Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

Then as per usual, Aunt Lin placed the tea making set on the front table and the man took his leisure time to make his super 'expensive' tea!

When Luo Lixi came back, she saw this scene and froze. Even when she stood in front of Sheng Haotin, the man didn't lift his head to see her. Luo Lixi greeted him slowly, "Uncle, how have you been?"

Sheng Haotin paused for a second. Even though he hated it when someone disturbed his tea time, the old man replied nonchalantly while looking at his green jade teacup, "Good."

Then he took a few seconds, poured tea in another cup and placed it in front of another seat, indicating to her to sit down. 

Luo Lixi saw this and understood the hidden meaning and sat down on the sofa in front of him. When she drank the pink rose tea from the cup, she blurted out with admiration, "Good tea."

Luo Qintian wasn't someone who would enjoy tea and thus it was rare for Luo Lixi to have the knowledge of various teas. Nonetheless, she felt her taste buds tingle when the aromatic and sweet liquid met with her tongue. It was such a noble feeling that she instantly fell in love with the tea. 

Sheng Haotin didn't make any sound and Wei Airan smiled at her. When she finished her cup, Sheng Haotin poured her tea again and she gladly drank it again. Looking at her, a vague approval flashed in Sheng Haotin's face. 

After enjoying five cups of tea, Luo Lixi stood up and said before leaving, "I am going back to the kitchen to check on the dinner."

"Go." Wei Airan didn't want her to feel more awkward in the silent atmosphere and thus replied. Then, with a swift motion, she turned her eyes on the book and began to read again. 

When Luo Lixi left, Sheng Haotin glanced at Wei Airan and said after a long time, "Don't let her do any work. She's not in good enough condition to do so for the time being."

Wei Airan stopped reading and stared at the old man who had resumed his drinking session. She went into deep thoughts and turned to the man. "Oh. I don't have any plans to let her work. Just that I don't want her to get bored with us old people. It's good if she busies herself with something..."

Sheng Haotin threw a questioning look at her but Wei Airan had already shifted her eyes to her book, not bothering him at all.

"You didn't ask me why I said that." Sheng Haotin said with a frown. In other times, Wei Airan would nag at him to know the reason but today, she was oddly calm.

"Not interested." The smile from her face vanished as Wei Airan replied with a chuckle, "It's not like you father-son will tell me if I ask the reason, will you?"

"... Later." Sheng Haotin's strict face went to his teapot and the man got busy with his tea. 

"Heh! I knew it." Wei Airan snorted and put the book with a loud 'Bang!' on the table. But it failed to scare the man. Wei Airan stood up and left with anger. 

… 

When Sheng Ruming returned from the office, he saw the place looked way more deserted. No one was present on the first floor and other servants weren't present either. 

He glanced around the villa and spotted Aunt Lin outside who was busy picking some fresh flowers from the trees. 

As the man took off his outer suit he asked her, "Where is everyone?"

 Aunt Lin stopped to turn to him and bowed slightly, "Good evening, Young Master. Currently, everyone is on the terrace. Madam has told me to notify you that you should go there for dinner today." 

"Oh." Sheng Ruming nodded and went to his room. After changing back to indoor clothes, he went to the terrace and stopped his steps at the entrance. 

The place was lit up with many lights and on one side, both his mother and Luo Lixi were reading something. Both ladies had one individual book in their hands. In the same area, his father was taking his leisure time to drink his super-duper expensive tea. 

On top of that, Luo Lixi would lean ahead to pour herself some from Sheng Haotin's teapot and would sip on the pink rose tea as she would turn her pages. 

This thing continued for a long time and the people there appeared as if they were unaware that someone was there, staring at them intensely. 

The young man continued to stand in his place in silence. Looking at the peaceful scene of his family, his tense heart oddly felt warm and calmed down. As he took in a deep breath, he felt the tension getting reduced. 

"Young master, please step aside." Aunt Lin spoke out softly and in a low voice so that she wouldn't disturb the quiet moment of the other three people. 

Wei Airan lifted her head at the sound and turned to the entrance of the terrace and broke out in a smile, "Ah, Xiao Ming has arrived. Child, why are you standing there? Come here."

"Hmm." Sheng Ruming glanced ahead and saw Luo Lixi lifted her eyes and met with his dark orbs. But unlike other times, she didn't even spend another second on him and turned away with 'Humph!'. 

The young man raised his eyes at her adorable action and mulled over as he made his way towards them, 'Why are you sulking again?'

Sheng Ruming went beside Luo Lixi and sat down but the lady didn't even look at him. Even when he stared at her, she ignored him deliberately. When he put his arm around her waist, she didn't even hesitate to pinch him hardly. 

Wei Airan saw them but remained quiet. Even though she was reading, not even one word registered in her mind as she pondered, 'This atmosphere isn't good for them…'

Sheng Haotin continued his usual activity of drinking tea and turned to look at the bright moon. The lights around them fell pale in comparison against the beauty of that ethereal being. The old man began to appreciate the moon again after Sheng Ruming's arrival disturbed his tranquil mood

"How is the progress of the project?" Sheng Haotin twirled the tea in his little jade cup and asked as he shot Sheng Ruming a sharp questioning look.

Because Luo Lixi was beside him, she felt the obvious pressure and thus sat straight and subconsciously looked ahead, at Sheng Haotin's tea set. Without thinking much, she picked up her cup and hid her eyes in the content of the rose tea. 

"Everything is fine." Sheng Ruming gave a positive answer which pleased Sheng Haotin. The old man turned to Luo Lixi who was busy looking at the movement of the rose petal in her teacup. 

"Luo Lixi." Sheng Haotin abruptly mentioned her which caught her off guard. The deep authoritative voice of the old man was very different from her own grandfather and it was capable of freezing anyone!

"Ye… yes, uncle?" She replied nervously and forcefully turned her sight on Sheng Haotin's intimidating face. Her hands began to sweat.

"Girl, do you want your Luo Corporation to participate in this project?" At his remark, all of them turned to Luo Lixi. Suddenly being asked such a question, Luo Lixi was flustered and turned to Sheng Ruming. 

Sheng Ruming also wanted to know if she would like to and his thoughts were, 'If you want, I will let your family in! Such a good deal! You want it?!'

Sheng Haotin saw her dilemma which made him displeased and the old man spoke out with a frown, "Many other companies have already expressed their intentions to do so. You are now part of the Sheng family and should consider it carefully."

Luo Lixi nodded her head and replied in a low voice, "Thanks, uncle... I will talk about this with my grandfather."

"Hmm. Go ahead. Such opportunities don't come every day." After he was done, Sheng Haotin didn't mention anything else and concentrated on appreciating the moon. 

Luo Lixi began to ponder whether she should tell Zhao Yichen to talk things through with Sheng Ruming when Wei Airan closed her book and stood up. 

"It's already time for dinner. Now that Xiao Ming is here, let's start?" At Wei Airan's words, the other three people stood up and went to the temporary table. They sat down, surrounding the table. 

After a while, the maids came up and served the food. Luo Lixi made four dishes she knew a little bit and made all of them with the help of the internet. 

Dumplings in chicken soup, stir-fried vegetables, egg pouch and fried rice. Even though the things she made were normal, nobody said anything. 

She stood up and poured everyone soup in several small bowls. Aunt Lin then served those. Sheng Ruming blinked his eyes and his nose felt the smell somewhat familiar.