As Wei Xiaotian said, "We should go back. We have a feast to attend, and I don't want you to exhaust yourself."
"Hmm, okay," I replied, following him back without hesitation.
Upon returning to my chambers, Wei Xiaotian left me at the door, offering a reassuring smile before walking away. When I entered, I was surprised to see Xianlian and Lin Yuhai waiting for me. The enticing aroma of desserts and freshly brewed tea filled the room, their warm presence a stark contrast to the solitude I had expected.
Lin Yuhai rose immediately upon seeing me, his soft demeanor radiating concern. "Oh, you're back! I hope you had a safe trip," he said, approaching quickly and gently taking my hands. He guided me toward the bed, urging me to sit. "Are you feeling fine?"
I nodded, offering him a faint smile. "Yes, I'm fine."
Xianlian, on the other hand, stood a little farther away, one hand on his hip, his brows furrowed in mock sternness. "What did you do in the Blossom Garden?" he demanded, his tone equal parts curiosity and suspicion.
Before I could respond, Lin Yuhai turned to him with a patient sigh. "Xianlian, let him be. He'll tell us when he's ready."
Xianlian crossed his arms, his grin mischievous as he leaned forward slightly. "Fine, but one day, I'll find out what you're always up to when you go to that garden," he declared, his eyes narrowing playfully.
I nodded nervously, offering a sheepish smile. "How did you even find out about that?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though the slight tremble in my voice betrayed me.
Xianlian's grin widened as he straightened up. "Oh, that? I might have overheard Yan Yue talking to Wei gege," he said, his tone completely unapologetic. "I wasn't eavesdropping exactly… just listening strategically."
Lin Yuhai sighed and shook his head at Xianlian's antics before turning to me with a more composed expression. "Your brother told me," he admitted softly. "He was worried about you and thought it might be good for someone to look after you when you returned."
I blinked, warmth flooding my chest at the unexpected care. "Ah... I see," I murmured, glancing down at the desserts they had prepared for me. "Thank you... both of you."
Xianlian patted my shoulder dramatically, his playful demeanor returning. "Don't thank me yet. I'm not letting you off the hook that easily, Yu Hengtian!"
Lin Yuhai chuckled, placing a calming hand on Xianlian's shoulder. "Let him rest, Xianlian.
Xianlian huffed, crossing his arms with a dramatic flourish. "You know, Yan Yue also said that Wei gege might have had a fight with his Lingfu. Sometimes, I really hate that man! He never lets my Yu Hengtian off—not now, not ever. How insolent!" His voice was loud and full of indignation as he threw his hands in the air.
Lin Yuhai, ever calm and composed, gently placed his hand over Xianlian's thigh, a soft smile on his lips. "Xianlian, language, please. You know better than to speak like that." He paused, his tone growing gentler yet firm. "And Wei's Lingfu is just protective of him. That's all. We should never judge elders. Their heads have gone white from experience, after all. Right, Yu Hengtian?"
I looked at Lin Yuhai, whose serene demeanor seemed to soothe the tension in the room. His gentle smile invited understanding rather than rebellion. I nodded, offering a small smile back.
Xianlian grumbled under his breath but didn't argue further. "Protective or not, he doesn't need to keep tormenting others..." he muttered, though his tone had softened slightly.
Watching the two of them interact, I couldn't help but notice how starkly different they were. Xianlian, with his fiery temper and dramatic flair, was like a storm that drew everyone's attention. Lin Yuhai, on the other hand, was the calm after the storm—a steady presence that grounded those around him.
As I gazed at the neatly arranged desserts, I realized just how hungry I was. The enticing aroma of sweetness filled the room, and my stomach growled softly. Lin Yuhai noticed and picked up one of the delicately crafted cakes, holding it out to me with a gentle smile.
"You must be hungry. Here, have some," he said warmly.
I hesitated for a moment before taking the cake from his hand. As I bit into it, the smooth, fluffy texture melted on my tongue, and the filling was so perfectly sweet it made my eyes light up. Unable to contain my delight, I blurted out an impromptu review.
