Ye Qingqiu had never known how to be petty.
Although Yin Ruijue was not a reliable person, on account of the ten bottles of white horses, he had prepared a table full of dishes.
Yes.
It was only ten bottles of white horse.
Pulling Linlin to a chair, the servant wrapped him with a bib and placed a pair of chopsticks and spoon in front of him.
Ye Qingqiu helped to tidy up and roll up Linlin’s sleeves.
Compared to the nervous and helpless look on her face when she wanted to hug Linlin all the time, she was much calmer.
Grandpa had recovered, Linlin’s eyes had recovered, and she was free. Living here, her living conditions had improved.
Everything had settled down.
Gradually, she began to look like herself, as she had three years ago.
She was arrogant, cold, and heartless. No one could catch her eye.
Back then, he was like this to everyone except Li Tingshen.
It hadn’t changed, and it had.
There was a hint of maturity and gentleness on her bright face.
The arrogance between her brows was still there, but there was a hint of charm.
Li Tingshen’s gaze never left Ye Qingqiu.
Ye Qingqiu picked up her chopsticks and picked up a few dishes for Linlin. “Mommy will help you.”
Linlin shook his head. “Linlin, do it yourself. Mommy, eat.”
Ye Qingqiu smiled gently and caressed his face.
“Good girl.”
Even Yin Ruijue was not used to the current Ye Qingqiu.
This woman was really different from before.
In these three years, Ye Qingqiu had grown much faster than any of them.
Back then, she was an arrogant woman who needed others to take care of her. Now, she could actually take care of others.
Li Tingshen wanted to sit closest to Ye Qingqiu, but in the end, he sat opposite her.
It was a safe distance that she wouldn’t dislike, and it was the best position to “pee” at will.
Yin Ruijue looked at his brother and shook his head.
Relationships were really amazing.
After tonight’s meal, this man would definitely have insomnia when he returned.
She sighed helplessly, as if an elder wanted to speak.
Ye Qingqiu glanced at him indifferently. “Do you want peanuts?”
Yin Ruijue could see the rose thorns in her smiling eyes. He opened his mouth with a dazed expression.
“… I also want some wine.”
Ye Qingqiu frowned. “No alcohol.”
“It’s a rare occasion for us to meet. Besides…”
Yin Ruijue winked at Li Tingshen. “…Drink something to help you sleep tonight.”
Ye Qingqiu put down her chopsticks and Yin Ruijue hurriedly said, “Two bottles of Lafite for any bottle of wine, okay?”
Ye Qingqiu looked up at the servant and asked, “Do you have Erguotou at home?”
The servant nodded. “There are two boxes in the warehouse.”
“Yes, bring me a box first.”
Yin Ruijue was speechless.
*
She wanted to help Li Tingshen sleep, but in the end, he collapsed on the sofa with a bottle of wine.
After dinner, Ye Qingqiu asked the servant to bring her upstairs.
Glancing at the man lying on the sofa, Ye Qingqiu’s eyes darkened.
“Take her away quickly. Don’t dirty my carpet.”
With that, she turned to go upstairs.
“Qingqiu.”
Ye Qingqiu walked up the steps and rested her slender and fair hand on the armrest.
Li Tingshen pursed his lips. “Goodnight.”
The sound of the servants clearing the dining table and Yin Ruijue’s low murmurs could be heard from the living room.
After some time, Ye Qingqiu’s voice sounded softly.
“Goodnight.”
Li Tingshen’s heart skipped a beat.
He had never realized that there was such a beautiful word.
“Ye Qingqiu, I’ve never… I’ve never seen him… have such a stupid side… He made me laugh…”
It wasn’t until Ye Qingqiu’s figure had completely disappeared at the staircase that Li Tingshen retracted his gaze. He looked at the person lying on the sofa and pulled his collar coldly, almost dragging him out of the villa.
“Ugh… I’m going to be strangled to death… It’s so uncomfortable…”
In the end, Yin Ruijue was stuffed into the car. Li Tingshen didn’t even let him in.
Xiao Chu was ordered to send him back.
“CEO Li, is the probability of freeloading next time high?”
