After My Rebirth, My Husband Pampers Me Everyday!

Chapter 169: I NEED A LITTLE ENERGY BOOST

He straightened his jacket. "Usually I find it quite enjoyable to watch you suffer. But I cannot in good conscience let these greedy fat cats walk away with the upper hand."

Liuxian picked up the folder and opened it.

He read through the first two pages in silence, then set it down and looked at Zhang Wei with the expression he reserved for the very small number of people who had consistently surprised him over many years.

"You deserve a raise," he said.

Zhang Wei’s smile widened by a fraction. "I know, by 75 percent at least."

"Don’t push it." Liuxian closed the folder and picked up his jacket from the back of the chair. "Let’s head out. I haven’t seen my beloved all day. Haven’t caught a single whiff of his pheromones. He clearly doesn’t care about me at all, hasn’t called once."

Zhang Wei picked up his own things and followed him toward the door. "Your phone has been switched off since two o’clock. How would you know if he called?"

Liuxian said nothing.

"Also," Zhang Wei continued, "he sent you that painting a few hours ago. I’m certain he called after and couldn’t reach you."

Liuxian pushed through the door into the cool evening air of the dock, the floodlights hitting them both as they walked toward the car.

"The painting was lovely," Liuxian said, after a moment. "The story behind it as well." He was quiet for a few steps. "I have a feeling it’s about us."

Zhang Wei glanced at him.

"When I added painting to Tang XiaoYu’s portfolio, I didn’t expect Guiying to be a natural." Liuxian looked at the dark water beyond the dock. "He’s magnificent. It’s a pity he was born into the Xue family. Someone like that deserved better circumstances."

Zhang Wei said nothing, which from Zhang Wei meant he agreed completely and had decided that saying so would make Liuxian insufferable.

The car was waiting at the edge of the dock, Peng Guoqing standing beside it.

Liuxian got in, and the door closed, and the port fell away behind them as the car moved through the evening toward home.

The front door opened before Liuxian reached it.

Wang Chengli stood in the entrance with his hands clasped in front of him, with the unhurried readiness of a man who had been aware of the car pulling through the gates thirty seconds before it stopped.

"Welcome home, Master Liuxian," he said, taking the jacket from his arm. His eyes moved briefly to the paper bag, then back up. "Dinner is keeping warm on the stove."

"Thank you, uncle Wang." Liuxian stepped inside. "Where is he?"

"The living room," Wang Chengli said. "With Old Li."

Liuxian heard it before he reached the doorway. Old Li’s voice carrying the particular energy of a man who had found exactly the right audience at exactly the right moment, and underneath it, quieter was Guiying’s laugh.

He stopped in the doorway.

Guiying was on the sofa with a photo album open on the coffee table in front of him, Old Li beside him, the album turned to a page that Liuxian recognised immediately and wished he didn’t.

"He would terrorise us from morning to night," Old Li was saying, with the gleeful energy of someone who had waited years for this opportunity. "Running through the halls, hiding things, letting the dogs into rooms they had no business being in. The staff would chase him and he would run straight to Chengli, because he knew none of us would lay a finger on him with Chengli standing there." He shook his head, still smiling. "The madam and her husband had high blood pressure for years and we were not much better."

Guiying’s shoulders were shaking.

"He’s still mischievous," Guiying said. "Even at his old age."

"Hah." Old Li turned the page. "There was a time during his rebellious phase where he brought home so many girlfriends his parents genuinely feared they would become grandparents before they were ready. One after another, through that front door." He tapped the page. "Now he’s in his thirties. No heir in sight."

"That’s because my darling wife isn’t ready yet."

Guiying turned.

Liuxian stood in the doorway in his work clothes, the white paper bag from the sweet shop hanging from one hand, his expression carrying the particular quality of a man who had heard everything and chosen his moment of arrival with great care.

Old Li looked at Liuxian, then at the album, then closed it slowly with the unbothered calm of a man who had absolutely no regrets.

"Uncle Li," Liuxian said pleasantly. "Have you been talking about me to my wife?"

"I was keeping him company," Old Li said, standing. "Someone had to." He tucked the album under his arm and moved toward the door, stopping beside Liuxian. "Your congee is on the stove. Eat it before it dries out." He looked at the paper bag. "Don’t let him have too much sugar tonight. He skipped lunch." He walked out of the living room with the measured dignity of a man who had won and was entirely aware of it.

Liuxian watched him go, then looked at Guiying.

Guiying was still on the sofa, the warmth of his laugh still in his face, looking at Liuxian the way he looked at him when he hadn’t had time to compose himself around it, open and unguarded and entirely real.

Liuxian crossed the room, set the paper bag on the coffee table, and sat down beside him.

"You didn’t call," Guiying said.

"My phone was off," Liuxian said.

"I noticed." Guiying pulled the paper bag toward him and looked inside. Mochi, six of them, in the flavours he’d likely choose.He looked at Liuxian. "You brought me sweets after a bad day."

"I had a very good day," Liuxian said.

Guiying looked at him.

"Moderately difficult," Liuxian amended.

"Mm," Guiying said, and took a mochi out of the bag.

Liuxian leaned back into the sofa and let out a long slow breath, the first one all day that had nothing behind it.

"Come here.." he said loosening his tie.

"Why? What do you want to do?" Guiying moved back suspiciously.

"Come closer and you’ll find out. I haven’t seen you all day.." he said, and with a smile, his arms wide open. "I’ve missed you Guiying, so come closer and give me a hug. I need a little energy boost."