Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

"No need, I’ll just walk around by myself and ask the townsfolk if I get lost." Waving her hand, Zhang Zhiyi took a bottle of lemon tea from a shopping bag and strolled out of the courtyard.

As night fell, Song Chi and the others finally finished work and headed home. As soon as he got home, Ye Mingluo started clamoring to take a bath. His clothes were covered with mud, and even the hands he used to hold surgical tools were filthy.

Entering the small courtyard, Ye Mingluo saw Huo Wen’an drinking tea and couldn’t help but complain to him, "Look at my hands, do you see the mud in my fingernails? This is the first time I’ve worked in the fields since I was born! Huo Wen’an, you need to speak to your wife. After all, I’m a guest."

Huo Wen’an pushed Ye Mingluo away, "You’re an apprentice, apprentices are supposed to help their master with work."

"I’m an apprentice, but you’re her husband. Why can you stay at home sipping tea under the sun while I have to toil like a beast?" Ye Mingluo was about to continue when he noticed Xu Xingguang coming out from the house.

Ye Mingluo glanced at Xu Xingguang with resentment and was about to slip away.

Xu Xingguang called out to him, "Ye Mingluo, where’s my sister?"

"Sister?" Ye Mingluo shook his head and said, "I didn’t see the City Lord’s Wife, why? Did she go to the herb fields?"

"Maybe she went somewhere else to stroll." Xu Xingguang didn’t give it much thought and told Ye Mingluo and the others to hurry up with their baths, "Dinner will be ready soon, you can eat once you’re all cleaned up."

"Alright!"

Xu Xingguang’s small courtyard had only two baths, both on the second floor; one was a public bathroom and the other was in Xu Xingguang’s master bedroom.

Cheng Yue and Sister Lin had occupied the public bath upstairs, so Ye Mingluo had no choice but to take Song Chi and Zheng Lie to Huo Wen’an’s place to bathe.

Returning to the kitchen, Xu Xingguang turned off the soup pot and was about to call Zhang Zhiyi when she heard Huo Wen’an in the courtyard say, "Sister is back."

Xu Xingguang quickly headed to the courtyard and indeed saw Zhang Zhiyi who had just returned home.

"Sister, you didn’t go to the herb fields?"

Zhang Zhiyi shook her head and said, "I just strolled around town. I found the changes quite remarkable; the chowder shop the teacher used to love at the head of town has been torn down, now there’s a shampoo shop instead."

"But the old lady who sold rice wine is still there."

Following Xu Xingguang into the house, Zhang Zhiyi met Cheng Yue and the others and introduced herself gracefully. Smelling the enticing aroma of food, she went into the kitchen to evaluate Xu Xingguang’s culinary skills.

"Wow, Xu Xingguang, when did you become such a chef? Your skills are even better than your sister’s."

The house was filled with laughter and lively chatter.

Suddenly, Huo Wen’an put down his teacup and stood up, stepping over the wood-like patterned tiles in the courtyard, he walked over to the pebble path where Zhang Zhiyi had paused earlier. He bent down and picked up a small leaf from the pebbles.

He held the leaf up to look at it, silently murmuring, "Morning glory."

It was a morning glory leaf.

Huo Wen’an squinted slightly, listening to the laughter and chatter coming from the house, he tightened his lips, an ominous look in his eyes.

.

Staring at the silhouette standing under the morning glory, Yin Su took the cigarette from her lips and blew smoke toward that shadow, asking, "What are you doing by the wall?"

You Jiaoyang raised his hand and picked a leaf from the morning glory. He turned back to ask Yin Su, "Isn’t the sight of blooming morning glories beautiful?"

Yin Su looked at the flowers and plants on the courtyard wall, not quite getting You Jiaoyang’s aesthetic.

She shrugged and said, "Annoying."

You Jiaoyang just laughed. "You’re so contrary."

Yin Su’s eyes narrowed, her gaze instantly turning displeased.

"Annoyed again?" You Jiaoyang walked steadily to Yin Su’s side, gently pressing her temples, his calm and soft voice felt like it was soaked in warm water, warming people’s hearts.

"Yin Su, relax, you look just like a little hedgehog now."

The frown on Yin Su’s face started to ease a bit.

Yin Su suddenly said, "I want grilled steak."

"Alright."

You Jiaoyang was very obedient, trained to be well-behaved and tame.

He went to the kitchen, opened the fridge door, and carefully selected the ingredients for tonight’s meal.

Standing in the hallway outside the kitchen, Yin Su watched You Jiaoyang’s tall, young figure with a complex expression. She suddenly walked over and pinned You Jiaoyang against the refrigerator door, pressing the unfinished cigarette onto the nearby countertop and bit down gently on his shoulder.

You Jiaoyang let out a helpless sigh, allowing her to take as she pleased.

Once her emotions were spent, Yin Su felt a bit fatigued. You Jiaoyang laid her on the sofa, covering her with a thin blanket.