Li Xunan glanced around and suggested, “Shall we make a barbecue?”

Xu Xinyuan shot him a sideways glance, tugging at the corner of her mouth, her tone ambiguous: “Didn’t we just eat?”

It was actually Shi Xing who seemed interested, though still hesitant: “But I don’t think we have the ingredients for a barbecue here.”

Ji Yu’s gaze remained fixed on her, eyes slightly narrowed with a faint, teasing smile. He spoke slowly, “You want to eat it?”

Shi Xing nodded firmly. She was curious about how barbecue made with London ingredients would compare to the ones in China.

Seeing her nod, Ji Yu gave a slight nod in return, picked up his phone, and started placing an order. “What do you guys want? I’ll have someone deliver it.”

Xu Xinyuan saw that everyone agreed and didn’t say anything further.

One had to admit—Ji Yu was impressively efficient. After arranging the delivery of the ingredients, he even retrieved a barbecue grill from the villa and began assembling it with expert precision.

Shi Xing had wanted to help, but he refused: “You just recovered from your cold. Sit there and relax; I’ve got this.”

She thought for a moment and didn’t insist, staying with Xu Xinyuan to watch. Just then, Lin Jue heard the commotion and came out wearing a shawl. She looked at the scene and asked, “Are you making a barbecue?”

Li Xunan was quick to respond: “This guy can’t sleep at night and insists on eating.”

Even from the corner, Xu Xinyuan couldn’t help but tease: “Clearly it’s Ji Yu’s girlfriend who wants it.”

Shi Xing froze momentarily at being called out, but Ji Yu quickly defended her: “Then you’re not eating any.”

Li Xunan immediately backed down: “Alright, alright, my mistake.”

Everyone else laughed at the exchange. Xu Xinyuan suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Lin Jue at the doorway, “Auntie, do you want to join us?”

Lin Jue waved her hand gently: “You young people play by yourselves. Just be careful.”

With that, she calmly walked back inside.

Ji Yu quickly finished setting up the grill just as the ingredients were delivered. He arranged everything skillfully, making Li Xunan feel slightly redundant.

“Looks like I’m not needed here,” Li Xunan joked.

Ji Yu smiled faintly and immediately put him to work: “Go get the seasonings.”

Xu Xinyuan laughed softly, turning to Shi Xing: “Actually, when we were younger, we were usually the ones taking care of him.”

Shi Xing glanced at her, a wave of curiosity stirring within her. This was the first time she had heard about Ji Yu’s childhood from someone else.

Xu Xinyuan looked straight ahead, her lips pressed in a line, as if recalling a memory: “Because Uncle Ji and the others were often busy, and Ji Yu was the youngest, the older relatives always reminded us to look after him when we went out to play. Even later, when he went back to train alone, we were still worried he wouldn’t adjust well.”

Listening to her, Shi Xing couldn’t help but look at Ji Yu, realizing she still didn’t know much about his past despite all the time they’d spent together.

Just then, Ji Yu walked toward them, interrupting her thoughts, and handed a plate to Shi Xing: “You two can share it.”

Shi Xing passed the grill to Xu Xinyuan, but unexpectedly, Xu Xinyuan waved her hand, meaningfully saying, “I’m a bit full; you eat.”

Li Xunan deliberately raised his voice to tease Ji Yu: “What about mine?”

Ji Yu didn’t turn his head, replying lightly: “Aren’t your hands free?”

As the four of them stood in the courtyard, Shi Xing suddenly noticed a familiar figure at the doorway.

“Uncle Ji!”

At her voice, the others all turned. Ji Minghao’s expression flickered with a trace of awkwardness as he murmured defensively, “The barbecue smells strong. I just came out to check.”

Ji Yu caught his true intention and teased him: “Now that you’ve seen it, you can go back in.”

Ji Minghao, slightly displeased, responded stubbornly, “I won’t.”

Everyone could see through his act but couldn’t laugh freely out of respect for their elder. Shi Xing politely handed him some skewers to avoid embarrassment.

Ji Minghao glanced at her, pouted, but took the skewers honestly and started eating.

Halfway through, Li Xunan suggested, “Let’s take a group photo. Otherwise, once they return to China, we won’t know when we’ll meet again.”

Before anyone could respond, he pulled out a camera from somewhere and called: “Aunt Lin, come take a photo with us!”

Lin Jue came out, and they all posed, leaving a spot for her. As the flash went off, smiles naturally curved their lips.

