Chapter 506: Chapter 504: Cigarettes Aren’t Tasty, and Apples Aren’t as Sweet as You

Tang Si smiled lightly, "No need, just go on in. It’s such a short way, no need to keep carrying things back and forth."

Tang Si observed Song Nuan. This girl indeed showed nothing unusual, as well-behaved and sensible as always.

"Sis, when you were my age, did you ever see a psychologist?"

Song Nuan’s question was quite sensitive, and Song Yi was stunned, "What’s up?"

"I just wanted to ask." Song Nuan said.

"Did Dad or Mom say something to you?" Song Yi asked again.

She couldn’t answer directly, avoiding pitfalls, yet she was step by step digging a pit for Song Nuan.

Song Nuan was no match for Song Yi and nodded, "Yeah."

At this moment, it seemed like Song Nuan intentionally held her back, refusing to let her in without an answer.

Song Yi noticed, and cleverly guessed what exactly their parents had said to Song Nuan.

"Yes," Song Yi looked at Song Nuan, "you can go and get a check-up. At that time, it seemed like we all had to go through it to avoid any psychological issues."

"Really?" Song Nuan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, "Alright then."

It seemed like her parents didn’t lie to her.

Tang Si listened from the side but didn’t say a word.

When they went inside, Father Song and Mother Song were very happy, especially Father Song, who wanted to play chess with Tang Si.

Playing chess with the father-in-law is quite an art; neither yielding nor not yielding would work.

Tang Si pursed his lips, smiling, "I may not play well, and I don’t play very often either."

Father Song was a businessman, and quite successful at that, whereas Tang Si really didn’t play much chess.

Very likely, even without yielding, he couldn’t win against Father Song.

He stood up gently, very approachable, giving the vibe of the ideal son-in-law in the eyes of parents.

Song Yi glanced over, internally scoffing. If only this man had been like this when they first met, he wouldn’t have had to chase her so hard.

Now, the more she looked at Tang Si, the more accomplishment she felt.

Father Song patted Tang Si’s shoulder, "No worries, let’s play a couple of games first, if it doesn’t work, I’ll teach you."

"Okay."

Mother Song was making dumplings, looked over at Tang Si, "Tang Si, don’t be modest with him. He just thinks he’s unbeatable."

"In reality, he’s quite a novice, and now he’s just trying to bully a beginner like you."

Father Song cleared his throat, "Enough with the chatter."

Tang Si merely smiled, neither responding to this nor adulating.

Song Nuan was making dumplings today, while Song Yi stood by watching. She didn’t know how to make dumplings, it was rather challenging for her.

Mother Song kept glancing at Tang Si while making dumplings, the more she looked, the brighter her smile.

Tang Si just sat in the chair, holding a chess piece in his hand, looking down at the chessboard with a faint smile, his sitting posture neither lax nor tense, his physique just right, perfectly proportioned.

Especially that face, when he smiled, it was stunning and very pleasant to the eye.

"Tsk," Mother Song’s smile could hardly be contained, "he’s a sight for sore eyes."

"Your dad is just too ugly," Mother Song said to Song Yi, "My son-in-law truly is good-looking."

Song Yi, "Actually, my dad is very handsome, you’re just bored of looking at him."

Mother Song, "Still, my son-in-law is better looking."

Song Yi, "Mom, if you keep praising him, I’ll suspect you want to steal him away from me."

"Since when do mothers-in-law keep praising the looks of their sons-in-law instead of their qualities or capabilities?"

"Does Tang Si even need those praises? Isn’t it widely acknowledged that he’s good?"

Song Yi, "His looks are also acknowledged as handsome."

Mother Song, "You cheeky girl, you’re even jealous of your mother?"

Song Nuan, "Sis just doesn’t want you staring at brother-in-law for too long, brother-in-law would get embarrassed."

Song Yi tugged at the corner of her mouth, "That wouldn’t happen."

Tang Si, that rascal, had quite the thick skin.

...

Song Yi washed an apple and, while munching on it, walked over to sit naturally on the armrest of Tang Si’s chair.

Tang Si shifted a little, and Song Yi wrapped her arm around his neck, watching the chess game while eating, "How’s it going?"

"Who’s winning or losing?"

Tang Si chuckled, his voice smooth, "What do you think?"

As he spoke, he placed another piece on the board.

"I can’t tell," Song Yi said while eating her apple.

