Yue Ling entered the living room and stopped in front of Liu Ye, Liu Jingyi, and Jianan. She turns to the side and takes the bags in his hand.
She doesn't say a word right away but hands them to the children.
"This isn't much, but I hope they'll fit."
Liu Ye takes the bags and opens them. He was meticulous as the bag itself looked too expensive, and he was afraid he might rip it.
"Thank you, Miss Han."
He opens the bag, and he sees a new set of clothes. His eyes trembled with an unexplainable feeling in his stomach.
"This…"
He notices the tag attached to the clothes, and he looks up at Yue Ling with hesitation.
"Miss Han, this is too much. We cannot take this."
He held the shopping bag out in an attempt to return it to the owner.
Yue Ling doesn't take back the shopping bags. She looks at Liu ye in silence, then at Liu Jingyi and Jianan.
Her bluish-green eyes return their gaze to Liu Ye, and she faintly shakes her head.
"Think of it as a small gift from me to you."
Liu Ye wanted to refute, but Jianan jumped down from his seat. He sets the bag given to him on the floor and walks to Yue Ling.
He gives her a tight hug. Due to his shorter height, he could only hug her waist.
"Thank you, Miss Angel."
His lips tremble, but he presses them together to hold back his feelings.
"Thank you so much."
He had only been given clothes, but it's been so long since someone other than his siblings gave him a gift… no, anything.
His little arms wrapped around Yue Ling tightens more, and he presses his face against her.
"I promise I'll work hard and repay you for all your generosity."
Yue Ling sighs a smile at him. She couldn't help but stroke his head.
"Alright, that's enough."
Suddenly, a deep voice sounds from behind, and a pair of large hands grab the little boy.
Jianan was pulled away from Yue Ling, and his head tilted back to look at the person. When he saw who it was, he stiffened like a tiny bunny who had come into contact with a fierce lion.
Observing from the sideline, Liu Shan, Lin Hui, Xu Long, and Ju Suo rhythmically shook their head.
However, unlike the subordinates, Liu Ye's heart dropped to his stomacher as it did for Liu Jingyi.
Liu Ye knew who this person was, but Liu Jingyi didn't. However, just from a glance, she could confirm that this person is dangerous.
She looked at her frightened younger brother and wanted to help him. However, a soft chuckle sounds from Yue Ling, and she doesn't move.
"Tian, you're scaring him."
Yue Ling moves Jianan away from the aloof man and looks down at the boy.
"This is Lu Tian, my fiancé. He's not as scary as he looks."
Jianan robotically nods his head. He steals a glance at Lu Tian and sighs in relief.
He was sure that he was going to piss his pants.
If his father is a demon, then this man must be the devil.
However, considering Miss Angel's words, this man should be a good devil.
He inhales a deep breath and turns to face Lu Tian. His small physique stood with a brave soul as he looked up at the tall man before bowing.
"Thank you too, Mr. Lu. I promise I won't be a bother."
Lu Tian raised an eyebrow at the little boy. His quietness added with the silent room made everyone, except Yue Ling, heart frozen with time.
He ignores the eyes of others and raises his arm. He pats the boy's head and lightly ruffles up his hair.
"Eat more. You're too thin."
His words and tone held no emotions, but Yue Ling smiled at her husband's soft side. However, her subordinates gasped with jaws dropped to the floor while Liu Ye and Liu Jingyi sighed relief.
For a split second, they thought Lu Tian was going to push Jianan away.
Xu Long stared in disbelief at his boss. In all the years he's worked under Lu Tian, he has never once seen the man be friendly towards any children. Let alone be nice to anyone other than Yue Ling.
Does this mean the sun will rise from the west?
Liu Hui rolled his eyes when he saw Xu Long's reaction. He decides to ignore the man and walks to the three siblings.
He sets the bags in his hand in front of them and smiles.
"These are also yours. None of you were able to bring anything from home, so hopefully, these will do for now."
Jianan's eyes widen with surprise. He forgets about Lu Tian and joins his older siblings to see what was inside the bags.
He was like an eager child anticipating to open his birthday gifts.
Liu Ye was put in a difficult position. He wanted to decline the gifts but didn't want to be disrespectful as these people saved him and his siblings.
He steals a glance at the other adults before stopping at Yue Ling, who gave him a nod.
Knowing what to do, he tells Lin Jingyi and Jianan to accept the gifts. He also promised himself that he would pay back everything everyone had done for him and his siblings.
After going through the gifts, Ju Suo left for home. Liu Shan then showed Liu Ye, Liu Jingyi, and Jianan to the guest bedroom to help settle them in.
