"But Huang’er says I’m a lion. A male lion doesn’t crawl, and he can’t just sleep all the time, right?"

Eric found this rather novel when he heard it.

"That little guy said you’re a lion? Why?"

Yin Shixiu chuckled to himself, and that smile stirred up quite a bit of jealousy in Eric’s heart; for a moment he didn’t even want to know anymore, just snorted,

"Yeah yeah, having a son is amazing, don’t bother telling me."

"Eric, since you’re jealous, why are you still single? You’re not that young anymore. Don’t the Windsor family pressure you?"

Although Yin Shixiu knew about Chu Jiao and Qin Hui, he wasn’t sure if Eric staying single had anything to do with that. He hadn’t thought to ask before, but now that he was bored, he casually followed the topic and asked.

That one question really did poke right at Eric’s wound.

Those pretty aquamarine eyes were obviously shrouded by a gray gloom.

"I’m just not in the mood."

He said lightly.

Yin Shixiu glanced at him. Eric lifted his eyes to look back at him, and the air between them suddenly congealed.

Eric moved his lips, just about to speak, when Yin Shixiu quickly raised his hand to stop him,

"Enough, whatever you’ve got on your mind, don’t tell me. Next time Xiao Meng comes, tell her. I’m not a patient listener."

Eric’s mouth was already open, and his words were forcibly blocked back by Yin Shixiu.

Clearly it was this man who had stirred up his melancholy, and he’d finally worked himself up to spill some of his own sourness, bitterness and frustration, but then...

Men like this...

Probably only ever put their heart into one person, Su Xiaomeng.

Since Yin Shixiu didn’t want to listen, Eric naturally couldn’t force him, so he could only switch topics and bring it back to what he’d come to discuss today.

Although the Yin Family was being managed by Xiao Meng now, when it came to new types of business cooperation projects, Yin Shixiu still understood more.

The two of them talked for nearly two hours. Yin Shixiu got a general grasp of the project,

"The project can be done."

"Right! This project is so interesting! Once we launch it, the response is definitely going to be good."

When Eric talked about it, his eyes were sparkling. This grown man in his mid-thirties was, at his core, a very childish, willful person.

He did everything very much by feel, only doing what he liked. Probably because of that, Eric looked much younger than his actual age.

When a person is immersed in work they love, able to do what they want to do, they’re ultimately happy.

Yin Shixiu’s positive response only boosted Eric’s confidence in the project he’d proposed.

"I’ll have the team flesh out the entire project plan, get it all complete. Then I’ll show it to you, President Yin!"

"I’m not a president anymore."

Yin Shixiu joked, "Just an unemployed drifter."

At that, Eric hurried to remind him, "But I came to talk to you about a business project—don’t tell Xiao Meng, okay?"

"...Why? Afraid she’ll scold you?"

"Exactly. You’re her baby. If she finds out I’m not letting you rest properly and instead bothering you with all this tedious stuff, won’t she chew me out?"

Yin Shixiu smiled, a few fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes.

Time had finally climbed onto their faces.

Seeing Yin Shixiu smile again, Eric was truly jealous this time... secretly thinking, so what if you have a wife who dotes on you? It’s not that big a deal...

Sour thoughts tumbling around, once he left the hospital room, he couldn’t help letting out a sigh full of envy,

"To be loved that much by one person really is something..."

————

That day in London, the weather was clear, not a cloud in the sky, completely different from its usual foggy look.

The wind was mild. It was a good day for an outing.

In the afternoon, Yin Shixiu was propped up against the bed, watching domestic and international economic and political news.

Influenced by the new economic policies in the United States, it seemed a new round of financial turmoil was coming...

Experts from various sides were all predicting the same, casting heavy clouds over the entire financial world.

Back home, a corruption scandal had broken out in politics. The minister of an important Central department had been removed, with embezzled and bribery funds totaling over a hundred million.

With this "big tiger" taken down, the people naturally applauded.

