CHAPTER 21: 018 STARS HOLDING THE MOON

"Daddy...hug, wahhh..." Yan Ke, upon seeing his dad, hurriedly ran over with his little short legs.

Yan Nanmo scooped his son into his arms and pinched his little face, chuckling lightly, "You little rascal, you can’t even win a fight against your brother, what’s the use of crying?"

Yan Ke pursed his lips and nestled into Yan Nanmo’s embrace, smearing his tears and snot all over his suit.

"Brother is so mean, it hurts..."

Yan Nanmo’s words were adding fuel to the fire, and Zhuang Xiyue glared at him angrily, "You have the nerve to say that, who does your son take after? The beam is crooked, so the post is askew too." Yan Nanmo, as a child, was quite the little bandit. Yan Song is simply the upgraded version of Yan Nanmo.

Yan Nanmo walked over, his left arm cradling Yan Ke, and his right arm reaching to embrace Zhuang Xiyue, cooing softly, "Alright, wife, it’s all my fault, I admit it. Isn’t that enough? Don’t be angry." He gave Yan Song a meaningful look.

Hurry and apologize to your mother.

Yan Song rolled his eyes.

Why should I apologize, I didn’t do anything wrong.

Heh... That kid has a temperament as tough and smelly as a stone in a latrine. Yan Nanmo adheres to the principle that the wife always comes first. Both sons must unconditionally carry this out—right or wrong, it’s always your mistake. In any case, making Mom (your wife) angry is absolutely unjustifiable.

Although Yan Nanmo was sometimes whimsical, he maintained his authority in front of his sons. Yan Song pursed his lips, lowered his head, and said softly, "Mom, don’t be angry..."

Just not admitting he was wrong.

Yan Nanmo quickly soothed, "Look, the boy knows he was wrong, so don’t stay angry. A woman loses her beauty when she’s furious; it easily leads to wrinkles..."

Yan Nanmo knew exactly how to hit Zhuang Xiyue’s soft spot. She pushed him away, saying, "Nonsense, I’m not going to get wrinkles."

Yan Nanmo winked at Yan Song, who frowned and walked over, tugging gently at Zhuang Xiyue’s clothes, "I won’t fight with my brother anymore, Mom, please don’t be mad, okay?"

That is, as long as Yan Ke didn’t provoke him first, he couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger.

It has to be said, when Yan Song tried to be cute, it was quite effective. Zhuang Xiyue’s anger dissipated almost instantly. She touched Yan Song’s head and said solemnly, "You are the older brother, you must be considerate of your younger brother. If this happens again, I will send you back to Capital City."

She couldn’t bear to send her son away; it was just to scare the child. But Yan Song seemed happy, his eyes sparkling as he looked up, "Really? Mom, are you sending me back to Grandpa and Grandma’s house?" He couldn’t stand this place, lacking even a single playmate.

He was the darling of Capital City. Every child in the big courtyard circled around him. They all called him ’Brother’ so happily, and he could pick on whoever he wanted with Grandpa and Grandma doting on him. Life couldn’t be more carefree.

Zhuang Xiyue: "...In your dreams!"

The nanny outside reminded, "Madam, it’s almost time. You and sir should make an appearance."

——

"Here they come, Mr. Yan and Lady Yan have arrived." Someone spoke, and in an instant, all eyes turned towards the second floor.

The lights in the hall dimmed, and the sole spotlight focused on the entrance of the second-floor corridor.

The first to emerge was a man dressed in a meticulously tailored black suit. He was taller than the average man, at least one meter eighty-five in height, slim and well-proportioned, especially his long and slender legs, rivaling those of a supermodel. Then there was his face, which drew a collective gasp from many women present.

With sharp brows and bright eyes, he was exceptionally handsome, and especially those peach blossom eyes had such a fleeting glance that involuntarily drawn people into a deep infatuation.

He was very young, looking no more than thirty years old, emanating a demeanor both righteous and wicked, captivating people’s hearts.

Is this Minister Yan? Goodness, I thought it would be some middle-aged uncle with a paunch. Who would have thought he’d be so young and handsome...

A group of unmarried young ladies felt their hearts flutter, covering their mouths, wanting to scream...

Yun Shen frowned slightly, it turned out to be such a charming man—more like a superstar than a high-ranking official.

The man curved his lips into a slight smile, instantly exuding a charm that made hearts race, carrying an air of a dandy rogue. But before the ladies and wives downstairs could scream again, he sidestepped, reaching into the darkness with an outstretched hand, his lips curled up in a gentle smile that seemed to warm the heart.

A fair and slender hand took his, and then, from the shadows, a figure of sublime beauty emerged, accompanying him at his side. The two looked at each other and smiled, an unspoken harmony and warmth circulating between them...

The sight of their shared smile was as majestic as a painting, under the silvery and hazy lights, it was an everlasting image etched into the hearts of all present.

The women who had been infatuated cooled down like a bucket of icy water had been poured over them.

This must be Lady Yan, young and beautiful, with the demeanor of an orchid in a secluded valley, stunningly beautiful. It seemed only a woman like her could match a man of such handsomeness.

Following were two small boys, one tall and the other short, each holding the hand of the man and woman. The taller boy, in a little black suit, had delicate, beautiful features; if not for his cold and cool temperament, you might mistake him for a girl. His peach blossom eyes mirrored the man’s. Perhaps because he was still young and his face had not fully matured, his eyes lacked the allure of the man’s, yet had a cold charm.

The shorter boy, dressed in a little white suit, wobbled as he walked, looking very cute. His eyes very much resembled the woman’s, pure and endearing when he smiled, like a crescent moon, prompting an urge to pinch his chubby cheeks. How could a child be so adorable?

A family of four descending the stairs was an eye-pleasing sight, and for a moment there was silence below.

The moment Yun Ya saw the tall boy, she felt a twinge of pain in her left shoulder. She couldn’t help but furrow her brows and reached up to touch the spot on her shoulder.

Even through her clothing, she could feel a raised scar there, a memory that seemed as distant as a past life. Yet, every time she thought of it, she felt a piercing pain that took her breath away.