Shao ChengZe earnestly explained to his daughter LiQi, "Miao" is composed of two water radicals, with one water on top and two waters below, and is read with the second tone [miǎo].
Why is she called this? Because the last characters of our two names are both water radicals. The top water represents mom, she’s the head of the household, the two waters below represent dad and little LiQi. We have to listen to mom's instructions, and also protect mom.
After hearing dad's explanation, Cheng LiQi easily understood this character. She felt the name sounded so nice. Dad comes up with such nice names, and he also tenderly coaxes mom to cheer her up. Her fondness for dad grew just a little more.
Shao ChengZe coaxed his daughter LiQi to happily hang up the phone and go to sleep.
He leaned over to look at the person on the bed, "Are you hungry? I've made dinner, get up and eat something before coming back to sleep?"
Cheng Jinlan was not just hungry. At noon she had only eaten two red bean cakes, her energy and fluids were depleted after an afternoon, she was tortured until she was exhausted, and finally fainted directly. But now she only had the heart to eat, not an ounce of strength to eat with. Her whole body to her fingertips felt soft and weak, her arms and legs too sour to even lift. She buried her face in the pillow, not really wanting to respond to him.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Shao ChengZe pressed against her ear and gently asked.
As soon as he got close, she would shiver reflexively. Cheng Jinlan tightened the quilt around her body and looked at him coldly, "What do you think?"
Shao ChengZe chuckled lowly, "My mistake."
His hand touched her back through the thin quilt, gently kneading, helping her slowly relax the pent up soreness in her body. He was very good at massage, and controlled the force well too. Each point of exertion was pressed into her sore spots.
Cheng Jinlan clenched her lips tightly, not wanting to let the comfortable moan escape from her mouth. She wanted him to stop, but also very much wanted him to continue. With this technique of his, even if he truly lost his job one day, opening a massage parlor would surely bring in good business.
The quilt was tossed to the side, his hand slid down her back, "Do you want your waist massaged?"
Cheng Jinlan buried her face deeper into the pillow, not speaking.
Shao ChengZe exerted force with his hand, "Miao miao, do you want a massage?"
Cheng Jinlan couldn't endure the unbearable teasing. She raised her head to look back at him, her eyes fierce but coquettish, "You're asking when you've already started massaging?"
Shao ChengZe's thumbs ground forcefully into her waist sides, her slender white neck instantly tensed, her thin back and slender waist arched off the bed, the sweaty skin revealed a pinkish white, the moans suppressed in her throat burst through clenched teeth, echoing in the room, bewitching and tender, enticing one to want to devour and destroy her, but also to cherish and protect her.
Light fluttering kisses were like summer rain on the banana trees, along the snowy shoulders, pressed against the neck, wetting the earlobes, and finally returned to the corners of her lips. Cheng Jinlan was held by him in a twisted and curled posture, her lips eaten into his mouth, her arms propping herself up on the bed, strength drained, slipping down several times, to be caught again by him. Hot breath blocked off her escape, her hands softly pushed against his chest, in the brief respite for breath, her voice trembled, interrupted, like a command and plea, "Shao Chengze, I'm hungry, I want to eat."
"Okay, we'll eat." Shao Chengze sucked at the sweet saliva, mumbling as he responded to her, catching the soft hands pushing at his chest, grasping them in his palm, pressing them to the bed.
With her upper body losing support, Cheng Jinlan could only use his shoulder to lean on. Her powerless arms weakly hooked around his neck, the pink at the corners of her eyes oozed dampness, like dew on a rose, a gust of wind and the glistening beads of dew would shake and fall, refracting colorful brilliance in the sunlight.
Shao Chengze's hands held her waist, directly lifting her from the bed onto his lap. The black silky hair brushed the back of his hand, bringing out some ticklish sensations, arousing the swallowing sounds from his lips to grow louder.
Cheng Jinlan was burnt by these ambiguous sounds even to the roots of her hair. She was thoroughly annoyed now, grasping the hair at the back of his head with her hand, her teeth biting the tongue that was rolling and stirring in her mouth, barely tearing open a reluctant gap between them. There was anger in her starry eyes, "I want to eat, not eat you."
Shao Chengze was stunned at first, then buried his head against her snowy collarbone, laughing out loud, "How do you know if you don't taste. Maybe I'm tastier than food."
