Yingqu Liuzi was pampered by her wealthy daddy.

In the first few days after moving into the mansion, Shen Yu'an's biggest problem was getting food.

Every time he sits at that long table and sees a row of knives, forks, and spoons in front of him, he gets a headache.

He couldn't tell which salad bowl to use, which main course bowl to use, and which dessert bowl to use. Although the butler had patiently taught him, he still got nervous at mealtimes, afraid of grabbing the wrong one and embarrassing himself.

One evening after dinner, Xize called him into the study.

The study was small, with a fire burning in the fireplace. Xize sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to him, gesturing for Shen Yu'an to sit down.

After Shen Yu'an sat down, Xize took out a box from under the coffee table and opened it.

Inside was a brand new set of cutlery, with knives, forks, and spoons neatly arranged, all silver and polished to a high shine.

"What is this?" Shen Yu'an asked.

"This is for when you go out to banquets." Xize took out a set of cutlery and placed it on the coffee table, starting with the outermost spoon, "This one is for appetizers, this one is for fish, and this one is for the main course. Use the smallest spoon for dessert. Use this round spoon for soup."

Shen Yu'an looked at the row of identical forks and felt even more overwhelmed.

When Xize saw his furrowed brows, he smiled and reached out to pinch the back of his neck.

"You don't need to memorize everything. Just follow my lead. I'll take whichever one you need."

Shen Yu'an thought about it and realized that this was a good idea. He nodded and put the tableware back in the box.

Then Xize stood up, walked to the desk, and took out another box from the drawer.

"And this too."

He opened the box, inside were two brand new pairs of chopsticks. They were made of bamboo, polished very smooth, with small patterns engraved on the ends.

Shen Yu'an was stunned.

"Chopsticks?"

"Okay." Xize took out chopsticks and handed a pair to Shen Yu'an, "Use these when you eat at home from now on."

Shen Yu'an took the chopsticks, looked at Xize, then at the chopsticks, and was a little confused.

"Didn't you say before that you weren't used to using knives and forks when eating at home? I had someone buy chopsticks, and I also replaced the pots and pans in the kitchen with Chinese-style ones."

Shen Yu'an opened her mouth, and her nose tingled with emotion.

He casually remarked on the second day after moving in, "I'm more used to using chopsticks," and then forgot about it. He didn't expect Xize to remember it and even have someone buy chopsticks and replace the pots and pans.

"Also," Xize picked up another pair of chopsticks and sat down, "I hired a Chinese housekeeper to cook tomorrow. Just tell her what you want to eat."

Shen Yu'an's eyes welled up with tears. He moved closer, snuggling into Xize's arms, his forehead resting on his shoulder.

"Why are you so good to me?"

Xize reached out and patted the back of his head: "Because you are my baby."

Shen Yu'an blushed, his ears burning hot. This wasn't the first time Xize had called him "baby," but his heart still raced every time he heard it.

"And you?" Shen Yu'an asked sullenly, "Do you use chopsticks?"

"Teach me."

Shen Yu'an looked up at Xize. Those grey-blue eyes were fixed on him earnestly, without a trace of a joke. He genuinely wanted to learn.

"Can you use chopsticks?"

Xize shook his head: "Never used it."

Shen Yu'an sat up straight from his lap, picked up the new chopsticks, and found a tissue box on the coffee table as a practice target.

"Watch closely," he demonstrated, holding the chopsticks in his hand, "place your middle finger in the middle, press down on the top chopstick with your thumb, and use your index finger to control the direction."

He picked up the tissue box, lifted it steadily, and then put it down.

"Give it a try."

Xize picked up another pair of chopsticks and tried to hold them like him. His fingers were long, and he held the chopsticks a bit clumsily; the two chopsticks just wouldn't obey him.

He tried to pick up the tissue box, but his chopsticks were crooked and he couldn't get it right. He tried three times but failed.

Shen Yu'an couldn't help but smile as she looked at his serious expression.

"No, that's not right. The middle finger should be moved forward a little more."

He reached out to adjust Xize's fingers, and Xize's hand paused when he touched his knuckles. Shen Yu'an's fingertips were cool, pressed against Xize's warm fingertips. He pushed Xize's middle finger forward a little and rearranged the chopstick below it.

"Try again."

Xize tried once, and this time he was able to pick it up, but he couldn't hold it firmly, and the tissue box wobbled a couple of times before falling down again.

"It's so hard," Caesar said.

Shen Yu'an found it amusing to watch him frown and stare at the chopsticks.

Mr. Lester, who used to conduct business with a cold expression and whose words could silence the entire conference room, was now frowning because he couldn't even pick up a tissue box.

"Just practice more and you'll get better." Shen Yu'an demonstrated again, "Look, grip like this, and then apply force like this."

