15 Pleasing the Youngsters

Once outside, Hou Wei Yan placed Hou Wuxi as he was getting heavier under her arms. Hou Jun Shen did the same with Hou Jei Li. This act allowed the twins to hold each other's hands as they descended the stairs outside their house.

"So where do you want to go?"

Without a second thought, Hou Jei Li instantly shouted about their favorite hangout place. "Spotanium!"

Hou Jun Shen only smiled at their obsession. He had already brought them there almost every week but somehow they find it so fun they never get bored. He must admit though, that he finds it quite hard to repel their games there as well.

"I want to play games there as well," Hou Wuxi spoke out all of a sudden with maturity. He refused to show his inner kid, despite still being one.

Hou Wei Yan found his actions amusing making her giggle at his adorable side. "You're speaking quite maturely now."

Hou Jun Shen looked at his brother and shrugged his shoulders. "He wants to grow up fast"

At his statement, Hou Wuxi glared at him. He does want to grow up fast but he doesn't need to blurt it out loud. As he stared at his sister, all he could think of was taking revenge on the man who made her have rehab. He can only do that when he grows up when he can finally gain access to his father's secrets. He knows they know who made her sister lose her mind but they refuse to tell him of it. If they don't want to reveal him, then he will find him out himself.

All of this, once he grows up. So, dear Lord, all of his wishes for Christmas will be spent praying for his growth to accelerate.

Hou Wei Yan merely smiled at his glare which wasn't really effective. Somehow, it only made him more adorable in her eyes. She ruffled his hair with gentleness and said. "Who doesn't?"

Hou Wuxi calmed down and allowed his glare to fade and get replaced with nothing but excitement. Hou Wei Yan saw his joy clearly. As they reached the car, she cheerfully said their destination. "Spotanium it is."

Her eyes were only laid upon her siblings, and as their faces slowly changed into confusion Hou Wei Yan decided to turn her head at the source of their confusion. There stood Fang Tao opening the car with a bow. He still has his poker face mode on taking her siblings by surprise. Such a cold and deadly-looking person is waiting by the car.

In addition to this, he looked so handsome to be an ordinary servant.

Hou Jun Shen was the first to point him out and pop the question. "Uh sis, who's that?"

Hou Wei Yan surveyed Fang Tao and nodded his head for him to stand back tall. She then smiled at her siblings. "My assistant,"

Upon such acknowledgment, Fang Tao bowed down once more in their direction. "Madame."

His tone was both carrying coldness and acceptance it made little Jei Li's eyes sparkle. She has never met such a cold handsome man in her life before. Mainly because she was always kept protected from people, or hidden from people to be exact. Such a man was refreshing to her that the expression she suppressed slipped up.

"Ohhhhh, he's hot!"

Hou Wei Yan giggled at her adorable little angel. She walked closer to Fang Tao and smiled at them while facing them. "This is my assistant Fang Tao,"

She then faced Fang and introduced her siblings one by one. "Fang these are my siblings. Hou Jun Shen, Hou Jei Li, and her twin brother Hou Wuxi."

Fang Tao looked at them one by one, not needing any further introduction. He nodded his head their way because he already knew them more than Hou Wei Yan did. As Hou Wei Yan's guard, he ought to know those who pose no threat to her. These children in front of him are Hou Wei Yan's family—her true family.

He doesn't totally trust nor like Hou Guanyu, but with these children, he can stay at ease.

Noticing his silence and his obvious decision to remain that way, Hou Wei Yan simply smiled. "He doesn't talk much,"

"It doesn't matter, he's hot." Hou Jei Li immediately said, her eyes full of adoration for her sister's new assistant.

It's reassuring to know someone is helping her big sister in her line of work. This further developed her respect for the man in front of her. Her first impression of him is now that of a big brother than a mere assistant.

