Chapter 51.1: Your dog is clever.

Qin Zhaoyi’s heart skipped a few beats.

Outside the window, the heavy rain, though habitual, had a rhythmic feel.

And inside the room, there was a woman as enchanting as a fairy, capturing her soul.

In the silence, Qin Zhaoyi’s hand fell on her waist.

She was so thin, even thinner than she appeared.

Qin Zhaoyi’s hand moved to her back, wanting to see her face, especially her eyes.

To see how genuine she was while saying these words.

Whether she just needed a temporary haven, or if she had other intentions when asking her to stay.

But she couldn’t see.

Luo Yue buried her face in her neck, her breath warm and close against her skin.

Seeping along her skin’s texture into her bloodstream, flowing throughout her body.

Making her whole body feel hot, the air seeming to be filled with the heat of midsummer.

Qin Zhaoyi felt a sourness in her heart, but didn’t know how to soothe Luo Yue’s emotions.

All she could do was comply.

“Okay.” Qin Zhaoyi willingly surrendered her soul. “We’ll sleep together.”

They hugged for a while in that position.

Qin Zhaoyi pinched her slender waist, not feeling any flesh, and frowned, “You need to eat more.”

“What?” Luo Yue said. “Already picking on my figure?”

Qin Zhaoyi shook her head. “I’ll like you no matter what. But…”

She hoped to say she wanted her to be healthy, but Luo Yue interrupted before she could finish, “Princess Qin~”

Tonight, whenever Luo Yue called her, there was a playful lilt, very coquettish, with an indescribable sweetness.

In the flirtation, there was a hint of seriousness.

“Do you know your words sound like you’re brushing me off?” Luo Yue toyed with her earlobe.

Making her fair earlobe blush red, like the sky stained by twilight.

“I’m not brushing you off,” Qin Zhaoyi said.

The closer she spoke, the nearer she got, almost pressing against the table.

Luo Yue’s legs were then spread apart.

A very ambiguous posture, yet very intimate.

Luo Yue stopped playing with her earlobe, slowly saying, “Who could like every side of you?”

The gentle tone hid a trace of disdain, “A person has so many facets; having someone like two or three is already something to be grateful for.”

Luo Yue’s fingers rested on the back of her neck, as if massaging a cat, her voice turning lazy, “What’s that saying again? Understanding is… I can’t remember.”

“Misunderstanding is the norm of life; understanding is the rare exception?” Qin Zhaoyi asked.

Luo Yue’s hand patted lightly on her neck, seeming pleased, “That’s it.”

Then she teased, “As expected of a great writer.”

“That saying isn’t mine,” Qin Zhaoyi said.

Luo Yue chuckled softly, “But I mentioned it, and you knew.”

The teasing made Qin Zhaoyi blush, yet she noticed Luo Yue’s mood was not as calm as usual.

Sometimes high, sometimes low.

Making it hard to grasp.

Qin Zhaoyi could only speak carefully, “Then how should I praise you? Great scholar?”

Luo Yue’s expression shifted slightly, then she sipped a laugh, “Then just call me ‘big teacher’.”

Qin Zhaoyi awkwardly laughed twice.

For a moment, not knowing what to say, she fell silent.

The atmosphere quieted, only the sound of the heavy rain outside could be heard.

The rain pounded violently, mixed with chaotic wind, shaking the branches furiously. By tomorrow, the ground might be covered with fallen leaves.

Or a poorly planted small tree might be blown down tonight.

Luo Yue also fell silent.

She had no mood for jokes, chatting along with Qin Zhaoyi, her mind in a haze, often her mouth moving faster than her thoughts, not reacting until after she had spoken.

In a low mood, smiling and joking had exhausted all her strength.

At this moment, she just wanted to curl up, curl up even more.

Isolate herself from the world.

After a long while, Qin Zhaoyi gently broke the silence, “Do you want to take a bath?”

“Hm?” Luo Yue’s wandering thoughts slowly returned, “Why take a bath?”

