Chapter 261: My Mom Is Looking for a Stepdad for Me

Xu Yanfeng's facial expression was bland; both kids could tell he was forcing himself.

After standing still for a few seconds, Xu Yanfeng found Xia Xi's number and dialed it.

Zi Heng put on the same indifferent expression as him and asked bluntly, "What are you trying to do?"

Xu Yanfeng lowered his eyes, glanced at the annoying brat causing him trouble, and said word by word, "Call your mom."

"Don't call her." Zi Heng was actually a little intimidated by the man's authority, but for his mother's sake he bravely stepped forward a few steps, tiptoed, grabbed the man's arms with both hands, and stopped him from making the call.

"Give me a reason." Xu Yanfeng's eyes had no warmth; he was angry and couldn't play the kind father.

"My mom is looking for a stepdad for me; don't disturb her." Zi Heng said righteously, "She's struggled alone for so many years; it's time to find someone to take care of her. I think highly of Uncle Lu."

Xu Yanfeng: "?"

It felt as if someone had stabbed a knife into his windpipe, a chilling sensation.

Xu Yanfeng gritted his teeth, decided not to indulge the brat, and raised his voice: "Having me as your biological father isn't enough; what do you need a stepdad for?"

"Is there a rule that a person can't have two dads? I still have Dad Zhou." Zi Heng blinked innocently, "Dad Zhou would make a fine stepdad too."

"Any man would be fine, except your biological father, right?" Xu Yanfeng's teeth ached with anger; he bent down and pinched the brat's cheek: "You think a stepdad is great? You're not their biological child—what reason do they have to give their all for you?"

Zi Heng turned the tables to educate him: "You're narrow-minded. Whether it's Uncle Lu or Dad Zhou, both treat me and Youyou well." He looked at Youyou, "Right?"

Youyou wasn't really listening to their argument, but since her brother's words were correct, she nodded.

"I..." Xu Yanfeng pointed at himself, laughing bitterly from anger, "I... narrow-minded?"

Zi Heng nodded, looking completely serious.

Xu Yanfeng really wanted to beat him up—where did he learn such vocabulary?

He waved his hand, told the two kids to go play, and insisted on calling Xia Xi to ask what was going on.

Zi Heng stared at him intently; seeing his call go unanswered, he shook his head, sighed, and added: "I told you not to call, but you wouldn't listen—maybe Mom and Uncle Lu are having a candlelit dinner, and your call would ruin the mood."

Xu Yanfeng glared at him.

Zi Heng spread his hands: "I'm just telling the truth; you can't help not wanting to hear it."

Xu Yanfeng walked away, avoiding the brat who specialized in hitting where it hurts.

Other people's kids are like warm little padded jackets; his kid is a torn T-shirt, leaking wind everywhere.

Xu Yanfeng switched to sending Xia Xi a WeChat message: "Why won't you answer my call?"

Xia Xi didn't answer the call, but she replied to the message: "It's inconvenient."

Xu Yanfeng: "What are you busy with that's inconvenient?"

Xia Xi: "Do you have something?"

Xu Yanfeng paused for two seconds; although he couldn't see her expression at that moment, he judged from her four words that she was annoyed—"Do you have something?" here amounted to "Are you sick?"

Xu Yanfeng's anger rose, and he accused her: "Why don't you say something if you're not coming back? Do you have any manners?"

Xia Xi found him utterly baffling and flung a screenshot at him.

It was the WeChat she had previously sent him, clearly stating: "I have something tonight; go pick up the kids."

Xia Xi: "Didn't I already tell you I have something tonight? Have you forgotten?"

Xu Yanfeng stared at the screenshot for a while, refusing to admit he was in the wrong: "Don't you know your words are ambiguous? Anyone reading them would think you're unavailable to pick up the kids, and you never said you wouldn't come back for dinner—how hard is it to type a few more words?"

Xia Xi suspected he was just looking for trouble, now starting to nitpick her—fine, it's true she owes him, she won't quarrel with him, and she reported right away: "Okay, my mistake. I won't come back for dinner tonight—does that work?"

