Chapter 8 Sleeping Together

“Mianmian wants to hug Yunchi to say thank you.”

A blush crept across Lu Yunchi’s face as he stammered,
“N–no… no need.”

“Yunchi doesn’t like it when Mianmian does this?” Li Mianmian pouted unhappily, her face showing a pitiful expression.

Seeing her looking so wronged, Lu Yunchi suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable guilt. After hesitating, he whispered,
“I-it’s not that I don’t like it…”

Li Mianmian instantly broke into a bright smile and threw her arms around him.
“Great! Mianmian likes Yunchi the most!”

The sudden hug startled him, his body stiffening in place as his blush deepened.

Lu Tingbai watched the scene, a flicker of complicated emotion passing through his eyes.
“You’ve had a long day. Mianmian, go take a bath first. Do you remember how to use the hot water?” he said gently.

Li Mianmian nodded obediently.
“Mm, Mianmian’s going to bathe now. You’re not allowed to peek!”

“Dad, if Grandpa finds out you brought home a fool to be my stepmom, he’ll break your legs,” Lu Yunchi piped up, his childish voice carrying an oddly adult seriousness as he looked at Lu Tingbai.

“What, are you planning to rebel?” Lu Tingbai pretended to grab him.

“No.”

When Li Mianmian came out of the bathroom after her bath, she saw Lu Tingbai and Lu Yunchi still sitting in the living room. She bounced over to Tingbai.
“Tingbai, where are we sleeping?”

He pointed at the bedroom.
“You’ll sleep there. Yunchi and I will sleep next door.”

“Why aren’t we sleeping together?” she asked, blinking innocently.

Lu Tingbai froze, a faint blush spreading across his face. He lowered his head, pretending to tidy his clothes to cover his embarrassment.
“T-that… wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Why not? We’re playing house, aren’t we? You’re Yunchi’s daddy, then Mianmian is mommy!” she tilted her head, inwardly laughing, but outwardly all confusion.

His embarrassment deepened. He coughed and tried to change the subject.
“It’s late. Time to rest.”

She pouted, her expression pitiful again.
“Does Tingbai hate Mianmian for being a fool too?”

Looking at her like that, he felt a sudden ache in his chest. After a pause, he murmured softly,
“It’s… it’s not that.”

She immediately hugged his arm tightly.
“Great! Then let’s sleep together!”

Her sudden closeness startled him, his body stiff again, the blush on his face deepening.

Lu Yunchi, watching, muttered,
“I’m going to wash up,” then darted into the bathroom.

Watching him leave, Li Mianmian’s lips curved slightly before she released Tingbai’s arm. Acting as though nothing had happened, she skipped toward the bedroom.
“Tingbai! Let’s go to sleep!”

He looked at her cheerful back, a trace of helplessness and fondness flashing in his eyes. Shaking his head, he followed her in.

Inside the bedroom, Li Mianmian had already climbed onto the bed, swinging her legs as she sat there. When she saw him enter, she patted the spot beside her.
“Tingbai! Come to bed!”

He hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the edge of the bed.

She tilted her head, puzzled.
“Tingbai, why is your face red?”

He froze, quickly turning his head away.
“N-no, it’s not red.”

She leaned in closer.
“Really? But I see your ears are red.”

Feeling her warm breath on his ear, his whole body went rigid.
“Y-you… don’t get so close,” he stammered.

“Why not? Mianmian wants to be close to Tingbai.”

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“Mianmian, be good. You’re still young, you don’t understand these things.”

Hahaha, this man is killing me! she thought, clutching her stomach in silent laughter before blinking innocently again.
“What do I not understand? Mianmian wants to learn!”

Panic surged through him. Faced with her clear, innocent eyes, he had no idea how to respond. Something in him softened, leaving him helpless—he couldn’t bear to push her away, so he forced down the turmoil inside.

“Mianmian, why aren’t you saying anything?” her voice pulled him back.

He took a deep breath, smiled faintly, and forced a light tone.
“Nothing, I was just thinking about what you said.”

“Then will Tingbai teach me? Mianmian’s ready!”

Her words made him even more flustered. He coughed and tried to change the subject.
“It’s late. Time to sleep.”

Obediently, she lay down, but didn’t close her eyes—instead, she stared right at him.

Her gaze made him restless. After a moment of hesitation, he lay down too, though keeping a distance.

Suddenly, she inched closer.
“Tingbai, you smell so good. Like soap.”

“You sleep first. I’m going to shower.” He tossed the words over his shoulder and fled to the bathroom.

Watching him retreat, Li Mianmian buried her face in the blanket to muffle her laughter, rolling around on the bed in glee.

In the bathroom, water splashed as Lu Tingbai stood in front of the mirror, splashing his face with cold water, trying to calm down.

His heart was still racing. He scolded himself for losing control in front of her.

“She’s just a child,” he repeated to himself, reminding himself to stay rational. But her clear eyes and innocent smile always struck right at his softest spot.

“What am I even thinking?” he muttered with a self-mocking smile.

He knew his own condition—he shouldn’t have any improper thoughts about her. She needed someone she could depend on, while he just needed a wife in name to ease the situation.

Once he was sure he’d calmed down, he turned off the tap and opened the bathroom door—only to find a pair of slender, pale hands wrapping around his leg.

“Tingbai, do you hate Mianmian too? If you don’t like Mianmian, will you kick Mianmian out of the pretty house?”

Looking down at her clinging to his leg, a pang of sorrow hit him. He crouched, gently stroking her hair to soothe her.

“Mianmian, I don’t hate you,” his voice was soft and firm. “How could I ever hate you? You’ll always be a part of this family.”

She lifted her head, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Really? Tingbai won’t abandon Mianmian?”

His chest tightened at her fragility and fear. He nodded firmly.
“Really. Tingbai will never leave you. We’re family.”

Hearing exactly what she wanted, she smiled faintly—his guard had slipped. Still hugging his leg tightly, she pressed further.

“Then… does Tingbai like Mianmian?”