Chapter 44: A safe landing

Back at Xinyi's side, Zhiyuan quietly patted Siying's head as he dozed off to sleep. Xinyi sat beside him and whispered. "Asleep?"

Zhiyuan nodded with a gentle smile. "En."

Xinyi adjusted the blanket on him. She hesitated for a few moments and then asked, "...What did she say?"

His fingers paused, and he seemed to be in a daze. His gaze slowly met his, and her heart skipped a beat. They stared at each other in silence.

His lips parted to say, "Xinyi. Why does nobody tell me anything?"

A dull pain surged in her chest because even if Zhiyuan didn't know, she knew it herself that 'nobody' in his question included her too.

"Grandpa doesn't want to tell me why he hates me."

Xinyi felt uncomfortable and nervous.

"Xiaosi doesn't want to tell me why he hates me."

She lowered her gaze in sadness.

"And Caihong doesn't want to tell me why she left me."

Zhiyuan's voice slightly choked as he spoke, "She lied to me that she is happy with Xiaosi, but you saw it yourself, too, how she talked to him and Chyou. There was not a semblance of love or happiness between them. But just to avoid my questions, she found it was better to lie. I don't understand why? Why does nobody want to tell me anything about what's going on?"

Xinyi held his hand. "Zhiyuan. It's alright. We have just met them today after so long. There is a distance of seven years between us and them that is difficult to bridge in just a few hours. Whatever might be the misunderstanding, I am sure Xiaosi or Caihong would soon tell you about it. You have waited for so long. Please wait a little more."

Zhiyuan's heart strangely felt settled and at ease.

She is right. They are back anyway, and this isn't the last time we would meet. One day for sure, I will get my answers.

Zhiyuan looked at her with an unreadable gaze. He didn't understand why, but Xinyi's presence always calmed him down. He instinctively shared everything with her because he always felt that he would find solace in her words. Just like now.

And that's also why he could talk about Caihong so freely with her without Xinyi misunderstanding his intentions.

But of course, he had no intentions to use her goodwill. He had already decided that once he got his answers, he would never cross paths with Xiaosi and Caihong again.

Zhiyuan smiled. "Thank you, Xinyi. You always ease my troubles so easily."

Xinyi felt much better to see him fine now. As his gaze was still fixed on her, Xinyi became conscious and her cheeks flushed red. The soft moonlight that cast upon their room shone on him, making her heart thud faster.

A lock of her hair fell on her cheek. Without even realizing it himself, Zhiyuan raised his hand, and his fingertips gently brushed on her hair. He twisted that lock against his index finger and tucked it behind her ear.

Xinyi's heart was about to burst out of her chest the moment his fingers grazed on her cheek and her ear. She thought he would withdraw, but his palm still lingered on her cheek. Her left cheek was growing warm with the warmth of his palm.

She slowly raised her head. Her eyelids trembled as she saw that his black irises were still fixated on her. It was too much for her poor heart to stay sane at that moment.

"I-I will go get changed."

Xinyi quickly stood to run away from his boring gaze and calm herself down. But she was too flustered to notice that her foot tripped in haste.

Her eyes widened, and she quickly shut her eyes for the impact, but it never came. Instead, as she opened them, she found herself safely landed on a sturdy chest with Zhiyuan's arm around her waist. She could even hear his heart beating in his chest.

She stiffened and inwardly sobbed.

I wanted to run away but it got messed up…

"S-s-sorry…I…"

Zhiyuan pressed on her waist and hopped her back. Xinyi looked down to see his arm firmly wrapped on her waist, making her blush hard.

His gentle and concerned voice rang close to her ear. "Don't be in such a hurry. You were about to fall."

Xinyi could pitifully stammer but say nothing.

Zhiyuan found it so amusing that he couldn't tear his eyes away from her funny expressions.

Xinyi was waiting for him to release her, but nothing happened. His hand was still on her waist, and she was close to passing out now in utter embarrassment.

"Zh-Zhiyuan, you…C-can you let me-"

She was interrupted by the adorable bun's yawn sleeping beside them. Siying drowsily woke up and rubbed his eyes. "Mama...Dada…what are you doing?"

They both jolted.

Xinyi quickly said, "No-nothing! You go back to sleep."

Siying pouted. "I want to hear a storyyyyy…"

She felt relieved and quickly got up. "Yes, yes! Mama will get changed and tell you one story. Wait for me, okay?"

Xinyi dashed away in the bathroom akin to the speed of light, making Zhiyuan frown. One moment he was holding onto her waist, but in the next second, the warmth was suddenly gone. It strangely felt chilly to him.

Siying blinked his eyes at his father and innocently asked, "Dada, why is your hand floating like that in the air? What are you trying to catch?"

Zhiyuan felt embarrassed and cleared his throat. He awkwardly pulled his hand back. "Nothing."

Inside the bathroom, Xinyi placed her hand on her chest. Her drumming heart was refusing to calm down. Then she touched her cheek where she could still feel Zhiyuan's warmth radiating from it.

She blushed and covered her face.

Ahhhhh...I am so stupid! Don't think too much of it, Xinyi. It was an accident, just an accident!