Hou Wuxi frowned at his twins' obvious display of amusement and adoration. He had watched this many times and he disliked it. Annoyed by her not noticing his warning gaze, Hou Wuxi finally voiced his warning. "Hou Jei Li, watch your mouth."

Hou Jei Li gave him a questioning look. Here he goes again. "What? I just called him hot. What's wrong with that?"

Hou Wuxi raised his brows at her. "Do you even know what that means?"

This ignited Hou Jei Li's inner fire. His words somehow imply that she doesn't know what she's talking about. The thought of him thinking such a thing about her is translatable as looking down on her which makes her quite angry at his arrogance. "Hou Wuxi, watch your mouth. Do you think I'm dumb?"

Hou Jun Shen sighed at another quarrel boiling up. He simply shook his head and looked at his sister who was quite bemused by their quarrel and their topic.

"Where did you even learn that Jei Li?" she questioned as their staring contest deepened.

Hou Jei Li, without hesitation, halted their contest and looked at her sister adorably. "My classmates' sisters often come by at school. They usually talk about hot guys that my classmates ended up getting infatuated with."

"Does that include you?" Hou Wei Yan asked and looked at Hou Jun Shen for confirmation of such a thing happening in her sister's school.

Hou Jun Shen sighed and nodded his head. He's been there and he tries his very best not to prolong his visits. He's no superstar but he's been a part of their fantasies and he clearly heard it first hand.

Amusement and awe were clearly written on Hou Wei Yan's face. She can't deny, that her brother is attractive with his tall and lean physique. He wasn't too masculine, in fact, he has a baby face but it's the fresh type that's hard to ignore.

"Only on special occasions," Hou Jei Li answered after a short while with shyness.

She giggled and ruffled her hair. "Pfft, you're talking much more maturely than Wuxi on such a matter,"

The four of them found themselves agreeing on it and giggling at their own silly agreement.

Not too far from their spot were the Steps and her father. Noticing the dashing man, Hou Chungsa immediately frowned. She was taken in by the man's handsome features which she can't deny is superior to those she met so far.

"Who's that, daddy?"

Hou Guangyu smiled at his stepdaughter and looked back at Ji Li Zhao's formidable man. "Your sister's new assistant,"

With such words, Hou Chungsa's frown deepened and this affected Fe Rou Chao's mood as well. [ Assistant he says? ]

"But I have no such thing," she whined as she clung to his arms. Shamelessly if one asks.

"You have Liu Peizhi. He's your assistant, I pointed him to you not too long ago," he said with kindness, something he rarely shows to Hou Wei Yan's three siblings, or excess baggage as Fe Rou Chao refers.

Hou Chungsa pouted at her father. Yes, her father.

"He's useless, he's too skinny to even protect me," she then looked at her sister with envy but when Hou Guanyu looked at her, she instantly dismissed it and replaced it with a shamelessly pitiful face. "Daddy, aren't you afraid I might get hurt?"

Fe Rou Chao looked at her daughter and sadly sighed, which Hou Guanyu clearly heard.

"Why don't you hire someone better for Chungsa? She needs a new assistant, someone who can protect her," she said and slowly diverted her attention towards Hou Wei Yan. "Xiao Wei is a doctor, she doesn't need to leave much. Why don't you appoint her assistant to Chungsa and find her another one? Someone that will suit her work."

One word described Fe Rou Chao. [ Shameless! ]

This is what Ran Ai had in mind for a long time and she became even more amused at Fe Rou Chao getting much better at being shameless that she's starting to be less human in her eyes.

Hou Guanyu looked at Hou Wei Yan and smiled.

"He's well suited for her work," he said and turned to Chungsa with a kind and loving smile. "Don't worry, I'll find you a better assistant. I can't possibly allow any harm to fall on you."

Hou Chungsa smiled and thanked her father with a hug. But her smile turned fowl once hidden in his embrace. [ I'm the Eldest Miss of the Hou Household so I deserve everything! I will try my very best to get that man because Hou Wei Yan only deserves my leftovers! In fact, Hou Wei Yan deserves nothing at all! ]

.....

