This was probably the first time Xie Tingnan had ever tried to take care of someone.
The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom.
In the bathtub, a little head peeked out, half-hidden and half-shy. The young girl covered her eyes with her hands, secretly watching Xie Tingnan through the gaps between her fingers.
The man glanced at her with a roguish grin. “Wanwan, you’re really getting the royal treatment here. Someone’s serving you a bath to help you sweat it out, and you even get a handsome guy to admire for free.”
The girl was utterly embarrassed but couldn’t resist retorting, “It wouldn’t be a problem if I had to pay, either.”
“Alright then, I’ll set a clear price. A hundred thousand for one look. Come on, come on, get your fill.”
Xie Tingnan walked over to her with a mischievous smile, startling Yu Wanwan so much that she tightly covered her eyes. “I won’t look. I don’t have the money.”
“Such a scaredy-cat.” The man draped a towel over himself and roughly ruffled her little head.
“Soak a bit longer on your own. I added plenty of expensive herbs to the water. Call me when you’re done.”
“Xie Tingnan.” Yu Wanwan looked up, her big eyes moist and bright, her cheeks flushed pink.
“What? Want me to join you?” The man curved his lips into a smile.
“Stay in the bedroom. Don’t leave.” Yu Wanwan’s voice was soft and sweet, tinged with a hint of coquettishness.
“Silly girl, I won’t leave you behind.”
Xie Tingnan brushed back his slightly damp hair, revealing his sharp Adam’s apple, which bobbed gently.
A few droplets of water clung to the towel, rolling down his strong chest and abdominal muscles…
Just as Yu Wanwan’s eyes grew heated, the man stood up and left.
It was only after spending time with him that she realized Xie Tingnan was a man with a strong personality and principles, disciplined to the core.
A man who could firmly control his desires possessed the essential qualities of a king capable of achieving great things—unyielding and unshakable.
Inside the bathroom, steam rose in gentle wisps, and her delicate skin soaked in the warm bathtub.
The high-quality, precious Chinese herbs, meant to dispel cold and warm the body, slowly seeped into the woman’s smooth skin through the medicinal water.
Yu Wanwan closed her eyes slightly, feeling the water and warm steam flow gently over her body…
It was like those large, slightly rough hands, with their dry, warm palms.
That proud, noble man, at his most passionate, had given her the utmost tenderness and care…
Yu Wanwan slowly opened her beautiful eyes, her face flushing even redder.
A faint sense of shame made her heart pound wildly, and her eyes took on a thin, moist layer of alluring desire.
Her mood was incomparably good.
A sense of ease she had never felt in her twenty years flowed through her body.
She tentatively called out, “Xie Tingnan.”
“Xie Tingnan, I’m done soaking. Come get Wanwan.”
The bathroom door clicked open.
“Miss Yu, let me help you dry off and get dressed.”
The kindly Aunt An walked over, smiling as she looked at her.
Yu Wanwan’s expression instantly shifted between light and shadow.
The young girl remained in the bathtub, gently pursing her lips without saying a word.
“The Second Young Master went downstairs to attend to something. Madam suddenly arrived, accompanying the family’s Old Master and Old Mistress to visit.” Aunt An explained in a comforting tone.
“Yi Garden used to be the Old Master’s residence. After he stepped down from his position, he moved to Beidaihe, and the house was directly transferred to the Second Young Master.”
“Mm.” The young girl had already calmed her emotions in the shortest time possible.
“Aunt An, I can manage on my own. Please go out first.”
Aunt An showed no intention of leaving. “The Second Young Master specifically instructed me to take good care of you. I’ve prepared the medicine. Drink it, then rest in the master bedroom for a while to sweat it out. You should feel much better when you wake up.”
Yu Wanwan did not refuse any further and nodded.
It was already quite rare for Xie Tingnan to be this considerate.
He had made it very clear what she should do—just rest in the bedroom.
