Tong Airui brought gauze and ointnt to Yi Luowa to reapply her wound. His little silly pig at ho had one good thing—once she fell asleep, no matter how much you fussed with her, she wouldn’t wake up.
Tong Airui looked lovingly at the little girl still in her dreams and silently vowed: This kind of thing will never happen a second ti!
Tong Yao noticed Yan Zi’s anxious face and asked softly, "What’s wrong?"
"Can we stop for so roadside barbecue skewers before leaving?" Yi Luowa asked pitifully.
"What are you looking at?" Tong Airui glanced at her. "If you want a closer view, I’ll strip down tonight for you to see."
"So-so." Yi Luowa grinned, pulling his hand back down. "Focus on driving."
"Deal!" Tong Airui grinned and nodded.
Seeing the bright red lipstick mark on the shirt, Yan Zi froze. Her son couldn’t be rebelling against her by hanging out with so unsavory won, could he?
"They ate with your dad and went for a walk afterward." Tong Yao handed her a glass of milk. "Looks like you rested well last night; you seem energized."
"Pfft... Veteran driver?"
Tong Airui regarded her, still feeling a disconnect, and then heard his wife mimic her greeting. Sowhat uninterested, he squeezed out a polite reply through clenched teeth: "Morning."
Yan Zi glanced at Lan Ji, who was engrossed in a magazine, and lightly shook her head. "Shuoshuo said he had an important eting, and I wanted to remind him to drive carefully. But he left so quickly."
"I’m a veteran driver..."
Tong Airui smiled. "After visiting the mountain, we’ll go see my second uncle’s estate—the largest in Xiawu. Then we’ll head ho."
Turning to Yan Zi, Tong Airui asked, "Auntie, are you ready for what Lei might have to endure?"
"Leaving Lan Ji behind while you go party by yourself? Mi Chenshuo, you’re too much!" Yan Zi pinched him hard.
Tong Airui steadied her with his hands and began ascending the mountain step by step.
The house was unusually quiet today, and all the credit went to Tong Yao. Early in the morning, she stationed herself in the living room, warning anyone who ca out—be quiet!
Clutching the shirt, Yan Zi ran outside, but by the ti she got out, Mi Chenshuo had already started the engine and was driving out the front gate.
"It’s nothing. Who doesn’t oversleep once in a while?" Qiqi giggled.
"Then consider it decided." Tong Airui looked at Tong Yao, noticing his mother smiling brightly at him and Yi Luowa. He laughed and asked, "Mom, you’re in such good spirits this morning—did you strike gold?"
Mi Chenshuo grinned foolishly and wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulder. "Went out to have fun, treating myself to so joy. Next ti, I’ll take you with ."
"Yes!" Mi Chenxuan hadn’t expected his fourth brother to send him to Unit One instead of scolding him. Was this even real?
"I like you too!" Tong Airui answered with a laugh.
"Fourth Brother’s back is like Dad’s—broad and warm." Yi Luowa shouted into his ear.
Yan Zi stared at the door after her son walked out, finally coming to her senses. Kids grow up and stop listening! Sniffling, she picked up the shirt her son had left on the couch. "You tell not to worry, fine, I’m done worrying... Still... What’s this..."
The second child craned his neck toward the first child. "Brother, I guess we take after Dad and Mom—we’re night owls."
Tong Airui responded with a nod and carried Yi Luowa into the dining room.
"Such sarcasm!" Tong Airui chuckled. "I’m a bit hungry. Can I get sothing to eat?"
"We chatted until two in the morning, making up sleep early today. I’m sorry for keeping everyone hungry. My apologies." Yi Luowa gave a sheepish smile.
"I told him I could walk, but he insisted on carrying ." Yi Luowa’s cheeks flushed as she muttered under her breath.
Yi Luowa turned her head to look at his long legs, trying to imagine what he’d look like with short ones.
"Silly girl, you’re going to make deaf!" Tong Airui laughed and playfully smacked her behind.
"Taking you to where we began." Tong Airui smiled as he started the engine.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Tong Airui got out first, opening Yi Luowa’s door and turning his back to her. He tapped his own back and said, "Hop on, I’ll carry you up."
Around nine o’clock, Mi Chenshuo strolled in tipsily from outside. Yan Zi took one glance and imdiately noticed he had been drinking, so she quickly dragged her son into the bedroom.
"Not killing them outright is already a rcy." Tong Airui said with a laugh, rubbing her head. "First ti watching your husband drive? How’s my driving compared to yours?"
Yi Luowa pouted but remained silent.
Mai Zekai lazily ambled over. "He hasn’t had many chances to carry you; you might as well indulge him."
Tong Airui gazed tenderly at her. "Everyone can see my feelings, but you can’t."
"I’d send the older one, too—none of them ever give any peace," Yan Zi grumbled angrily.
"Sounds good. I was thinking the sa. Crowding at my elder brother’s place is starting to make feel guilty." Yi Luowa nodded in agreent.
"Where were you all night? Your phone was shut off!"
"Don’t listen to your fourth uncle’s nonsense." Qiqi laughed and lightly patted the second child’s head.
