Chapter 9

Yu Xuanwei actually came to sleep, as he said he would.

After sending the third child back upstairs, he returned to the ground floor half an hour later. He didn’t bother knocking, just turned the doorknob of Wu Qingluan’s room.

Fortunately, Wu Qingluan was prepared. She had already changed into a conservative two-piece pajama set and was sitting on the bed, playing a game on her handheld console.

Seeing Yu Xuanwei enter, Wu Qingluan remained silent, shifting to the side of the bed and keeping her gaze fixed on her game.

As she moved, her phone, which had been on the edge of the bed and about to fall, finally tumbled to the floor, immediately vibrating incessantly upon impact.

Wu Qingluan heard her phone ringing but couldn’t be bothered to answer. She was a free person now, and her only relative, Grandma Zhou, was sound asleep next door. Who would be so rude as to disturb someone’s rest in the middle of the night? Ignoring!

Yu Xuanwei picked up the phone for her and handed it over. “Someone’s calling.”

Wu Qingluan continued to stare at her handheld console screen. “Don’t answer. We can talk when it’s daylight.”

The phone continued to vibrate, with a determined persistence.

Wu Qingluan sighed, setting aside her handheld console, and took the phone from Yu Xuanwei.

Her fingertips lightly brushed against Yu Xuanwei’s palm, causing him to react briefly. He grabbed her wrist but quickly released it.

Yu Xuanwei’s palm was warm, and Wu Qingluan felt a slight burn.

Yu Xuanwei got up and headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind him to take a shower.

Wu Qingluan watched the bathroom door with suspicion. She finally answered the phone, “What’s up, Brother Guo?”

Brother Guo’s loud voice came through, “Impressive, Wu Qingluan. You stopped answering my calls as soon as you left the entertainment industry. You’re on fire!”

Wu Qingluan forced a smile, “I didn’t have my phone with me. I just heard it ringing.”

Brother Guo hesitated for a moment, and there was a hint of envy in his tone, “I wish I could have a few days without being enslaved by my phone too.”

“You’re a busy person, unlike me, a laid-back individual. Do you have any plans?”

“This isn’t still the farewell banquet you owe me, right? Mr. Yang asked me to check when you’re available.”

“I’m available any day. You decide on the location. Thanks to Mr. Yang and thanks to you!”

Brother Guo was straightforward, “How about this weekend? I have some free time this week, but next week, I need to accompany Yan Xiaoyu for his project. That kid isn’t very disciplined, and I have to keep an eye on him.”

“Sure, just send me the time and location, and I’ll be there in advance.”

After ending the call, Brother Guo sent her the details via WeChat.

Wu Qingluan checked the information and saw that it was at a super luxury beachfront hotel in Qiongzhou. Wow, the company was being so generous this time!

Wu Qingluan replied to Brother Guo and, in the meantime, booked her flight tickets to Qiongzhou. After completing the booking, she realized that she was now responsible for looking after the children and couldn’t just leave.

Yu Xuanwei emerged from the bathroom, with only a towel wrapped around his waist, while he was drying his hair. He exposed his strong and fit body. Wu Qingluan’s gaze drifted toward him, and she couldn’t bring herself to look away.

My, what a perfect physique! Look at those well-defined muscles, those neatly arranged six-pack abs, and those long, powerful legs…

This guy looks so enticing without his Daoist robe!

Yu Xuanwei finished drying his hair and turned his head slightly to look at Wu Qingluan. “Is there something you need?”

Wu Qingluan raised her hand to pat her face, making sure she didn’t have a nosebleed. She then gestured vehemently, “Why aren’t you wearing any clothes?!”

Yu Xuanwei glanced down at her and calmly replied, “My change of clothes is upstairs. I’m heading there now.”

Wu Qingluan watched him as he walked away and couldn’t help but follow him upstairs. She explained the situation about her upcoming gathering and said, “…my grandmother is getting old, and she can’t handle three children on her own. Could you please stay at home over the weekend?”

Wu Qingluan felt frustrated because Yu Xuanwei was the one who should be taking care of the children. It seemed like she was pleading with him, which was infuriating.

“Are you planning to stay out overnight?” Yu Xuanwei questioned her, his captivating phoenix eyes showing a hint of coldness. It felt as if Wu Qingluan had committed an unforgivable crime.

Wu Qingluan thought about the 40 million yuan debt she still owed. She reluctantly said, “If you really can’t make it, I can hire someone to take care of them for two days, but I need to inform you about it.”

Yu Xuanwei nodded without saying another word.

Wu Qingluan was getting more and more annoyed. Did he really think so highly of himself?

Yu Xuanwei glanced at Wu Qingluan again, and she was still standing at the door, sulking, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes filled with discontent.

