His confusion surged forward, and for a fleeting moment, Yu Xixi found him endearingly foolish.
Did he really see that the redness on her wrist was from him gripping it?
"Are you deliberately putting on a show for me?" Yu Xixi inquired.
Deliberately putting on a show?
Ye Chenhan's eyes widened, and a subtle stubbornness played at the corners of his lips.
"Never mind, you don't have to answer me." Yu Xixi's annoyance flared at his hesitant demeanor, and she stood up, preparing to leave again.
As her body moved away from the seat, the private room door was pushed open from the outside. Ye Ziyu and Di Mingjue had actually arrived earlier, but they had stayed out of sight, wanting to give the two of them more time for a private conversation.
"Xixi, I'm so sorry. There was a bit of traffic on the way, making you wait." Ye Ziyu apologized to Yu Xixi.
Yu Xixi replied, "No, I just arrived myself."
After speaking, her eyes turned towards Ye Chenhan.
Ye Chenhan, who had been about to speak, closed his mouth as her gaze fell upon him.
Could Ye Ziyu not notice such a subtle movement?
She warmly beckoned, "Let's go to our seats and talk."
Di Mingjue, bringing the three children, had instructed them beforehand about the purpose of this meal, cautioning them not to be noisy and disrupt Ye Chenhan's arrangements. Therefore, upon entering the private room, the children stood quietly behind Di Mingjue. Even Qianqian, who wanted to see Yu Xixi the most, did not fuss.
"Qianqian," Yu Xixi called out sweetly, waving, "Come here."
Glancing up at Di Mingjue, Qianqian waited for his permission.
"Have you forgotten me after just a few days?" Yu Xixi said, feigning hurt.
Hearing this, Qianqian no longer paid attention to Di Mingjue's response. She let go of his sleeve and immediately walked towards Yu Xixi.
Her small body lunged into Yu Xixi's embrace, and Yu Xixi reached out to lift Qianqian from the floor.
"You've gotten even prettier after a few days."
Qianqian's cheeks flushed at the compliment. She hugged Yu Xixi's neck and asked, "Teacher Xixi, have you recovered from your illness?"
Did a heartache count as an illness?
Facing Qianqian's sincere concern, Yu Xixi felt a pang of guilt.
"Xixi, shall I help you take a look?" Ye Ziyu asked when Yu Xixi remained silent.
"I'm fine now. I'm much better." Yu Xixi said, then carried Qianqian to a chair and sat down.
Everyone in the room watched as Qianqian coaxed Yu Xixi into laughter, and Di Mingjue looked at him with disdain.
If even a child could achieve this, it was no wonder he, a man, couldn't even pursue a woman and needed outside help.
"Qianqian, sit on the chair. Teacher Xixi's legs might be uncomfortable," Ye Ziyu said.
Qianqian was very obedient to Ye Ziyu. She would immediately execute any instructions given to her without a moment's hesitation.
"It's okay, she's very light," Yu Xixi said, hugging Qianqian closer.
Since the person concerned said it was fine, others wouldn't press the matter.
After a few minutes of conversation, the waiter entered the room with plates. Worried that Yu Xixi would have trouble eating while holding Qianqian, Ye Ziyu gently took Qianqian from her lap. To prevent them from continuing their chat, she specifically placed Qianqian between Yu Xixi and Di Mingjue.
"Xixi, eat more. These were all ordered according to your preferences," Ye Ziyu said deliberately. She glanced at Ye Chenhan, waiting for him to offer the information himself.
He, who was usually so eloquent, seemed rendered speechless when faced with Yu Xixi, unable to utter a word.
Looking at the entire spread of food, Yu Xixi finally noticed and asked Ye Chenhan, "Did you arrange this?"
The private room had been arranged by Ye Ziyu, but all the food on the table was personally selected by him. He had learned Yu Xixi's preferences in advance, compiled a list, and handed it over to Ye Ziyu for arrangement.
Under Ye Chenhan's intense gaze, he shook his head in denial.
His answer surprised Yu Xixi, and she looked at Ye Ziyu with curiosity.