Plans to Buy a Home

Once the meal began, Xiao Yan led the way in praising Rafayel's cooking to the skies.

The men all obliged by offering compliments of their own.

Even Caleb wore a pleasant expression for once, saying with a faint smile, "It tastes wonderful. Thanks for your hard work, Rafayel."

The praise made Rafayel smug. "Of course. I have very high standards for seafood. Luckily, the ingredients here are plentiful and fresh."

At that, he even remembered to turn and praise Uncle Sang, who stood behind them awaiting instructions. "You put some thought into this."

Uncle Sang hurriedly bowed. "It's all part of my duties."

"Mm." Satisfied and generous, Rafayel said, "Go let everyone working in the house know they'll each receive an extra month's salary as a bonus."

Uncle Sang's eyes lit up. "Oh my, then thank you, young miss, Mr. Rafayel, and all you gentlemen!"

The servants waiting by the wall to attend to their employers could barely contain their delight, each stealing glances at Rafayel.

How wonderful to have such a generous new master in the house!

Amid the cheer, Caleb spoke up. "Charge the bonuses to my account."

"Huh?" Rafayel frowned. "Why? Are you looking down on me?"

"He's the principal husband on duty," Sylus reminded him. "He has the final say."

Only then did Rafayel remember. "Oh," he said. "So is this the first rule in the household management handbook? Whoever is principal husband pays the household's extra expenses?"

"If you object, you can say so," Caleb said.

Rafayel thought it over, then raised an eyebrow. "No objections. I'm just confirming what authority I'll have when it's my turn to be principal husband."

"You're last in the rotation, with four people ahead of you to test the waters. You shouldn't run into any pitfalls, so don't worry." Zayne then looked at Xiao Yan. "If you think anything we say is inappropriate, you can veto it immediately. No need to stand on ceremony with us."

Xiao Yan had just received a large piece of mantis shrimp meat from Xavier.

Xavier had shelled it.

She took a bite and grinned at Zayne. "Mm-hmm!"

In truth, Xiao Yan had no intention of interfering with whatever they discussed.

It was all for the good of the household, and it was also a process of the five of them working things out and adjusting to one another on their own. She could just let them hash it out themselves.

Their earlier topic came up again.

Zayne and Caleb had analyzed where each of the five men lived.

Aside from Xavier, who lived in the dormitory the SWAT team provided downtown, which was not outrageously far from Xiao Yan's villa.

The other four men all lived very far away.

Rafayel, in particular, actually lived on an island out in the bay...

So naturally, it occurred to them that perhaps they should consider how convenient it was for everyone to come home, choose a central location that was a reasonable compromise for all five, and buy another house.

"As far as I know, there aren't any manor villas for sale downtown. Even a detached house over a thousand square meters would probably be difficult to find on the market right now." Xavier pointed out the difficulty.

"So well informed?" Sylus asked curiously. "Do you police officers spend your spare time keeping tabs on downtown real estate?"

"I needed that information for a case a while ago, so I looked through it while I was at it." Xavier carefully picked out another small bowl of crabmeat and placed it in front of Xiao Yan.

"Getting a house won't be difficult." Sylus looked entirely confident. "Some of those homeowners are bound to be up to their necks in debt. I can pick a few and talk to them. Before that, tell me what sort of house you want and what price range you have in mind."

Zayne had been the first to suggest a multistory detached home of around a thousand square meters, and he had researched housing prices too. "In a central location, on a plot of around a thousand square meters, with some distance from other buildings and reasonably pleasant surroundings, the total price should exceed a hundred million."

A hundred million?

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and was just about to say they could choose something a little more expensive.

She had plenty of money, after all.

But before she could speak, Caleb spoke first. "Then the five of us will each put up twenty million to start with and transfer it to Sylus's account. We'll leave choosing the house to him."

Oh, so the five of them were buying the new house together? In that case, they did have to consider the budget.

"Wait." Xiao Yan kept thinking Xavier might not be able to come up with that much at once. "There's no need for you to pay for this, right?"

"Wrong." Caleb turned his purple-to-orange gradient eyes toward hers.

Xiao Yan tensed, and the image of Caleb's cold, businesslike manner during their intimate encounter flashed through her mind again.

"We're buying a house downtown to accommodate all five of us being able to get home conveniently," Caleb said. "In that case, of course we should share the cost."

With Caleb, Xiao Yan always felt at a loss for words.

She lowered her lashes and silently ate a bite of crabmeat. "Then do as you see fit."

Caleb paused, his tone softening a little. "If you insist on vetoing this proposal, we can discuss other options."

Xiao Yan shook her head. "Never mind. You're the principal husband. You decide."

Caleb: "..."

Zayne secretly shot Caleb a scathing look-That's what you get for messing around. You deserve Little Jasmine refusing to communicate with you.

