When Lu Xinyi came back to the living area, she took in her husband’s laid-back form. His arms comfortably stretched on the back of the couch and across the armrest, with his eyes closed.
As soon as she stepped inside the room, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at her. The dark circles under his eyes were much lighter this time. He waited as Lu Xinyi brought over the sandwiches she made for them.
His eyes scrutinized the plate that was presented to him. The sandwiches looked like the regular grilled cheese sandwiches, but somehow, he could feel some red flags as his wife waited for him expectantly.
What did this woman put on these sandwiches?
Shen Yi observed her from his spot on the couch. His fingers grasped one of the sandwiches and turned it to look at both sides. When he saw something green and mushy in between the bread, he slanted his eyes at his wife.
This little devil was planning to get even with him tonight. Too bad though, he didn’t have a plan to lose to her this time.
“Grilled Cheese Sandwich at night?”
“What? Don’t you like it?” Lu Xinyi huffed, “If you don’t like to eat what I made for you, just say so!”
‘Good acting you have there, Lu Xinyi, but I wouldn’t fall on that,’ Shen Yi thought.
“I didn’t say I don’t like it,” he defended.
“It’s good. You’ll like it,” Lu Xinyi said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Shen Yi took a huge bite on his sandwich, watching Lu Xinyi’s reaction. As the seconds pa.s.sed by, her grin slowly vanished and was replaced with a scowl. She then eyed at the remaining sandwiches on the plate, wondering if Shen Yi had taken her share than the spicy sandwich she specifically made just for him.
She was torn whether she would ask him what it tasted or check the remaining sandwiches. Choosing the latter would make her husband suspect of her recent mischief.
“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to eat?” Shen Yi’s words snapped her out of her thoughts.
Shen Yi wanted to laugh again at her hesitance.
With an exaggerated sigh, Lu Xinyi took one sandwich and had a bite. She couldn’t taste any spiciness from her sandwich. Shen Yi leaned forward, pulled her hand that was holding her food, and took a bite from her sandwich.
“My sandwich tastes better than yours,” Shen Yi commented.
Lu Xinyi’s eyes widened for a second and then settled back. What was happening? Where was the spicy sandwich she made?
Copying what her husband did to her food, Lu Xinyi sneaked and took as big of a bite she could get from Shen Yi’s sandwich. The moment it touched her tongue, she sprang up from her seat with a flushed face.
“Hot! Hot! Hot! Too spicy!” she screamed as she ran back towards the kitchen to find something to wash away the spiciness off of her mouth.
“What? Don’t you agree it’s better? We can switch if you like.” He called on her naughty wife.
“No way!”
Shen Yi smirked. He’d known Lu Xinyi couldn’t handle spicy foods. The fact that she’d tried to make him eat a grilled cheese sandwich with jalapeno peppers wasn’t the first time she sabotaged his food.
—
Coming back home was something Lu Xinyi wasn’t looking forward to, for she knew that once she and Shen Yi arrive, they would have to bid goodbye to the twins they’ve taken as their own children.
With her last days of vacation spent at Grace Palace’s kitchen for her impromptu training with He Haotian, she dreaded leaving for Silver Leaf with apprehension. She was a.s.sured before their departure that the Grace Palace and Blue Haven would be taken care of.
Not that she was worried that those establishments would close down without her. With the Yang siblings and Chef Gao, she didn’t think there would be a problem with He Haotian supervising everything.
As they arrived at their home, she had this vague feeling as she gave it a good look.
It was strange, being here again for so long. Despite how long she’d been away, Lu Xinyi still remembered everything about this place: the hydrangeas planted in the front yard—even the soft tinkling of wind chimes that reminded her of summer afternoons she had spent with her husband and the twins.
Somehow, it made her feel like it was all but a dream, a good dream. A family that she could call her own after spending years living alone with the thought that it was just wishful thinking.
By the time they got home, night had fallen and enveloped the city in a blanket of darkness. She scurried down the path towards the house, her shoes slapping against the stone steps that led to the front door.
Fallen leaves littered the walkway, bathing it in dark red and orange; and she stepped on them with a crunch. The porch light was on, and the familiar yellow glow made the house feel warm and inviting. She could hear her husband’s footsteps behind her, reminding her that she would not be alone on this dilemma.
The metal of the doork.n.o.b was cool against her palm, and she twisted it with ease, entering the well-lit living room.
“Mommy!” Little Yuyan squealed in a high-pitched tone, breaking the silence within their home.
As soon as she saw Lu Xinyi at the doorway, she jumped down from her seat and run towards her adoptive mother with glee.
There was something so intoxicating about an excited child like Shen Yuyan. She bounced and squealed louder as she ran. As her grin got wider, Lu Xinyi started to smile—even her husband was under the spell of the young girl.
That’s how Little Yuyan was tonight; she’d made the atmosphere lighter as if she’s bursting with liquid suns.h.i.+ne from within.