119 The Annoying Monkey

It was the usual breezy evening in Li Wei Mansion. Hou Wei Yan was comfortably sipping her tea when she noticed her husband silently staring at her. She couldn't help but be curious of his odd behavior so she placed down her cup and faced him directly.

"You're acting strange…did someone upset you?"

"Someone called me old today," Ji Li Zhao suddenly said which made Hou Wei Yan raise her brows. "Do you think I'm old?"

When asked such a question, she immediately scanned her husband. She never really thought of it because she was comfortable around him. But judging from his hair, if it's his real hair color, then he's not old. She could only see a small part of his face but there were no wrinkles out in the open…in fact, his skin looked so smooth she could compare it to a teenager.

"Maybe you're old, I don't really know…but your body says otherwise," she honestly stated which didn't lighten Ji Li Zhao's mood at all. He was unsure whether he looks old in her eyes or not because she still mentioned old in the end. "Would that suffice as my final answer?"

He stared at her long and saw how she was smiling at him. "Looks like you're enjoying teasing me now,"

Hou Wei Yan laughed quite boisterously at his commentary. "Whoever called you old needs to see your body then retake another evaluation. Let's see if they'll have the guts to call my husband old again."

This time, Ji Li Zhao was the one who chuckled. She was the one who called him old though.

"You're flattering me too much tonight," he remarked after regaining his composure. "Or is it to mask that you think I'm old."

Due to the fact that she doesn't really know how old he is, Hou Wei Yan directed his attention away from the topic. "The tea smells good. I think I will sleep soundly this evening,"

But of course, her attempt was foiled by Ji Li Zhao who didn't want to let her off easily. He wanted to tease her more and more.

"You always sleep soundly every night…huddled in my arms…with your head nuzzled in my neck…and your hands behaving like a snake in my waist." he teased with a huge smirk on his face.

As though magic has been cast by a fairy, Hou Wei Yan instantly turned into a blushing mess. "Speaking like that is unfair! It's illegal!"

"You're cute though," he smoothly replied in between his chuckles. After a short pause, he leaned his head close to her and smiled sweetly as though enchanting her. "Would that suffice?"

Hou Wei Yan looked away when her heart could no longer take in his actions. She could feel how hot her face was and so she pouted because she felt like he was doing everything with a secret purpose she was not aware of. "Ah…why do I feel like I'm getting unfairly punished today. Did I do something wrong?"

"Teasing you seems like a good hobby,"

"Oh my god. Please don't!" she hurriedly replied as she swiftly turned around to stop him from teasing her foolishly. "I don't think my strength stat is enough to counter your attacks,"

Ji Li Zhao laughed at her cute begging face. Her cheeks were turning puffy and he was about to give in due to how adorable she looked right now.

However, he held himself back and was now more motivated to tease her so he could see more of her adorable reactions. "Too late. Once I set my mind, I don't plan on backing away,"

"Xiang Gong~" she sweetly called out, her voice an angelic symphony in his ears. Her voice was enough and her endearment was enough to place an obvious blush on his face. A beautiful and love-filled smile slowly bloomed on his face as he fell in love with her all over again.

Her small actions could tug at his heartstrings without that much effort.

"Calling me that in situations like this is the one that's considered illegal," he laughed as he tried to contain his blush. He was drowning once more in his feelings which was turning more dangerous as each day pass by.

He chuckled one last time before he buried down the unnecessary feeling surfacing within him, which is apparently a part of the seven deadly sins. They're still in the early stage so he cannot have such thoughts right now.

"Call me that one more time and I might just stop," he added after a long silence.

"Xiang Gong~" Hou Wei Yan called out once more in hopes that he would stop his teasing.

However…Ji Li Zhao was a sly man who knows how to twist his words and the situation itself in his favor.

She couldn't help but let out a loud squeal as she felt her body suddenly brought up. His unexpected actions immediately made her hug his nape as he began walking while carrying her in his arms…bridal style. "What are you doing?!"

