“Miss Xia has gone upstairs,” the old butler answered with a smile. “Young master, I noticed Miss Xia’s complexion…”
“Not good?”
“Hard to describe—dim and unclear.” The old butler shook his head. “Miss Xia appears quite gentle and soft-hearted. Has the young master been too impatient?”
All that kissing, hugging, and touching!
He was getting old and couldn’t understand why young people these days rushed relationships so much.
They had only known each other for a few days, yet they were already at this stage.
“Young master, Miss Xia was previously engaged to the He family since childhood and was about to get married when you stole her away. If outsiders who don’t know the truth see you like this, they’ll think Miss Xia had been secretly involved with you all along.”
“If this spreads, it will damage Miss Xia’s reputation. I’m afraid it will be difficult to gain the master’s approval for your marriage in the future.”
Since Tang Yushen turned 24, the Tang family had been constantly introducing potential partners to him.
He hadn’t accepted any of them.
They even began to suspect there might be something physically wrong with him.
“Don’t worry, grandfather would never disapprove. If anything that happens in this estate gets leaked to outsiders, my household won’t tolerate those who bite the hand that feeds them and gossip behind our backs.” A dark shadow crossed Tang Yushen’s eyes.
How annoying!
This was delaying him from finding his little Xixi!
Tang Yushen quickly headed upstairs.
He wanted to be affectionate with his little Xixi.
Entering Xia Qiaoxi’s room, Tang Yushen deliberately checked the door. The lock had been repaired, but the deadlock function probably hadn’t been fixed.
In the future, he could…
In the fading sunset glow, Xia Qiaoxi had tied up her long hair, revealing her small, palm-sized face. She had changed out of her dress into a simple T-shirt and tight jeans.
The jeans hugged her figure, accentuating her long, straight legs.
Those very legs had wrapped around his waist in their previous life—he had touched every part of them.
So fair, tender, and slender.
Absolutely beautiful.
And how he missed them.
Tang Yushen’s Adam’s apple bobbed repeatedly. “Why did you suddenly change clothes?”
“You gave me gifts, so I should return the favor. But I have nothing with me right now.” Xia Qiaoxi walked up to him. “So I thought I’d make dinner for you.”
The corners of her eyes lifted charmingly. “Is that alright?”
Cook for him?
In their previous life, he had to close his eyes to eat the food she prepared.
He wondered how her cooking was now.
But his little Xixi’s hands weren’t meant for cooking for him.
“Alright.” Tang Yushen lowered his head, unconsciously stroking her high ponytail. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Even though she hadn’t learned to cook for him specifically, all those skills the Xia family made her learn would ultimately benefit him.
Thinking of it this way, there was no reason to feel jealous.
“Stop touching my hair.” Xia Qiaoxi turned her head away. “You’re always being handsy.”
“I haven’t used my feet, only my hands.” Tang Yushen met her gaze. “Little Xixi, you have no idea—I want to touch more than just your hair.”
Xia Qiaoxi bit her lip. More than her hair, and probably more than her mouth too!
Did he want even more?
Did he want to sleep with her?
But wasn’t a substitute supposed to just be obedient, gentle, and compliant?
If he slept with the substitute, what would happen to the white moonlight?
Then Tang Yushen would no longer be pure!
Xia Qiaoxi blinked innocently. “I’m going to cook now.”
She slipped away quickly.
In Tang Yushen’s palm lay a single, dark long hair—it had fallen out when he touched her hair just now.
Hair loss?
His little Xixi was losing hair!
She was only 21!
Depression could cause hair loss.
Was his little Xixi going bald?
No, no, no!
Tang Yushen envisioned a Xia Qiaoxi with thinning hair and a wide parting after hair loss, his brows deeply furrowed.
No way!
His Xiaoxi couldn’t go bald!
He needed to quickly research what to eat to prevent it.
What supplements could help.
Around seven in the evening, Tang Yushen walked into the dining room with great enthusiasm. No matter what Xia Qiaoxi had cooked, he would eat it all and praise her.
