Chapter 20

Chapter 20

By the time dinner ended, it was already late.

Mr. and Mrs. Ying still had to wake up in the middle of the night to prepare for opening their shop. Ying Zhiyu put down his bowl and offered to take Li Xi home first.

The Ying parents never restricted their son's actions.

From a young age, Ying Zhiyu had displayed exceptional intelligence and maturity. His achievements were entirely his own, and Mr. and Mrs. Ying had long understood that they couldn't be of much help to their son, but at the very least, they knew not to hold him back.

So, even though they were worried, Mr. and Mrs. Ying would never interfere with or hinder Ying Zhiyu’s choices and decisions.

Before leaving, Mrs. Ying found an excuse to pull Ying Zhiyu into the room.

Ying Zhiyu stood by the door, watching his mother bend down and retrieve a plain, wooden-colored envelope from the gap in the bedside table drawer.

Mrs. Ying carefully opened the envelope and shook out a red passbook and a gold bank card.

Ying Zhiyu’s brow twitched slightly from behind the door.

Mrs. Ying had already walked over with them: "Our Xiao Yu has grown up, and you’ve even brought an Omega home."

She placed both the passbook and the card into her son’s hand.

Ying Zhiyu frowned and called out, "Mom."

Mrs. Ying didn’t let her son speak first, explaining instead: "This is your scholarship money, competition prizes, and some subsidies or wages from your school and mentor over the years. I don’t really understand it all, but I’ve saved it all for you."

Although Mrs. Ying hadn’t studied much and only had a high school education, she had known since Ying Zhiyu was twelve—when he applied for a patent on his own, persuaded his father, who had just had surgery and couldn’t return to work, and her to borrow money to open a shop, and later got into a top university on his own—that her son was no ordinary person. He was destined for greatness one day.

She had always been proud of how well her son had grown up—so outstanding, filial, and sensible. Now he had brought an Omega home, which should have been a particularly happy occasion.

Although it wasn’t exactly what she had expected, Mrs. Ying had clearly been preparing for this day for a long time.

"Don’t feel pressured. Mr. Li’s family is well-off, and our family isn't doing so badly now either."

She patted her son’s arm: "I originally planned to save this money for you to buy a house after you got married, but the future is the future. Life is about living in the present. Since you’re in a relationship now, and with someone from such a good background, you should have some money on you."

"There’s three million in fixed deposits in the passbook, and there’s more in the card. Use it as you see fit."

Ying Zhiyu clutched the passbook and card in his hand, frowning as he called out again, "Mom..."

This money was what he had intended to save for his parents to buy a house or a shop in the future.

Mrs. Ying smiled. Ying Zhiyu took after his mother in looks, and when she smiled, they shared a similar expression.

She understood her son’s intentions but simply said, "The family’s debts were paid off long ago. Your dad, me, and your sister are all earning money now. You just focus on taking care of yourself. Don’t worry about the rest."

As someone who had been through life, she patiently added, "Don't be neglectful in your relationship. Buy some nice gifts for them."

Ying Zhiyu came out of the room.

Li Xi and Mr. Ying were sitting together on the sofa, watching the news, while Ying Zhiyan was washing dishes in the kitchen.

Hearing the door open, Li Xi quickly turned his gaze toward Ying Zhiyu at the doorway.

Ying Zhiyu smiled at Li Xi, pointed toward the kitchen, and mouthed, "Wait two more minutes for me."

Li Xi gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Ying Zhiyu walked into the kitchen.

Although Ying Zhiyan was in the kitchen, she had been paying attention to the activity outside.

So the moment her brother entered, she immediately turned to look at him.

"Why aren’t you outside chatting with your idol?" Ying Zhiyu laughed.

Ying Zhiyan retorted, "You brat, how long have you been secretly carrying on behind our backs? And you still have the nerve to laugh!"

She didn’t recklessly press her brother for details right then. Li Xi was still in their home, and the most important thing now was to entertain him!

