Yang Yi ran a shop, so after Yan Xiaopei came out, the kids' play area moved from the living room back to the coffee shop.
Actually, it didn't matter whether the coffee shop was open or not, since no one ever came anyway.
But Yang Yi had a faint sense that this woman was a bit dangerous—not in that kind of dangerous way, of course. Still, facing her at home felt off to him.
"Why is your shop name so weird? Why 'Coffee Shop at the Corner'?" Yan Xiaopei showed no sign of leaving, even though Yang Yi had asked her a few times if it would be a problem for the flower shop owner to be away. Instead, she lazily propped her chin on the counter, watching Yang Yi busy himself.
Xixi, who was playing with her little brother, turned her head and saw Yan Xiaopei sitting in the spot where she had been drawing earlier. The little girl pouted unhappily, fiddling with her doll in silence.
Actually, Yan Yingkai was two years older than Xixi, and boys at that age tended to be self-centered, thinking it was beneath them to play with younger kids. So he wasn't too keen on initiating conversation with Xixi, mostly just answering her questions half-heartedly.
Now that Xixi had gone quiet, he felt relieved and focused all his attention on the magnetic toys in front of him, trying to build a big car!
At the counter, Yang Yi felt the same way as Yan Yingkai—somewhat helpless. He had no interest in chatting with Yan Xiaopei. This woman gave him a bad vibe, like she might be a bit scheming?
But Yang Yi couldn't be too obvious about it. After all, he wanted Xixi to make lots of friends, and as her father, he had to learn to be warm and approachable first. So he just responded half-heartedly.
"Because it's at the corner!"
"Fair enough. I think you were a bit lazy with the name. At least you didn't slack off when naming your daughter."
Yang Yi responded with a dry chuckle.
What could he say? When Xixi was born, he had no idea. Mo Fei named her "Yang Xi" years ago! By the time Yang Yi reunited with them, Xixi was already Xixi!
Of course, the name Xixi was lovely too!
Wait, "Coffee Shop at the Corner" was also a great name, wasn't it? Very artistic, right?
Yang Yi could only chuckle again, not bothering to argue.
"Want a cup of coffee?" Yang Yi asked casually, just being polite.
But Yan Xiaopei perked up immediately: "Sure, you're treating me!"
"..." Yang Yi was speechless.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford a cup of coffee; he didn't mind if she drank as much as she wanted. The problem was, if she was still drinking coffee, was this woman really not going home?
But words spoken were like water spilled—impossible to take back. Yang Yi had no choice but to turn around and grind some beans to brew a cup for Yan Xiaopei.
"Wow, that smells amazing!" As the hot water washed over the ground coffee, the rich aroma filled the cup below. Yan Xiaopei clapped her hands like a delighted girl.
Yang Yi didn't respond, but Yan Xiaopei's eyes sparkled as she watched him.
A big, burly man doing things so seriously—his profile, his back, his whole demeanor—it was incredibly handsome!
To be honest, Yang Yi wasn't conventionally handsome, just ruggedly good-looking, which didn't fit Yan Xiaopei's usual standards. But sometimes, looks could be overshadowed by temperament or other qualities, right?
Yan Xiaopei's gaze grew infatuated, drifting to Yang Yi's strong muscles and firm backside...
When the coffee was served, Yan Xiaopei had already pulled herself together. She acted naturally, elegantly lifting the cup and taking a small sip.
From her posture, Yan Xiaopei looked like someone who had been drinking coffee for years, perfectly poised. Compared to her, Mo Fei, who drank it like a bull gulping down peonies, seemed almost rustic...
But Yan Xiaopei soon frowned: "A bit bitter."
"Still bitter?" Yang Yi was surprised. The theory that the woman before used one and a half spoons of sugar—why didn't it work for Yan Xiaopei?
"I need more sugar! I'll do it myself!" Yan Xiaopei said with a seductive smile. She leaned over the counter, stretching her body to reach the sugar jar.
Her movement was a bit exaggerated, and her body brushed against Yang Yi's arm, but that wasn't the main point!
The main point was that Yang Yi's short-sleeved shirt was loose on her, and as she leaned over, the collar sagged. Yang Yi's gaze inadvertently swept across and caught a glimpse of two dazzling white mounds inside.
Yan Xiaopei seemed oblivious, grabbing the sugar jar before slowly pulling back and sitting down.
"I like my coffee sweeter," Yan Xiaopei said, smiling at Yang Yi.
Yang Yi remained expressionless. That little scene didn't stir much in him. Compared to a beauty emerging from a bath, he had seen plenty of this kind of thing... In his past life, Western women were way more generous, weren't they?
"I think I should add more sugar jars so customers can add their own," Yang Yi mused to himself.
Everyone's taste was different. Yang Yi couldn't expect everyone to drink black coffee, even though he highly recommended it.
"Looks like I helped you out after all!" Yan Xiaopei said, bouncing with joy like a young girl.
But Yang Yi wasn't keen on continuing the conversation. He lowered his head again to wipe the cups, as if they would never be clean enough.
Yan Xiaopei felt a bit frustrated, but she chalked it up to male shyness. Her eyes darted toward the kids.
Yan Yingkai's car was starting to take shape, and Xixi had put down her own toy, curiously and seriously studying the little boy's creation.
"I envy them, having such a carefree childhood," Yan Xiaopei suddenly sighed.
Yang Yi nodded silently, but he felt content with his new lease on life: "Actually, watching kids grow up happily is a kind of happiness too."
Yan Xiaopei gazed at Yang Yi again, lost in thought.
Finally, night fell, and the drizzling rain stopped. Yang Yi didn't offer to have Yan Xiaopei and her son stay for dinner. Instead, Yan Xiaopei wanted to treat Yang Yi and his daughter to a meal at a restaurant near the east gate, but Yang Yi politely declined.
"Can I come back to your place for coffee another time?" Yan Xiaopei asked shyly, holding her son's hand.
Yang Yi glanced at the little boy and smiled slightly. "Bring your son along, and I'll treat you to coffee."
Yang Yi had his own meaning, but Yan Xiaopei didn't catch it. She was satisfied with the answer and left with a big smile.
"Phew!" Yang Yi let out a huge sigh of relief as he watched her go.
Turning around, he quickly closed the shop door, grabbed a mop, and vigorously cleaned the floor that had been dirtied earlier. It had been really tough for someone with OCD to hold back for so long!
Xixi, the little one, ran over to help her dad, but her tiny shoes left footprints all over the freshly mopped floor. Yang Yi had to scoop her up and hang her on his back.
"Hold on tight! If you fall, your butt will split into eight pieces!" Yang Yi teased.
"Hehe, I don't believe you!" Xixi hugged her dad's neck, her hair flying up and covering her elfin ears.
"Daddy..."
"Hmm?"
"I don't like that auntie from earlier."
"Why not?"
"I just don't."
"Alright, what about little brother Kai?"
"Little brother Kai is amazing! He made a big car!"
"Who's better, him or Daddy?"
"Daddy's better! Hehe..."