Chapter 176: Chapter 173: No Matter Who She Is, I Want Her
"..." Ye Xiao’s face twitched slightly, looking at him with some panic.
She felt that if he moved just a fraction closer, their lips would touch.
Ye Xiao’s long eyelashes fluttered briefly, she took a deep breath and turned her head away, "I’m going to sleep with Hanhan and Xixi, good night."
After speaking, Ye Xiao pushed Ying Jingyao away as if fleeing and turned around like a nimble cat slipping into the children’s room. Immediately, the door closed on Ying Jingyao’s face.
Ying Jingyao watched the door handle turn gently a few times, realizing that the little woman inside not only shut him out but also locked it.
Pressing his thin lips together, Ying Jingyao lowered his eyelashes, and after a moment, he let out a few low laughs. Lazily lifting his gaze to the door, which seemed to still quiver slightly, he finally rested his hands in his pockets and slowly returned to his room.
Inside the room, Ye Xiao leaned her back firmly against the door. Hearing the footsteps fade away, she closed her eyes lightly and walked to the bed, lying down beside Xixi still in her clothes.
Her gaze wandered over the two sleeping faces, finally settling on Hanhan’s face.
Though Hanhan’s face was chubby, those eyebrows, the high bridge of the nose, the thin lips, and the delicate chin faintly resembled that person.
Even though Hanhan was barely over three years old, his demeanor, gaze, and the aura around him had become increasingly like that person.
Sometimes she wondered whether Hanhan would be a replica of that man as he grew older— stoic, reserved, and cold.
Involuntarily, Ye Xiao reached out to caress Hanhan’s small face, her soft white fingertip touching his tiny nose lightly, sighing softly, "Hanhan, why can’t you be a bit more like Mommy..."
The next day, in a half-dreaming state, Ye Xiao vaguely felt a gentle touch moving over her forehead and cheeks. Startled, she snapped her eyes open.
Her drowsy eyes paused when they saw the handsome face in front of her. Then, surprised, she sat up from the bed, "Jingyao, how did you get in?"
Ying Jingyao flicked his finger affectionately at Ye Xiao’s forehead but did not answer with words.
Ye Xiao took two deep breaths, glancing at the keychain on the bedside table, her mouth twitching stiffly.
Ying Jingyao curled his lips, bent down to kiss Ye Xiao’s ear, and chuckled hoarsely, "In my territory, do you think locking the door would work if I really wanted something with you?"
"..." Ye Xiao’s neck turned red.
Ying Jingyao laughed softly, his long arm reaching over Ye Xiao, picking up Xixi, who slept with rosy cheeks, and began dressing her skillfully and gently.
Seeing this, Ye Xiao dropped her gaze and moved over to Ye Yihan, pulling him out from under the covers.
Hanhan had stayed up late the previous night, leading to some grumpiness upon waking. As Ye Xiao moved him, his entire little face scrunched up like a bun, he opened his eyes slightly to glare at Ye Xiao, his small brows furrowing. But he didn’t say anything, just turned his face away stubbornly.
Ye Xiao smiled and pinched his nose gently.
Since Ye Xiao’s car was left at Zhong Qin’s villa, Ying Jingyao drove Ye Xiao to take Xixi and Hanhan to kindergarten together.
The car stopped at the kindergarten entrance. Ye Xiao and Ying Jingyao both got out from the passenger and driver’s seats, taking Xixi and Hanhan out from the child seats in the back.
Holding Hanhan as she got out of the car, Hanhan insisted on walking by himself, so Ye Xiao had to put him down and hold his small hand instead.
Xixi, on the other hand, always adhered to the principle of not walking if she didn’t have to, so Ying Jingyao carried her toward the kindergarten.
The two adults and two children, a handsome man, a beautiful woman, and two adorable kids, made an eye-pleasing, soul-soothing scene wherever they went.
However, this scene was particularly glaring to the man sitting coldly in a silver-black car not far away.
Gu Yan watched the harmonious "family of four" not far away, his throat moved slightly, and he carefully glanced at the man sitting in the passenger seat through the rear-view mirror.
Rong Mochen leaned against the seatback, his sculpted features cast with a shadow, holding a nearly burnt-out cigarette between his long, slender fingers, taking a deep drag from his thin lips. A thick mist exhaled from his nose and lips, his profound black eyes hidden beneath the smoke, making it hard to discern his emotions at the moment.
About ten minutes later, Ying Jingyao and Ye Xiao walked out of the kindergarten. Ying Jingyao hooked his finger around Ye Xiao’s little finger, slightly lowered his head to match her height, and spoke to her in a low voice, his expression gentle.
Ye Xiao listened, her mouth quirking up as she either laughed or feigned annoyance, her delicate face relaxed and happy.
"Tomorrow is the weekend. How about we take Xixi and Hanhan to the aquarium?"
Before getting into the car, Ying Jingyao looked at Ye Xiao and said.
Ye Xiao frowned slightly, "You’re so busy with work; can you find the time?"
"The company operates just fine without me for a day. Besides, there’s Ruan Chen." Ying Jingyao paused, holding Ye Xiao’s slender arms, his lips pressed together, "You’re wearing so little, aren’t you cold?"
Ye Xiao reached out to touch the buttons of his silver-gray suit, shaking her head with a smile, "Not cold."
Ying Jingyao sighed, unbuttoning his black coat to wrap her inside.
