The force around her waist—loosened, and Cheng Jinlan retreated back into the yard, then reached out to grab his collar and pulled him into the yard as well, leaving only the pink gift box at the empty doorway. Cheng Jinlan wanted to go pick it up but it was too late, she could only resign herself to fate and hope that her mother wouldn't see it.
Of course it was impossible that she wouldn't see it. The pink of the box was especially eye-catching in the night, and Fei Zuhui's eyes were looking towards her daughter's home as she talked about Cheng Liqi's amusing stories.
"Oh, why is there a box at the old Cheng's doorway?"
Fei Zuhui's voice rang out just one wall away, and Cheng Jinlan's breath had just been stolen away moments before, she hadn't recovered yet. Now hearing her mother discover the box, her already unsteady breathing became even more urgent. The lights on the balcony and doorway were still on, meaning she hadn't gone to sleep yet. Her mother would probably take the box, enter the passcode and come in to ask about it.
Cheng Jinlan first used her eyes to warn Shao Chengze not to make any noise, then pulled his wrist, thinking about where in the yard would be best to hide him.
She pulled, but he didn't move.
She pulled again, but he still didn't move.
Cheng Jinlan turned her head to look at him. "Let's go," she whispered through gritted teeth. What was he staying put for? To confront her parents face to face at the doorway?
But Shao Chengze still stood in place, his gaze deep and obscure.
She had rarely lowered her defenses, revealing such a flustered girlish side.
Probably because her mind was tense, her hand gripped his wrist tightly, not rejecting such natural intimacy with him.
She should have already showered, her hair clipped up in a shark fin style was a bit messy from their earlier tussle, and a few loose strands hung lazily at her neckside, her porcelain white face was like jade, her brows and eyes a dark black, a hint of passion at the corners of her eyes, her delicate red lips were dotted with smudges of crimson, that was his blood, under the clear moonlight, it aroused a person's very soul.
Shao Chengze's fingertip rubbed at her lip beads, the light in his eyes growing deeper bit by bit as his fingertip moved.
He was...kissing her with his eyes.
Cheng Jinlan was furious, and bit down hard on his fingers, as hard as she could, wishing she could bite his fingers right off.
The warmth and wetness enveloping his finger, Shao Chengze felt a fire ignite through his body in that moment, burning away the last shreds of reason left in his eyes. His blood rushed swiftly to one place, if it were possible, he really wanted to use the door in front of them as a bed, and pin her against it.
He reached out to circle her waist, with the force he used to grab someone, Cheng Jinlan should have slammed right into his body, but at the last moment, he controlled her shoulder with his other hand, leaving a barely discernible gap between their bodies.
He wanted to be a gentleman, but couldn't become a gentleman, so he could only pretend to be one. No wonder she called him despicable and shameless.
His hand was in her mouth, his lips buried in her neck.
Her long, fair neck under his hot lips couldn't help but arch high, facilitating his actions even more. Cheng Jinlan was wearing soft slippers, even stomping down hard on his leather shoes wouldn't produce much force. The two of them silently pulled back and forth.
Sometimes, silent entanglement was more intoxicating than loud intimacy.
Outside the door, Fei Zuhui was just about to enter the passcode, but Cheng Shanhe stopped his wife.
Fei Zuhui looked back at him. "What's wrong?"
Cheng Shanhe pointed at the car parked not far away in the darkness. "Don't go in, looks like someone's here."
Only then did Fei Zuhui notice the car concealed by the night. She peered at the license plate number, very unique digits, somewhat familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had seen it before.
She was happy inside, and unconsciously lowered her voice. "Could she be dating a friend? Don't tell me it's that He family boy I saw yesterday? I thought at first glance of his photo that he would be the type my daughter likes, didn't expect them to progress so quickly."
No matter how low Fei Zuhui kept her voice, the two people inside the door could hear very clearly.
Because of the phrase "the type she likes", Shao Chengze's biting grew heavier.
Cheng Jinlan was tormented by the feeling that was neither ticklish nor painful, letting out indistinct noises from her throat, like a cat hiding by the wall late at night. She hurriedly tried to stop it, venting all her irritation onto her teeth, biting Shao Chengze until he also let out a muffled grunt, which was then quickly muffled by a pair of white hands.
"You don't understand your own daughter. Since when has she been the type to bring a man home after one meal together?" Cheng Shanhe poured cold water on his wife's ideas.
Fei Zuhui was curious. "Then who could it be?"
Cheng Shanhe looked at the car, lost in thought, but he didn't voice his suspicions aloud. "No need to worry so much about it, let's go home. Don't end up with wrinkles later and blame it on me."
