Yi's feelings toward Yu

Looking at these things, Mother suddenly felt an urge to cry. How had her child lived before—why would he even know how to do these household chores?

Yu saw the expression on her face and immediately understood her misunderstanding. He spoke, “I learned all this during military training.” The others, hearing him say this, all wore expressions of sudden realization.

Yu glanced at them all once more, but said nothing more. He simply lowered his gaze to the coffee in his cup, and the house fell into silence. The others exchanged glances, none of them understanding why Yu was always so quiet and reserved.

Tears shimmered in Mother’s eyes as she looked at her son, a sadness she could not put into words filling her heart. Ouyang’s father gently patted her back.

Mother turned to look at Father, quietly wiping away her tears. Yi watched from the side, feeling sad, but he sensed that his brother was changing!

When had this begun? It seemed to have started after yesterday’s conversation with Shangguan Xiao. His brother had started to change—how to say it? If before his brother had been like an untouchable deity, now he seemed a little more human.

It must be because of Shangguan Xiao. Surely he was changing for her! He wanted so much to see what kind of person she was, but if his brother found out, he would be angry!

He didn’t want his brother to dislike him! Each family member was lost in their own thoughts, and in this warm dining room, despite it being summer, there was a sense of winter’s chill.

Yu quietly ate his breakfast, but his thoughts were with Xiao. What was she doing now? Had she gotten up? All he could see in his mind was Xiao’s shadow. At the thought of her, the corners of Yu’s lips curled upward involuntarily.

The others saw this by chance, astonished, staring at Yu. Mother quickly pulled a camera from the drawer, pointed it at Yu, and pressed the shutter. Yi, holding a sandwich in his hand, was so surprised to see his brother smile for the first time that he dropped it to the floor!

Yi looked at his brother in amazement—he was smiling! He had never seen Yu smile before, and this sudden smile warmed the cold, wintry atmosphere in the house.

Yu heard the camera’s shutter and instinctively looked up, giving Mother a few more shots. Ouyang’s mother’s gloom was swept away; she happily continued taking pictures of Yu.

Yu frowned in displeasure and spoke, “Mom!” Hearing the rare tone in her son’s voice, Mother knew this would anger him, but she would rather have him angry than always so indifferent.

Pouting, Mother dropped any pretense of nobility or lady-like grace. Now, she was just a mother, and she would much rather her son be an ordinary child!

Though her child was no longer ordinary, at least he should have some humanity. Rather than always appearing so divine, so untouchable—it made her heart ache!

“What’s the harm in taking a picture? I’ll be taking many more from now on! Besides, your smile is truly charming!” Mother continued snapping photos, her face full of pride.

Yu felt a sense of helplessness rising from deep within. The family, brought together by Yu’s smile, enjoyed this rare breakfast with happiness.

This meal could be counted as the most joyful one the Ouyang family had shared since Ouyang Xianyu returned home these past years. Yu finished his breakfast and set down his cup.

He said coldly, “I’m full.” Without waiting for a response, he picked up his backpack and slipped his hands into his pockets, walking out with the air of a model on the runway.

The others were left dazzled and caught up in the moment. “Brother! Wait for me!” Yi, who had been quietly eating his breakfast, saw Yu leaving and hurriedly put down his food, grabbed his bag, and chased after him.

— Extra —

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