Chapter 204: A Small Fire Lit in the Backyard

"Oh, is that so."

"Actually… I was kidding you!"

Lin Qingxia paused briefly, then showed a sunny smile and said, "Sorry~ I won't do that again next time."

"Heh, if you dare trick me again,"

Xu Yuexin deliberately glared at Lin Qingxia and said, "I will…"

"What will I…?"

"I'll make you look good."

After speaking, Xu Yuexin performed an unexpected Princess Hug, lifting Lin Qingxia into his arms.

"Ah, it's daytime now!"

Lin Qingxia laughed, patting his shoulder, looking radiant.

Amid Lin Qingxia's giggles and protests, Xu Yuexin carried her upstairs, locked the back door of the room, and tossed her onto the bed…

……

Around noon, Lin Qingxia lay weakly face‑down on the bed, her hair slightly disheveled, a lingering flush and fine sweat on her face, looking utterly pitiful.

Her delicate body, half‑covered by a towel, rose and fell with each breath, making her pert hips even more eye‑catching.

"Tired?"

Xu Yuexin lay beside Lin Qingxia, gently stroked Lin Qingxia's pert hips and asked.

Lin Qingxia's gaze drifted as she nodded, clearly too weak to speak.

"Let's have lunch and replenish."

"Hmm, I'll eat at home; I don't have the strength to go out."

Lin Qingxia said weakly, then glared at Xu Yuexin reproachfully, "You are really too naughty."

"Thanks, I'll try to be even naughtier next time."

Xu Yuexin gave a wicked grin and said, "Get up."

"Even naughtier?"

"How much naughtier could it be?"

Lin Qingxia panicked, her face flushing again.

Lin Qingxia didn't know how Xu Yuexin could devise so many tricks…

After experiencing Xu Yuexin's tender affection, Lin Qingxia's stamina was heavily drained; she was very weak, and her lunch portion was considerably larger than usual.

Only when the meal was almost finished did her body begin to recover a little.

Xu Yuexin kept serving dishes to Lin Qingxia, and after she recovered asked about the Entertainment Company's operations.

"The company's operations are back on track; a few days ago a talent scout also spotted a girl."

"The girl is named Zhang Manyu, very beautiful and graceful."

"She still has some matters to handle; once they're settled she'll come discuss signing with us."

"Alright, thank you both; we must make sure to sign her."

Xu Yuexin responded after hearing that.

Zhang Manyu, she's going to be the future Xiangjiang film industry's goddess.

No doubt, we have to sign her!

After he finished, Lin Qingxia took out a photo and placed it on the table before Xu Yuexin.

"This is her picture; how much do you think is appropriate to sign her for?"

In the photo, Zhang Manyu's face was youthful and soft, her brows and eyes gentle and refined, already showing the charm that would later sway Xiangjiang.

"A guaranteed annual salary of 200,000, and we can be flexible on the profit share."

Xu Yuexin thought for a moment and replied.

"That much?"

Lin Qingxia was a bit surprised by Xu Yuexin's generosity.

In this era, newcomers in Xiangjiang's acting world are paid very little; fresh actors' wages are even lower than ordinary office workers.

A salary of 200,000 could sign ten newcomers.

"Don't think it's strange; she deserves this price."

Seeing Lin Qingxia hesitate, Xu Yuexin said, "If 200,000 is still too little for her, we can add more."

"Add more? How much?" Lin Qingxia still didn't understand why Xu Yuexin was willing to offer such a high price.

Nevertheless, she trusted Xu Yuexin's judgment.

"Hmm, next time I'll go talk to her myself."

Lin Qingxia agreed, "We'll definitely sign her."

……

After staying at Lin Qingxia's house for two days, Xu Yuexin bought a ticket back to Jing.

Before leaving, he sent a Telegram to his home, letting his daughter‑in‑law and Da Yizi know he was returning.

He headed to the airport, checked in and boarded.

With a blink of his eyes, Xu Yuexin was back at the familiar Capital International Airport.

Upon exiting the terminal, Xu Yuexin looked around and found that his daughter‑in‑law and Da Yizi hadn't come to pick him up.

"Strange, what are they doing?"

Xu Yuexin muttered, went to the Dispatch Point, called a taxi, and rushed back to Guogongfu at top speed.

After entering the house, Xu Yuexin hurried to the Guogong Mansion Main Hall bedroom and saw a Letter on the desk.

Dear, when you see this Letter, I am already interning at Zhongjian.

The company is opening a Tianjin Branch, and has temporarily called me and a few other comrades to join the preparatory work.

When the preparatory work is finished, I can come back and see you.

If you miss me, come to Tianjin to see me; I miss you a lot.

The company address is…

Of course, if I have free time during this period, I will definitely come back to see you.

Also, at home we bought the peach‑flower pastries you like, and the sunflower seeds are the salted‑roasted flavor you like, placed in the second compartment on the left side of the cabinet…

Summer nights are a bit cool; if you feel cold under the towel and blanket, go to the middle wardrobe and take out the thin quilt to cover yourself…

……

Seeing Chen Qiaoqiao's words full of warmth and longing, Xu Yuexin slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, feeling rather moved inside.

The daughter‑in‑law is really damn caring about me.

If this doesn't move you, then what are you? Having such a daughter‑in‑law is truly a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes.

