On the other side of the villa, inside the kitchen, Tang Yuehua was cooking with utmost concentration.
'I must make his favorite foods for lunch.' Her eyes sparkled as she started cutting vegetables.
She continued to work as she thought about the reason why Xie Yue hadn't visited her last month...
'Is this a sign that he's trying to keep complete distance from me?'
'No... No... how can that be? Moon wouldn't do that. He won't,' she shook her head repeatedly.
'Even though he doesn't talk to me like he used to, he never ignored me and never will.'
'But then why didn't he visit me last month in the first place?' Tang Yuehua's mind spun with countless thoughts.
She really couldn't figure it out. Her heart ached at the possibility of Xie Yue trying to leave her. Her motherly love for him had nearly reached the point of madness, making her think wildly about the possible reasons for his absence and leaving her restless.
'I must ask him directly. If he's angry with me for some reason, I can find a way to calm him down.' Even though she was blinded by worry, she still thought about the best way to clarify everything and regained her concentration on cooking.
---
Knowing Tang Yuehua would finish cooking soon, Xie Yue washed himself and stepped out of his room.
Soon enough, Tang Yuehua finished preparing lunch and called him to eat. Xie Yue went over, exchanged a few words with her, and then started eating her food greedily. He really liked her cooking.
Since Tang Yuehua couldn't cultivate, she had spent most of her time honing other skills—cooking being one of them. And ever since Xie Yue came into her life, she had dedicated herself to perfecting her cooking just to make delicious food for him.
Seeing him devouring her food, Tang Yuehua felt warmth in her heart and held back from asking about his absence last month. Watching him eat happily was more important to her than those questions.
Soon after, Xie Yue finished his lunch. Tang Yuehua pulled him toward the hall and made him sit on the sofa.
She sat beside him, took his hands in hers, and asked the question she had been holding back the most.
"Moon, why didn't you visit me last month...?" As she spoke, her eyes were already welling up with tears. Given enough time, they would surely overflow.
Even though she hadn't wanted to behave like this and had planned to ask him calmly, the moment she voiced her question, she couldn't suppress her emotions. Even with all her emotional cultivation over the years, she couldn't stop her tears from forming.
Right now, she wasn't in the mood to control her emotions or act strong in front of him.
Seeing her reddening eyes, Xie Yue was momentarily caught off guard. He couldn't understand the reason behind her sudden change in demeanor.
He had met his fair share of women in his life and understood them well. But still, no one could predict how a person would react in different situations beforehand. It was beyond his control. So how could he have expected Tang Yuehua to be like this during today's visit?
But after connecting her question with her emotional state, he began to understand the reason behind her reaction.
'Is this... because of me?' Xie Yue asked himself.
Considering everything, he decided to come up with some new nonsense. Even though her reaction surprised him, he still didn't see any reason or benefit in coaxing her sincerely. So, he chose to give her a perfunctory answer.
"I..."
Before Xie Yue could say anything, Tang Yuehua interrupted him, her insecurities spilling out in a rush.
"Moon, are you angry with me?"
"Did I do something wrong? Is that why you didn't visit me last month?"
"What can I do to make you stay with me?"
"Are you upset because I didn't let you sleep with me?"
"Will you be happy if I allow you to sleep with me?"
"Or... do you really not want to see me anymore? Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"What can I do for things to go back to the way they were? What can I do so you won't ignore me anymore?"
As she continued questioning him, she started crying pitifully, like an abandoned child.
Initially, she had only wanted to ask why he hadn't visited her. But after voicing the question, she wasn't prepared to hear his answer.
What if Xie Yue outright told her that he didn't want to see her anymore?
The mere thought of it terrified her, making her heart ache. So instead, she poured out all the questions she had been holding inside, overwhelmed by an emotional outburst.
Watching the pitiful Tang Yuehua and listening to her frantic questions, Xie Yue fully grasped her current emotional state. He was not so ignorant as to not understand a woman's feelings.
Making a swift decision, he withdrew his hands from hers and pulled her into his arms.
"Teacher~ Don't cry..."
"I was indeed a little upset and heartbroken when you didn't let me sleep with you. But that doesn't mean I wanted to leave you or stop seeing you because of it."
"You are the most important person to me, like a mother. How could I have the heart to leave you...?"
"Since Teacher doesn't want me to leave her either, Moon won't be angry with her anymore," Xie Yue said in a coaxing voice as he patted her back while hugging her tightly. He felt her soft body pressed against his chest.
'So soft~'
Xie Yue hadn't said things like "I was never angry with you" or "I will never leave you," which could have instantly reassured Tang Yuehua. Instead, he made it clear that he was indeed angry with her.
It wasn't out of ego or pride—if a situation required him to act like a submissive dog, he would do so without hesitation. In his eyes, everything was about benefits. If behaving like a slave was the only way to achieve his goals, there was no harm in it.
What could a worthless ego bring him? Would it give him any benefits?
Even though he was an Alpha and a Sadist to his core, if the situation demanded, he saw no reason not to act subservient. His past life had taught him this lesson in a harsh and painful way.
But right now, there was no need to fawn over Tang Yuehua.
Sure, he could have said sweeter words to coax her faster, but that wouldn't give him any benefits. Instead, letting her know he was upset was the best way to take advantage of the situation.
Of course, he couldn't be too direct about it. He knew that much.
---
Hearing his words, Tang Yuehua's eyes brightened slightly. She took every word he said to heart. Finally, she raised her head, still crying, and spoke.
"Really? Then from now on, call me Mother~"
Hearing him say she was like a mother, Tang Yuehua seized the opportunity and asked him to call her by that title.
(Author: Women are such creatures.)
"Mm, don't cry, Teacher... Mother~" Xie Yue complied without hesitation, keeping up the facade of an understanding and obedient boy. He saw no reason to refuse.
In his opinion, having another mommy was always a good thing.
'After coming to this world, this is my third mother. No... Fourth. Hehe,' Xie Yue mused in amusement. His real age was already over 70, yet now he had a mother who was just in her thirties.
Even though Tang Yuehua had calmed down, she still felt a little insecure, so she asked again.
"Moon... You really aren't angry with me anymore?" She looked into his eyes.
"Yeah, since Mommy said she'll do anything for me, I won't be angry with her," he stated matter-of-factly. Calling her Mommy felt naughtier to him.
"Oh~ Yeah. Mommy will do anything for you," Tang Yuehua replied naturally. She didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Didn't she say that herself? She would do anything for him… (Did she really say that?)