"Wait a minute, sister—"
Cheng Zhuo seemed to suddenly discover a blind spot and looked at Sheng Mumu doubtfully.
"—Brother-in-law won three games in a row in the afternoon Mahjong game. Was that also part of you three plotting to put on a show?"
Sheng Mumu was stunned for half a second before the corners of her eyes curved up in a smile.
Her long lashes trembled slightly with her melodious laughter, and her eyes shone like a clear pond.
Her cream-smeared fingers casually wiped at her silly little brother's face.
She heartlessly mocked:
"Are you stupid? He really is that good."
Her words fell.
In the next second, Qi Shaobai's previously disbelief-filled face relaxed, and he burst into a cheerful, unbridled laugh.
Casually picking up a spicy chicken wing from the table and taking a bite, he said:
"Little uncle, I've discovered that you and big uncle are very different."
Cheng Zhuo was puzzled. "Oh? How so?"
Qi Shaobai gave a vulgar smile, his tone begging for a beating.
"Big uncle is very smart."
Cheng Zhuo: "???"
Was he insulting me?.jpg
"Qi Shaobai! How could you say something like that!" Sheng Mumu sharply rebuked, then swiftly changed direction. "You're only speaking the blunt truth."
Suddenly, laughter erupted from the yard.
Even the servants and Manager Zhang couldn't help covering their mouths to secretly laugh.
In the cheerful atmosphere,
Qiao Li rubbed his forehead with a soft sigh: Oh dear.
Not far away, the handsome man who had accidentally received Sheng Mumu’s praise, lifted the corners of his mouth in a shallow curve, his chest vibrating with a lazy laugh.
His imposing aura was no longer cold and aloof.
It blended into the crisp winter air.
*
Recently, Sheng Mumu has fallen into distress.
Ever since she and Qi Mo had developed some intimacy in their relationship, many things she used to take for granted changed flavor in her eyes.
Take her daily sleeping arrangements for example.
Although they slept on the same bed, they had always been proper and reserved.
She was used to it, and didn't feel there was anything ambiguous about the situation.
There seemed to be an invisible line dividing the spacious bed.
Each minded their own business.
But recently...
That little river between them seemed to have dried up.
Sometimes when she went to bed, as soon as the lights were off, the man would sling his arm around her waist
As if to circle her in his embrace while also pressing down the blanket she often kicked away.
At the same time, this also locked her in his arms.
But Sheng Mumu hadn't exactly remained still herself.
As she gradually got used to Qi Mo's arm that would inadvertently drape over her,
she retaliated.
Her sleeping habits became increasingly unruly.
Several times she woke up to find herself sprawled across the bed.
Although her side of the bed was very spacious, she had still somehow squeezed Qi Mo to the edge of the bed in her sleep.
The tall, well-built man barely maintained his balance to keep from falling off.
He looked strangely pitiful.
Meanwhile, her little feet were still shamelessly propped against the man’s sturdy calves...
Almost as if poised to kick him again at any moment...
Sheng Mumu felt guilty.
She wanted to move over to clear some space.
But every time she stirred, the man's arm would unerringly press over
And gather her into an embrace.
Sheng Mumu thought she had awoken him.
She held her breath and looked over.
The man's eyes were still closed, his distinct long lashes lowered.
His brows and eyes were relaxed and peaceful, lacking his usual breathtaking sharpness during the day.
His chest slowly rose and fell with steady breathing.
It was as if her movements hadn't disturbed him at all, and he had merely lifted his hand a bit in his sleep.
However...
When Sheng Mumu tried shifting again,
She couldn’t budge the man’s arm that felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
Gradually, Sheng Mumu sensed something wasn’t right about this.
One day,
She wisened up.
After that arm had pressed over her, she didn’t go back to sleep immediately.
She silently narrowed her eyes to observe.
In the tranquil room, time seemed to slow down.
The lighting was dim, with only a few thin rays of light seeping in through the gaps in the curtains.
She could vaguely make out the man’s outstanding features.
One second...
Two seconds...
Three seconds...
After more than ten seconds had passed, she suddenly saw the corners of the supposedly sleeping man’s lips twitch.
Bit by bit...
Slowly curving up...
Bending into a gloating arc.
“Ah-ha! So you were pretending to be asleep!” Sheng Mumu exclaimed in surprise.
There was a flicker between Qi Mo’s brows. He hesitated for a few seconds before slowly opening his eyes.
Those eyes were brimming with undisguised, sly sparkles as he looked at her.
Sheng Mumu kicked him in irritation.
Yet the man didn’t react at all.
Sheng Mumu froze in astonishment, her bright eyes blinking rapidly—
How...
Even when she had kicked with all her might, she still couldn’t make him budge at all.
So how did this man allow himself to be squeezed to the edge of the bed by her every night?
Could it be...
Before she could finish her next sentence, the arm around her waist suddenly tightened.
Qi Mo pulled her into his embrace, pressing her head into the crook of his neck.
"Yes, on purpose," his tone was leisurely.
Not the slightest bit embarrassed at being caught red-handed, in fact quite shameless.
"... " Sheng Mumu's breathing hitched as her nose brushed the man's collarbone.
The crisp, masculine scent invaded her nostrils.
Her gaze was level with his protruding Adam's apple as it lightly rolled up and then down.
Strangely bewitching.
She couldn't help but hold her breath, her eyes lowering.
Right then, the smooth muscular lines of the man's chest came into her line of sight.
The intimacy of the distance...
Pressed too close together, heat slowly rose between them.
The man chuckled lightly.
She could feel his chest vibrate slightly.
His magnetic, roguish voice slowly reached her ear:
"It's winter, no need to get up early. Sleep a while longer."
Sheng Mumu lifted her head. Her crown bumped against the man's chin, her voice a little muffled:
"But I can't fall back asleep now."
"Keep me company," the man replied in a second, his lazy tone carrying a hint of shamelessness at making demands.
As his voice fell, Sheng Mumu felt her waist being circled more snugly.
The hand at the nape of her neck slid down to give her neck a squeeze.
Extremely gently, massaging it.
As if trying to stir her drowsiness.
Sheng Mumu took a light breath, relaxing as she narrowed her eyes.
Her breathing slowed.
The smooth, warm palm slowly moved up to stroke her messy bedhead back into place.
Lulling her to sleep.
In her heart, Sheng Mumu silently scolded the cunning old Qi dog.
Breathing in the reassuring scent of the man,
Gradually...drowsiness came.
At the last moment before her eyes closed,
She felt the man's slender fingertips gently burrow into her hair, tenderly caressing.
Especially soporific.
During that late morning nap in the winter, Sheng Mumu had a dream.
In the woods...
A handsome, aloof big gray wolf prowled around a rabbit's burrow.
Without a sound, inching closer bit by bit.
Plotting when would be the best time to swallow the rabbit in its belly.
Yet the rabbit was actually snoring away on its back, drooling without any vigilance.
In the dream, Sheng Mumu wiped some anxious sweat for the rabbit. Her body gave a jolt, and she subconsciously burrowed closer into the man's embrace.
