Chapter 1048: Chapter 1039 New Year (3)
Bo Yan could actually tell that Xia Siyu seemed to have something on her mind, but at this moment, Xia Siyu’s actions were more urgent—urgent enough to switch to direct confrontation, starting to tug at Bo Yan’s pants.
Xia Siyu might appear outgoing, but there were some things she didn’t want to talk about, things she’d keep bottled up inside. No one could pry her mouth open unless she trusted them; only then would she give away a trace of what she felt.
This was one of those moments. Bo Yan could clearly sense the turmoil inside her. Though Xia Siyu seemed reckless and stubborn, and behaved aloof toward her family, deep down she cared deeply. Anyone who treated her kindly, even a little, she would remember for a long, long time. But when someone close to her hurt her, she found it equally impossible to let go.
When she was joking or ranting, he could play along with her. But when she was sad or angry, all he needed to do was lend her his chest—let her throw her little fists at it to vent her frustrations.
Sure enough, Xia Siyu was just overwhelmed by her thoughts. After having managed to pull off Bo Yan’s pants, she suddenly stopped. Her breathing grew heavy and ragged.
Bo Yan didn’t say anything. He watched as she clenched her fists tighter and tighter, her whole body stiffening. After waiting a moment, he moved closer, reached out, and gently wrapped her in his arms.
Xia Siyu didn’t reject him. He quickly felt her leaning against him. Though her fists remained clenched, her taut body gradually relaxed, her weight pressing onto him.
Bo Yan didn’t urge her to speak. Instead, his fingertips gently stroked her hair, soothing her little by little.
A long, long time passed before Xia Siyu uncurled her fists and let out a breath, her tense face softening. She said, “Actually, I used to hate Lunar New Year so much.”
Bo Yan glanced at her but still didn’t speak. Instead, he kissed her gently on the forehead.
Xia Siyu continued, “My dad loved me, but he loved my mom even more. However, he always had this naive indulgent fantasy, acting as if we were ‘one family.’ But they—the others—never treated my mom and me as part of the same family. Even though he favored me and loved my mom, in his heart, my mom and I could never outweigh the other side. Why bother? Honestly, he might as well just go straight to them. Instead, he swings by here for a moment to create some fleeting sense of presence, only to eventually stand by their side and apologize to me. What do I need his apology for? Does he think I’m still some child who has to whine and beg to keep his affection?”
Bo Yan still said nothing. He waited in silence for a long time, until Xia Siyu’s breathing grew calm and steady again. Then he reached out, gently smoothing her hair once more, smiling lightly as he said, “Are you hungry? Want me to make some dumplings for you?”
Xia Siyu froze for a moment, completely unprepared for this man’s first words to be something like that. She blinked at him in stunned silence for a while before snorting softly through her nose, “I want to eat.”
“Then let’s go,” Bo Yan said with a smile. He first tidied up her clothes, then picked her up. Once her feet touched the ground, he held her hand.
His palm was so warm, his fingers long and slender, as though they could wrap her hand entirely and protect it with care.
After all the noise they’d made, the timing turned out to be just right; the dough had finished resting. Bo Yan rolled out the wrappers—he wasn’t very skilled, but at least he knew they should be round, thick in the middle, and thin around the edges. Xia Siyu didn’t know how to knead dough, but she was skilled at wrapping dumplings. She worked quickly and adeptly, each dumpling turning out plump and adorable.
When the dumplings were finished and about to be dropped into the pot, the doorbell suddenly rang.