The result of his consideration was that the next day, Yu Nian found his older brother and sister and expressed that he wouldn’t be coming back home for the time being.

When Pei Zhao and Yu Xinli heard this, they immediately furrowed their brows.

Pei Zhao looked at Yu Nian with concern, asking, “Is it because your sister and I were too strict before? Are you afraid that coming back will lead to arguments, or do you blame us for being too busy and not having time to accompany you…”

Before he could finish, Yu Nian immediately made a stopping gesture.

“No, it’s not like that.”

Yu Nian couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

To be honest, although his brother and sister were busy with work and neglected him, they weren’t overly authoritarian guardians. He didn’t want to see his brother and sister feeling indebted to him.

He had already received a lot from them.

Of course, he also hoped that they could spend more time with him. In this world, they were the two closest people to him, inseparable since birth.

But one can’t have everything.

He knew this very well.

He would throw tantrums sometimes, rebel during adolescence, wanting to attract attention and care from them.

But he never truly felt angry with his brother and sister.

He approached Pei Zhao, hugging his waist, rubbing against his brother’s shoulder.

“No, it’s just that I really want to stay outside for a while longer. I find the days of living independently outside quite interesting.”

“I certainly know that it’s not as comfortable outside as it is at home, and nobody will cater to my every whim. You guys even worry that I find it difficult working at the restaurant, fearing I might be bullied or harassed by customers.”

“But in the past two months, it’s been the happiest time for me in recent years,” Yu Nian said, pausing for a moment here. Originally, he just wanted to convince his brother and sister, but in the end, he felt a bit bitter himself. He continued, “I’m not blaming you guys, but you know how my days were like at school before, I wasn’t very happy and didn’t have good friends like I did at my old school. When I returned home, most of the time, I was alone.”

“But when I work outside, I really feel happy. Everyone at that restaurant takes good care of me, it is lively every day. It’s true that nobody peels crabs for me, but someone specially makes coffee for me, accompanies me home at night, invites me to play games, share their hometown specialties with me, and invites me to go to the anime festival in autumn, go picking persimmons with them…”

There were so many things, Yu Nian felt a bit dazed just recounting them.

Time passed so quickly, two months had flown by, and he didn’t even realize that he had spent so many days in that small restaurant.

Initially, his selfish motive was indeed because of Qi Wang, but after saying all this, he realized that besides Qi Wang and the budding feelings, there were many other things that made him reluctant to leave this life outside.

Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao listened quietly.

When Pei Zhao heard about the lively atmosphere at the restaurant every day, the corner of his eyebrows twitched, a hint of guilt showing in his eyes.

These were all small details, someone to accompany, someone to fool around with.

But they were all things Yu Nian couldn’t get at home originally.

Pei Zhao’s face showed a guilty expression, and his eyes towards Yu Nian revealed reluctance and self-blame. He wanted to say something, but he saw Yu Nian shaking his head at him.

“I really don’t dislike being at home,” Yu Nian said frankly, “On the contrary, I love you guys, I will always love you.”

“I just also feel a bit reluctant to leave my current life, my current friends. These two months outside have really given me quite a different experience. I find it interesting, maybe twenty or thirty years later, I will still remember this period of time. I know I will eventually get back on track. I promise you, I will do my best to apply to the university I want to go to.”

“But before that, can I also apply for some time with you guys? Let’s call it a gap year. I won’t even need a year. I’ll just stay outside for another three or four months, then I’ll come back and continue my studies and life properly. Is that okay?”

Is that okay?

Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao exchanged a glance.

Both of their gazes revealed some helplessness.

What could they say?

Yu Nian was already doing well.

Their youngest brother, orphaned at the age of twelve, has been accompanied by private tutors, nannies, and housekeepers.

He was like a sapling abandoned in the garden, always carefully guarded under a glass cover, never exposed to wind and rain, yet lonely.

But he still turned out so well.

He grew up to be a cheerful, sensible, gentle child.

What more could they ask for?

Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao ultimately agreed to Yu Nian’s request.

But Pei Zhao, always feeling sorry for the child, glanced at Yu Xinli’s expression. Seeing that Yu Xinli wasn’t too opposed, he secretly slipped a bank card to Yu Nian.

Yu Nian originally didn’t want it, but his brother pinched his cheek.

“Take it,” Pei Zhao said, “It’s not much, just a few tens of thousands. So you have some pocket money. If you keep only relying on that little salary, I won’t be able to sleep at night.”

He sighed with worry, then thought for a moment, and added, “Actually, your sister too.”

A meal they host for guests at home is higher than their younger brother’s annual salary. Yu Xinli casually buys a piece of jewelry, worth millions.

But their beloved little brother was playing the piano and serving dishes diligently in a restaurant.

Just thinking about this made him toss and turn with heartache, unable to eat, and in the middle of the night, he had to wake up Yu Xinli to mutually reflect on their failures as guardians.

He patted Yu Nian’s little face, then anxiously reminded him, “If you encounter anything, you can come back anytime, you know?”

Yu Nian was speechless, but he didn’t refuse anymore in the end.

In front of Pei Zhao, he tucked the bank card into his pocket.

“Got it~”

Yu Xinli and Pei Zhao watched as the driver sent Yu Nian away again.

The black Maybach drove smoothly, weaving through rows of phoenix trees, gradually disappearing from sight.

“Children grow up, it’s really worrying, isn’t it?” Pei Zhao smiled and asked Yu Xinli.

Just now, Yu Xinli couldn’t help it and also stepped forward to gently hug Yu Nian before he left.

Yu Xinli didn’t reply but took her gaze back after a while and slowly walked back into the house.

