The voice was cold and low,
as if pulsating on the eardrum.
Su Chaoxi feigned composure, "I've seen the key to the handcuffs; it was in the drawer of the cabinet, so I had Mimi fetch it to unlock me."
Xie Tianyin's eyes, which seemed to boil with restlessness, narrowed as he stared intently at her.
His broad palm caressed her waist, as if weighing the truthfulness of her words.
Su Chaoxi allowed herself to relax and, softening her voice, she said, "I know you're not too happy about me coming out on my own, but if I hadn't come out in time, Xunxun might have gotten into trouble."
Her voice was soft,
naturally tender and mellow, and after softening her tone, it sounded almost coquettish.
For a moment, Xie Tianyin tensed all over.
Su Chaoxi had never spoken to him like this before.
Seeing that he reacted, Su Chaoxi continued to look at him and gently said, "It's rare that our family of four can sit down for a meal together, especially in front of the children. Can you hold off being angry until later?"
Those eyes were wet,
filled with an obvious desire to please.
Her hands even gently clutched the front of his shirt.
Xie Tianyin's lips were tightly pressed, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked away.
Su Chaoxi felt a surge of joy inside and continued, "The reason I was in such a rush to come out was that my grandmother, Old Mrs. Su, just called me. She said that our Xunxun had done something wrong and that I needed to come over and handle it."
Our Xunxun.
These words sent a fierce churn through Xie Tianyin's chest.
Su Chaoxi had never acknowledged Xie Xunzhi as her child before.
She almost hated everything that belonged to him.
But now...what was this?
"It's a good thing I came; otherwise, Xunxun really would have been wronged to death."
Su Chaoxi put on a frightened expression and looked at him, "Have you eaten yet? I haven't, and I'm starving."
She reached for the chopsticks and said, "I ordered some seafood, all things you and the kids love to eat... Waiter, can we get another set of utensils, please!"
The bowl and chopsticks were quickly brought over.
Su Chaoxi diligently served him food and handed the chopsticks to him.
As she presented the chopsticks to him, Su Chaoxi looked at him with a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Xie Tianyin seemed to lose his patience and wrapped his arms around her waist, his emotions suppressed as he asked, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
His voice was very low, audible only to the two of them.
Su Chaoxi paused slightly, "What?"
"Do you want money, or something else? Just say it directly, don't play so many tricks, I find it disgusting!"
A sharp pain struck Su Chaoxi's heart as she quietly said, "Is it wrong that I just want our family to have a good meal together?"
But to Xie Tianyin, it seemed like he had heard some sort of joke.
His eyes concealed a simmering rage.
He was about to say something else, but the next second, a piece of lobster meat was stuffed into his mouth.
The towering fury seemed sealed, and Xie Tianyin froze for a moment.
Turning her body toward him, Su Chaoxi said, "Say less when we eat, be a good example for the children!"
Xie Mizhi sitting opposite, giggled.
Holding the Long-eared Rabbit doll in her arms, she watched with amusement as Xie Tianyin's mouth was blocked by the lobster meat, laughing while leaning into her brother.
Xie Xunzhi, however, was on tenterhooks.
It's all over, Dad's going to get angry!
Yet, contrary to expectations, it didn't happen.
When Xie Tianyin heard his daughter's laughter, the rage that was at its breaking point dissipated significantly.
The little girl, clutching the Long-eared Rabbit doll in her arms, snuggled against her brother, her laughter growing louder.
Clearly, she was having a great time.
It was the first time Xie Tianyin had ever seen his daughter this happy.
He looked deeply at Su Chaoxi.
Su Chaoxi bravely continued eating.
She knew that her actions were like plucking hairs from a tiger's mouth.
But she also knew that Xie Tianyin wasn't just a demon prone to rage.
She didn't have to be too afraid of him.
Imitating her mother, Xie Mizhi picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and brought it to Xie Xunzhi's mouth.
Xie Xunzhi didn't think twice before eating it,
Xie Tianyin was somewhat moved.