Fei Zuhui scolded him. "How can you say that, do I have wrinkles on my face?"
Cheng Shanhe immediately apologized to his wife. "Madam doesn't have any wrinkles, wrinkles have to detour when they see you."
Fei Zuhui punched him hard. "What should we do about this box then?"
"Leave it at the doorway, it's not like it'll get lost. Whoever it belongs to will naturally come to collect it."
The two voices gradually faded away until they could no longer be heard.
Cheng Jinlan gathered her strength in her knees and thrust upwards at the spot between his legs.
Shao Chengze's eyes flickered slightly, his legs started to shift back but ultimately didn't move, only turning slightly to the side. The expected pain came, he bent over and leaned into her shoulder, the veins on his forehead bulging as his face turned purple.
"Serves you right," Cheng Jinlan panted heavily, vigorously wiping her lips with her hand. If not for seeing beads of sweat appear on his face, she would have kicked him again, best if it hurt him to death.
Their heavy and gentle breaths intermingled, quickening and slowing in the quiet night, sounding especially ambiguous.
Cheng Jinlan pushed the person leaning on her shoulder. "Don't pretend to be dead."
The person leaning against her shoulder didn't move or respond. Cheng Jinlan lowered her head to look at him. His skin was on the pale side. Under the light from the doorway, the layers of sweat beaded on his temple were especially obvious. She knew best how much force she had used, enough to make him lose the ability to continue his family line.
"Do you need me to call a doctor?" Her fierce voice carried a few unnatural notes.
Shao Chengze hugged her waist, his breath weak. If one didn't know better, they'd think he was on the verge of death.
"No need, let me rest against you for a while and I'll be fine."
Cheng Jinlan wanted to say, go ahead and lean, but get your hands off me. But when the words reached her throat, she swallowed them back down again, turning her head the other way to stare blankly at the pattern on the big door, pretending to be an unfeeling wooden post.
A dog was barking in the distance at someone's home, the moon hid behind the clouds and the night sky darkened. The light cast the shadow of their embracing figures flickering unsteadily on the big door, giving off a somewhat lingering feeling.
Cheng Jinlan's eyelashes quivered, she closed her eyes, then quickly opened them again. The unnameable emotions in her eyes dispersed, replaced by impatience. "Still not feeling better? How much could it have hurt?"
Shao Chengze didn't want to tell her just how much that kind of pain hurt. He lifted his pale lips to look at her.
The pitiful look in his eyes was exactly the same as Cheng Liqi's expression when she got hurt by accident and sought comfort.
Cheng Jinlan slept very uneasily that night, dreaming of someone she shouldn't have dreamt about. Her body was covered in a layer of sticky sweat, making her very uncomfortable. She flipped off her blankets and stared blankly up at the ceiling for a while, feeling that this dream was entirely due to being influenced by her best friend's words, and had nothing to do with anyone or anything else.
She got up and went to the bathroom to rinse off with cold water, washing away the sweat on her body, but unable to rinse away the restlessness in her heart. This restlessness grew stronger upon seeing her damp neck reflected in the mirror.
Cheng Liqi climbed groggily out of bed and saw her mother come in. She stretched out both arms for her mother to carry her.
Cheng Jinlan sat at the head of the bed and placed her on her lap, pinching her chubby little cheeks. "Little one, happy holiday!"
Cheng Liqi circled her arms around her mother's neck, smiling until her eyes were little crescents. "Mama best friend, even happier holiday!"
Cheng Jinlan patted her little bottom. "Time to get up, the living room is full of presents for you, waiting for you to unwrap them."
When Cheng Liqi first woke up, she loved nestling against her mother to act coquettish, rubbing her face here and there against her mother's neck, like a lazy little piglet. Even presents couldn't make her leave her mother's embrace.
As Cheng Liqi nuzzled, she suddenly realized something was off. "Mama, your neck has so many red spots."
Cheng Jinlan brushed the stray hairs from her forehead and carried her outside. "It's summer, the mosquitoes are out. Mama got bitten by mosquitoes."
Cheng Liqi was afraid her mother was in pain, and blew on the red marks to soothe them. "Mama, I don't like mosquitoes."
Cheng Jinlan replied, "Mama doesn't like mosquitoes either."
"Next time mosquitoes come, I'll help Mama get rid of them and not let them bite you."
Cheng Jinlan laughed. "Our little Liqi has really grown up, already able to protect Mama."
Cheng Liqi nodded. "Of course! Mama protects me, so I have to protect Mama too." As soon as she finished talking, she saw the pile of presents in the living room. Her eyes lit up. "Wow Mama, are all these gifts for me?"
