Raelle's car swerved through the driveway when she caught sight of both Yue and Zhai Yanjun standing outside the door. Needless to say, even Hyson saw the scene.
"What is happening here?" asked Hyson.
"I'm not a fortune teller," answered Raelle.
Hyson gasped exaggeratingly, "Oh my! And I've always believed my best friend is omnipotent and omniscient."
"There is no need to think so highly of me," replied Raelle blankly. "There are certain things I'm not capable of doing."
"As always, my Ellie is self-aware of her own abilities and flaws," remarked Hyson with a grin playing on his lips.
As the car halted, it caught Yue and Zhai Yanjun's attention. Hyson was the first one to jump out of the car as he ran over to his mother and engulfed her in his arms tightly. Swaying her body from one side to another, he said, "Mum, my beautiful mum! I am so happy to see you!"
Yue felt helpless to see him acting like this. There wasn't anything new about how he acted. And she was indeed used to it somewhat by now.
But she still slapped his back and pushed him away with a stern look, 'Don't touch me! Go and wash up first! Don't rub your germs on me!'
Hyson gaped at his mother, "Mum, are you saying I'm dirty?" Yue nodded her head without any hesitation. "How can you even say that?" Hyson sounded aggrieved. "I washed up before coming home."
'But you came from the hospital,' reminded Yue.
"Yeah, I came from the hospital. Isn't hospital the cleanest?"
"Technically, no!" came Raelle's voice from behind. "You can find all kinds of germs and bacterias in the hospital. Even the kinds you won't find anywhere else. After all, all kinds of patients come to the hospitals."
Hyson scrunched up his face, "Then why do they make their patients suffer from the smell of disinfectants when they don't even disinfectant anything?"
"Maybe they have something against their patients," commented Raelle.
"I knew it! Hospitals are the most untrustworthy places. No wonder I hate hospitals!"
Zhai Yanjun had been silently listening to these two and couldn't help chuckling. Raelle turned her head towards him and asked, "Mr. Soldier! I didn't expect to see you here. To what do we owe this honor?"
Zhai Yanjun smiled at Raelle, "I actually came to see Granduncle Xiang, didn't expect to see Saozi[1] here as well."
"If you're here to see Opa, why are you standing out here? Come inside," said Raelle as she took the lead to enter the house.
Hyson skipped over to her side and inquired, "Who is he? And why is he calling you Saozi?"
"He..." Raelle took another look at Zhai Yanjun before telling him, "He is Zhai Yanjun. Xian's friend."
"Oh..." Hyson nodded his head but suddenly recalled something, "Is he the same Zhai Yanjun I have in mind?"
"He is," answered Raelle which made Hyson look at Zhai Yanjun with a different look in his eyes. Zhai Yanjun being a soldier was familiar with all kinds of hostilities. So, the displeasure in Hyson's eyes wasn't really unseen by him but he decided to ignore it for now.
Apparently, what he heard from his grandparents was really true. Raelle was the Princess that anyone would want to serve. You displease her, you'd put yourself on the blacklist of quite a few people. Just like he was on the hitlist of Mu Chenyan right now. He didn't know what kind of a relationship was between Hyson and Raelle but he was certain that Hyson's feelings aligned with Mu Chenyan's.
Everyone was overly protective of this girl who didn't even need their protection. After all, in just two meetings, he had learned of Raelle's abilities to make one feel headache with only her words.
Raelle led them to the lounge and made a hand gesture asking Zhai Yanjun to sit down. She watched Yue hurriedly had gone to the kitchen and even brought a glass of fresh juice for Zhai Yanjun in no time.
Pushing Hyson away, Raelle said, "You should really wash up and clean the germs you brought from the hospital. But be careful, don't scrub too hard. What would we do if you also got washed away?"
Hyson's lips twitched, "Are you saying I'm a germ as well?"
"I didn't say it but since you've said it yourself, I won't dare go against you," patting his shoulder she adding, "After all, I always agree with what you say."
Hyson bared his teeth as if he was ready to bite her flesh off! How could she just say that?
But he still listened to her and stood up to go and wash up. However, before leaving he said, "You wait for Opa to come back. I'm gonna tell on you!"
"As if Opa will do anything to me," retorted Raelle calmly.
When only Raelle and Zhai Yanjun were left in the lounge, Zhai Yanjun looked at her carefully before asking, "Granduncle is not home?"
"It's unfortunate for you Mr. Soldier but Opa is really not home today," answered Raelle. "He and Bà went to a charity auction together. And they'd on come back in the evening. If you don't mind waiting, then you'll be able to see him."
"I can wait," said Zhai Yanjun. "It's rare for me to have a day off. I have to see him today and apologize to him in person."
"Apologize?" inquired Raelle.
"Forget about it," said Zhai Yanjun. "It's nothing. But I hope you can save me from Miss Mu."
"Did Yanyan say anything to you?"
"Say?" Zhai Yanjun shook his head. "She almost beat me into a meat patty."
"Oh, that means I almost lost the chance to taste your meat patties. What a shame!"
Zhai Yanjun looked at her face and realized that she was teasing him with that straight face of hers. He really couldn't believe it.
"I'll allow you to taste my meat patties. You sure you can digest it though?"
Raelle looked him up and down, "Now that I've thought about it again, I really think you won't taste good."
Did he just get insulted for not being tasty? Zhai Yanjun really was at a loss for words right now. He honestly wondered how Shui Xian looked so happy around her?
Clearing his throat, he asked, "By the way, what about Xian?"
"He also isn't around," answered Raelle patiently. "He has gone out of city for work."
"When will he come back?"
"That's something uncertain for now."
Zhai Yanjun frowned, "How irresponsible of him! You guys have only gotten married for what? A month? How can he leave at this time?"
Raelle looked at his expressions. He really looked like he was mad at Shui Xian for doing that. Raelle found his behavior to be quite interesting right now.
"It seems you and Xian are both quite emotional people," said Raelle.
Zhai Yanjun was surprised to hear that, "Why would you say that? I never thought Xian and I have anything in common. Even our interests are different."
"I can't say anything about your interests but your personalities are the same," was Raelle's response. She wasn't just saying it. She was certain about her observation. "You both value emotions a lot more than anything in life. Not only that, you both keep a cold and serious exterior to fool people which brings me to the conclusion that both of you have been hurt by someone to the point that you both started hiding your emotions."
Zhai Yanjun was startled to hear her evaluation. He didn't know think that Shui Xian had shared his personal matters with her. He knew Shui Xian well enough to have faith in him. This trust was the reason he never felt any hesitation in sharing everything with Shui Xian.
But since Shui Xian didn't say anything, it meant Raelle had come to this conclusion on her own.
Zhai Yanjun was suddenly reminded of what he heard from Shui Xian, 'She sees everything. Nothing seems to stay hidden from her eyes.'
At that time, Zhai Yanjun thought Shui Xian was exaggerating since he had come to like Raelle but now, he couldn't deny Shui Xian's words. Raelle really had keen senses. It was kind of scary if he was being honest.
"I suddenly feel scared of you," Zhai Yanjun spoke out his mind. "I feel like if I spent a day with you, you might be able to read even my soul."
"I have no interest in reading your soul," replied Raelle. "But since I've spent way too long studying humans, it's become a habit now. If I offended you in any way, I apologize for that."
Zhai Yanjun waved his hand hurriedly, "Oh, please don't! If Xian found out I made his wife apologize to me, he'll have my head on a platter."
"My husband isn't a devil," said Raelle. "However, I sure am one."
Zhai Yanjun raised his brows at her remark and suddenly burst out laughing.
[1] 'Saozi': Older brother's wife/sister-in-law