"I told you that if you call me that one more time I would stop," he replied as he gave Gu Man a gentle nod.

Hou Wei Yan who saw their interaction and the maids' reaction immediately covered her face in embarrassment. "You ought to stop teasing me…not carry me!"

"I would stop the tea time and sleep," he said with a sly smile on his face. Hou Wei Yan glared at him after he explained himself. "That's what I was trying to say,"

"That's cheating. You didn't even finish your sentence!" she huffed which only made Ji Li Zhao laugh even more. Wanting him to stop, Hou Wei Yan smacked his chest but only found herself blushing because she felt his rock-hard chest and she could tell just how blessed she is that he was her husband.

Ji Li Zhao who saw through her chuckled at this. He indeed took care of his body more than ever for her so he could understand why she suddenly got flustered.

"You're teasing me again, aren't you?!"

Ji Li Zhao smirked before he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Am I?"

Her face brightened up once more because of his sudden attack. Before she could recover, Ji Li Zhao stepped inside the manor where his men were gathered for the final patrol.

Their jaws dropped almost immediately when they saw their boss carrying his wife securely in his arms. The redness of Hou Wei Yan's face could no longer be explained for all of his men grinned widely before looking away.

Ji Li Zhao continued striding upstairs without a care in the world. This only made matters worse for Hou Wei Yan who was embarrassed beyond measure. "Oh my god, this is embarrassing!"

"What's embarrassing about this?" he asked innocently. "We're husband and wife…isn't this normal?"

Her mouth slightly parted in amusement as she heard his nonchalant statement. "We're married but we shouldn't be publicly displaying our affections like this,"

He could only chuckle at her statement. The number of times he carried her inside the manor in such a manner could no longer be counted by his fingers so her reaction was certainly amusing. "They've seen more than this…getting embarrassed now makes you look cute,"

Hou Wei Yan immediately covered his mouth with an obvious blush on her face. She nervously glanced around and felt her insides shaking when she saw some maids looking away and acting as though they heard nothing.

But she could tell, that they absolutely heard what her husband blurted out.

"Stop teasing me already!"

Ji Li Zhao raised his brows before laughing hysterically at her embarrassed face. He wasn't done with her just yet.

As soon as they entered the bedroom, a squeal was heard once more making the servants look at each other before they smiled to themselves. Slowly, they walked away, ignoring all the giggles and squealing coming from the master bedroom.

…..

The day started with a warm embrace as the sun ruled over the skies. However, her bright sunny morning slowly got clouded when she felt a man's arms lazily resting on her shoulders without permission.

"You look happy today…did something good happen yesterday?"

Hou Wei Yan hurriedly removed his arms from her shoulders before she rolled her eyes at his eccentric greeting. "You're just overly sensitive,"

"No…I'm sure something happened," Han Yu Shou mumbled with a grin on his face. He already heard from the gossipy men of Evergreen Estate what happened last night. He was smiling when he heard how Ji Li Zhao boldly showed off in front of them.

"Can't you tell me what it is?"

Not liking his face slowly drawing close to hers, she hurriedly raised her hands to cover her face and shove his face away from hers. "You're awfully gossipy today. Did you eat something bad?"

"No," he answered cheekily before he looked back at Fang Tao. His eyes immediately sparkled when he saw the mountain of food he was carefully carrying. "You're bringing in an awfully large amount of food. Is it for me?"

"Stop assuming. It's for Big Brother,"

Han Yu Shou was about to retort back something annoying when a loud voice echoed in the hallway. "Wei Wei!"

"Fuck!" he cursed when he saw the source of his daily headache jogging towards them.

Hou Wei Yan who heard this immediately glared at him. He was already inside the vicinity and many children are loitering around so what he said was uncouth. "Watch what you say. You're already donning your coat so be professional,"

Han Yu Shou could only click his tongue in annoyance as Zhou Jinhai draw closer to them. The mere sight of his face easily annoyed the leaving daylights out of Han Yu Shou. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't I greet my lady?" Zhou Jinhai slyly replied as he waved his hands at Hou Wei Yan. She greeted him back with a smile that Han Yu Shou didn't notice because of his seething anger towards Zhou Jinhai's presence.

