When Feng Lin handed the last slice of peeled apple to Su Xianyu's lips, the floor lamp in the living room suddenly flickered twice with a "click".
The warm yellow light made one feel dizzy. Su Xianyu subconsciously shrank into his arms, her fingertips still pinching an unfinished lampshade.
The stitches were fine and dense, showing the care put into it.
"It's throwing a tantrum again." Feng Lin chuckled, then freed a hand to gently tap on the lamp post. "If you keep misbehaving, you won't get new clothes!"
The lamp stopped flickering, but the bone china cup on the coffee table shook on its own. The rim of the cup knocked against the glass tabletop, making a soft protesting sound.
It was now Su Xianyu's new favorite. It could control its own temperature and was no longer scalding. It was good for keeping water warm or heating it up.
Su Xianyu burst into laughter and reached out to hold the cup down. "Don't bully Lampy. It's just throwing a childish tantrum because it didn't get any apples."
As she spoke, she divided the remaining apple in half and placed one half beside the cup mat.
The porcelain cup immediately fell silent, and the cup wall even became slightly warm, as if it was shy.
This was already the third week since Feng Lin and Su Xianyu had moved in.
These "spirits" that had come to life due to their presence were getting more and more familiar with them. Gradually, they could even express some simple meanings.
The two of them were like parents raising a group of naughty and cute kids.
After getting to know their innocent nature, Feng Lin and Su Xianyu came up with a "praise mode", and their daily interactions became more harmonious.
One evening, Su Xianyu was leaning on the sofa, flipping through a picture album, when she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!"
The bookmark in the picture album fell into the crack of the floor.
She was about to get up when the sweeping robot suddenly buzzed over. The brush at the front carefully pushed the bookmark out.
The indicator light on the robot, Sweeper, flashed a cheerful green light and it spun around at her feet.
"Thank you, Sweeper." Su Xianyu said with a smile, stroking the top of the robot. "I'll change your cleaning agent to your favorite lemon - flavored one tonight."
Sweeper's green light shone even brighter. Then it turned around and rushed towards the balcony, probably wanting to tell Lampy, who was "basking in the moonlight", the good news.
When Feng Lin came out of the kitchen, he saw Su Xianyu smiling in the direction of the balcony.
He walked over and hugged his lover from behind. "Are you chatting with them?"
"Yeah," Su Xianyu turned around, her eyes full of smiles. "Lampy said it wants to know if there's a lamp as bright as it in the manor."
"Probably not," Feng Lin thought for a moment. "But the stars there are brighter than it."
The living - room lamp suddenly dimmed and then brightened again, as if it was sulking.
Su Xianyu laughed even harder. She pulled Feng Lin's hand and shook it. "Don't tease it. It'll get upset again."
---
Feng Lin was organizing clothes in the bedroom when he received a call from his informant in the country.
The voice on the other end of the phone was very low, filled with barely - contained nervousness.
"Sir, the Elders' Council held a secret meeting yesterday. Directors Zhang and Li have both signed. They said they're going to re - evaluate your 'suitability' to manage the group."
Feng Lin paused in his actions.
He put the folded cashmere shawl into the cabinet. His voice showed no emotion. "The reason."
"They said... that for the sake of Madam, you stopped several overseas projects last month, repeatedly harming the group's interests."
The informant's voice trembled a little. "Also, regarding your cousin - uncle... Although he's still abroad, his lawyer met with several elders yesterday and seemed to have submitted some evidence."
Feng Lin tightened his fingertips, wrinkling the clothes.
He remembered that half a year ago, his cousin - uncle's family had tried to harm Xiaoyu in order to fight for the right of inheritance.
If he hadn't discovered it in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
At that time, he hadn't shown any mercy. His cousin - uncle was directly expelled from the family, and all his shares were frozen. Several accomplices were also sent to prison.
The elders hadn't said anything back then. It seemed they'd just been waiting for an opportunity.