Her mind was still in a fog.

“To sleep,” Qin Zhaoyi said, “Or lie in bed and watch a movie.”

Luo Yue nodded, “Okay.”

Luo Yue was about to jump off the table when she found herself suspended in the air.

Qin Zhaoyi held her waist, lifting her up.

The sudden sensation of weightlessness made her instinctively wrap her arms around Qin Zhaoyi’s neck.

Qin Zhaoyi held her for a while before letting her down.

Luo Yue looked at her, “You’re quite strong.”

Qin Zhaoyi stood against the light, a few strands of hair still falling on her shoulder from their closeness earlier. She hadn’t exercised in a long time, so holding someone suddenly was a bit strenuous, but she still didn’t want to admit defeat, “I have core strength.”

Her words were somewhat forced, as her breath was unsteady, slightly panting.

Luo Yue didn’t expose her but instead coaxed, “Yes, impressive.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Clearly words of praise, yet they sounded a bit exaggerated.

Luo Yue teased, “Do you need me to praise you more? Princess Qin.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Her face flushed slightly, and she gave her a gentle push towards the bathroom, “No need, you go take a bath.”

Luo Yue’s face maintained a smile throughout, but it didn’t reach her eyes, “Alright.”

When she walked to the bathroom door, Qin Zhaoyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But unexpectedly, Luo Yue suddenly turned around and asked softly, “Princess Qin, are you going to take a bath?”

Without thinking, Qin Zhaoyi responded, “Yes.”

Although it was windy outside earlier, the heat was still stifling, making her feel uncomfortable. Naturally, she needed a bath.

Especially since she would be sharing a bed with Luo Yue tonight.

She didn’t realize what Luo Yue was planning.

She only heard Luo Yue continue, “Do you want to come in and bathe together? Princess.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

The breath she had just released immediately tightened again.

Countless intimate images flashed through Qin Zhaoyi’s mind in an instant.

While she hesitated, Luo Yue urged, “Hurry up.”

Qin Zhaoyi thought she was sincere and, seeing her eyes, couldn’t resist moving forward.

How could a mere human resist the temptation of the devil?

Impossible.

Tonight, Qin Zhaoyi was willing to be her willing captive.

Willing to be the devil’s offering.

But just as she approached, the bathroom door was pulled shut.

Through the glass door, Luo Yue’s voice was muffled, “Your thinking time is over; I’m going to bathe first.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Damn.

How did she miss the mischievous glint in her eyes just now?

Clearly, she was being teased.

Qin Zhaoyi stood at the bathroom door for a while, the sound of running water louder than the storm outside.

She didn’t feel embarrassed from Luo Yue’s teasing.

At first surprised, but after a while, she laughed.

Laughing at Luo Yue’s childishness.

But this childishness made her heart ache.

Qin Zhaoyi deliberately teased her, “Don’t you really want me to come in? I can help you scrub your back.”

Luo Yue, standing in the mist, could barely hear over the water flow, “What?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “I’m coming in.”

Luo Yue didn’t reply.

Qin Zhaoyi didn’t continue teasing, “You take your time.”

Luo Yue: “Okay.”

Qin Zhaoyi then walked to the bed, first taking out her phone to send her mother a message, asking if she had gotten home safely.

At that moment, Mrs. Qin had just arrived home, finding the flowers on the balcony drenched. Professor Qin, soaked from the rain, was moving her precious flowers inside.

The newly bloomed buds were knocked off by raindrops, and the plants were wilted.

It pained Mrs. Qin terribly.

These were seedlings she had specially ordered from a gardening friend abroad.

She squatted down to tend to the flowers, muttering, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have watched this excitement today. My precious flowers.”

Professor Qin, drenched like a stray dog, saw her fussing over the flowers instead of him.

His expression turned sour.

But Mrs. Qin didn’t notice, still wiping the wilted leaves with a tissue.

Professor Qin cleared his throat.

No response.

He coughed a few more times, and Mrs. Qin kept muttering.

