Bai Lixin sat up from the bed in shock, a cold sweat already seeping from his brow. His throat was dry and he felt a slight pain with a gentle swallow.
He turned his head to look out the window. It was still early and the sky was dark, with only a few sun rays from the raising sun visible.
He did not turn on the light, but stood up and went to the table to drink a glass of water by the light coming in through the window.
He sat in his chair, his head lowered and his face expressionless.
After scanning the room with unperturbed eyes, Bai Lixin’s eyes settled on the clock on the wall. The clock stopped at exactly five o’clock. Bai Lixin sighed and took another sip of water.
He sat there for more than two hours as the sky slowly brightened and the golden-red morning light echoed through the quaint mansion with the clear and loud sound of birdsong, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Only then did Bai Lixin stand up, rubbing his long hair as he walked to the bathroom to wash and tidy up.
After putting his hair up in a high ponytail, Bai Lixin changed into a smart outfit before walking down the stairs.
Master Lambert was already sitting at the dining table reading today’s newspaper. Bai Lixin looked at the kind and amiable old man, hooked his lips, and smiled gently as he slowly leaned over, “Good morning, Father.”
Master Lambert took his head out of the paper and looked at Bai Lixin with a smile in his eyes, saying, “Mitchell, how handsome you are today!”
Bai Lixin smiled softly and sat down next to Master Lambert. “Father, I figured it out and you were right. I want to conceive an offspring for Hallyvette. ”
Master Lambert’s eyes lit up, “Really? Mitchell, it is good of you to have figured it out. I was right about you.”
Bai Lixin smiled coyly, “You are right, Father. Perhaps the most romantic thing about love is not that you love me, but that we can blossom in love. Just like you and your late husband, who birthed Hallyvette, I will now give birth to Hallyvette’s child. Now that I think about it, it might be a really wonderful feeling, having a little guy with my blood and Hallyvette’s blood in him. He would grow up slowly, calling me “Dad” and Hallyvette “Father.” We would watch him grow up little by little, not asking to be a part of his life, not needing him to carry on our legacy and honour our family, we would be happy with just witnessing a life from birth to growth. ”
Bai Lixin said this with a longing smile on his face and an extremely gentle voice.
Master Lambert looked at Bai Lixin’s expression, and a light shone in his eyes as a smile slowly enlarged on his face.
Coughing softly, Master Lambert said, “Very good, Mitchell. So when are you planning to have your wedding? ”
Bai Lixin pulled back from his longing and looked at Master Lambert, somewhat puzzled. “But Father, I’m afraid there is one more thing that needs to be settled before then.”
“What is it?”
“I had previously signed a contract with Yakel Music. It was clearly written in the contract that I couldn’t get married for five years, otherwise it would be a breach of contract. I was originally planning to fight for three years with a hidden marriage, and then, after I had achieved something on my own, use the money I earned to pay for the breach of contract. But now in this situation….”
Bai Lixin’s voice faded off, and he looked at Master Lambert with embarrassment, “I just started out and this happened to me, so I don’t have enough financial ability to pay for the breach of contract, so maybe …… I might need your help to do that.”
Master Lambert breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, “I thought it was something big, but it turned out to be this matter. Simple! As long as money can solve the problem, it’s not a problem. When can we cancel the contract? Tomorrow I’ll send someone to negotiate with Yakel’s company. ”
“Father won’t even ask how much the breach of contract is?”
“Don’t worry, we have a lot of money. How much can your default be? Can it still eat us up? ” Master Lambert grunted and looked at Bai Lixin with a particularly gentle gaze. “Mitchell, don’t worry, no matter what setbacks you encounter out there, the Lambert family will always be your port of call.”
Bai Lixin nodded with a smile and said, “Thank you, Father.”
The two of them ate their breakfast in perfect harmony, and were just halfway through their meal when Hallyvette arrived back in a blaze of glory.
He was still wearing the same clothes he had left, and it was unknown what he had been up to in the last few days.
When he saw Master Lambert and Bai Lixin eating, he walked straight up and kissed Bai Lixin gently on the forehead before sitting down and saying to Master Lambert, “Father, I am back.”
Master Lambert said, “You find someone to help Mitchell go to the music company and get the breach of contract thing sorted out.”
