◎ “I’m going to kiss you, do you want to close your eyes?” ◎

Meng Qing and Tao Wenyong thought something had happened, rushing to the kitchen. They just happened to see their daughter kicking her husband’s leg. Although her kick didn’t have much force, anyone who received such a kick would still feel embarrassed.

The son-in-law, one hand holding the pan and the other holding the spatula, was cooking. Seeing them enter, he smiled. “Mom, Dad, it’s fine. She’s just playing with me.”

When Tao Xiaoxi saw her parents enter, her face turned even redder. She heard him playing the peacemaker again and was about to kick him once more.

Meng Qing coughed, and Tao Xiaoxi stopped. Tao Wenyong chuckled a few times, and the kitchen drama came to an end.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was warm and harmonious. Tao Wenyong chatted with Chen Fang about work, and Meng Qing occasionally chimed in. Tao Xiaoxi quietly gnawed on a big bone, her neck still red from earlier.

After dinner, Chen Fang and Tao Wenyong washed the dishes. Meng Qing pulled Tao Xiaoxi into the bedroom and half-closed the door. “Don’t tell me that in front of the old lady, you were also pointing at Chen Fang and shouting, kicking him around.”

Tao Xiaoxi tried to defend herself. “It wasn’t really shouting, just a little louder, and I didn’t kick hard.”

Meng Qing poked her forehead. “You better be careful. Just because someone is easygoing doesn’t mean you can take advantage of them.”

Hmm…?!! Was this really her mom?

Earlier, she was worried about her being bullied, but now, in the blink of an eye, she was the one being accused of bullying someone? And where did she get the idea that Chen Fang was easy to deal with? Wasn’t he the kind of person who couldn’t be controlled by anyone, even her mom?

Meng Qing, still not reassured, asked, “Did he bully you first?”

Well, yes, he did, but Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t explain how he had done so. She pouted and said, “No, he was just teasing me.”

Meng Qing didn’t care to hear the details. Newlyweds don’t have many serious conversations anyway. She just reminded Tao Xiaoxi, “I don’t care what you two do behind closed doors, but in front of the old lady, you need to keep your feet to yourself. That’s her grandson, raised with her own two hands. You can’t just kick him like that. She might not say anything, but she’ll feel hurt inside.”

“I only did it this once! Really, just this once! And you two caught me in the act. Am I really such a violent person?” Tao Xiaoxi muttered quietly.

Meng Qing glared at her, and Tao Xiaoxi immediately fell silent.

Meng Qing had more questions. “Have you two talked about having kids?”

“…No, we just got married,” Tao Xiaoxi already knew this question was coming. After urging them to get married, the next thing was always about kids.

“The marriage is recent, but don’t you realize your own age? This year is almost over, and by spring, you’ll be twenty-nine. Once a woman passes thirty, having a baby isn’t ideal—it’s not good for you or the child.”

“Well… just wait a bit longer. I want to get my shop up and running first. Once that’s settled, we can talk about having kids.” Tao Xiaoxi could never win an argument with her mother, so she just postponed the matter.

Meng Qing didn’t like the idea of her opening the shop, and now that it was delaying the conversation about having kids, she was even more displeased. “Are you using any precautions?”

??????

!!!!!

…

Was she really going to discuss this with her mother?

Meng Qing adjusted the hair hanging by her ear. “What’s so embarrassing? You’re already married.”

Alright, so it seems everyone assumes that once you’re married, it’s no big deal to talk about things like this.

Tao Xiaoxi hesitated, “Well… I guess so?”

When her mind was clear, she knew her husband was taking precautions. But as time passed, she lost track of the details, so now she wasn’t sure. They had never seriously talked about it.

Meng Qing wanted to poke her forehead again. “You’re so muddled. You two need to sit down and talk about this. If you don’t want a child now, that’s fine, but when do you plan on having one? Once you decide on a rough time, you’ll need to start taking care of your health. There’s a lot to consider; you think having a child is as simple as taking a nap?”

Tao Xiaoxi: …

In the kitchen, Tao Wenyong was using his eyes to help his son-in-law wash the dishes.

“Tao Xiaoxi’s personality doesn’t take after me or her mother. Don’t let her gentle demeanor fool you. If you push her too far, she has a temper of her own. She’s not the type to just sit back and take it.”

Chen Fang smiled inwardly. His father-in-law had a good understanding of his daughter. He also realized his father-in-law was subtly warning him not to take advantage of Tao Xiaoxi. He replied to his father-in-law, “A girl should have her own little temper. Don’t worry, Dad. Whether we’re at home or outside, I’ll make sure no one bullies her, and I won’t let her suffer.”

Tao Wenyong nodded with satisfaction. “I’m glad to hear that. You’re a dependable kid.”

