After finishing their meal, Si Hesong took Qingyan on a tour around, eventually reaching the top floor for a panoramic view.
"It's getting dark, and things in the distance are hard to see. It looks even better during the day, with beautiful flowers, grass, a small creek, and mountains in the distance. Yan Yan, you must come and see it when you have the time."
"Okay." Qingyan glanced at the time and spoke softly, "It's getting late; I should go back now."
"Don't go..." Si Hesong hesitated, reluctant to let her leave. "Stay a little longer, please?"
"I'll come to see you next time."
Seeing Qingyan about to leave, Si Hesong hurriedly winked at the housekeeper, and the housekeeper understood, immediately making preparations in secret.
Si Yechen led Qingyan, and they had just arrived on the first-floor living room using the elevator when all the lights in the entire villa suddenly went out.
"What's going on?" Si Hesong, well aware of the situation, asked, "Why did the power go out for no reason?"
"It's really strange. We have been living here for so many years and never encountered this situation before! Let me go and see what's wrong. Sir, Young Master, Young Madam, please remain calm; I'll be right back."
The housekeeper pretended not to know anything and quickly left.
"Ah Chen, take Yan Yan to the sofa," Si Hesong instructed the servants nearby, "Go and get some candles and emergency lights."
"Sir, didn't you collect several beautiful emergency lights before?" a servant asked, following the prearranged script.
"Oh, right, where did I keep them? Help me find them quickly." Si Hesong also found an excuse to leave.
The spacious living room was left with only Si Yechen and Qingyan.
Si Yechen curled his lips, knowing that the villa had power generators, so even if there was a power outage, there shouldn't be complete darkness.
Did Grandfather intentionally create an opportunity for them to be alone?
Qingyan waited for a while, checked the time, and said, "It's half-past eight; let's go."
It would be too late, and her parents would worry.
Si Yechen pulled her into his arms. "It's still early; stay with me a little longer."
"I've been with you all day today."
"Just a few hours; not enough." Si Yechen held her tighter. "I want to spend more time with you."
Qingyan: ...
Why is this guy so clingy?!
He used to be so cold...
"Let go; Grandfather will be happy if he sees us like this."
"He'll be even happier."
Upstairs.
The housekeeper, hiding in a corner, saw the old master being helped upstairs and quickly whispered, "Old Master, this way!"
Si Hesong walked over quickly, squeezed in next to him, and looked downstairs. "How is it? Any progress?"
"They're just talking; nothing substantial."
"This blockhead Ah Chen! Why doesn't he make a move in this darkness?" Si Hesong pondered for a moment. "Could it be that the atmosphere isn't enough? Send someone to bring down those emergency petal lights and LED candles."
"Yes."
Soon, the living room was adorned with beautiful petal lights, and LED candles were placed on other surfaces, creating a romantic and ambiguous atmosphere.
"Wait." Qingyan called out to one of the servants arranging the candles. "Tell Grandfather I'm going back."
The servant was taken aback by this sudden turn of events. "Madam, the power is out. It might be better to wait a little longer before leaving."
"It's too late."
"But the main gate is locked, and you can't get out."
Qingyan: ??
"All the doors in the house are specially customized with electronic intelligence. In the event of a power outage, the doors won't open."
"Don't these doors have USB ports? Just charge them with a portable power source." Qingyan offered a solution.
But the servant replied, "There are no USB ports..."
"What about a spare key?"
"The key... the key is lost..."
"Well... take out the depleted batteries from the lock and replace them with new ones."
"We don't have any spare batteries either..."
Qingyan:...
What kind of door is this?!
Nothing works?
Seeing the servant's evasive gaze, Qingyan immediately understood what was going on, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Anyway, just tell Grandfather for me." Qingyan stood up, preparing to leave.
"Madam, please wait a moment. Let me inform Grandfather... Please, don't leave..."
Seeing Qingyan determined to leave, the servant hurriedly went to find Si Hesong.
After hearing her explanation, Si Hesong smiled and waved his hand. "It's fine, it's fine. I've already had the USB port removed, and the spare key and batteries have been put away. She can't get out unless the power comes back."
Qingyan arrived at the main gate and noticed signs of the USB port being dismantled. The hidden spare key and batteries inside the door were also nowhere to be found, clearly taken away by someone.
She curled her lips and looked at the man in front of her. "Grandfather went to great lengths for you."
"It's for you." Si Yechen embraced her and said word by word, "He likes you a lot and wants you to stay."
Huh, stay and let this guy take advantage of her?
No way!
Her slender fingers pressed on the keypad lock, beep beep beep, and soon the main gate opened.
The surrounding servants were astonished. How did the young mistress do that? The door was clearly locked...
Didn't the old master say that it couldn't be opened without power?!
Si Yechen hadn't expected her to bypass the system inside and disable the password directly. This little girl seemed to know a lot of things.
"I pressed randomly, let's go." Qingyan took the lead and walked out of the main gate, but after a few steps, she suddenly heard a voice.
"Madam, please wait. Grandfather suddenly feels uncomfortable with his heart. Could you go and have a look?"
Qingyan: ??
Without caring about the truth, Qingyan turned back in a hurry.
A servant holding an antique emergency lamp led her to Sihesong's room.
"Oh, my heart..." Sihesong lay on the bed, pretending to be sick again.
"Sir, are you feeling unwell?" As soon as Qingyan's fingers touched his wrist, she understood everything in an instant.
"Madam, how is the old master doing?" Qingyan's lips curled up, she retracted her hand lazily and said, "He's fine. If I have to say something, it's just that he ate too much at night and feels a bit bloated in the stomach."
Both Sihesong and the housekeeper were taken aback by how quickly Qingyan figured out that he was pretending to be sick, and they felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Sir, please rest well." Qingyan didn't say it directly but gently said, "I really should go back now. My parents will worry if I'm out late."
"Madam, please stay! In case the old master has an emergency in the middle of the night, we won't be able to find a doctor immediately..." The housekeeper tried hard to persuade her.
"Yes, yes, you can stay in the room on the south side of the third floor. Achen is in the north room, you will be separated." Sihesong added.
"The main reason is that the house hasn't been this lively in a long time! Both you and the young master are usually busy with work, and we don't know when you will be able to come and visit the old master again..."
"You are the daughter-in-law of the Si family, staying in the Si family is reasonable and justified! If you feel that it's inappropriate, I'll immediately have someone prepare a marriage certificate for you!"
Qingyan: ...
There's really no need for that.