Chapter 66 – Little Morning Trouble
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Lin Xin woke up groggily, his head poking out from beneath the thin blanket. His curly blonde hair was completely tousled from sleep, with a few strands sticking up in every direction.
He rubbed his eyes sleepily before letting out a soft yawn.
"Are you awake?"
Hearing Han Yan’s voice, Lin Xin slowly opened his eyes.
He saw Han Yan walking into their bedroom.
"Mm..." Lin Xin answered sleepily.
He still looked half-asleep, his usual alertness completely gone. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his cheeks were still warm from the blanket.
Han Yan couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
He walked over to the bed and sat down beside him.
"You need to get up. Dinner is ready."
As he spoke, he reached out and gently pressed Lin Xin’s cheek.
Lin Xin’s cheek squished beneath his fingers.
"Mm..."
He frowned sleepily and pushed Han Yan’s hand away.
"Don’t pinch me..."
Han Yan chuckled.
"Then wake up."
Lin Xin blinked at him a few times before finally remembering the important part.
"Dinner?"
"Yes."
"What did you make?"
Han Yan’s smile deepened.
"Your favorite."
Lin Xin’s sleepy expression immediately brightened.
"Really?"
The change was so quick that Han Yan almost laughed.
Just moments ago, Lin Xin had looked as though he could fall back asleep at any moment. Now, his emerald eyes were already sparkling with interest.
"Really."
"What is it?"
"If I tell you, you’ll get up?"
Lin Xin nodded immediately.
"Mm-hm!"
Han Yan shook his head helplessly.
"You’re certainly easy to coax with food."
Lin Xin puffed out his cheeks.
"I’m not."
"You are."
"I just happen to like your cooking."
"Then get up and eat."
Lin Xin finally sat up, though he still looked rather reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed.
Han Yan reached for his outer robe and helped him put it on.
Lin Xin obediently slipped his arms into the sleeves, still looking a little dazed.
Once he was dressed, Han Yan glanced at his hair.
He couldn’t help but smile again.
"Come here."
"Why?"
"Your hair."
Lin Xin touched his curls and realized how messy they were.
"Oh..."
He obediently moved closer.
Han Yan carefully smoothed down his tousled blonde curls, fixing them as best he could.
Lin Xin sat there quietly, his head occasionally tilting whenever Han Yan’s fingers moved through his hair.
After a moment, Han Yan stepped back.
"Done."
Lin Xin touched his hair.
"Is it really?"
"Mm."
Lin Xin narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You’re not lying to me?"
Han Yan laughed softly.
"Would I dare?"
Lin Xin seemed satisfied with that answer.
The two of them then left the bedroom together.
As they walked toward the dining area, Han Yan suddenly remembered something.
"Little Hai is waiting for us."
Lin Xin’s steps quickened slightly.
"Really?"
"He refused to eat until we came out."
Lin Xin’s heart softened immediately.
"That little fellow..."
When they arrived, Dong Hai was already sitting at the table.
The moment he saw them, his serious little face relaxed slightly.
"You’re finally here."
Lin Xin blinked.
"Little Hai, were you waiting for us?"
Dong Hai nodded solemnly.
"Yes."
Han Yan couldn’t help but smile.
"Then let’s eat."
The table was already filled with dishes.
There was fragrant braised pork, steamed fish with ginger and scallions, stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of warm chicken soup. At the center sat a plate of golden, crispy fried chicken pieces—one of Lin Xin’s favorite dishes.
Lin Xin’s eyes immediately lit up.
"Yan-ge, you really made all of this?"
Han Yan nodded as he pulled out a chair for him. Lin Xin sat down happily, a smile spreading across his face.
"You’re the best."
Han Yan’s lips curved upward.
"Eat first. You can praise me afterward."
Lin Xin picked up his chopsticks without hesitation and began eating with relish.
"Mm!"
Dong Hai quietly watched the two of them for a moment before lowering his head and continuing his meal.
He had long since gotten used to their little affectionate moments.
After dinner, the three of them remained in the courtyard for a while.
Dong Hai had wandered over to where the chubby chicks were pecking around the ground.
He crouched nearby, quietly watching them waddle after one another.
One particularly round chick stumbled over its own feet.
Dong Hai stared at it for a moment.
Then he reached out and gently placed it back on its feet.
The chick immediately continued walking as though nothing had happened.
Dong Hai’s expression remained completely serious.
Lin Xin watched from the side and couldn’t help but smile.
The little fellow looked less like a child playing with chicks and more like an old man patiently supervising them.
Han Yan sat beside Lin Xin, resting against the back of the chair.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Tomorrow, I’ll be going into the mountains with Wei Jun."
Lin Xin turned toward him.
"Into the mountains?"
"Mm. We’re going hunting."
His smile immediately disappeared.
"When are you leaving?"
"Early tomorrow morning."
"So soon?"
Han Yan nodded.
Lin Xin frowned slightly.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Probably only a day or two."
Lin Xin’s brows knitted together.
"The mountains are dangerous."
Han Yan was about to answer, but Lin Xin had already continued.
"And what will you eat?"
Han Yan blinked.
"Xin’er.."
"You’ll be out there all day. You can’t just eat whatever you find in the mountains."
"I’ll be fine."
"You always say that."
Lin Xin’s frown deepened.
"What if you get hungry?"
Han Yan looked at him helplessly.
"I can hunt."
"That isn’t the same."
Lin Xin began thinking seriously.
"I should prepare some food for you."
