TLSMLMMM Chapter 26

On the afternoon of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chu Junlie asked the assistant manager of the restaurant to switch shifts with him. He left the mall early, not forgetting to bring Grandpa a bag of assorted loose mooncakes every flavor possible was inside.

Grandpa happily accepted it, only to see Chu Junlie hand him another big bag.

The old man took the bag, opened it, and found a brand-new down jacket inside.

“This—this is too expensive…” The old man didn’t dare accept it. “Down jackets are pricey these days. You work so hard for that tiny bit of money. Why are you buying clothes for me?”

“I bought it with the allowance my lover gave me,” Chu Junlie said with a bright grin. “I found a clearance sale shop on purpose, it wasn’t expensive at all.”

“You really know how to handle life.” The old man tried the down jacket on; warmth spread through him almost instantly. The bag still felt heavy, so he peeked inside and there was even a pair of padded winter pants.

“Look at you, spending all this money!” he grumbled, but still picked up the pants. Just from the weight alone, he could tell they’d be nice and warm.

“As long as you wear them.” Chu Junlie checked the time, then happily announced, “I’m going to my lover’s house for the holiday. See you tomorrow!”

“Today is Mid-Autumn—the day for family reunions. Why aren’t you going to your parents’ place?” the old man asked out of curiosity.

“I don’t think I have parents. I was picked up by bad people, then married into my lover’s family.” Chu Junlie said casually. A shadow flashed through his eyes but quickly brightened.

“My lover never looks down on me. He treats me really well. Wherever he is—that’s my home.”

The old man stared blankly at the young man in front of him. He’d never imagined that this kind-hearted boy who kept bragging about how good his lover was… had such a miserable background. If life hadn’t been unbearably difficult, who would willingly give up their dignity and marry into another family?

“Alright then, Grandpa, I’m off to celebrate!” Chu Junlie waved cheerfully and walked quickly toward the bus stop.

The old man looked down at the down jacket on his body and touched the fabric. Somehow, he suddenly thought of his son, the one who ran away to escape debt.

His own son had never bought him a single piece of clothing.

All the boy ever did was fantasize about getting rich, saying he’d win big eventually. Then he used the house deed as collateral and took all the family’s savings.

When the debt collectors came knocking, the son had already run far away. Only the old man remained beaten to the ground by the collectors.

He lifted his head and looked at the youth waiting for the bus—putting in a one-yuan coin and squeezing himself into the sardine-packed bus.

This child… he wouldn’t even take a taxi for himself, but he willingly treated a stranger to dinner every day and bought him so many things.

The old man stared at the padded pants in his hands, his heart heavy with mixed emotions.

---

Chu Junlie returned home, changed into the clothes he had prepared in advance, filled Lie Feng’s bowl with dog food, and hurried downstairs, just in time to catch the car Mr. Si arranged to pick him up.

Just thinking about how he now got chauffeured rides because he was with Mr. Si made Chu Junlie secretly thrilled. He clung to the car window, happily watching the scenery pass by.

Because of the holiday, the road was crowded. The driver drove slow and steady, and after nearly two hours, they arrived at the Si family’s old estate.

When Chu Junlie arrived, most of the Si family was already there. The sisters-in-law were chatting together, the younger cousins were absorbed in playing mobile games, and Si Yunyi’s older brothers simply glanced at Chu Junlie before returning to their discussion.

Standing there, Chu Junlie felt a bit out of place like no matter which group he approached, he didn’t belong.

As he was sitting off to the side, he felt his pant leg being tugged. He lowered his head and saw little Si Beiqi clutching a toy.

“Uncle-in-law.” Si Beiqi looked up at him, hugging his toy like a tiny grown-up, and asked in a milky voice, “Can I ask… how far have you and my little uncle progressed?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Junlie wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but the entire room suddenly quieted. Even the kids who were addicted to their mobile games slowed down noticeably.

Seeing that Chu Junlie wasn’t responding, Si Beiqi blinked.

“Have you held hands yet?”

Chu Junlie remembered holding Mr. Si’s hand when they registered their marriage, pressing the seal together. Feeling all the eyes sneaking glances at him now, he gave a subtle nod.

“Then… have you kissed?” Si Beiqi pursed his lips.

Chu Junlie’s ears turned slightly red. He looked at the three-year-old.

“Qi Zai!” The eldest grandson, Si Beicheng, called out to his younger brother. “Come here.”

