Chapter 36: Husband

Early the next morning, while the sky was still dimly lit, Chi Xiao was woken up by a small, wriggling figure in the bed.

Since childhood, Chi Xiao had always slept alone. His bed, aside from pillows and blankets, never had any extra items. He was used to having an empty space beside him, so when something soft and warm suddenly pressed against his arm, he was startled. The little figure quickly and nimbly climbed forward, small hands grabbing at his chest, knees pressing against his stomach, and then rolling freely on top of him. Chi Xiao, extremely unaccustomed to this, raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and opened his eyes to see a little black head poking out from his chest. A fair, round face looked up at him excitedly and called out, “Dad, time to get up!”

Chi Xiao covered his forehead with his hand, closed his eyes, and let out a resigned “Mm.”

After that, there was no further response.

“Dad’s being lazy!” Miaomiao threw off the blanket and climbed to the edge of the bed. “I still prefer sleeping with Mom.”

Chi Xiao slightly opened his eyes, his voice hoarse. “Why?”

“Mom hugs me when she sleeps, sometimes so tight I can’t even breathe,” Miaomiao complained, looking at Chi Xiao. “You don’t even pay attention to me when you sleep.”

Miaomiao didn’t often get the chance to sleep in the same bed with both his parents, and every time he did, he was thrilled and wanted to snuggle up to them. Ming Can liked to hold something while she slept, and if Miaomiao was there, she would have a warm little human pillow. Chi Xiao, on the other hand, slept stiffly, almost like a corpse. If someone got too close, he would instinctively move away, and even in his sleep, he exuded an air of aloof impatience.

Miaomiao jumped off the bed, slipped his feet into his slippers, and seemed about to run out of the bedroom.

Chi Xiao: “Come back.”

He lazily propped himself up, ran a hand through his hair, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

Miaomiao looked up as his dad got out of bed, yawning and reaching out to pat his head, then firmly guiding him toward the bathroom. “Get yourself ready before you go out.”

By the time the father and son stepped out of the room, Ming Can was already fully dressed, wearing light makeup, and looking impeccable from head to toe. She was sitting in the living room, waiting for them.

She was wearing a sky-blue ski suit. When she looked up and saw Chi Xiao and Miaomiao, her gaze paused for a moment.

All three of them were dressed in shades of blue today.

Miaomiao was in a striking and stylish Klein blue outfit, while Chi Xiao’s ski suit was a light gray-blue, smooth and crisp with clean lines. The two of them walking out together created a strong visual impact, as if they were about to shoot for a fashion magazine.

Ming Can quickly averted her gaze, momentarily forgetting her usual nitpicking about how Chi Xiao had handled Miaomiao’s morning routine. She stood up from the sofa and said, “I’ve already bought breakfast. It’s downstairs. Let’s eat and then head out.”

Miaomiao’s lesson today started at 8 a.m. The first two hours were indoors, where he would learn theory, warm up, and practice some basic movements. At 10 a.m., they would head outside for actual skiing.

At exactly 8 a.m., Miaomiao walked into the classroom, temporarily saying goodbye to his parents.

His coach was a strong, round-faced man with a beaming smile.

The coach greeted Miaomiao warmly, took his hand, and led him to his seat.

Miaomiao looked obedient, but secretly activated his superpower in his mind, eavesdropping on the coach’s thoughts.

The coach, who appeared energetic on the surface, had a very gloomy inner voice:

[Off work, off work, off work. Why can’t I just lie down and make money?]

Miaomiao: “…”

What a strange uncle. Thinking about getting off work at 8 a.m.? Wouldn’t that mean he’d be thinking about it all day?

–

At the foot of the mountain, outside the ski lodge.

Ming Can and Chi Xiao were already fully equipped with their ski gear—helmets, goggles, ski boots, and skis. Chi Xiao had an extra backpack compared to Ming Can, containing a water bottle, a camera, and some children’s items. Two black backpack straps crossed his chest and waist, lightly cinching him, adding a touch of restraint to his appearance.

Ming Can was on double skis, holding two ski poles, while Chi Xiao, like Miaomiao, was on a snowboard. He had one foot on the board and used the other to push off the ground, gliding slowly beside Ming Can.

It was just past 8 a.m., and Miaomiao wouldn’t be out skiing until 10 a.m. When the time came, the coach would take the kids up to the top of the beginner’s slope via the gondola, where parents could accompany their children to practice skiing.

For these two hours, with Miaomiao not around, Ming Can had no idea what to say to the guy beside her.

In silence, the two of them tacitly headed toward the beginner’s slope, deciding to casually ski around while waiting for Miaomiao to come out.

Ming Can stepped onto her skis and walked step by step to the start of the magic carpet.