Hallyvette swept his face back and forth between Master Lambert and Bai Lixin and answered, “I’m not comfortable with someone else going in this matter. I’ll go myself. ”
“Good, that will do. Remember to make sure Mitchell gets out of his contract, but you can’t let Yakel get too cocky either. If they really think that our Lambert family is easy to bully, then show them some colours.” Master Lambert looked at Mitchell and said, “Mitchell, how do you see this being handled?”
Bai Lixin said, “Father has arranged it well. But Father, I still need to go to the office myself. Mr. Yayaxi left me something the day before he died. I came here before I had a chance to look at it, and I didn’t even have time to pick it up. ”
“I heard that you have been shelved by the music company, and you haven’t been to the music company for so many days. Is your music room still there? ” Master Lambert asked.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s there or not, because Mr. Yayaxi placed the item in an extremely hidden corner at the time. As long as they don’t refurbish the music room, I can find it. ”
Master Lambert froze for a moment, “The item was at the company all this time? How can something that important be left in the company? ”
Bai Lixin let out a sarcastic laugh, “To be honest, I don’t even know what’s in that box, so how can I talk about whether it’s important or not? Does Father think what’s in the box may be important? Why does father think it is?”
Master Lambert let out a laugh, “How would I know if something is important? It’s just that you said that Mr. Yayaxi gave it to you the day before he died, so that’s why I think it is important. ”
Bai Lixin nodded, “I think so now, too. It’s too much of a coincidence that I received the threatening letter just after Mr. Yayaxi died. It’s possible that his death wasn’t even an accident. Mr. Yayaxi called me to go get something, and I didn’t even have time to go get it, so he took it upon himself to find a hidden place to put it away for me to get later. I came here not long after and hadn’t had time to go and get it.”
Master Lambert shuddered, “Mitchell, the more you say, the more am worried that Mr. Yayaxi’s death was really not an accident. And that means your life is in danger too! No, you still can’t be let out! ”
Bai Lixin glanced at Hallyvette and smiled as he looked at Master Lambert, ” Well, Hallyvette will be with me, Father. You are aware of his abilities, aren’t you? Nothing bad will happen to me if he is by my side. Besides, it is not a solution for me to hide at home day in and day out. Won’t I go out as long as the culprit is not found? What if he is not found within ten years? Will I not be able to go out for ten years? Don’t worry, I’ll just pick the box secretly, I won’t let anyone find out. Father, I’ve already planned to break my contract, stay at home in peace and raise my children. But before that, I must know the truth behind Mr. Yayaxi’s death. ”
Master Lambert nodded and let out a long sigh, “Okay, in that case, Hallyvette, make sure you protect Mitchell on the way!”
After breakfast, Hallyvette and Bai Lixin went straight to their room. The door closed behind them, and they remained there until lunchtime.
Hallyvette’s stubble had been shaved from his face and he had changed his clothes, giving off a charming masculine allure. Bai Lixin had also changed his clothes, and the red marks on his neck made it obvious as to what they had been doing.
Master Lambert pursed his lips at the table and said, “Speaking of which, Mitchell, have you told Hallyvette your thoughts? When are you going to have the wedding? I think the sooner, the better. The sooner you get married, the sooner we can rest easy. Don’t you think? ”
“Father, Mitchell told me everything. We’ve just discussed it, and that’s what we plan to do. But there are still some things we need to do in preparation. We have to set the venue, prepare the wedding attire, the invitations…all of which have to be the best for Mitchell. So, in terms of timing, we’re planning to have the wedding at the end of next month.”
Master Lambert pondered for a moment, “That gives a month and a half to prepare….. it should be ample time.”
“Father,” Hallyvette smiled suddenly, “when the wedding is over, we intend to give you the gift you have been wishing for.”
Master Lambert’s eyes lit up with joy, “What I have been wishing for the most is a grandson! Is that what you’re giving me?”
Bai Lixin and Hallyvette looked at each other and smiled. Bai Lixin lowered his head in embarrassment. Hallyvette just smiled and ate his food slowly.
There was a warm smile on Master Lambert’s face throughout the meal, and it seemed to infect the other two as they kept giggling from time to time.
After lunch, Hallyvette said farewell to Mr Lambert briefly and drove out with Bai Lixin.
Master Lambert stood by the study window, watching Hallyvette and Bai Lixin leave. The smile that had been on his face slowly faded, and he sneered as he picked up the phone.