◎ Would you prefer ‘Queen’ or ‘Sister Queen’ hmm? ◎

Tao Xiaoxi almost laughed, but she knew if she did, she’d definitely be in trouble.

He didn’t seem like a cute little wolfdog brother. Instead, he resembled a wolf king inspecting his territory. His gold-rimmed glasses didn’t suppress his rebellious air but only added a touch of swagger.

It seemed that no matter how hard the bad boy tried to act innocent, that rebellious energy couldn’t be hidden.

Chen Fang watched her expression. It wasn’t quite what he expected.

He sat on the edge of the bed. “Don’t like it?”

Tao Xiaoxi could hear the pressure in his voice and quickly shook her head. “I like it a lot.”

“Then why are you reacting like this?” He reached out to touch the corners of her lips, which were slightly twitching.

Tao Xiaoxi buried her face in his chest and chuckled softly. “Chen Fang, you’re so cute.”

…

He was a grown man, and he didn’t want to hear words like “cute” associated with him.

But seeing her smile genuinely, no longer forcing a smile, he thought, well, if she thinks he’s cute, then maybe he was.

Tao Xiaoxi reached up and took off the glasses from his nose, curious to try them on.

“Where did you get these glasses?”

Chen Fang reached out and caught the glasses, tossing them onto the nightstand with a sharp “clap.” He responded, “I bought them,” his tone carrying a trace of unexplainable displeasure.

If he bought them, why did it seem like he held a grudge against the glasses?

She touched his firm jaw and teased, “Did you get into a fight with the salesperson who sold you these glasses?”

…

What reason would he have to fight with the salesperson? The shop had long since closed. He only wore Qiu Tingyu’s old glasses because he had no other choice. But truthfully, he wanted nothing of hers to be associated with Qiu Tingyu.

Chen Fang ran his hand through her messy hair, alternating between light and firm strokes. After struggling internally for some time, he finally said, “Qiu Tingyu liked Zhou Ying. He had his eye on her even back in school.”

He brought up this matter to indirectly remind her: The person you once had a crush on liked someone entirely different from you. Even if you’d confessed back then, it wouldn’t have worked out. So, there’s no need to dwell on those insignificant teenage feelings that barely qualify as a ‘first love.’ It was just a small ripple in your youth.

Tao Xiaoxi picked up on a hint of jealousy in his tone. It was hard for her to imagine the word “jealousy” being associated with him. She left his embrace, laying back down on the bed. The space she’d warmed was already cold, so she tucked the blanket tightly around herself, unwilling to let the chill seep in.

“Not surprising. Who wouldn’t like Sister Yingying?” She yawned and closed her eyes. “I’m so tired. I’m going to sleep now.”

Chen Fang frowned. Why did her words sound so… melancholic? Pulling her and the blanket into his arms, he blew softly on her trembling eyelashes. Stop pretending to sleep. We’re finally getting to the crux of the issue.

Tao Xiaoxi opened her eyes. “What are you doing? Are you planning to throw a drunken tantrum instead of sleeping?”

When she said those earlier words, a small part of her had been waiting—waiting for him to say, I don’t like Zhou Ying. But she felt this expectation was childish. He often teased her for being like a three-year-old, and she didn’t want to actually be that childish. Even kids these days wouldn’t say something as immature as, If you want to play with her, then don’t play with me.

As an adult, Tao Xiaoxi had learned confidence. She rarely allowed herself to spiral into self-doubt after hearing a few comments from others.

When she broke up with Gu Zichu, he had written her a long, self-righteous essay. The gist was: You, coming from a small town, were lucky to find a local man with a house, a car, and no debt, who treated you like a princess. What more could you possibly want? So what if I slept with someone else? It didn’t mean anything; can’t you just act like it never happened?

At the time, Tao Xiaoxi had replied with a single sentence: Spare me your self-righteous nonsense.

Though she had a gentle nature, it didn’t mean she lacked a temper or couldn’t stand up for herself.

Yes, she came from a small town—so what?