---

This time, Yu Nian still asked the driver to stop at a place across the street from “Morning Ten.”

It was already ten in the morning now, and he told Song Yunchun that he would come a bit later that day.

He leisurely walked along this long street and stopped outside “Morning Ten,” holding a small box in his hand.

He stood in front of the French window of the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, many customers were having brunch, and the staff were busy.

Xiao Gu was taking orders from customers, still tying her hair into a bun, wearing a pink hairpin.

Chu Hejun was at the counter, picking up orders, hastily carrying trays to customers.

As the owner, Song Yunchun wasn’t busy. She was nestled in her favorite seat by the window, holding a cup of coffee, but also occasionally chatting with customers.

A family restaurant.

When Yu Nian applied for the job, he didn’t know what a family restaurant meant.

Even now, he still doesn’t quite understand the detailed standards behind it, but he feels that this “Morning Ten” indeed makes people feel at home. Stepping in here, there’s a pleasant smell of bread in the air, making people relax unconsciously.

And…

Yu Nian’s gaze stopped at the edge of the counter, the side closest to the French window.

Qi Wang was working at the coffee machine, something Yu Nian had seen countless times.

He was making a hand-dripped coffee, wetting the filter paper, steaming it, pouring water.

Every step was precise and neat, his fingers were agile and slender, never shaking or moving randomly, always paying attention to maintaining cleanliness in the environment, serious and solemn, every move pleasing to the eye.

Yu Nian couldn’t help but smile.

He pushed open the restaurant’s door and walked in.

He came to the counter, but the cashier was clearly another employee.

Yet he went straight to Qi Wang and said, “Hello, I’d like a cup of Jasmine White, hot.”

Qi Wang didn’t react at first. He was pouring hand-dripped coffee into a glass, absent-mindedly replied, “Please go to the counter on the right to place your order.”

But as he finished, he realized something wasn’t right, looked up, and saw Yu Nian smiling at him.

(Ya ya)

Yu Nian was wearing a white short coat, his hair tied up in a small bun. In the early winter sunshine, he seemed to be covered with a soft light, and his eyes turned into gentle amber.

A drop of coffee dripped from the glass onto Qi Wang’s back of the hand, scalding hot.

Qi Wang straightened up, looking at Yu Nian, wanting to say something, but feeling a slight discomfort.

“Why did you come back?” he asked softly, recalling what Yu Nian had said last night, “Is it to officially resign?”

He felt a slight discomfort in his heart, as if lemon juice had splashed into his eyes.

But he didn’t show it on his face.

Yu Nian heard this and became unhappy.

He took a few steps closer, deliberately saying, “Yeah, I talked to my brother and sister yesterday, and I’m ready to resign, not going to quarrel with them anymore.”

Qi Wang nodded slightly, not expressing an opinion. “That’s good.”

But after saying “that’s good,” he didn’t know what else to say.

Should he congratulate Yu Nian for reconciling with his family, or should he ask about his plans for the future? But he seemed unable to say either.

He wasn’t usually so awkward. When he was struggling to make a living outside a few years ago, he had dealt with people from all walks of life.

But facing Yu Nian, he couldn’t say a word.

He placed the hand-brewed coffee on the tray and let someone else take it away.

He picked up a measuring cup again and added coffee powder to it, asking, “You want a flat white, right?”

Yu Nian was about to burst out laughing.

It seemed he couldn’t count on Qi Wang for anything special. He didn’t even want to bother whether Qi Wang was reluctant to let him go or not.

He pouted and took a few steps forward, placing the box he brought on the counter.

“Can’t you just say you’ll miss me a lot? Even if it’s a lie,” he muttered, “I’ve never met anyone as annoying as you.”

But as he looked at Qi Wang’s handsome face, he sighed again. Oh well, he was just a sucker for a pretty face.

Seeing Qi Wang’s face, he just couldn’t stay mad.

He leaned against the counter and watched Qi Wang make coffee for him, the aroma of the beans mixing with the milk.

He lightly tugged at the hem of Qi Wang’s clothes.

“I’m not leaving.”

These three words fell into the calm lake like drops of water, creating ripples.

Qi Wang’s hand paused for a moment.

He turned his head, not immediately understanding Yu Nian’s meaning.

And Yu Nian, as if afraid Qi Wang hadn’t heard him clearly, repeated loudly, “I’m not leaving, not for now. I’ve discussed it with my family. I’ll see this job through. I’ll continue working in this restaurant for a few more months then I’ll go back to school.”

He smiled at Qi Wang. “Are you still okay with me being your neighbor? Will you find me annoying?”

Drop by drop, the extracted coffee fell into the silver cup in Qi Wang’s hand.

Jasmine dried flowers sat aside, having lost their softness and luster on the branches but still retaining their beautiful green and white petals.

He poured the coffee into the mixed milk and tea, sprinkled with dried flowers, and handed it to Yu Nian.

Yu Nian reached out to take it, and their fingertips touched.

Yu Nian’s fingers were warm and soft, while Qi Wang’s fingertips were slightly cold.

“Okay.”

Qi Wang seemed to have forgotten what he had told Song Yunchun before; he had only agreed to a two-month probation period. He said, “Not annoying. Used to it.”

Yu Nian chuckled.

He shook his head, thinking that Qi Wang was truly a man of few words, reserved and concise.

Except for being handsome, he was like a block of wood the rest of the time, and Yu Nian couldn’t figure out what he liked about him.

But as he stirred the cup with a spoon, the scent of jasmine flowers spread gently.

He took a sip, then unreasonably praised, “Delicious, even better than my brother’s skills.”

Pei Zhao, with his SCA certificate, inexplicably sneezed.