Youyou's voice rang out, like a stone suddenly cast onto the still surface of a tranquil lake.
Ye Xi instinctively took a step back, nearly losing her balance, but was caught around the waist by Lu Lingxiao's extended hand, who then steadied her once more.
Little Youyou, still holding Grandma Ye's hand, stood a small distance away with her, watching the man and woman in the sunlight.
Seeing this, Grandma Ye's eyes crinkled with joy.
She explained, "Youyou saw that the two of you had been gone for so long and insisted on coming over to check."
Ye Xi disengaged from Lu Lingxiao's embrace without a fuss and walked towards Youyou.
Arriving in front of Youyou, Ye Xi crouched down to meet his gaze at eye level.
She wiped the dust from the little guy's face and said, "Have you been naughty again? Your little face is all smudged."
Lu Youheng looked at Ye Xi with gentle eyes, but when his gaze shifted past her to his father, it was a different matter altogether.
…