Her family might not be wealthy, but she grew up well-cared for. Her parents provided her with the best life they could within their means. Her father, Tao Wenyong, doted on her unconditionally, and while her mother, Meng Qing, was strict and often domineering, Tao Xiaoxi knew that was her mother’s way of showing love. Over time, she’d come to appreciate her mother’s sharp tongue and soft heart.

She’d received a good education, had a career she loved that could support her, and was content with her current life, facing the future with confidence.

So no matter how many long essays Gu Zichu wrote, he couldn’t make her believe she was “lucky” to be with someone like him just because she came from a small town.

But even with this self-assurance, Tao Xiaoxi’s composure crumbled whenever Zhou Ying was involved. Zhou Ying triggered a deep-seated sense of inferiority within her, one she couldn’t control.

She’d analyzed this feeling thoroughly. It likely stemmed from childhood traumas. At that age, without the ability to form independent judgments or self-regulate, she was overly sensitive and relied on adult feedback to gauge her worth. Whenever Meng Qing said, “Look at your Sister Yingying,” she’d immediately feel inadequate, believing she wasn’t as good as Zhou Ying. Zhou Ying seemed flawless, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t measure up. Worse, Meng Qing always had another “Look at your Sister Yingying” waiting for her.

This deeply ingrained comparison became a conditioned response over the years, one she couldn’t shake, no matter how many times she told herself, I’m great, I’m capable, I’m enough.

She didn’t want to be too close to Zhou Ying. If possible, she didn’t want him to be close to Zhou Ying either. But she didn’t know how to explain this to him. Saying it out loud would make her sound petty and irrational.

So, she chose to stay silent.

Tao Xiaoxi reached up to smooth the crease between his brows. “Don’t look so frustrated. It’s that time of the month for me. How about you put your desires on hold and wait until I’m feeling better? Then we can play your little ‘wolf cub and queen’ game, okay?”

Chen Fang: … What on earth has she been watching online? Wolf cub and queen…

And besides, was he really frustrated because of that? He just wanted to know how she currently felt about Qiu Tingyu.

But then again, even if he got an answer, what would it change? She was married to him, after all. He spent every day and night with her. He didn’t believe that skinny four-eyed guy could hold any place in her heart after this.

Chen Fang ruffled her hair again, undoing his earlier attempts to smooth it. He asked, “Do I look good in a white shirt?”

Tao Xiaoxi tilted her head, seriously considering. “Black suits you better.”

…

Fine. If she wouldn’t change her answer, then nobody was sleeping tonight.

Tao Xiaoxi, unaware of his thoughts, drifted off to sleep—what started as pretending soon became real.

After New Year’s Day, the shop’s design plan was finalized, and renovations officially began. Most of the materials were handled by A Jian, but the store’s decorations and small ornaments were personally picked by Tao Xiaoxi, either online or at home improvement markets.

She carefully calculated her savings. Buying a car was not out of the question, but she couldn’t afford anything too expensive. When it came to cars, she wanted something with decent quality, prioritizing safety above all.

Back when she got married, Meng Qing had offered to buy her a car, but she firmly refused. At her age, she didn’t want her parents to dip into their savings for her anymore.

Maybe she should just settle for a small electric scooter. Traffic in the county during rush hour could rival the congestion on the Second Ring Road of the capital, and a scooter would be much more convenient for navigating through the chaos.

While she was comparing different electric scooter brands, Chen Fang sent her a few pictures of cars.

Tao Xiaoxi replied with a question mark.

His voice message followed immediately.

“I’ve ordered a car for you.”

Uh…

“When did you order it? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why should I tell you? If I told you, you’d start talking about ‘yours’ and ‘mine’ again, which would only irritate me. The contract is signed, and the deposit is paid. We’ll pick it up this weekend. Whether you like it or not, you’re taking it.”

Why did he always make gift-giving feel like some forceful transaction?

Lying on the sofa, Tao Xiaoxi replied, “Why wouldn’t I want it? If my husband buys me a car, of course I’d take it. But compared to black, I prefer white.”

…

The phone line went silent for a few seconds before his voice came through, gritting his teeth, “This model only comes in black, not white. Tao Xiaoxi, from now on, everything in our house will be black. If I see even one white item, just try me.”

