At the sight of Fu Yanli, Jiang Xun immediately raised a hand to tidy his bird's-nest hair, then straightened his sleep-rumpled clothes and stood as obediently as a kindergartener.
Mr. Fu exuded a powerful presence. Though he didn't flaunt it, no one would dare act out in front of him.
Could Fu Yanli have been the one who put that blanket over me?
Jiang Xun tentatively raised a hand and waved, offering a small, closed-lipped smile. "Good morning, Uncle."
Fu Yanli paused and gave Jiang Xun a polite nod.
His dark silk pajamas were buttoned all the way to the top, lending his restrained appearance an air of refined elegance.
He walked toward the open kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
Jiang Xun remained standing properly, his toes curling against the floor and his eyes lowered in thought, when the man's rich, resonant voice suddenly reached him.
The house was too large, and they were a little too far apart. With hearing only in his right ear, he couldn't make out the words at first. His mouth parted slightly as he looked over in confusion.
"Huh?"
Seeing his dazed expression, Fu Yanli set down the pitcher and repeated himself. "Why didn't you sleep in your room?"
This time, Jiang Xun focused and heard him clearly.
He was just about to speak when his nose suddenly tickled and he sneezed. Rubbing his nose in embarrassment, he said in a muffled voice, "The room was locked. I couldn't get in."
I must have caught a chill because I didn't keep my belly button covered last night.
Fu Yanli picked up his glass and took a sip, then headed back, his voice even. "Come here."
Jiang Xun answered and hurried after him.
Fu Yanli unlocked the guest room's keypad lock, then registered Jiang Xun's fingerprint so he could unlock it directly from now on.
Before leaving, he thoughtfully added, "You can change the code, too."
"Got it. Thank you, Uncle."
Fu Yanli left, and Jiang Xun wheeled his suitcase into the room.
Even as a guest room, it was fairly spacious, with an en suite bathroom and a small walk-in closet.
Jiang Xun unpacked absentmindedly, his thoughts occupied with how to return the watch he had brazenly snatched from Fu Yanli without making things awkward.
He plopped down on the bed, biting his index-finger knuckle with a troubled expression.
A little over ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
Fu Yanli stood outside, still in his loose loungewear, his cuffs casually rolled up to reveal the smooth lines of his forearms.
"Breakfast is ready. Come out and eat."
The man was so tall that Jiang Xun, who didn't quite reach five foot nine, had to tilt his head back to meet his eyes.
He was a little surprised. "You know how to make breakfast, too?"
The part-time housekeeper usually made it, but she had the day off, so Fu Yanli had to do it himself.
In response to Jiang Xun's question, he simply murmured an acknowledgment without explaining further.
He turned to leave, only for someone to tug at his sleeve. Fu Yanli stopped and lowered his gaze to the hand.
It had the same dark, wheat-colored skin, but its fingers were long and slender. There seemed to be several tiny scars on the back, and the fingertips felt rough.
It wasn't a hand that had known pampering from childhood.
After that brief glance, the hand quickly withdrew, its owner realizing how presumptuous he had been.
"Sorry, um... please wait a moment."
Jiang Xun quickly turned around and fumbled through his suitcase for a small box. He opened it and took out the watch inside.
Holding the watch in both hands, he respectfully offered it to Fu Yanli, looking almost ready to drop to his knees and beg forgiveness.
"Uncle, I was drunk that day. I didn't mean to do it. Here's your watch back."
The scene from that night involuntarily surfaced in Fu Yanli's mind, but he didn't reach out to take it. He merely gave the watch an indifferent glance.
His voice was calm. "I gave it to you. It's yours."
With that, he strode away on his long legs.
Jiang Xun watched him leave. That already tall, straight-backed figure grew even more imposing in his eyes.
A big shot really knows how to be generous.
Jiang Xun decided to enshrine the watch and pay his respects to it every day. A big shot's watch might even bless him with an early completion of his mission.
Jiang Xun quickly washed up, then went out for breakfast.
Three people lived in the house, but there were only two breakfasts on the dining table, one in front of Fu Yanli and one across from him.
Without the slightest guilt, Jiang Xun pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, not mentioning Chu Xingye at all.
The breakfast Fu Yanli had made was simple: an iced coffee and a ham-and-fried-egg sandwich. It looked quite good.
"I'll dig in, then."
"Mm."
They ate quietly, the atmosphere a little awkward.
Fu Yanli didn't feel that way. He ate his breakfast in silence, and though he wasn't slow, he didn't seem crude either. He simply looked refined and composed.
Jiang Xun took a bite of the sandwich. It tasted good. Then he took a sip of coffee.
Oh. An iced Americano more bitter than my life.
Jiang Xun set down the coffee and took another bite of his sandwich. Only after swallowing did he start a conversation. "Uncle, why isn't Auntie home?"
Fu Yanli replied, "Her company is far away. She doesn't usually stay here."
Understanding dawned on Jiang Xun. "Oh, I see."
No wonder the house's decor and furnishings hadn't struck him as those of a young married couple.
As he munched on his sandwich, he happened to notice that Fu Yanli had taken off the wedding ring on his left ring finger at some point, probably to make cooking easier.
A faint ring mark remained on the man's finger, suggesting he wore it often. He and Ye Jing must have a good relationship.
Jiang Xun believed in love again.
Meanwhile, all he could taste was the bitterness of an iced Americano.
Holding his coffee cup, Jiang Xun frowned miserably.
"What is it? Not used to it?" Fu Yanli suddenly asked.
Jiang Xun pressed his lips together and smiled shyly. "No, it's just a little cold."
And so, the next morning, he was served a hot Americano.
Words couldn't describe the taste.
Only when the two of them had nearly finished breakfast did Chu Xingye emerge from his room, yawning repeatedly. He first shot Jiang Xun a disdainful sidelong glance, then sat down.
With an obedient, expectant expression, he looked at Fu Yanli across the table. "Uncle, where's my breakfast?"
Gathering the empty plates, Fu Yanli said he had forgotten to make it without even looking up. Then he rose and carried the plates toward the sink.
Chu Xingye took ten thousand points of damage. Clutching his wounded heart, he looked at Jiang Xun, who was still enjoying breakfast beside him. Why did he only make breakfast for this guy?
In all his years, he had never eaten a breakfast made by his uncle.
Jiang Xun smiled warmly at him. "Brother Xingye, would you like some coffee?"
Chu Xingye gave a disdainful snort and stormed off.
He had probably gone somewhere to cry.
Only after Jiang Xun finished breakfast and returned to his room did Chu Xingye come out of his own room and head to the study to find his uncle.
It was the weekend, so Fu Yanli hadn't gone to the office. He was seated at his desk, handling urgent documents on his computer.
Chu Xingye had a spoiled young master's temper and usually acted without much restraint, but now he knocked properly and waited for permission from inside before opening the door and entering.