Outmaneuvered

For Xiao Yan, it was still too early to sleep.

After returning to her room, she lay on the bed, set her phone aside with the family group chat open, and began to think.

At first, she had worried whether Xavier and Zayne spending time together this Saturday might lead to something getting out of control.

Now it seemed she had been overthinking it.

Xavier and Zayne both naturally accepted the premise of female supremacy and polyandry.

As such, they would acknowledge each other's legal standing.

And because they both had an underlying sense of decorum, they would never erupt into a petty, direct confrontation.

Their competition was not about driving the other out.

It was about competing for a unique place and priority in Xiao Yan's heart.

At the same time, they both classified the other as someone they needed to coexist with.

What a polite, well-behaved pair.

Xiao Yan nodded, feeling increasingly reassured about the two of them.

Still, from what she had observed at dinner, she could tell that Zayne and Xavier each had their own distinctive strategies and methods, and the differences were quite substantial.

Zayne had been the first to extend goodwill, demonstrating the maturity and broad perspective of someone older.

That in itself was actually a way of controlling the pace of their interactions.

Sweet Pear was not entirely passive.

In response, Xavier had handled his overtures cautiously.

Although he had agreed with Zayne and even cooperated with him, he had also subtly provoked Xiao Yan to observe her reactions.

This was the result of an information gap.

Xavier had been less involved throughout, and suddenly seeing that Zayne and Xiao Yan seemed very close, he needed to make a quick assessment to determine how much weight Zayne carried in Xiao Yan's heart.

Then came the games afterward, especially the pool that Xiao Yan had not participated in.

She had deliberately given Zayne and Xavier space to act on their own.

And at the pool table, they had completed the basic process through which men established their social hierarchy.

Before they finally parted, the two men's behavior had shown that they had reached an unspoken understanding of the rules for sharing their wife's time.

This dynamic was stable because Xiao Yan had so far managed to be a master of balancing the water, giving both of them enough security and recognition of their unique worth.

They had both received unique nicknames and attention from Xiao Yan, and for now, those unique qualities existed in parallel without coming into direct conflict.

But I still need to be careful.

Xiao Yan knew full well that once this balance was broken, their elegant, covert struggle might escalate into more overt and intense competition.

And that balance was what she, Xiao Yan, had to keep an eye on at all times, wherever she was.

I can still keep this water balanced. Xiao Yan's confidence soared!

Before long, Zayne sent her a private message. [I reviewed tonight. I don't believe I made any serious mistakes.]

So Xiao Yan was not the only one thinking about these things. Zayne was thinking about them too.

She suddenly really wanted to go hug her Sweet Pear again.

Zayne had put a great deal of thought and effort into getting through his first time spending time with Xavier.

She replied, [Pear, I'm really grateful to you.]

Zayne soon replied, [You should thank that Star of yours more. He's a very gracious gentleman.]

Oh my, that sourness.

He had saved his jealousy for the quiet of the night.

Xiao Yan chuckled. [Is it because I didn't buy you a phone charm?]

That struck Zayne right where it hurt. [You prepared the doughnuts and milk tea for him too.]

Xiao Yan's heart ached for him. [Sweet Pear, Sweet Pear, I'll make you crêpes myself tomorrow morning, with a sweet hazelnut latte too. How does that sound~?]

Zayne was also lying in bed, and he really had been a little upset.

After being coaxed like this, his lips curved into a smile. [A university student should have a proper lie-in on the weekend. Leave the crêpes and hazelnut latte to me.]

Who has the best service mindset?!

Xiao Yan really wanted to show the whole world. Look! My Sweet Pear is the best of the best!

She sent Zayne a beaming sticker.

Zayne: [I'm fine. There is nothing you need to sacrifice sleep reflecting on. Get to bed early, and sweet dreams.]

That last part was the real point.

Zayne had been afraid Xiao Yan would overthink things and had specifically come to put her lingering worries to rest.

He was so warm. Xiao Yan pressed her phone to her chest, as though she could already feel Zayne's strong embrace.

She rolled over onto her stomach. Even looking at Caleb's fierce avatar in the group member list now did not feel so upsetting.

Xavier suddenly sent another private message. [Was Rafayel asking me to help fend off Sylus your idea?]

Oops, he found out. Xiao Yan: [...Ah.]

[Ah?] Xavier sent an angry little star sticker. [What do you mean, ah? It was your idea.]

Although the sticker expressed anger, it was genuinely adorable.

The little star's cheeks were puffed up and red, and its two thin arms flailed around as if it wanted to hit someone.

Xiao Yan sent a whimpering sticker.

Xavier: [Still, I made a deal with him. I feel like he got the worse end of it.]

Xiao Yan was curious. [What deal?]

[He said that if I didn't agree, he would come home every day to see you and really work on developing your relationship, making me lose. Your. Favor.]

Xiao Yan was stunned. [He... he, he, he! I didn't teach him that!]

Xavier sent a smiling emoji. [I know. So I had a flash of inspiration and told him he wasn't allowed to come home before Jiang Miao's husband-selection banquet.]

Wait, no!

Xiao Yan really missed her little fish and wanted to see him!

[What happened to being gracious? What happened to being a gentleman?!] She protested!

Xavier: [Who said I was going to be a gracious gentleman? Besides, he threatened me first.]

Oh, my fish, why did you have to go provoking Xavier for no reason?!

Xiao Yan was suffering.

Xavier added, [If you want to see him that badly, why not go find him? I told him not to come home. I never said you couldn't go out to see him.]

Help... this is clearly a test, isn't it?

Xiao Yan: [Why are you so opposed to Rafayel?]

Xavier denied it. [I'm not opposed to him.]

But in truth...

After Xavier had added Rafayel as a friend and exchanged a few words with him, he had begun to feel a sense of danger.

He felt that with Rafayel's clingy, passionate personality, once he began making advances on Xiao Yan, she would definitely be unable to resist.

Now, with these words probing Xiao Yan, sure enough, she cared a lot about Rafayel, didn't she?

Xiao Yan did not reply for a long time.

So Xavier said nothing more either.

But actually, Xiao Yan had received a message from Rafayel.

Rafayel: [We worked it out. He said that whenever he sees Sylus coming to find me from now on, he'll help fend him off.]

Xiao Yan asked, [And then? Did he set any conditions?]

[No.] Rafayel replied, [We chatted about this and that for a while. He asked why I'd chosen a picture of you making a face as my avatar. I said I'd just picked something to use for my social circle, and then he stopped replying.]

She... she had been outmaneuvered by Xavier!

He had decided Zayne was relatively "safe," then turned around and treated Rafayel as an "opponent"!

Xiao Yan had not seen this coming.

Once Xavier started caring about her, his combat power really shot up!

What should I do?

Xiao Yan sent Xavier a crying face.

Xavier: [Already asleep. Good partner, see you tomorrow.]

T.T