Li Lian and Wang Yixi sat in the back of Wang Liwei's sleek black Maybach, the silence only pierced by the soft hum of the engine. Liwei's intense gaze was fixed on Lian through the rearview mirror, unsettling her more with each passing second.
"Yixi, I thought we were going to have a girls night," Li Lian finally said, forcing the words out as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"We are! We're going to my house!" Yixi replied brightly, practically bouncing in place.
"Huh? You didn't tell me that..." Lian frowned, her voice low with frustration. The sharp annoyance on her face made Yixi freeze mid-hop, her excitement quickly draining.
"Do you... not want to go?" Yixi asked hesitantly, her tone much softer now.
Li Lian sighed as she looked at Yixi. Sometimes she acted mature, and other times, like now, she was just a child in a grown-up's body. But seeing her pout, Li Lian couldn't help but give in.
"Okay, I'll go. I'll text my brother to let him know I'll be home tomorrow," she said, already pulling out her phone.
"You have a brother too?!" Yixi exclaimed, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Yes," Lian replied simply, tapping out a message to Li Wenbo.
"Mine is straight cold," Yixi said, pointing dramatically at Liwei who sat silently in the front seat, still as unreadable as ever. "What about yours?"
"He's… calm. And strict when he needs to be, but he cares," Lian replied with a small smile.
Their conversation continued in lighthearted tones, flowing easily as the car moved through the city. Soon, they arrived at a large, modern mansion, sleek, minimalistic, and unmistakably expensive. The car came to a stop, and one by one, they stepped out, walking into the grand foyer together.
"Take this." Wang Liwei finally spoke, his voice calm and deep as he handed a sleek shopping bag to Li Lian. Inside were neatly folded nightwear and an outfit suitable for the office.
"Seems he ordered it along the way," Yixi whispered beside her, half-amused, half-impressed.
"Thank you, sir," Lian said softly, offering a small, polite smile before quickly following Yixi up the stairs.
They both disappeared into Yixi's room, the door clicking shut behind them with a sense of escape and excitement.
After she left, Wang Liwei allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips as his gaze lingered on her retreating figure. There was something about her, something unfamiliar yet strangely captivating. An emotion he couldn't quite name stirred quietly within him, blooming in the silence she left behind.
After a while, both girls came out of the room, freshly changed and chatting softly as they made their way to the dining room. Wang Liwei was already seated at the head of the table, his expression unreadable as always.
The table, however, was a vibrant contrast to his cool demeanor, a full traditional Chinese dinner had been prepared, rich with aroma and color.
There was Peking duck, its skin glistening and crisp; a platter of kung pao chicken with its bold mix of chilies and peanuts; steamed sea bass with ginger and scallions laid out elegantly; a steaming bowl of hot and sour soup; mapo tofu in a fiery red sauce; and a generous serving of xiao long bao (soup dumplings) stacked in bamboo steamers.
On the side were stir-fried bok choy with garlic, a bowl of yangzhou fried rice, and a chilled dish of century egg with silken tofu drizzled in soy sauce and sesame oil. For dessert, a tray of mango pudding and sweet red bean buns sat waiting.
Li Lian's eyes widened slightly at the feast. "You eat like this every night?" she whispered to Yixi.
Yixi giggled, dragging her to the table. "Only when we bring guests."
They sat and ate peacefully, the air filled with the soft clinking of chopsticks and the occasional squeals and laughter from the girls as they chatted about everything and nothing. Wang Liwei sat quietly, watching them with his usual composed expression, though every now and then, a subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips, barely there, but unmistakable.
Then, without even thinking, his hand moved, graceful and deliberate, as he picked up a piece of Peking duck and placed it onto Li Lian's plate.
Everything stilled.
Both girls froze, chopsticks mid-air. Li Lian blinked in surprise, her eyes darting from the food to him. Even Yixi's mouth was parted in shock as she slowly turned to her brother.
Wang Liwei looked just as surprised as they were, his brows twitching ever so slightly as if his body had moved before his mind could stop it. He cleared his throat quietly and reached for his teacup to cover the moment, but the damage was already done.
Yixi smirked, leaning close to whisper, " Brother Liwei". She teased.
Li Lian, flustered, lowered her gaze to her plate, her cheeks slightly flushed. Wang Liwei didn't say a word, but the way he drank his tea a little too slowly said enough.
Everyone continued eating, each pretending the earlier moment hadn't happened. Liwei remained composed, as always, but there was a subtle tension in the air, an awareness none of them could quite shake off.
As soon as he was done, Wang Liwei rose from the table with a calm, "Good night," and walked away, his footsteps disappearing into the hallway.
The two girls were left alone.
Yixi cleared her throat and flashed Lian a teasing grin, but said nothing. Lian, still flustered, focused on finishing her meal quickly.
Soon enough, they stood up, cleared their dishes with the help of the maids, and disappeared into Yixi's bedroom, ready to call it a night. The room filled with quiet giggles and soft murmurs as they slipped into their sleepwear and snuggled into bed.
Meanwhile, Zhaoyue pavilion.
Zhao Yifan sat in the living room, legs crossed, a glass of wine in hand, quietly observing his parents. His eyes trailed between them with subtle disbelief. What exactly are they doing here? He sighed inwardly.
"Yifan, I prepared dinner," Qin Lihua said warmly, beaming at him. "Simple and healthy, just how you like it".
He couldn't refuse, not with that expression on her face. So he simply gave a silent nod. The three of them rose and made their way to the dining room.
As they sat, Zhao Jingyuan's sharp voice broke the air. "You must be wondering why we're here."
"…I did give you the permission to visit," Zhao Yifan replied calmly, lifting his chopsticks. "So it's okay."
Zhao Jingyuan's brows shot up. "Permission?! This is my house too, you little bastard. Lihua, did you hear this brat?" he barked, gesturing in disbelief.
Qin Lihua simply chuckled, patting her husband's hand. "Don't get worked up, dear. It's Yifan, he always speaks like that."
A long silence settled over the dinner table before Qin Lihua finally spoke, her voice light but firm.
"Yifan, your welcome banquet will be held next week. Get ready."
Yifan glanced at his mother, her face calm. He gave a short nod in response.
Then came the quieter blow, soft, almost hesitant.
"…It's time for you to find a spouse, Yifan. You're old enough."
She didn't meet his gaze, her eyes drifting to her bowl as if afraid of his reaction.
Yifan stared at her for a moment, expression unreadable. Of all the people in his life, she was the only one who could ask for so much in one breath and expect no resistance.
"…Okay," he said finally.