“What do I go there for? You’re all on your phones none of you play with me.” Si Beiqi pouted.

“Come watch us play. When you grow up, you can join our five-man team.” The third brother waved, trying to tempt him. “Look, your sister is jungling using your favorite—Cai Wenji.”

The moment he heard “Cai Wenji,” Si Beiqi ran over with his toy in his arms, eyes sparkling.

Si Xuanzuan teased as she looked at her little cousin who was staring intently at Cai Wenji, “What? Lili, Lanlan, Xiaoxuan, and Luck from your Dragonfly Class aren’t good enough anymore?”

“They’re real people. Jiji is my 2D wife.” Si Beiqi lifted his head innocently, speaking with childish bluntness. “Who doesn’t have a few paper wives these days?”

The sister-in-law sitting nearby immediately rolled her eyes, found her husband, and secretly jabbed him with her elbow.

“Look what you’ve taught your child!”

The eldest brother of the Si family didn’t even dare meet anyone’s eyes. He pretended to glare seriously at his wife. “There are people here don’t talk nonsense!”

Chu Junlie looked at everyone trying hard not to laugh and suddenly felt a little envious.

They’re really… such a good family.

As dish after dish was served, everyone began taking their seats. The younger ones hurried to finish their match, but seeing all the food was already out and the butler walking toward them, the four of them could only helplessly log off together—leaving behind an unlucky teammate who had no idea what happened.

Chu Junlie looked toward the doorway and saw, as usual, Mr. Si walking behind the old master. But though it had only been a month since he last saw him, the old master looked worse—more tired.

Si Yunyi sat down and glanced at Chu Junlie, who was still standing. He nodded at the seat beside him.

Chu Junlie understood instantly and quickly walked over to sit at Si Yunyi’s side.

“From now on, this is your seat.” Si Yunyi said softly, turning to remind him.

“I understand, Mr. Si.” Chu Junlie nodded and looked at the eldest brother and sister-in-law across the table, giving them a polite smile.

He was already married to Mr. Si so the eldest brother and sister-in-law were also his eldest brother and sister-in-law.

The old master picked up his chopsticks first and took some food. The younger ones exchanged confused looks they didn’t understand why Grandpa wasn’t giving his usual Mid-Autumn speech this year. Normally, he’d remind the adults to work hard and the kids to study well, then crack a joke or two before starting the meal.

The eldest and second brothers exchanged a look, as did their younger sister. They all knew the situation, but it still felt strange to start the dinner like this.

Maybe… it will be like this from now on.

“Before we eat, I want to say something.” A cool, steady voice sounded. Everyone instantly looked at Si Yunyi, who was seated beside the old master.

The younger ones sat up straight, eyes full of expectation.

Restoring harmony to this family—only our uncle can do it!

“Chu Junlie and I are now legally married.” Si Yunyi said seriously.

The table fell silent for several seconds before a few dry laughs sounded.

“Haha… ha…” The eldest brother forced a laugh, clapped lightly, and looked at Si Yunyi. “Little brother… that’s a pretty cold joke.”

Others didn’t know, but everyone at the table was aware that the Si family had already started pulling back from cooperative projects with the Yan family. They were clearly cutting ties. The Yan family had been caught in a scandal, they didn’t dare act rashly. That arranged marriage from before was already treated like a joke something that happened and was over.

The younger ones also forced out awkward laughs, giving their uncle face for his “cold joke.” Little Qi was the most enthusiastic, giggling nonstop.

But then Qi Zai watched as that Chu Junlie pulled out a red booklet, clearly prepared for a long time and held it up innocently for everyone to see.

Qi Zai’s eyes immediately stung. He let out two habitual “giggles”… then suddenly burst into tears with a loud wail.

Everyone’s gaze followed the marriage certificate in Chu Junlie’s hand. The second brother, not believing it, tried to take it to check if it was real. But Chu Junlie instantly pulled it back protectively like guarding his treasure and refused to let anyone touch it.

“Yunyi, little brother-in-law, don’t joke around like this!” the sister-in-law couldn’t accept it. “We’re clearly cutting ties with the Yan family how could you actually marry him?!”

“It’s not a joke.” Si Yunyi looked around the table. “Chu Junlie has already severed ties with the Yan family. From today on, he is my legal partner, part of the Si family.”

Hearing this, Chu Junlie lowered his head and tried his best to hold back the proud grin threatening to break out to not look too pleased.

