Flew too far

Xiao Yan's expression darkened. Yesterday, Rafayel had said he wanted to avoid Sylus and wouldn't be coming home to eat.

Today, Sylus was being so considerate too, staying away from dinner for fear Rafayel wouldn't be able to eat at the sight of him.

"So annoying." Xiao Yan jabbed at her screen to reply to Sylus. [Eat or don't! Who said I was making a portion for you? I'll eat it all myself!]

Sylus was amused. [Sure, eat plenty, then. Next time I come home, I'll get to see a little piggy.]

Hearing Xiao Yan complain, Zayne came closer and glanced at her phone screen.

He stroked the top of her head helplessly. "Being these men's wife has been hard on you."

"So you absolutely can't start anything with me, or I won't even have anywhere to cry," Xiao Yan said.

Zayne very much enjoyed feeling needed by Xiao Yan. "Don't you find being with me a little too dull and uneventful?"

"So what?" Xiao Yan didn't think so at all. "What we have is steady and lasting. Isn't that wonderful? Just one smile from you is enough to make me melt. What's dull about that? You have no idea how interesting you are, or how interested I am in you."

Zayne blinked a few times. "You're... very interested in me?"

Only then did Xiao Yan toss her phone aside. "Extremely interested. You're handsome and restrained, a mature man who knows how to comfort me and understands how precious companionship is. And... hey, why are you blushing?"

Zayne turned away, loosely curled his right hand, and coughed into it. "That was far too much praise."

Xiao Yan absolutely loved seeing Zayne shy. She pounced and burrowed into his arms. "What am I going to do, Sweet Pear? You're going back to work this week, and I won't get to see you again. Can I visit you at the hospital when I miss you? If my classes finish early one day, can I go to your place and wait for you to get off work?"

Marriage before love, that process of going from strangers to knowing each other, was certainly tantalizing and seductive.

But once they knew each other, she could act spoiled and clingy with Zayne without restraint, and that had a sweetness all its own.

Zayne seemed to have been waiting for Xiao Yan to say that. "At the hospital, I might not have time to see you even if you come. But my place... I'll send you the address. As for the door code, we shouldn't use your birthday, for safety's sake. Pick a string of numbers, and I'll change it when I get home tonight."

At dinner, she enjoyed another hearty meal with Zayne, chatting and laughing.

It was time for Zayne to go home. Before leaving, he departed from his usual composed manner and took the initiative to hold Xiao Yan, lingering affectionately for quite a while.

Still worried, he reminded her, "I believe you can handle all kinds of difficulties, as well as your own emotions. But if there's ever anything you can't resolve or deal with, tell me anytime."

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded firmly against Zayne's chest.

"Don't contact Caleb first." This was the only thing Zayne was firm about. "His willingness to participate in the family group chat means his attitude has softened somewhat. Let him think things through himself. Don't go asking for a rebuff. Don't hurt yourself."

Xiao Yan let out a sigh, her heart warmed. "All right, I'll listen to Sweet Pear on this. If he ignores me, I'll ignore him."

"Seek what benefits you and avoid what hurts you. There's no need to invite unhappiness." Zayne lowered his head and pressed a firm kiss to her hair. "You're not alone anymore. Whenever you're upset, remember that someone else cares about it. Protecting yourself also means protecting the person who cares about you."

Xiao Yan was deeply moved.

She tilted her face up and raised her hand, studying Zayne's features as she stroked his cheek.

Who would have thought that behind such a cool, restrained face, he was such a warm, sweet big pear in private?

As they gazed at each other, both felt a subtle affection spreading between them.

If they kept looking, they might...

Zayne pressed his lips together, lowered Xiao Yan's hand, and took a step back. "Then I'll wait for you."

"Wait for me to do what?" Xiao Yan was taken aback.

Zayne parted his lips. "Didn't you say you wanted to come to my place and wait for me to get off work? Were you just saying that?"

