The villa was deathly silent at midnight.
At this moment, Nuan Nuan's door was quietly opened, and a shifty-eyed person peeked in. After carefully assessing the situation in the room, they quickly slipped inside.
By the moonlight filtering through the window, one could see that the newcomer was tall and lean, with a powerful physique. A pair of bright, piercing eyes darted around.
Ye Jingzhi had been lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. A small figure had been constantly occupying his mind. So, he had crept over in the dead of night.
Nuan Nuan was already sprawled out on the bed, her head half-hidden by her hat, revealing only her round nose and a rosy little mouth. Her mouth was slightly ajar, with a clear droplet of liquid hanging from the corner.
Ye Jingzhi leaned on the bed's guardrail, smiling as he watched the little dumpling's sleeping posture. He even reached out and gently poked her cheek.
As if sensing something, Nuan Nuan turned over and burrowed into her pillow. A mischievous thought struck Ye Jingzhi. He scooped up Nuan Nuan's soft, little body and stealthily returned to his own room.
Only a dishevelled quilt remained on the cute little bed.
In the morning, Ye Jinghuai went to Nuan Nuan's room at the appointed time to wake her. Upon entering, he saw only a messy bed and immediately panicked.
"Nuan Nuan! Nuan Nuan!" Ye Jinghuai searched the room inside and out, even crouching down to look under the bed.
"Brother! Jing Ming! Nuan Nuan is gone!" Ye Jinghuai rushed out of the room and shouted downstairs.
Ye Jingchen and Ye Jingming, already downstairs, heard the shouts and raced upstairs.
"What happened? How can she be gone?"
Ye Jingming stormed into the room, his expression turning grim after a quick scan.
"Jinghuai, this is your villa, and the child was stolen from right under your nose?"
Ye Jingchen's tone was also displeased, showing his dissatisfaction with his younger brother's negligence. Nuan Nuan was so young; what if she encountered bad people?
"Call the police first."
Ye Jinghuai's eyes were brewing with a storm. He had thought his villa district had the highest level of security, yet this had happened.
"Wait, where's Ye Jingzhi?" Ye Jingming had a sudden thought.
The three exchanged glances and rushed straight to Ye Jingzhi's room.
Upon opening the door, their hearts sank, but it was quickly followed by anger.
The two on the bed were still fast asleep, oblivious to the commotion outside. Ye Jingzhi had almost fallen off the bed, with Nuan Nuan lying on his stomach, still snoring softly.
The three men were choked with mixed emotions. Ye Jinghuai tiptoed over and gently picked up the little dumpling. Nuan Nuan, still asleep, nuzzled into his arms.
Ye Jinghuai carried Nuan Nuan back to her room. As he left, the door behind him quietly closed.
Faintly, Ye Jingzhi's groggy voice could be heard from inside.
"Mm? Bro, why are you here?"
"Brother, brother, my two dear brothers, what are you doing?"
"Ah~ Brother, stop! Third Brother, why are you hitting me?"
"Third Brother, don't hit my face!"
A series of bangs and crashes echoed from the room.
Ten minutes later, Ye Jingchen and Ye Jingming emerged from the room, refreshed, and brushed their coat corners as they reached the doorway.
During breakfast, Ye Jingzhi hobbled downstairs, sporting a bruised face. His eyes, swollen to mere slits, were full of grievance.
"Uncle, what happened to you?" Nuan Nuan mumbled, a custard bun in her mouth.
"It's nothing, hiss~ Uncle was bitten by mosquitoes last night, hiss~," Ye Jingzhi explained, baring his teeth.
"Poor Uncle."
"Nuan Nuan, don't mind him; he deserves it," Ye Jingming said kindly, placing a steamed dumpling into her bowl.
"Aren't you guys supposed to be leaving today?" Ye Jinghuai asked elegantly, wiping his mouth and looking at the three.
"Heh heh, slept really well yesterday. The environment here is excellent. I've already notified An Ran, and she'll be moving in today," Ye Jingchen said nonchalantly, seated at the table.
"I also think this place is great. I'll have the moving company come over later."
"Second Brother, I'm sorry, I was wrong," Ye Jingzhi mumbled from a corner, trying to be inconspicuous.
Ye Jinghuai cast him a cold glance and didn't reply.
"I don't care where you live; you're leaving today."
He then lowered his head to attend to Nuan Nuan's meal, not bothering to look at the other three. They had only been here one night and had already learned to steal children.
The other two immediately glared at Ye Jingzhi. It was all his fault for angering their second brother/second elder brother, which was why he was so eager to kick them out.
Ye Jingzhi hugged himself, feeling deeply wronged.
He hadn't meant to. He had planned to return her first thing in the morning, but he overslept. Next time, he would definitely be more careful. These two were truly his brothers; they had hit him so hard, and his handsome face!