Jiang Xun looked at the shrimp dumpling in his bowl without picking up his chopsticks.
He slowly lifted his eyes to Jiang Shiyuan, whose expression looked slightly awkward, and said in an odd tone, "Dad, I'm allergic to shrimp."
Everyone froze at his words.
Jiang Shiyuan was even more embarrassed. As a father, he hadn't even known his own son was allergic to shrimp.
But then, to his surprise, Jiang Xun suddenly curled his lips, picked up the shrimp dumpling, and popped it into his mouth.
Jiang Shiyuan blurted, "You!"
Jiang Huaijin demanded, "What are you doing?"
Deng Shu urged anxiously, "Xiao Xun, spit it out!"
Jiang Xun swallowed the food unhurriedly and gave an inscrutable smile. "I was kidding. Mom, Dad, and my big brother don't even know what I'm allergic to."
The three of them stared at him, their expressions shifting again and again.
This time, Jiang Shiyuan couldn't even muster any anger. He merely said stiffly, "Don't joke about that again."
"Xiao Xun, Mom will remember next time."
Jiang Xun's eyes remained curved in a smile, as though he didn't care in the slightest. He even placed a shrimp dumpling in Deng Shu's bowl and said dutifully, "Okay. You should eat more too, Mom."
His skin was simply a little dark. With his troublesome bangs cut away, his exposed features were exquisitely handsome, and his face positively lit up when he smiled. The scar over his left eye did little to detract from that.
It was just that he had always hunched his shoulders and hung his head before, so no one had ever noticed.
Only now did Jiang Shiyuan suddenly realize that Jiang Xun's eyes and brows looked exactly like his wife's, while his mouth resembled his own.
This was his and his wife's own flesh and blood. From the moment they had reunited until now, it seemed that only at this instant did Jiang Shiyuan truly feel that connection.
His feelings were more complicated than they had ever been.
Jiang Zixing lowered his head and ate his breakfast in silence.
"Zixing, eat some more. You barely ate anything last night."
Jiang Huaijin placed a crab roe bun in his bowl. "Your favorite."
"Okay. Thanks, Huaijin."
Jiang Xun stayed at home for two days. On Sunday evening, Jiang Huaijin took the unprecedented step of offering to drive him back to Fu Yanli's place.
"Behave yourself while you're staying in someone else's home. Don't cause any more trouble. Fu Yanli isn't someone you can afford to offend."
With a fruit-flavored hard candy between his teeth, Jiang Xun busied himself playing with its colorful wrapper and answered absently, "Mm... yes, yes, yes."
Jiang Huaijin shot him a displeased glance but ultimately said nothing more.
So childish. What's so fun about a stupid candy wrapper?
The car stopped outside the upscale apartment building, and Jiang Huaijin coldly shooed him out. "We're here. Get out."
Jiang Xun had eaten two hard candies on the way and folded their wrappers into two tiny paper cranes.
Before getting out, he handed the two cranes and a few hard candies to Jiang Huaijin. "These are for you."
With that, he opened the door, got out, and waved without looking back.
Jiang Huaijin looked at the things in his palm and frowned slightly. How ugly.
He didn't drive away immediately, instead watching his troublesome younger brother through the open car window.
Before Jiang Xun reached the ground-floor lobby, he saw a tall figure approaching from the other side.
It was Fu Yanli, dressed in a casual shirt and trousers rather than what he would have worn home from work.
A smile immediately spread across Jiang Xun's face, and he greeted him warmly. "Uncle, did you just get back too?"
Fu Yanli gave a slight nod. "Yes. I met up with some friends."
No wonder he carried a faint scent of alcohol and tobacco, along with a trace of something unusual.
Jiang Xun nodded in understanding. "Oh, I see. Let's go up together, then."
Inside the car, Jiang Huaijin watched the scene a short distance away, so angry he almost laughed.
Jiang Xun mocked and needled his own brother, yet fawned over an uncle who wasn't even related to him.
The elevator slowly rose, with Fu Yanli standing in front of Jiang Xun.
In the enclosed space, Jiang Xun watched the man's tall figure from behind. His nostrils twitched slightly, and he finally identified that unusual scent: a very faint smell of blood.
Jiang Xun swept his gaze over him before his eyes settled on the side of his collar, where there was a spot of blood the size of a soybean.
Fu Yanli was wearing a white shirt that day, making the bloodstain all the more noticeable.
Jiang Xun quietly averted his gaze.
Although Mr. Fu's flawless looks had a certain sharp edge to them, his demeanor was placid, his power kept under wraps.
Now, however, Jiang Xun keenly sensed something mysterious and dangerous about him, like a primeval forest shrouded in thick fog that no one could see through.
Jiang Huaijin was right. Fu Yanli wasn't someone he could afford to offend, and Jiang Xun knew his own limits very well.
The elevator stopped, and they stepped out one after the other, unlocked the door with the fingerprint scanner, and went inside to change their shoes.
The lights were already on when they entered.
Only when Jiang Xun walked into the living room did he discover a stunning woman sitting on the sofa, her long hair styled in waves and her figure clad in a sexy dress. She was beautiful and effortlessly confident.
The beauty elegantly held a cup of coffee, a plain band encircling her left ring finger.
Although this was only their second meeting, Ye Jing had left a deep impression on Jiang Xun. He called out in surprise, "Aunt?"
Fu Yanli came in behind Jiang Xun. At the sight of his wife, his expression seemed as unruffled as ever.
"What brings you here all of a sudden?"
Ye Jing set down her coffee cup and rose gracefully to greet Jiang Xun before answering with a smile, "Xingye and Xiao Xun have been staying here for several days. As their aunt, of course I had to come back and see them."
"Don't be shy, Xiao Xun. Make yourself at home. Come sit down."
"Okay!"
Jiang Xun happily hurried over and sat on the sofa to one side, looking utterly well-behaved. His puppy-dog eyes curved into a smile as he told his aunt she had become even prettier.
He certainly has a sweet tongue.
Fu Yanli sat down on the other side and poured himself a glass of water.
Ye Jing suddenly leaned over and pinched Fu Yanli's shirt collar between her fingers. "How did you get blood on this?"
Fu Yanli followed her gaze downward, his brow creasing almost imperceptibly. "I don't know. I'll go change my shirt."
"Go ahead."
Sitting off to the side, Jiang Xun felt like a gigantic third wheel, but he was also thoroughly enjoying shipping the pair. A handsome man and a beautiful woman together really were a feast for the eyes.
After Fu Yanli went to change, Ye Jing turned her attention back to Jiang Xun. "It's only been a few days, but your skin looks a little fairer, Xiao Xun."
Sure enough, this beauty had a different eye from everyone else. She was the first person to notice his skin getting fairer.
Jiang Xun was so touched he nearly cried.
Before long, Chu Xingye came home too.
"Aunt, you're finally back! I thought you and Uncle had had a fight."
"Your uncle and I are doing just fine. Stop worrying over nothing."
"Oh, and I've ordered a big late-night spread for you two. It should be here soon."
No sooner had she finished speaking than the doorbell rang. The delivery person had arrived.
Fu Yanli changed into comfortable loungewear. When he came out, he found Ye Jing sitting at the dining table with the two teenagers, enjoying their late-night meal.
The table was covered in burgers, fried chicken, and fries, along with ice-cold cola and barbecue.
Jiang Xun was happily gnawing on a fried chicken drumstick, his cheeks bulging, but he still remembered to call out to Fu Yanli through his mouthful.
"Uncle, come have shome too! It's really yummy!"