"Jei Li, I'm telling you already, don't eat too much inside," Hou Wuxi grumbled inside the car as he clearly saw the shine of her eyes which he only sees when she's thinking of nothing but food.

Hou Jei Li pouted at him reprimanding her from eating. He's been doing a lot of nagging lately it irks her. Knowing fully well the greatest weapon against him is their sister, she tearfully turned towards her. "Big sister, Wuxi is telling me not to eat,"

Hou Wuxi was taken aback, horror was clearly itched in his face. He instantly shook his hand in defense and tried his best to clear out his name. [ Jei Li this kid! ]

"Hey, I just told you not to eat too much!"

"It's the same!" she whined and clung even closer to HouWei Yan who in turn stroked her brown hair back and forth. "Big Sister~"

Hou Jun Shen looked at Hou Wuxi who clearly didn't like his twins whining at all. He hasn't been able to go home and monitor them a lot lately as his father enrolled him to stay in the dormitories so he can focus on his exams, but this topic regarding food and diet has been getting worse and worse. "Wuxi, I told you not to get too harsh on Jei Li."

He seriously looked his brother directly in the eye. "Brother, she's getting fatter. You know my classmates well, don't you?"

He's doing this for her own good. In his young eyes, he can already see clearly how chaotic the world is. Backstabbing or bullying is comparable to breathing air now. Hou Jei Li is as fragile as the glass can be so it's better that he prevents her from suffering blows.

Hou Wei Yan frowned and looked at them both. "What's wrong with being fat?"

"I don't want her to get criticized," Hou Wuxi retorted, his words bearing the truth and justification of his actions. Gaining weight is easy, losing it is an ordeal. If his sister gains fat, she'll be the new center of bullying and God knows how much of a bully his classmates are.

She took a glance at Hou Jei Li. After inspecting her, she turned to Hou Wuxi for a question. "Jei Li is skinny, don't you think?"

"Big sister, I don't easily gain weight," Hou Jei Li said, defending herself.

Hou Wuxi sighed and seriously told her the reality he could already see if she didn't stop gobbling food as she liked. "That doesn't mean you won't!"

He turned to her seriously, his eyes upholding sincerity and pleading for her to listen. "Anyway, don't eat too much."

Hou Jei Li whined once more and turned to Hou Wei Yan making her twin sigh. "Big sister!"

Hou Wei Yan held her face and pinched her cheeks. "Just eat what you can, okay? I can't allow you to suffer any eating disorders by allowing you to eat more than you can."

"Okay," she said in defeat.

What her sister says is an absolute thing to them. This is how much love and respect they have for her because in this lifetime they only have one big sister, their true family.

She urged Hou Wuxi closer and hugged them both, sharing with them her warmth and her love. "Listen, I don't want you to join those people who repeatedly criticize or even detest fat people. Everyone has a story to tell so you can't just judge by what you see, because oftentimes, our eyes can be easily deceived."

The twins melted in her embrace which made her smile. They are growing up and slowly realizing the cruel reality. As much as possible, she wants them to be kind and smart when facing obstacles just like how she was raised to face them.

She believes that being prejudiced and judgmental is not the right thing a smart person would do, thus, this is a sudden lesson that she hopes they won't just brush off.

A glowing light and the crowd getting thicker made the twins aware that they were near Spotanium. She chuckled as they implanted their faces at the side window, hoping to see every gimmick the crowd made.

She then turned to Hou Jun Shen who was silently observing the driver and Fang Tao in front. "Do they always fight like this?"

Hou Jun Shen diverted his attention and focused on her expectant gaze. "It never stops actually. But they said when twins quarrel they are actually closer to each other so I've only kept it minimal, not stopped it."

Hou Wei Yan nodded her head at his decision. She too can see they deeply care for each other so long as their fight doesn't turn too grave, it's okay for her. She beamed him a smile and looked outside together with the twins.

