Chapter 30: Embrace

Ming Can had opened the floor-to-ceiling window to let in some air, hoping to calm her chaotic thoughts. However, both the sudden intrusion of cold air and the words spoken by the person in front of her only made her mind more muddled. She stood frozen in place, momentarily confused.

“Why?”

Ming Can instinctively asked, replaying Chi Xiao’s words in her mind. They didn’t sound like his usual detached and distant tone. On the contrary, his voice had been short, forceful, and almost commanding.

And wait—had he just frowned at her?

Ming Can: “Are you ordering me around?”

Chi Xiao was puzzled by how she had reached this conclusion, but after a moment, he could somewhat understand. The two sentences he had blurted out earlier were indeed not under the control of his rational mind. Perhaps his tone had been too sharp.

“No,” Chi Xiao said, reaching out to close the window completely, sealing off the gap. The sharp noise of the cold wind rushing in disappeared, and silence returned.

He took a moment to adjust his breathing, his gaze settling on Ming Can’s face through his distinct, long lashes. He spoke calmly, “I just thought that, with Miaomiao now in our lives, we’ll need to spend a lot of energy taking care of him. And his presence, to some extent, foreshadows your future… marital life. So, I don’t think it’s necessary for you to waste time and energy on something that’s unlikely to lead anywhere.”

After learning that the family intended to arrange a marriage between Ming Can and Chi Yao, Chi Xiao had thought a lot about it.

Miaomiao’s existence made him believe that he and Ming Can would most likely become husband and wife in the future, and that the arranged marriage would be with him, not Chi Yao.

So, how did this marriage end up falling to him? Did the family reconsider and switch the candidate from Chi Yao to him, or did he, dissatisfied with the elders’ decision, fight for it himself?

Based on the current situation, his uncle favored the Ming family, while his father was determined to form an alliance with his old friend’s family, the Chus. The marriage plans of the two decision-makers seemed like parallel lines, showing no signs of intersecting. Therefore, Chi Xiao believed that the possibility of him fighting for the marriage with Ming Can was far greater than it being a family arrangement.

Ever since his confession to Ming Can in his second year of high school, which she had harshly rejected, Chi Xiao had kept his distance from her for a long time. He no longer actively sought her out or fantasized about winning her favor.

After being clearly rejected, it’s basic courtesy for a pursuer to step back and not become a nuisance. Chi Xiao had thought the same—life is long, and perhaps one day he would move on, each living their own lives in peace.

But if an unexpected development appeared in the future—like suddenly learning that the Ming and Chi families were arranging a marriage between Ming Can and Chi Yao, and that Ming Can didn’t like her fiancé Chi Yao either—there was no doubt that Chi Xiao, no matter which version of him, would inevitably think:

If she doesn’t like him anyway, then why can’t the fiancé be me instead of Chi Yao?

Once this thought took root, it would spread like the deadliest poison, uncontrollably coursing through his veins and consuming his every thought.

Chi Xiao believed he had a rough idea of how the future would unfold—

He, disregarding brotherly bonds, would fight against his own family, seize the marriage that should have belonged to Chi Yao, and become Ming Can’s husband, fathering a child with her.

Even if he didn’t want to admit it, even if he had always valued brotherhood deeply, the demonic whisper from the deepest part of his heart was even louder. He wanted to be with Ming Can, and this desire surpassed everything else in his heart.

As for now.

Miaomiao had arrived early in his and Ming Can’s lives, like a reassurance pill from the future. Chi Xiao was even more certain that he had to walk this path.

He couldn’t say these things directly to Ming Can. They were only around twenty years old, with further studies ahead of them. Marriage was a distant future. Moreover, his plans didn’t matter to Ming Can. Even with Miaomiao here, she only wanted to keep their relationship professional, drawing clear boundaries in all other aspects. She even said the future was uncertain, and they might not end up together.

A woman who rejected intimate relationships and kept men at arm’s length—telling her you wanted to marry her would only annoy her, nothing more.

His thoughts would remain buried deep in his heart, something he would act on alone. He just hoped she wouldn’t attend that ridiculous banquet next week or go on that ridiculous blind date.

“I already know all this. Why are you telling me?” Ming Can replied coolly.

Human rebelliousness sometimes arises without reason. The prouder someone is, the more prone they are to rebellion. Things one already knows, when pointed out by someone else, can easily provoke a reaction like, Do you think I don’t know? Who do you think you’re looking down on?

