Chapter 229: This Family of Three

Lu Shixu seemed to have a special fondness for the herbal tea Nan Zhi brewed herself. He drank three cups in a row and still seemed to want more.

And he didn’t drink it like medicine, pinching his nose and chugging it down to mask the bitterness with speed.

Quite the opposite, he savored every little sip, as if it weren’t a potently bitter herbal tea, but some exquisite, peerless delicacy!

Nan Zhi was so astonished watching him that she almost thought Lu Shixu had secretly added sugar to his cup.

In fact, he hadn’t.

The entire process of Lu Shixu pouring and drinking the tea had happened right under her nose.

Nan Zhi really couldn’t hold back any longer and asked him,

“Isn’t it bitter?”

Even she could barely stand the taste of this herbal tea.

Let alone Nan Yi.

Nan Zhi’s requirement that he drink a cup every morning was like a form of torture, one he endured purely out of love for his mother.

So, when Lu Shixu said the two words, “Not bitter,” without batting an eye, it wasn’t just Nan Zhi; Nan Yi’s eyes also went wide with utter disbelief.

A competitive spirit suddenly surged within Nan Yi.

‘He can do it, so why can’t I? Hmph.’

“Mama, I want to drink some too. I haven’t had mine today.”

He had used an excuse to get out of drinking his herbal tea this morning, thinking his mother had forgotten.

Actually, Nan Zhi hadn’t forgotten. She had just decided to play along with his little scheme and let him off the hook just this once.

Even now, Nan Zhi didn’t expose him. She simply went to the kitchen and poured a cup for Nan Yi.

Nan Yi held the cup, mustered all his courage, and took a sip.

Bitter.

So bitter his tongue went numb.

So bitter his little face scrunched up into a knot.

But Nan Yi still tried his best to act like nothing was wrong, stubbornly declaring,

“Mmm! Delicious!”

Nan Zhi nearly burst out laughing.

She had to try very hard to suppress a smile as she put the teapot back.

“We’ll leave once you two are finished.”

Lu Shixu put down his teacup.

“You’re going out like that?”

Nan Zhi looked herself over.

“Is there a problem?”

Lu Shixu pointed at Nan Zhi’s damp hair.

Nan Zhi raised a hand to touch it.

“Oh, it’s fine. It’s almost dry.”

Lu Shixu showed a rare persistence.

“No, you have to blow-dry it.”

Nan Zhi frowned.

“It’s really not necessary.”

Nan Yi hadn’t been paying attention to their argument.

Until Lu Shixu said, “You’ll get sick.”

It was as if a switch had been flipped in him, and he instantly jumped to his feet.

“No! Mama! You have to dry your hair before we can go out!”

For once, Nan Yi and Lu Shixu were on the same side!

And both of them were staring at Nan Zhi with tense, earnest, and serious faces.

At that moment, their two pairs of eyes, dark as cold stars, revealed a striking similarity. From their shape to their expression, they were nearly identical.

In the end, it was Nan Zhi who surrendered.

“Fine, just wait a minute.”

Nan Zhi turned and went into the inner room.

A moment later, the sound of a hair dryer running could be heard.

Nan Zhi’s hair was thick and dense, so it would take some time to dry completely.

So Lu Shixu and Nan Yi waited patiently for her in the living room.

Lu Shixu took another sip of the herbal tea and casually asked Nan Yi,

“Does your mom do this often? Not drying her hair?”

“Yeah, she says it takes too long to dry… Hey, why am I telling you this!”

The previously unguarded Nan Yi instantly put his guard up!

Lu Shixu was already used to the little guy’s sudden mood swings and replied calmly,

“It’s all for your mother’s good. You didn’t notice this before, did you?”

This sentence undoubtedly made Nan Yi, who prided himself on taking good care of his mother, feel ashamed.

He even started to stutter,

“I… I was…”

Lu Shixu didn’t press him for a confession, but simply stated,

“See? My reminder was useful.”

Nan Yi was half-convinced, half-skeptical.

When Nan Zhi came out with her hair dry, she was surprised to find that instead of the expected scene of Nan Yi and Lu Shixu at odds, the two were sitting amicably on the same sofa, the atmosphere around them unexpectedly harmonious.

‘Hmm?’

Nan Zhi was puzzled. She had a feeling a conversation she wasn’t privy to had occurred between the two of them.

But no matter how she tried to probe, their lips were sealed like clamshells, not revealing a single word.

Nan Zhi decided to just drop it.

They headed into town, arriving at their destination in less than 20 minutes.

The black SUV Lu Shixu was driving had an imposing look that seemed somewhat out of place in the poor, simple town. Many people were turning their heads to stare at the vehicle.

Not wanting to attract too much attention, Lu Shixu specifically drove to a more secluded spot to park.

He was clearly being too naive.

Even without the enhancement of external objects like the car, the presence of the three of them alone was eye-catching enough.

Nan Zhi was dressed in a simple, white linen long dress, her thick, seaweed-like black hair cascading over her shoulders.

Because she was holding Nan Yi’s hand, she exuded an aura as gentle as moonlight.

Even doing nothing, just standing there, she had an ethereal grace, as if she were separate from the mortal world.

And Nan Yi, holding her hand, was picturesque and exquisitely cute, looking just like a little immortal child from a New Year’s painting.

Moreover, he was always exceptionally well-behaved by his mother’s side, as if all the spiritual energy of the mountains and forests was concentrated in him.

Then there was Lu Shixu. His aura was best described as cold and distant, like the eternal snow capping a mountain peak.

An ancient, unchanging indifference. When he lowered his gaze, it was as if the world itself wasn’t reflected in his eyes.

Until he glanced sideways and saw Nan Zhi. The frozen lake in his eyes began to melt and flow, and in an instant, the grass grew, orioles took flight, and all of life burst forth with vitality.

A trio as physically perfect as them walking through the bustling market of the small town made it hard for anyone to ignore their presence.

And so, the simple and warm-hearted town residents, seeing that they were outsiders, took the initiative to greet them—

“Welcome! A family out for a trip, eh?”

“Actually, we’re not a family.”

“Your child is so good-looking, just like his dad.”

“No, I’m not! He’s not my dad!”

“Sir, how about buying some of our honey for your wife and kid? It’s pure, all-natural wild honey, and it tastes great!”

“Mm, how much is it.”

He calmly chose to ignore the disapproving gazes from Nan Zhi and Nan Yi and paid for a jar of honey.

When he turned back, he saw Nan Zhi and Nan Yi wearing the exact same frown.

He lifted the bag slightly.

“Wild honey. It’s delicious. You don’t want it?”

Nan Zhi shot him a sideways glance, not bothering to say more, and walked straight away, pulling Nan Yi along.

Nan Yi, however, was beaming, looking quite happy.

Lu Shixu resignedly followed them.

“Sorry, I just thought it would be too troublesome to explain.”

Nan Zhi didn’t respond.

“After all, he’s just a stranger we’re passing by.”

Nan Zhi still didn’t respond.

Lu Shixu had no choice but to shut up and quietly follow behind Nan Zhi and Nan Yi, carrying the jar of honey.

Little did they know, to any onlooker, this scene looked even more like a family of three having a little tiff!