Everyone was staring in shock. Si Beicheng soothed his crying brother and looked at his uncle, his expression complicated.

“Did you—did you get my permission before getting married?!” Qi Zai cried miserably. “You said I could be the flower boy—you lied to me!”

“Yunyi… maybe you should think about this again?” The second brother couldn’t help speaking.

“Father already discussed this with me. He also hoped I would have someone by my side.” Si Yunyi glanced at the old master, who was paying no attention to the commotion and calmly picking up food.

“You know what Dad’s condition is like.” The second brother grew anxious. “His mind slips in and out. You can’t take everything he says seriously!”

“I think… I also heard Dad mention this.” Si Yiyi said cautiously. “But Yunyi… Dad only said he should stay with you, not that you had to get married. Living together is different from marriage. If it were someone else, we’d accept it, but Chu Junlie, he…”

Everyone looked at Chu Junlie with mixed emotions.

Chu Junlie grew tense, clutching his little red booklet closer.

“What’s done is done. Please respect my decision and respect Chu Junlie.” Si Yunyi’s expression cooled as he swept his gaze across the table. “Eat.”

The room fell silent again. Only Qi Zai continued to sniffle. The entire dinner was eaten with complicated emotions—everyone occasionally glancing at the happily eating, grinning-from-ear-to-ear Chu Junlie beside Si Yunyi.

Chu Junlie heard a faint sound from the main seat. Turning his head, he saw Old Master Si attempting to pick up a dish. For some reason, the old man’s hands were shaking violently after finally catching a piece of food, it slipped from the chopsticks again.

Chu Junlie noticed that Mr. Si had also seen the old man’s condition. Using the serving chopsticks, Si Yunyi picked up the dish Old Master Si wanted and placed it into his bowl.

Old Master Si pushed Si Yunyi’s hand away, stubbornly wanting to do it himself but he only ended up dropping the food onto the table.

Si Yunyi’s expression didn’t change. He signaled a server to clean the table, but Chu Junlie saw the old man’s breathing grow heavy, his face darkening. Suddenly, he snatched up a porcelain bowl and smashed it down onto the table.

A loud crack erupted. Everything happened too fast everyone watched in shock as the bowl shattered across the table. Si Yunyi instinctively leaned back to avoid it. Chu Junlie locked onto the flying porcelain shards and, without thinking, lunged forward, shielding Si Yunyi with his body.

Shards scattered everywhere, startling everyone. When they finally regained their senses, they looked around anxiously to see if anyone had been injured.

“Aiya!” the eldest sister-in-law cried out suddenly. Everyone followed her gaze, Chu Junlie was leaning forward protectively in front of Si Yunyi, and a shard had cut an inch above his eyebrow. Blood streamed down freely, dripping onto his black suit.

The dining room fell silent for a few seconds. Qi Zai burst into frightened cries. Faced with the sudden chaos, everyone was momentarily at a loss.

“Big Brother, Third Sister, take Father back to his room.”

Si Yunyi pushed Chu Junlie aside slightly, pressing a tissue against his bleeding wound, calm and composed.

“Second Brother, take the children to the lounge.” Si Yunyi turned. “Butler, have someone clean the table. Call Dr. Ren. Tell him what happened and ask him to come.”

The stunned family finally began moving. Si Yunyi frowned slightly as he checked that Chu Junlie’s bleeding had slowed. After a quick rinse in the washroom, he brought Chu Junlie to the living room and took out the medical kit.

The tissue used to stop the bleeding was soaked with blood. Sitting beside him, Si Yunyi sterilized a pair of tweezers, picked up a cotton ball, dipped it in iodine, and gently dabbed around the wound.

Chu Junlie sat obediently, breathing in the familiar scent he loved, hands resting on his knees, feeling the cool touch on his forehead.

When Si Yunyi applied a sterile patch to the wound, the treatment was done. Chu Junlie hadn’t made a single sound throughout. Seeing Si Yunyi begin to tidy up the medical supplies, Chu Junlie quickly stood and helped return everything to place.

“Does it hurt?” Si Yunyi asked, checking the patch for any new bleeding.

“No.” Chu Junlie sat obediently beside him, speaking sensibly, “Actually, the shards might not have hit you at all. I just got nervous and moved instinctively, and now I’m bothering you to clean up the mess…”

Si Yunyi met his sincere, clear black eyes. After a quiet moment, he spoke gently.

