Chapter 13 A Feast for the Eyes

“Hey, Yangyang, did you miss Grandma?” Qian Xiuying was overjoyed to see her grandson. She bent down to pick him up, kissing him again and again. The child was close to his grandmother because she treated him well.

“Mom, you’re back?” Lin Qiyue was the first to greet her.

“Mm.” Qian Xiuying put the child down and looked at Lin Qiyue. “So, how was the movie today? Was it good?”

She had known since yesterday that her son was taking Lin Qiyue to a movie. She hoped the two would grow closer through it.

“It was pretty good. Little sister went too—she cried even harder than we did.” Lin Qiyue replied politely, making small talk.

Upon hearing this, Yangyang curiously chimed in, “Grandma, Yangyang wants to watch too?”

At two and a half years old, his speech was still a bit clumsy, but understandable.

Qian Xiuying affectionately patted his head and said, “No worries. When Grandma has time, she’ll take you to see one, okay?”

“Yay!” Yangyang clapped his hands happily.

What grandma wouldn’t love such an adorable and obedient grandson? He didn’t cry or throw tantrums when she came home from work—he just wanted hugs and kisses. What’s not to love?

Lin Qiyue, however, felt uneasy. What if one day they find out he’s not really their biological grandson? What then?

Once the food was ready, everyone sat down for dinner. Shen Qingmiao remained quiet, feeding her child while eating at the same time.

After dinner, Lin Qiyue went to the kitchen to clean up and wash the dishes. Qian Xiuying saw Lin Qiyue and Lan Yuchu working together but didn’t join in.

“Later, you and Yusui come jogging with me. We need to get some exercise. We’re going again tomorrow morning too.” Lan Yuchu called out.

Lin Qiyue paused for a moment—this guy is serious about treating her like a soldier.

“No. I have work tomorrow,” she refused directly.

“Tomorrow’s Sunday. It’s a day off,” Lan Yuchu countered without giving her a chance to back out.

Lin Qiyue: “…”

“I’m still not going,” she insisted. She could do a lot of things, but not jogging—that would be the death of her.

Lan Yuchu didn’t push it. After washing the dishes, he went to change into workout clothes and headed out for his run.

After dinner, everyone retreated to their rooms, and there wasn’t much conversation. Lin Qiyue decided to read for a while. At this time, inspections were very strict. Apart from daily necessities, there wasn’t much else in the house. Since the family had only recently been politically rehabilitated, being cautious was necessary.

She couldn’t read for long though. She went back to sewing, planning to make two pairs of pants and a shirt. She turned on the light and continued working.

Meanwhile, Lan Yuchu went out for his run, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the strange man from earlier in the day. He stopped someone familiar at the intersection.

“Yuchu, you’re back?” A man pushing a bicycle, dressed in a police uniform, looked surprised to see him.

He was Lan Yuchu’s high school classmate—Liu Yuanzhu—currently the captain at the local Public Security Bureau.

“Impressive! I heard you came back yesterday, but I didn’t believe it.” He parked his bike and approached with a hug, patting Lan Yuchu’s shoulder.

He looked him over. “Hmm, bulked up a bit and tanned too. But man, you look so serious.”

Lan Yuchu had never been one for small talk, and he didn’t care much about managing his expressions.

“You intercepted me mid-run?”

That wasn’t like him at all—he wasn’t the type to intercept people casually.

Lan Yuchu didn’t respond directly. He simply said, “Just running. Thought I’d check in on you too.”

“This place isn’t even on the way to the family compound. And besides, we live in the same complex—why come all the way over here?” Liu Yuanzhu asked, slightly suspicious.

He had served in the military too, before being forced to retire due to injury. Otherwise, he’d probably still be a soldier.

Lan Yuchu couldn’t just tell him outright that he had a hunch and needed surveillance—it wasn’t realistic.

“I saw something strange today.”

Liu Yuanzhu perked up, curious. “What kind of strange?”

Lan Yuchu hesitated, unsure whether to speak or not.

“Ran into trouble?” Liu Yuanzhu asked when he noticed the hesitation.

Lan Yuchu finally said, “If you have time in the next few days, can you help me keep an eye on someone?”

Liu Yuanzhu: “…”

He was speechless. Putting a hand on Lan Yuchu’s shoulder, he said, “Did you take the wrong meds, or are you just not used to being back from the special unit yet?”

