"Still haven’t had dinner this late?" Ning Youguang’s voice carried an unmistakable tenderness.

"I don’t want to order takeout today." Shi Wangyue pursed his lips.

"Then what should we do?" Ning Youguang, having changed her shoes, walked over to Shi Wangyue and entwined her arm with his, "Should your company hire a cook?"

"Our company isn’t suited for cooking." Shi Wangyue said.

Ning Youguang thought for a moment and said, "From now on, if you have to work overtime on weekends and I have nothing to do at home, I’ll come to keep you company for dinner."

She originally wanted to say she’d bring him a lunchbox.

But upon considering her cooking skills, she immediately changed her mind.

"I don’t want you to be so tired." But Shi Wangyue was already quite satisfied; he actually enjoyed being cared for by his sister and didn’t want to miss the chance to have lunch together even when working overtime on weekends.

After pondering for a while, he said, "How about this..."

——"In the future, if you feel like coming to my company to eat with me when I’m working overtime on weekends, just send me a message in advance, and I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up."

As they walked into the kitchen, Ning Youguang released Shi Wangyue’s arm and went to the island counter to turn on the water to wash her hands, "No need, I can go by myself, if I don’t want to drive, I’ll just take a taxi, no need to trouble Old Nie."

Shi Wangyue put the bag on the nearby counter and walked over to hug her waist tightly, "Troubling Old Nie is okay, but troubling my wife is not."

"Mr. Shi." Ning Youguang, having washed her hands, directly pressed her still wet hand onto Shi Wangyue’s handsome face, "As a leader, you should show some empathy for your subordinates, you know?"

The place on Shi Wangyue’s face where she pressed was slightly cool, yet it felt as if a small firework had burst inside.

Under the light, a satisfied smile promptly appeared on his elegant face.

Ning Youguang quickly discerned the joy in his heart from his expression, gently relaxing her brows and eyes, then reaching for some tissues from a nearby box to help him dry off the water on his face.

"Are the dumplings ready?"

"They are." The kitchen steamer conveniently chimed its alert. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Just dumplings aren’t enough." Ning Youguang moved Shi Wangyue’s hand from her waist, "I’ll go wash you some fruit."

...

Ten minutes later.

Ning Youguang and Shi Wangyue sat face to face at the dining table.

One was earnestly eating dumplings, the other earnestly watching them eat dumplings.

Shi Wangyue quickly finished the whole plate of dumplings.

"Were today’s dumplings delicious?" Ning Youguang asked.

"They were alright." The meat dumplings in the home refrigerator were gone, so Shi Wangyue steamed the spinach dough vegetable dumplings that Ning Youguang usually liked.

These dumplings, once steamed, were verdant on the outside and colorful inside. Generally, Shi Wangyue wasn’t too fond of them.

Today was the first time he tried them.

"’Alright’ means not delicious?" Ning Youguang raised an eyebrow.

"Eating them once a week is fine." Shi Wangyue said, "More than that would be too much."

"Okay." Ning Youguang understood his meaning, "I’ll message Aunt Ming later and ask her to have the workers prepare some shrimp dumplings to be delivered in the coming days."

Her dad had a worker who was particularly skilled at making dough dishes like dumplings and wontons, which completely suited Shi Wangyue’s taste.

Seeing how he liked them, Ning Youguang frequently went to her parents’ house to nab some.

...

"Today, Ze Wu remarked that my current efficiency system has a problem." After finishing the dumplings, Shi Wangyue picked up a fork, hoisted half a strawberry, and offered it to Ning Youguang’s mouth.

"What problem?" Ning Youguang opened her mouth to accept the offered food, "I don’t want the rest, you finish it."

Shi Wangyue then moved the plate closer to himself, "It affects family."

"?" Ning Youguang.

Shi Wangyue sighed softly, "I also feel there’s a problem."

"?" After a brief pause, Ning Youguang asked, "Aren’t we doing just fine? Where’s the impact?"

"There is an impact." Shi Wangyue showed a hint of frustration, "My heart is affected."

"..." A rare trace of puzzlement appeared in Ning Youguang’s eyes.

Mr. Shi, feeling melancholic, set down the fork and gazed at the silent Ning Youguang opposite him with a melancholic expression, "This afternoon, due to overtime work, I couldn’t accompany you to the city library. I feel guilty, deeply uncomfortable."

Someone who can express their true feelings and do so with such fervor...

"It’s okay." Ning Youguang rubbed her forehead with a wry smile, "I had a great time with Gu Xi today."

Yet deep down, she couldn’t help but start questioning herself—

[What exactly am I nurturing here?]

Shi Wangyue continued eating the fruit with a puffed-up face without speaking.

Ning Youguang, temporarily lacking the energy to console the sensitive child, thought of another matter:

"When I came back, I mentioned looking at a house. Why didn’t you react?"

"I knew." Shi Wangyue said, "You bought a house this afternoon."

"...How do you know?" Ning Youguang was greatly surprised, "I haven’t even told you yet."

"Gu Xi’s social media." Shi Wangyue generously revealed the answer.

...

Ning Youguang chuckled silently and then picked up her phone from nearby to check Gu Xi’s social media. Soon, she found a post Gu Xi had shared at 19:59 in the afternoon—

[Never have I encountered this before: had some spicy hot pot with a friend, and the friend casually bought a house.]

The post was written with an air of dramatic tension akin to a Versailles narrative.

Nearly two hours had passed since then, with countless likes and comments below. Ning Youguang noticed that nearly all shared friends had liked or commented on the post.

Among them was Xia Dai’s comment:

[Who’s the fool buying a house at this moment?]

Below Xia Dai’s comment, Gu Xi replied with three chuckling emoji packs.

"..." Truly detrimental and degrading.

Enough, looking at it was suffocating.

Ning Youguang turned off her phone and tossed it aside.

Then, she crossed her arms and faced Shi Wangyue who continued eating the fruit leisurely, "Do you have anything further to say on this matter?"

"No?" Shi Wangyue shook his head, "As long as you like it."

Then he added, "Where’s the house located? I’ll have Assistant Jin transfer the funds to you tomorrow."

"Shengguang Apartment." Ning Youguang held her breath slightly, "Do you know it?"

"No." Shi Wangyue shook his head, "I’ve only heard of Shengguang Square."

"Shengguang Apartment is right above Shengguang Square." Staring at Shi Wangyue’s calm, gentle face, Ning Youguang’s voice suddenly softened.

At that moment, her deep emotion, sparked upon seeing Shengguang Apartment that afternoon, faded.

She pondered dreamily; the sunset wasn’t something she watched alone but both watched.

The wind blew softly against her, the lyrics rang clear.

Upon your arrival, a pool of starlight scattered, you became my moon.

I remember the feelings at that time, as if

...

All wonderful people and things deserve a painting, to be eternally cherished. 1314