82: date

On the first day after the New Year's Day holiday, the weather was clear and cloudless for miles.

It was rare to have five people at home this morning. Except for Yan Zhuoyang, who was almost finished and in a hurry to head out, the others tacitly waited to eat breakfast together. The breakfast was prepared by the family chef—steamed buns, side dishes, sweet porridge, and more, filling up most of the dining table.

Yan Zhuohua had just taken his seat and habitually waited for Yan Qinghe to serve him porridge and dishes. Just as Yan Qinghe picked up the bowl in front of him, Yan Zhuoyang, who had already put down his chopsticks across from them, gave a dissatisfied cough.

"Someone who made a mistake is still waiting for others to serve them?"

Yan Zhuohua immediately snatched the bowl from Yan Qinghe's hand, served him a bowl of porridge, and picked out several side dishes that Yan Qinghe liked onto a plate, placing them all in front of Yan Qinghe.

Next, he quickly served his mother before she could even move, preparing her side dishes before it was finally his turn. After finishing all this, Yan Zhuohua gave a pleasing smile toward Yan Zhuoyang.

Yan Zhuoyang didn't want to pay him any mind.

"What do you mean by this?" Yan Zhuoyan, who was at the side, looked at the empty bowl in front of him. "Does the second brother not deserve this service?"

Yan Zhuohua looked at his second brother, who had been busy instigating his punishment last night. Just as he was about to snap back, Yan Qinghe, beside him, pulled him back. The two shared a look, and Yan Zhuohua finally lowered his head for the time being, getting up to provide his second brother with a set of meticulous service as well.

"Not bad, you actually remember which dishes your second brother likes?" Yan Zhuoyan comfortably tasted the delicious breakfast, not forgetting to take another sarcastic jab at Yan Zhuohua.

"Of course. I've always been reliable. Unlike Second Brother, who is only ten or so minutes younger than Eldest Brother but seems less mature than me in every gesture!"

"Hiss—Yan Zhuohua, do you want me to take out the photos of me helping you bathe when you were little for everyone to admire?"

Yan Zhuohua was shocked. "I clearly—"

"Clearly deleted them?" Yan Zhuoyan said triumphantly. "Deleting photos from a Researcher's phone—are you looking down on my professional skills?"

"What are you saying, Second Brother? I've always admired you!" Yan Zhuohua's face changed rapidly. "We are brothers who love and respect each other; how could we hurt one another?"

With that, Yan Zhuohua reached across the table to pick up a small shrimp and corn stuffed bun for Yan Zhuoyan.

Yan Zhuoyan tasted the small bun and found it surprisingly good. "Give me another one."

Yan Zhuohua endured the humiliation and picked up another one. However, before Yan Zhuoyan could even move his chopsticks, this small bun landed directly in Yan Qinghe's mouth.

"Yan Qinghe! Why are you stealing my bun? Are you going to rebel too?"

"If you want someone to serve you, go get a wife. Don't get any ideas about my wife!" Yan Qinghe gave his second brother no face at all. He turned to Jiang Fuyue, who was quietly drinking porridge, and said, "Isn't that right, Mom? Look at how old Second Brother is, yet he's still so childish, opposing his younger brothers every day. We should arrange some blind dates for him, right?"

Jiang Fuyue elegantly set down her spoon. "That's true. Speaking of which, Zhuoyan and Zhuoyang are both nearly twenty-six. It's time to consider their major life events."

Yan Zhuoyang originally saw that he had a few minutes left and was leisurely sitting there watching his brothers' daily bickering. He didn't expect the fire to spread to him when he wasn't paying attention.

"My time's up, I'm leaving. Goodbye, Mom!" He immediately stood up and left the dining room, heading to work without looking back, even forgetting that he had intended to give Yan Zhuohua another warning.

Yan Zhuoyang left quickly, but Yan Zhuoyan was in deep trouble. He and his mother worked at the same Research Institute, so they would inevitably leave together.

Tragic.

Today's breakfast ended happily amidst Jiang Fuyue's earnest teachings to Yan Zhuoyan.

Yan Zhuohua and Yan Qinghe drove to the company. Not long after they left, they received a text from Eldest Brother.

"I left in a hurry just now and forgot to tell you that the date for the test drive has been set for April 12th next year. Therefore, your special training schedule is set for February 12th. It happens to be the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, so you can still spend the New Year. Also, you'd better behave yourself lately, or even Yan Qinghe won't be able to protect you."

After reading the text, Yan Zhuohua turned off his phone with a dejected expression.

"What's wrong, Little Wife Yan?" Yan Qinghe asked with a smile as he saw his reaction through the rearview mirror.

Hearing the term "Little Wife," Yan Zhuohua was dazed for a moment before remembering the terrifying treaty he had been blackmailed into yesterday while someone took advantage of his situation.

"You!" Yan Zhuohua sat up, but considering he was driving, he still tried his best to hold back. "What 'Little Wife'? Don't go shouting nonsense, I have a reputation to maintain."

"Fine," Yan Qinghe agreed readily. "As long as you can fulfill this duty well, I can give you that face."

Yan Zhuohua hesitated. Forget it, wasn't it just being subservient, gentle, and soft-spoken for a month? He would endure it.

"Of course I can, Hubby." Yan Zhuohua's voice sounded sweet.

"That's good. What message did you receive just now that made you so dejected?"

"A message from Eldest Brother telling me to behave. Also, the dates for the test drive and special training have been set." During a red light, Yan Zhuohua showed the message to Yan Qinghe.

"There's only a little over a month left." Yan Qinghe watched the red light turn green. "How about I call Uncle back to work so I can accompany you?"

Yan Zhuohua burst into laughter. "Don't make things difficult for Uncle. Don't worry, you can just sneak in to see me on the weekends. Remember to bring me some good food."

Both of them laughed, and the atmosphere in the car improved significantly.

At 9:00 AM, the two arrived at their respective offices on time.

Yan Zhuohua had prepared the materials in advance. He was sitting on the sofa looking at a bunch of provocations and insults sent by Yan Zhuoyan. He was enjoying reading them and was about to reply with a sentence or two to add fuel to the fire, only to find he had been blocked.

...He actually finally had this kind of experience.

Yan Zhuohua irritably prepared to go to the 24th floor for the regular meeting, intending to borrow Yan Qinghe's phone to have a verbal battle with Yan Zhuoyan.

As soon as he opened the door, he almost collided with Yan Muxuan, who was coming his way.

"Hey!" Yan Muxuan was startled. "What are you in such a hurry for? There are still over ten minutes before the regular meeting."

I'm in a hurry to borrow a phone to insult Yan Zhuoyan.

He only muttered this in his heart; it wouldn't be good to say it out loud.

"I—I'm going up to have a cup of coffee."

"The Business Department doesn't have coffee?"

"It's mainly because Special Assistant Ji's skills are particularly to my liking."

Yan Muxuan rolled his eyes ungracefully.

"Alright, I'm here to chat with you about the gossip regarding the Zhao family." Yan Muxuan pushed him back into the office and sat on the sofa.

"The Zhao family? I know about them. I arranged everything myself."

"I know you arranged it. I'm talking about the Zhao family's current state."

The Zhao family's current state? Yan Zhuohua was indeed a bit curious. He had originally planned to commission the omnipotent Special Assistant Xiao again, but he hadn't expected Uncle to come knocking on his door. He saved a bonus payment; he was happy.