Professor Qin’s eyes widened, taking off his glasses, glaring at her back like he wanted to bore a hole through it.

After a few more forceful coughs, Mrs. Qin finally turned, “Old Qin, move these flowers to the greenhouse.”

Professor Qin: “?”

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Qin finally noticed his state, “Why are you so drenched and coughing? I told you, spending all your time in the lab isn’t good for your health. You were only in the rain for a bit and look at you. From now on, you should jog in the park every morning for half an hour.”

Professor Qin: “…”

“Hurry up,” Mrs. Qin urged, “Move my precious flowers to the greenhouse, and I’ll get you a towel.”

Professor Qin was speechless, his anger rising.

However, he was sulking, letting Mrs. Qin nag without a word and not moving the flowers.

Mrs. Qin came back with a towel and, seeing the flowers still in the same place, stomped her foot in anger, “What are you doing? My precious flowers need careful care; if we delay any longer, they won’t survive.”

“Only your flowers are so delicate,” Professor Qin retorted.

Mrs. Qin paused, then looked at him, “Husband~”

Her tone instantly changed, “Please help me move them. I’ll make you some sweet soup.”

The corners of Professor Qin’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Fine.” Professor Qin hadn’t even completely dried the rain off his head. He tossed the towel aside, took off his soaked shirt, revealing an undershirt already clinging to him, yet he was full of energy. He stubbornly added, “Since you’re begging me, I’ll reluctantly help you.”

Mrs. Qin turned around, rolled her eyes, but her voice remained sweet, “Oh, thank you, husband.”

Professor Qin happily went to move the flowers, his actions swift and efficient.

Mrs. Qin glanced at him when he wasn’t looking, displaying an expression of complete control.

Little rascal.

After all these years, I still have you wrapped around my finger.

But she did genuinely worry he might catch a cold with his frail body, which would mean she’d have to take care of him. She fetched some clean clothes from the room and quickly went to prepare ginger sugar water.

She hadn’t checked her phone at all.

Naturally, she didn’t see the messages from Qin Zhaoyi.

Qin Zhaoyi, receiving no reply, felt uneasy, worried that the two might have had a real argument.

Her mom might appear gentle but was very stubborn at heart.

Her dad, even more so, a stubborn old man.

Qin Zhaoyi sent several messages, all unanswered.

She sent another to Professor Qin.

No response either.

Frustrated, she decided to call her mom.

The rain outside had lessened, the wind had weakened, the streets were empty, with only the flickering yellow streetlights swaying in the wind.

The heavy rain had cleared out the bustling city.

The phone rang for a long time, so long that Qin Zhaoyi thought no one would answer. She was already pacing to the door, ready to drive home to check.

Just as she was about to open the door, the call was answered.

Mrs. Qin’s voice was full of energy, “Zhao Zhao, what’s up?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back into her chest.

But after worrying for so long, her tone wasn’t the best, “What are you doing? Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“Making sweet soup,” Mrs. Qin answered honestly, “Your dad got wet moving the flowers and coughed a lot. I was worried he might catch a cold.”

“Did you two make up?” Qin Zhaoyi asked.

Mrs. Qin suddenly remembered the huge lie she had told earlier and coughed lightly, “Not really. Your dad came to find me at the bus stop in the rain. At our age, it’s not good to be seen pulling and tugging like that. People might think we’re acting out some romance drama in the rain. So, I came back with him.”

“Did he kneel?” Qin Zhaoyi asked.

Mrs. Qin had her phone on speaker, and just then, Professor Qin, having finished moving the flowers, walked out and gave his wife an indignant look upon hearing this.

She never knows when to keep her mouth shut.

When Qin Zhaoyi and he had a bad relationship, she always tried to be the mediator.

Now that the relationship had improved, she started causing trouble again.

Mrs. Qin, however, cheerfully replied, “He did. He’s kneeling now to move the flowers for me. You don’t know how perfect his kneeling posture is.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

She really believed her mom’s nonsense.

