TLSMLMMM Chapter 19

Of course, Si Yunyi remembered saying those words and he had no intention of going back on them.

He had seen the place where Chu Junlie lived before. He even remembered the sound that old, broken refrigerator made when it suddenly started running.

“Go pack the things you want to bring with you.”

Si Yunyi’s gaze briefly flicked toward the large dog crouching nearby. The animal looked like it had been wandering outside for some time, its fur was tangled and matted.

Noticing Si Yunyi looking at the dog, Chu Junlie, his face still flushed with a faint drunken warmth, straightened up slowly. He subtly blocked Si Yunyi’s view, his dark eyes glistening softly, and his voice carried a faint nasal tone.

“Mr. Si, I’ve already packed everything.”

Ever since you said you would take me with you… I’ve been waiting for this day.

He had packed long ago. He’d already spoken to his landlord, arranged everything, and had been waiting for this day, for this very sentence.

“Do you need the driver to help you carry your things?” Si Yunyi asked calmly, turning slightly toward him.

It was as if the words triggered an invisible signal — the drunken haze vanished from Chu Junlie’s face instantly. He shook his head quickly. “No need! No need!”

Letting go of the car door, he dashed toward his rental unit, flung open the door, found a pair of white work gloves, and began hauling his neatly packed belongings downstairs to the car.

The driver opened the trunk and watched as Chu Junlie enthusiastically made trip after trip. The trunk was limited in space after fitting two large suitcases and a couple of potted plants, there was no more room left.

“Mr. Si, can I make two trips?” Chu Junlie squatted by the car, looking up at Si Yunyi. His dark eyes held a faint, tentative trace of hopefulness.

“I’ll move part of it tonight, and tomorrow I’ll come back. I want to talk to the landlord about getting my deposit back then I can take the rest of my things. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.” Si Yunyi’s gaze shifted again toward the big dog. “What are you planning to do with it?”

“Mr. Si… can I… keep it?” Chu Junlie asked nervously, glancing at the large dog. Though his memory was fragmented, he was almost certain it had been his dog before he lost his memories, its name was Lie Feng.

Mr. Si was someone who clearly valued cleanliness and order. Would bringing a dog into his home make him unhappy?

Si Yunyi regarded the dog for a few moments. Chu Junlie quickly grabbed Lie Feng’s front paw and gave it a little wave, looking at Si Yunyi cautiously, trying to make the dog appear a bit more endearing.

“You can keep it,” Si Yunyi said coolly from the car. “But you’ll need to get all its papers done, have it vaccinated, dewormed, and neutered.”

“I’ll definitely take full responsibility for him,” Chu Junlie said, nodding earnestly, his face showing obvious joy.

Mr. Si didn’t mind that he came with a dog and even agreed to take in Lie Feng!

Lie Feng seemed to understand their conversation. He uneasily drew his paws back, but when he noticed Si Yunyi’s gaze fall on him, he instinctively bared his teeth again. Chu Junlie immediately smacked the dog’s head with his palm. The dog’s head jerked, and it looked up at its owner with pitiful eyes.

“No baring your teeth at Mr. Si!” Chu Junlie furrowed his brows and scolded sternly.

The dog let out a low, stifled whine, clearly aggrieved.

His master had never once hit him before but now, just for growling twice at that man, he was being punished.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie said nervously as he turned back. “I’ll make sure to train him properly.”

Si Yunyi simply responded with a calm “Mm.”

Chu Junlie carried the big dog into the car and sat beside Si Yunyi, carefully tucking all four of the dog’s paws in so it wouldn’t dirty the car’s interior.

The car stopped smoothly in front of a luxury apartment complex. When Si Yunyi got out, Chu Junlie quickly followed with the dog in his arms. Since he didn’t have a leash, he held the dog tightly with one arm and pinched its muzzle shut with the other to stop it from suddenly snapping at anyone.

Si Yunyi led the way ahead. Chu Junlie looked around curiously at the lush greenery surrounding them. The buildings were spaced far apart, none of them very tall, and there were trees and flowers everywhere. The environment was peaceful and elegant though not a villa, it was far better than the area around the Yan family’s estate.

There were few people in the community. Hugging the dog, Chu Junlie followed closely behind Si Yunyi as they entered a spacious and grand lobby.

The elevator was wide. Chu Junlie stood inside obediently, sneaking glances at the man beside him.

The mirrored elevator wall reflected Si Yunyi’s tall, lean figure. The silver rims of his glasses gleamed faintly under the light, matching the metallic sheen of the elevator. His white shirt was buttoned all the way up, the collar fastened with a lustrous pearl clasp elegant and restrained.

His long black hair, loosely tied behind him, looked soft and refined.

Thinking about how today was their engagement day, Chu Junlie couldn’t help but smile to himself, like he had stolen a taste of honey.

How could he be this lucky?