Rafayel: "What's wrong with Miss Baby? Caleb, what did you do to upset Miss Baby?"

Sylus: "Miss Baby?"

Xavier had been watching for some time and had already noticed that whenever Xiao Yan interacted with Caleb, she fell silent and lost all her brightness and energy.

He could not help wondering just what Caleb had done to his partner.

"Interesting." Sylus took a small sip of white wine. "Partner and Star, Little Jasmine and Sweet Pear, Miss Baby and Little Fish, Little Tabby and Little Dragon. It seems everyone's relationship with our wife is progressing nicely. So, what's Caleb's special nickname?"

"Little Dragon? Sweet Pear?" Rafayel looked deeply conflicted at those names. "Wow, you really are..."

"What is it?" Zayne looked at Rafayel. "Is there a problem?"

Rafayel first gave Zayne an indescribable look. "What's sweet about you?"

Then he looked at Sylus. "What's little about you?"

Sylus closed his eyes helplessly. "Could you use your brain before asking questions?"

Rafayel started bickering with Sylus.

Their back-and-forth was lively indeed.

However, aside from Xiao Yan, who did not know how to face Caleb, the most conflicted person present...

Was Caleb himself.

He had no special nickname.

He did not know what more affectionate name to call Xiao Yan.

And she seemed unwilling to call him "big brother" again, as she once had.

"When we leave later, shall we each take our own cars, with Little Jasmine riding with Caleb?" Zayne wanted to push the conversation a little further.

Xiao Yan was just about to refuse. She wanted to ride with Zayne.

She could chat with him on the way, too.

"All right." Caleb agreed outright instead. "I'll go upstairs with Yanyan in a bit while she touches up her makeup, and then she'll leave with me. The rest of you can head out separately."

"Xavier, come with me," Zayne offered.

Xavier had been wondering whether he should buy a car too.

Hearing Zayne's friendly invitation, he nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Zayne."

"You're welcome." Zayne smiled.

Oh dear...

Xiao Yan's heart pounded wildly because Caleb had called her by her childhood nickname.

Just thinking about being alone with this big brother in a little while, shut inside the cramped, enclosed space of a car...

She was already at a complete loss.

Caleb even picked up a piece of lobster, scooped out the firm, springy meat with a spoon, and reached over to place it in her bowl.

Startled, Xiao Yan instinctively glanced at Caleb.

Who knew whether Zayne had given this man a talking-to or what.

Their gazes met again, and he curved his lips into what could only be called a gentle smile. "Go on, eat."

Oh, someone save me!

Xiao Yan cast Zayne a pleading look.

Zayne received it and returned a gentle, reassuring gaze.

It was as though he were telling her: Don't be afraid. He won't dare bully you again.

During the rest of the meal.

The five men unanimously approved the proposal to buy a house downtown.

Rafayel stared at Xavier beside him. "Can you come up with twenty million? Need my help?"

Xavier was speechless. "No need to trouble yourself."

He had more than one bank card.

The income he had shown when submitting his assets to Xiao Yan earlier was only what was under Xavier's name.

The bulk of his actual assets was in another account, all earned under his identity as Lightseeker.

The amount was no less than anyone else's at the table.

"All right, then. You handle buying the house, and I'll handle the renovations. Nobody fight me over it, or I'll..." Xiao Yan clenched her little fists. "Get mad!"

Xavier had been expressionless, but he suddenly smiled. "How scary."

"Renovating a luxury home is the biggest expense, Little Tabby. You'll be bleeding money," Sylus said.

Rafayel thought it over and over, but still had to say it. "Um, can we not do that ostentatious European style again? How about something modern, simple, and refined?"

"How about a high-tech look?" Even Caleb had an idea.

Zayne: "...A high-tech look means it won't look like somewhere people live. I disagree."

"I'll come up with ideas, and Little Fish will refine them and draw up renderings. Then we can discuss his designs." Xiao Yan decided to wrap up the topic. "So Sylus, Rafayel, you two need to come home often for a while. If you find a house you like or have any ideas about the renovations, make sure you discuss them with me promptly."

Xavier looked at Xiao Yan expectantly.

"Star and Sweet Pear need to come home often too, to stay up to date with us." Xiao Yan clapped her hands. "All right, all right. Nothing happens overnight. We'll take it one step at a time, slowly and steadily. No rushing. Be patient!"

Sylus was amused. "That really sounded like a speech from a leader."

Zayne: "Well said. I completely agree."

Xavier: "Okay. I'll follow my partner's arrangements."

Rafayel: "Mm, I'll listen to Miss Baby too."

Caleb: "...I'll listen to my little sister."

Hearing him call her his little sister gave Xiao Yan a tremendous jolt!