Turning the car around, Xiao Chu couldn’t help but stop the car and ask.
It was not because he was a gossipy man, but because he was really afraid of how CEO Li looked three years ago and before today.
If CEO Li’s relationship went smoothly, all the employees in the company would have a better future.
The happiness of one affected the happiness of tens of thousands of people.
Although it was CEO Li’s personal problem, it was no longer the case.
Li Tingshen glanced at him and said slowly, “Do you want a raise?”
Xiao Chu was stunned for a moment. “…Of course.”
Li Tingshen nodded and said calmly, “Then perform well.”
Xiao Chu was speechless. What did that mean?
*
At noon the next day, there was another knock on the door of the manor.
Ye Qingqiu opened the door.
Li Tingshen stood in front of the door in a suit.
She was carrying two toy boxes. “Good afternoon.”
Ye Qingqiu leaned against the door and looked up at him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m here to give Linlin a gift.”
Ye Qingqiu looked at him silently.
“… There’s no food at home. I’ll… freeload.”
“Twenty bottles of Lafite.”
Ye Qingqiu narrowed her eyes and fell silent for a while. Then, she turned around and walked back to the living room. She didn’t close the door.
*
On the third day.
On the fourth day.
On the fifth day…
Li Tingshen would come to Qingqiu Manor for a meal every day.
The gifts for Linlin filled the storage room.
However, humans were greedy.
Ye Qingqiu wanted him to freeload and to get along with Linlin calmly.
These were enough to satisfy him in the past.
But…
She had never mentioned the past, nor had she told him what she wanted in the future, nor had she said if she would leave.
Her heart hung in the air.
But he didn’t dare to mention it.
This was because anything in the past could be considered a fatal blow to her.
He felt that maintaining the status quo was better than tearing open the scars of the past again.
However, all her sensitivity and forbearance dissipated on the day Ye Lixun went to Qingqiu Manor for dinner.
That day, it was Ye Lixun who opened the door for him.
Seeing him, Ye Lixun frowned. “I didn’t expect you to be so thick-skinned.”
The moment he saw Ye Lixun, Li Tingshen tensed up.
“What are you doing here?”
Ye Lixun raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Tingshen with a faint smile.
“I’m ready to leave. Come and tidy up.”
Li Tingshen tightened his grip on the gift box.
Ye Lixun turned to make way for him.
When she entered, Ye Qingqiu walked out with a plate of fruits. It was obviously prepared for Linlin. She didn’t have any special expression when she saw him and walked to the place with the cushion.
Linlin was reading a storybook.
His eyes used to be blind, but now, he could see. He spent a long time reading every day.
Ye Qingqiu placed the fruit plate beside him and placed a pear beside Linlin’s mouth.
Linlin caught it and sat up. “It’s so sweet. Thank you, Mommy.”
Ye Qingqiu smiled and said gently, “You’re welcome.”
When she saw Li Tingshen, Linlin greeted him with a smile.
She had already called him Daddy.
A forced smile appeared on Li Tingshen’s tense face.
Linlin looked at Ye Qingqiu in confusion.
Ye Qingqiu remained silent.
Because she felt puzzled too.
What was he thinking when he shamelessly came to her house to freeload?
Had she been too nice to him recently?
Although she was angry, she didn’t show it with her aunt around.
Even after dinner, Ye Zhenzhen didn’t mention that she was leaving.
Ye Zhenzhen wanted to stay here tonight.
Li Tingshen dragged for half a cup of tea before yawning.
Ye Shaoxun turned her head to look at him. She reached out to touch his soft and tender face and said gently,
“Are you sleepy?”
Linlin rubbed his eyes and nodded.
Ye Zhenzhen smiled and said, “Then I’ll bring you to take a shower. Let’s sleep early, alright? We have to wake up early tomorrow.”
Li Tingshen, who had been sitting silently at the side, suddenly clenched his fists.
Linlin nodded obediently and got off the sofa to put on her slippers. Ye Shaoxun pulled her upstairs.
Ye Qingqiu leaned against the corner of the sofa and rested her elbows on the armrest. She looked listless and lazy.
“Is there anything else?”