"That's right, they're all for you." Cheng Jinlan told her one by one who had given each gift, finally pointing at the pink box and saying, "That one is from your dad."
Cheng Liqi was thrilled. She had her mother put her down so she could sit amidst the present fortress. Her mother unwrapped one for her, she would exclaim "Wow!", unwrapping another she would exclaim "Wow!" again. Upon reaching her father's gift, her volume shot up a notch higher.
"Mama look quick, it's a princess crown, exactly the same as the one I saw in the fairytale book! The diamonds on it are pink and so shiny, so beautiful! Mama help me put it on."
Cheng Jinlan put it on her head for her and held up a mirror for her to see.
The more Cheng Liqi looked at herself in the mirror, the prettier she felt. "Mama, can I wear it on stage today to perform?"
"You can. Mama will style your hair like a princess later, then you can wear this. It will definitely be even more beautiful."
Cheng LiQi stood up straight and kissed her mother's chin vigorously twice, "I love you mom the most."
In addition to this princess crown, there was also a small box in the pink box. When Cheng LiQi saw that little box, her eyes shone even brighter, "Mom, this is a gift from dad for you."
Because she saw it said "For Mom" on the box, and mom was her best friend, of course she should have a gift too.
Cheng LiQi wanted to open the box, but Cheng Jinlan stopped her, "That's enough, we'll take a look at this gift later. You should go wash up now, otherwise there won't be enough time to do your princess hair."
Ah~ Cheng LiQi got up swiftly and ran to the bathroom. She wanted to have her princess hair done.
Cheng Jinlan cleaned up the torn gift boxes and threw them all in the trash can. Then she sorted all the gifts and put them in Cheng LiQi's room separately. She threw that small box in her bag to return it to him next time they met. She couldn't accept gifts from him, in case he tried to take advantage of her again.
Shen XiWen called Shao ChengZe first thing in the morning, but no one picked up. So she dialed another number, and this time it was answered right away.
"Hey, are you going to the kindergarten today? XiaochuQi and little LiQi are having a piano duet performance."
"Didn't I tell you not to call me on this number unless it's important?" Shao ChengZe's voice sounded a little hoarse, as if he had just woken up.
Shen XiWen was surprised. "It's June 1st today. The sun must be rising from the west. Our ever so busy Boss Shao actually has time to sleep in. Are you sick or what?"
"I just got up late, that's all."
"Alright, the perks of being the boss means you get to sleep in whenever you want. Are you going to the kindergarten? If you do, would you please help me record a video of my son's entire performance?" Shen XiWen was on a film set and couldn't make it back.
"I have meetings, I can't go."
Shen XiWen clicked her tongue. "Meetings are less important than watching your daughter's performance." She was about to say more when she suddenly realized - the meetings were a lie. "It's Miss Cheng who doesn't want you to show your face, right?"
The only response was the heartless sound of her phone hanging up. And the more heartless it was, the more she knew she was right.
Shao ChengZe had his arm over his eyes. Realizing the dream he was just having wouldn't continue, he got up and went to take a cold shower.
When he came out of the bathroom, his phone on the nightstand was ringing. It was a video call. Shao ChengZe tossed aside the towel and answered.
A little figure appeared on the screen. "Daddy, look at my princess crown, isn't it gorgeous?"
Shao ChengZe's eyes softened. "It's very gorgeous. It's because our little LiQi is so pretty that she makes the princess crown even more beautiful."
Cheng LiQi giggled happily. "Daddy, you can't come to kindergarten to watch me perform today, right? Mommy said you're busy with work."
"That's right, daddy owes you an apology. I can't go watch your performance because of work."
"It's okay daddy, work is important too. I'll have mommy record a video and send it to you, so daddy can still watch it."
Shao ChengZe's voice turned gentle as water. "Thank you for being so understanding, little LiQi."
"I called daddy because I wanted to say thank you for the gift. I love it so much!"
"Little LiQi can tell daddy anything she wants or likes in the future. Daddy will get it for you."
"Ah~" Cheng LiQi happened to have something she wanted. "Then daddy, can you get that for me?"
"Get what?"
Cheng LiQi propped her chin and thought hard. What was that thing called again? Oh right, she clapped her hands when she remembered. "An electric mosquito swatter. Mosquitoes bit mommy's neck and left lots of red spots. Grandma Qu said electric mosquito swatters can eliminate mosquitoes. Daddy, please get me an electric swatter. Next time mosquitoes come, I want to protect mommy and help mommy get rid of them without leaving a single one behind."
Shao ChengZe: ......!
