"Lu Siye isn't here, so I don't have an appetite." Ning Yan said dejectedly, her little face full of worry.
Bai Lang instantly understood what was going on.
This young madam—before the incident, she couldn't wait to stay eight hundred meters away from Lu Siye. But now? When Lu Siye wasn't around, she couldn't even eat.
"The young master went to the company. He won't be back until evening."
Hearing this, Ning Yan's brows furrowed even deeper, her little mouth pouted so high it could almost hang an oil bottle from it.
"Little ancestor, won't you at least take a bite?" Bai Lang coaxed Ning Yan, feeling even more distressed than when he coaxed his own granddaughter.
"No." Ning Yan's attitude was firm, not allowing the slightest wavering.
Suddenly, Ning Yan's eyes lit up and she became happy all at once.
"Can I go to the company to find my husband?" Ning Yan asked Bai Lang with a look of anticipation, her eyes sparkling as if filled with stars.
Bai Lang, who had been about to refuse, found himself unable to utter those three words—"You can't"—at this moment.
"I'll call the young master."
Ning Yan nodded happily. "Okay, okay."
Bai Lang dialed Lu Siye's phone.
At that moment, Lu Siye was in a meeting. The abrupt ringtone of his phone sounded in the quiet conference room, making it seem especially jarring and even more deafening.
Everyone was waiting for Lu Siye to hang up the call, but he answered it instead.
"Hello, Uncle Bai. Has something happened to Yanyan?" The tension on Lu Siye's face was completely unconcealed.
Hearing those two words, the people in the conference room had grown accustomed to it.
Only that person could make the always meticulous and disciplined Lu Siye answer his phone during a meeting. Only she could make him abandon a contract worth ten million or even a hundred million because of a single word from her.
Bai Lang asked cautiously on the other end, "Young master, the young madam is awake, but she won't eat anything no matter what. She said she wants to come find you?"
"Alright, I'll go pick her up."
Lu Siye agreed without a moment's hesitation.
"Take over the meeting for me today."
Lu Siye handed the documents to his assistant beside him, then rose and left the conference room.
Jiang Huai watched Lu Siye's retreating figure, the word "President" still stuck in his throat, never uttered.
Being this assistant was more exhausting than being the president himself.
In less than twenty minutes, Lu Siye had rushed back to the villa from the company.
Hearing that Lu Siye was back, Ning Yan jumped off the sofa. Without even bothering to put on her shoes, she ran to Lu Siye's side and, with a little leap, jumped onto him.
Afraid the little girl might fall to the ground, Lu Siye instinctively tightened his arms around her waist, holding her tightly against him.
Ning Yan wrapped her arms around Lu Siye's neck, her long, straight legs circling around his waist.
"Where did you go?" Ning Yan asked Lu Siye, her eyes red-rimmed and glistening with moisture.
Seeing the little girl's reddened eyes, Lu Siye's heart softened into a puddle, and he felt somewhat guilty—he shouldn't have left without telling her.
"I'm sorry, I should have let you know." Lu Siye raised his large hand and affectionately patted the top of Ning Yan's head.
"I heard you haven't been eating properly, is that right?" Lu Siye's deep, pleasant voice reached Ning Yan's ears, making her silently lower her head.
"You weren't there—I wanted you to eat with me." Ning Yan's soft, sweet voice was full of complaint, as if she had done nothing wrong, as if she simply wanted Lu Siye to have a meal with her.
Facing the little girl in his arms, Lu Siye shook his head helplessly, a doting smile curling at his thin lips. "Alright, I'll eat with you."
Ning Yan's low spirits instantly lifted into joy.
"Uncle Bai, go prepare the meal."
Bai Lang nodded and turned to instruct the chef to prepare dishes Ning Yan loved.
Only after accompanying Ning Yan through breakfast did Lu Siye take her to the company.
Before leaving, Ning Yan ran upstairs to grab a backpack—a small one stuffed so full of snacks it bulged at the seams—and clutched an iPad in her hands.
Seeing this, Lu Siye said nothing. He simply took the little backpack from her hands, then held her hand and led her out of Yunyue Villa.
Lu Shi Group.
The moment everyone saw Ning Yan arrive at the company, they snapped to full alert, terrified that this little mistress might stir up some new trouble again.
Only after Lu Siye took Ning Yan upstairs did the two girls at the front desk dare to whisper.
"What's the missus up to this time?"
"Who knows? Whatever it is, the CEO eats it up."
CEO's office.
The moment she stepped inside, Ning Yan kicked off her shoes and dashed to the sofa, crossing her legs as she picked up her tablet and started playing a game.
Lu Siye's gaze dimmed slightly. He bent down, picked up the shoes from the floor, and walked toward the sofa, his gentle tone laced with reproach. "Not wearing your shoes properly again."
"It's fine, it's fine—the floor isn't cold." Ning Yan shook her little head, looking adorable as she spoke.
Watching the girl before him act so coy, Lu Siye didn't know whether to be pleased or exasperated.
"Play by yourself, alright?"
"Okay." Ning Yan's sweet voice answered Lu Siye.
After playing for a while, Ning Yan propped the iPad up on the coffee table in front of her, grabbed her little backpack, and dumped all the snacks onto the sofa.
From the iPad came a stream of goofy, silly laughter and voices.
"Briar, I wanna eat honey, I wanna eat honey."
"Eat, eat, eat—that's all you ever do."
Hearing the slightly noisy sounds, Lu Siye cast a doting gaze at the figure on the sofa. At moments like this, she was truly adorable, carefree and without a worry in the world.
"Lu Siye, I'm thirsty. Can you pour me a glass of water?"
Jiang Huai, who had just walked in to deliver documents, happened to overhear this. His pupils flew wide open, his face full of shock.
It was always others waiting on Lu Siye—never Lu Siye waiting on anyone else.
Well… except for Ning Yan.
"Madam, let me pour it for you."
Jiang Huai said obsequiously, expecting Ning Yan to appreciate the gesture. Instead, she mocked him with her words.
"I don't want that." Ning Yan's little face sank as she refused Jiang Huai's offer with displeasure.
"Wh-why?" Jiang Huai dared to ask.
"I don't even know you. What if you pour me water and poison me?" Ning Yan said with complete seriousness, as if she weren't teasing Jiang Huai at all.
Jiang Huai stood there frozen, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
Madam, do you have a persecution complex? Who would poison you? Even if someone wanted to, who would dare?
"I'll do it."
Lu Siye rose and poured Ning Yan a glass of water.
Ning Yan's brows curved into crescents, her voice soft and syrupy sweet. "Thank you, hubby."
"Silly girl, you don't need to thank your husband."
"Honey, here's a lollipop for you." Ning Yan took the strawberry-flavored lollipop out of her mouth and pressed it to Lu Siye's lips.
Jiang Huai was startled again—the CEO never ate sweets.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he saw Lu Siye pop the lollipop into his mouth.
"Very sweet."
Ning Yan's smile grew even more radiant.
"Be good, and call me if anything comes up."
Ning Yan nodded and went back to watching Boonie Bears on her iPad.