◎She’s really something, saying right to his face that she’s going to put a green hat on him◎

Chen Fang never expected the old lady to sell him out like this, even bringing up his kindergarten days to tell his wife. The key point was that Tao Xiaoxi even mentioned kindergarten’s senior class, which meant the old lady must have also talked about his time in the junior class. Even though he had no memory of what he had done back then, that didn’t mean the old lady had forgotten. Her memory was sharp as ever.

He turned over and propped himself up on both arms, trapping her beneath him. The moment she sensed his intentions, she pulled the blanket over half her face, leaving only her wary eyes visible. Her muffled voice came through the fabric, “What are you doing? You tricked me, and now you still want to kiss me? Chen Fang, you’re shameless.”

Chen Fang: …

He really wanted to know what kind of melodramatic dramas she had been watching with the old lady these past two days. She was getting way too into character. He needed to have a talk with the old lady—some things were better left unsaid, and some of those over-the-top dramas should really be watched in moderation. Otherwise, her precious grandson would be the one to suffer.

“How did I trick you?”

Chen Fang tried to distract her with words while his hand sneaked under the blanket, finding its way to the warm, soft spot he was looking for. He gave it a light squeeze, feeling it change shape under his touch. Completely caught up in her performance, Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t been guarding against his sudden move. As soon as he touched her, her slender neck tensed up, and she let out a soft, breathy sigh. Her grip on the blanket also loosened.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Fang took control of the blanket, leaned down, and captured her plump, rosy lips. His tongue invaded the warm, moist space, stirring up a storm before retreating. He gently licked and sucked on her swollen lips, whispering, “Now this is a real kiss. Playing house doesn’t count. So my first kiss was with you. Why would I lie to you? Don’t you remember? Back in the living room, you said you would teach me, that kissing is something you get better at with practice. Am I good at it now, hmm, Teacher Tao?”

A man is most tempting in certain moments, and waking up in the morning is one of them.

The soft winter morning light filtered through the curtains, smoothing out the sharp angles of his face and the intensity in his eyes. His drowsy expression carried a hint of laziness, and his deep voice, rough from sleep, murmured intimately into her ear, a secret only for the two of them.

Tao Xiaoxi controlled her breathing, not wanting to be bewitched by that slight upward lilt in his voice when he called her “Teacher Tao.”

“So, you really agreed to be her little bride back then?” She struggled to keep a serious, wounded expression.

“I don’t remember. Who even remembers kindergarten stuff? Besides, even if it happened, it was just kids playing around. It doesn’t count. Tao Xiaoxi, don’t try to use this against me. I didn’t lie to you, and even if the bunny apron arrives, I’m not wearing it. Wearing something pink even once in my life was already enough.” Chen Fang outright used amnesia as an excuse.

He truly didn’t remember, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know. The old lady loved to bring it up as a little anecdote over tea. It was amusing for her, but now, her obedient granddaughter-in-law was using it against him.

He cupped her face. “I do prefer seeing you in something pink and soft, though. When the apron arrives, do you want to wear it for me?”

Tao Xiaoxi shot him a sultry glare, her eyes filled with teasing amusement. “In your dreams.”

Chen Fang imagined the scene for a moment and couldn’t resist stealing a few more kisses. If she ever actually wore it for him, he figured he would feel like he was in paradise.

Tao Xiaoxi bit his lower lip in retaliation. She had intended to bite hard enough to draw blood, but at the last second, she softened. And just because she hesitated for that brief moment, he took advantage of it. That morning turned out to be anything but pure and innocent.

Today was Little New Year^[1]“Little New Year” (小年, Xiǎo Nián) refers to a traditional Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the preparations for the Lunar New Year. It typically falls a week or so … Continue reading. Tao Xiaoxi didn’t sleep in for long. Shortly after Chen Fang left, she lazed in bed for a while before getting up. She had to accompany the old lady to the hospital later that morning.

Although Chen Fang’s accident had been kept a secret, Hu Xiaole’s injury and hospitalization hadn’t escaped the old lady’s notice. She was quite familiar with Hu Xiaole. First, because whenever Chen Fang needed errands run, Hu Xiaole was usually the one handling them, so he often came by their home. Second, after learning about Hu Xiaole’s family situation, the old lady had taken extra care of the honest young man. At least Chen Fang had her as a grandmother after losing his parents early on. But Hu Xiaole, at such a young age, had lost both his parents and had to take care of a disabled brother. Life could only be harder for him.

