Chapter 92: Playing with Me

Grandmother walked ahead to lead the way. Chi Xiao glanced back and saw Ming Can and Miaomiao standing in front of that painting, talking about something instead of following along. He hesitated for a moment but decided to go with Grandmother first—he didn’t want to make the elderly woman walk back and forth for nothing.

“I love drinking black tea. Try this—it’s well-roasted Zhengyan Rougui, warming and nourishing.” Zhao Yanru personally poured a cup of tea for Chi Xiao. “Why aren’t Cancan and the others out yet?”

“Thank you, Grandma.” Chi Xiao accepted the teacup with both hands, took a sip, and said, “It smells wonderful.”

Zhao Yanru watched him with a smile. The more she looked at him, the more she felt that this child was honest and pure—not like the playboys who were steeped in wealth and indulgence.

Before long, Ming Can walked out, leading Miaomiao by the hand, and sat down beside Chi Xiao.

Seeing that she seemed a little dazed, Chi Xiao asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”

Ming Can picked up her cup of tea, feeling the warmth seeping through the porcelain into her palm. She leaned closer to him and whispered, “Miaomiao just told me… that the future me also took that painting away.”

Chi Xiao was stunned. It took him a while before he said, “A coincidence?”

“Maybe.” Ming Can said, “But there are dozens of paintings hanging here. How is it that she just happened to take that exact one?”

With the younger version of herself sitting right here, Chi Xiao didn’t need to guess what that future Ming Can was thinking—he could just ask her directly. “What do you think?”

Ming Can stared at the reddish-brown tea, her reflection shimmering on the surface. She gazed into her own eyes for a moment before softly saying, “I think… she must already know about what happened when she was little. And…”

“And what?”

“And… her feelings must be similar to mine right now. That’s why she wanted to take the painting.”

Chi Xiao blinked and asked, “How do you feel right now?”

“I…” Ming Can glanced at her grandmother, who was sitting across from them, watching their hushed conversation with a smile. Her face grew hot, and she stubbornly said, “I hate you.”

She downed her tea in one go, letting the warmth seep into her stomach, spreading through her whole body.

The relationship between her and Chi Xiao more than ten years later didn’t seem completely unsalvageable. Though, according to Miaomiao’s description, they were a rather distant couple, they were still husband and wife. As long as they didn’t separate, with enough time, they were bound to come together eventually.

Perhaps her future self taking that painting from her grandmother was the first sign of the ice beginning to thaw.

By midday, the rain had completely stopped.

Ming Can stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the lush greenery in the courtyard outside.

Zhao Yanru walked up beside her. “Why aren’t you going out to play with them?”

She gestured with her chin toward Chi Xiao and Miaomiao in the yard. The two of them were bent over under a camphor tree, seemingly studying something on the ground.

“They’re looking at bugs.” Ming Can said, expression speechless. “I’ll pass.”

Zhao Yanru chuckled and stood with Ming Can, watching the one big and one small figure outside.

She had only met Chi Xiao today, so it was too soon to make a firm judgment about his character. However, one thing was undeniable: “Xiao Chi is really good with kids.”

Hearing that, Ming Can smiled knowingly. “Right?”

The long, steady drizzle had only just stopped. Every leaf had become a tiny pond. Just as a gust of wind blew through, shaking those countless little ponds and sending droplets splattering down, Chi Xiao was quick-eyed and swift-handed—he covered Miaomiao’s head before the water could reach him.

The droplets instead splashed onto the back of his hand. He glanced up at the dense canopy above them, then quietly led Miaomiao to a more open space to play.

In the afternoon, the three of them prepared to leave. Zhao Yanru walked them all the way to where their car was parked.

Ming Can carried the painting in her arms, while Chi Xiao held the tea and snacks that Zhao Yanru had insistently given them. Since Miaomiao couldn’t hold his parents’ hands, he clung to his great-grandmother’s instead, chattering the whole way about their bug discoveries.

The more Zhao Yanru looked at this child, the more he resembled Ming Can when she was little. Perhaps all beautiful children looked alike in their early years. She didn’t think too much about it and simply told Miaomiao to visit whenever he had time.

