Xinyan stared at him with a half-smile, which made He Jinxuan blush: "Yanyan, why are you staring at me like that?"
After speaking, he raised his hand to touch his own face.
Xinyan replied evasively: "Anyway, you live alone, just follow your own preferences. You don’t need to ask me."
He Jinxuan, realizing that his intentions had been seen through by the little girl, scratched his head and said: "Let’s prepare in advance, you’ll feel happier when you visit occasionally, won’t you?"
This was a clever way to entice her.
He Jinxuan glanced outside to see that Granny Zhang had left the yard, then pulled her into his embrace: "Yanyan, just a few days ago, the aunties in the family compound wanted to introduce someone to me. You should drop by to assert your claim now and then, so I can avoid a lot of trouble, right?
So, I’ll tidy up the house in the family compound properly, and when you visit occasionally, you’ll be more comfortable staying there, don’t you think?"
Xinyan couldn’t help but find it amusing: "Aren’t you afraid that my dad and brothers will find out what you’re up to and give you a hard time?"
He Jinxuan pulled her closer: "Yanyan, you’ll surely help me, won’t you?"
Xinyan laughed in his arms: "Wishful thinking, I won’t help you."
He Jinxuan looked at the charming girl in his arms: "Since Yanyan won’t help, I’ll have to take the blows alone, but I can handle it."
Xinyan almost burst out laughing: "Don’t you want to fight back at all?"
Seeing Granny Zhang returning from outside, He Jinxuan kissed Xinyan on the forehead and quickly replied: "I want to win the beauty’s heart, so it’s fair for them to make things difficult for me."
After speaking, he smiled and let go of Xinyan.
Xinyan heard Granny Zhang’s voice: "Yanyan, I prepared some pickles that Sili and Siyan love. Take them to them."
As soon as she stepped out, she saw the things Granny Zhang had laid out in the yard, and He Jinxuan said: "Granny Zhang, there’s so much, they can’t finish it all at once, don’t let it go to waste."
Granny Zhang waved her hand and said: "Some of it is prepared for you, and I made them salty and heavily flavored, so they can keep."
Hearing that some were for him, He Jinxuan felt a surge of gratitude: "Thank you, Granny Zhang."
Granny Zhang adjusted the items: "You child, showing courtesy to Granny Zhang, just treat Xinyan well."
He Jinxuan looked at Xinyan, his eyes full of affection: "Don’t worry, Granny Zhang, I’ll be good to Xinyan.... She is my life."
Xinyan checked the time: "Alright, it’s Granny Zhang’s thoughtfulness, let’s load the stuff into the car."
Because the jeep couldn’t drive in, He Jinxuan had to park it at the alleyway entrance and carried the things back and forth several times to finish the job.
The two bid farewell to Granny Zhang, and then drove away.
Xinyan thought of the two kids: "Jinxuan, have Sili and Siyan already been picked up?"
He Jinxuan nodded: "Yes."
After speaking, his expression darkened.
Xinyan saw his expression: "What’s wrong, did something happen?"
He Jinxuan replied with a serious face: "The Shen Family knows Ye Liyan is back and has joined the research institute, so they’ve come knocking."
Xinyan had previously heard He Jinxuan mention the Shen Family. When his cousin Shen Ninghui had an accident, the two kids barely stayed with the Shen Family for a few days before being sent to the East Province.
At that time, they completely severed ties, and now knowing Ye Liyan has returned to the Capital, they want to cling on. It’s really quite disgraceful.
Xinyan asked softly: "How did they know Ye Liyan was back in the Capital?"
He Jinxuan got angry at the thought: "Wasn’t it Ye Liyan’s own doing?"
Xinyan was puzzled, knowing that Ye Liyan wouldn’t willingly visit the Shen Family: "Stop being mysterious, what exactly happened."
He Jinxuan sighed: "Ye Liyan’s grandfather was a highly respected senior officer who lived in the military district compound. Ye Liyan grew up there and attracted a lot of admirers because of his good looks.
This time when he returned to the Capital, he visited the elders in the compound and happened to meet his childhood friend who had recently lost her husband. Though he had no intention of leading her on, she became interested.
She got wind of his return from the compound and went to the Shen Family, who eventually managed to find out about Ye Liyan’s situation after much effort.
Once they knew he was alive and back in the Capital, and considering his grandfather’s contacts were in Ye Liyan’s hands and timing coincided with their troubles, they shamelessly latched on.
Luckily, not just anyone can enter the research institute, so besides the first time when they met Ye Liyan, they haven’t been able to enter since.
But pestering him daily to meet is annoying. Eventually, someone from the institute intervened to temporarily quiet things down."
Xinyan was a bit perplexed: "What exactly is going on with the Shen Family that makes them insist on seeing Ye Liyan regardless of pride?"