Chapter 259: I'll Pick You Up After Work

The next day, the alarm rang, and Xia Xi pushed Zi Heng, who was sleeping soundly: "Time to get up for school."

Last night this child indeed had a bit of insomnia, slept later than usual; in the past he would wake up even before the alarm rang.

Zi Heng rubbed his sleepy eyes, didn't linger in bed, and crawled out from under the covers.

"Didn't sleep well?" Xia Xi tidied his messy hair.

"Mm." Zi Heng yawned, his eyes narrowed to slits.

Xia Xi went to the bathroom first and squeezed toothpaste for the child.

Soon after, Zi Heng came over, asked her to step out, and went to the toilet.

Then mother and son stood side by side at the washbasin brushing their teeth. After Xia Xi washed her face, she wiped his face with a hot towel: "Change your clothes, wait outside for me, I still need to do my makeup."

Zi Heng changed his clothes, picked up his schoolbag, and walked out of the room.

The living room was empty, the nanny was cooking in the kitchen, and Zi Heng leaned against the sofa dozing. The door lock clicked; he sat up straight, glanced over, and a man in black sportswear entered, his forehead damp with sweat, his fair face beaded with moisture—he must have just finished exercising.

"Awake?" Xu Yanfeng changed his shoes, lifted his chin at the sitting-straight child, and asked, "Where's your mother?"

Zi Heng pretended not to hear him, lowered his head to check whether everything was packed in his schoolbag.

Xu Yanfeng was calm, went into the bathroom to wash his face.

Several minutes later, the family of three sat at the dining table to have breakfast.

Zi Heng took a bite of a bun, then, while lowering his head to drink porridge, glanced at Xu Yanfeng and Xia Xi; the next second, Xu Yanfeng placed a fried egg on Xia Xi's plate and said lightly, "To supplement protein."

Xia Xi pressed her lips together and forced out a word: "I…"

She had wanted to say, "I'll get it myself," but in front of the child she didn't want to create too much tension with Xu Yanfeng, so she restrained herself, picked up the fried egg with her chopsticks, took a bite, and, when Zi Heng wasn't looking, gave Xu Yanfeng a warning glance.

She understood he was trying to portray a kind father in front of the child, but there was no need to go that far.

Xu Yanfeng seemed not to notice her hint and also placed a fried egg on Zi Heng's plate.

Zi Heng followed his mother's pace and ate that fried egg.

The mother-son teamwork set Xu Yanfeng up for a good mood for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, Xu Yanfeng asked Xia Xi, "Should I take Zi Heng to school, or should you?"

"I will."

Xia Xi didn't have much to bring today; she slung a small bag across her shoulder, held Zi Heng's schoolbag in her left hand, and took his little hand with her right as they went out.

Xu Yanfeng followed them, already changed into formal attire with a dark red tie; his usually stern face was softened somewhat, even a bit attractive.

Inside the elevator, the two adults stood left and right, with Zi Heng in the middle.

Xu Yanfeng stared at the reflection in the elevator's polished doors, his gaze gradually unfocusing, his mind drifting; he had once imagined such a scene, now it had come true, yet it was far from his fantasy.

In his fantasy, he and Xia Xi would be deeply loving, then they'd have a child; the family of three would leave together in the morning, each attend to their own affairs during the day, and reunite at home in the evening to chat about interesting topics.

The elevator dinged, Xu Yanfeng's eyes flickered, and his thoughts returned.

Xia Xi first put the schoolbag in the car, then turned to call Zi Heng to get in.

Zi Heng climbed in and sat down; Xia Xi was about to close the car door when a hand blocked it. She looked up at the hand's owner, eyes full of wonder: What does he want?

Xu Yanfeng found a perfect excuse for his behavior: "After thinking, I'll still go with you to drop him off, and let Teacher Song get to know me better so she won't blank on me next time I pick someone up."

Xia Xi stared sternly; did he not find his own words ridiculous?

Xu Yanfeng sat beside Zi Heng: "Let's go."

Knowing his words made no sense, Xia Xi still had to go along with the explanation: "Teacher Song's memory isn't that bad."