Li Tingshen stared at her sleepy face. His thin lips moved and she yawned again.
His thin lips pursed tightly as he stared at her. His voice was hoarse.
“Are you sleepy?”
At the mention of sleepiness, Ye Qingqiu yawned again, her eyelashes glistening.
She nodded calmly, her voice gentle and lazy.
“Yeah.”
She looked extremely sleepy.
Li Tingshen stared at her quietly for two seconds before standing up and walking to her.
Ye Qingqiu lifted her eyelids. Before she could see him clearly, she was carried.
She clung onto his shoulder, still groggy. Her voice was soft.
“Li Tingshen.”
She called his name, wanting to bring out some danger, but it was soft and not threatening.
Li Tingshen seemed to have heard her clearly.
“I’ll carry you upstairs to rest.”
“…” Ye Qingqiu leaned on his shoulder silently.
Li Tingshen found her bedroom and placed her on the bed.
After taking off her shoes and loosening the hair tie, Ye Qingqiu hugged the pillow and fell asleep.
Li Tingshen stood by the bed and looked at her. His voice was hoarse and low.
“Aren’t you going to shower?”
Ye Qingqiu hummed in acknowledgment.
“You’ll feel uncomfortable if you don’t shower.”
Ye Qingqiu frowned. “Can you stop bothering me?”
She was angry.
She had always had a bad temper when she woke up, and she had high expectations when it came to sleeping.
Li Tingshen didn’t say anything. He stared at her delicate side profile for a while before bending down to turn off the lights in the bedroom, leaving only the bedside lamp on.
In a daze, Ye Qingqiu felt a familiar aura approaching from behind.
That aura was like a gradually approaching fire. The heat wave made her skin burn.
Her fingers curled slightly under the blanket. She could roughly guess what Li Tingshen wanted to do.
Li Tingshen couldn’t help but want to get close to her and kiss her.
She wanted to.
However, even though he was inches away from kissing her, he stopped. He had already kissed her hundreds of times with his breath, but he couldn’t kiss her for a long time.
After some time, Li Tingshen took a deep breath and closed the door.
In the darkness, Ye Qingqiu slowly opened her eyes and looked at the curtains that had just been drawn by Li Tingshen. Her calm and indifferent eyes seemed to be thinking about something before she closed them again.
Li Tingshen stood outside the villa and turned to look at the tightly shut door. Ye Qingqiu’s soft scent seemed to linger in his nose, but his mind was filled with the thought of Ye Zhenzhen leaving with Ye Qingqiu.
He wanted to ask just now, hundreds of times.
However, she didn’t know what to say and didn’t dare to hear the answer.
If she really wanted to leave, what should he do?
*
Ye Qingqiu slept early last night. In a daze, she remembered that she wanted to take a shower, but she slept until dawn.
She frowned in disgust and lifted the blanket before walking into the bathroom with a cold face.
When she came out after washing up, it was not even eight o’clock yet.
She went downstairs. The servants were cleaning the living room silently.
He was surprised to see her so early today.
“Good morning, Miss.”
“Good morning. Help me change the bed in the room.”
“Okay.”
The servant responded and paused for a moment before Ye Qingqiu went to the dining room.
She pursed her lips and went upstairs.
Ever since she started living with Linlin, she would try her best to wake up earlier than Linlin and cook breakfast for him personally.
Since she woke up early today, she was naturally the one who prepared Linlin’s breakfast.
Back then, she had specially learned how to cook for Li Tingshen. However, it was obvious that she wasn’t good at cooking. Moreover, Li Tingshen didn’t allow her to cook back then.
Now, she could cook simple porridge, throw bread into the toaster, and add some vegetable omelet salad dressing.
Although the success rate of frying eggs was not 100%.
Ye Lixun had left Linlin in her room last night. Half an hour later, the two of them were already dressed.
Linlin was wearing a dark gray casual suit, a pair of black sneakers, a white baseball cap, and a pair of sunglasses.
He was clean and neat, looking like a cool man.
Ye Qingqiu looked at Linlin and couldn’t help but laugh.
Aunt liked children for fun.
“Let’s have breakfast first.”