The oldy lady would prepare food from time to time that could be stored in the refrigerator and send it to Hu Xiaole’s home. She would also take the opportunity to check on his brother and see if anything needed tidying up in their house. Two grown men living together without anyone to look after them—who knew what kind of mess they would end up in?

The year-end was approaching. After the old lady returned from the countryside, she visited the Hu family and learned that Hu Xiaole was injured and hospitalized. She only knew that Hu Xiaole’s injury was caused by a car accident and didn’t know that Chen Fang had been in the car with Hu Xiaole at the time.

When Hu Xiaole saw the old   lady and Tao Xiaoxi, he grinned, revealing his white teeth, and struggled to sit up. “Grandma, Sister-in-law, what brings you here?”

A young man in his early twenties had the best recovery ability. Now that he had passed the critical period, his body was improving day by day. He could already get out of bed and move around a little. If it weren’t for Brother Fang repeatedly warning him to listen to the doctor, he wouldn’t have stayed in bed so obediently. He was already feeling suffocated.

The old lady quickly told him to lie back down, reminding him that he couldn’t move around recklessly. “I wanted to visit you earlier, but your Brother Fang said you were in the ICU a few days ago and couldn’t have visitors. How are you feeling now? Does anything still hurt?”

Hu Xiaole shook his head repeatedly. “It stopped hurting a long time ago. It just itches like crazy. The doctor won’t let me take a bath, only wipe down my body every day. I really just want to take a hot shower.”

The old lady’s face turned stern. “Absolutely not. We have to listen to the doctor. If the doctor says you can bathe, then you can bathe. No messing around.”

Hu Xiaole chuckled. He loved it when the old lady scolded him like this.

Then, she asked about the accident. Hu Xiaole had already been instructed by Chen Fang, so he only mentioned that the other driver was drunk.

The old lady was relieved but still reminded him several times to be extra careful when driving in the future. She then poured some soup from the thermos into a bowl, took a spoon, and sat by his bed, ready to feed him. Hu Xiaole wanted to do it himself, but she avoided his hand and brought the spoon to his mouth. “I’ll feed you. You should move as little as possible. I simmered this soup all night. It’s very nourishing.”

Hu Xiaole had no choice but to tilt his head back and obediently open his mouth.

Tao Xiaoxi suddenly understood why the people under Chen Fang’s command were so loyal to him. It wasn’t just because he treated them well. The old lady probably played a big role too. That day, when the old lady visited her shop, she had brought several large bags of food for the workers there. She could call each of them by name and even chat with them. For the unmarried ones, she asked about their parents. For those who were married, she inquired about their wives and children. It was obvious that they respected her deeply, treating her like their own grandmother.

By the time Tao Xiaoxi and the old lady left Hu Xiaole’s hospital room, it was already close to ten o’clock. They planned to stop by the supermarket to pick up some New Year supplies before heading home to start cleaning. It was the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, a day for eating sticky sugar melons, sending off the Kitchen God, and sweeping away dust to welcome the new year.

As Tao Xiaoxi walked arm in arm with the old lady, chatting, she suddenly heard someone call her name. She looked up and saw Qiu Tingyu standing with a middle-aged woman. The woman looked a lot like him and was probably his mother.

Hospitals were one of the most common places to run into acquaintances. Qiu Tingyu looked overjoyed when he spotted Tao Xiaoxi.

His mother, seeing how happy her son was to greet a young woman, became just as delighted. When she got a good look at Tao Xiaoxi, she was even more thrilled. This girl was truly beautiful—fair-skinned, big eyes, bright pupils, and a smile that reached her eyes before she even spoke. She had a naturally pleasant personality. So, this was the type of girl her son liked. No wonder he had turned down all the ones she had introduced to him before.

Tao Xiaoxi initially thought Qiu Tingyu had returned home early for the New Year. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she learned that he was moving back to the area permanently.

After greeting the old lady, Qiu Tingyu asked Tao Xiaoxi if he could speak with her alone. From his expression, she immediately guessed it had something to do with Sister Yingying, so she nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Qiu Tingyu’s mother, seeing her son wanting to talk privately with a girl, was even more pleased. She eagerly struck up a conversation with Yan Qiufang, trying to build rapport. Since she had heard Tao Xiaoxi call the old lady “Grandma,” she assumed she was her biological grandmother. She began complimenting, “Your granddaughter is truly beautiful.” Then, she subtly hinted at her son’s good qualities—his education, his job, and his great temperament.