Yi Luowa pouted. "Seven days tops. If you don’t bring here after that, we’re done!"
Yi Luowa, however, responded cheerfully with a smile, "Good morning."
Those with business to attend to were urged to eat quickly and leave, while those with no plans had to sit in the living room with Tong Yao, keeping vigil.
"Still carrying her? Aren’t you tired?" Qiqi appeared with the two children and ushered them toward the dining room. "Let’s hurry and eat."
Tong Airui curled his lips into a smile, placing a buttered slice of bread on Yi Luowa’s plate. "Eldest Sister-in-law is experienced; she understands us best. Back when she and my brother were dating, they’d stay up all night and sleep all day."
Tong Airui firmly shook his head. "It’s too spicy. You can’t eat it now. We’ll co back when your leg’s healed."
"You conveniently don’t treat You Jia as an outsider now." Yi Luowa huffed, "Your family is alright, but every single one of you has one flaw—you treat sons-in-law like enemies."
"Almost!" Tong Yao laughed, "Hurry and eat."
Tong Airui lowered his gaze to look at Yi Luowa, who hadn’t said a word. "Did I hear correctly? You Jia is here?"
Yi Luowa blinked her eyes, realizing he might have a point.
"Good morning," Tong Airui greeted everyone with a smile.
Lan Ji hadn’t looked up since Mi Chenshuo ca in and left. It wasn’t until Ai Ni went to call everyone to eat that she stood up and looked at Tong Airui. "Good morning, Duke Airui. Good morning, Yi Luowa."
"It’s not that early." Ai Ni raised an eyebrow. "Welco ho, our great hero."
Tong Airui peeked at the road ahead. "Let find a spot to park, then I’ll strip for you."
With that, Mi Chenshuo changed out of his crumpled shirt, put on a clean one, and left imdiately.
Yi Luowa climbed on laughing, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Fourth Brother, let’s go!"
With Tong Airui’s return, everyone in the household wore smiles, but Yi Luowa’s was undoubtedly the sweetest.
"Fourth Brother, where are we going?" Yi Luowa asked curiously after getting in the car.
Tong Airui nodded with a smile.
Mi Chenshuo winced in pain. "Mom, I don’t like her. Please stop forcing . I’m just here to change clothes; I have a eting to attend in a bit. I’ll co ho tonight—won’t stay out late anymore."
Yi Luowa laughed and slapped his thigh. "Why not strip now!"
After breakfast, Tong Airui carried her out the door. The site she hadn’t gotten a chance to visit before was now on today’s itinerary, accompanied by him.
As she spoke, Tong Airui stepped outside with Yi Luowa in his arms, drawing everyone’s attention instantly.
Yi Luowa’s lips twitched but offered no reply. She had insisted on coming out herself, yet he insisted on carrying her. Just think of their appearance—what would people think? It’s not that Yi Luowa cared what people said, but the fact was—it had only been a couple of kisses and a bit of touching, yet she had to bear such heavy scrutiny. It was downright unfair.
Hugging her back into his arms, Tong Airui also nodded off for a while. The fatigue accumulated over the past days eased at this mont, and both of them slept deeply, so much so that even when morning sunlight flooded the room, neither of them showed any sign of waking up.
"Fourth Brother, now that you have , are you the happiest person on earth?"
"Fourth Brother, I like you—I like you—" With a mischievous grin, Yi Luowa leaned toward his other ear and shouted.
Mi Chenxuan ca over with an apologetic expression. "Fourth Brother, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect Fourth Sister-in-law."
"Really?" Yi Luowa laughed.
"He’s not a stranger." Tong Airui chuckled, glancing at the bodyguard vehicle trailing them. His mom apparently got frightened, sending a whole squad of bodyguards along.
Once seated, Yi Luowa tilted her head toward Tong Yao. "Mom, where are Grandpa and Grandma?"
"What are you thinking? Your mind’s full of inappropriate stuff. When I say veteran driver, I an it—I could drive as soon as my legs were long enough to reach the pedals. Ask Mom if you don’t believe ; she thought the car was driving itself when she saw , scared her half to death."
Yi Luowa giggled, "Let’s recreate scenes from the past at the mountain; I’ll get my fill of sightseeing then."
"We’re all hungry. Mom wouldn’t let us eat, said we had to wait until you two woke up so we could eat together." Ai Ni stood up with a laugh. "I’ll go call You Jia and the others."
Yi Luowa pressed her lips together in a smile but quickly switched to a serious expression. "Fourth Brother, You Jia is leaving soon. Shouldn’t we go see him off instead of sneaking out to play?"
"Great idea!" Tong Airui sped up. "Honey, how about we stay at our place tonight?"
Tong Airui glanced at him. "Your fourth sister-in-law told about it, and it’s not entirely your fault. But this does highlight a problem—you’ve only learned theory from books, lacking real experience and ergency response skills. So, starting next Monday, you’ll head to the Special Eagle Brigade’s Unit One and train there for a while."
"Yes!" Tong Airui turned to kiss her. "I want to make you the happiest person on earth too. Hold tight; let’s head toward happiness together!"
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