Spring Night Kiss.

The next morning, Jiang Yunsheng called immediately.

As soon as Xu Zhouye answered the phone, before he could even speak, the other end blurted out, "Young Master Xu, you're quite capable, aren't you? No wonder you were nowhere to be seen last night; you were out fighting."

Xu Zhouye held his phone between his ear and shoulder, looking down as he buttoned his shirt: "Not bad, I didn't embarrass you."

Jiang Yunsheng scoffed, clearly disgusted: "How old are you? Still in elementary school?"

"What's wrong?" He buttoned up the last button and started adjusting his collar.

"You're asking what happened?" The voice on the other end rose an octave. "Do you know how many people called today to ask me what's going on? Mrs. Zhao asked me, Mrs. Zhou asked me, and what was I supposed to say?"

"Just say it."

Jiang Yunsheng: "..."

"Stop arguing with me, what exactly happened?"

"It's just a sparring match with Nie Yuhuai, is that all?" Xu Zhouye said in his usual nonchalant tone.

"It's a big deal if it makes me lose face," Jiang Yunsheng said.

Xu Zhouye paused, then chuckled: "What's so shameful about it? He's trying to steal your daughter-in-law, and I'm just standing here without making a move. That's what's shameful."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Damn it, she actually thinks this brat makes a lot of sense, and this fight is definitely warranted.

But she absolutely couldn't say that, otherwise this kid would become even more lawless in the future.

"...Save those words for your dad. He wants you back by 2 PM, or you'll be gone." With that, he hung up without waiting for a reply.

Xu Zhouye glanced at the now-blacked-out screen, put his phone in his pocket, and pushed open the bedroom door.

In the living room, Song Qingjia was fiddling with her tea set.

Hot water is poured into the kettle, and white steam rises. A delicate, lingering aroma of tea wafts over.

He walked over, sat down behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder: "So you have the leisure to indulge in such refined pursuits?"

Song Qingjia turned her head away, looking disgusted: "Don't bother me."

He ignored her, of course, and just held her there. He watched as she poured out the first infusion, drizzling the tea over the tea pet, her movements unhurried and deliberate.

The tea pet is a round, chubby little cat, custom-made in the likeness of Song Ergou.

"What kind of tea is this?"

He glanced at the opened package of tea leaves on the tea tray; the dry tea leaves were dark brown and oily, with tightly rolled leaves.

"Old fir narcissus," she said. "A gift from Lingyi."

She poured herself a glass and took a small sip. The soup was thick and rich, with a woody and mossy flavor.

"Give me a sip too." Young Master Xu reached for the cup in her hand and took a sip from where she had just taken a sip. "It's very fragrant."

But she is more fragrant than tea.

He buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath.

His wife's fragrance was what kept him going.

Song Qingjia felt itchy, so she pushed his head away, pinched his chin, and examined the wound. Young men have a strong ability to recover; the wound looked much better.

Xu Zhouye: "Don't you want to take a look at the injury on your back?"

Song Qingjia: "I don't want to look, get out of the way."

Xu Zhouye didn't pester her any longer. He stood up and straightened his cuffs. "I have to go home. If you're bored, call Shen Lingyi over to keep you company."

Song Qingjia paused, looking up at him: "Is it because of what happened last night?"

He neither admitted nor denied it, only saying, "I'll be back tonight."

"I'll go with you."

Xu Zhouye paused, looking into her earnest eyes, and slowly smiled: "So eager to come home with me, do you want to marry me?"

Song Qingjia had already stood up, but upon hearing this, she almost tripped over herself.

"I'm not that desperate to get married, thank you."

Xu Zhouye felt a little regretful.

-

Song Qingjia was the one who said they would go back together, but at the last minute she was the one who wanted to back out.

As the car drove into the compound, the sentry at the gate stood at attention and saluted, making her even more nervous.

The courtyard was quiet, with tall sycamore trees planted on both sides of the road. Their canopies intertwined above the road to form a green archway, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, spreading a patch of shattered gold on the asphalt.

Song Qingjia glanced at the man in the driver's seat, then looked out the window.

After going back and forth a few times, Xu Zhouye noticed it.

"Are you nervous?"

Song Qingjia: "...A little."

She wasn't so pretentious as to deny it; she simply admitted it openly.

Xu Zhouye chuckled: "You've met my mom so many times, there's nothing to be nervous about. As for Chief Xu... he's a henpecked husband, he listens to my mom in everything."

Song Qingjia found it hard to imagine.

After all, in her mind, such big shots are usually imposing without being angry, and their mere presence can frighten children.

Xu Zhouye slowed down and stopped the car in front of a dark brown courtyard gate.

As he unbuckled his seatbelt, he smirked and said, "I inherited that from my dad; I'm a henpecked husband too."

Song Qingjia got out of the car with a blank expression.

However, his joking remark seemed to ease her tension.

The courtyard gate was ajar. Xu Zhouye pushed it open and stepped aside, saying, "Please."

Song Qingjia stepped in.

A path paved with bluestone slabs runs through the courtyard, and a pomegranate tree stands in the corner, with several unripe green fruits hanging from its branches.

The garden is serene and elegant, not luxurious but full of life.

Xu Zhouye took her hand and led her through the villa gate. The TV was on in the living room, but no one was there.

Xiao He, the maid who was changing the bouquet in the vase, heard the noise, turned around and looked towards the door, nearly dropping the vase in shock. She quickly steadied the vase, still shaken, and said, "Young Master is back? Madam and Master are upstairs."

"Hmm." Xu Zhouye responded lazily, "Go and call her down, just say..." He paused deliberately, "...say that her daughter-in-law has arrived."

Xiao He: "!!!"

"Ah... okay." She put down the vase and ran upstairs.

Song Qingjia glared at him, receiving a smug smile in return.

"Let's sit down for a while."

He pulled the person to sit on the sofa and then ordered a fruit platter and tea to be brought over. The fresh pineapple slices looked very sweet.

"Want some?" He forked a piece and held it to Song Qingjia's lips.

Song Qingjia took a bite.

At the corner of the stairs, Jiang Yunsheng grabbed Xu Zhengye, who was walking down, and said, "Wait, don't disturb the young couple's sweet nothings."

Xu Zhengye obediently stopped and followed her gaze. His good son, who had said he would spend his whole life with his car, was gently feeding the girl beside him fruit.

He smiled slightly, feeling quite pleased.

He hadn't seen a girl with him for so many years, and he was prepared for her to bring a man home. At worst, he'd lose face, and the Xu family would lose face.

However, thinking about the fight he got into yesterday, his face hardened again.

Jiang Yunsheng noticed and nudged his arm: "Don't scare my daughter-in-law away, you hear me?"

Xu Zhengye: "...I heard you."