"Did I make a really bad impression today?" Ying Zhiyan pouted, asking her brother regretfully, "I dropped a bowl as soon as we met. I was so clumsy and embarrassed."

Ying Zhiyu helped dry the dishes his sister had washed with a dry cloth and said, "He won’t mind."

Besides, when it came to household chores, Li Xi wouldn’t look down on anyone.

"Really don’t want to talk?"

Ying Zhiyu had come in partly to check on his sister and partly to say goodbye.

Ying Zhiyan shook her head: "No, I had no mental preparation at all. Right now, if I face him, I’ll just make a fool of myself and won’t be able to say anything."

"My fault," Ying Zhiyu took the blame. "Then next time."

There would be opportunities in the future anyway.

He turned to leave, but as he reached the kitchen door, he remembered something: "Sis, what about your gift?"

Ying Zhiyan let out an "ah," and the usually sharp and clever sister now seemed a bit dazed.

Ying Zhiyu sighed inwardly—the impact of meeting her "idol" was truly formidable.

"Didn’t you prepare a gift for Li Xi?" he asked. "Did you give it to him?"

Hearing this, Ying Zhiyan paused, showing some hesitation: "That..."

She bit her lip and asked quietly, "I didn’t know you were bringing him home. Would my gift be too shabby?"

She had bought a fragrance set, which included things like scented candles. No matter how she looked at it, she felt it wasn't worthy of Li Xi.

Ying Zhiyu shrugged and told the truth: "If it's just about the price tag, anything you give him would be considered shabby."

Li Xi lacked nothing and had seen all kinds of extravagant gifts.

But he added: "But you’re my sister. Your sincerity will make it different to him."

In the end, Ying Zhiyu stood at the entrance holding the fragrance set Ying Zhiyan had bought, while Li Xi changed his shoes.

Li Xi slightly bowed at the door to express his gratitude for their hospitality.

The Ying family was flattered and overwhelmed. They wanted to help him up but didn’t dare reach out. Fortunately, Li Xi soon straightened up, returning to his usual aloof and distant demeanor.

Ying Zhiyu told his family that he wouldn’t be returning home that night.

Li Xi went out first, while Ying Zhiyu was a step behind and was held back by his father.

Mr. Ying, with a solemn expression, cupped a hand over his mouth and managed to whisper quickly to his son, "As an Alpha, you must know how to act with restraint and learn to take responsibility."

Ying Zhiyu let out a soft laugh, said "Okay," and followed Li Xi out.

-

The area on the edge of the northern district was not as bustling as downtown Capital City.

Residents here didn't have much nightlife and tended to sleep early. Only the sound of Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi's footsteps echoed in the stairwell.

Ying Zhiyu had just started to ask, "Have you contacted Pan Da yet?"

Before Li Xi could answer, Ying Zhiyu's phone's notification sound abruptly rang out in the old, dimly lit stairwell.

Li Xi swallowed his words and simply hummed in acknowledgment, motioning for Ying Zhiyu to check his message first.

Ying Zhiyu lowered his head and swiped open his phone screen. An Alipay notification appeared:

"Ying Zhiyan: Transferred 15,000 yuan to you."

"Memo: If you need money in the future, just ask your sister. A stingy Alpha won't be able to get a wife!"

Ying Zhiyu chuckled in amusement and immediately sent the 15,000 yuan back, adding the message: "I have money."

As soon as he sent the refund, a "swish" sound followed—his sister instantly sent the money right back to him.

Ying Zhiyu stopped in his tracks and tried to send it back again, only to find that his sister had blocked him, preventing any transfer.

Ying Zhiyu: "..."

Seeing Ying Zhiyu had stopped, Li Xi asked, "What's wrong?"

He respected privacy and didn't once glance at Ying Zhiyu's screen while the Alpha was checking his messages.

Ying Zhiyu rubbed his temples and said offhandedly, "My sister blocked me."

He didn't explain why his sister had blocked him and continued down the stairs with Li Xi.

After leaving the residential building, they went to meet Pan Da.

