Drawing the Line

After lunch, Xiao Yan went upstairs to rinse her mouth, then sat back down at her vanity to touch up her makeup.

Caleb sat on the sofa, waiting patiently without a word.

With a tilt of her head, Xiao Yan could see Caleb in the mirror and make out his expression clearly.

Silent, cold without a trace of emotion-there was no telling what he was thinking.

Fortunately, Jiang Miao called, breaking the awkward silence.

"Hello, hello? Girl, have you left yet?"

Xiao Yan put her on speaker and set the phone on the vanity, carefully touching up her eyeliner in the mirror. "Almost ready. Let me fix myself up a little more."

"Could you come even earlier than early?" Jiang Miao sighed helplessly. "I want to see you sooner. Besides, my mom arranged an afternoon tea gathering for us. She told me to talk to you all more when you get here and learn from your success."

"Success?" Xiao Yan let out a dry laugh. "Ha... haha... yes, quite a success."

Talking about this in front of Caleb was truly dripping with irony.

"Hm? Why do you sound unhappy? My mom said those five men you chose are all exceptionally outstanding, even across all of City S. The fact that you can keep them in line proves you have your ways. She told me to learn more from you."

"Yes, I certainly have my ways." Xiao Yan sounded even more self-mocking.

"You really are unhappy? Who is it?" Jiang Miao's loyal streak surfaced. "Give me a name. I'll put him in his place at afternoon tea!"

"No one!" Xiao Yan really had no words. "Well, um, I have you on speaker right now."

"So what?" Jiang Miao didn't understand. "Oh~ Someone's there? You can't talk freely? But you're the wife and head of the household. What are you scared of?"

Far too many things.

Like Caleb, right here in this room.

"Oh, all right, then. I just wanted to ask whether you could make it for afternoon tea. As long as you can, that's fine. I'll hang up now. See you soon!"

After the call ended.

Xiao Yan carefully touched up her lipstick too, then looked herself over from both sides. There was nothing left to fix.

She stood up. "Let's go."

"All right." As though he hadn't heard the call, Caleb rose, came over to Xiao Yan, and bent his left arm.

After Xiao Yan took his arm.

His right hand actually moved over and rested gently on the back of hers.

They walked slowly outside, both adjusting to the other's walking pace.

Tall and long-legged, Caleb deliberately shortened his stride and slowed his pace.

Step by step, Xiao Yan fell into rhythm with him.

As soon as they left the bedroom, they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

Rafayel was complaining. "Cooking left me smelling like seafood. Even three sprays of this perfume won't cover it. What am I supposed to do?"

Xavier said mildly, "Perfume mixed with a fishy smell makes it even worse."

"Huh?" Rafayel wailed. "No, no, I'd better go change again!"

"There's no strange smell." Zayne stopped Rafayel. "Don't listen to Xavier's nonsense."

At that, Caleb suddenly turned and asked quietly, "Is there anything else you're unhappy with about the current situation?"

So he had taken Jiang Miao's words to heart after all.

Xiao Yan shook her head. "There's nothing I'm unhappy with."

"Then this is what you anticipated from the start. It's what you wanted," he asked again.

What exactly was he trying to ask?

Xiao Yan frowned slightly. "I'm sorry for dragging you into household trivialities and taking up your precious time."

Caleb walked a few steps in silence. "Isn't it the same for them?"

"No." Xiao Yan denied it decisively. "Zayne and Xavier are willing and enthusiastic. Rafayel and Sylus are a little more passive, but they aren't opposed to it. You, on the other hand, are forcing yourself far too much. I can tell."

"It is a bit of a stretch. I never imagined I'd compromise over something like this." Caleb wasn't even pretending anymore. "But since I'm already here by your side, I'll do my best to cooperate. I won't be the one who fits in least among the five."

Not fit in?

Come on, you're so out of place right now that you're making my hair stand on end!

Xiao Yan tugged at her hand, no longer wanting to hold his arm.

But his right hand pressed down more firmly on the back of hers. "I hope you'll cooperate too. Don't make me the one who fits in least."

Fine, fine, fine. Caleb, you're really something!

Xiao Yan gave a cold laugh and stopped struggling.

Caleb's greatest act of resistance was to let only Xiao Yan sense his aversion beneath the illusion that he was gradually becoming part of the family.

Then the greatest act of resistance Xiao Yan could manage was to ignore his aversion and play along!

Let's see whether, in the end, he'd turn the act into reality and lose his heart to her too!

It was like a scene from a movie.

A man and a woman, exceptionally well matched in looks and both impeccably dressed, descended the stairs gracefully.

The four men already waiting at the foot of the stairs each looked up.

Zayne gave Xiao Yan a faint, warm smile.

Xavier was smiling too, but his gaze stayed fixed on Xiao Yan's arm linked with Caleb's, an unusual emotion stirring in his eyes.

Rafayel came up to meet her. "Miss Baby, come here and smell me. Do I smell weird?"

Xiao Yan walked up to Rafayel and, with the advantage of standing one step higher, leaned forward to sniff near his forehead.

"Do I?" He was a little troubled. "Does it smell bad?"

"Not at all." Xiao Yan was telling the truth. "All I smell is a blend of peach and grapefruit. It's quite fresh."

"Really?" Rafayel raised his sleeve and sniffed it a few more times. "Now that you mention it, I think you're right."

Having to cook while wearing such a lovely formal outfit really had been hard on him.

Xiao Yan raised her left hand and ruffled Rafayel's hair. "Don't worry. I wouldn't lie to you."

"Hehe, okay~" Rafayel brightened.

With his arms folded, Sylus muttered, "I really should fight for that principal husband position after all."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for everyone to hear.

"Your turn will come." Caleb met Sylus's gaze. "Let's go."

Once they got into the car and the doors closed.

Xiao Yan felt an inexplicable pressure spreading from the driver's seat.

After they set off, she saw out of the corner of her eye that Caleb's expression had turned cold again.

After more than ten minutes of silence, Xiao Yan couldn't take it anymore and finally asked, "What exactly did you promise Zayne? He seems to genuinely believe you'll do a good job as principal husband."

Caleb kept his eyes on the road ahead, his lips moving slightly. "What haven't I done well enough?"

"Discussing buying a new house in the city, then reluctantly calling me your little sister?" Xiao Yan smiled and said sarcastically, "You've done wonderfully. I can't find a single fault."

"What else do you expect me to do?" Caleb retorted. "Should I sleep with you every night for the next month?"

A blade went in clean and came out bloody!

"Right now, you're making me feel as though you aren't satisfied with just this transaction between us." Caleb seemed to sigh with a little helplessness. "They can all give you what you want. Whether I live up to your expectations shouldn't matter."

There wasn't the slightest hint of jealousy.

Only evasion, drawing a line.

"How do you know it doesn't matter to me?" Xiao Yan turned to look out the window.

The repeated drops in temperature had left the road carpeted with fallen leaves.

The autumn wind blew, scattering them in a strangely desolate scene.

Just as she was about to abandon the conversation and lapse into silence.

A disoriented crow suddenly darted in front of the car with a caw!

As it was about to hit the windshield, Caleb raised his right hand toward the crow!