Staring at the few words "minister of a certain department," Yin Shixiu’s gaze gradually darkened, and he’d already started thinking deeply.

Just as he was studying the news carefully, rustling voices came from outside the ward. Listening through the door, it sounded like they were arguing about something.

Yin Shixiu had just raised his head to look at the door when it opened.

Eric strolled in, grinning, pushing a wheelchair, with a travel bag sitting on the seat.

Yin Shixiu’s brows lifted slightly,

"What are you up to?"

Eric said quickly, "The weather’s so nice, I’m taking you out for a spin!"

"..."

Yin Shixiu froze for quite a while. His post-op recovery was indeed going well, but he definitely wasn’t at the point where he could go out for a "walk"...

Just as he was thinking that, he saw his attending physician walk past behind Eric, face cold, looking quite displeased.

"It’s fine, I already asked your attending. Relax, I’m not going to gamble with your health."

As Eric spoke, he closed the door.

He opened the travel bag on the wheelchair and took out a clean set of clothes for him,

"Just put on the coat, you can keep the pants you’re wearing."

His legs now could basically be described as "disabled"; he usually didn’t feel much in them, and changing pants wasn’t an easy task.

Fortunately, Yin Shixiu had a remarkably strong mind. Not only had he accepted this, he’d also resolved to do proper rehab later.

Standing up again was something he never considered impossible.

He really hadn’t breathed fresh outdoor air in a long time; the smell of medicine in the ward lingered under his nose day in and day out.

With Eric in such high spirits, naturally Yin Shixiu wouldn’t spoil it.

He put on the trench coat and, with Eric’s help, sat down in the wheelchair.

"Here, put on the mask and hat."

Yin Shixiu obediently put on both.

It might be the London Royal Hospital, and he might have lost a lot of weight, such that even people who knew him might not recognize him. The chances of running into someone familiar here were very small, but... it was that "what if" they were afraid of.

That "what if" was exactly what they couldn’t afford right now.

Eric took the VIP elevator with him, and they didn’t run into anyone along the way.

When they got off the elevator, they were already in the underground parking lot.

Yin Shixiu was briefly taken aback,

"I thought you were just taking me downstairs for a turn..."

"Downstairs at the hospital? Too many people, too messy..."

"I’ve got a mask and hat on, don’t I?"

"Arthur, to be honest, in London I’m much more famous than you are."

Eric said this with a bit of smugness on his face.

But Yin Shixiu didn’t let the smugness last long. "True, you’re notorious."

"You..."

Eric took a deep breath; being the bigger man, he let it slide.

In truth, Arthur wasn’t wrong...

At the very least, that "playboy" reputation of his, plus the business with Chu Jiao...

There were tons of rumors floating outside, and as a result, Eric’s reputation as a member of the royal family really wasn’t great.

Eric helped Yin Shixiu into the car, then got into the driver’s seat himself.

"So where are you taking me?"

"My private estate."

"..."

Yin Shixiu raised a brow, thinking to himself that Eric was really in a mood today...

The estate wasn’t far from the Royal Hospital; after about half an hour’s drive, they entered a picturesque countryside-like area.

The car drove straight into the estate and stopped in front of a house near the back. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Eric got out and helped Yin Shixiu into the wheelchair,

"So, how’s this place?"

"Not bad. How about I move here from now on? Nice scenery and clean air, good for recovery."

"You really don’t stand on ceremony, do you."

Eric shot him a sideways look and pushed him into the house.

"What’s got you in such a good mood today, anyway?"

Yin Shixiu really didn’t believe Eric would bring him here for no reason.

Eric chuckled,

"What good mood? I just specially brought you here for some fresh air. It’s all your wife. Her head is full of ideas—she insisted on giving you a proper make-up birthday in person..."

He was talking casually as a charming, adorable woman in an apron had already appeared in Yin Shixiu’s line of sight...

"Surprise!"