Ming Can’s pride was well-known. If Chi Xiao hadn’t suddenly blurted out “Don’t go,” she would have told him she planned to refuse the invitation. His urgent attempt to stop her made it seem like he thought she was the type of woman who would neglect her child and mess around with other men.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Their thoughts were completely misaligned. Chi Xiao tried to accommodate her: “I was just suggesting.”

Ming Can: “Alright, then let me give you a suggestion too. Before you try to manage others, manage yourself first. I have an arranged marriage, but don’t you have one too?”

“…” Chi Xiao was momentarily speechless, his brow furrowing slightly as he replied in a low voice, “I will never accept a marriage arranged by my family.”

Ming Can was stunned by his resolute response, not expecting him to speak so firmly.

Ming Can didn’t like arranged marriages either. Who would want to tie their entire life to family interests? But she also didn’t have a sweetheart, and perhaps never would. Since she might never experience love, if her family insisted on her entering an arranged marriage, she would consider it. That’s why she had reluctantly attended the Xinghe Bay 10th Anniversary Celebration and gone on the blind date with Chi Yao.

Chi Xiao’s words made Ming Can unconsciously think about their future.

Weren’t they also together because of an arranged marriage?

Saying he would never accept a family-arranged marriage was just a way of being picky about the marriage partner. If he didn’t like Chu Zhiyu, he would refuse, but if he liked Ming Can, he would accept. Who couldn’t understand that logic?

Ming Can had figured it out in her mind, but surprisingly, her sharp tongue didn’t retort. Instead, she looked up at the young man in front of her. Though much shorter, her presence was no less imposing, like a proud and elegant swan. Her lips curled slightly, and her earlier anger dissipated. For once, she took a step back and said calmly, “I wasn’t planning to go to that banquet anyway. I’ll find a way to refuse.”

Chi Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay.”

Earlier, he had been on his way to visit Miaomiao’s bedroom when Ming Can called him over. Now that the conversation was over, Chi Xiao turned and walked back toward the living area.

Ming Can, wearing her fluffy peach-colored slippers, followed behind him.

The living area was located at the far end of the flat, with the study at the front, followed by a small suite, a large suite, and two guest bedrooms.

The hallway connecting the living area had warmer, gentler lighting compared to the living room. As Chi Xiao reached the boundary between the two areas, he suddenly paused, as if struck by a thought.

Ming Can, used to taking quick, small steps in her slippers, didn’t notice in time and failed to brake, crashing into Chi Xiao’s broad back.

She let out a soft “Uh!” and instinctively took a step back. As her body leaned backward, a long, lean arm wrapped around her waist, a large hand pressing against the soft curve of her lower back, pulling her forward into a firm, warm embrace.

Ming Can felt her vision darken as Chi Xiao’s chest and shoulders, clad in a black sweater, nearly brushed against her face. Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, feeling the warmth and firmness of his muscles.

When she looked up, she saw the smooth lines of his neck. As her eyelids fluttered, her lashes almost grazed the sharp, prominent Adam’s apple.

Right before her eyes, that beautifully shaped Adam’s apple bobbed awkwardly.

It took Ming Can a moment to react before she pushed him away. “I… I can stand on my own.”

Chi Xiao: “Sorry.”

Ming Can: “Why did you stop so suddenly?”

Chi Xiao turned slightly, the hand that had been on her waist now naturally raised to rub his slightly warm earlobe. “I wanted you to lead the way.”

After all, this was her home, and the living area was the most private space. It would be impolite for him, a guy, to barge in ahead of her.

Ming Can guessed his concerns and couldn’t help but grumble inwardly:

If you’re so polite and considerate, why did you just grab me like that?

The warmth of Chi Xiao’s touch seemed to linger on her palm. She bit her lip slightly, her chest rising and falling more rapidly as she strode ahead, leading the way with a visibly irritated expression.

She had always hated sudden closeness or touch from the opposite sex, but today, it was as if her mind had slowed down. Even now, she hadn’t remembered to get angry, just feeling a bit impatient and eager to push away everything that had just happened.

Leading Chi Xiao to Miaomiao’s bedroom, they entered a small suite—bright and spacious, with a child’s study and bathroom attached. To the left of the door was a light blue fabric sofa, where Miaomiao lay, hugging a plush puppy… fast asleep.

Ming Can: “…”

Chi Xiao: “…”

It wasn’t even 8 PM yet. How could this kid sleep so much?

In the depths of winter, it wasn’t too bad if a child skipped a bath for a day. Ming Can and Chi Xiao helped him out of his clothes, wiped his face and body clean with a towel, changed him into pajamas, and tucked him into bed, officially sending him off to dreamland.