Not showing up was the best arrangement.
Although her emotions were fragile after the cold, Yu Wanwan felt she had almost been moved by her own self-persuasion.
In a certain moment, she always felt that the tenderness he gave should be special.
But in reality, it was just her own wishful thinking.
She pinched herself hard, and clarity returned to her mind.
The softness of desire and emotion in her eyes quickly vanished.
She was still that gentle yet aloof Yu beauty, holding the foul-smelling brown medicinal soup, obediently drinking it all in one go, then rinsing her mouth with mouthwash.
Aunt An took out a few all-English xylitol candies, unwrapped one, and handed it over: “A candy after the medicine—bitterness first, sweetness later.”
Bitterness first, sweetness later?
The young girl smiled: “Aunt An, I don’t like sweets. I’ll give the candy to you, wishing you a sweet life.”
“Young Lady Yu, your mouth is so sweet…”
Before she could finish, she saw the young girl had already gotten into bed and covered herself with the air-conditioning blanket.
Her jet-black hair spread over the jade-colored pillow, and the duck-egg-green silk quilt made her small oval face appear even fairer, delicate, and translucent.
Yu Wanwan curved her lips: “Aunt An, I’m going to sleep now. Good afternoon.”
“So well-behaved. Good afternoon.”
Aunt An looked at her as if she were her own child, her eyes filled with tenderness, and carefully tucked the blanket around the young girl.
After seeing Yu Wanwan close her eyes to rest, she quietly walked to the bedroom door and waited.
Turning around, the young girl lying on the bed with her eyes closed in peaceful sleep shed two clear tears, silently flowing from the corners of her sensual eyes…
Xie Tingnan knew his grandparents had come to the capital, but he didn’t expect his mother, Jiang Xin, to bring them directly to Yi Garden.
Jiang Xin was quite surprised to see Xie Tingnan at Yi Garden.
After all, since this old courtyard house had been given to Xie Tingnan, he rarely visited, and it had almost become the permanent residence of the housekeeper and the domestic staff.
“Tingnan, what brings you here today?”
The noble lady in a dark green Xiangyunsha cheongsam brewed tea, her voice elegant with a hint of laziness.
The tall man, who was bending over to light Old Master Xie’s cigarette, showed no emotion in his phoenix eyes: “I heard Grandpa and Grandma were coming today, so I came specifically to wait for them.”
His words made Old Master Xie, who was sitting, burst into laughter: “You rascal, always so good at sweet-talking. When will that sweet mouth of yours bring me back a granddaughter-in-law?”
Xie Tingnan curled his lips: “Grandpa, I’m still in the selection process. Continuing the Xie family bloodline is a serious matter—it has to be done carefully.”
“You rascal, don’t get too picky. I heard from your mother that An’an from the Wen family has returned to the country?”
Xie Tingnan didn’t respond.
He respectfully supported Old Master Xie’s arm:
“Grandpa, the lotus flowers by the pond are blooming exceptionally beautifully this year. Nannan is accompanying Grandma there. Let me take you to see them too.”
…
After they left, only Xie Tingnan’s sister-in-law, Xi Manzhu, remained in the hall, accompanying Jiang Xin as she brewed tea.
“This child, Tingnan, is already thirty years old. Whenever the topic of settling down comes up, he avoids it. He’s always so busy, with no one to take care of him.” Jiang Xin spoke with a soft sigh.
Xi Manzhu smiled gently: “Mom, don’t worry. Second Brother knows what he’s doing. His standards have always been high—he’s sure to find someone outstanding…”
Jiang Xin listened happily, her lips curving: “You all just indulge him. That’s exactly why he’s been spoiled.”
“We all look up to Mom and Dad as our role models.”
“So, after all this talk, I end up being the one to blame?”
“Exactly, Mom and Dad are the absolute authority and benchmark in our family.”
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted happily, their laughter mingling with the fragrant steam of tea, as time flowed gently by…