He wanted to make her happy.
But when he saw the exquisite six dishes and one soup arranged on the white dining table—each boasting color, aroma, and flavor—he realized how shortsighted he had been.
This Xia Qiaoxi was different from the one in his previous life.
“Ah Yu, you’re here.” Xia Qiaoxi took off her apron. “Would you like to have a couple of drinks?”
“You know how to drink?”
“Yes.” Xia Qiaoxi sat beside him. “I’m definitely not as good as you, but we’re at home. We don’t need to get completely drunk—just a light drink to enjoy the mood.”
Back then, the Xia family had made her learn drinking, saying that He Luyi was ill and couldn’t drink, so she would need to handle social drinking after marriage.
They had gotten her drunk several times, even to the point of hospitalization.
Tonight, she just wanted to thank Tang Yushen for helping her establish an independent household registration.
He was so good—why did that white moonlight leave him?
Did she go abroad for further studies?
“Alright, I’ll keep Xiaoxi company for a light drink tonight…” Tang Yushen’s eyes held a mischievous glint.
Having some alcohol was good!
Getting slightly tipsy, maybe a little uninhibited after drinking.
How adorable it would be if she acted coquettishly or playfully drunk toward him!
He was already looking forward to it!
Xia Qiaoxi had already decanted the red wine, poured two glasses, and handed one to him.
Tang Yushen suddenly grabbed her hand.
“You… drinking! Do you want me to feed you?” Xia Qiaoxi regretted it as soon as she said it.
Feeding him alcohol—how could she say that out loud!
She had never fed a man before!
“You’re injured!” Tang Yushen touched her finger. “How did you get hurt? Cutting vegetables? You’re injured and didn’t even put on a band-aid?”
There was a clear mark on her index finger.
The skin had split open.
“Xia Qiaoxi! Your body isn’t just yours—it’s mine too! From now on, be more careful. You’re not allowed to get hurt!” Tang Yushen stroked the edge of her wound, his heart aching as he asked, “Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt. It’s been a while. It’s so hot in summer—putting on a band-aid would actually be worse for the wound. My platelets have already worked hard, and the wound has healed.” Xia Qiaoxi couldn’t help but laugh at his worried expression.
When she was with the Xia family, no one cared about such a small injury, and she didn’t either.
Even more serious injuries went unnoticed by the Xia family.
She had gotten used to it.
Tang Yushen being so concerned about her minor wound made her feel inexplicably bittersweet.
“Healed? What healed? From now on, you’re not allowed to cook. We have plenty of chefs at home. If you want to eat something, just have the chefs make it for you!” Tang Yushen grabbed her hand and kissed it deeply, his eyes dark and intense like a terrifying abyss.
“Let’s eat. I’m so hungry from all the work…” Xia Qiaoxi tilted her head. “How about a sip first?”
“You’re injured and still drinking?” Tang Yushen’s face turned stern. “No drinking.”
Was he being childish?
Such a small wound—how could that count as an injury!
“Alcohol sterilizes and disinfects.” Xia Qiaoxi picked up her glass and lightly clinked it with his.
A clear, crisp sound.
Xia Qiaoxi took a small sip. “The wine at Ah Yu’s house is really delicious!”
“If you like it, I’ll have a drink with you every day from now on.” Tang Yushen only relaxed after confirming she truly wasn’t in pain.
The dishes were well-prepared, yet she got injured.
In her previous life, she couldn’t cook well and still got hurt.
“Not every day,” Xia Qiaoxi replied lightly. “Girls shouldn’t drink every day.”
“I’ll join you whenever you feel like drinking.”
Tonight she wanted to drink, wanted to get drunk.
Drowning sorrows in liquor.
Xia Qiaoxi found the wine quite pleasant, drinking one cup after another.
Soon her fair, delicate cheeks flushed red.
Propping her chin, she lazily tilted her head to gaze at Tang Yushen. “A’Yu, why were you drinking alone there that night?”