Lin Hui and Xu Long also left the house but only to go purchase food.
Upstairs, Yue Ling finished taking a shower and stepped out of the adjoining bathroom in their bedroom.
She wore a pink knitted set and held a towel in hand as she
dried her damped hair.
Upon exiting the bathroom, she sees Lu Tian. He had also showered and had changed into a comfortable set of black loungewear. She could see that he Had not properly dried his hair.
However, she noticed he was preparing his luggage.
The space between her eyebrows creases into three lines with confusion. Her hand with the towel slowly lowers, and she walks over to the bed.
"Are you perhaps leaving me because I brought home children?"
Lu Tian had heard her come out from the bathroom but didn't think much and continued to pack his luggage. However, when he heard her question, he frowned.
All his movements ceased, and he turned around to her.
"Never."
He watched his wife walk towards him. He took her hand, sat on the bed, and positioned her between his legs when she was close enough.
"If I were leaving, I would bring you with me."
Yue Ling chuckles at his severe and straightforward answer. She looks down at the small luggage still opened on the bed.
"If you're bringing me with you, I think you will need a bigger luggage."
She chuckles again and puts the towel in her hand on his head.
Lu Tian lets her dry his damped hair out of comfort habit. He wraps his arms around her waist and closes his eyes.
"I don't need a bigger luggage. You will be my carry-on."
His sweet words made Yue Ling's cheeks flush a shade of red. She proceeds to dry his hair but glances at the opened luggage again.
She didn't know why, but him not being in the same place made her sad.
"Are you going on another business trip?"
Lu Tian answers with a faint mm. His eyes gradually open, and he gazes at her.
He sees her expression and pulls her closer to him. As he did this, he couldn't help but inhale her lovely scent that calms his mind.
"My flight is in the morning, so I won't be able to have breakfast with you."
He presses the side of his head against her abdomen and gently tightens his hold of her.
"But I'll be back for dinner. Until then, don't get into any trouble."
Yue Ling pouted her lips at his words. She was a little disappointed that he would not see him at breakfast but was at ease that he wasn't gone for long.
She lets him hug her and carefully dries his hair.
"I never look for trouble. Trouble just like to find me. Besides, I plan to finish work early then take little Jianan to see Doctor Dong."
Lu Tian answers with another mm. He pulled away from her but still kept a hold on her.
He lifts his left hand to hold her hand. He brings her hand to his lips and softly places a kiss on the back as he looks up at her.
"I'll miss you."
"…"
Yue Ling's eyes grew heavy at his quick change of topic. She didn't understand how her bringing Jianan to visit Doctor Dong would make him miss her.
However, feeling his warm lips still on the back of her hand, she shyly blushes.
"I already miss you."
Lu Tian's heart jumped at her sheepish reaction. He falls back onto the bed, bringing her along with him.
"Tian!"
Yue Ling exclaimed his name at his sudden movement. She lands on top of him and pushes herself up.
Unfortunately, her movement was to no avail as he made sure to have a firm hold on her.
She peers down at him, and when their eyes gaze into one another, she swallows a hard gulp. She knew what he intended to do next.
And just as she thought, Lu Tian's hands ever so lightly caress her back.
There was a thick layer of clothes blocking his fingers from her skin, but it still sent a pleasant shiver up her spine.
His neck stretches forward, and she lowers her head to meet him.
"Hello?! We're back! Where did everyone go?"
Just as their lips were centimeters away from one another, Lin Hui's loud voice calls out from downstairs. He and Xu Long had returned from picking up dinner.
Yue Ling froze in place. She glances down at Lu Tian only to see a dark and murderous expression on his face.
She presses her lips to keep her from smiling. Without a doubt, he was angry.
However, thanks to her subordinate's loud mouth, they didn't have to go through a shameful act while having guests in the house.
"I think we should go downstairs."
Lu Tian felt defeated. He just wanted to spend some alone time with his wife. Why is everyone making it so hard?
He gazed up at his wife and let out a frustrating sigh. His left arm drops to his side, and his other arm raises to rub his forehead.
"I think I should get rid of your subordinates."
Yue Ling smiles with her teeth. She leans forward and pecks his lips before getting up from the bed.
"If you do that, I won't have any more subordinates."
Feeling her weight off of him, Lu Tian could only sigh again. He stared up at the ceiling and thought about life.
He thought Inu was a buzzkill, but it turns out the little guy is more of a wingman compared to his wife's subordinates.
As he thought about the Samoyed, he couldn't help but miss the little guy.