“Thank you.”

His tone was soft like a feather brushing over Chu Junlie’s heart. Chu Junlie’s ears reddened, sweetness blooming in his chest, his invisible tail wagging wildly.

Those shards were nothing! He could block even more!

The doorbell rang. Si Yunyi, being closest, stood to answer it. Chu Junlie followed right behind him, unwilling to be even a step away.

Dr. Ren arrived carrying his medical kit, looking travel-worn. The moment he saw Si Yunyi, he asked anxiously:

“Yunyi, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Si Yunyi’s tone was restrained. “Father’s emotions have been increasingly difficult to control. I tried targeted psychotherapy, music therapy, movie therapy… it helped a little, but something still happened today.”

Watching Si Yunyi’s profile, Chu Junlie finally understood what he had been preoccupied with lately — and he hadn’t known at all.

“You’ve done your best. I’ll go check on the old master first.” Dr. Ren hurried into Old Master Si’s room. Si Yunyi and Chu Junlie stood outside with the rest of the siblings, waiting.

“With this incident… the kids can’t be kept in the dark anymore,” the eldest sister-in-law said worriedly. “How are we supposed to tell them their grandfather will soon… won’t even recognize them?”

Several people sighed heavily. Before long, Dr. Ren emerged and walked straight toward Si Yunyi to explain the situation.

The Si family crowded around, eyes full of concern.

“I told you before — the old master’s illness is in the mid-to-late stage. His personality and behavior will change significantly. He’ll be irritable, angry, and may even break things,” Dr. Ren said regretfully. “I suggest that we start using mild sedatives to help stabilize his emotions.”

Sedatives came with many side effects. Si Yunyi knew them well. But now, there were no better options.

After a quiet moment, Si Yunyi nodded.

With Dr. Ren’s help, they administered the medication. Old Master Si slowly drifted to sleep, and only then did everyone finally relax.

Dr. Ren discussed the psychotherapy plans with Si Yunyi. Seeing the man who had shadowed Si Yunyi the entire time, he glanced at him a few more times recognizing him as the same eldest son of the Yan family who had stormed into the engagement banquet with a dog.

The man had a patch on his forehead and specks of blood on his suit, clinging to Si Yunyi like a loyal dogskin plaster, following him everywhere, eyes never leaving him.

Dr. Ren’s gaze flickered, and he smiled at Chu Junlie.

“Mr. Chu, you might not follow everything I’m discussing with Yunyi. You’re injured why don’t you go rest for a bit?”

Chu Junlie lifted his eyes coldly, staring at Dr. Ren. His dark gaze was guarded, silently rejecting and warning.

Dr. Ren froze instinctively. Si Yunyi turned at the sound. The moment Chu Junlie saw him look over, his eyes softened immediately.

“Mr. Si…” Chu Junlie’s black eyes glistened, his lips pursed into almost a thin line. “…I think my head… kind of hurts.”

“Is that so?” Dr. Ren almost laughed. As expected of the eldest son of the Yan family, he really did have a bit of comedic flair. Pretending to be sick in front of a doctor?

“Where does it hurt?” Si Yunyi asked. Beneath the silver rims of his glasses, his eyes were calm and refined. Since Chu Junlie got injured for his sake, he naturally needed to take responsibility.

“Here.” Chu Junlie pointed to the top of his head.

Pfft. Dr. Ren couldn’t hold back a laugh. He hadn’t even started lecturing yet when he saw that Yan family eldest son leaning his tall body closer toward Si Yunyi, his eyes slightly wet, looking at him as if gathering all the courage and longing he had in the world.

“If Mr. Si touches it, it won’t hurt anymore.”

The smile on Dr. Ren’s face slowly began to fade.

Si Yunyi met Chu Junlie’s pleading gaze and understood — he was dissatisfied with Dr. Ren telling him to leave earlier, and was now using this chance to strike back.

A dragon-pride protagonist who must always win.

The longing in Chu Junlie’s eyes was nearly overflowing. Si Yunyi slowly raised his hand and gently patted the top of Chu Junlie’s head twice.

The moment Si Yunyi’s touch landed, Chu Junlie’s eyes widened little by little. It was as if he had received some kind of ultimate satisfaction and bliss. He forced himself not to tremble, suppressing the warm rush of happiness flooding his chest. He even leaned up slightly, rubbing against Si Yunyi’s palm.

The smile on Dr. Ren’s face disappeared completely.