Yu Xuanwei turned away and untied the towel wrapped around his waist.

Wu Qingluan watched the sudden “exposure” in front of her and let out a scream. She forcefully slammed the door shut.

“Shameless!” Wu Qingluan shouted from behind the closed door. She thought she heard a light chuckle from inside.

Wu Qingluan lay back on the bed, pounded her pillow a few times, and angrily closed her eyes.

The next morning, Wu Qingluan was awakened by Yu Xuanwei. She hadn’t expected to sleep so soundly while still feeling angry.

She lazily snuggled in Yu Xuanwei’s embrace, rubbing her eyes, and stretched with a yawn.

Wait a minute!

Wu Qingluan turned stiffly and was surprised to see a rare hint of a smile on Yu Xuanwei’s icy expression.

“You held onto me all night,” Yu Xuanwei remarked.

Wu Qingluan: …

Wu Qingluan didn’t dare to argue; she knew her sleeping posture was terrible, so she chose to believe him for now.

She hopped out of bed to find some clothes. Today, she had to take the triplets to kindergarten, and she couldn’t afford to be late.

After she and Yu Xuanwei got dressed and left the room, they coincidentally ran into Grandma Zhou, who was carrying a plate of fried eggs and heading from the kitchen to the living room, creating an awkward face-off.

Wu Qingluan froze. How should she explain to Grandma Zhou that Yu Xuanwei had slept in her room?

Grandma Zhou, being herself, remained calm as if she hadn’t noticed anything unusual, and invited them to have breakfast.

Yu Xuanwei politely nodded to Grandma Zhou, saying, “We’ll call them downstairs.”

At this moment, Wu Qingluan really didn’t want to face Grandma Zhou alone, but…

Summoning her courage, she approached Grandma Zhou and said, “Grandma, about me and him…”

Grandma Zhou waved her hand dismissively, “What’s the big deal? You’re just sleeping with a man. Grandma is happy for you!”

Wu Qingluan: …

Grandma Zhou beamed, “If you like each other, then be together. If you don’t, find someone else.”

Wu Qingluan closed her mouth, realizing there was no need to overthink it. Explaining such things would only make them more complicated. Let it be.

After breakfast, Wu Qingluan and Yu Xuanwei together dropped off the triplets at kindergarten.

The three children behaved well and didn’t cry or fuss, which relieved Wu Qingluan greatly.

Exiting the kindergarten, she got into Yu Xuanwei’s car. She carefully read the notes from the teacher, “School ends at 5 PM. I’ll come to pick them up in advance. The weekly menu arrangements seem good… There are weekly parent-child activities; you should consider joining.”

For each sentence Wu Qingluan uttered, Yu Xuanwei responded with a single word.

Wu Qingluan smiled, looked at him, and asked, “Why are you so good at communicating today?”

“It’s about my son; naturally, I’m concerned.”

“Good dad.” Wu Qingluan patted his arm lightly.

Yu Xuanwei had already started the car but then stopped and turned to look at Wu Qingluan.

In the confined space of the car, being stared at so intently by such a handsome and alluring man, very few people wouldn’t feel their heart race.

Wu Qingluan also gazed at Yu Xuanwei. She didn’t want to look away first, which would make her seem at a disadvantage, but…

Yu Xuanwei lowered his head, and Wu Qingluan watched as those thin lips got closer and closer.

Wu Qingluan gripped the seatbelt tightly.

“Buzz, buzz…” Her phone suddenly vibrated.

Both Wu Qingluan and Yu Xuanwei looked down, and the screen displayed “Little Wolf.”

Yu Xuanwei’s gaze turned cold.

Wu Qingluan let out a sigh of relief and quickly answered, “Xiao Yan?”

“Big sis!” A cheerful and lively male voice came from the other end. “I heard from Breather Guo that I’ll also come this weekend to congratulate you properly!”

“Thanks, Xiao Yan,” Wu Qingluan said excitedly. Xiao Yan, also known as Yan Xiaoyu, was a popular idol under the same management company as Wu Qingluan, he was ten years younger. They had always had a good relationship.

Xiao Yan lowered his voice, “Sis, how about I accompany you tonight?”

It was a rather straightforward invitation. Wu Qingluan hesitated for a moment, not immediately rejecting as she usually would. Instead, she replied vaguely, “Let’s discuss it when we meet. I have something to do, so I’ll hang up now.”

But Xiao Yan seemed to interpret this as an agreement, and he cheerfully exclaimed, “I’m looking forward to it, sis. I like you the most!”

“I like you too. Goodbye.” Wu Qingluan hung up the phone, feeling the temperature in the car had suddenly dropped.