“Okay ~” Linlin took off her sunglasses and ran towards Ye Qingqiu happily.
At a little past nine, the three of them went out. Ye Qingqiu carried Linlin and walked in front.
The moment she stepped out of the villa, Ye Qingqiu frowned.
Linlin blinked and looked at the man leaning against the pillar at the entrance.
Li Tingshen turned his head and confirmed that it was Ye Qingqiu. His feet moved slightly before he raised his hand to support the pillar behind him and slowly stood up.
It was an expensive suit that would always fit him well. He had a tall and slender figure, and his handsome features gave off a high-class aura.
However, Ye Qingqiu felt that his body was covered in a layer of frost. His cold and handsome face seemed to be a little stiff and his eyes were slightly red.
He turned to face her, his movements clearly stiff.
He seemed to want to approach her, but for some reason, he stopped.
Ye Qingqiu’s eyes swept across his slender legs wrapped in a suit. Her face darkened and her eyes narrowed.
She remembered clearly that he was wearing the same clothes as last night.
“What’s the matter?”
Ye Lixun walked out from behind with Linlin in her arms. When she saw Li Tingshen, she raised an eyebrow.
A servant walked out with a travel bag.
Seeing this, Li Tingshen clenched his fists tightly. His hoarse voice seemed to have formed a thick layer of ice in his throat. There was no warmth, mainly the stiffness of the ice.
“Where are you going?”
“Don’t tell me that you stayed here the entire night yesterday.” Ye Qingqiu’s expression darkened uncontrollably.
Her words surprised Ye Lixun.
She stayed here all night yesterday?
Could it be because of what she said when she opened the door for him?
Frowning, she didn’t know what to think.
Not only did this man block all news about her in the country, but he also restricted her from going out. Just these two points were enough to erase all the good impression she had of him. It was already magnanimous of her not to treat him as an enemy.
Yesterday, she had said something on a whim. She didn’t expect him to care so much.
She even noticed that she had been guarding the door for the entire night.
The weather at the end of September was cold at night…
She knew very well that there was a reason why he had tried his best to stop her from bringing Qingqiu away three years ago.
If not for extreme worry and uneasiness, no one would do such an extreme thing.
“So do I have to ask you for permission wherever I go in the future?”
Li Tingshen gulped. “No need…”
He paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on her beautiful face. After a while, he said slowly, “Are you leaving?”
Ye Qingqiu frowned. “Otherwise, do you think we’re here for a walk so early in the morning?”
Li Tingshen’s eyes flickered.
“Mommy.” Linlin looked at Li Tingshen for a long time and suddenly said, “Daddy seems to be very sad. Why don’t we let him go to the amusement park with us? Everyone will be very happy there.”
Li Tingshen paused. “You… want to go to the amusement park?”
“Yes, Aunt wants to bring me and Mom to the amusement park. Linlin has never been to the amusement park before.”
“He’s not free.” Without giving Li Tingshen a chance to speak, Ye Qingqiu made the decision for him.
She didn’t think that Li Tingshen was a man who was willing to enter an amusement park.
She didn’t think that a person who had spent the night in late autumn would have the energy to go to an amusement park.
Linlin didn’t dare to refute Ye Qingqiu’s words. It was obvious that she was angry.
Li Tingshen instantly felt relieved, but the hope that had just been aroused by Linlin was shattered and he was disappointed.
After saying that, Ye Qingqiu walked out with a cold expression.
When she passed by Li Tingshen, someone grabbed her wrist gently.
“Can you let me go too?”
Ye Qingqiu retracted her hand easily, her voice cold.
“Don’t ask me. What you want has nothing to do with me.”
Ye Lixun pursed her lips.
Who was the person who had just said that he was not free?
The three of them got into the car.
Linlin remained silent.
The car was silent. Ye Qingqiu had not spoken since she got into the car.
Especially when the driver said that Li Tingshen’s car was following behind, Ye Qingqiu’s face turned even colder.
The atmosphere made Ye Lixun feel a little guilty. Who knew that he would do such a thing?
Sighing, she said softly,
“Qingqiu, he thinks I’m taking you away.”
