last time his Dad had slapped him and wisely gave a thumbs-up. “Dad, you’ve got skills! Why didn’t you show off earlier?”
Xie Yizhao: “…”
This unfilial son really was cutest when he kept his mouth shut.
Lu Xi didn’t say anything. She simply clapped her hands in appreciation, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling even brighter than the twinkling lights outside.
Xie Yizhao pressed his lips together and said casually, “I haven’t practiced in a long time, so I’m a bit rusty.”
“…”
Xie Heng internally wiped away a sweat drop.
His Dad was the definition of humblebragging. Clearly proud and pleased, yet still putting on an act.
Lu Xi chuckled and praised him, “You play so well, and yet you said you didn’t like learning piano as a kid? Do you even give others a chance?”
Now, that was a much more pleasant thing to hear.
Xie Heng was stunned. “No way, Dad, you hated learning piano?”
Xie Yizhao glanced at him and said calmly, “When I was a kid, I hated piano lessons so much that I once faked being sick to skip class. What do you think?”
!
Xie Heng and Lu Xi were both shocked.
They spoke in unison, “Seriously?”
It wasn’t something to be proud of, so Xie Yizhao cleared his throat. “That time, there was a match with my favorite football player. I had to use drastic measures so I could go watch the game with my classmates.”
Though he said it matter-of-factly, his expression was relaxed, as if recalling a fond memory. He clearly had no regrets.
Lu Xi understood immediately and teased, “No wonder your son loves skipping class so much. It runs in the family.”
That accusation came out of nowhere.
Xie Yizhao blinked, glanced at the equally stunned Xie Heng, and then gave a nonchalant smile.
Xie Heng, on the other hand, lifted his chin. “Yeah! Turns out I take after my Dad.”
“…” Lu Xi side-eyed her cheeky son.
Call him fat, and he’d start panting. Why was he so easily flattered? His tail was practically wagging… Was this really something to be proud of?
Despite her inner complaints, Xie Heng, for once, felt a sense of pride.
He had always thought that aside from their looks, he and his Dad had nothing in common. Honestly, if they didn’t resemble each other so much, he might have even doubted whether he was actually Xie Yizhao’s biological son.
Even outsiders—his teachers, classmates’ parents, neighbors in the villa district, and the employees at his Dad’s company—probably thought the same.
He never said it, but it didn’t sit right with him.
But today was different.
Turns out, he and his Dad did share something in common. Even if it was just skipping class, it was still pretty interesting.
He had never imagined that his normally serious, unsmiling Dad had a mischievous side when he was young.
But there was one thing he didn’t quite understand. “If you hated it so much, why did you keep learning?”
It wasn’t like school. He didn’t have to go if he didn’t want to.
Hearing this, Xie Yizhao didn’t get impatient. Instead, he looked at Xie Heng with a gentle gaze and said, “I was just a kid back then. I started learning piano at six years old. I didn’t have a choice.”
Xie Heng froze for a few seconds. Then, when he looked at his Dad again, his gaze had the same deep sympathy that Lu Xi had earlier.
A six-year-old, forced to learn piano, playing for at least an hour each time—that was downright inhumane.
Thinking back to when he was six, he was running wild with his friends all over the neighborhood. That was real happiness.
“Dad, that’s tragic. Seriously.” Xie Heng said sincerely, “If I had known you back then, I would’ve found a way to get you out and play.”
Lu Xi nodded. For once, her bratty son was being considerate.
Though… something about that sentence felt off.
Wasn’t that messing up the generational hierarchy?
Clearly, Xie Yizhao thought the same. He narrowed his eyes, gave Xie Heng a warning look, and said with a half-smile, “Well, thank you for that.”
Seeing Xie Heng straighten up a bit, Xie Yizhao cleared his throat and added with a faint smile, “But honestly, it wasn’t so bad. Looking back now, I don’t regret it. If I had known back then that one day I’d get to play for you two, I would’ve practiced even harder.”
Lu Xi’s eyes were full of laughter.
Lately, Xie Yizhao had been saying all the right things.
Everything he said went straight to her heart.
If Xie Heng weren’t here, she would almost take that sentence as a love confession. However, with the blue-haired rebellious son present, the atmosphere had an indescribable warmth, and she felt a similar warmth in her heart.