Xu Yuexin read on slowly, and saw that the daughter‑in‑law, at the end of the Letter, again reminded him to take good care of Da Yizi.

"My sister has been alone for years; if you have time you can keep her company and talk, so she won't be lonely."

"She, like you, is one of the most important people in my heart; please take good care of her."

……

Around the sister, the daughter‑in‑law gave many more instructions. It shows that the daughter‑in‑law truly places her in the most important spot in her heart, treating her as the dearest loved one.

Sigh… what a pair of deeply emotional good sisters.

After finishing the Letter, Xu Yuexin put down the paper and sighed.

Combined with the daughter‑in‑law's unwavering affection for him, Xu Yuexin momentarily felt that his having taken Da Yizi under his wing was somewhat heartless.

But… being heartless is just right.

Anyway, his conscience wasn't much to begin with.

Xu Yuexin thought to himself, and set out to go to Tuanjie Lake to see Da Yizi.

To be honest, considering Da Yizi's near‑depression before, Xu Yuexin was somewhat worried.

Based on the date on the Letter, the daughter‑in‑law has been away from Jing for a while, and the family has stayed in Xiangjiang for a long time.

Da Yizi, alone and lacking companionship, with such heavy worries, might inevitably cause some trouble.

And after she received the Telegram today and didn't come to pick me up, it could be a bad omen.

Xu Yuexin, worried, revved the motorcycle to its maximum speed.

After arriving at the residential complex where Da Yizi lives, Xu Yuexin parked the bike, hurriedly went up to the third floor, and knocked on Da Yizi's door.

"Dong dong."

Xu Yuexin knocked on the door and asked, "Is anyone home?"

"Coming."

From inside came Chen Yixue's voice, though at first it was hard to tell her condition.

Soon, the door opened, and Xu Yuexin saw Chen Yixue.

Chen Yixue's expression was very calm, as always dignified and beautiful, no different from usual.

"Back?"

Seeing Xu Yuexin enter, Chen Yixue asked lightly.

"You received the Telegram, right?"

"Mm."

"Then why didn't you come to pick me up?"

Xu Yuexin, with a slight reproach, asked, "Do you have an issue with me?"

"No… I've just been lazy lately."

Chen Yixue shook her head and said, "Besides going out to eat, I only occasionally play the piano, and I don't want to do anything else."

Xu Yuexin nodded, "Probably it's because I'm bored alone."

"Sigh, maybe."

Da Yizi let out a slightly heavy sigh, saying, "I don't know why, but lately I feel exhausted by anything I do."

"So I'm getting more and more reluctant to go out."

Losing interest in everything, getting tired easily…

Xu Yuexin summarized Da Yizi's condition, and his eyelid twitched.

However, he said nothing about it.

"Play a song, then."

Xu Yuexin sat on the sofa and said, "I want to hear a song now."

"Which one?"

Da Yizi came to the piano, sat down, and said.

"Blue Danube."

Xu Yuexin replied without hesitation.

"Da…"

Soon after his words, piano music came from ahead.

Xu Yuexin, enjoying the wonderful music, looked at Da Yizi sitting on the bench ahead.

Today Da Yizi wore a white chiffon dress, with a classic hairpin coiled at the back of her head, and white‑jade earrings, appearing dignified, pure, and exceedingly beautiful.

The snug waistline perfectly outlines her slender, willow‑like waist and her graceful, rounded hips.

Below, the hem reveals straight, elegant, fair and tender calves.

Xu Yuexin gazes at Da Yizi's perfect silhouette, while listening to the light, joyful song, and feels indescribably wonderful.

As Da Yizi's delicate jade‑like fingers rise and fall, the song gradually reaches its climax.

But at that moment, the music abruptly stops.

"I don't want to play any more."

Da Yizi gets up from the chair, sits back on the sofa and says, "I don't know why, I feel weak."

"You're perfectly fine but lacking energy; should we go to the hospital for a check‑up?"

Xu Yuexin said with concern.

"No need, maybe a rest will do."

Da Yizi shakes her head weakly and says.

"Could it be repression? That seems unlikely."

"The last song is over, you earned so much, what's there to be unhappy about?"

"Maybe it's just that I'm unhappy."

Da Yizi slightly furrows her brows and says, "Lately, it's been terribly lonely."

"I know, Qiao Qiao went to an internship half a month ago, and I'm not here, right?"

"Yes."

Da Yizi takes a deep breath and slowly says, "I have to work hard to adapt."

"You and Qiao Qiao have your own lives and futures; I can't... keep you both tied to me."

She seems a bit depressed.

I need to spend more time with her.

Seeing Chen Yixue's condition, Xu Yuexin can't help feeling heartache.

When he first met Chen Yixue, she wasn't like this now.

In the end, Chen Yixue becoming like this, he bears some responsibility.

"The only person she was close to back then was Chen Qiaoqiao, yet after I married Chen Qiaoqiao, I found ways to become involved with her."

This caused Chen Yixue prolonged guilt and sorrow.

"And now, when Chen Yixue started to hold me in her heart, I again disappeared for a long time, not staying by her side."

That is, to some extent, hard to justify.

Xu Yuexin silently sighs for Chen Yixue.

"Don't say that, I should have come back to be with you."

Xu Yuexin lightly pats Da Yizi's beautiful back and says, "How about this: I won't travel out of town for the next six months, and will stay focused on keeping you company."

(End of chapter)