Yan Qiufang immediately picked up on what was happening. Although she was happy that her granddaughter-in-law was well-liked by elders, she still had to protect her grandson’s position. Smiling, she clarified, “Xiaoxi is my granddaughter-in-law, but she’s even closer to me than a real granddaughter.”

Qiu Tingyu’s mother’s smile froze for a second before she quickly forced an even bigger one. “Your grandson is really lucky to have married such a wonderful wife.”

“Yes, he’s indeed very fortunate,” Yan Qiufang agreed.

Qiu Tingyu’s mother cursed her son in her heart. She had told him countless times to settle down early, but he never listened. Now, all the good girls had been taken.

Qiu Tingyu, completely unaware of his mother’s internal complaints, focused on his conversation with Tao Xiaoxi.

“I have dinner plans with Zhou Ying the night after tomorrow. If you and Chen Fang are available, could you join us?”

He originally wanted to ask Chen Fang directly, but he knew Chen Fang would most likely refuse. Tao Xiaoxi, on the other hand, was much easier to talk to. That was why he had been so thrilled to run into her just now.

Tao Xiaoxi was taken aback. If he wanted to pursue Sister Yingying, wouldn’t it be better to have a private dinner with her? Why involve others?

Seeing her confusion, Qiu Tingyu explained, “It took a lot of effort for me to get this dinner. If it’s just the two of us, she’ll probably leave within ten minutes. Having others there might help. You and Chen Fang are the only mutual acquaintances we have, so I can only turn to you for help.”

Tao Xiaoxi had always heard Chen Fang mention how much Qiu Tingyu liked Sister Yingying, but it was only now, seeing him in person, that she realized he truly did.

She hesitated. Just as Chen Fang had said before, this was a matter between the two of them. If they got involved, it might not be appropriate. However, she didn’t reject him outright. Instead, she replied, “I’ll have to check with Chen Fang first. He has a lot of evening engagements, so I don’t know if he’ll be available that day.”

Tao Xiaoxi said this as an excuse in case she didn’t want to go later.

Qiu Tingyu pressed his hands together in gratitude.

After leaving the hospital, Tao Xiaoxi wanted to call Chen Fang to tell him about this matter. However, when she dialed, his line was busy.

At that moment, Chen Fang was on the phone with Huang Baodeng. This was the first time Huang Baodeng had called him since Chen Fang had left his side. His tone was gentle, like an elder speaking to a younger generation. Back then, Chen Fang had been deceived by this act, thinking Huang Baodeng was truly his father’s good friend. So when Huang Baodeng asked him to work with him, he agreed without hesitation. He never expected that he was merely being used as a scapegoat. If he had left any later, he might have been framed and sent to prison.

The purpose of Huang Baodeng’s call was simple—he was determined to win the Fengyi project and advised Chen Fang not to waste his time and money competing.

Chen Fang let out a light scoff. If he were so confident about winning, he wouldn’t have made this call. “Even if it’s a waste, it’s my own money and time. You don’t have to worry about it, Uncle Huang.”

Huang Baodeng’s voice turned cold. “Chen Fang, do you think you can act so recklessly just because I’m giving your father some face and don’t want to deal with you?”

Chen Fang chuckled briefly, his tone full of mockery. “Oh no, please don’t consider my father’s face. If he finds out how you schemed against his son, he’ll be at your doorstep by tonight. I doubt you’ll get a good night’s sleep then.”

“Chen Fang!” Huang Baodeng roared, his gentle facade completely torn apart.

“Uncle Huang, the only reason I still call you ‘uncle’ is because, no matter how bad you are, I thought you still had some principles. Whatever grudges or debts we have, we should settle them between us. If you dare to target my family, you should know me well enough by now. I’m young, reckless, and don’t have much to lose. If I have to, I’ll start over from scratch. Maybe in just three to four years, I’ll be standing tall again. The real question is, are you willing to sink into the abyss with me?”

Chen Fang propped his feet up on the desk and leaned back lazily in his chair. Holding the phone in one hand, he flicked a lighter open and shut with the other, the sharp clicking sound echoing in the quiet office. He repeated himself word by word, “Are you willing, Uncle Huang?”