Ever since meeting Mr. Si, his luck had only gotten better and better.

When the elevator reached their floor, Si Yunyi stepped out but when he didn’t see Chu Junlie follow, he turned slightly and found him still inside, holding his dog and smiling to himself at some thought.

“Little Chu,” Si Yunyi called out lightly.

Chu Junlie jolted back to his senses. When he lifted his head, he saw Si Yunyi standing there with one hand on the elevator door, looking right at him.

Heat rushed to his ears. Chu Junlie ducked his head, burying half his face in the dog’s fur, and hurried out of the elevator.

A few moments later, it hit him—

Mr. Si had just called him Little Chu!

He had never called him that before.

Old Master Chang and the Si family’s old man had both called him that, but somehow, hearing it from Mr. Si’s lips sounded especially… nice.

A sweet warmth bloomed in his chest. His ears still red, Chu Junlie hugged the dog tighter.

Si Yunyi opened the apartment door, and Chu Junlie followed him inside only to stop at the entrance, dazed.

How could a house be this big?

The living room before him was so spacious that it seemed like a car could fit inside.

Carrying the big dog, Chu Junlie stepped in, looking around in awe like a villager entering the city for the first time. The decor was simple yet refined. Compared to furniture, Mr. Si seemed to care more about lighting.

An artistic chandelier hung above, soft recessed lights lined the ceiling, and there were elegant wall lights and tall floor lamps beside flower arrangements. Even the short hallway leading to other rooms had charming little pendant lights, and over the dining table hung three lights at staggered heights.

As Chu Junlie tilted his head up, he felt the lights bathe the room in a gentle, comfortable glow not harsh at all.

“This will be your room,” Si Yunyi said, leading him to a guest bedroom far from his own. He opened the door. “You can put all your things here.”

Still clutching the dog nervously, Chu Junlie stepped into what was now his room. The large, soft bed and the enormous window took his breath away it was at least three or four times the size of the place he’d rented before.

Next to the bedroom was another space. When Chu Junlie walked in, he realized it was an entire dressing room. The wardrobes were so many he couldn’t imagine ever filling them all. There were also separate cabinets for shoes and accessories—all empty, waiting to be used.

Beside the dressing room was another door. Chu Junlie pushed it open and found a washroom, spacious and spotless, with separate wet and dry areas.

He thought of the tiny bathroom in his old rental, where he could barely turn around, and couldn’t help feeling a surge of happiness as he looked at this bright, clean room.

He could finally live somewhere this nice.

He wouldn’t have to squeeze into that cramped little bathroom anymore.

All of this was thanks to Mr. Si.

Ears flushed, Chu Junlie came out of the washroom, crossed through the dressing room, and jogged to the bedroom doorway. Bowing slightly, with one hand pressing down his dog’s head, he said earnestly,

“Thank you, Mr. Si.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Si Yunyi replied, glancing at the spotless room. The chain of his glasses swayed slightly against his cheek. “If you need anything, you can come to me.”

“Mr. Si…” Chu Junlie hesitated, rubbing at the edge of his burning ear.

“May I ask… which room is yours?”

Si Yunyi led him across the living room and dining area, then gestured to the opposite door. His eyes, cool behind the lenses, reflected a faint gleam.

“That’s my room. During work hours, please try not to disturb me.”

Chu Junlie stared at the finely crafted door, suppressing the urge to peek inside, and nodded obediently.

Aside from Si Yunyi’s room, all other areas were open for Chu Junlie to move around. He toured the storage room, the maid’s room, and the two spacious balconies.

In fact, the whole apartment had three balconies — one next to the kitchen, one by the living and dining area, and another adjoining Si Yunyi’s master bedroom, which connected to the living room balcony with only a railing separating them.

After roughly counting, Chu Junlie realized that excluding Mr. Si’s master bedroom and its adjoining rooms, the apartment still had two large halls, three bedrooms, one maid’s room, four separate bathrooms, and one storage room.

He was even more surprised to find that there were two kitchens — one for Chinese cooking and one for Western. The refrigerator, positioned between the two, was enormous.

Standing before the T-shaped fridge, Chu Junlie couldn’t hear a single sound from it. He carefully opened the door; there was no odor at all. Inside were only fresh fruits and vegetables, various drinks, and everything was arranged neatly even each apple had its own designated spot.

He opened the freezer drawer below and found an ice maker and vacuum-sealed frozen meat.

“Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie suddenly remembered something important. He turned around with hopeful eyes.

“What do you usually like to eat?”

“Housekeeping and meals are handled by the hourly workers,” Si Yunyi replied, his gaze steady. He still remembered how, in the book, Chu Junlie had been treated as unpaid labor when he first arrived at the Si family’s branch household. His tone softened.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“But… but,” Chu Junlie said, his face turning red as he pointed at himself, “I’m the one marrying into your family. If I don’t do these chores, then what should I do?”

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