Under the deep night sky, the crescent moon hung above, countless stars twinkling, casting a faint silver glow over the villa and making the courtyard scene feel warm and intimate.

Soon it was time for them to return to China. Ji Yu planned to drive to the airport. As they left, Lin Jue stood by the car window: “Drive carefully.”

Shi Xing waved goodbye, noticing Ji Minghao hesitated for a moment. She smiled faintly and called: “We’re leaving, Uncle.”

Ji Minghao hummed lightly, turning his head away, pretending not to care: “Just leave then, and you even bothered to tell me.”

Ji Yu smiled silently at his expression, muttering to himself, “Let’s go,” and started the car.

On the way, Shi Xing glanced at him, and Ji Yu noticed. In a soft voice, he asked: “What is it?”

Her lips curved slightly, smiling, but she said nothing further.

Ji Yu turned his gaze toward her, raising an eyebrow teasingly: “You know what happens if you leave a sentence unfinished?”

“What happens?”

He chuckled softly and deliberately mirrored her half-finished manner of speaking. Shi Xing, slightly annoyed, didn’t argue further.

Once at the airport, they passed security as usual. Shi Xing glanced at the time and lay back to rest. In her sleep, she vaguely sensed some unusual movement again.

By the time the plane landed in Jinggang City, it was evening. Ji Yu held her hand as they exited, the night air chilling, frost thick on the roadside trees.

He drove them to the underground parking lot. Shi Xing immediately removed her coat, murmuring: “I wonder how Xi Yu has been these past few days.”

Ji Yu glanced at her, meaningfully teasing: “I feel like you care more about the dog than me.”

Shi Xing froze for a moment, then laughed and replied teasingly: “Why are you jealous of a puppy?”

“I just am.”

She realized Ji Yu could be unreasonably serious at times and quickly appeased him: “Alright, you’re the most important.”

Though casual, he took it seriously, a faint smile forming on his lips.

They arrived at Xie He’s house late at night. Ji Yu opened the car door, signaling Shi Xing to wait inside. Soon, Xi Yu, the dog, excitedly ran in, only to be seated in the back by Ji Yu.

Xie He, seeing this, teased: “You’re even jealous of a dog.”

Shi Xing laughed softly. Xi Yu barked a few times, confused. By the time they returned home, it was already very late. Shi Xing, feeling drowsy, showered and went straight to bed.

Ji Yu, seeing this, asked in confusion: “Didn’t you just sleep on the plane?”

He lay beside her, murmuring softly: “Every time I want to see what you’re up to, I turn and find you already fast asleep.”

Shi Xing laughed awkwardly and defended herself: “It’s different, the time zone hasn’t adjusted yet.”

Late into the night, fog thickened. Though the heater was on, Shi Xing’s hands were cold. Ji Yu noticed and wrapped her hands in his, warming them.

They began chatting, and Shi Xing suddenly said: “The Olympics are in a few months.”

“Mm,” Ji Yu replied in the darkness.

Her heart tightened for him—this was Ji Yu’s first competition after recovering from his injury, and it was crucial.

Ji Yu noticed her worry, smiled faintly, and said casually: “Don’t worry. I’m confident.”

Shi Xing snorted softly: “So confident?”

“Do you want me to tell you so you can compete for me?”

They laughed together, and Ji Yu looked at her seriously: “Trust me.”

The next morning, Shi Xing was woken by the alarm, her sleep instantly gone. She paused, then slowly got out of bed.

Ji Yu had already prepared breakfast. She checked the time and reached for a bag to pack the food, but he stopped her.

“Eat first. Don’t rush, your stomach’s already delicate,” he said, unusually serious.

Shi Xing was taken aback—he had noticed her habits. She made an excuse: “But if I eat now, won’t we be late?”

Ji Yu nodded slightly: “It’s fine. Xie He keeps us on schedule. If not, I’ve got it covered.”

Seeing his determination, Shi Xing obediently ate. By the time they reached the sports center, the timing was perfect.

As soon as they entered, Xie He appeared and breathed a sigh of relief: “Seeing you two, I knew everything would be fine.”

“Fine?” Shi Xing asked, confused.

Xie He raised his brows, casually: “Ji Yu usually arrives ten minutes early. Seeing him on time means I finally don’t have to rush to work.”

Ji Yu glanced at him and replied blandly: “Wrong prediction—I was on time too.”

Xie He’s expression immediately shifted, and he hurried Ji Yu toward the training base, muttering: “Today’s Coach Zhang, if we’re late, it’s over!”

Shi Xing watched their backs and couldn’t help laughing.

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