“Don’t listen to her nonsense,” Professor Qin couldn’t help but interject, “She begged me, so I reluctantly helped her.”

“Well,” Qin Zhaoyi couldn’t help but respond after not hearing Professor Qin’s voice for a long time, “helping your wife move flowers must be such a burden for you.”

Professor Qin: “…”

Such a sarcastic tone.

“Qin Zhaoyi,” Professor Qin gritted his teeth and called her by her full name.

Qin Zhaoyi, however, remained unfazed, responding lightly, “What is it?”

“You’re exactly like your mother,” Professor Qin accused angrily, “always so sarcastic.”

Qin Zhaoyi laughed, “What? Are you jealous because I don’t take after you? Do you want a paternity test?”

Professor Qin: “…”

If it weren’t for the resemblance, he might have actually believed it.

“You’ve really gone wild this time,” Professor Qin retorted sarcastically, “You’ve forgotten your own surname.”

“Right now, it’s Qin,” Qin Zhaoyi said, “but it could be Ren.”

Her mother’s surname was Ren.

When she was very young, she also used to be Ren.

“Please don’t.” Mrs. Qin once again acted as the mediator, “You two, father and daughter, can’t even talk on the phone without arguing? It’s not that big of a deal, no need to get so worked up.”

“I’m not trying to argue with him,” Qin Zhaoyi shifted all the blame to Professor Qin, “He can’t stand not scolding me.”

Professor Qin: “…”

“Haven’t had enough students to teach.” Qin Zhaoyi continued, “Even at home, you continue your educational endeavors.”

Professor Qin gritted his teeth, “Qin Zhaoyi, I should have cut off your tongue back then.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “Tsk, resorting to violence when you can’t win an argument? Is that how intellectuals handle things?”

Professor Qin: “…!”

He’s furious.

He can’t win an argument against his wife or his daughter.

Qin Zhaoyi, having gained the upper hand in the argument, smiled brightly and continued, “Dad, I know all about the good deed you did tonight. But remember, this house belongs to Mom and me too. So, the next time you tell Mom to get out, pack up your things and leave yourself. Getting older and starting to bully your wife, huh?”

“My daughter is the best.” Mrs. Qin chimed in happily, “My little cotton-padded jacket, always on my side.”

Professor Qin fumed, “You’re just an accomplice to your mother’s crimes!”

Mrs. Qin, seeing her husband’s face turning red with anger, quickly tried to save face for him, “Your dad has a tough exterior but a soft heart. He probably misses you a lot but just can’t admit it.”

“Really?” Qin Zhaoyi laughed softly.

Professor Qin immediately denied, “No, it’s not true.”

“Alright.” Qin Zhaoyi said, “I was planning to come back in a few days to check on things…”

“Don’t.” Mrs. Qin quickly interjected, “My precious daughter, even if he doesn’t miss you, I do. I haven’t seen you in a long time. I don’t know if you’re eating well or sleeping well. I dream about you every night.”

Professor Qin widened his eyes at his wife, who was lying without a second thought. He felt helpless.

Just last night before bed, she had said that it felt quite nice without Qin Zhaoyi in Jiayi, with nothing to worry about.

After hearing her mother’s sweet words, Qin Zhaoyi felt as if she was drenched in honey, her mood instantly brightening, “Then I’ll come back in a few days.”

“Great.” Mrs. Qin quickly asked, “Is there anything you want to eat? Steamed bass? Braised prawns? The bamboo shoots aren’t as fresh lately, but I could make your favorite braised bamboo shoots.”

“Anything is fine,” Qin Zhaoyi replied, “No need to go out of your way. I’m just coming home for a short visit.”

“But you still need to eat well.” Mrs. Qin paused and then cautiously probed, “Didn’t you say you were dating someone? Are you bringing them home for us to meet? Your dad and I want to see.”

“I’m not,” Qin Zhaoyi muttered, “Haven’t caught up to her yet.”