Chapter 5 “Brother and Sister-in-law, You Two Are So in Sync!”…

Chapter 5: "You two are so in sync!"...

Beautiful scenery always makes you want to linger.

Even if standing too long to admire the view makes your feet numb and neck sore, it's hard to look away and give up appreciating the beauty.

After a long while, until the last glimmer of light in the west was swallowed by the night, Gao Youhe rubbed her stiff neck and said regretfully, "I haven't had enough yet, and the sun has already set."

Lu Yingxiao: "Do you like watching the sunset clouds that much?"

Gao Youhe: "Not really. It's mainly because you're with me, Sister-in-law, that I like it so much more."

Lu Yingxiao smiled gently.

She said, "Next time there are sunset clouds as spectacular as today's, I'll watch them with you again."

"You're the best, Sister-in-law!" Gao Youhe cooed, clinging to Lu Yingxiao's arm. "How am I so lucky to have the best sister-in-law in the whole world?"

Lu Yingxiao was so pleased she beamed.

Returning to the villa and seeing Gao Yan, the smile didn't leave her face.

Of course, she couldn't just wipe the smile off her face either.

Otherwise, Gao Yan might think she disliked him so much. Although that was pretty close to the truth, before the divorce was finalized, she didn't want any complications.

"Mr. Gao," Lu Yingxiao greeted politely.

Gao Yan nodded. "Dinner is ready."

Lu Yingxiao: "Okay."

Their exchange was brief and to the point.

Gao Youhe found it uncomfortable to listen to.

Holding Gao Yan with one hand and Lu Yingxiao with the other, she walked towards the dining room, trying hard to liven up the atmosphere. "Today is the first time the three of us are having a family dinner together. We should celebrate properly."

Gao Yan observed Lu Yingxiao's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing she was just smiling, he didn't comment on Gao Youhe's words, only asking Aunt Liu to serve the dishes.

The dining table was rectangular.

Gao Yan sat at the head.

Lu Yingxiao and Gao Youhe sat on his left and right sides.

Gao Youhe asked Lu Yingxiao, "Sister-in-law, what would you like to drink? We have bottled drinks like milk, cola, Sprite at home, and also freshly squeezed various fruit juices."

Lu Yingxiao: "Milk, please."

Gao Youhe: "I like milk too."

She looked at Gao Yan and asked him as well, "Brother, what about you?"

Gao Yan: "Same."

Gao Youhe laughed. "We really must be a family, all liking milk. I'll go get it now."

She got down from the table and ran clattering towards the kitchen.

Aunt Liu had already taken out the fresh milk.

Gao Youhe: "Aunt Liu, I'll need three glasses as well."

Aunt Liu opened the top cupboard to get them, muttering quietly, "I remember the young master never liked drinking milk since he was little."

Gao Youhe first took the fresh milk to the dining room, then came back to wait for Aunt Liu to give her the glasses.

Hearing Aunt Liu's mutter, Gao Youhe smiled. "That was before, it's different now. We are a complete family of three now, we should drink the same thing."

Even so, when she went back to pour fresh milk for Gao Yan, Gao Youhe carefully observed his reaction. Seeing his expression was normal, and he showed no sign of discomfort while drinking the milk, finishing the entire glass, Gao Youhe finally withdrew her right foot, which had been ready to step on Gao Yan's instep at any moment.

Gao Yan glanced at Gao Youhe, who had been staring intently at him since returning from the kitchen, and reminded her, "We've already celebrated. Hurry up and eat."

Gao Youhe: "Mhm, mhm!"

Using serving chopsticks, Gao Youhe picked up food for Lu Yingxiao. "Sister-in-law, this garlic broccoli is Aunt Liu's specialty. Try it."

Lu Yingxiao: "Okay."

After tasting a bite, Lu Yingxiao praised, "It really is Aunt Liu's specialty. It's delicious."

Gao Youhe continued serving Lu Yingxiao. "This eggplant with minced pork is also good."

Lu Yingxiao: "Okay."

Gao Youhe gave her more.

Soon, the small white porcelain bowl in front of Lu Yingxiao was nearly overflowing with the food Gao Youhe had given her. "Don't just focus on me, you eat too."

She also served food to Gao Youhe.

As she placed the chopsticks with food into Gao Youhe's bowl, they accidentally touched another pair of chopsticks.

Looking up, it was Gao Yan's.

Gao Yan didn't look at her, only admonished Gao Youhe, "Eat properly."

Gao Youhe: "I am, I am eating. The food tastes really good today. With Brother and Sister-in-law both trying to serve me food, I should eat more."

She ate heartily, her cheeks stuffed full.

But after she finished the food her brother and sister-in-law had just served her, she noticed neither of them had served her any more.

She looked up, first at Lu Yingxiao sitting opposite her, then glanced at Gao Yan sitting on her right.

Neither of them moved.

Gao Youhe pushed her bowl forward a little.

Lu Yingxiao glanced at Gao Yan from the corner of her eye. Seeing he showed no sign of serving Gao Youhe, she picked up the serving chopsticks again to serve her. "Eat up."

Gao Youhe's lips curled up high. "You're still the best, Sister-in-law!"

Glaring at the impassive Gao Yan, Gao Youhe buried her head in her meal again.

During this dinner, Gao Youhe was the one who enjoyed it the most.

Gao Youhe was only about halfway through her meal when Lu Yingxiao put down her chopsticks, signaling she was done.

At the same moment, the sound of chopsticks being set down came from Gao Yan's direction.

Gao Youhe looked up from her rice bowl. "Brother, sister-in-law, are you both already finished?"

