Olivia Young rested both hands on his shoulders, her fingers lazily wandering up to his collar. "In my eyes, you lack nothing. Young Master Feng, born into the most elite of families, handsome and talented — anything you want, you get."
"I want my wife to unbutton my collar, take off my shirt, and then help me..."
Olivia Young cut him off instantly. "That’s pushing it! Not allowed — no, no, no."
Frederick Fairfax smoothly changed his tune. "Xiao Lily, you're so racy! What I meant was for you to help me undo my belt next."
Undoing his belt isn’t racy?
Olivia Young’s sparkling eyes danced with mischief. She slipped off his tie and blindfolded Frederick Fairfax with it instead.
He sat obediently, letting his wife tie the makeshift blindfold. Lowering his head, his chin pressed gently atop her chest.
"Frederick Fairfax, you look just like a puppy right now~" So well-behaved.
"Woof!"
The bedroom fell silent.
Frederick Fairfax could have died from embarrassment!
He wanted nothing more than to bury his head even deeper. He couldn’t see Olivia Young's expression behind the tie, but he could almost picture her smug little grin.
Just like that, he’d become his wife’s puppy.
Olivia Young couldn't help but laugh. Gently, she stroked his hair. "It’s fine, no one but the two of us knows. I’ll never tell anyone you’re a puppy for me in private."
"Wife..."
"Just a bit of fun, I get it."
"I..."
Frederick Fairfax was numb all over.
Sometimes being quick to react is not necessarily a good thing.
Olivia Young had fresh teasing material for the next six months.
Frederick Fairfax’s ears turned pink as he snuggled even closer into her arms, pulling the blanket up around them. Not caring that he was still blindfolded by his tie, he and Olivia Young rolled around under the covers, stripping off all their clothes, and finally, he fell asleep with his wife in his arms.
If being a puppy gets him a wife — he’d gladly do it again!
New Year’s Eve.
Both families gathered, bustling and warm.
Quentin Young had drunk a little wine. He wanted to see the baby, but didn’t want to bring the smell of alcohol near her, so he moped alone in the upstairs sitting room.
Frederick Fairfax, armed with a bottle of wine and two glasses, sat down across from him.
"Want to chat?"
"Chat about what? About how you courted my sister, dumped her, shamelessly came back to marry her, and even snuck off with a lock of my niece’s hair for a paternity test?"
"No thanks! I know everything already!"
Quentin Young was visibly irritated.
He just couldn't stand Frederick Fairfax.
But Frederick Fairfax pretended not to hear. Pouring out champagne for them both, he slid a glass over. "Your sister asked me to talk to you."
"My sister???"
Quentin Young’s mouth twitched. "Why does she need you to talk for her? We’re close, she can talk to me herself."
"Lily said you’re too clingy, a classic sis-con. She asked me to fix you up with someone. So, I came to see what you look for in a partner." Frederick Fairfax swirled his wine glass, his gaze intense. "Tell me, I’ll see if I can find you a match."
Quentin Young’s mind went blank.
His sister had said he was clingy.
She was tired of him.
He was a classic sis-con.
He’d been trailing behind his sister since they were kids, a proper little tagalong.
Was it so wrong?
They were real siblings, after all!
Quentin Young burst out, "I don’t want anyone! I’m still young! I’m not even old enough to get married!"
"Not for much longer. I heard your birthday’s at Lantern Festival." Frederick Fairfax remarked blandly.
How did his sister tell Frederick Fairfax everything?
"I literally have zero interest in getting married!"
Quentin Young fled.
Did he run back to hide and cry in his room? Seriously?
Is he really a man?
His idol is probably someone like Olivia Young, isn’t it?
He has pretty high standards.
Frederick Fairfax took a small sip of wine, then went to find Olivia Young.
"Your brother says he’s not looking for a relationship right now," he reported as he walked into the nursery.
Olivia Young was gently playing with the baby, letting out a soft sigh.