“I’ll come often!” Standing by the car, Miaomiao waved goodbye. “Great-Grandma, you have to stay healthy and live to be 800 years old!”

Zhao Yanru burst into laughter. “Wouldn’t that make me an old goblin?”

She watched as the children got into the car and gradually disappeared into the lush mountain scenery. It was only then that she realized—Miaomiao had called her “Great-Grandma.”

For some reason, her first reaction was that the title felt… surprisingly fitting.

A while later, as she walked back home, she couldn’t resist pulling out her phone to check her reflection.

She wasn’t even seventy yet, and a five- or six-year-old was already calling her “Great-Grandma.” Looks like it’s time for another wrinkle treatment.

–

Ming Can’s biological clock was remarkably stable—she usually woke up before her alarm went off. When she had a particularly heavy workload the next day, she tended to wake up even earlier out of habit.

That morning, the sky was still dim. Half-awake, Ming Can slowly opened her eyes. With the curtains tightly drawn, it was hard to tell whether it was morning or night. She stared at the pitch-black ceiling and mentally ran through her schedule for the day—

Drop Miaomiao off at school at 7:30. Four classes starting at 8. Student council duties at noon. Two more classes in the afternoon. A meeting with the college youth league committee after that. In the evening, the first round of the entrepreneurship competition, where she had to give a presentation on stage. Then an elective course at night…

After going over her entire schedule, Ming Can was instantly wide awake. Any trace of drowsiness vanished.

She was lying on her side. As she shifted her shoulder slightly, she suddenly realized she was tightly hugging someone’s arm. Her legs were curled up, pinning his hand between them.

In the darkness, the man lay flat on his back, his breathing steady and even. Apart from his arm being held by her, the rest of his body maintained a certain distance.

It was like this again.

Ever since she let Chi Xiao move into the master bedroom, Ming Can woke up to this exact situation almost every morning.

She had heard from Miaomiao before that her dad didn’t like sleeping with others. Once he fell asleep, he became cold and unresponsive, never actively hugging anyone. Back then, Ming Can had thought that since Chi Xiao was the one who insisted on sleeping with her, he would at least be a little more affectionate. But to her surprise, he remained the same—every night, she was the only one clinging to him, as if hugging an indifferent corpse.

The alarm hadn’t gone off yet, so Ming Can wasn’t in a hurry to get up. Annoyed, she leaned in close to Chi Xiao’s ear and called out, “Hey, Chi.”

“……”

“Would it kill you to hug me?”

Chi Xiao’s eyelids twitched slightly—clearly, she had woken him up. After a moment, he let out a low, drowsy “Mmm.”

In the next instant, he pulled his arm from her embrace, reached around her waist, and suddenly yanked her against him, pressing her firmly against his chest.

Ming Can’s face was buried against his heart. Satisfied, she nuzzled into his firm chest muscles, the corners of her lips curling up. With her lips close to his heartbeat, she murmured softly, “I want hot milk for breakfast today… with a medium-rare steak. And make me a fruit and oatmeal yogurt cup—I’ll take it to school… Did you hear me?”

“…Mmm.”

She had said a whole sentence, and he only gave her one word in response. Ming Can seriously doubted whether he was actually listening. “Then repeat it back to me.”

“……”

All she got in return was the steady sound of his breathing.

“Hey!” She shoved him.

“…Mmm.”

“Mmm, what?”

In the dim light, Ming Can noticed that Chi Xiao had even tilted his head slightly away from her. This wasn’t just a case of being groggy from sleep—this was a full-blown case of morning grumpiness.

Unbelievable. Someone who had no temper at all during the day, who seemed indifferent to everything, was actually capable of giving the cold shoulder while asleep.

Ming Can was both amused and annoyed. She narrowed her eyes at his aloof, aggravating face, and a mischievous idea popped into her mind. Her hand, as smooth and sinuous as a water snake, slid downward—grasping him.

Almost instantly, Chi Xiao’s eyes snapped open.

