Ying Xiaoxiao entered the study with a plate of fruit. When she saw that her father was still playing chess with Corey, she put the plate of fruit on the study desk before walking to Corey’s side.
Corey turned to look at her. He smiled gently before moving his gaze back to the chessboard.
Mr. Ying glanced at his daughter and asked casually, “Why are you not accompanying your mother?”
“She wanted to watch her drama and asked me to not bother her.” Ying Xiaoxiao found it amusing that her mother had chased her upstairs, for she knew that her mother was worried that they wouldn’t get along.
However, it seemed like her mother was overthinking it.
They were at peace during their game of chess, at least in her eyes.
It was a difficult match, as the two fought each other head-on. The match only ended an hour later.
This time, Mr. Ying lost.
By three moves.
“Good game, Uncle.” Corey looked at Mr. Ying with humility. His eyes were gentle as he smiled politely.
Mr. Ying raised his head to look at him with a calm expression that was devoid of any joy or anger.
However, Corey seemed to sense a strange aura from it.
He frowned slightly. It was too hard for him to see through Ying Xiaoxiao’s father.
He looked at Mr. Ying, who was tidying the chesspieces, thoughtfully.
The silence of Mr. Ying made Ying Xiaoxiao a little worried. She pushed Corey lightly.
The latter turned around with confusion written on his face.
“Why did you beat my father?” she whispered into his ear.
Corey pursed his lips. “I’m being forced to. If he could choose, he’d rather lose.”
“Forced?” Ying Xiaoxiao didn’t understand what he meant. She was about to ask him when her father’s emotionless voice rang out.
“It’s very late. Xiaoxiao, please send Mr. Lu back.”
He was chasing her boyfriend away.
Corey raised his brows before standing up. He bowed slightly to Mr. Ying before replying politely, “I am sorry for the trouble. I shall visit you another day.”
Mr. Ying was silent, refusing to even lift up his head to look at him.
Corey was indifferent. Mr. Ying had every right to showcase his dislike of him in the Ying manor, hence it was understandable for him to not look up.
However, Mr. Ying’s attitude made Ying Xiaoxiao roar out, “Dad, Corey is my boyfriend, can you not be so… impolite?”
Hearing that, Mr. Ying lifted up his head. His displeased eyes fell on her unpleasant face. “I didn’t chase him out because I knew he was your boyfriend.”
“Dad!” Ying Xiaoxiao was mad. “How can you say that?”
“Why can’t I say that?” Mr. Ying retorted.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense. The father and daughter were staring at each other with unpleasant expressions.
Seeing that, Corey sighed. He held up Ying Xiaoxiao’s hand and squeezed her palm.
Ying Xiaoxiao turned her head to look at him. He was smiling gently. “Xiaoxiao, he is your father. You shouldn’t talk to him like this.”
“But…” Before Ying Xiaoxiao could finish, he used his eyes to signal for her to stop talking.
She closed her mouth and turned her head away to avoid the gaze of her ridiculous father.
Corey then turned around to look at Mr. Ying, seemingly unaffected by that rude tone and remark of Mr. Ying. He still smiled gently as he slowly expressed himself. “Uncle, Xiaoxiao is your favorite daughter, so I can understand what you feel as a father, but…”
He tilted his head to stare at Ying Xiaoxiao before speaking with a serious tone. “Believe me, I won’t let her suffer.”
His gaze was gentle as water, deep and serious with love, as if she was really the woman he deeply loved.
Ying Xiaoxiao bit her lips with complicated emotions in her eyes.