Tao Xiaoxi wanted to point out that plenty of things in their house were already white. For starters, the bowls he used were white. What kind of grudge did he have against white?

But before she could say anything, he had already hung up.

Tsk, let’s see if he dares eat without using bowls tonight.

Despite his tough words, when they picked up the car, he brought home a white one. Men tended to focus more on practicality than appearance when choosing cars, so the one he selected suited Tao Xiaoxi quite well.

When Meng Qing learned that Chen Fang had bought Tao Xiaoxi a car, she didn’t say much. A few days later, however, she delivered a massage chair to the old lady in the family. Meng Qing explained that a coworker had recently opened a store with a promotional deal offering the second chair at half price. Such a great deal was too good to pass up. She had tried it in the store, and it was incredibly comfortable, perfect for elderly people. Since they had no space left for the extra chair at home, she brought it over for the old lady to use.

The old lady adamantly refused, knowing that even with a discount, the chair must have been expensive.

Meng Qing held her hand and said, “Both Xiaoxi’s dad and I lost our parents early on. Back when we were struggling financially, we wanted to show filial piety but lacked the means. Now that life is better, we finally have the ability, but our parents are no longer here. You’re the only elder we have now. Please let us fulfill this little wish of ours and treat you as our own mother. It’s only right for children to show their love for their mother.”

Her heartfelt words brought the old lady to tears. “I never thought that in my old age, I’d gain another daughter and son. This is all thanks to our Xiaoxi bringing me such blessings.”

Tao Xiaoxi felt her nose sting with emotion. She was touched not only by the old lady’s words but also by her mother’s tireless efforts in looking out for her.

When Chen Fang walked in, he was greeted by the sight of three tearful women. His heart skipped a beat, thinking something had happened.

Not wanting him to see her crying, Tao Xiaoxi quickly urged him toward the kitchen. “Go cook dinner. Mom’s staying for dinner tonight.”

She turned to see Meng Qing’s disapproving look. Clearly, Meng Qing thought it wasn’t appropriate for a son-in-law to be ordered around as soon as he got home. Tao Xiaoxi got up and half-pushed, half-pulled Chen Fang toward the kitchen. “I’ll help you out.”

In the kitchen, Chen Fang grabbed her hand and led her to a spot out of view from the living room. Tilting her face up, he tried to see her expression, but she avoided his gaze, lowering her head even further. Her earlier emotional moment had almost subsided, but his concern reignited a twinge of sadness. She wasn’t even sure why she felt wronged, but her eyes misted over again.

Chen Fang bent down, tilting his head to meet her gaze from below, and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Did Mom scold you, or did someone upset you?”

Sniffling, Tao Xiaoxi said, “I just realized my mom truly cherishes me as her daughter.”

Chen Fang sighed in relief and wiped the corners of her eyes. “I thought something serious had happened. Honestly, very few parents don’t cherish their own children.”

Tao Xiaoxi shook her head. “Sometimes she compares me to others… For a long time when I was younger, I felt like I wasn’t as good as others. It seemed like she liked other people more than me.”

Chen Fang patted her head gently. “The older generation often struggles to express their feelings, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care deeply. They just want us to do better. When we achieve even a small success, they’re happier than anyone else.”

Using the back of her hand, Tao Xiaoxi wiped her face, feeling a bit embarrassed about her emotional outburst. She wasn’t a child anymore, yet here she was, venting her inner grievances like a little kid seeking comfort.

She avoided his gaze and headed to the fridge. “As a kid, apart from school, there wasn’t much else to worry about. I guess I just clung to small things like this to feel sorry for myself.”

Seeing her discomfort, Chen Fang didn’t push further. Instead, he turned to wash his hands at the sink.

“To me, you’re the best. No one else comes close.”

Hearing this, Tao Xiaoxi gave him a sidelong glance with her reddened eyes. “Oh? Then tell me, what’s so great about me?”

Chen Fang didn’t hesitate to answer.

“First of all, you’re beautiful—the kind of beauty that leaves a lasting impression.”

“Secondly, you have a kind heart. The first thing the old lady said when she saw your photo was that you must be a sincere person. After our first meal together, she told me you were even better than she imagined.”

