Chapter 284: Welcome back Ancestor

He gave Guiying one last gentle kiss on the forehead before reluctantly stepping back. Peng Guoqing opened the rear door. Liuxian got into the car, though his gaze never left Guiying until the door closed.

The engine started moments later.

Guiying stood beside Wang Chengli as the Rolls-Royce slowly pulled away from the mansion. He continued watching until it passed through the estate gates and disappeared beyond his sight.

Only then did Wang Chengli quietly speak. "Young Master Xue, Haiyan will take you to TongShu whenever you’re ready. Jiang Wenxi called earlier. Everyone has been waiting for today’s fitting."

Guiying drew in a slow breath before giving a small nod. "...Let’s go."

Haiyan immediately stepped forward and opened the rear door of the matte sand beige Lexus. "Young Master Xue."

Guiying acknowledged him with a quiet hum before sliding into the back seat. Wang Chengli waited until Haiyan had closed the door before leaning down slightly. "Have a good day, Young Master Xue."

"I will, Uncle Wang."

The Lexus pulled away from the mansion, leaving Wang Chengli standing beneath the entrance as he watched the car disappear in the opposite direction from Liuxian’s.

Silence settled inside the vehicle. Haiyan had driven Guiying long enough to understand when conversation was welcome and when it wasn’t. Today was clearly the latter.

Guiying rested his elbow against the window, absentmindedly turning the wedding band around his finger. Liuxian should be halfway to the airport by now. He wondered if Old Li’s congee had already been forced into his hands before Zhang Wei buried him beneath a mountain of documents. The image appeared so vividly in his mind that a small smile tugged at his lips.

’I hope he actually eats this time.’

His husband had an unfortunate habit of forgetting meals whenever work became busy. If not for Old Li constantly reminding him and Wang Chengli quietly keeping track, Liuxian would happily survive on coffee and determination.

Guiying sighed almost inaudibly. The urge to send a message won almost immediately. He unlocked his phone.

Hubby: Have you eaten?

He stared at the screen for a second before shaking his head. "...He’s probably still in the car."

Deleting the message, he locked the phone again. He could wait until Liuxian reached the airport.

Haiyan glanced briefly into the rearview mirror. "Young Master Xue."

"Mm?"

"Would you like me to stop somewhere for breakfast?"

Guiying smiled faintly. "No. I’ll eat with everyone at TongShu if they’re taking a break."

"I understand."

The car continued through the morning traffic. Nearly forty minutes later, the familiar TongShu building appeared ahead. Even before the Lexus came to a complete stop, the glass doors burst open.

Bai Zichen rushed outside so quickly that Pei Jiahao barely managed to grab the back of his shirt. "Slow down!"

"I’m trying!"

"No, you’re trying to trip over your own feet again."

"I have long legs!"

"That has nothing to do with your balance."

Haiyan had barely opened the rear door before Bai Zichen appeared beside the car. "Ancestor!"

Guiying stepped out just in time to find Bai Zichen dramatically clutching both of his shoulders. "You’re finally here!"

Guiying blinked. "...I’ve only been gone since Tuesday."

"I know!" Bai Zichen complained. "But Jiang Wenxi has redesigned your jacket twice this morning, Lin Yansu has threatened to stab me with sewing pins, Lan Qiuyue has reorganized the accessories four different times, and Pei Jiahao has been glaring at everyone like we’re personally responsible for his stress."

Pei Jiahao walked over a second later, looking thoroughly exhausted. "I wasn’t glaring."

"You absolutely were."

"I was disappointed."

"See?"

"Those aren’t the same thing."

Guiying laughed quietly as the two continued bickering. The familiar atmosphere instantly eased the lingering heaviness in his chest. Somehow, TongShu always felt alive.

Everyone seemed to be moving at once. Staff carried garment bags from one room to another while assistants hurried past with fabric samples. Sketches covered the long worktables, measuring tapes hung around people’s necks, steaming cups of coffee sat forgotten beside sewing machines that hadn’t stopped running since sunrise. It was chaotic. It was noisy. It was home in its own way.

"Finally."

A calm female voice interrupted the commotion. Jiang Wenxi emerged from the fitting room carrying a sketchbook beneath one arm. She looked Guiying up and down with the critical eye of a designer before giving a small nod to herself. "You slept."

Guiying looked slightly confused. "...I did."

"It shows."

Bai Zichen puffed out his cheeks. "I’ve been here since seven in the morning. Why didn’t you compliment me?"

Jiang Wenxi didn’t even spare him a glance. "You look like you complained for three consecutive hours."

"I did."

"I know."

Lin Yansu stepped out behind her, carrying several garment bags. "He’s exaggerating." She looked toward Guiying with a gentle smile. "Welcome back. We’ve finished the final adjustments, but we’d still like to see everything on you before tomorrow’s rehearsal."

Guiying nodded. "Of course."

Lan Qiuyue hurried over carrying a tablet nearly half her size. "I’ve updated the fitting schedule." She stopped abruptly before bowing politely. "Good morning, Brother Guiying."

"Good morning."

Shao Mingye walked into the studio with a camera hanging around his neck. The moment he spotted Guiying, he smiled. "Perfect timing. The lighting is exactly how I wanted it."

Bai Zichen groaned dramatically. "Can everyone stop talking about work for five minutes? Guiying just got here."

"No," Jiang Wenxi answered flatly.

Pei Jiahao nodded in agreement. "No."

Lin Yansu smiled apologetically. "...Also no."

Even Lan Qiuyue quietly shook her head.

Bai Zichen looked to Shao Mingye for support. "You’ll agree with me, right?"

Shao Mingye adjusted the camera strap on his shoulder. "I already prepared the studio."

Bai Zichen threw both hands into the air. "I work with heartless people."

Guiying couldn’t stop himself from laughing. The sound drew everyone’s attention for only a moment before they relaxed almost visibly.

Only then did Jiang Wenxi close her sketchbook. "There it is."

Guiying tilted his head. "What?"