Xinyan took it from his hand and habitually said, "Thank you."
Jinxuan, however, said, "Xinyan, since you agreed to be in a relationship with me, I should take care of you and treat you well, so don’t be so polite with me anymore."
Hearing what he said, Xinyan thought it made sense, "Alright, then I’ll make full use of you in the future."
Jinxuan was delighted to hear this, "Yes, that’s more like it. Sit down and drink while it’s hot."
Seeing her sit down, he quickly got busy.
After she finished a small bowl of ginger and sugar water, her body warmed up. Jinxuan took the small bowl and said, "Drinking ginger soup might make you sweat. The shed is cold; you should go back to the room. The food will be ready soon."
Xinyan obediently returned to the room, just in time to tidy it up a bit.
Once her room was sorted, Jinxuan also brought the food back in.
Looking at the food on the table, Xinyan glanced at the busy man, "Tell me, did you intentionally prepare extra food today?"
Jinxuan lightly coughed upon hearing the question, "I was planning to eat with you."
Xinyan looked at him and laughed, "What if I didn’t let you in? Were you planning to go hungry all night?"
Jinxuan’s eyes were full of smiles, "Siyan and Sili would surely have leftovers, I could just grab a bite back there."
Jinxuan handed over a pair of chopsticks with a smile, "Sit down and eat. I got what I hoped for."
The two sweetly shared a meal, with Jinxuan not letting Xinyan do anything. He washed the dishes, cleaned up the shed, and even helped to clear the waterway in the yard. Watching the water drain outside, he reluctantly said, "Get some rest early. You don’t need to get up early tomorrow; I’ll go to the canteen and bring you breakfast."
Hearing this, Xinyan responded with amusement, "There’s no need for that; I can manage to make something myself."
Yet Jinxuan insisted, "You’ve been tired during this time with the exams over. It’s time to take a break and let me do something for you."
Jinxuan had long wanted to openly be good to Xinyan, and now he finally got his wish.
After reminding Xinyan to latch the windows and doors properly, he reluctantly left.
On the way back, he felt as if floating on air, and even the heavy rain didn’t seem bothersome.
Returning home, the kids were still playing marbles. Upon hearing their uncle returned, Ye Siyan was the first to speak, "Uncle, you’re back?"
Jinxuan replied with a smile, "Yes, I’m back."
Ye Silai, hearing his uncle’s response, looked over, "Uncle, why are you so happy?"
Jinxuan took off his raincoat, "Is it that obvious?"
Ye Silai looked at him inquisitively, "Didn’t you notice?"
Jinxuan hung up the raincoat, "Hmm, your uncle is indeed in a good mood today."
Ye Siyan ran to his side, "Uncle, why are you happy?"
Jinxuan patted his little nephew’s head, "Because your uncle has found someone to be your ’Auntie’."
Ye Siyan looked up, "What is an ’Auntie’?"
Jinxuan patiently explained, "An ’Auntie’ is your uncle’s future wife who will live with us. Are you happy about that?"
Ye Siyan pouted, "But I like Sister Xinyan. Uncle, let Sister Xinyan be your wife."
Jinxuan picked up his little nephew and held him over his head with a smile. Little Siyan wasn’t scared but instead laughed happily.
But Ye Silai, standing aside, wasn’t happy at all. His younger brother didn’t understand what an ’Auntie’ meant, but he did. Their uncle had always treated them well, but with an ’Auntie,’ would that change?
When their ’Auntie’ comes into the house, what would happen to them?
He thought just like his brother, wishing for Sister Xinyan to become their ’Auntie,’ unconsciously clenching his little fists.
Jinxuan played with his little nephew for a while and then noticed something wrong with Sili, "Sili, what’s the matter?"
Ye Silai looked up, "Uncle, will you still be good to us when you have an ’Auntie’?"
Jinxuan finally understood Sili’s concerns, placed little Siyan down, and pulled Sili close, "Don’t worry, your uncle will always take care of you. After all, you are your uncle’s responsibility since your mom is no longer here."
Ye Silai suddenly asked, "Uncle, will my dad come back?"
Jinxuan replied with determination, "Yes, maybe it will take some time, but he, just like you, is thinking of you from somewhere."
Jinxuan understood what worried Sili, "Sili, trust me. Even when there’s an ’Auntie’ in the future, she’ll be kind to you. Can you believe in your uncle?"
Ye Silai nodded, "I understand, Uncle."
Jinxuan didn’t mention anything about Xinyan to the kids. He decided to ask for Xinyan’s thoughts first tomorrow, "Alright, I’ll heat some water for you to wash up and get to bed."
He got up, took an umbrella, and prepared to go to the kitchen to heat up water. Watching the rain still pouring outside, he felt uneasy and thought he’d better check on the factory after settling the kids down.