“It should be three days, roughly three days,” the butler said with a smile.
“See if the breakfast suits your taste. Whatever you like, just tell me. Whatever can be bought here, I can prepare it for you personally,” the half-gray-haired butler said politely yet kindly.
Xia Xunqian glanced at the breakfast on the table. He could tell it was prepared with care.
“Thank you. I like it.”
After breakfast, Xia Xunqian asked the butler for some drawing paper, brushes, and ink. He liked to paint; it calmed him and cleared his mind.
The butler immediately brought him a high-quality easel, and the best painting paper and colors in the capital.
Xia Xunqian was slightly surprised by the butler’s careful preparation.
He felt a little embarrassed.
“You don’t have to give me such good stuff. I’m just painting for fun.”
The butler smiled softly.
“This isn’t even the best. There’s a store in Shanghai that sells watercolor supplies—that’s really good stuff. If you like, I can call Third Master Feng; he’ll bring it for you.”
Xia Xunqian’s eyes lifted slightly, but then he lowered them with a hint of sadness.
“No need… Sir must be busy.”
He wasn’t anyone important.
These past two days, Xia Xunqian stayed in the courtyard. His days passed as he wished.
At the east courtyard gate, there was a pomegranate tree, and a wooden table beneath it for shade.
Xia Xunqian set up his easel under the tree, in a cool shadow.
Whenever he had nothing to do, he quietly focused on his paintings.
Though Xia Xunqian was thin, his presence carried a natural elegance and charm. His body proportions were perfect—long legs, narrow waist, even the front and back of his neck hinted at an alluring beauty. Standing behind the easel, even simple shirt and trousers couldn’t hide his posture.
The wind passed around him, light as white willow strands.
In Feng Lin’s absence, Xia Xunqian didn’t visit the main estate. The Feng family was big; others who had been brought in by the family were quickly dismissed. People mostly ignored Xia Xunqian.
Men brought home by the family head were usually played with for a few days and then sent away.
On the third day, the butler told Xia Xunqian that Feng Lin would return that evening.
Xia Xunqian changed clothes and went to the gate to wait.
By 7:30, he was already there. The butler said around 8:00, Feng Lin would arrive soon.
The September wind was slightly cool, making Xia Xunqian’s throat itch.
Around 8:15, a black car arrived at the Feng family gate.
Xia Xunqian’s light eyes brightened as he instinctively stepped forward.
After two steps, the car door opened, and Xia Xunqian froze.
It wasn’t Feng Lin who got out.
It was Feng Jianjue.
Xia Xunqian’s fingertips curled slightly, his eyes dim as he stepped back.
Feng Jianjue got out and saw Xia Xunqian. A smile played on his lips as he walked toward the gate.
Xia Xunqian didn’t look at him, standing in the corner as if Feng Jianjue didn’t exist.
Feng Jianjue didn’t enter the house but stepped closer to Xia Xunqian, his deep voice laced with obvious teasing:
“What’s this? Waiting for me?”
Xia Xunqian kept a cold face, silent.
Feng Jianjue’s eyes scanned Xia Xunqian, amusement growing.
He had met countless people, and Xia Xunqian’s kind of scared cat was not unusual—but somehow, he seemed rare, fascinating.
Feng Jianjue’s gaze lingered on Xia Xunqian’s waist.
That waist, those legs… naked, they’d look even better.
If Xia Xunqian hadn’t been brought back by Feng Lin, he would have already taken action; the boy should have been in his bed.
Seeing Xia Xunqian’s disappointed expression when he got out of the car, Feng Jianjue understood something.
He stepped closer, so close they were almost touching.
Xia Xunqian moved back slightly, eyes cold, staring at Feng Jianjue.
“Mind your manners.”
“Manners… hm,” Feng Jianjue tilted his sharp gaze, “Funny, Second Master is the least careful about manners.”
With anyone else, anyone he wanted could be had, whether rich or not.
But Xia Xunqian was under Feng Lin’s protection, so he didn’t dare move.
Feng Jianjue smirked at Xia Xunqian.
“Feng Lin won’t be back soon. If you want to go out and have fun, you can go with Second Master. He’ll take you.”
He raised a hand toward Xia Xunqian’s neck. There was a mole there, making Xia Xunqian’s pale skin even whiter—a delicate touch would leave it red all day.
Before touching, the light from a car flashed in the distance. Feng Jianjue looked sideways.
He withdrew his hand, leaned slightly toward Xia Xunqian, and said,
“What’s so good about following him? Feng Lin doesn’t understand affection and won’t care for you. One day he doesn’t want you anymore—how pitiful you’ll be.”
Xia Xunqian stood straight, his cool eyes sharp as blades.
“Whether he wants me or not, I decide.”
Feng Jianjue was subtly shaken by Xia Xunqian’s sudden gaze.
Interesting.
The sound of a car door closing came. Feng Lin got out of the car and saw Feng Jianjue standing very close to Xia Xunqian.
Feng Lin’s black eyes narrowed slightly, his expression displeased.
In his hand was his removed suit jacket. Feng Lin walked toward the gate, face cold.
Xia Xunqian’s expression brightened instantly. He moved from Feng Jianjue’s side to Feng Lin’s side.
His eyes glimmered with a mix of mischief and affection.
“Mr. Feng…” Xia Xunqian reached Feng Lin and directly grabbed his hand.
The courtyard lights were dim and unclear, casting half-light and half-shadow. The wind stirred the boy’s hair.
Xia Xunqian, 19 years old, timid, proper, cautious, living carefully between survival and danger.