"Your Lady?"

Hearing his anger-filled question, Zhou Jinhai mockingly laughed at him. "Someone's jealous,"

"There's nothing to be jealous of," Han Yu Shou answered with a smile before he flung himself towards Hou Wei Yan and clung to her arms. There was an air of arrogance around him which made the lady heave a heavy sigh.

"We've promised to stay together since we were young. You don't even have a promise with her, what makes you think you're above me?"

"I don't know…I've seen her drunk," he replied with a grin on his face. Zhou Jinhai now knows how to tick Han Yu Shou off so he shoved his face closer to him and asked in a mocking way. "Have you?"

"What?!" Han Yu Shou was exasperated as he tearfully looked at Hou Wei Yan. The latter flinched at this because she knows just how annoying he gets when he begins to act like a child who lost his treats to someone.

"Little Sister, how could you? This is an act of betrayal. I need to see you drunk too!"

His awful statement immediately garnered a disappointed sigh from Hou Wei Yan. She looked at him seriously while shaking her head. Why would he even want to see her drunk?! She already vowed that she wouldn't drink to the point of drunkenness after what happened in the past.

"That was ages ago…and why would you even need to see me drunk, you weirdo," she stated before she looked back at Fang Tao who was obviously holding back his own annoyance towards Zhou Jinhai…and apparently with Han Yu Shou as well.

"Let's leave them here, Fang. The kids are probably starving now so let's visit Big Brother first,"

"Understood, Madame."

Zhou Jinhai who was still unaware that Xing Ru was admitted to their hospital curiously asked. "Big Brother? Your cousin is here?"

"Yeah. He got in an accident,"

"You're visiting him now?" he asked which made Han Yu Shou glare at him. Meanwhile, Hou Wei Yan nodded her head to answer his question.

A smile was immediately drawn on his face when he learned of this. This is an opportunity he could not let go of. "I still have a few minutes before my shift starts. Let me accompany you,"

Han Yu Shou immediately clenched his fist in annoyance. "You shameless bastard. Don't even think---"

"Sure,"

"Little Sister!" he exasperated when he heard Hou Wei Yan's nonchalant reply.

Hou Wei Yan looked at him before he looked at Zhou Jinhai once more. She had already told him countless times that no matter what Jinhai does, he will only remain as a friend to her.

"Zhou Jinhai was a friend during my stay in America. Big Brother was always curious about my friends there so this should be a good time to introduce him and make him see that I wasn't making friends with weird people,"

Feeling smothered by her nonchalant behavior, he pointed accusingly at Zhou Jinhai. "This guy is seriously weird so you shouldn't introduce him!"

"It's quite funny hearing that from you," Hou Wei Yan answered with a poker face. After saying this, she turned around and attempted to leave with Fang Tao…however, Han Yu Shou caught her hands before she could drift away.

"If that's the case then I should go too!"

Hou Wei Yan's eyes displayed horror as soon as she met his serious and unwavering gaze. "What?!"

Han Yu Shou held her hands tightly before pulling him close to him. Before she could react violently, she was swiftly swept to do his bidding.

She heaved a heavy sigh as she faced once more Xing Ru with an annoyed look on her face. "So that's how things ended like this,"

Xing Ru's room is currently in the state of World War. It was filled with chaos that Hou Wei Yan could no longer determine who was speaking.

"Step back you twerp!" Han Yu Shou loudly yelled when he saw Zhou Jinhai about to feed Xing Lihua.

"Come on, I was feeding Hua Hua. Stop being a nuisance!" he replied in annoyance. He was trying his best to leave a good impression and yet Han Yu Shou keeps on ruining it.