Chi Xiao slowed down a bit, following behind her, letting her go first.

Ming Can glanced back at him, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing. “Do you think I’m going to fall?”

Was he staying behind her on purpose so he could catch her if she slipped?

Chi Xiao looked at her indifferently and said flatly, “No.”

Ming Can: “Then why are you letting me go first?”

Chi Xiao: “I’m afraid I’ll fall. If I’m in front, I might take you down with me.”

Ming Can: “…”

That’s a fair point—he should definitely stand behind.

Ming Can’s lips twitched as she suppressed a laugh. She stepped onto the magic carpet with ease, standing steady and firm.

Chi Xiao followed closely behind her.

The magic carpet carried them slowly upward. Ming Can, feeling bored, pulled out her phone and snapped a few photos of the scenery. After a while, she switched to selfie mode and admired her flawless face.

By chance, she caught a glimpse of the person behind her in the frame. He was tilting his head, gazing at the snow ahead. His goggles were pushed up on his forehead, revealing a sharp profile. His features were deep and cold, as if carved by a precise blade, with strikingly defined angles.

Ming Can’s gaze lingered on the phone screen for a second or two.

The freezing cold had numbed her fingers after she took off her gloves to use her phone. A gust of wind made her hand tremble, and she accidentally pressed the volume button.

A soft click sounded.

The man on the right side of the screen happened to glance over at that moment, and the image froze.

Ming Can nearly dropped her phone in panic, quickly shoving it back into her pocket.

The magic carpet was nearing the top. She put her gloves back on, lightly tapped her ski poles on the carpet, and said to the guy behind her in a neutral tone, “Let’s each do our own thing. We’ll meet back here at 9:50.”

Chi Xiao looked down at her, didn’t open his mouth, and let out a perfunctory “Mm.”

As soon as she stepped off the magic carpet, Ming Can used her ski poles to push herself forward, gliding slowly toward an open area.

She skied once or twice a year, so she wasn’t a complete beginner, but she wasn’t an expert either.

Even though Ming Can was strong-willed, she had to admit there were things she wasn’t good at. For example, when it came to sports, she simply didn’t have much natural talent. She had tried various sports growing up, and the only one she was somewhat decent at was basketball.

From her brief observation earlier, Ming Can guessed that Chi Xiao was probably very good at skiing.

Not just skiing. Miaomiao, despite being young, was the fastest runner in his class. A few days ago, when she took him to a fencing lesson, the teacher also said he picked it up very quickly—clearly, this athletic talent wasn’t inherited from her.

The beginner’s slope was gentle, and Ming Can’s skill level was more than enough for it. However, it had been a year since she last skied, so she needed some time to readjust and get a feel for it again. They say skiing skills are honed through falls, and while Ming Can wasn’t afraid of falling, she absolutely didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Chi Xiao. That’s why she immediately suggested they go their separate ways, putting some distance between them. Once she got the hang of it and was less likely to make a fool of herself, if they happened to cross paths, they could ski together then.

That was Ming Can’s plan.

After all, skiing alone the whole time wouldn’t be much fun. She was quite curious to see how a pro handled the slopes.

The beginner’s slope was incredibly long. Ming Can skied for a while and still couldn’t see the bottom. She fell two or three times along the way, and by the time she started getting the hang of it, her arms and legs were already sore and stiff.

She found a less crowded spot to stand and rest for a bit, taking off her goggles and squinting as she looked around.

Most people were bundled up so tightly that only half their faces were visible, so in theory, it should have been hard to spot anyone. But Ming Can immediately caught sight of Chi Xiao. He was tall and stood out like a crane among the crowd. Even in his bulky ski suit, he looked strikingly handsome.

On the slopes, even the most beautiful people could blend in when wrapped in thick clothing, but tall, well-built guys like Chi Xiao always drew attention. Every move he made was eye-catching, and it wasn’t just Ming Can whose gaze lingered on him.

At that moment, Chi Xiao was being stopped by two girls who were trying to strike up a conversation.

Ming Can twitched the corner of her mouth, looked away, and lightly tapped her ski poles on the snow, gliding off.

It seemed she and Chi Xiao weren’t destined to ski together today.

She leisurely made her way down to the base of the mountain and found a spot to sit. About ten minutes later, Chi Xiao arrived, running late.

He had already taken off his skis, carrying the long board in one hand as he strode over to where Ming Can was sitting with his long legs.

“Why are you so slow?” Ming Can asked casually.

Chi Xiao sighed in exasperation.