Xu Yanfeng: "?"

Xia Xi looked at his question mark, patiently replied: "Anything else?"

Xu Yanfeng: "You're not worried about the kids at all?"

Xia Xi: "Worry about what? That you'll abuse him? You won't. He's well-fed and warmly clothed, has his own favorite entertainment, is more independent than most kids his age—I'm completely at ease."

Xu Yanfeng, unable to find words to counter her, began spouting nonsense: "Aren't you worried about me and him having problems getting along?"

Xia Xi: "You two already have problems getting along; isn't this just giving you space to build feelings? When I'm around, he obviously relies on me more, which isn't good for your father-son interaction."

She twisted logic to win; the key was he still couldn't rebut.

Xia Xi pressed her advantage: "Just tell me—when I'm not here, did he communicate with you today?"

Xu Yanfeng couldn't say another word. Compared to yesterday, when he asked three questions and got no response, today the brat actually engaged him and even spoke first—but none of what he said was pleasant to hear.

Xu Yanfeng threw down his phone.

Before the call, his expression was merely indifferent; after the call, it turned icy.

Zi Heng glanced at him and knew he'd been rebuffed by his mother; he licked his lips, didn't press further, and even said soothingly: "Let's eat; Youyou's hungry."

Xu Yanfeng glanced at him; the brat somehow produced a Rubik's cube, twisting it between his small hands.

After calling the nanny, Xu Yanfeng ordered, "Serve the meal as soon as possible."

In the Western restaurant, Xia Xi finished sending her message and set her phone aside.

Suddenly, a plate of sliced steak replaced the untouched one before her; she looked up and saw Lu Mingji smiling at her in the candlelight, his gaze gentle: "Chatting with Xu Yanfeng?"

"Thank you." Xia Xi first thanked him for helping cut the steak, then answered his question: "It's not really a chat; he's just looking for trouble."

Lu Mingji's smile faded a little. He had only made a casual guess, and it really was Xu Yanfeng.

"By the way, you said you had something important to tell me—what is it?" During breaks from work, Xia Xi often recalled what he had said that morning.

In her eyes, Lu Mingji was quite suave, tolerant and measured in his dealings, emotionally stable, and very easy to get along with—which is why they could partner; it was rare to see him procrastinate or hesitate.

Lu Mingji lowered his head to cut the intact steak, casually beginning: "Do you still remember our first meeting?"

Xia Xi didn't need to think; she blurted out: "At a gathering of overseas Chinese students, I accidentally spilled wine on you." After saying that, she recalled the scene and smiled slightly.

That shirt of his was quite expensive; she offered to compensate him, but he refused, saying it wasn't her fault—someone had bumped into her, causing her to lose grip of the glass; then Lu Mingji went to find the guy who had knocked her over, demanding he pay for the shirt, or else fine him three drinks.

Xia Xi's first impression of him was that he was gentle but not rigid, generous and open-hearted.

When the two kids were still small and unable to care for themselves, she was so busy she had to snatch time to eat; her stomach troubles began then—where would she find leisure to attend a social gathering? That event passed because she needed a part-time job, and through Lu Mingji's referral she got one, thereby gaining him as a friend.

Day by day, their friendship deepened, becoming a reliable partnership.

Lu Mingji shook their head, lifted their wine cup, and took a sip.

"What do you mean?" Xia Xi said, her tone rising, with suspicion, "That wasn't our first meeting, was it? I shouldn't have misremembered."

She scratched her forehead, not thinking that hitting the back of her head last time would leave a bad memory aftereffect.

Lu Mingji leaned back in their chair, the distance between them grew a little; in the flickering candlelight, each other's faces weren't that clear, somewhat hazy, the atmosphere was just right.

It was worth his spending a whole day checking, pulling strings and paying extra, to secure the best seat at this restaurant.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling panoramic window beside them lay the city's brilliant lights; candles, flowers, and the two figures' reflections on the glass resembled a hazy painting, so beautiful.

Lu Mingji said firmly: "That wasn't our first meeting."