Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 205: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Chapter 205: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Mrs. An reached Graceville Manor before Calix, Leslie and Logan left for Phoenix Heights. She filled in the shift while Mrs. Su clocked out. Soon, the four of them headed to the Xu family’s ancestral home.

The sky was still bright at six in the evening as the sunset would be in another hour. Yet, streaks of amber and ruby had begun adorning the horizon.

Logan smoothly drove the black executive van on the expressways. The traffic was quite congested due to the peak hour. People had already started heading back home from their respective workplaces.

As the weekend started tomorrow, the office workers happily visualized the joy of sleeping in and relaxing.

"My brother and his family are there already," uttered Calix without looking up from his phone screen. His voice resonated in the van, "They can’t wait to meet you."

Blinking, Leslie stiffly glanced at Calix. She quietly looked at him reading messages from his family’s group chat. The mention of Vernon, Lucille and Amelia stirred her uneasiness.

"I’m nervous..." murmured Leslie, fiddling with the skirt part of her mint green dress. She quietly admitted, "To meet them..."

Leslie was aware that Vernon and his family were also good people as Old Madam Xu. She had witnessed their kindness more than once. But, tension still constricted her heart.

Perhaps due to her meeting Rowan and Bianca soon as well.

Charlene didn’t have a good relationship with her parents. But, Leslie wondered about the possibility of the spouses noticing something was off with her – the new daughter they unknowingly got.

Well, staying away from Rowan and Bianca for the time being was the best answer.

Charlene mentioned that she was glad to see her parents changed for the better even though it was late. But, it was clear that she couldn’t yet forgive, letting go of her resentment toward their neglect[1].

Holding on to her promise, Leslie would only forgive Rowan and Bianca on behalf of Charlene if the right time came. She wanted to see how far the spouses would go in improving themselves.

Calix and Irene had repeatedly knocked some sense into Rowan and Bianca’s minds. The spouses’ action of moving out of the Li family’s ancestral home expressed their desire to change.

’Is she that nervous?’

Calix put his phone away, shifting his attention back to Leslie. She kept her head down, her tensed countenance was obscured by the side bangs framing her face.

Pursing his lips, Calix’s gaze swirled with something playful. His lips broke into a helpless smile. Raising his right hand, he pointed his index finger and...

"...en?"

Leslie blinked, sensing something on one side of her face. Slowly turning her head in its direction, she confusedly stared at Calix who had one finger poking her left cheek.

"...what are you doing?"

Was there something on her face?

But, his mischievous gaze told her that this was another one of his weird antics.

Calix flashed one of his signature grins, exclaiming, "Your cheeks look fuller than before. Seems like I do a good job feeding you with lots of food. Isn’t it, Mrs. Xu?"

"..."

Leslie refrained from rolling her eyes, giving Calix a deadpan look. Shaking her head, she shifted her head backward, stopping him from poking her cheek.

"Poke your cheek if you... want to keep doing that... Don’t poke mine..."

"Aw~ Why not? I feel accomplished seeing your cheeks get rounder ah. I should get a medal or some sort for this."

"Mr. Xu, do you think this is... some kind of a match?"

Throwing his head back, Calix guffawed. His laughter drowned the symphony played by Logan. Leslie stared dissatisfied at him, thinking why this man could get easily entertained.

While the husband and wife were caught in their silly banter, Logan took a couple of peeks from the rearview mirror.

Wow... his boss was acting genuinely affectionate with his newlywed wife despite having a marriage of convenience.

Logan lamented his fate of being stuck here as a driver to the couple thus, being forced to eat dog food. He begrudgingly stared at Calix and Leslie’s reflection.

Boss, stop spreading dog food ah. He didn’t want to eat any[2].

Logan was among the bodyguards who wondered about Calix’s abrupt marriage to the eldest miss of the Li family. They had followed their boss long enough to know that they were not actually lovers.

But... seemed like their relationship was indeed good.

Ah, forget it. Having their Boss Xu in a happy marriage would only do them well. It was better than serving a brokenhearted boss ah.

Logan coerced himself to stop staring at the rearview mirror every second he could.

Out of sight, out of mind.

But...

Sigh... he still heard their lovers’ prattle behind ah.

Because of the traffic, Calix and Leslie reached Phoenix Heights slightly before seven. Only Butler Gu and a few helpers welcomed their arrival at the front porch.

"I told Grandma and everyone to wait inside," Calix raised his brows, reaching one hand to open the car door, "Lest, you’ll be scared."

"How thoughtful..." Leslie chuckled, admitting to Calix’s words.

Logan swiftly brought out the wheelchair, placing it on the marble floor. Butler Gu and the rest of the helpers bowed at Calix once he stepped outside.

"Is everyone inside?" asked Calix while facing his back to them, preparing to carry Leslie out of the car.

Butler Gu took a step forward, placing his palms over his abdomen, "Yes, everyone is in the Begonia Room. Second Miss’ parents and younger sister are waiting alongside Old Madam Xu, First Master and his family."

Leslie unconsciously flinched. She didn’t realize that Rowan and Bianca had arrived. Their car was nowhere to be seen on the front porch, perhaps it was parked away.

Calix noticed the slight movement of tension coming from Leslie. Frowning, he pressed his palm against her back before whispering words to her, just audible enough for them.

"Easy, Leslie, easy."

"...huh?"

Tilting her head up, Leslie’s gaze was caught in Calix’s dark orbs. She inadvertently tightened her grasp on his shoulder, her legs were still hanging in the air.

The white lights of the front porch showered on the back of Calix’s head, obscuring his face slightly in the shadows. Leslie sensed his warm breath fanning her face.

Once again, his soft whisper echoed in her ears, traveling to her heart.

"You have me here. Remember, put yourself first no matter what."

Calix acknowledged the pain Rowan and Bianca had inflicted on Leslie. Even though she agreed to meet her parents tonight, it didn’t mean she was comfortable with them.

Calix had warned Rowan during their private meeting the other day. His father-in-law should already know that he was a man of his word.

Neither Rowan nor Bianca could force Leslie to mend their flawed bond if she refused to do so. Calix would make sure of it by being her shield.

----------

Reference:

1 - 140

2 - Dog food: Referring to public display of affection in front of single people or simply others in general (not necessarily single), Chinese slang. For example; force to eat dog food. Single people are forced to watch the PDA.