Xu Yanfeng ignored her, leaned half his body out, grabbed her hand resting on the car door, moved it aside, and shut the door: "The kid will be late for school, stop dawdling."

Xia Xi clenched her fist.

Zi Heng looked at the man close by, couldn't fathom what he was thinking, so he turned his face away and closed his eyes to catch some more sleep.

After dropping Zi Heng off, she still had to rush to the company; Xia Xi didn't have much time to waste, she stared at the man inside through the window, and after three seconds she gave in, moving to the driver's seat.

Xu Yanfeng's lips twitched: "How about I drive?"

Xia Xi frowned and replied: "No, need."

Each word carried a hint of resentment.

Xu Yanfeng raised his eyebrows, leaning interestly against the seatback. Compared to showing no emotion, her anger was actually quite nice.

At the kindergarten entrance, parents dropping off their children came in twos and threes; when Xia Xi got out of the car, Xu Yanfeng also got out.

Teacher Song, seeing such a good-looking family for the first time, stared wide-eyed until Xia Xi led the child forward, handed Zi Heng to her, and asked, "Has Zhou Leyi arrived?"

"She's here, she's here—your sister brought her over." Teacher Song smiled, saying, "She's playing inside."

Xia Xi half-squatted, pinched her son's cheek: "Go find your sister. Remember to comfort her; I heard from your aunt that she cried terribly yesterday."

Zi Heng sighed: "She doesn't need comforting; a cup of milk tea right there would settle it."

Xia Xi smiled, stood up, and bade farewell to Teacher Song.

Xu Yanfeng stepped ahead of her, walked straight to the car, opened the driver's door and got in. Xia Xi frowned, hurried after him; since the child wasn't present, she felt no need to hold back: "Xu Yanfeng, this is my car!"

"I know, I didn't mean to hog your little clunker." Xu Yanfeng rested his hand on the steering wheel, turned his head to her, and said, "Tit for tat—you drove when you came, now it's my turn to drive."

"We're not going the same way!"

"I'll drop you off first, then head to the company."

"No need."

He tapped his wristwatch, Xu Yanfeng reminded her to watch the time: "Aren't you busy today? If you keep delaying, you'll be late for work."

After a few seconds of silence, Xia Xi angrily slumped into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut—her way of protesting.

Xu Yanfeng gave a light chuckle: "Friendly reminder, the car is yours."

Xia Xi: "……"

This person is truly shameless.

After dropping Xia Xi off at the office building, Xu Yanfeng lingered in the car, elbow resting on the window sill, and said to the person outside: "I've taken the car; I have a meeting this morning, and it's rush hour, so it's hard to get a ride."

Xia Xi had seen all sides of Xu Yanfeng—aloof, unapproachable, bewitching—but never his shameless side. She said coolly, "You took my car; am I supposed to walk home after work?"

Xu Yanfeng said matter-of-factly, "Just tell me when you get off work, and I'll pick you up."

Xia Xi still had things to do in the morning; she didn't want to argue with him here. Her flat boots struck the ground with a clear sound, which carried all the way to the office building's entrance, fading once inside.

Xu Yanfeng drew back his hand, the corners of his mouth curving, his eyes flecked with morning light, merging into the specks of glow—this is what the phrase "a face full of spring" must describe.

The first lunar month hadn't even ended, yet spring seemed to have arrived early.

Lu Mingji had arrived at the company ten minutes earlier, stepped out to buy two coffees, stood across the street, his eyes squinting from the eastern sun, and happened to see this scene.

Xia Xi and Xu Yanfeng had only been living together for a day, yet he was already driving her car to take her to work; just from his profile one could see his springtime pride—doesn't that say enough?

Xu Yanfeng is nothing but Sima Zhao's heart.

Lu Mingji unconsciously furrowed his brow, lowered his head to think for a moment—no, he couldn't persuade himself to wait any longer.

Wait any longer, and even the daylilies will grow cold.

But Xia Xi seemed to have no romantic feelings toward him; if he rashly confessed, it would be like walking a tightrope—one misstep and he'd fall—and since they'd still have to work together, awkwardness would be inevitable.

Yet keeping it bottled up left him unwilling.

In the midst of his inner turmoil, the car drove off, leaving only a trail of exhaust.