“I just ran into a guy today. He had a young woman with him, and she looked absolutely terrified of him. She didn’t look like his wife, but he was bold enough to bring her out in public. I trust my instincts—it didn’t feel right.”

Lan Yuchu had already suspected that Liu Zhaodi’s claim that Lin Qiyue was secretly meeting men had originated from that very man’s voice. Liu Zhaodi was close with Shen Qingmiao, so she must’ve passed the story along.

Back when he married Lin Qiyue, it had only happened because someone drugged him and he ended up in the wrong room. In his dazed state, he remembered feeling like someone had led him into that room.

He had drunk the water, felt dizzy and weak, and didn’t even remember whether he walked in or was carried.

Neither he nor Lin Qiyue knew exactly what had happened.

On the day of the wedding, Duan Yueman came to him and said the water had been drugged—but she didn’t know by whom.

At first, he suspected Lin Qiyue, but after calming down, he realized she had no reason to do such a thing. She’d been living in their home; if she pulled something like that and failed, she’d be ruined. Besides, she was far too timid to try something so bold.

“You can’t just follow someone based on a gut feeling,” Liu Yuanzhu said. “And what’s with all the secrecy? Did something happen to you emotionally after getting married and realizing you didn’t marry the one you liked?”

Lan Yuchu rolled his eyes at him.
“Aren’t you off tomorrow? Just come see for yourself.”

Seeing that Lan Yuchu wouldn’t give up, Liu Yuanzhu had no choice but to go along. Die to accompany a gentleman, as the saying goes.

After chatting for a while, the two of them returned to the family compound.

Qian Xiuying was chatting with her grandson. Lan Yuchu greeted her, then went back to his room.

Just then, Lin Qiyue came out of the bathroom and ran right into him.

She was wearing a silk nightgown, her fair shoulders exposed. Lan Yuchu blushed and quickly lowered his head to explain, “I didn’t know you weren’t wearing clothes…”

“Not wearing clothes?” Lin Qiyue looked confused. She glanced down at her nightgown and asked, “This is clothing—it’s sleepwear. Why do you say I’m not dressed? You’ve walked around shirtless in front of me before—why can’t I dress like this?”

As soon as she said it, she realized it might have been inappropriate and quickly tried to fix it.
“We’re husband and wife. Isn’t this normal?”

She remembered how uncomfortable she’d felt sleeping in this nightgown last night—no matter how she tossed and turned, she couldn’t sleep unless she hugged a blanket tightly.

“Oh~” Lan Yuchu, though shy, admitted to himself that she did have a point.

As he picked up his clothes to head to the bathroom for a shower—

“Wait, try on the clothes I made today first. See if they fit?” Lin Qiyue picked up the clothes from the sofa and handed them to Lan Yuchu.

He took them, and with her back turned, he changed into the clothes she had made.

“All done?” she asked, turning around. She immediately walked up to him and adjusted the collar for him.

“How is it?” she asked expectantly. “Any discomfort? I can alter it if needed.”

Lan Yuchu moved his shoulders and legs. The clothes were of a loose, relaxed style, and the fabric felt really good to wear.

“No problem. They’re comfortable. Thank you,” he said with genuine warmth. “Aside from my mom, you’re the first person to ever make clothes for me.”

Lin Qiyue was delighted that her work was appreciated. “If you like them, I’ll pick out some nicer fabric next time and make you a few more sets.”

“Alright.” This time, Lan Yuchu didn’t refuse and agreed easily.

Unknowingly, the two of them had started to change in how they treated each other.

Every time their eyes met, it felt like they wanted to run away, but neither minded spending time together either.

Maybe… they just hadn’t figured out the right way to get along yet.

“I’m going to shower,” Lan Yuchu said, rubbing the back of his head.

Lin Qiyue nodded.

After he entered the bathroom, Lin Qiyue covered her flushed cheeks and scolded herself internally:
“What are you doing? Why did you say those things just now? That was seriously flirty!”

She didn’t even feel like herself anymore.

Lying on the bed, she regretted her behavior.

But then… the thought of soon seeing that man’s perfect V-line and abs made her a little giddy.

Getting an eyeful every day isn’t so bad, she thought.
At least I get to see it—for free!

She stared at the ceiling in a daze.

Soon, Lan Yuchu came out.

He saw her lying on the bed, unmoving and uncovered by a blanket. A strange thought crossed his mind:
Is she… waiting for me?

But he quickly dismissed the idea, thinking it was way too indecent.

Wiping the sweat off his body, he walked to the other side of the bed and prepared to lie down.