"I've already tasted, not tasty at all." Cheng Jinlan's breathing had yet to steady, her soft charming voice still carried twisting passions, no matter what she said she couldn't work up any imposing manner, instead it was like ambiguous flirting and tempting.
His dark pupils pressed over, Cheng Jinlan tilted her neck back to retreat somewhat, trembling fingers warning him, "I'm going to call LiQi to tattle that you bullied me, won't even let me eat a meal."
This threat really wasn't impressive at all, also quite lame, but Cheng Jinlan couldn't think of another way for the moment. She didn't want to die in this bed today.
Shao Chengze laughed louder and louder, his voice growing hoarser, "You really scared me, I'm most afraid of LiQi."
Cheng Jinlan's eyes like a spring well also revealed some laughter. She straightened her expression, solemn and earnest, "Then let me go."
Shao Chengze pressed at her waist, pulling her close to him, "Give me a kiss, then I'll let you go."
Cheng Jinlan naturally refused.
"Just one." Shao Chengze made his offer.
Cheng Jinlan looked reproachfully at him, saying in a small voice, "Haven't you kissed enough?"
Without even looking in a mirror, she knew her lips were swollen, her tongue still tingling and numb. Not just one, she couldn't even do half a kiss.
Just as he was about to say something, Cheng Jinlan directly covered his mouth with her hand. He certainly wouldn't say anything good, so best not to listen either.
"Carry me out." She commanded, her body very uncomfortable, not wanting to move at all. This was all thanks to him, making him exert some physical effort was only right.
His eyes narrowed, smile spreading, Shao Chengze's lips gently brushed her palm, looking into her eyes, saying "Yes ma'am."
The temperature on his lips passed through her palm, colliding with the heat still unabated in her body. Cheng Jinlan shivered all over, resting her chin lazily on his shoulder, closing her eyes to avoid meeting his gaze, placing all her weight onto him, softly urging him, "Hurry, I really am hungry."
Shao Chengze supported her waist and back, easily picking her up. The soft black hair and silky straps of her nightgown partially revealed the faint red marks on her fair skin, flashing in and out of sight with the rocking motions, catching the eyes of those looking, unable to help but be unable to move their gaze away.
Passing by the sofa, Cheng Jinlan reached to grab a blanket from the back of the sofa, placing it around her shoulders, blocking the increasingly scorching gaze falling on her.
Shao Chengze raised a brow, smiling at her, "So I'm a ferocious beast to be guarded against?"
Cheng Jinlan lowered her eyes answering him, "Aren't you?"
Shao Chengze looked at the red mark by her ear that couldn't be covered up. His dark eyes turned even deeper, he couldn't deny his roughness went a bit overboard. He'd better hurry up and fill her stomach, otherwise in her eyes he really would become a beast.
The pot contained simmering tomato soup, pasta boiling in another pot, dinner would be ready very soon. Shao Chengze set her down on a chair, brought her red bean cakes to pad her stomach first since she was truly hungry, the cool red bean cakes were the perfect pre-meal.
The phone on the dining table buzzed with vibration. Cheng Jinlan called to the person in the kitchen, "Your phone rang."
"Who is it?"
Cheng Jinlan looked at the screen, "Uncle Qian."
"Don't need to answer, just help me mute it."
"Oh."
Shao Chengze came out of the kitchen holding chopsticks, "The pasta is almost done."
"Okay." Cheng Jinlan slowly savored the red bean cake, giving him a look.
"What's the matter?" Shao Chengze walked over to her, she obviously had something to say.
Cheng Jinlan asked him, "Can you not go back?"
Although she didn't know who Uncle Qian was, likely someone from the company. He had handed in his resignation, but the board hadn't approved it yet, so the matter wasn't settled. Yet she didn't know who leaked the news of his resignation prematurely, now the stock price of Shao Corp was steadily declining.
Shao Chengze replied, "It's not time to go back yet."
"Hmm?" Cheng Jinlan didn't understand, if the stock kept dropping it could lead to big chaos.
Shao ChengZe explained, "The Shao family is different from your family. Your family is united, while the Shao family is divided into factions, competing to see who can make the biggest sacrifice. The later I return, the more bargaining chips I'll have, and the stronger my position will be in negotiations." His voice was somewhat cold, making his gaze seem indifferent as well. But by the end of his words, the warmth in his eyes covered up the indifference. "Don't worry about me. Even if I really do get kicked out, it won't be a bad thing. I can just become your full-time driver - it works out perfectly."
