Rafayel vs. Sylus

Zayne watched Xiao Yan's expression without speaking.

Xavier did not understand why Xiao Yan had suddenly become unhappy. He said gently, "It was my fault for attending so many husband-selection banquets before. Don't be mad at me, hmm?"

Xiao Yan's heart softened, and even her gaze turned tender as she looked at Xavier. "Star..."

Zayne thought Xavier really knew how to cheer Little Jasmine up.

He cleared his throat too. "It's my fault I can't prove I wouldn't agree to someone else's husband selection. Don't be angry, Little Jasmine."

Xiao Yan turned to Zayne, her heart warmed. "Sweet Pear..."

Xiao Yan's low spirits had nothing whatsoever to do with these two.

Yet they had still taken the blame and admitted fault of their own accord, just to make her a little happier.

Wasn't this a kind of tenderness and concerned reassurance they were competing to offer her?

Her efforts really did pay off!

Xiao Yan put all her unhappiness out of her mind and grinned at them. "Let's eat, then the three of us can go play games in the recreation room!"

Xavier and Zayne readily nodded. "Sure~"

The recreation room at home was spacious, with doughnuts and milk tea set out on the table.

They played a little, took a bite, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

After a few rounds of motion-controlled golf, Xavier and Zayne's scores were neck and neck.

Their competitive spirits had both been roused, and they decided to settle the score over pool.

Xiao Yan was a little tired too, so she sat on the small sofa nearby, sipping her drink and watching them take turns sending the balls clacking crisply against one another.

Fortunately, Zayne and Xavier both knew how to keep appropriate boundaries when interacting and took care to remain civil.

Xiao Yan did not have to worry too much about them.

She opened the family group chat, where messages kept popping up.

Most of them were Rafayel and Sylus bickering.

Rafayel was terrified Sylus would insist on commissioning him, but he still refused to hold his tongue.

Sylus teased Rafayel as though he were playing with a child, even announcing that he would come home for dinner tomorrow night too, so they could have a proper discussion about the commission at the table.

Rafayel: [Enough already. No commissions! Ask a hundred times and the answer is still no!]

Sylus: [Does the great artist think the payment is beneath him? Name your price. Since we're family now, I might be very generous.]

Rafayel: [I won't do it for any amount of money! Keep this up and I'm calling the police!]

Sylus: [We have a police officer right here in the family. Why don't you try?]

Amused, Xiao Yan sent her first message since joining the group. [The family police officer is playing pool with the family doctor. He's unavailable to take reports.]

Rafayel: [Oh, you finally spoke up. I thought you'd muted the group.]

Sylus: [Your after-dinner activities are certainly varied. Little Tabby, why aren't you taking a few shots? Don't know how?]

He had to be kidding. Whatever else she could or could not do, Xiao Yan did know a little pool. [Would you believe I could clear the table in one visit?]

Rafayel: [No.]

Sylus: [I can practically see you flailing around and refusing to admit defeat.]

Since Sylus was actively chatting, Xiao Yan brought up Jiang Miao's husband-selection banquet.

Rafayel: [Didn't I say I'd go? Why are you... oh, you're asking someone else.]

Sylus: [Another husband-selection banquet. Are you going to lend her support or wreck the place? I'll decide what to wear that day based on your requirements.]

Xiao Yan: [Lend her support, of course! Jiang Miao is my rock-solid best friend, okay!]

Rafayel: [Never met her.]

Xiao Yan: [You have! She was at my husband-selection banquet!]

Rafayel: [Oh, then I didn't notice her. Whatever, we'll be seeing each other again soon anyway.]

Sylus: [Understood. I'll be there. Don't worry.]

Hehe, another one secured!

Xiao Yan was just about to tell Zayne and Xavier.

Caleb suddenly spoke up. [If we pick up the pace on the patrol mission, we should be able to return ahead of schedule.]

Xiao Yan froze.

Rafayel: [Who's this? The fleet adjutant?]

Sylus: [Is it serious enough to require an early return?]

Caleb fell silent again.

Then Xiao Yan received a friend request from Caleb.

She accepted it with some apprehension and waited a long time, but Caleb still said nothing.

Honestly... how strange. What exactly was he thinking?

Then she received a private message from Rafayel.

[I'm not coming home for dinner tomorrow. I don't want to see Sylus.]

Xiao Yan was speechless. What a fickle fish.

Still, she was a little curious. [What's going on between you and Sylus?]

Rafayel: [Exactly what you saw. There are so many painters, but he keeps hounding me for a commission. When I ask why, he won't say. It makes no sense.]

Xiao Yan offered a lousy idea. [Why don't you talk to Xavier privately and ask him to fend Sylus off whenever he comes looking for you?]

Rafayel: [I really don't think that'll work. Sylus even dared put a bounty on Lightseeker before. Would he be afraid of Xavier?]

Xiao Yan was stunned. Sylus really had put a bounty on Lightseeker?

He had personally issued a bounty for Lightseeker?

She hurriedly glanced up.

Xavier was leaning over the pool table, getting ready for another shot.

That posture, those contours, those long legs and that pert little butt...

Then Zayne circled around with his cue, blocking Xiao Yan's view.

Zayne's figure was incredible too: broad shoulders, a lean waist, straight legs...

Even Xiao Yan's forehead was getting a little hot.

She quickly lowered her head and typed another message to Rafayel. [But we're family now. Sylus probably won't oppose Xavier quite so brazenly.]

The underworld and the lawful world each had their own ways.

A boss operating in the shadows would surely show Xavier, who stood on the right side of the law, some respect in public.

Rafayel thought it over. [That makes some sense. All right, I'll go plot with Xavier. Thanks~]

There was no need to thank her.

Xiao Yan only wanted to give Rafayel some ideas so he would stop avoiding Sylus so much.

Otherwise, when would she ever get all five men together in one home?

It was so difficult.

Xiao Yan sighed.

"I won." Zayne withdrew his cue. "Another round?"

Xavier set his cue down dejectedly. "I concede. No more. It's about time I took a shower and got ready for bed anyway."

"I worked overtime on a surgery today, so I'm a little tired too. I'd like to turn in early as well," Zayne said.

After all, neither of them was particularly outgoing or lively.

After an entire evening of family socializing, their sanity had probably dropped quite a bit. They needed to retreat to their own rooms and recover HP in solitude.

Xiao Yan understood that, for a first meeting, getting along this well was already quite an achievement.

She deliberately gave an enormous yawn. "You're finally done playing. I've been sleepy for ages. I'm off to bed."

That set the tone for all three of them to return to their own rooms.

Xavier and Zayne both seemed to have been waiting for Xiao Yan to say that.

Once they heard it, both seemed subtly relieved.

Zayne opened his arms.

Xiao Yan went over and hugged him. "Good night, Dr. Zayne."

"Good night, Little Jasmine." Zayne lowered his head and kissed the crown of Xiao Yan's head. "See you tomorrow."

Having hugged one, it wasn't too much to hug the other too, right?

Xiao Yan turned and walked up to Xavier.

Xavier, however, made no move to invite a hug.

He simply took Xiao Yan's hand and held it. "If I'm not up before breakfast tomorrow, could you come wake me? Don't send Uncle Sang or anyone else. I... get a little grumpy when I wake up. I don't want to scare them."

The implication was that he was grumpy with everyone else when he woke up, and only having Xiao Yan wake him could soothe him.

Xiao Yan readily agreed. "Of course. Get a good night's sleep."

"Mhm." Xavier smiled and nodded, tightening his hold on Xiao Yan's hand. "Then, good night, partner."