"There is no need."
"There is."
Lin Xin had already made up his mind.
"I’ll prepare some flatbreads and dried meat. They won’t be heavy, and you can eat them whenever you’re hungry."
Han Yan opened his mouth to refuse again.
But after seeing Lin Xin’s worried expression, he quietly closed it.
"Alright."
Lin Xin finally relaxed a little.
"I’ll make enough for you and Wei Jun."
Han Yan nodded.
"Alright."
For a moment, the courtyard was quiet.
Then Han Yan suddenly said, "By the way, Liu De and Wei Fan are coming tomorrow."
Lin Xin looked at him.
"They are?"
"Mm."
A small smile appeared on Lin Xin’s face.
"That’s good. I really enjoyed talking with Liu De. I was a little sad when we had to leave so soon."
Han Yan nodded.
"That’s why I thought you’d be happy."
Lin Xin smiled, but then Han Yan raised a finger.
"However, don’t tell little Hai yet."
Lin Xin paused.
"Why?"
"Let it be a little surprise."
Lin Xin immediately understood.
His gaze shifted toward Dong Hai, who was still sitting beside the chubby chicks with a completely serious expression.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"You want to surprise little Hai?"
"Mm."
Han Yan glanced at Dong Hai.
"Especially since someone has been thinking about his new friend all evening."
Lin Xin covered his mouth to hide his laughter.
"You’re right."
The two exchanged an amused glance.
Neither of them noticed that Dong Hai had quietly turned his head toward them.
His expression remained calm, but his ears had already perked up.
He had heard the word "friend."
Could it be Wei Fan? Was he really coming over tomorrow?
A faint blush crept onto Dong Hai’s cheeks as he quietly glanced toward them, pretending he hadn’t heard anything.
The next morning, the sky was still pale when Han Yan quietly finished getting ready.
He adjusted the belt around his robe and glanced toward the bed.
Lin Xin was still fast asleep beneath the thin blanket, his curly blonde hair spread messily across the pillow. His breathing was slow and even, his face peaceful in a way that made Han Yan hesitate.
He had planned to wake him.
After all, Lin Xin had insisted the night before that he would prepare food for him to take into the mountains.
But looking at him now, Han Yan couldn’t bring himself to disturb his sleep.
I’ll just leave quietly.
He picked up his things and turned toward the door.
The moment he took a step..
Lin Xin stirred beneath the blanket.
His brows furrowed slightly, and he let out a sleepy groan before slowly opening his eyes.
He blinked several times.
The first thing he saw was Han Yan standing near the door.
His sleepy expression immediately changed.
"Where are you going?"
Han Yan stopped.
Lin Xin pushed himself up, his hair sticking out in every direction.
"You’re going out without telling me?"
His voice was still hoarse from sleep, but the accusation in it was unmistakable.
Han Yan turned around.
"Xin’er..."
Lin Xin stared at him.
"I told you I would make you some warm food to take with you when you’re hunting."
He rubbed his eyes before glaring at Han Yan.
"Why didn’t you wake me up?"
Han Yan avoided his gaze for a moment.
"I saw you sleeping so well."
His voice softened.
"I didn’t want to wake you."
Lin Xin stared at him.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Han Yan became increasingly uneasy.
He knew that expression.
It was the expression Lin Xin wore whenever he was trying very hard not to complain.
"Xin’er?"
Thump.
Lin Xin suddenly threw the blanket aside and climbed out of bed.
He didn’t say a word.
Han Yan stood there, completely stunned.
Lin Xin walked past him, grabbed his outer robe, and slipped it over his shoulders.
Still not a word.
He simply tightened the robe around himself and walked straight out of the room.
Han Yan remained completely rooted to the spot.
"...What did I do?"
He genuinely couldn’t figure it out.
Was he angry?
Did he say something wrong?
Or was it because he hadn’t woken him?
Han Yan frowned deeply.
But I was only trying to let him sleep.
Before he could follow, a familiar furry figure casually walked past the doorway.
Zhi Zun glanced at Han Yan.
Then at the direction Lin Xin had disappeared.
The cat’s eyes narrowed with amusement, looking just like a gossiping aunty who had just heard some juicy gossip.
"Serves you right, stinky human."
Han Yan’s face darkened.
Zhi Zun flicked his tail casually, not bothered by Han Yan’s dark expression in the slightest.
"You have terrible luck when it comes to matters of the heart. Tch, tch."
The cat leisurely continued walking.
"You should really thank the lucky stars you even managed to get married."
Han Yan’s eyebrow twitched.
"Zhi Zun."
The cat didn’t even bother looking back.
"Good luck."
It walked away with its tail held high, proudly showing off its butt.
Han Yan stared after it.
"Damn cat..."
He immediately turned and hurried toward the kitchen.
By the time he reached the courtyard, Lin Xin was already inside.
The kitchen door was open, and the faint sounds of pots and utensils could be heard from within.
Han Yan stepped inside.
Lin Xin was standing in front of the stove, still looking sleepy.
His blonde curls were completely untidy, and his outer robe was only loosely tied around him.
He was trying to light the fire while occasionally rubbing his sleepy eyes.
Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that the coal had left black marks around his eyes. The more he rubbed them, the more the marks spread, making him look like a sleepy little panda.
Han Yan’s heart softened at the sight.
He almost laughed, but quickly pressed his lips together to hold it back. Lin Xin looked far too adorable and Han Yan didn’t have the heart to tease him.
After composing himself, he softly called,
"Xin’er."
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