Next, Xie Yizhao led Lu Xi and Xie Heng on a tour of the three-story house. Lu Xi even specifically requested to see the small hot spring pool.
It was clear that this was the part she was most interested in.
“The weather will turn cold soon—perfect for soaking in a hot spring. If you like it, we can move in soon,” Xie Yizhao said as he stood to the side, watching Lu Xi happily admiring the pool.
Lu Xi paused and let out a soft sigh. “It’s nice, but it’s a bit far from Xiao Heng’s school.”
Driving would take about an hour, and if there was traffic in the morning, Xie Heng would have to get up at six.
Xie Heng didn’t really mind. Seeing how much Lu Xi liked the place, he shrugged, about to say he was already used to waking up early.
But before he could, Xie Yizhao spoke in a calm voice, “He’s a boy. At his age, he should be toughened up a bit. Let him wake up early or stay in the dorm.”
Xie Heng : !
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Wait… wasn’t his Dad being a little too heartless? Just a moment ago, the atmosphere was all warm and affectionate, and now he flipped the script completely? Was he really his biological son?!
Xie Heng drooped his head like a dejected puppy, his eyes full of grievance.
Lu Xi was in a good mood today. At first, she had felt indifferent about moving, but this house was just too much to her liking. It had a grand piano and a hot spring pool. After a long day, she could soak in the pool and have the ever-busy CEO Xie play a tune to soothe her soul. Wouldn’t that be a dreamlike life?
She was genuinely tempted.
How could Xie Yizhao not notice? Seeing her reaction, he understood it was best to stop pushing. Otherwise, he might seem too eager and risk backfiring.
The three of them left the house and drove home.
The area was another villa community, less densely packed than their current neighborhood, with a more open feel. The house they had just seen was in a quieter, more secluded spot. To exit by car, they had to drive down a wide avenue lined with walkways on both sides—an ideal place for evening strolls.
Lu Xi gazed out the window. The roadside was lined with various unknown but highly ornamental plants, and she found herself captivated by the view.
Unfortunately, at that moment, she spotted two familiar figures.
Up ahead, a middle-aged couple walked toward them. The woman strode ahead briskly, her face so dark it looked like it might drip water. The man quickly caught up and grabbed her arm, whispering something in a hushed argument.
It was her uncle and aunt.
Lu Xi was momentarily stunned.
The car windows were tightly shut, so she couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their expressions alone made it clear they were arguing.
Lu Xi raised an eyebrow slightly.
Since they were still within the community, Xie Yizhao wasn’t driving fast. If she rolled down the window now, she would probably hear their conversation. But she had no interest. She glanced at them once before shifting her gaze away.
“I didn’t expect them to live here too,” she muttered.
Suddenly, her desire to move here cooled.
Xie Yizhao glanced at the rearview mirror. He naturally recognized Lu Yuehua and Cen Yun as well.
He turned slightly to look at Lu Xi, noting the shift in her expression. His grip on the steering wheel subconsciously tightened, and his gaze in the mirror darkened.
A sudden, unexpected obstacle. Now, the moving plans would likely have to be put on hold…
Xie Heng, oblivious to the undercurrents between his dad and Lu Xi, followed her gaze and spotted the couple. He, too, was momentarily taken aback.
By seniority, he was supposed to call them ‘Granduncle’ and ‘Grandaunt,’ but he never had. They barely interacted, and their families weren’t close.
Sensing something was off, he looked at Lu Xi’s expression, then shifted forward in his seat. He leaned over, poked her shoulder, and asked hesitantly, “What’s wrong? You don’t like them?”
Lu Xi smiled faintly. “Not really, we’re just not close.”
Saying she disliked them would be too strong. After all, she had grown up in her uncle’s household. To be fair, her uncle and aunt had never mistreated her, but at times, the distinction between close and distant was painfully obvious. She had simply gotten used to it.
Ultimately, when you live under someone else’s roof, there are bound to be unspoken hardships.
But all of that was in the past, and Lu Xi had no desire to bring it up, especially in front of Xie Heng.
He was still in his teenage years, his worldview not yet fully formed. She didn’t want to gossip about old grievances with him.