His brows furrowed slightly, deep creases forming along his eyelids. Below them, a pair of dark, shadowed eyes locked onto her. In the dim, unlit room, they looked almost pitch-black—like the eyes of a nocturnal predator, catching its prey.

“Awake now?” Ming Can grinned triumphantly at him.

Chi Xiao took a deep breath, his voice hoarse. “Hot milk, medium-rare steak, fruit and oatmeal yogurt cup. I remembered every word you said.”

Ming Can froze for a second, then pouted. “Then why didn’t you say anything earlier? You were just ignoring me on purpose.”

Chi Xiao: “That’s not true.”

Now that he was fully awake, he wouldn’t even admit to having morning grumpiness. It wasn’t a big deal, really, but since Ming Can had already made a move, pulling back now would make it seem like she was just being unreasonable.

“In any case, your sleep companion service is seriously lacking.” Her face was burning, but she stubbornly suppressed her embarrassment. Giving him a deliberate squeeze, she teased, “Xiao Xiao (small) is much more obedient than you.”

She was about to let go when, unexpectedly, her wrist was caught in a firm grip, preventing her retreat. In the next moment, Chi Xiao shifted, turning toward her. His arm, which had been wrapped around her back, pressed her down securely. He lowered his head, brushing two kisses against her lips before murmuring in his husky voice, “Small?”

Ming Can’s heart pounded like a war drum. She quickly turned her face away, stubbornly retorting, “What else would I call it?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the long arm wrapped around her suddenly tightened further. His palm slid over, pressing against her heart, gathering her in completely.

In the next instant, something became even more outrageous. Ming Can’s mathematically inclined brain instinctively calculated the dimensions—it was, without a doubt, an imposing presence, like a dragon coiled in its lair, a tiger poised to strike.

It took every ounce of willpower she had not to bolt in panic. A glimmer of mischief surfaced at the corner of her eyes as she curled her fingers, taking control of the situation with deliberate nonchalance—handling it as if she were selecting fruit at a market.

Ragged breaths fell against her ear. The furrow in Chi Xiao’s brow deepened, his expression finally betraying a trace of uncontainable tension. He locked eyes with her, his voice low and strained. “Move faster.”

Ming Can let out a lazy “Oh,” thinking to herself that rushing through a selection only led to poor choices. So, she slowed down on purpose, her touch becoming even more unhurried and meticulous—like fluffing cotton, playing with it at her leisure.

Before long, a broad, burning-hot hand covered the back of hers, gripping tightly—guiding her, as if seizing the reins of a wild stallion, a beast untamed and prone to bucking. Only through sheer effort could he be subdued.

“Figured out how to play yet?” Chi Xiao’s voice was husky, carrying an almost amused self-objectification. “Isn’t this more fun?”

Ming Can kept her head down, face buried in his chest, momentarily unable to tell who was actually in control.

Shameless merchant, this was practically coercion under the guise of a deal.

…

Half the day had passed. In a lecture hall at B University, Ming Can sat among the competition participants, waiting for her turn to speak. Her gaze unconsciously dropped to her hand, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that her palm was still red. That faint flush of color seemed impossible to fade.

I’ve lost my mind.

Sitting in such a bright and dignified public setting, yet still thinking about that.

Ming Can patted her face. It was not out of embarrassment, but out of frustration. How could a man so shamelessly invade her mind like this? He had her completely in his grasp.

This morning, since she couldn’t stop recalling the sensation of playing with him, she decided to counteract it by giving Chi Xiao a new contact name.

Just then, her phone vibrated with a new message—

Not Fun: 【Are you coming home for dinner later?】

This name was ridiculously amusing…

Ming Can rubbed the corner of her lips, then typed a reply: 【You guys eat, I have class tonight.】

Not Fun: 【Okay.】

Not Fun: 【Good luck with the competition.】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【Just a small preliminary round, nothing to worry about.】

Setting her phone down, she waited for about ten more minutes before it was her team’s turn to present their project.

As the lead speaker, Ming Can stepped onto the stage in a tailored mint-green blazer dress that accentuated her slender, tall figure. The moment she appeared, countless eyes immediately locked onto her.