Along the way, Li Xi looked at Ying Zhiyu several times, but Ying Zhiyu seemed distracted and didn’t react at all.

Once in the car, with seatbelts fastened, the vehicle began to move slowly.

Li Xi frowned and looked at the Alpha, who was gazing out the window, before finally asking, "What did your family say?"

Ying Zhiyu turned his head, his handsome face relaxed, as if he hadn’t been spacing out earlier.

"Curious?"

He asked mysteriously.

Li Xi pressed his lips together and remained silent.

The passing streetlights outside flickered across the Alpha's young, handsome face as he quietly watched Li Xi.

Li Xi looked away and turned away expressionlessly.

Ying Zhiyu smiled, watched him a moment longer, then slowly said, "It's nothing. Just giving them some time to process."

Time to process how to naturally and harmoniously coexist with a crown prince with a throne to inherit.

Li Xi in the car remained silent, and Ying Zhiyu didn’t say anything more either, turning his attention back to the rapidly speeding past old district scenery outside the window.

Actually, things were different in his previous life.

In his past life, Ying Zhiyu’s family only found out about their marriage three years after he and Li Xi had wed.

Recalling that time, Ying Zhiyu wondered if it was because they sensed his indifferent attitude toward Li Xi?

His family, including his sister, had been much less "reverential" toward Li Xi back then compared to now.

That meal also didn’t take place at the Ying household. Everyone ate quietly, and his parents were merely polite to Li Xi.

Polite, yet distant.

On the way back from the northern district to downtown, Ying Zhiyu’s mind flashed with comparisons between his past life and this one.

He realized that many things seemed to have changed dramatically simply because of his different attitude toward problems.

This was true for Li Xi, and for his family as well.

By the time the car parked in the underground garage beneath Li Xi’s luxury penthouse in downtown Capital City, there were less than thirty minutes left until September 9th ended.

Li Xi unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car first.

Ying Zhiyu followed Li Xi into the elevator.

Li Xi’s top-floor penthouse had its own private elevator. His residence was on the 77th floor, and the three floors below were a wedding gift from Li Songqian.

However, the new home hadn’t been renovated yet, so they were still returning to Li Xi’s penthouse on the top floor.

As the elevator ascended from basement level three to the 70th floor, Li Xi didn’t say a word.

Ying Zhiyu watched Third Prince Li’s tense profile under the bright elevator lights, guessing that his earlier distracted state and vague explanation might have caused some misunderstanding.

He took a step forward proactively. "Don’t worry, they—"

Before he could finish, the elevator dinged.

They had arrived at the 77th floor, so Ying Zhiyu had to step out first.

But before he could exit, Li Xi suddenly grabbed Ying Zhiyu’s arm. In the next moment, a familiar scent of pheromones pressed close.

Li Xi gripped Ying Zhiyu’s left wrist with one hand and clutched his collar with the other, pinning him against the elevator wall.

Ying Zhiyu raised a surprised eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.

Li Xi’s lips barely brushed the corner of Ying Zhiyu’s mouth.

Perhaps Ying Zhiyu’s "dodge" angered someone—Third Prince Li’s expression darkened slightly.

"I’m not worried."

Li Xi’s gaze fixed intensely on the handsome Alpha before him.

Li Xi knew Ying Zhiyu’s parents were honest, simple people their whole lives. Accepting me might not be easy, and the Alpha was so filial...

But so what?

Even if others disapproved, even if he were ever so filial.

Ying Zhiyu could only be his!

The elevator doors opened and closed again. As it was a private elevator exclusively for the top-floor residents, with no one outside pressing the button to control it, the elevator remained stationary on the 77th floor.

Ying Zhiyu, gripped by the collar by Li Xi, leaned against the cabin wall, gazing down at the person with flushed red lips who was staring intently at him.

Was this the last gift before his birthday ended?

A faint glint of amusement flickered in his eyes. Ying Zhiyu raised his hand to slip his arm around the waist of the person before him, lowered his head, and kissed back.