"This is amazing... so smooth, and the filling—it's incredibly sweet!"
Xianlian, leaning casually against the table with his arms crossed, smirked knowingly. "Of course, it's good. Lin Yuhai made it with his own hands," he said
I glanced at Lin Yuhai, who seemed a little bashful but pleased. Something clicked in my memory as I savored another bite. "The one made from spirulina tea leaves, right?" I asked, looking at him.
Lin Yuhai's eyes widened slightly, and then a soft chuckle escaped his lips. "You remembered! Yes, it's made with spirulina tea leaves.
Xianlian rolled his eyes, though his smile betrayed his fondness. "Only you, Lin Yuhai, would use something so delicate for a cake. I still think you put too much effort into these things."
Lin Yuhai simply shrugged, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Good food is meant to bring people joy, and seeing Yu Hengtian enjoy it so much makes the effort worthwhile."
As I looked at the assortment of cakes before me, a thought surfaced, bringing a faint smile to my lips. "Brother must love these," I said fondly, picking up another small piece. "He always asked me if I could steal one from your kitchen during the tribulation trials, but I always forgot. I bet you made him these back then too, didn't you?"
I tried my best to recall more about Yu Hengtian's past, and faint memories of the trials and my brother's mischievous requests surfaced. It felt comforting to piece together fragments of a life that was both mine and unfamiliar.
At my words, Xianlian, who had been lounging casually, noticeably stiffened, his playful demeanor shifting as he cast a glance toward Lin Yuhai. Curious, I turned to Lin Yuhai, who suddenly looked down, his expression quiet and somber.
"Ah... Did I say something wrong?" I asked hesitantly, worried that I might have unintentionally offended him. "Wait... you never made desserts for Brother?"
Lin Yuhai's hands fidgeted slightly as he clasped them in his lap. "No, I... I didn't," he admitted softly, his voice tinged with regret.
Xianlian, sensing the tension, huffed dramatically, trying to break the somber air. "You're being too harsh on yourself, Lin Yuhai. My Yu Hengtian is just teasing—he doesn't mean anything by it." He turned to me with a pointed look. "Right, Yu Hengtian?"
I nodded quickly, feeling a little guilty. "Of course! I didn't mean to bring up anything bad. I was just thinking about Brother. I'm sorry if I said something I shouldn't have..."
As Lin Yuhai stood up, smoothing the creases on his robe, he gave me a gentle smile. "I'll leave now. I need to prepare for the feast and get ready."
Before I could say anything or even offer to help, he was already walking out of the room. I blinked, slightly confused at his abrupt departure.
Just then, Xianlian lightly tapped me on the head, drawing my attention. "You really don't remember, do you?" he teased, his tone half amused, half exasperated.
"Remember what?" I asked, rubbing my head where he hit me.
"How Yu Gege and Lin Yuhai got married!" Xianlian exclaimed, crossing his arms and leaning closer as if about to share a secret. "And the dessert? Really, you forgot? In our family, there's a tradition where the Yanxian serves dessert during the husband's first visit to see them after the engagement. It's supposed to signify sweetness and a harmonious beginning."
I tilted my head, curious. "But what happened? Why didn't Lin Yuhai serve dessert to Brother?"
Xianlian sighed, shaking his head. "In their case, that tradition never happened. The situation back then was... complicated. They didn't exactly start their marriage on the best terms. And even now, after almost three years, they're still far from being a real married couple."
I frowned, trying to understand. "What do you mean?"
Xianlian leaned back, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "They live together under the same roof, but it's more like they're strangers playing house. They barely understand each other and rarely share any personal moments. It's like... they're stuck in this limbo of being married in name only."
"That's... sad," I muttered, glancing at the door Lin Yuhai had left through.
Xianlian nodded, his usual playful demeanor softening. "It is. But knowing Lin Yuhai, he's still trying in his own quiet way.