"Or should I feed you instead? Is that why you're approaching us?" he said with a huge grin on his face. He took a spoonful of fried rice and brought it close to Han Yu Shou's face. "Say Ahhh~"

"What?! You little---"

Xing Lixue, who was certainly not the patient type, looked at the two bickering monkeys in front of her and heaved an annoyed sigh. She hurriedly pulled Han Yu Shou's shirt close to her because he was the one assigned to feed her. "Uncle, I'm hungry. Hurry up!"

"Wait, you should be hostile towards this man---"

"If you don't hurry up, I will transfer and let Uncle Jinjin feed me instead!" she answered which ticked Han Yu Shou. The thought of Zhou Jinhai taking his spot in Xing Lixue's heart made him angry.

Not wanting this prediction to come true, he flashed a smile at the naughty princess and imitated a plane using a spoonful of fried rice. "Xiao Xue, here comes the plane~"

This scene caused Xing Ru to chuckle in amusement. Hou Wei Yan who was beside him and was carefully observing his reactions sighed heavily. "Aren't you enjoying this too much?"

"They're handling my daughters well. How can I not be glad?" Xing Ru replied with a cheeky smile on his face. "Whenever Xiao Wei is around, my workload is getting lighter and lighter,"

"Stop using others already," she scolded while pinching his sides. Xing Ru continued laughing making her sigh in defeat. After a short pause, she suddenly remembered his earlier remark when they entered the room.

"What was that earlier by the way? Why did you do that?"

Xing Ru merely smirked as he remembered what happened. Right after Hou Wei Yan introduced Zhou Jinhai, a dashing smirk was plastered on his face as he carefully scanned him.

"So you're Zhou Jinhai?" he asked as he thoroughly inspected the young man. His pretty eyes and perfectly proportioned body were worthy of praise. He couldn't help but chuckle after he found out about the young man's attractive features. "I see, I see. A formidable opponent indeed,"

"Excuse me?" Zhou Jinhai asked in confusion alongside Hou Wei Yan who was taken aback by her cousin's smirk.

"Don't mind me. I'm merely talking to myself," he easily dismissed before glancing at his daughters ogling at the food Hou Wei Yan brought. "My daughters are hungry---"

Zhou Jinhai followed his gaze and easily deciphered what he wanted. "I'll feed them immediately, sir."

After remembering everything, he slightly chuckled which made Hou Wei Yan raise her brows. She was unsure what he was referring to earlier and she was now even more confused. He slowly turned his head towards his children and the two quarreling men. "They're cute, aren't they?"

Hou Wei Yan followed her line of sight and immediately sighed heavily. "Brother, stop giving him hope. Even I avoid giving him any,"

"This is his choice. If he wishes to push with his luck, then let him be," he seriously remarked making her frown. Xing Ru developed quite a twisted habit of using people until they are extinguished during the time he was handling Xing Conglomerate. "Even if he gets hurt, he could never blame you for it,"

He smiled wickedly as he carefully watched Zhou Jinhai. [ I'm not forcing him or anything, but since he wishes to serve why not use him? There's no reason to decline such a delectable offer. ]

She was about to reprimand him for his actions and intentions when Han Yu Shou's voice suddenly resonated across the room forcing her and Xing Ru to turn towards them once more. "Hua Hua, who's the better Uncle between us two?"

"Uncle Jinjin!" Xing Lihua answered enthusiastically as she pounced at Zhou Jinhai. He caught her in his arms and slightly tickled her causing the little girl to erupt in a fit of laughter.

Han Yu Shou felt his position as the best uncle was getting threatened. He slowly convinced himself that Xing Lihua chose Jinhai because he was the one feeding her.

So to boost her self-esteem once more, he turned towards Xing Lixue who was now eating a steamed bun. "What about you Xiao Xue?"

Xing Lixue looked at him before she slowly turned toward Zhou Jinhai. Honestly, she likes Han Yu Shou but he often goes overboard with the kisses so he automatically loses points. "Uncle Jinjin!"