The weather was cold, she washed an apple, and her hand was icy cold as it slipped into his collar as she hugged his neck.

The smile on her face seemed as if she hadn’t done anything.

Tang Si remained unperturbed; it was indeed quite chilly. Father Song was focused on the chessboard.

Tang Si looked up at Song Yi, his expression meaningful.

Song Yi grinned, as if to say she wouldn’t be ruffled.

The next moment, the man’s hand lightly grasped her calf, sending a tingling sensation, making Song Yi shudder violently, almost leaping up.

Her calves were actually quite sensitive, and after all these sessions, Tang Si had long understood that.

Song Yi had no room to play pranks anymore; by the time she reached into the back of his collar, it had already been warmed.

She could only grumble while glaring at Tang Si.

Tang Si pulled the corners of his lips into a cheeky grin, with a hint of flirtation, seemingly amused.

Yet his gaze was inexplicably intense and deep, catching you right in the heart, drawing you into his eyes.

It seemed to say, "So inexperienced, yet you still try to provoke me."

Song Yi, flustered, took a fierce bite of her apple.

Tang Si chuckled and continued playing chess with Father Song.

Father Song placed a piece, and just as Tang Si was about to make his move, Song Yi shoved the apple in front of Tang Si, "Take a bite, it’s really sweet."

Tang Si was about to place a piece, but the apple suddenly thrust towards him.

This girl... really...

She just had to argue for a win or lose outcome.

Song Yi thought Tang Si wouldn’t dare, actually it was just a spontaneous idea to see how he would react.

Tang Si naturally placed his piece, turned his head to take a bite of the apple, and smiled, "It’s pretty tasty."

Song Yi, "..."

Father Song glanced at Song Yi, "Stop causing trouble, we’re playing chess."

Song Yi huffed, "It’s not like your wife is bringing you food, why take it out on me?"

The wife in her words that pleased Tang Si, as if it was sweet to the core, he gently touched Song Yi’s calf again.

Song Yi shuddered all over, immediately stood up, and moved further from Tang Si, the rascal, "I’ll go check how the dumplings are coming along."

Tang Si smiled and said nothing.

Song Nuan, "Sis, don’t make trouble here. It’s not nice to come here and make trouble after brother-in-law teased you."

She had clearly witnessed the scene just now.

Song Yi, "???"

She felt like she was an extra in this family.

"Mom," Song Yi said, "do you want an apple? I can get you one."

Mother Song, "No, I’m busy here."

"Oh dear..." Suddenly a sigh came from Father Song.

"That was so close."

This game was a battle between the two of them.

Father Song looked at Tang Si, "And you said you couldn’t play, I haven’t had such an exciting match in ages."

Tang Si’s layout is vast, and his thinking extremely meticulous, the chessboard he sets can attack or defend.

Initially, Father Song thought that he had always been playing conservatively, just defending. But he realized, if Tang Si wants, he can end the game at any time.

He’s just playing around, and even hiding his strength.

Most importantly, it’s not how impressively he won, but how he can conceal his strength and not show anything. That’s even more remarkable.

Tang Si: "Just lucky."

"Not just lucky, truly impressive." Father Song: "This game is enough for me to ponder over for a while."

Tang Si chuckled lightly: "Not so exaggerated."

In fact, logic is quite universal in many areas, people with good brains find it easy to set battle strategies and engage in psychological games, hence it’s easy to win.

Even though Tang Si doesn’t play chess often.

Father Song was thinking about proposing another game.

Tang Si’s phone rang.

Tang Si glanced at the caller ID, and looked up to Father Song saying: "Excuse me, I have to take a work-related call."

Father Song: "Go ahead."

...

Outside.

Tang Si took the call.

The call was from Lu Yan.

"Has Song Nuan arrived home?" The man on the other end slowly asked.

"Yes." Tang Si put one hand in his pocket, looked at the gradually darkening sky in the yard, a thin layer of mist settled in the evening.

As they spoke, you could start seeing the breath.

"She came back herself, now she’s inside making dumplings."

Lu Yan: "And... how’s her mood?"

"She seems normal to me, nothing to worry about."

"She threw a tantrum when she left." Lu Yan recounted what happened: "She broke up with me."

From his tone, no emotions could be discerned, nor could his current thoughts be known, he just asked Tang Si: "So, should I agree or disagree?"

After all, he was just asking him for help in the beginning.

