Qin Si Ye extended his arms, bent over to catch them, and the corners of his lips curved slightly, "How was it? Did you have fun today?"
"Fun. Mommy is singing," Chen Chen tilted his small head and looked at him cheerfully.
Qin Si Ye couldn't help but glance towards where Shen Xi was standing. He saw her holding the microphone, her expression unchanged as she met his gaze for two seconds before looking away.
Ever since that night when they had almost "crossed the line" in Shen Xi's room, they hadn't contacted each other.
Both felt the other was angry, and neither had taken the initiative to reach out.
Seeing that their interaction was a bit off, Xie Yifei quickly walked over and introduced her mother to Qin Si Ye.
Upon learning his identity, Xie Han was overjoyed.
So, he was Qin Si Ye. Indeed, his image and temperament were extraordinary, truly a dragon among men.
Xi Xi had excellent taste. With such an outstanding man looking after her and the children, her remaining years would surely be blissful.
Picking up a wine glass, Jian Fan poured a glass of red wine and offered it to Qin Si Ye, "Mr. Qin, have a drink."
"Alright," Qin Si Ye accepted it politely.
At this moment, Xie Yifei led him to sit on the sofa, precisely where she had been sitting earlier, right next to Shen Xi.
However, Shen Xi was currently standing.
She looked up and smiled at Jian Fan, "Jian Fan, play the music, and let's continue singing. Look, Xi Xi has been waiting here all along."
"I..." Shen Xi really wanted to explain that it wasn't like that. She actually wanted to discuss with everyone if they could cancel and let someone else sing.
Just then, the music in the room began.
Everyone's gaze converged on her face. To avoid dampening their spirits, she had no choice but to brace herself and continue singing.
Fortunately, that man was behind her, and she couldn't see his gaze, which helped her calm her emotions considerably.
However, the following lyrics were rather ambiguous, and she wondered if he would take them personally.
"I know being cherished is a kind of luck, but I can't completely give myself to you. I try my best to change for you, but I can't alter the predetermined course..."
In fact, these lyrics were also a true reflection of Shen Xi's current state of mind.
As she sang, she unconsciously poured her genuine emotions into the song.
The three children couldn't quite understand the lyrics, only feeling that their mother sang beautifully and with great tenderness.
The other three were also captivated by her melancholic yet beautiful singing.
Meanwhile, Qin Si Ye gazed intently at her back, carefully savoring the content of the lyrics, deeply touched.
He felt as if those lyrics represented her innermost thoughts, sung specifically for him.
What did "can't completely give myself to you" mean? What concerns did she have in her heart?
Shen Xi's melodious voice reached his ears again, "That time when we were heart to heart, I think I have more right to care about you. Perhaps you've already entered someone else's scenery, but I hope there's a projection of starlight too."
No, and never in the future, how could he possibly enter someone else's scenery?
Didn't she trust him? Was she afraid of getting hurt, and that's why she dared not easily give herself away?
"...I thought being by your side meant forever, it still feels like yesterday. But yesterday is very far away, yet when I close my eyes, I can still see it. Unfortunately, it's not you who will accompany me to the end..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Si Ye's heart ached.
He had an urge to pull Shen Xi into his arms, kiss her tenderly, and tell her that the only man by her side would always be him, and he would definitely accompany her to the very end.
But he couldn't, as there were so many people in the room.
"...Thank you for holding my hand, it can still warm my chest."
After singing the last lyric, Qin Si Ye looked at the woman before him with deep eyes, unable to shake off the enchantment of her song for a long time.
The music stopped abruptly, and warm applause erupted in the room. Qin Si Ye also couldn't help but clap his hands.
Shen Xi didn't dare to look back at him and walked directly to the front, handing the microphone to Jian Fan.
At that moment, Qin Si Ye's phone suddenly rang.
He took it out, checked it, and answered, "I've run into a few acquaintances outside, I'll be back soon."
After speaking, he stood up and bid everyone farewell.
When his gaze met Shen Xi's, he looked at her deeply for a few seconds before turning to leave.
The music in the room started again. Jian Fan and Yin Zhe chose a song together and began to sing.
Xie Yifei pulled Shen Xi to sit on the sofa and whispered into her ear, concerned, "Xi Xi, what's going on between you two? You both seem off."
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's normal." Shen Xi's eyes darted around.
"Normal? Nonsense. If it were normal, you wouldn't have spoken a single word to him from start to finish."
"I was singing, how could I have had time to talk to him?"