Huang Baodeng’s lips twitched a few times. He wanted to act tough and say, “Do whatever you want, let’s go down together,” but he didn’t dare. He knew how ruthless this wolf cub could be. He wasn’t like his father or mother. If truly provoked, there was nothing he wouldn’t do.

If this had been two years ago, he might have had a way to destroy him. But now, he was getting older and had more to lose. More importantly, this wolf cub had grown his wings. He had tried to suppress him so many times but failed, while his own business kept shrinking. The thought that he had once brought Chen Fang into this industry filled him with deep regret—he had raised his own competitor.

In the end, Huang Baodeng said nothing and simply hung up with a sharp snap.

Hearing the busy tone on the other end, Chen Fang’s lips curled into a cold smile. It was good that he was afraid.

Seeing a missed call on his phone, his gaze softened. He called back, and after a while, the call was answered. Before he could speak, a slightly noisy background came through. “I’m at the supermarket with Grandma. It’s a bit chaotic here. I’ll talk to you when I get home.”

Before Chen Fang could say a word, Tao Xiaoxi had already hung up. He stared at the screen and let out a silent chuckle. His little wife was getting more and more casual with him.

Tao Xiaoxi’s side was indeed a mess. With the New Year approaching and it being a Saturday, the supermarket was packed with people doing their holiday shopping. On top of that, there were discount promotions, making the crowd even bigger. The old lady led the way while Tao Xiaoxi pushed the cart from behind. After a full round through the supermarket, both of them were sweating and exhausted. Too tired to cook at home, Tao Xiaoxi took the old lady to the restaurant upstairs for a big meal.

After eating and drinking their fill, they went home and took a refreshing afternoon nap before starting the big cleanup. They first cleaned the old lady’s place, then while the old lady cooked dinner, Tao Xiaoxi tidied up the upstairs.

When Chen Fang arrived home, he saw her standing on a step ladder, wiping the windows on the balcony. His brows furrowed instantly.

Seeing him return, Tao Xiaoxi waved at him. “You’re back.”

His frown deepened, and his voice carried a hint of sternness. “Hold on properly. Why are you moving around?” He quickly walked over. “The windows aren’t even that dirty. Why are you cleaning them on a ladder? You’re really something, huh? Come down.”

He held the ladder with one hand and extended the other to help her down. But then, he caught sight of what was on her head, and his brows instantly knitted into a tight knot. “What are you wearing on your head?”

“You’re so fierce. The ladder isn’t even that high.” Tao Xiaoxi remained seated on the ladder, looking down at him. This was the first time he had spoken to her so harshly. She had wanted to show off how clean she had made the windows after working so hard all afternoon, but he had shut her down before she even had the chance.

Chen Fang’s tone softened a little, but his brows stayed furrowed. “This ladder isn’t very stable, and no one’s holding it for you. If you really fall, you’re the one who’s going to suffer.”

“Oh.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I still don’t like you being so fierce. You’re already dark-skinned and always wear black. Now with your brows furrowed and your eyes glaring like that, you look really scary.”

Chen Fang: …

He wanted to relax his expression, but when he saw the green scarf wrapped around her head, he just couldn’t.

Tao Xiaoxi noticed his gaze and reached up to pull the scarf off. She had found it while organizing clothes earlier. She used to really like this scarf, but ever since encountering that green-haired person, she had started to dislike the color green. She had considered throwing it away, but before doing so, she figured she might as well make use of it one last time—after all, it had cost her quite a bit of money.

“I was afraid dust would get in my hair while cleaning, so I used it to cover my head. I wrapped my own head, not yours. Why are you so upset?”

Chen Fang shot back, “Tao Xiaoxi, are you stupid? Who in their right mind would put green on their own head?”

“You’re being fierce again.”

“I’m not being fierce. I’m just reasoning with you.” Chen Fang stepped forward, intending to lift her directly off the ladder.

Tao Xiaoxi dodged his arm and reached out to lift his chin. From her position above him, it was the perfect angle to do so. “If you keep being fierce to me, I’ll tie this green scarf around your head.”

Chen Fang: “…You wouldn’t dare.”

“Just watch me.”

Chen Fang gritted his teeth.

She was something else—saying right to his face that she was going to put green on his head.