Tang Si approaches things rationally, answering in a flat tone: "If she chose to give up, then agree, since she hasn’t clung to you or opted to find someone else, it proves she is mentally able to adjust by herself."

"She’s agreed to see a psychologist here too," Tang Si said: "You shouldn’t have to worry about those issues anymore."

After Tang Si finished speaking, there was a long silence from the other side.

Tang Si frowned: "What’s the matter? Is there a problem?"

"No." Lu Yan: "Just not used to the rowdy kid at home suddenly coming back."

In his tone, there was a hint of a helpless smile.

Tang Si laughed softly: "What’s there to be unaccustomed to? Don’t you usually live at the base? You came back home just for her."

Lu Yan: "Yes, that’s how it is."

"Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for the little one?" Tang Si teased.

Haven’t you?

Lu Yan lowered his gaze, not quite understanding his feelings. Yet the discomfort was real, and seeing Song Nuan bullied was also genuinely hard for him to bear.

Tang Si: "Our buddies are urging you to get a girlfriend, don’t wait too long, having children when you’re older isn’t ideal."

Lu Yan laughed and cursed: "You’re older than me, aren’t you?"

Tang Si tilted his head, his tone leisurely: "But I have a girlfriend."

"..." The single guy was speechless.

Lu Yan scoffed coldly: "If you can have a kid, then urge me."

"What’s the rush?" Tang Si: "I can feel the resentment from your lack of sex life."

Once those words came out, Lu Yan’s gaze deepened, perhaps thinking of something...

...

Song Yi saw him speaking outside for quite a while, she walked to the doorway to wait.

She didn’t go over to interrupt, nor did she listen to his conversation, just stood at the door watching him from afar.

Tang Si’s silhouette in the night was tall and upright, one hand pocketed, standing casually and lazily.

She just watched, as he took a cigarette from his clothes pocket with one hand, lit it skillfully, all while taking calls and smoking.

Watching him, Song Yi couldn’t help but smile.

Such was Tang Si, casual, on the phone, occasionally laughing, occasionally taking a drag, serious yet with a cheeky wildness.

Every movement was charming, drawing one’s gaze, it seemed whatever he did, Tang Si looked good doing it.

Suddenly, Tang Si glanced back and saw Song Yi standing behind, he turned to look at her and smiled, still talking on the phone.

Holding the cigarette with one hand, he beckoned her over with a smile.

His attitude deeply imprinted into Song Yi’s eyes and heart, one simple gesture stirred her emotions.

This mature man’s charm truly...

Made her want to tease him hard.

The more she thought of it, the more excited she became.

Stepping towards Tang Si, just as he ended the call.

Once she was beside him, Tang Si lifted his hand to pull her into his embrace.

"Who’s calling?"

"Lu Yan, asking if Song Nuan has gotten home."

Up close, you could smell the tobacco, the cigarettes Tang Si smoked weren’t unpleasant, even smelled quite good.

But smoking is still not good.

"Is the cigarette nice?" Song Yi looked at Tang Si: "Still smells good?"

"You like the smell?" With a cigarette pinched between his lips, Tang Si’s voice was muffled, deep yet sexy, tinged with a teasing smile.

After asking, Tang Si took a drag, exhaled lightly, dropped the cigarette, and stomped on it: "Should smoke less and do it behind your back, secondhand smoke isn’t good."

Finished speaking, Tang Si looked inside again: "See what your parents and sister are doing?"

They were busy inside; no one noticed outside.

Song Yi listened to Tang Si’s words and glanced inside before turning back to respond.

Before she could speak, warm breath met hers, as the man bent down to kiss her lips.

Thump, thump—

Song Yi’s heartbeat quickened as she felt the sudden kiss.

The scent of him filled her nostrils, his large hand cupped her head, preventing her from pulling back, his thumb resting gently by her face, seemingly tender and affectionate.

The gesture, softened her heart.

The other hand gripped her waist, stopping her from retreating.

A gentle yet quite domineering kiss.

Song Yi thought of how this could be seen by her parents and Song Nuan inside, making it all the more thrilling.

Hands pushing against Tang Si’s shoulder, the motion quite like she wanted to resist yet welcome.

Tang Si eventually gave her lip a gentle nip before releasing her.

In a languid tone, mixed with a hint of mischief, humming in a whisper as though close to her ear: "Sweetie, cigarettes aren’t nice, apples aren’t as sweet as you."

"Next time, don’t feed me apples, just kiss me."

The meaning behind those words was clear enough.