Xize looked at his hands for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze from the chopsticks to Shen Yu'an's face.

"Your hands are so small."

Shen Yu'an paused for a moment, looked down at his own hands, and then at Xize's large hands. They were indeed much smaller; his fingers looked like a child's hands next to Xize's.

"Your hands are big, so it's a disadvantage to hold chopsticks," Shen Yu'an said, then leaned over to adjust his posture, "Press your thumb down a little more."

This time, Xize didn't let him adjust it. Xize put down his chopsticks and reached out to hold Shen Yu'an's hand.

Shen Yu'an raised her head and met Xize's gaze.

"I'm not practicing anymore," Xize said.

"Not practicing anymore?"

"We'll practice again tomorrow." Xize held his hand, rubbing his thumb back and forth on the back of his hand. "Let's do something else first."

Before Shen Yu'an could react to what "other" meant, Xize leaned over.

This kiss was completely different from the one before.

Last time downstairs at the apartment building, they only touched lips briefly before parting. This time, Xize's hand cupped the back of his head, his fingers running through his hair, and when his lips pressed against him, they were warm, not a light touch, but a firm, pressing down.

Shen Yu'an's breath caught in his throat. He instinctively opened his mouth to inhale, and Xize's tongue slipped in through the gap.

Shen Yu'an froze completely.

He had never been kissed like this before. His lips were captured, his tongue entwined with his, and his mind went blank; he couldn't think of anything. He didn't know where to put his hands, and finally he gripped Xize's shirt tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Xize's hand slid from the back of his head to the back of his neck and gently pinched it. Shen Yu'an's legs went weak, and he fell forward, but Xize caught him by the waist with his other hand and scooped him up steadily.

Shen Yu'an felt himself being kissed, his teeth were gently touched, and his tongue was being guided, making his breathing erratic. He closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembled violently, and his face was as hot as if he had just finished running.

It took a long time before Xize finally let go of him.

Shen Yu'an collapsed into Xize's arms, panting heavily. His lips were red and glistening with moisture, and his eyes were wet. He looked up at Xize for a moment, then lowered his head again, burying his face in Xize's chest.

"...Why are you like this?" His voice was muffled inside his clothes, soft and sticky.

Xize's hand was still on his lower back, and he patted it lightly twice.

"What?"

Shen Yu'an stopped talking and buried her face in his chest, pretending to be dead. Her ears were as red as if they were about to bleed.

Xize looked down at the exposed tip of Shen Yu'an's ear, the smile on his lips impossible to suppress. He lowered his head and touched the top of Shen Yu'an's head with his lips.

"Baby."

Shen Yu'an shrank back in his arms and gave a muffled "hmm".

"What would you like to eat for breakfast tomorrow? Let Auntie make it for you."

Shen Yu'an thought for a moment, then whispered, "Porridge."

"good."

Shen Yu'an stayed in his arms for a while longer before his heartbeat gradually calmed down. He looked up and saw Xize looking at him, his gray-blue eyes full of tenderness.

He thought that life would probably continue like this from now on.

Being called "baby," being kissed until you can't breathe, being held in someone's arms and asked what you want to eat.

Xize would change the tableware at home for him, learn to use chopsticks, and hire a Chinese housekeeper to cook for him. Every single thing he did told him that he was being taken seriously and cherished.

Shen Yu'an reached out and hugged Xize's waist, burying her face in his again.

"Daddy."

"Um."

"I like you."

Xize's hand paused on his back for a moment, then tightened, pulling him closer to his chest.

"I love you too, baby."

The fire in the fireplace in the study flickered gently. Two pairs of new chopsticks lay side by side on the coffee table, and a box of tissues leaned askew on the corner. Shen Yu'an nestled in Xize's arms, listening to the steady, powerful heartbeat in his chest, and felt that this evening was truly wonderful.

He's going to teach Xize how to use chopsticks tomorrow, until he does. He'll also teach him a few Chinese words, like how to say "chopsticks" and "delicious."

He also had to teach Caesar to say his name.

Shen Yu'an thought for a moment, then whispered in Chinese, "Yu'an."

Xize looked down at him: "What?"

"It's nothing," Shen Yu'an smiled, "I just wanted to teach you a word. Yu'an. My name."

Xize looked into his eyes, moved his lips, and imitated the pronunciation.

"Good morning, Yu'an."

It's not accurate, but it sounds very nice.

Shen Yu'an laughed even harder, buried her face in her hands, and said sullenly, "I'll teach you tomorrow."

"Okay." Xize ruffled his hair. "Tomorrow."

Shen Yu'an closed her eyes, listening to the fire in the fireplace and Xize's heartbeat.

Everything in this house is new, and he needs time to adjust. But that's okay, with Xize around, he's not afraid of anything.