Since Gao Yan returned to China and took over the company, his workload had been consistently heavy. His childhood habit of eating slowly had morphed into finishing a meal in just a few minutes.

Eating was no longer an enjoyment; it was merely to fill his stomach and keep going.

He himself had gotten used to it. Seeing Lu Yingxiao put down her chopsticks so quickly too, he asked, "Is the food not to your taste?"

Lu Yingxiao replied, "It's very much to my taste. I've just always eaten this quickly."

Her calm, matter-of-fact statement made Gao Yan's heart tighten.

He thought of her upbringing. Eating so fast was probably because, without a mother's protection since childhood, she'd had no choice but to hurry. Otherwise, she might get scolded or even go without food.

He softened his voice and said to Lu Yingxiao, "At home, you can take your time."

Lu Yingxiao looked at Gao Yan in surprise.

It wasn't because of the content of his words, but rather the sound of his voice—it suddenly seemed a bit... strained.

Just as she was puzzling over this, Gao Yan gave Gao Youhe a meaningful look.

Gao Youhe caught on immediately. She was also pleased that Gao Yan was no longer speaking to Lu Yingxiao in that strictly businesslike manner. Eagerly, she piled a lot of food into Lu Yingxiao's bowl.

"Brother is right. At home, you don't need to eat so fast."

Lu Yingxiao didn't want to eat any more.

But under Gao Youhe's earnest, pleading gaze, she couldn't bring herself to refuse. She had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks again.

Gao Youhe beamed. "You have to chew your food slowly when eating. That way, you can truly appreciate the joy of a meal and savor the real flavor of the food."

She also piled a lot of food into Gao Yan's bowl.

But her tone with Gao Yan was different. Unlike her gentle persuasion for Lu Yingxiao, her words now held reproach.

"Brother, you have the nerve to tell sister-in-law that? Every time you finally manage to carve out time to eat with me, you either finish quickly to go handle work, or you get a call in the middle and leave to deal with business. You always leave me eating alone, all by myself. Starting today, you need to learn to eat slowly too, just like sister-in-law."

Gao Yan felt a pang of guilt. He didn't say anything, just silently picked up his chopsticks.

Gao Youhe looked at Lu Yingxiao across from her, then at Gao Yan on her right, and happily declared: "From now on, when we eat, it has to be like this. Neither of you can put down your chopsticks until I've put mine down."

"Talk less during meals."

"Don't talk while eating."

A gentle voice and a deep voice spoke simultaneously.

Two pairs of chopsticks, laden with food, also reached into Gao Youhe's bowl at the same time.

Lu Yingxiao instinctively looked at Gao Yan.

Gao Yan was also looking at her.

As their eyes met, Gao Youhe giggled. "Brother, sister-in-law, you two are so in sync!"

Lu Yingxiao withdrew her gaze.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Gao Yan.

Seeing that he had also looked away but showed no intention of helping Gao Youhe to more food, she picked up the serving chopsticks and piled another full helping into Gao Youhe's bowl. "Talking while eating can easily upset your stomach."

Gao Youhe opened her mouth, about to speak again.

Gao Yan spoke up in time, echoing Lu Yingxiao's earlier words. "Your sister-in-law is right. When eating, focus on eating properly. Otherwise, it's bad for your stomach."

Gao Youhe nodded while making a zipping motion across her lips.

The dining table finally fell into silence. But for Gao Youhe, this silence was different from the lonely quiet she felt when eating alone. This current quiet made her feel relaxed and at ease. A feeling named 'happiness' washed over her, filling her entire chest. It was like a balloon filled with helium, giving her a sensation of wanting to float away.

After the meal, Gao Youhe wanted to take Lu Yingxiao to see the night view in the garden.

Lu Yingxiao politely declined. "I have some matters I need to discuss with your brother. If we finish early, I'll accompany you to the garden to see the night view then."

Gao Youhe said, "Alright."

Lu Yingxiao then looked at Gao Yan. "Mr. Gao, do you have a moment?"

Gao Yan replied, "Yes."

Since this morning, Lu Yingxiao had wanted to talk to him about something. That matter likely needed to be discussed in a place free from interruptions.

The study would be most suitable.

But considering Lu Yingxiao's somewhat resistant attitude towards him, a completely enclosed study might not be appropriate. So, Gao Yan asked Lu Yingxiao, "Shall we talk in the pavilion in the garden?"

The pavilion was situated in the center of the garden.

Open on all sides and sufficiently far from the main villa, it lacked the oppressive feel of a study and also alleviated concerns about anyone eavesdropping.

Lu Yingxiao nodded, having no objections.

Gao Yan first instructed Butler Zhan to prepare the pavilion—for example, by dealing with mosquitoes and insects and preparing tea.

Butler Zhan was highly efficient.

In about ten minutes, the pavilion was fully prepared, and Butler Zhan invited Gao Yan and Lu Yingxiao over.

Gao Yan stepped forward first.

He was exceptionally tall and broad, and his appearance was quite intimidating. Walking behind someone, even without any ill intent, could impose a certain psychological pressure on them.

Lu Yingxiao followed closely behind.

Gao Youhe suddenly called out to her, "Sister-in-law."

Lu Yingxiao turned back. "What's wrong?"

Gao Youhe couldn't quite explain it either. She just felt a bit unsettled inside and didn't want her sister-in-law to go discuss whatever it was with her brother.

Sensing Gao Youhe's unease, Lu Yingxiao patted her head reassuringly. "I'll try to finish the discussion as early as possible so I can accompany you to see the garden night view sooner."

Gao Youhe said, "Promise?"

Lu Yingxiao linked pinkies with Gao Youhe. "I won't lie to you."