Of course you had to be more family-minded once you were married

Yan Qingdu brewed the tea, poured a cup, and set it on the table in front of Ye Yizhou.

Ye Yizhou lounged in the rosewood chair, engrossed in the book in his hands, casually lifting the teacup to take small sips.

Yan Qingdu propped his chin on his hand and watched Ye Yizhou.

When he first met Ye Yizhou, who had ordered eight male models to drink and have fun with him, he had thought his partner was quite wild. He had never expected him to be a hopeless romantic.

He had also heard Ye Jing’an mention Ye Yizhou: a good actor, a rowdy, mischievous brat, but sweet and clingy when asleep.

The second time he met Ye Yizhou, he had been clever, as cunning and lively as a little fox. He had never expected him to have this quiet, bookish side too.

The more time he spent with Ye Yizhou, the more different facets of his personality and character he discovered.

Ye Yizhou was like a treasure chest, glittering on the outside, only to reveal a dazzling array of radiant treasures once opened.

"Getting into it?"

Yan Qingdu glanced at the title: "If You Can't Lead a Team, You'll Work Yourself to Death."

"Yeah, it's pretty good."

Ye Yizhou hugged the book to his chest, rested his elbow on the table, and leaned forward slightly, nodding with an inscrutable air.

"I found it in my old man's study. I could tell from the title that the contents would be something special. Sure enough, it has some substance."

"Planning to come back and take over the family business?"

Yan Qingdu had heard Ye Jing’an mention that his family had let Ye Yizhou enter the entertainment industry and left him to his own devices because they wanted him to suffer there. Once he could no longer take it, he would realize how good he had it at home and obediently return to inherit the family business.

But in reality, while Ye Yizhou appeared to be hated and mocked all over the internet, he was actually handling everything with ease.

He was like a master puppeteer, holding the strings and making everyone follow his script without the slightest suspicion.

Unless Ye Yizhou himself grew tired of it, none of the nonsense in the entertainment industry could force his hand at all.

"Things are different now, after all," Ye Yizhou said reflectively.

Yan Qingdu asked, "What's different?"

"Of course you have to be more family-minded once you're married!" Ye Yizhou said with a perfectly straight face.

"Is that a hint aimed at me?" Yan Qingdu caught on quickly. He was rather busy with work and often traveled on business.

He had pushed back some of his work commitments over the past few days because of his mother's birthday. Once the birthday banquet was over, he would have to go abroad again. Some of the company's projects had run into trouble, and he needed to handle them personally.

Yan Qingdu looked up and glanced again at the title of the book in Ye Yizhou's arms.

So the book's title was a hint aimed at him too?

He had really put some thought into this.

It was rather amusing.

Ye Yizhou raised an eyebrow noncommittally and gave a little huff. "Hmph!"

"I..."

Yan Qingdu had just been about to speak when his ringtone interrupted him.

"Sorry, I need to take this." Yan Qingdu glanced at the caller ID on his phone.

Ye Yizhou murmured an acknowledgment.

"Yan Qingdu, it's your mother's birthday today, and as my son, you still haven't shown your face. Do you think that's appropriate? Do you?"

Yan Qingdu answered the call, habitually holding the phone a little farther from his ear, his gaze drawn to Ye Yizhou's movements.

Ye Yizhou set his teacup and book on the table and emptied out the tea leaves in the lidded bowl, which had already been steeped several times and had little flavor left.

He rinsed the lidded bowl, teacups, and tea bowls with hot water, tipped fresh tea leaves into the lidded bowl, shook it from side to side, and carefully inhaled the fragrance.

He quickly poured away the first infusion, filled the lidded bowl with boiling water again, and gently skimmed the foam from the surface with the lid before pouring the tea into a cup.

Holding the cup with one hand and supporting it with the other, Ye Yizhou set it in front of Yan Qingdu, then curved his lips into a smile and gestured for him to drink.

The entire sequence flowed smoothly. Every movement looked casual yet was perfectly executed, a pleasure to watch.

"Hello? Are you listening?"

Having waited so long without a response from Yan Qingdu, Mrs. Yan was beginning to wonder whether the call had even connected.

"Yes, I'm listening."

Yan Qingdu came back to himself, his tone calm. "What would I go over early for? What, do you need me to set up the tables and chairs, or lay out the tablecloths?"

Mrs. Yan was left speechless by his retort, then found another reason. "It's my birthday banquet. Shouldn't you put a little effort into it?"

"It's your birthday banquet, and your husband wants his chance to shine. If I butt in and start arranging this and that, wouldn't that make me look clueless?"

Yan Qingdu's gaze was impassive, a helpless look on his face.

Mrs. Yan: ...

Actually, it did not matter whether Yan Qingdu cared about this stupid birthday banquet. The point was...

"Tsk, are you coming or not?" Mrs. Yan lost patience and asked outright.

"I'm heading over now."

Only after receiving Yan Qingdu's affirmative answer did Mrs. Yan hang up in satisfaction.

Ye Yizhou had faintly overheard some of it and could more or less guess what they were talking about. The corners of his mouth could not help lifting slightly.

When Yan Qingdu spoke to his family, he seemed a little more down-to-earth, his personality much more vivid, completely unlike the aloof reserve he showed outsiders.

"I prepared a gift too. Take it over with you."

Ye Yizhou stood and went into the bedroom, bending down to take an exquisitely wrapped rectangular gift box from the bedside cabinet.

Yan Qingdu took the gift box from Ye Yizhou and glanced down at it. "Thank you."

"Why are you being so formal with me? It's basic courtesy."

Ye Yizhou chuckled. "Even if I'm not there in person, I still have to make a good impression on my mother-in-law."

"She doesn't care about these things."

Yan Qingdu knew his mother. If she had not had an ulterior motive, she would never have planned such a grand birthday banquet.

As for what that motive was, everyone knew perfectly well.

"Take it easy on the road."

As soon as Ye Yizhou finished speaking, Yan Qingdu lowered his head and kissed his lips, saying softly, "I'm off."

Leaning against the edge of the tea table, Ye Yizhou watched Yan Qingdu leave, then raised a hand to touch his own lips, the corners of his mouth lifting.

He could be taught.

Progress toward winning Yan Qingdu over +10%.

Mrs. Yan's birthday banquet was held at the Yan family's estate.

By the time Yan Qingdu arrived, quite a few guests were already in the banquet hall. He strode through the hall and went upstairs, where the music immediately grew much quieter.

He could hear cheerful voices and laughter coming from the sitting room from a distance.

"I saw quite a few outstanding young men here tonight. Perhaps Qingdu will take a fancy to one of them." Lu Qingwan was optimistic.

"Oh, it would be wonderful if that really happened."

Mrs. Yan held Lu Qingwan's hand, smiling happily, then lowered her voice the next moment and started chattering. "Honestly, he never looks for a partner. I'm starting to wonder whether there's something physically wrong with him."

Yan Qingdu: ...

That was certainly something only his own mother could say.

"Qingdu excels in every way. It's understandable that ordinary people don't catch his eye."

Lu Qingwan was not merely speaking up for Yan Qingdu; it was simply the truth. Catching sight of Ye Jing’an sitting nearby, her tone suddenly grew a little disdainful.

"Our eldest is the same..."

"Hey, hey, Mom, it's rude to bring that up on someone else's home turf. Qingdu is today's main character."

Ye Jing’an hurriedly interrupted, happy to sacrifice someone else to save himself. "What matters most is finding Qingdu a partner. I'm on your side. I'll be a good wingman. I..."

Before he could finish, Yan Qingdu walked in.

For a moment, the atmosphere was very awkward.