Before Chi Xiao left, Ming Can briefed him on the plans for the next few days.

“The winter break schedule is a bit scattered, so I’ll just go over the next three days,” Ming Can said. “Auntie Zhang will still be here tomorrow, so I won’t need your help. The day after tomorrow, I’ll be here in the morning, but in the afternoon, I have an orchestra rehearsal. During that time, I’ll need you to come over and take care of Miaomiao until I get back. The day after that, I plan to take Miaomiao to a trial fencing class. You don’t need to worry about that—the fencing class is held at his elementary school, so we can just walk there.”

Chi Xiao: “So, for the next three days, I only need to come over the afternoon of the day after tomorrow to take care of Miaomiao?”

Ming Can: “Yes.”

Given how terrible Chi Xiao’s cooking was, Ming Can had to reconsider whether she should subject Miaomiao to his culinary experiments.

“I’ll also need to sign Miaomiao up for other interest classes. I haven’t fully figured that out yet, so I’ll let you know later,” Ming Can said. “I’m not sure what your plans are for this winter break. When are you free, and when are you busy?”

Chi Xiao didn’t hesitate: “I’m free the whole time.”

Ming Can was stunned. “You’re a junior (third-year university student). Don’t you have internships or research projects during the break?”

Chi Xiao explained his situation in detail: “For research, I’ve been working on projects with a graduate student. That doesn’t stop during breaks. As for internships, I’ve been working at StarTech’s research institute since graduating high school, learning and participating in R&D. Also, I didn’t join any study-abroad programs this winter break, but I might go abroad for a month or two this summer.”

As for longer-term plans, like after graduation, he didn’t mention them to Ming Can yet.

There were two paths: studying abroad or staying for a master’s program. Chi Xiao had originally leaned toward studying abroad, but now he had changed his mind. With Miaomiao here, he would choose to stay for the master’s program. In truth, there wasn’t a clear advantage to either path. The reason he had preferred studying abroad before was that it would allow him to occasionally see his mother. But now, compared to his mother, who had been distant and not particularly loving throughout his life, Miaomiao—and Miaomiao’s mom—seemed more important to him.

After finishing the discussion, the two said their goodbyes.

Once outside, the biting cold wind enveloped him from all directions. Chi Xiao thought about the next three days. Ming Can would only need him when she was busy, so would they always be alternating like this in the future? Would they rarely need to interact?

As he approached his parking spot, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he answered immediately.

“Hello, Chi Xiao? The wind noise is really loud on your end. Can you hear me?”

Chi Xiao quickly walked to his car door but stopped just as he was about to open it. Instead, he turned and leaned back against the car, his long legs propped at an angle, letting the cold wind whip around him, making him feel both clear-headed and nervous. “Brother Yang, I can hear you. Go ahead.”

The caller was a neighbor Chi Xiao had known since childhood, a graduate of A University who now worked at a private genetic research institute. The institute occasionally handled paternity tests.

Earlier that afternoon, Chi Xiao had gone to the institute with two DNA samples, asking for a “strictly confidential” and “as fast as possible” analysis.

Brother Yang, aware of Chi Xiao’s family background—his father being one of the top three wealthiest men in Beicheng—immediately conjured up a dramatic scenario of a wealthy family’s legitimate son and illegitimate son fighting over inheritance. When the test results showed both samples were male, he became even more convinced of his theory. One sample was likely from Chi Xiao’s father, and the other from some random kid claiming to be his child…

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Brother Yang worked overtime to complete the test and called Chi Xiao as soon as he had the results.

“Normally, paternity tests require at least three testers and multiple rounds of testing to produce a report, which takes at least three days. I know you’re in a hurry, so I’ll just tell you what I’ve found.”

Chi Xiao took a deep breath of the biting cold air. “Go ahead.”

“Well…” Brother Yang sighed apologetically. “I really wish I could tell you they’re not father and son…”

…

For a moment, Chi Xiao felt as if all his senses had vanished, as if he were trapped in a vacuum, and he was nothing but a huge joke from the inside out.

Brother Yang paused briefly before continuing, “But unfortunately, the samples show they are biological father and son. The probability of them not being parent-child relationship is extremely low.”

“…” Chi Xiao was abruptly yanked out of the vacuum by some strange force. The howling wind roared like thunder in his ears. He gritted his teeth and, in a rare moment, cursed. “Damn it, can’t you just say it in one sentence?”

Brother Yang, who had known Chi Xiao for years, was hearing him swear for the first time.

This paternity test result had clearly hit him hard!