Rebirth from the Ashes

433-434

While she was sizing up the man, the latter was checking her out too.

The girl was a stunner, especially those animated bug eyes. As their eyes met, she gave him a familiar feeling that sent a blood rush to his core. He was caught in a daze.

It took a while before he grinned. “You must be Xixi. Li Yuan isn’t home yet. Allow me to host you in the meantime. Please come in.”

Shen Xi was blinded too but she followed up with a nod.

She got a comfortable vibe from the handsome mister, even his smile was like the spring breeze that warmed her soul.

With the man here, Shen Xi suddenly felt like a guest, watching as he poured her a drink after he brought her snacks and a fruit platter. He seemed to think of her as a kid.

For some reason, she could not help glancing at him. It might just be because he was good-looking, approachable, or the somewhat familiar feeling she got from him.

The man noticed that the girl could not take her eyes off of him yet did it sneakily, afraid to be discovered. Finding it adorable, he asked with a smile, “Have we met?”

Shen Xi shook her head while obediently fixating her gaze on him.

The man cheerfully added, “You look familiar to me.”

She gave him an indescribably good vibe. It had been a while since anything or anyone could put a smile on his face.

“Me too.” Sharing the same sentiment, Shen Xi bobbed her tiny head. As if to prove her point, she emphasized. “It’s true!”

The mister hummed in acknowledgment and handed her a box of snacks. “I made this myself. Try it.”

Shen Xi took the box and opened it to find dried fruits. There was a variety of dried grapes, strawberries, peaches, apricots, and mangoes. Her eyes lit up and she was filled with happiness after taking a bite out of the dried mango. “It’s delicious. You’re really good at making this.”

The man joyfully broke into a smile. “I’m Jin Yu and a middle-aged man compared to you. Call me an uncle if you don’t mind. Don’t be a stranger.”

There was no need to feel out of place.

“Uncle.” Shen Xi heeded the call.

The mister carried himself with such elegance, defining the word refinement with his every move.

He had a lovely name as well. Jin Yu.

The man was definitely not someone simple.

Li Yuan came home and entered the house to find the pair sitting on the sofa in peace. They were watching TV and saw something that tickled them to break into guffaws together.

Kun Lun was dumbstruck. Goodness, gracious. Was the man watching TV with Ms. Shen really Mr. Jin Yu?

It was unbelievable for him to laugh and out loud at that too. It was plain to see that he was genuinely delighted.

Since the day he knew Mr. Jin Yu, Kun Lun had never seen him so happy.

Mr. Jin Yu was knowledgeable, cultured, right-minded, and kind. He was the true gentleman among the aristocrats, but his smile never came from his heart.

“Brother!” Shen Xi jolted up and cried. She was conscious not to be too loud, afraid her parents might hear her but not too soft so Li Yuan could hear her.

Shen Xi might think she struck the right balance in volume. Alas, she was still discovered. Toffeecito jumped onto the wall and meowed before stealthily climbing down the cat tree.