"I see." Feng Lin hung up the phone. When he turned around, he met Su Xianyu's gaze.
She was standing at the bedroom door, holding the cup mat that Cup usually stayed on.
"Is it something about the family?" she asked softly, her eyes full of worry.
Feng Lin walked over and pulled her into his arms. "It's just a small thing."
He softened his tone. "A few old shareholders want to assert their presence. I may just need to go back to the country."
Su Xianyu didn't ask any more questions. She knew Feng Lin didn't want her to worry. She just patted his tense shoulder in a comforting way. "Okay. We'll go back together."
On the day they were leaving, Lampy turned the living - room light extra bright, as if saying goodbye.
Cup was spinning around on the dining table. It poured half a cup of the honey water that Su Xianyu usually drank, then thought it wasn't right, poured it out, and refilled it. It repeated this several times.
Sweeper laid a clean doormat at the door and repeatedly checked that there wasn't a single speck of dust.
"We'll be back soon," Su Xianyu said softly, squatting down and looking into the room.
"Lampy, you have to guard the house well. Cup, don't always steal milk. Sweeper, remember to charge yourself."
The indicator light on the sweeping robot's head flashed in unison with the floor lamp, as if nodding.
The bone china cup also gently bumped against the table corner, making a clear sound.
Feng Lin was pulling the suitcase in front. He looked back and saw Su Xianyu still saying goodbye to them. His eyes softened.
When Xiaoyu came closer, he gently held her hand. "Let's go."
Before closing the door, Feng Lin took one last look at the living room. The warm yellow light shone through the crack of the door, as if full of dependence and reluctance.
Feng Lin soon received another call from the country. This time it was from his special assistant.
His speech was fast and steady. "Sir, the Elders' Council has joined forces with the old subordinates of the old gentleman. They're preparing to remove you from your position at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on Friday.
"I heard they have a forged 'medical certificate' saying that you're 'mentally unstable' and unfit to manage the group."
"Forged?" Feng Lin sneered. "They've really improved."
"Also, Director Zhang has contacted several media outlets and plans to expose it on the day of the meeting to completely confirm your 'scandal'."
Special Assistant Zhang paused. "Do you want me to take action in advance?"
"No," Feng Lin glanced at Su Xianyu. She was staring blankly in the direction they had left.
"Book the fastest flight. We'll go back tonight."
He hung up the phone and walked over to squat in front of Xiaoyu. "Don't worry. We'll solve it quickly."
She held his hand. Her fingertips were a bit cold. "Lampy and the others have never been home alone for so long..."
"After we've settled the matter, we'll come back for them right away," Feng Lin comforted her, patting the back of her hand. "It'll be at most three days."
It was already midnight when the plane landed.
Feng Lin told the driver to take the car directly to the headquarters of the Feng Group.
The office building was brightly lit at this time. Apparently, someone was preparing for the "big show" tomorrow overnight.
"Do you want to go up and wait or stay in the car?" Feng Lin asked.
Su Xianyu unbuckled her seat - belt. "I'll go with you."
The elevator took them straight to the top - floor meeting room.
When the door was pushed open, the arguing inside suddenly stopped.
A dozen men in suits turned around. Director Zhang, who was leading them, still had a smug smile on his face, which instantly froze when he saw Feng Lin.
"Mr. Feng? Aren't you in Country K..."
Feng Lin ignored him and walked straight to the main seat and sat down.
Su Xianyu sat on the chair next to him. She sat quietly among the group of stunned men.
The expression on her usually smiling face was similar to Feng Lin's, giving off a strange sense of oppression.
"Continue," Feng Lin raised his hand to check his watch. "I'd like to hear how you plan to remove me."
Director Zhang composed himself and picked up the document on the table with a forced calm. "Mr. Feng, your recent decisions have been too emotional. You've ignored the group's interests for the sake of your wife. The shareholders have..."
"Emotional?" Feng Lin interrupted him. He pulled up a recording on his phone and pressed the play button...