The beginner’s slope was too gentle, and Ming Can had been skiing too slowly in front of him. To control his speed and keep up with her, he had to zigzag back and forth. Because he was skiing as leisurely as if he were out for a stroll, he looked like he had nothing better to do. As a result, he got approached four times. The last one was an auntie who offered him a five-figure hourly rate to be her coach. When he turned to leave, she persistently asked if he was unhappy with the price. It was truly exhausting.

“Ran into some trouble,” Chi Xiao summarized.

Ming Can nodded lazily and didn’t press further.

“Still skiing?” Chi Xiao asked her.

“Not for now,” Ming Can replied, glancing at her phone. “It’s about time to go up and watch Miaomiao’s lesson.”

The ski slope was long, and the magic carpet moved slowly. They had timed their departure just right.

By the time they returned to the top of the beginner’s slope, several parents were already gathered around the children’s learning area, waiting to see their little ones make their grand appearance after the indoor lesson.

Today, there were ten kids learning to ski alongside Miaomiao, with some in 1-on-1, 1-on-2, and 1-on-3 lessons. Naturally, Ming Can had signed Miaomiao up for the most expensive 1-on-1 course.

Ming Can was still on her skis, taking one step at a time as she made her way to the front.

Next to her stood a young mother in her early thirties. With nothing better to do, she struck up a conversation with Ming Can: “How long has your child been learning?”

Ming Can wasn’t sure exactly how long Miaomiao had been skiing. He had said he thought he was pretty good, so Ming Can had skipped the beginner’s class and signed him up for this advanced class instead. The coach would tailor the lessons based on each child’s specific skill level.

“I don’t remember,” Ming Can replied casually.

“You don’t remember?” The woman was surprised, then added boastfully, “My Yuan Yuan has been learning for a year now. His previous coaches all said he’s very talented.”

Ming Can smiled, unimpressed internally but diplomatically said, “That’s really impressive.”

The woman found Ming Can’s voice crisp and clear, almost too young-sounding, but her demeanor and conversation didn’t come across as inexperienced. She carried herself like a parent, so the woman didn’t think much of it.

A few minutes later, a gondola slowly approached from the distance, coming to a stop on a flat patch of snow.

The parents, who had been waiting eagerly, immediately surged forward. Not wanting to fall behind, Ming Can clomped ahead on her skis, leading the charge.

The mother of Yuan Yuan, also on skis, wobbled alongside her. When they came to a stop, Yuan Yuan’s mom lost her balance and bumped into Ming Can. Ming Can momentarily lost her footing too, but the person standing on her other side reacted quickly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. With a gentle but firm touch, he steadied her and set her back upright on the snow.

“Thanks,” Ming Can muttered softly.

By now, Yuan Yuan’s mom had also straightened up, standing arm-to-arm with Ming Can. She glanced up at the person who had just steadied Ming Can, her brightly painted lips parting slightly in surprise. She quickly leaned in close to Ming Can’s ear and whispered, “Your husband is so tall.”

…

Husband…  

What husband?!  

The entire mountain seemed to fall silent at that moment.  

Ming Can’s eyelids twitched violently, and she immediately retorted with agitation, “He’s not my husband. We’re the kid’s older brother and sister.”  

Yuan Yuan’s mom was stunned, her gaze shifting between Ming Can and Chi Xiao’s faces.  

They did look too young, more like students who hadn’t graduated yet, not like parents who had already started a family.  

The girl had snow-white skin, red lips, and eyes as bright as stars, possessing a beauty that was breathtaking at first glance. The guy next to her was still wearing his goggles, revealing only his cold, pale skin and sharp, well-defined jawline. Even with just half his face visible, he was outrageously handsome. No matter how Yuan Yuan’s mom looked at it, she felt their looks complemented each other perfectly, though they didn’t resemble each other.  

“You’re siblings?” Yuan Yuan’s mom asked suspiciously. “You don’t look alike.”  

“Uh… we don’t?”  

Ming Can wasn’t sure how to explain. It would feel strange now to stick to their original plan and say Chi Xiao was her suitor.  

Siblings it is, then. After all, they were just strangers passing by. Let them think whatever they wanted.  

As long as they didn’t mistake Chi Xiao for her husband.  

The gondola had come to a stop, and the coaches began leading the children, all dressed in ski gear, out one by one.  

Ming Can steadied herself, her cheeks inexplicably warm. She turned slightly, avoiding eye contact with Chi Xiao, and instead focused on the black straps across his chest. In a low voice, she said, “Senior, we…”  

But before she could finish, she felt a large hand land on her head. Through the helmet, it gently shook her head.  

“Enough with the ‘senior,’” Chi Xiao said, leaning down. His black goggles obscured his gaze, but the corner of his lips curled up slightly as he corrected her with a straight face, “Call me gege (older brother).”