When Tao Xiaoxi finally finished her “lesson” with Meng Qing, Tao Wenyong quietly pulled her to the balcony. “Xiaoxi, no matter what, you shouldn’t yell and kick people like that. Look at your mother’s temper—she can be angry, but she always holds it in until she’s at home, and when she does get mad, she speaks softly. Men care about face, and outside, you need to protect his dignity. Once you’re home, you can deal with him however you want.”

…

Tao Xiaoxi’s image, which she had maintained for half her life, was destroyed tonight. How did she end up as the one bullying others?

On the way home, Tao Xiaoxi refused to talk to Chen Fang. She ignored his attempts to start a conversation and finally put on her headphones to block him out, closing her eyes to listen to music.

Chen Fang found her childish behavior both helpless and amusing. This must be the little temper her father mentioned. But today, he probably did push things too far.

By the time Tao Xiaoxi finished her shower, Chen Fang was leaning against the bed’s headboard. When he saw her come out, he picked up the hairdryer from the nightstand. “Let me dry your hair.”

Tao Xiaoxi ignored his kindness. She took a new blanket out of the closet, rolled the blanket on the bed to his side, and hugged the new one herself as she climbed into bed.

She was separating from him to sleep.

Chen Fang smiled at the little “mountain” she made with her back to him. He gently pressed the blanket she had pushed to him under his body and slipped his foot into the edge of her blanket. As he slowly moved closer, Tao Xiaoxi shifted her body away, inching toward the edge of the bed, not saying a word, keeping her eyes shut, and not responding.

Chen Fang’s hand crept into the blanket, finding the gap she had made. It was dark inside, but his fingers seemed to have eyes. In no time, Tao Xiaoxi finally opened her eyes and met his gaze, filled with simmering anger and fire.

Chen Fang lowered his head and kissed the fire on her, leaving sticky kisses that trailed down to the corner of her mouth. “Tao Xiaoxi, I’ve realized you’re a bit unreasonable. You’re allowed to give me all sorts of ridiculous nicknames, but I can’t call you my little stream with watery eyes. Isn’t this like saying ‘only the official is allowed to start a fire, but the common people can’t light lamps’?”

Tao Xiaoxi almost forgot about this, but now he brought it up again. She covered his mouth with both hands, still not satisfied, and rolled over, pressing her body on top of his through the blanket.

“You’re not allowed, You’re the one with watery eyes,” Tao Xiaoxi didn’t care if she was being unreasonable. 

Chen Fang teased her back, “I’m watert, and you’re dry as a desert. Is that better?”

…

It wasn’t.

Chen Fang rubbed her half-dried hair, “You’re hard to please.”

Tao Xiaoxi bit his shoulder. She wasn’t hard to please; he was just being a tease. She would never look at her name the same way again.

She bit him with all her strength, but he didn’t even flinch. He even managed to casually talk about business matters. “I have to go out tomorrow. I should be back the day before the lunar new year.”

Tao Xiaoxi loosened her grip on his firm shoulder and looked up at him. “So suddenly? There’s still a week until the new year.”

Chen Fang explained why he had to leave, “I just found out this afternoon. For next year, I plan to move some of the business down south. I scouted it once, and this time, I’m going to handle the logistics and build connections.”

“Oh.” She didn’t really understand the details of his company’s work. “Shouldn’t you pack your things tonight?” She started to get up to leave the bed.

Chen Fang pulled her back into his arms. “We can pack tomorrow morning.”

Tao Xiaoxi rested her chin on his chest, locking eyes with him. “But I have to go to the shop tomorrow morning. A Jian is bringing people over to measure the space. It’s already been scheduled.”

She wanted to finish the renovations before the new year. Afterward, she still needed to let the place sit for a couple of months. Then, she could focus on preparing for the store’s opening after the spring festival, so time was tight.

Chen Fang’s fingers traced her cheek. “I can pack myself. As for the renovations, A Jian is a professional. You can discuss any ideas you have with him, and he’ll handle it.”

Tao Xiaoxi blinked, signaling that she understood.

The conversation between them paused, and the air was filled with an indescribable tension.

It wasn’t like she had never gone on long trips before. It was common to be away for ten days or half a month. All she needed to do was tell the old lady and pack her things, then she could leave. This time was different. Perhaps because there was someone in the house now, a sense of attachment seemed to settle in her heart. The thought of not feeling the warmth for over a week made her think of simply packing the person up and taking them along. Then she found herself laughing at the idea. After all, what kind of grown man had such longing for intimacy?

Taking him along wasn’t possible, at least not tonight. He couldn’t waste a moment now. He cupped her arms with both hands, drawing her close until they were face-to-face. Their gazes locked, and their noses brushed.

Chen Fang’s breath traced her features, from her brows to her eyes and lips, his breath growing heavier. Just as he leaned in, a soft finger brushed lightly against his lips, gently teasing his nerves.

Her voice, as soft as her touch, came out, “Chen Fang, I’m going to kiss you, do you want to close your eyes?”

Boom. Chen Fang could almost hear the rush of blood surging through him.

This teasing rabbit really had turned the tables.

The audacity.