The “Advanced Industrial Manufacturing” track of the competition had many participating teams. The previous ten or so projects had relatively small scopes, but as soon as Ming Can’s team took the stage, they presented a case study involving a billion-yuan-level factory renovation. At first, the judges were overwhelmed, thinking it was just an exaggerated proposal. However, upon seeing the team’s proprietary technology patents and listening to Ming Can outline a highly detailed and forward-thinking development and financing plan for the company’s early stages, their attitudes shifted. This was far from a joke. Her project was more structured and professional than most companies in B University’s startup incubator. The judges immediately straightened in their seats, flipping through the business plan with newfound seriousness.

Meanwhile, in the farthest corner of the lecture hall’s back row, two tall men strolled in and took their seats leisurely.

“Aren’t we here to see Ming Can?” The older man spoke in a deep voice. “Why are we here instead?”

Chi Yanpeng followed Chi Xiao’s gaze toward the stage.

There, under the spotlight, stood a strikingly beautiful young woman. Yet, more than her looks, it was her presence that truly commanded attention. Unshakably confident, sharp, and composed. She spoke to the judges with impeccable logic and clarity, fearlessly presenting her project with a sense of purpose and strategic insight.

Chi Yanpeng had expected a more conventional meeting. That was a face-to-face meeting, in some quiet restaurant where they could sit down and talk.

Today, he had specifically set aside time to visit University Town, only to realize he had been tricked by this brat into sitting among hundreds of audience members, looking up at his so-called “future daughter-in-law” as she shone on stage.

“You might as well listen to her project,” Chi Xiao said casually. “It’s got real vision.”

Chi Yanpeng didn’t reply.

From the moment he stepped into the lecture hall, he had been listening. At first, he hadn’t even known who the young woman on stage was. He was simply drawn in by the boldness and ingenuity of her project.

Having weathered decades in the business world, Chi Yanpeng had a keen eye for startups. Most entrepreneurial ventures could succeed if they had at least one or two of three key elements: technology, resources, and business acumen. But Ming Can’s project was different. The costs were high across the board, demanding not just those three factors but also an extraordinary level of determination and patience from its founders. Only with all these elements aligned could the project have a real shot at success.

“A bit naive.” Chi Yanpeng gave his assessment. “But there are also some commendable aspects.”

“Where do you think it’s naive?” Chi Xiao asked.

“In many ways,” Chi Yanpeng said. “The main issue is that the initial investment will be huge. Where will the capital come from?”

“She has money of her own, plus support from the university and angel investments from other sources,” Chi Xiao said. “I’ll probably invest as well.”

Chi Yanpeng scoffed. “How much money do you have?”

“I don’t have much,” Chi Xiao said. “But I’ll do everything I can to help her.”

Hearing this, Chi Yanpeng suddenly fell silent.

He realized that Chi Xiao had brought him here today not just to show how outstanding Ming Can was, hoping he would withdraw the conditions he had set for their arranged marriage and allow Ming Can to develop her career freely. Chi Xiao also wanted to make it clear that he was not only supporting his girlfriend emotionally but would also do everything he could to support her business financially.

What was Chi Xiao’s status now? He was the undisputed heir of the Chi family, destined to inherit everything from Xingchi Group in the future. So when he said he would do everything he could to help her, he wasn’t just referring to the little money he had now. But he meant the entire Chi family’s resources that he would one day control.

As for Ming Can’s project, others might not see it, but after listening for so long, Chi Yanpeng gradually realized that her real goal might be to restructure the entire Ming family’s industrial system. From there, she could rise to compete with her uncles for the position of the Ming family’s leader.

“A bit interesting.” Chi Yanpeng stroked his chin, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips, but his eyes grew even deeper. “But why should I take this risk?”

If the marriage alliance went through and the Chi family stepped in to support Ming Can, it wouldn’t just be about helping her start a business, it would be an investment in her becoming the head of the Ming family. This would cost far more and carry much greater risks than his current business dealings with Ming Zheng.

After a pause, Chi Yanpeng continued, “Rather than investing in a nineteen-year-old girl to become the head of the Ming family, I’d rather force you to give up this marriage alliance.”