Happy moments stolen from a busy day

Fang Yao looked at the disconnected call, convinced that men simply couldn't be spoiled. Then she read the text on her phone and grinned.

"I'm a little tired, so I'm heading home. Are you two coming with me, or...?"

"Yao, we want to stay a little longer. You can go back with the driver. I'll have Yang Qi take us home later."

"All right, then. Keep your hands off anything you shouldn't touch, or else..."

Sensing danger, everyone promised in unison, "Understood, Yao."

Fang Yao nodded. "Good children."

-_-||

Their sister-in-law was treating them like little kids. Good children, indeed.

Wait, what were those smiles about? They didn't mean a word of it! What kind of men squirmed around like that?

Bo Miao and the girls: We're women.

Bo Zhe and the boys: (^▽^) What's it to you?

Once home, Fang Yao buried herself under the covers and fell fast asleep.

When Old Master Bo and his wife returned, they spotted the shoes by the door and asked a nearby servant, "Is the Young Madam home?"

"Yes, Madam. The Young Madam went straight to her room. She looked very tired."

"I see. Have the chef make some nourishing soup tonight."

"Yes, Madam."

The next time Fang Yao woke, it was to the noise downstairs. Irritated, she climbed out of bed, opened the window, and shouted down.

"Bo Zhe! Bo Miao! Are you two asking for a beating?"

Only upon hearing Fang Yao's furious voice did Bo Zhe and Bo Miao remember her terrible temper when woken. Bo Miao crashed into Bo Zhe, but before she could complain, Fang Yao's angry shout silenced her too.

Everyone in the garden froze as though someone had pressed pause, staring up at Fang Yao.

To Bo Zhe and the others, Fang Yao looked like something that had just crawled out of hell, found a human skin somewhere, and draped it loosely over herself. She eyed them like a starving demon eyeing a feast.

"Ha ha ha... Yao, did we wake you?" Bo Zhe laughed awkwardly and slapped away the hand pinching his waist.

That hurt like hell! This sister really wasn't worth keeping. Some scumbag could take her off his hands.

Scumbag: Really? ∑(っ°Д°;)っ

Bo Zhe: Get lost! (ノ｀Д)ノ

Bo Miao ducked away from Bo Zhe, cradling her hand and blowing on it. "Stupid Bo Zhe, hitting me that hard! It hurts! Why does my back suddenly feel cold? Ha ha ha... Good evening, Yao."

Bo Miao turned to find Fang Yao staring straight at her, while everyone else had moved far away.

Fang Yao's temples throbbed. "If you want to have a party, can't you go somewhere else? Or at least farther away? Why do you have to do it right below my room? Don't you know how loud you are?!"

"We just thought it'd be easier for you to come down and eat once the barbecue was ready."

"You've upset your sister-in-law!"

Bo Zhe and the others cut off their explanations at once. Stiffly turning toward the voice, they caught sight of Bo Hanmo.

Every last one of them trembled.

Why had he suddenly shown up...?

Bo Hanmo didn't care how shocked they were. The sight of Fang Yao standing at the window in her pajamas sent jealousy surging through him. Moments later, he had pulled her back into the room and shut the window tight.

Fang Yao stared at Bo Hanmo in bewilderment. "What are you doing?"

o((⊙ ..⊙))o

Only Bo Hanmo could wrap someone up like a penguin in such thin pajamas. Aah... I'm going to be strangled!

Hearing her thoughts, Bo Hanmo coughed and loosened his grip. "Hungry? Let's go down and eat. They've just finished getting everything ready."

Bo Hanmo went to the wardrobe, took out some clothes for Fang Yao, laid them on the bed, and left.

Once he closed the door, Bo Hanmo could no longer maintain his aloof CEO demeanor. Leaning against it, he murmured, "What a temptress. I nearly lost control and devoured her right there."

"That scared me to death. Elder Brother Bo is as intimidating as ever! Bo Zhe, didn't you say he was working late today?" Once Bo Hanmo disappeared, Lu You slapped Bo Zhe on the back.

"Yeah! He used to come home in the middle of the night. Even now, he doesn't get back until seven or eight. Who knew my brother would be home so early today?" Caught off guard, Bo Zhe stumbled forward a few steps, his eyes reddening.

"You said it yourself—that was before. He's married now. How could things still be the same?" Gong Yong had been quietly working away nearby. At Bo Zhe's clueless bachelor remark, he straightened up and gave him a speechless pat on the shoulder.

"I didn't say anything that could be taken the wrong way just now, did I?" Xi Meng clutched Shao Ya's hand and asked nervously.

Shao Ya was dazed too. Elder Brother Bo had somehow become even more handsome. So handsome!

Her friend dragged the lovestruck Shao Ya back to reality. After hearing Xi Meng's question clearly, she shook her head. "I don't know what you said."

Speechless, Xi Meng released Shao Ya's arm. She wanted to smack her past self. She knew perfectly well that this girl went silly over handsome men. She was an idiot for asking her.

"Never mind."

Seeing Xi Meng walk away, Shao Ya hurried after her. "Sweet Mengmeng, don't be mad. You know what I'm like. Say it again. I promise I'll listen properly this time."

"Good or bad, I only say things once."

"Nooo!"

Yang Qi glanced at the two girls chasing each other around, then at Bo Miao, who hadn't taken her eyes off the food.

"Aren't you going to sort things out between your friends? Keep your paws off. It's not cooked yet."

Bo Miao looked at Yang Qi's finger, gave a goofy chuckle, and wiped away her drool. It smelled so good that she couldn't help herself.

"It's fine. They'll be all right in a minute. Don't believe me? Just watch. The food's ready! Who wants the first bite?"

Without taking her eyes off the barbecue for even a second, Bo Miao called out loudly.

The two girls locked in their fierce "fight" immediately let go of each other.

"Me!"

"Finally!"

See? Bo Miao raised her brows and pursed her lips. Yang Qi smiled at her greedy expression, then adopted a serious face under her glare, though the laughter he was holding back still showed in his eyes.

Bo Miao: [○･｀Д´･ ○]

Yang Qi: O(∩_∩)O Ha ha~

By the time Fang Yao and Bo Hanmo came downstairs, Bo Zhe and the others had already started eating. Spotting the couple, everyone called out to them happily.

"Elder Brother Bo, you're here! Come and eat. Bo Zhe's about to finish everything!" Lu You shot a disdainful glance at Bo Zhe, who was guarding his food, and sold him out on the spot.

"Bullshit! I've only had a few!" Bo Zhe's mouth was full, making his words muffled, but everyone could still understand him.

Swallowing his food, Bo Zhe chased after Lu You to hit him.

Lu You had succeeded in attracting everyone's attention, but he had also provoked Bo Zhe's anger. When Bo Zhe raised a skewer to jab him, he leaped up in fright and ran.

(〃＞皿＜)

Fang Yao sat down beside Bo Miao and accepted the food from Bo Hanmo. At the slightest furrow of her brow, he took over the work himself.

Watching the lively group, Fang Yao sighed inwardly. Does this world have a grudge against Bo Hanmo? Not a single supporting character here—they're all cannon fodder. Willingly or not, all their money ends up in the male and female leads' pockets.

"Go on, eat. Why did it suddenly get so quiet?" Fang Yao had been eating and thinking when she noticed the silence around her. She looked up and—well, what a sight. Everyone had gone perfectly still, as though time had stopped.