"……"
At noon, Ye Chuan stood in Luo Xi's kitchen, watching the girl tie on an apron and stir a pot of soup with a ladle. He hummed a tune beside her to liven the mood.
"What kind of nonsense song is that?" Luo Xi rolled her eyes at him before pinching his waist with her crab-like grip.
"Hey, can’t I at least try to cheer you up?" Ye Chuan sighed, his tone laced with three parts resignation, five parts grievance, two parts innocence, and ninety-nine parts deliberate mischief.
Sigh~
"You’re such a pest." Luo Xi scolded him lightly before swatting away his wandering hands. "Still hungry after breakfast, Chuanchuan?"
"Eh, so-so." Ye Chuan mused. "But you seemed pretty satisfied too."
[Battle begins]
[Luo Xi used Fury Swipes]
[It’s not very effective…]
[Ye Chuan’s Attack rose!]
[Ye Chuan used Bullet Seed—it’s super effective!]
[Luo Xi fainted!]
……
By lunchtime, Ye Chuan and Luo Xi had set the dishes on the table. Since it was the weekend, Luo's father would be home later after wrapping up work at the company.
Meanwhile, Luo's mother had gone to visit an old friend she hadn’t seen in ages and would return with Luo's father.
After recovering her health, Luo's mother had even started considering going back to work. However, due to her lack of recent education and prolonged absence from society, she was thinking of taking up a job like cleaning or housekeeping.
Having burdened Luo Xi and her husband for so many years, she was filled with guilt and wanted to make it up to them however she could.
But Luo's father wasn’t keen on her working outside. He preferred the comfort of someone waiting for him at home.
"Chuanchuan, do you think my mom could still have a baby at her age?" Luo Xi asked as she smoothed her hair and turned to Ye Chuan after sitting down.
"Sure, why not? Isn’t Auntie only in her thirties?" Ye Chuan shrugged. "And her health’s been restored. I don’t see why she and Uncle couldn’t have another one."
The effects of the rejuvenation pill were impressive—not only did it cure illnesses, but it could even repair damaged organs. It was practically a miracle drug.
While it couldn’t turn back time, having a baby should still be easy.
"True." Luo Xi nodded. "Chuanchuan, do you prefer boys or girls?"
"I like both." Ye Chuan had never been hung up on gender, and at his age, he wasn’t even thinking about kids yet.
"Oh?" Luo Xi’s eyes curved with amusement.
Just then, the sound of the door unlocking announced the return of Luo's parents.
Seeing Ye Chuan and Luo Xi at the table, they both smiled.
"Mom, Dad, you’re back." Luo Xi stood up to serve rice.
"Uncle, Auntie." Ye Chuan greeted them.
"Chuanchuan’s here! Try the fruit I bought." Luo's mother placed a bag of fruit on the table. "Just need to wash them first."
"Mom, let’s eat first. Have some soup."
"Alright."
After lunch, Luo's mother gathered the dishes. "Xixi, you and Chuanchuan go rest in your room. I’ll handle the dishes."
"You’ve already worked hard preparing lunch. Go relax." Luo's father chimed in, standing up to help her.
"Mm, okay~" Luo Xi didn’t argue, simply leading Ye Chuan back to her room.
The girl sat cross-legged on the bed while Ye Chuan sprawled across it, scrolling on his phone.
"Chuanchuan, has Zhao Ruyan come looking for you again?" Luo Xi asked curiously.
"Not that I know of." Ye Chuan replied casually, shifting until his head rested on her soft thighs. "Hey, how about you put on some black stockings? I like napping on those."
"No such service here." Luo Xi retorted.
"You could provide it."
"They’re in the wash, still drying."
"Tch."
After some playful bickering, Luo Xi began teasing his face with strands of her hair. "Chuanchuan, the school festival’s coming up, and our class still hasn’t decided on a theme."
"Anything’s fine, right?"
"I’m the class monitor—I can’t just wing it."
"Then set up a poll in the class group chat. Whichever theme gets the most votes wins."
"That’s actually a good idea." Luo Xi nodded, pulling out her phone to draft the poll.
Just then, Ye Chuan’s phone buzzed.
He checked it—a message from Wang Yanran.
Wang Yanran: Ye Chuan, the car’s ready. Should I bring it over now?
Ye Chuan: Sure.
Wang Yanran: Be there in twenty.
Ye Chuan rolled over on Luo Xi’s lap, deciding to take a quick nap.
Seeing his closed eyes, Luo Xi pulled a blanket over him, watching his sleeping face with a faint smile.
A while later, Ye Chuan woke to another message—Wang Yanran had arrived with the car.
"Gotta step out for a bit." He yawned and sat up.
"What for?"
"Ordered a car online. Delivery’s here."
Luo Xi: ?
Since when could you buy cars online?
"Wanna come see?" Ye Chuan grinned.
"Sure." Luo Xi stood, but her legs had gone numb, forcing Ye Chuan to scoop her up.
……
Outside, Wang Yanran stood waiting by the roadside. Spotting Ye Chuan and Luo Xi, she smiled. "Ye Chuan, Miss Luo Xi."
"Oh… it’s you." Luo Xi recognized her—the girl who often sought out Ye Chuan.
She studied them from behind Ye Chuan. Were they close?
Ye Chuan eyed the black SUV parked nearby. "This the one?"
"Yes. A Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680—perfect for your needs." Wang Yanran said.
"Thanks." Ye Chuan, clueless about cars, took the keys from her.
With a nod from him, Wang Yanran smiled. "Then I’ll take my leave. Let me know if you need anything else."
"Got it."
Wang Yanran drove off in her sedan.
"Chuanchuan, how much was this car?" Luo Xi eyed the new vehicle. "And why did Wang Yanran deliver it?"
"Her family knows a lot of car dealers. Easier to buy through connections." Ye Chuan chuckled. For a big family like hers, arranging a car was no trouble.
"Oh, really?"
Just as Ye Chuan was about to get in, he froze.
"What’s wrong, Chuanchuan?"
"I don’t have a driver’s license."
"……"
A few minutes later, Wang Yanran came huffing back.