Cheng Jinlan finished off the last red bean cake, took a sip of water, and slowly responded, "Did I say I was worried about you?"
Shao ChengZe pressed his hand on the back of her chair, trapping her between the chair and his embrace. "You don't have to say it, I can feel it."
Cheng Jinlan held her cup between them like a shield. "Don't flatter yourself."
The self-flattering person asked her, "Were the red bean cakes delicious?"
Cheng Jinlan didn't answer. She knew what he was after.
"I didn't get to eat any, so I don't know if they still taste the same as before."
"If you want to eat them, go buy some tomorrow." Cheng Jinlan kept the cup firmly to her lips, not giving him any opportunity.
"I can't wait until tomorrow."
Shao ChengZe leaned in, enveloping the hand she held her cup with, and gently sucked on her fingers. Cheng Jinlan's hand went weak, and the cup slipped from her palm. Instead of falling to the floor, it landed in his hand. With perfect coordination, one hand caught the cup while the other tilted up her chin so he could taste the red bean cake in her mouth.
The strength Cheng Jinlan had just regained by eating the red bean cakes vanished in an instant.
"It really is the same taste as before, not a bit different." Shao ChengZe seemed unsatisfied, lingering at her lips.
Cheng Jinlan bit his lip fiercely, panting for breath. "Shao ChengZe, if I let you get close to me again, I might as well write my name backwards. You're insatiable!" Shao ChengZe pressed his forehead to hers, giving her oxygen. "I can't help it, I've been starving for too long."
...
Whether Cheng Jinlan let Shao ChengZe get close again that night is unknown. But the next day, she slept until noon. If not for an awards ceremony she had to attend that afternoon, she probably would have slept until nightfall.
After the awards ceremony ended, there was nothing else on her schedule. Tang Yicheng was staying an extra day here to tie up loose ends. Cheng Jinlan's plan was to have dinner with Jiang Meng tonight, then take an overnight flight back so she could see Cheng LiQi first thing in the morning when she woke up. However, today's weather was poor and her scheduled flight was delayed.
Shao ChengZe looked in the rearview mirror. "Let's go back tomorrow morning instead. The weather report says the rain will get heavier tonight, the flight might even get cancelled."
Cheng Jinlan video called Cheng LiQi and said to the driver, "Then after dinner, take me back to the hotel." She certainly wouldn't go back with him again.
Shao ChengZe smiled. "I guarantee I'll let you sleep well tonight."
Cheng Jinlan, feeling soreness in her waist, leaned back in her seat and retorted, "If I believe you again, then I'm a pig."
As soon as Cheng LiQi answered her mom's video call, she heard this. "Mommy, why do you want to be a piggy? Although piggies are cute too, kitties are cuter. I like kitties more."
Cheng Jinlan laughed in spite of herself. "Mommy likes kitties more too. Little LiQi, the weather here isn't great, so Mommy can't come back tonight. I've changed to a morning flight tomorrow, so after your nap you'll be able to see Mommy."
Tomorrow was the weekend, so Cheng LiQi didn't have school.
"Mommy, can I come pick you up tomorrow? I don't want to take a nap, I miss you and want to see you sooner."
Cheng Jinlan's heart melted into softness. "Okay, LiQi can come pick up Mommy. Mommy misses LiQi too."
The car stopped at a red light and Shao ChengZe turned around to say to the phone, "Daddy misses LiQi too."
Cheng LiQi giggled. "I miss Daddy too."
But then she thought of a problem. "If Daddy comes back with Mommy, then I can't have Grandma come with me to the airport. I'll ask Uncle Shen instead, I just got off the phone with Uncle Shen and he said he's off tomorrow."
It was obvious who she meant.
Shao ChengZe tapped his finger on the steering wheel. "LiQi, Daddy isn't coming back with Mommy. Daddy still has some unfinished business here and can only come back tomorrow afternoon. Just have Grandma go with you to the airport to pick up Mommy."
Cheng Jinlan's smile slowly faded from her lips.
Cheng LiQi replied, "Oh, I see. Then I'll have Grandma come with me to get Mommy."
With the problem resolved, Cheng LiQi said bye to her parents and went off to practice piano.
Shao ChengZe lightly cleared his throat and glanced in the rearview mirror at the person sitting there, explaining, "I didn't mean anything else, just didn't want to be a bother to him."
It was obvious who he meant.
Cheng Jinlan looked out at the rain outside the window, not responding to his words.
