Chapter 303: It's time to think about getting the certificate

In the middle of the night, Xia Xi was thirsty, she struggled for a while, wanting to get up to pour water to drink.

As she moved slightly, Xu Yanfeng woke up, eyes still closed, he instinctively embraced her, his palm full of her delicate, smooth skin, his voice hoarse as he said, "What are you doing?"

"I want water." Xia Xi's voice was about the same as his.

"Wait."

Xu Yanfeng murmured two words, threw off the blanket, got out of bed, poured a cup of warm water and handed it to her.

Xia Xi drank half a cup, her drowsiness vanished, her mind was wide awake, but her body felt exhausted; she glanced at the culprit and shoved the cup at him.

His gaze swept over the densely packed kiss marks layered on Xia Xi's neck and collarbone; he felt a little guilty, his eyes flickered, he took the cup from her hand and set it on the table.

Unable to sleep, Xia Xi simply put on her clothes, got out of bed, and began sorting through the things she had bought at the mall that afternoon.

Xu Yanfeng was about to get into bed when he saw her crouching there, pulling items out of the shopping bag; he froze for a moment and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just tidying up." Xia Xi found one of the long, rectangular packages, realized what was inside, picked it up and tossed it to Xu Yanfeng, saying, "It's a gift I bought for you."

"Mine?"

"Yeah, I bought something for everyone in the family." Xia Xi counted on her fingers: "I got my mother a coat, my sister and I each a few sets of cosmetics, the two kids toys and clothes. Oh, and for Aunt Zhang, I picked out a silk scarf—I don't know if she'll like it."

Xu Yanfeng opened the package; a high-quality tie lay inside, appearing solid-colored, but when tilted slightly, a subtle pattern could be seen on it.

He closed the box, placed it on the nightstand, slipped on his slippers and walked over to Xia Xi: "Didn't you buy anything for yourself?"

Xia Xi tilted her head, pointing at her neck: "I bought a necklace; I'm already wearing it, too lazy to have the clerk wrap it."

Just moments ago, when he kissed her neck on the bed, Xu Yanfeng complained that her snake-bone chain was in the way and almost yanked it off; he gave a soft laugh, bent down, and lifted her into his arms.

Her body suddenly lifted, Xia Xi let out a soft sigh: "Hey, I haven't finished tidying up yet."

"What time is it now? It's not like we're leaving for home tomorrow." Xu Yanfeng said, "You yourself said tomorrow's work is important—don't you want to sleep a bit longer?"

"I said I can't sleep."

"You can't sleep?"

Xu Yanfeng drew out his tone, laid her back on the bed but didn't get up, hovering over her, his eyes lowered as he gazed into hers for a few seconds, then he suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips to her eyelids.

Xia Xi had to close her eyes, wait for his lips to leave, then opened them, her voice soft: "Warning you not to mess around again."

Xu Yanfeng curled one corner of his mouth, smiling ambiguously: "How do I hear your warning as anything but an invitation?"

Xia Xi pinched his face, switching to a fierce tone: "Show some shame!"

Xu Yanfeng had no intention of tormenting her further—though he wanted to, he also had to consider her—he rolled onto his side beside her, pulled the blanket over both of them: "No more teasing, go to sleep."

Xia Xi closed her eyes; outside, the rain seemed to have stopped completely, all was silent, and soon she fell asleep.

Xu Yanfeng was the one truly unable to sleep. A wall lamp glowed in the room, its light not too strong but enough to make out her face; his gaze rested on her face, never shifting.

She slept deeply, her breathing even and shallow; Xu Yanfeng's fingertip brushed over her full, crimson lips, then he slowly lowered his head and lightly imprinted a kiss on her lips.

When the alarm rang, Xia Xi felt her head about to explode, she scrambled to dress, wash, and apply makeup.

She didn't have time for breakfast, she hurriedly rushed to her workplace.

Xu Yanfeng called a car to send her, and he accompanied her there; breakfast was taken care of in the car.

Xia Xi had originally resented him for last night's deliberate seduction and excessive indulgence, but then she thought: he couldn't have done it alone; it wasn't that her willpower was lacking, she couldn't resist the temptation—especially since he was so thoughtful, having prepared breakfast for her, she couldn't hold a grudge.

Xia Xi was nibbling a cheese‑ham sandwich, feeling a bit choked, she was about to pick up the milk to take a sip when a hand shot over, holding the milk carton to her lips.