Ye Xiao smiled with her brow arched, slipping into his coat to hug his waist, lifting her head at his chest, her eyes bright and smiling as she gazed at him.
Ying Jingyao’s clear and gentle features broke into joy, and he couldn’t resist leaning down to peck her nose, "Let’s go, I’ll take you to the theater."
Ye Xiao nodded.
Ying Jingyao, with her wrapped up, walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and released her from his coat.
Ye Xiao quickly got into the car.
Ying Jingyao swiftly walked to the driver’s seat and got in.
"You didn’t drive today, so after work, I’ll first pick up Hanhan and Xixi, and then head to the theater to pick you up," Ying Jingyao said while driving the car.
After waiting for a while, he still didn’t hear Ye Xiao speak.
Ying Jingyao glanced at her with mild suspicion, only to see her lightly gripping the coat on her knees with both hands, her head turned toward the car window, her clear eyes staring at the rearview mirror, looking somewhat solemn and uneasy.
Ying Jingyao frowned, freeing one hand to clasp Ye Xiao’s hand on her knee.
The warmth in the palm of his hand made Ye Xiao’s cold long eyelashes flutter slightly as she slowly turned to look at Ying Jingyao.
"What’s wrong?" Ying Jingyao asked with concern, looking at her slightly pale face.
Ye Xiao’s brows moved slightly, and she shook her head gently, "It’s nothing, maybe, maybe I saw it wrong."
Ye Xiao pulled a slight smile at him.
Ying Jingyao looked deep into her eyes.
"Ye Xixi, was it your daddy and mommy who brought you and Ye Yihan to the kindergarten today?" In the kindergarten art class, Fu Yangming seized the chance to sidle up to Xixi, propping his hands on the table and leaning forward, tilting his head to look at the "seriously" drawing Xixi and asking.
Xixi glanced at him coolly, "You’re interrupting my drawing, Fu Yangming."
"..." Fu Yangming blinked, looked at her drawing, and his eyes widened instantly, "Ye Xixi, are you drawing a pig?"
A pig?
Xixi’s beautiful almond eyes widened, she looked left and right at her drawing, pursed her pink lips, and looked at Fu Yangming in confusion, "I drew Wei Meng!" It’s clearly Wei Meng, how could he think it’s a pig?
"Who is Wei Meng?" Fu Yangming asked curiously.
Xixi picked up a clay-colored crayon to color it, "Wei Meng is the doggie that Brother Ying keeps..." looking at Fu Yangming, "a super large doggie."
Fu Yangming moved a little, lowered his head to look at her drawing of the "dog," "But it really looks like a pig!"
"..." Xixi pouted unhappily, showing her drawing to the brother beside her, "Brother, Fu Yangming said I drew a pig."
Ye Yihan glanced at it, "Then what did you draw?"
"... Wei Meng!" Xixi’s little pink face showed shock, thinking it’s so strange that even her brother couldn’t recognize Wei Meng!
Ye Yihan’s dark eyes welled up with worry, looking at his sister.
And from this moment on, Ye Yihan began to seriously doubt Ye Xixi’s intelligence.
Ye Yihan sighed like a little adult, reached out to gently comfort and pat Ye Xixi’s little head, turned his head to continue drawing his own, not commenting further.
Ye Xixi frowned unwillingly, but soon went back to coloring "Wei Meng" as if nothing had happened.
"Ye Xixi, Ye Yihan, could you both step out for a moment?" The art teacher suddenly walked in from the door, waving at Xixi and Hanhan.
Ye Xixi thought she had done something wrong, her big, clear eyes showing confusion as she bit her colored pencil involuntarily, looking anxiously at Ye Yihan.
Ye Yihan was much calmer, only pausing slightly before gently putting down his crayon, taking his sister’s little hand.
Ye Yihan’s calmness reassured Ye Xixi, who put down the colored pencil in her little hand, and obediently followed her brother towards the teacher.
Xixi and Hanhan walked out of the classroom, and the teacher led the two little ones to the office.
Xixi stood in front of the tall desk, craning her neck to see the teacher’s face, her big, crystal-clear eyes full of curiosity as she looked at the teacher.
Hanhan held his sister’s hand tightly, his little face calm, "Teacher, do you need us for something?"
The teacher smiled warmly at him, "There’s nothing wrong, there’s a handsome uncle looking for Hanhan and Xixi."
"Uncle?" Xixi blinked her long eyelashes.
The teacher nodded, "I’ll call the uncle in to meet you now."
Hanhan frowned, protectively pulling Xixi behind him, pressing his lips as he looked at the teacher, "Teacher, is it Uncle Ying?"
The teacher blushed and twirled her hair, "I don’t know. But that uncle is very handsome."
With that said, the teacher walked out.
Hanhan’s breath tightened, his little face tensed, intently watching the office door.
Suddenly, a pair of oversized rainbow lollipops slowly emerged from one side of the office door.
"Ah..." Xixi, standing behind her brother, saw the lollipops, her big black eyes lighting up instantly, covering her mouth with one small hand, expressing surprise and shock in a low voice.
Hanhan shielded Xixi even more behind him, in a crisp voice, "Who’s outside?"
"Ta-da..."
Before Hanhan could finish his sentence, a figure suddenly burst in from the doorway, startling Xixi, making her small body shiver violently and hide behind her brother, completely concealing herself behind him.
Hanhan was also taken aback, his little face turning pale, holding his breath as he stared at the intruder.