"Tingye is upstairs, in his own room."
Qin Youxuan looked at the two men who hadn’t spoken from start to finish, knowing that Bai Zheng was determined to take Ye Mingmei and Meimei away, she said no more.
After everything they’ve been through, each of them yearned to protect their loved ones in their own way, and all they could do was support them.
Just, what kind of reaction would Tingye have upon knowing that Meimei was leaving?
-
In the spacious room, modern furnishings made the originally cozy decor appear very sleek and tidy. At first glance, it didn’t look like a room for a five-year-old child at all; rather, it resembled the office of an overpowering CEO.
The only place hinting at childlike wonder was the bookshelf, where a large empty space among the numerous books was filled with all kinds of puzzles.
Some were already completed and hung there, while others were kept in boxes.
Each design was very feminine, like something a girl would play with.
Placed on the black-and-white themed bookshelf, they appeared somewhat out of place, but the room’s owner seemed indifferent to this and even positioned the puzzles in the most prominent spot, where they could be easily seen with a glance.
At this moment, Tingye was unaware of what was happening outside. He was seated at the desk, holding a piece of specially crafted wood and a small, thin blade, meticulously carving something.
His movements were swift yet cautious, as if the figure’s image had been imprinted in his mind long ago, but he was worried about making mistakes, so he deliberately slowed down the carving speed.
As the custom blade moved, a human face gradually emerged on the wood: large, shining eyes, a small delicate nose, and a cute little mouth...
He had been sitting there for the entire morning, and the hand holding the blade was slightly red, yet he seemed unaware of any fatigue. Watching the figure under his hand become increasingly clear, the corners of his lips curled into a nurturing smile.
"Knock knock—"
The sudden knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Tingye’s handsome face frowned slightly. He placed the half-finished carving on the desk before speaking, "Come in."
"Tingye, it’s me coming to see you. Auntie said you were doing homework. Have you finished?"
Meimei poked her small head inside from the doorway, cautiously glanced around the room to make sure she wasn’t disturbing him, then squeezed her little body inside and happily bounced towards him.
Just moments ago, still cold and indifferent, Tingye’s stern features softened instantly upon seeing Meimei enter.
He was about to stand up when his eyes caught the wooden piece on the desk, and a hint of panic that his secret might be discovered flashed in his eyes. Seeing Meimei walking towards him, he quickly reached out, grabbed the wooden piece, and hid it behind his back.
"What’s that?"
Although Tingye’s movements were fast, Meimei still saw them.
Discovering he was hiding something piqued Meimei’s curiosity. She edged closer to Tingye, trying to look behind him.
"It’s nothing, just a random wooden carving, not finished yet." Tingye instinctively stepped back, widening the distance between them, and his ears turned red from lying.
He tucked the hand holding the carving further into his sleeve, avoiding Meimei’s curious gaze, nervously swallowing before asking,
"Why are you here to see me?"