This is the power of setting an example by words and actions.
As Xie Tianyin's anger dissipated, he looked at his child and then at his wife, picking up his chopsticks with a somewhat complex mood.
With Xie Tianyin's tolerance, the atmosphere suddenly became much more relaxed.
Su Chaoxi relaxed, and seeing her daughter laughing so hard she was doubling over, she too was amused and asked, "Is it really that funny? You didn't even wipe your mouth."
She picked up a napkin and reached across to wipe her daughter's face.
Xie Mizhi laughed even more joyously.
Xie Xunzhi found the scene before him very strange.
Mom didn't throw a tantrum today.
Dad didn't lose his temper either.
How strange.
But Xie Xunzhi really liked this feeling.
After dinner, Xie Tianyin watched his daughter jump off the booth seat.
He instinctively reached out to hold his daughter.
But little Xie Mizhi didn't throw herself into his arms as usual.
Instead, she ran toward Su Chaoxi and reached out her arms for a hug from mom.
Su Chaoxi, her heart softened to a mess, bent down to lift her daughter and whispered, "Mimi, are you happy today?"
Xie Mizhi smiled brightly, nodded vigorously, and clung tightly to her mother's neck, unwilling to let go.
This affectionate gesture was a far cry from the usual Su Chaoxi.
Su Chaoxi's heart softened to a mess as she hugged and kissed her daughter again and again.
She glanced at Xie Tianyin and softly reminded him, "Why don't you hold Xunxun?"
Xie Tianyin often held Xie Mizhi because she was a girl.
As for his son, he was strict and did not want him to be spoiled.
Upon hearing this, Xie Tianyin turned to look at Xie Xunzhi only to see the yearning in his son's eyes.
Meeting his father's gaze, Xie Xunzhi's little face turned red and he retreated, saying, "I don't want that, I'm already a big kid, I don't need hugs!"
Xie Tianyin was momentarily stunned, inexplicably reminded of his own childhood.
His father, Xie Jiting, was a playboy.
Besides his mother, there were other women who bore him a half-brother the same age as himself.
He was strictly raised from childhood, also envying when his father held other children, but often stubbornly deceiving himself.
His son was so much like him when he was a child.
Xie Tianyin, with complex emotions, picked up his son and said, "Let's go, time to go home."
Xie Xunzhi, lifted up, eyes sparkled with surprise.
He clung lovingly to his father's neck, his little face alight with excitement.
"So high!"
Xie Xunzhi himself didn't notice how brightly he was smiling now.
Su Chaoxi felt a pang in her heart.
In her previous life, she had failed her children too much.
In this life, she would make it up to them properly.
The picture of the family of four walking out of the restaurant was very eye-catching.
Su Nuannuan saw this family from a distance and thought she had seen wrong!
Impossible!
The relationship between Su Chaoxi and Xie Tianyin had become so good?
Su Nuannuan couldn't believe it and looked at Xie Tianchen beside her.
She did not miss the disbelief in Xie Tianchen's eyes that mirrored her own.
Su Nuannuan sighed and said, "Brother Tianchen, sister is so pitiful, she hates Xie Tianyin so much but still has to play along with him... She must be in a lot of pain..."
Her voice carried a tinge of self-reproach, "It's all my fault, if I had been the one to go through with the arranged marriage with Xie Tianyin for the investment, then you and sister could be together now..."
Xie Tianchen suppressed the complexity in his eyes and said, "How can I blame you? It's Su Chaoxi who didn't respect herself first, caught Xie Tianyin's eye; nobody can stop him from getting what he wants."
"Then do we continue to watch sister be trapped like this? Sister is really so pitiful, married to a man she doesn't love and then having two kids for him, brother Tianchen, save her! She loves you so much, only you can give her happiness and joy!"
This was exactly what Xie Tianchen wanted to hear, "Don't worry, I'll do my best to save her."
Su Nuannuan was moved to tears, her lips quietly curving into a smile.
Continue playing this savior.
Without this savior, how could the stage be set!