If Quentin Young didn’t want to date, she couldn’t force him into marriage.
There are all kinds of ways to dodge a plot line.
At least she hadn’t run into Grace Gordon or Annabelle Winters lately.
There are benefits to staying home on postnatal confinement.
Frederick Fairfax leaned over, "Baby, do you miss Dad?"
"You stink!"
"I only had three glasses..."
"I can’t stand the smell of smoke or alcohol. Go shower!"
It’s the holidays — if her father wanted a drink, there was no way for him to refuse.
Frederick Fairfax could only oblige and go take a shower.
As soon as he left, Quentin Young slipped into the nursery.
He sat gloomily on the carpet, not saying a word, just staring at Olivia Young with red-rimmed eyes full of sadness and grievance.
Olivia Young gently soothed the baby to sleep, carefully setting her down before turning to her brother. "Okay, what’s wrong? Let it out."
"Sis, do you think I’m a burden now?"
"What kind of talk is that?"
"You think I’m annoying, want me to go bother someone else, even had brother-in-law try to set me up." Quentin Young was on the verge of tears.
He’d always thought the sibling bond was unbreakable — a new brother-in-law wouldn’t change that.
Olivia Young thought about it. Of course — Frederick Fairfax must’ve worded things wrong and stirred up trouble.
He’s a master of mischief, after all.
"Sis could never be annoyed by you. In fact, I’m counting on your help with the baby. It’s true I asked him if you wanted to be set up, but you seriously aren’t interested?"
"Not interested, not interested! My job is the baby and learning the ropes at the company — I’m too busy. Sis, I’m not the type who falls in love carelessly. Unlike him: you got married, you’re pregnant, and he’d still ditch you to go film dramas instead of helping you at home. I’d never be that kind of man."
Frederick Fairfax definitely took a hit from that.
"My dear Qingsong is a good man — a wonderful brother, head of the family material. Brave, upright, and truly exceptional." Olivia Young’s eyes softened as she patted his shoulder. "Go wash your face. This one’s on me — I should have asked what you wanted first."
"I could never be mad at my own sister!"
He just couldn’t stand Frederick Fairfax.
Frederick Fairfax had shaken everything up.
Turned them from family into mere relatives.
It was all Frederick Fairfax’s fault!
The siblings left the nursery together, and Quentin Young eyed Frederick Fairfax, who was lounging in the hallway, "Sis, is he always like this?"
Olivia Young pinched the bridge of her nose. There was really something wrong with Frederick Fairfax!
Downstairs, the elders were chatting away, relatives played mahjong, and the nanny bustled in and out of the nursery. And there was Frederick Fairfax, hair still wet from his shower, strutting around in nothing but a black bathrobe, looking fresh and dewy.
He was practically showing off!
She couldn’t bear to watch.
Olivia Young marched over and dragged Frederick Fairfax straight back to her fragrant room.
"Are you trying to drive me crazy? Walking around dressed like that!"
Frederick Fairfax caught her in a hug, pressing their waists and stomachs tight. Fresh from the shower, he smelled softly of her cherry blossom body wash.
"I thought you were the only one in here," Frederick Fairfax’s husky voice crooned. "Wife, it’s New Year’s Eve."
"Happy New Year," Olivia Young replied, pecking his lips. "He’s not interested in dating now, so don’t try to set him up again. And stop twisting my words — I never said I was tired of having him around."
That brat Qingsong!
He’d even come to tattle.
Olivia Young was caught off guard as Frederick Fairfax suddenly swept her up and carried her swiftly into the bedroom, setting her down on the bed.
She blinked, confused. Something seemed off about him tonight.
Frederick Fairfax, tall and imposing, crouched in front of her on one knee.
Was he... proposing?
No way, it’s not necessary!
Frederick Fairfax pulled out a ring from the pocket of his bathrobe. "Lily, may I put it on you?"