With the sight of a huge golden console with the words 'Spotanium' in it, Her eyes grew bigger and soon displayed utter amusement. The last time she was here all it had was neon signage. Not only that the place small and cramped in the past, but now it's all golden and glittery. It's like a huge casino in Vegas!

"Woah, this place has gotten bigger!"

"Ahhh, Spotanium!" Hou Jei Li squealed while nodding her head repeatedly as the car pulled over at the entrance.

The twins who were itching to play instantly hopped out of the car followed by Hou Jun Shen who wanted to put a leash on them both so they wouldn't get too far from him like last time. He handed both their phones to them and made sure their watch which was equipped with a tracker was activated and working properly.

Hou Wei Yan smiled at such a sight. He's such a responsible kiddo now, and it looks like he finally knew why she always checked his phone and tracker in the past.

"Madame,"

She halted from going out as Fang called her out, obviously wanting to talk to her. Hou Wei Yan nodded his head and looked at his siblings. "Jun Shen, you three go first. Wait for me in the ticket booth."

Hou Jun Shen looked back in the car and slowly nodded his head in understanding. "Okay,"

He instantly leads the twins towards the ticket booth while firmly holding their hands because he knows if he lets go, they will instantly go wild and leave him behind...again.

Hou Wei Yan closed the door once more and waited patiently for Fang to talk. But instead of a reply, he shoved her 4 golden tickets. "These are VVIP tickets. It has access to everything inside."

Confusion was written on her face as she looked at the tickets and Fang Tao alternately. "Why are you giving this?"

"Boss,"

This was his simple reply and yet Hou Wei Yan was already taken aback. "My husband?"

An unnoticeable smile slowly escaped on his face which he instantly suppressed. It's great how she acknowledges his boss as her husband. He never knew he'd feel so glad to hear it from her without hesitation.

"Yes. He said he would provide you with everything today as an apology for his shortcomings and for disappointing you."

Hou Wei Yan looked at the ticket and smiled. [ What shortcomings is he talking about? ]

She was clearly briefed on their marriage situation and she understood it well so he doesn't need to apologize. "He doesn't need to. I somehow understand that this confidentiality has something to do with his or even my safety."

"Madame, he's glad you understand, but he really can't just sit idly by," Fang said while trying his best to convince her to accept, because if she doesn't...he doesn't know how to coax a dragon.

"Why? I can buy my siblings a ticket if that is what he is concerned about," she said and looked back at Fang Tao seriously.

Fang simply shook his head. This is really not about money. "Ah no. He believes you can but it's not a matter of money."

Not wanting to drop the subject and deeply wishing to get to know this husband of hers a little, Hou Wei Yan continued her inquiry. She's going to squeeze the information out of her assistant. But can it really be squeezed out of such an impenetrable soldier?

"Then what?"

Fang looked at her with amusement. Nice try but he's not falling. "He,"

"He what?"

He was ordered to only give little information about his actions, not his identity. He showed her a small smile, a smile so small you can't differentiate it from his normal poker face if you don't look closely. "He wants to please the youngsters and you."

With sincerity in his eyes, he added. "Please allow him to do so,"

Silence fell in the room as Hou Wei Yan digested what he said. [ Please her and the youngsters? ]

A smile crept through her as the thought of such a nice husband warmed her heart. She looked outside and clearly saw the excitement in her siblings' eyes which made her smile grow even bigger. [ Well, if he wants to make them happy, how can I refuse? ]

She took hold of the tickets and placed them close to her.

"Alright. Do tell him I'm thankful for this gift," she said as she walked out of the car with a grateful smile itched on her face. She fished out her phone, opened up her camera, and took a picture of the four VVIP tickets in her hands.

After editing it out a little, she uploaded it on her Ingram account, @reign_yan, with a caption... 'Thank you for pleasing the youngsters' with a heart emoji beside it.