“Okay, Mommy!” Mu Zirui responded, lowered his head, and continued to complete his homework.
As for Xi Xiaye, she carried Mu Xiaocheng and walked into the kitchen. When she was at the doorway, she saw the busy figure of the man inside. As if he also noticed someone opening the door to the kitchen, Mu Yuchen turned around and took a glimpse. Seeing his wife holding his son and watching him, he gave a faint chuckle. “So, you’re back.”
“Yeah, what’s on the menu tonight?”
“Honey glazed steak, yours and Xiao Rui’s favorite. Just give me a few more minutes,” he replied.
“Dada…hug, hug…” At this time, the little fella in Xi Xiaye’s arms suddenly reached out to Mu Yuchen unexpectedly.
Mu Yuchen raised his well-groomed eyebrows and immediately grabbed his son with one hand. Of course, he still had the spatula in his other hand.
“Okay, you should continue cooking. This little kiddo is too naughty, so I’ll bring him out. I’m looking forward to your sumptuous dinner, Mr. Mu.” She smiled cheerfully and reached out, wanting to grab the kid back, but Mu Xiaocheng stretched his tiny arms out. He wrapped them around his father’s neck and did not want to let go. He then happily called his ‘Dada’ repetitively.
As the curve on Mu Yuchen’s face widened, he put the things in his hand down and gently pinched Mu Xiaocheng’s chubby face. Mu Xiaocheng suddenly reached out to grab his fingers by surprise. He then shouted ‘Dada’ and drooled all over his chest.
“Alright, go out with Mommy and wait for dinner. Daddy will finish soon.” Mu Yuchen lowered his head and kissed Xiao Cheng on his forehead. Then, he passed him to Xi Xiaye.
“I found out that this little fella is getting more and more attached to you now. Moreover, as he grows a little every day, he resembles you a little more. Life’s amazing.”
“He’s my son. Who else could he look alike if not me?” He smiled.
“Mr. Mu, up until now, I still want to say ‘thank you’. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and the people around me. When I sent Xi Xinyi to the airport just now, she asked me to thank you before boarding the plane,” Xi Xiaye said faintly.
Having heard that, Mu Yuchen’s eyes became still for a while. He then responded after some time, “I just took advantage and used her. She didn’t have to thank me. Plus, when she gets to the States, I can’t guarantee whether will things work out between her and Han Yifeng.”
“We can’t always help people all the way. Anyway, just let her be. I only want to live a peaceful life for a few days now,” Xi Xiaye said before leaving the kitchen.
However, unexpectedly, she heard footsteps from the outside when she was about to exit the kitchen doorway. When she came out, it turned out to be Su Chen, Ji Zitong, and Zhou Zimo…
Was there a dinner gathering tonight?
All of them were carrying two big bags. Of course, the husband-wife duo Ruan Heng and Su Nan were there too…
Xi Xiaye was naturally a little shocked when she saw that scene. Was everybody there for a gathering?
Seeing all the guests entering the door, Sis Wang came over and grabbed Mu Xiaocheng from Xi Xiaye. She also took Mu Zirui back to his room upstairs to finish his homework.
“Xiaye!” When Su Nan saw Xi Xiaye, she took a few large strides towards her, reached out, and hugged her directly. “I miss you so much! It’s been a long time since I last saw you. Why have you lost so much weight? I only just praised your curves some time ago, but you’ve lost it together with all the weight!”
Xi Xiaye could only smile helplessly, letting her embrace her. She then replied, “I’ve been so busy, do you think that my life is as easy as yours? However, after not seeing you for a while, you’ve become curvier.”
“Are you saying that I’m fat?” Su Nan was very keen to have captured the meaning of Xi Xiaye’s words.
Xi Xiaye just smiled with pursed lips. Then, she lifted her head and glanced at the people who were catching up to Su Nan. She then said with a smile, “Is it because great minds think alike, or have all of you come to an agreement to organize a gathering?”
After hearing that, Su Chen raised the mitten crabs in his hand and said with his deep voice, “Tomorrow is my off-day, and nothing seems to be wrong with celebrating now. Zimo brought some wine too. You guys can chat for a while. I’ll go help in the kitchen.” There was no suspense since Su Chen and the others already knew that Mu Yuchen should be in the kitchen cooking.
Su Nan and the other, who were idle, started playing mahjong naturally. The group of people seemed to get along well and harmoniously. As she watched them play happily, Xi Xiaye pursed her lips and smiled. She also made them a pot of fragrant tea…
After about an hour, the dining table was already full of luxurious wine and delicious dishes, and everybody sat down around the table.
“Today’s dinner is very meaningful. Thank God that everything has passed. So, come on, cheers!” Su Chen was not the type that liked giving ceremonious speeches on such occasions, so he picked up his wine glass and went with a simple sentence.
Xi Xiaye also picked up her wine glass with a smile. Taking a sideways glance at the man who was wiping his hands gracefully with a table napkin, she gave it a thought and said softly, “Thank you for your concern, especially Su Chen and Zimo. We’ve bothered you a lot with our business. So, here’s a toast from Ah Chen and me to the both of you, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. We seldom use the word when it comes to Chen since we grew up in the same courtyard. We’re still great brothers and a family no matter where we are,” Zhou Zimo said gently, “Alright, there’s no need to say anything else. Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
With the sound of wine glasses clinking, the wine swaying in the glass seemed to have seeped into her heart slowly. Come to think of it, yes, was this not what she had always wanted?
Things were peaceful, everyone was well, and that was it…
…
It was already dusk, and the faint afterglow scattered all over the place. There was a faint chill in the warm rays as the evening wind was cooler than the afternoon one.
In a quiet corner of the cafe on the edge of the small plaza, a dark silhouette was sitting at the table, and there were unfolded documents on the table in front of him. A thick pile of documents had been placed on his left-hand side. The slender man carefully scanned through the document in his hand. The coffee on the table was just refilled. It was still steaming, and the entire space was filled with a rich aroma.
“It’s late already. We shall go back first. Tomorrow’s an off day. Whatever that should be arranged has been arranged, so you should be able to get a good rest during the weekends. You seem very exhausted these days,” Yang Sheng, who was on the side, suggested as he felt a little distressed when he looked at Qi Lei, who had been working for seven or eight hours straight.
As soon as he voiced that out, Qi Lei slowly looked up from the file and glanced out of the window subconsciously. Only then did he realize that it was already late…
“You should go back first. I want to walk around alone.” Closing up the file in his hand, Qi Lei slowly got up from the chair…
Yang Sheng gazed at Qi Lei’s bleak figure and could not help but call out, “President Qi!”
Qi Lei’s body froze for a while, and a dim, cool light flashed across his restrained and deep eyes. He thought about it for a second but did not say anything after all the thinking. Then, he continued to walk forward…
How could he tell him that he actually despised those two words? He had to pay such a high price just to get something that he did not want from the very beginning. He thought that this was perhaps how the rest of his life would look like already…