“And lastly, you’re a top student. In the Chen family, for three generations—counting my grandfather and my father—no one has ever been first in their class. If there’s a ‘first,’ it’s always from the bottom.”

…

The more he spoke, the more absurd it sounded. Who would bring up deceased elders in such a way?

Tao Xiaoxi glared at him. “You men just love sweet-talking because it doesn’t cost you anything.”

Chen Fang flicked the water droplets from his hand onto her flushed little face. “And you women always doubt everything we men say. It’s a fact that you have good grades, and you really don’t think you’re beautiful?”

Tao Xiaoxi: …

“You see, even you can’t argue with that. As for the old lady’s words, why don’t we go out now and ask around?” With that, he made a move to head outside.

Tao Xiaoxi quickly grabbed him. “I believe you, I believe you, okay?”

Only then was Chen Fang satisfied. He glanced at her, then glanced again, seemingly asking casually, “What about you?”

Tao Xiaoxi was confused. “What about me?”

Chen Fang coughed lightly. “What do you think of me?”

Tao Xiaoxi decided to reciprocate. “Of course, I think you’re excellent in every way.”

Chen Fang pressed further. “Excellent in what ways?”

Tao Xiaoxi seriously pondered the question.

“You cook really well.”

Chen Fang nodded in agreement, though he wasn’t completely satisfied. He gestured for her to continue.

“You look decent.”

The description “decent” could barely pass. Men generally didn’t care much about their looks, so Chen Fang signaled for her to elaborate further.

“You have a great physique.”

That was her favorite trait, and “great” was indeed the right word. A smile tugged at the corners of Chen Fang’s mouth.

Seeing his smirk, Tao Xiaoxi’s eyes glimmered mischievously. She lowered her voice, “When you call me ‘Queen,’ it’s the most seductive.”

Chen Fang’s hand froze mid-air, and his face stiffened.

Tao Xiaoxi’s eyes sparkled with amusement. The gloom she’d felt for days seemed to dissolve, leaving her truly delighted.

Last night, Tao Xiaoxi’s period had ended, and Chen Fang had cornered her against the bed, demanding an explanation for why she thought he didn’t look good in a white shirt.

Recognizing the situation, Tao Xiaoxi quickly apologized, but a verbal apology wasn’t enough for Chen Fang.

When she asked what he wanted, Chen Fang lifted her onto himself and told her to figure it out.

Well… since he left it to her, she did as she saw fit. She picked up the white shirt he’d tossed on the bed, draped it loosely over herself, and, with her lips tracing down from his high-bridged nose, stopped just as his breathing grew heavier.

“Want to continue?” she asked.

Chen Fang stared at her crimson lips. Wasn’t that a rhetorical question?

“Call me ‘Sister.'”

Chen Fang refused. There was no way he’d call her that. He might act like a little wolfdog, but calling her “Sister” was out of the question.

Tao Xiaoxi noticed the veins bulging on his neck and almost applauded his determination.

“Or, you could call me ‘Queen.'” Tao Xiaoxi gave him an alternative.

…

“One ‘Queen,’ and I’ll continue.”

Before he could explode with frustration, Chen Fang gritted his teeth and reluctantly called her “Queen.”

It was the first time Tao Xiaoxi had seen him blush. It was as if a wave of blood had rushed from his forehead, flooded his entire face, and surged down to the base of his neck.

She hadn’t expected him to be so bashful. At that moment, she laughed so hard she couldn’t stand straight. Although they didn’t continue, he still tormented her for half the night. Yet, seeing him so flustered was worth it.

Tao Xiaoxi was confident he wouldn’t want to revisit the events of last night.

Unfortunately, she was wrong.

Chen Fang turned toward her, flashing a grin that revealed his pearly whites. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Since you like it so much, I’ll call you again tonight. Would you prefer ‘Queen’ or ‘Sister Queen,’ hmm?”

The vegetable in Tao Xiaoxi’s hand slipped into the sink, splashing water everywhere.

Chen Fang tugged at her flushed earlobe. He couldn’t believe it. Could he really lose to her every time when it came to teasing?

He had to teach her a lesson. Otherwise, the title of “Wolf Brother” given to him by others would go to waste.