Hou Wei Yan who heard her reply flinched because the person receiving her words is a very obnoxious person. Not soon after, a series of sniffles was heard from Han Yu Shou's side causing all of them to focus their attention on him. His eyes had tears in them and his face was becoming messier and messier.

"Xiao Xue, how could you betray me like this!" he wailed loudly making Xing Lixue shake her head. This is one of the reasons why he wasn't chosen.

"I wasn't obliged to answer your name,"

Zhou Jinhai who was overjoyed by this outcome hugged the two children causing Han Yu Shou to erupt in another furious fit. "Get away you annoying monkey!"

"Not gonna happen," he teased as he placed kisses on the giggling twins. Slowly, he moved away from the wailing man while carrying the two children.

What he did cause Han Yu Shou to chase after him with an annoyed look on his face…and yet tears are falling from his eyes. "You're seriously gonna get a beating from me!"

Because Xing Ru was remaining silent and was even enjoying their rowdy behavior, Hou Wei Yan found it in herself to step up. She cleared out her throat and glared at the two men running around like children.

Like wild animals, their instincts were quite sharp so her sudden shift in mood and deadly glare immediately sent them to stop as they felt a shiver run down their spines. Once their attention was directed at her, she smiled a threatening smile.

"Don't involve the children in your childish bickering,"

Her words were simple and even sounded like a request…but they know that if they say anything aside from an apology they would surely find their body floating in the river the next day.

"Sorry,"

As soon as she heard their apology, she lingered her gaze on them for a few seconds before she turned to her cousin. "I should go now. I'll come back once my shift is done,"

"Take care, Xiao Wei!" Xing Ru sincerely said. He wanted to talk more with her but he knows he shouldn't impose on her time too much knowing how important every second of her time is.

She smiled at him warmly before she collected the twins in her arms and placed tender kisses on their heads. The twins are very lovable but they could stir quite a handful of troubles when no one is watching so she thought of leaving them a little reminder. "Auntie Cuifen is on her way. You better behave and stay put okay?"

"Okay," the twins obediently answered making Xing Ru smile secretly.

Once she was done with her farewells, Han Yu Shou took her place and kissed the twins as well. But contrary to their treatment towards Hou Wei Yan, he was frowned upon by Xing Lixue. "Uncle, stop leaving your saliva on our cheeks!"

Like a heartbroken puppy, Han Yu Shou was forced to sulk in the corner for the mistreatment he just received. While he was busy comforting himself, Zhou Jinhai found this as a good opportunity to bid his goodbye.

Just like the two, he kissed both of them, and suddenly…but not surprisingly, the twins kissed him back on the cheeks causing a huge smile to blossom on his face. With this…he had won.

"Come visit us again, Uncle Jinjin," Xing Lixue sweetly said as though she was talking to her long-time crush. Her voice was serene causing everyone inside to smile.

Everyone, except for Han Yu Shou.

Hou Wei Yan who knows just how aggravating he is when he becomes jealous immediately pulled him outside. Zhou Jinai could only smile and wave his hands at the twin before he followed outside where another heap of drama awaits from the award-winning drama queen, Han Yu Shou.

"You're a seriously annoying monkey," he began as he glared hard at Zhou Jinhai who still wore a satisfied smile on his face.

Unfazed by his remark, he immediately replied. "The children see me as a handsome Uncle while you're the annoying monkey,"

"What did you say?!" he exclaimed as though thoroughly bruised by his words. Feeling awful at this thought, he turned to his so-called little sister in hopes of finding comfort in her words. "It's not true, right, Wei Wei?"

She merely sighed at his question before waving her hands and walking away. "I'm leaving,"

"Wei Wei!" he called out and was even planning on following him.

However, before he could even take one step towards the path she took, she looked back and gave him a deadly glare obviously stating that she had enough of him for the day. "Don't even think of following me!"

Left with no choice, Han Yu Shou could only drop his shoulders in dismay and loath Zhou Jinhai even more.