"Oh! I'll come. I definitely will!" Xiao Yan caught on. "Then be good and wait for me!"

Only then was Zayne reassured. He stroked Xiao Yan's hair affectionately once more. "Don't see me out."

Even so.

As Zayne drove out of the villa's courtyard, he still saw Xiao Yan in the rearview mirror, standing beneath the lights out front and waving goodbye.

Xiao Yan still had a little homework to do that evening.

While she leaned over her desk drawing a mind map, Zayne's latest Moments post appeared on the phone beside her.

It was a nine-photo grid, filled with pictures of Xiao Yan's manga covers.

The photo in the center was a selfie of them with their heads together, the large bookcase in the library behind them.

Watching Zayne reply to comments on his Moments post was especially entertaining.

[My wife is still young, after all. There's nothing wrong with her liking school romance manga.]

[Yes, we tidied things up together and cleared some space for my books.]

[I've never smiled at you like that? Why would I smile at you like that?]

[However long the commute is, just thinking about sitting down together to enjoy a meal when I get home makes it feel like no trouble at all.]

Such a devoted family man, her big Sweet Pear!

Uh...

Then she saw it.

Xavier had liked the post.

The two of them had already added each other.

Oh dear. Something felt wrong in Xiao Yan's heart again.

But she set that aside for now.

Opening her private chat with Zayne, Xiao Yan wrote: [Are you home yet?]

Zayne quickly replied, [Safe and sound.]

Although they didn't exchange any more messages afterward, Xiao Yan knew that whatever Zayne was doing, he would probably find a moment to think of her.

Just as she would think of him from time to time.

On Monday, the bullet was still flying.

From Tuesday through Friday, it flew for another four days.

Xavier had promised to let her know he was safe and say goodnight every day, but because he and Xiao Yan had parted on bad terms, he hadn't actually kept that promise.

Xiao Yan was truly afraid this bullet would fly farther and farther away.

Every day, Zayne wished Xiao Yan good morning and goodnight, and they also took photos of what they ate to share with each other.

That Wednesday, Xiao Yan finished classes early and really did go to Zayne's place.

When Zayne came home and saw Xiao Yan, his heartfelt embrace and another kiss to the top of her head no longer seemed enough to satisfy their needs.

But Zayne remained very restrained.

He cooked dinner for Xiao Yan himself, and after they ate together, he still saw her safely into the car her bodyguard had driven over.

On the one hand, with her relationship with Zayne on the right track, Xiao Yan was full of beautiful visions of their future.

On the other hand...

She didn't know whether Xavier was back from his business trip yet...

On Friday night, Xiao Yan suddenly came across a news report.

Lightseeker had appeared in Lincheng!

He had helped special police from two cities apprehend a gang of vicious robbers!

A nosy citizen on the rooftop of a building had used a powerful telephoto setup to capture footage of Lightseeker fighting!

Beneath that Lightseeker uniform Xiao Yan knew so well, there was no doubt it was Xavier himself!

He had actually fought a fierce battle against armed robbers with a longsword!

There were no Evol abilities or supernatural powers of that sort in this world. Lightseeker had relied entirely on his footwork and swordsmanship to charge in and out of the chaotic battlefield several times, and in the end...

Although all the robbers had been arrested.

A bullet had grazed Lightseeker's left arm, and his blood had stained his sleeve red!

It had actually happened on Friday afternoon. The news had probably been suppressed repeatedly, only coming to light when it could no longer be kept under wraps.

Everyone online was discussing how dashing Lightseeker had looked, how calmly he had faced danger, and how bravely he had fought.

Only Xiao Yan was so distressed that she could barely breathe.

She tapped Xavier's profile picture and sent him a message. [Did you run into danger on your business trip? How are you now? Were you hurt?]

Xavier's injury wasn't too serious. He had disinfected and bandaged it himself, then changed back into his identity as Xavier.

He was currently escorting the prisoners on the return journey.

When he received the message, his brow furrowed.