Xia Xi stared blankly at him; Xu Yanfeng laughed: "What are you looking at? Drink up."

He had already inserted the straw; Xia Xi lowered her eyes, took the straw from his hand into her mouth, drank two sips—the milk was actually warm.

Xu Yanfeng: "How am I doing as your assistant?"

Xia Xi: "What?"

"Meaning I'm acting as your assistant." Xu Yanfeng said this with a straight face, not joking at all.

Xia Xi still thought he was joking: "When do you plan to go back home?"

Xu Yanfeng repeated her words verbatim: "When do you plan to go back home?"

Xia Xi let out a soft "tsk," as if exasperated by his parrot‑like behavior: "I already told you, I still need three or four days to finish up. I haven't booked a ticket yet."

Xu Yanfeng said: "I'll go back with you."

Xia Xi was startled, moving the sandwich away from her lips a little: "Is your work okay?"

Earlier, when she was hospitalized from illness, he had stayed with her for several days, but that was domestically—signing documents and such was easier, Guan He would organize them and send them over. Now he's abroad; if an urgent document needed his signature, there would be nothing to do.

Xu Yanfeng didn't care: "I've already made arrangements in advance."

He is a principled, planning sort of person, so Xia Xi stopped urging him.

Xu Yanfeng kept his word; over the next few days he truly served as her personal assistant, accompanying her to the work site, then after finishing they returned together to the hotel to eat, stroll, and sleep.

Once the work here was completely wrapped up, the two would return home together.

The flight landed after eight in the evening; they got into the car that had come to pick them up, and Xia Xi placed a video call to Su Jinru—Zi Heng was still with her, but since it was rather late, Xia Xi didn't plan to go over to fetch him.

After chatting a few words, they hung up, and Xia Xi leaned back in the seat and dozed off.

By the time they reached home, Xia Xi was already asleep; Xu Yanfeng hadn't meant to wake her, just about to lift her when she woke herself, rubbing her tired eyes with the heels of her palms, her voice hoarse: "Are we there?"

Xu Yanfeng hummed in affirmation.

Xia Xi looked out the car window; the vehicle was parked in the underground garage. She patted her face and got out of the car.

Xu Yanfeng went around to the back, took out their luggage from the trunk; Xia Xi offered to help carry one, but he declined, lifted his chin, and assigned her a task: "Press the elevator button."

Xia Xi ran forward with empty hands and pressed the elevator button.

After arriving home, Xu Yanfeng pushed the two suitcases into the corner, wrapped both arms around Xia Xi, lowered his head, turned his face, and kissed her.

Xia Xi was caught off guard—she didn't even have time to close her eyes—then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow move over and freeze there; her scalp tensed, and she slapped Xu Yanfeng's arm hard.

Xu Yanfeng gasped and turned his head aside.

Aunt Zhang stood there embarrassed, still holding a half‑peeled lotus root, her mouth opening and closing without knowing what to say. She had heard the commotion from the kitchen, hurried out to greet them, never expecting to walk in on this scene.

Xia Xi's face flushed red; she tossed off, "I'm going to tidy up," and dragged her suitcase into the bedroom as if fleeing.

Xu Yanfeng closed his eyes, he forgot about Zhangyi living at home, coughed once to cover his embarrassment, and lightly asked: "Is the meal ready?"

"Um, right away, I'll quickly stir-fry some lotus root slices." Zhangyi turned and went to the kitchen.

Xia Xi was a bit tired, having unpacked less than half of her suitcase, she didn't feel like moving, she leisurely dragged her steps out of the bedroom, and saw Xu Yanfeng tearing up the countdown calendar she had previously stuck up.

Xia Xi walked over, stood beside him, and spoke up to stop him: "Don't tear it."

Xu Yanfeng's motion paused for a moment, he turned his head to look at her, his eyes as black as ink stared straight at her: "Are you still wanting to continue observing this contract?"

"How come, not allowed?" Xia Xi said seriously with her hands behind her back, "When the time comes, I still have to move back home; it's not appropriate to keep staying at your place."

Xu Yanfeng felt chest tight and short of breath from her words, remained silent for a good while, then said: "Xia Xi, we even have a child; shouldn't we consider getting the certificate next?"

Speaking of getting the certificate, Xia Xi showed hesitation: "Let's wait a bit longer, I feel a bit..."

Before she finished speaking, Xia Xi's phone rang, she took it out and glanced at it—it was an unexpected person making a voice call to her.