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Psst! We're moving!
Early the next morning, Shi Min didn’t open her eyes but smiled upon feeling the weight on her chest.
After crossing that boundary last night, Luo Mingjing’s body had taken the lead over his mind. Gone were the days of sleeping separately under the covers; now, one arm lay draped possessively over Shi Min.
“It’s heavy,” Shi Min said.
Luo Mingjing, still half-asleep, chuckled faintly and moved closer, flipping over to press against her. In a hoarse voice, he murmured, “Is it heavier now?”
From beneath the pillow, Shi Min pulled out a sleek rectangular box and tossed it onto Luo Mingjing’s head. “Here.”
Protection.
Luo Mingjing was fully awake now, belatedly realizing. “Where did you hide this? Under the pillow?”
President Shi had been plotting for a long time. Every day, she slept with this box of condoms pressed beneath her pillow, every second preparing to have him.
Luo Mingjing climbed out of bed, shivering as he dressed. “I’ll make you breakfast and hurry up with the battle gear…”
The first time was purely about testing compatibility and gaining practical experience. But what both of them valued most was still the battlefield with proper attire.
Shi Min wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, deciding to wait until he warmed up downstairs before getting up. Rolling over, she propped herself up on an elbow and said lazily, “Tonight, wear makeup.”
“You or me?”
Shi Min pointed at him. Luo Mingjing laughed. “Sister, I’ve discovered you…”
When it came to intimate matters, she was incredibly daring in trying new things!
“There’s a popular NPC in that game by East Time Tech,” Shi Min said. “The green-eyed male character known as the most beautiful in Beigu. I forgot his name. Last time I saw you washing a costume—it was his cosplay outfit. Clean it up and wear it tonight.”
After opening that door last night, Shi Min had started to take Xu Qianqian’s earlier suggestion seriously.
Luo Mingjing was so versatile—it would be a shame not to make use of him.
“The first love of General Qin Ying? You…” Luo Mingjing scooped up President Cat, who had come running upstairs meowing. After a moment’s thought, he said, “It’s not impossible. Do you want to try? I always draw fan art of them together. Want some? You can dress up too—Qin Ying suits you.”
After all, Qin Ying and Shi Min were both fearless, commanding women.
Shi Min agreed, waved her hand dismissively, and went back to sleep.
She might have been overly exhausted. Last night, Shi Min had made a memorable statement that sent Luo Mingjing to sleep with a smile.
She said, “I don’t want to move. It’s like my essence has been sucked dry by a spirit. It’s hard to imagine that one day, I’d let myself indulge so freely, offering my physical body to nourish a spirit—a huge one at that.”
A real, tangible physical body.
A truly massive spirit—Luo Mingjing stood at least 180 centimeters tall.
In the end, it really was a physically demanding task. Without the overwhelming pleasure to sustain her, allowing herself to be consumed by such a spirit might have felt like a loss.
After freshening up, Luo Mingjing called the two cats to follow him downstairs.
The cats were starving. Perhaps they could sense that Luo Mingjing was the one responsible for feeding them. At his call, the two cats meowed excitedly and bounded down the stairs, frantically circling their food bowls.
“President and Jingjing are famished,” Luo Mingjing chuckled, smoothing the fur of the two kittens.
Actually, the two cats had sneaked upstairs in the middle of the night, boldly hopping onto Luo Mingjing’s head, trying to wake him up to refill their food. But being inexperienced, they accidentally pawed at Shi Min. Shi Min opened her eyes, shooting them a sharp glance. The oppressive aura of President Shi was indiscriminate—it applied equally to humans and animals. Seeing the two cats ready to frolic on Luo Mingjing’s head, she immediately frowned, pointed to the stairs, and commanded, “Go downstairs and wait.”
The two cats hesitated briefly before retreating obediently. Without backup, they couldn’t afford to act cocky.
After finishing breakfast, Luo Mingjing went upstairs to wake Shi Min. She sat up, tested her condition, and frowned slightly. “Tsk.”
Luo Mingjing understood. He rubbed his hands together, tied his hair back, and said, “Alright, let me carry you downstairs.”
Shi Min gave him a lazy glance, slowly pulling on her clothes. “I thought you’d bring breakfast to my bed and feed me.”
“I considered it,” Luo Mingjing said. “But alas, no tray. So just fantasize about it—I’ll carry you down to eat.”
Shi Min wasn’t light. Perhaps because she was accustomed to carrying emotional weight, her physical weight also seemed substantial. Add to that her height, and carrying her bridal-style was quite a challenge. As they descended the stairs, Luo Mingjing sighed. The two exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, he slung her over his shoulder like a sack of rice and carried her down.
Shi Min didn’t object. If she could avoid moving, she would. She needed to conserve her strength for another round tonight.
Luo Mingjing fed the cats, fed Shi Min, and waited for her to feed him later that night.
Thinking about it, even eating felt more energizing than before.
Both of them had been so serious last night that when they reflected on it, aside from the heat and eventual comfort, they couldn’t quite recall other sensations.
The initial adjustment wasn’t simple. The first time rarely left room for romance—it required utmost focus. Neither of them let loose much during their first encounter, focusing instead on testing compatibility. Once that was successful, they proceeded cautiously, savoring the feeling and celebrating their successful coordination.
However, the human body was wondrous. After their first polite exchange, both secretly resolved to continue exploring, digging out the hooks buried deep within each other, indulging in the aftertaste.
After breakfast, Luo Mingjing got to work on the battle gear.
Motivation was essential. Now, inspiration surged through him. With swift strokes, he finalized the design, immediately dragging the fabric to the sewing machine to begin working.
He had a lot to do today. The battle gear and tonight’s cosplay outfit needed to be finished, washed, and dried before evening use.
In the afternoon, he planned to visit Yuefeng Entertainment. The clothing for the solar term Jingzhe had arrived, and he wanted to see Yang He’s fitting and photoshoot while thanking her over dinner.
Additionally, he needed to prepare for his livestream. He hadn’t streamed in a long time, and as a contracted streamer, he felt negligent.
He needed to summarize the recent events and plan his streaming schedule for the new year.
Luo Mingjing’s mind raced. Just as he was deeply engrossed, Shi Min interrupted him with a phone call, presenting another task. “Mingjing, would you like to give an interview?”
Luo Mingjing adjusted his glasses, paused the sewing machine, and asked, “Who is it?”
“You might know them—the International Fashion Designers Association,” Shi Min replied. “If you’re willing, I’ll arrange for them to come to the studio. They wish to interview the original creator of Chinese Crane .”
Luo Mingjing’s eyes lit up instantly. “Yes.”
After the online buzz subsided, he had considered turning the three drafts of his thesis into actual garments and exhibiting them again under the name Clear Sky Cranes .
T University had also hinted at inviting him to participate in this year’s thesis exhibition. One of the proposed compensations from yesterday’s public conference included reserving a prime spot for Clear Sky Cranes , offering a month-long exhibition opportunity.
If foreign media interviews could be arranged, it would be even better—he’d have the chance to introduce the true essence of Clear Sky Cranes to them.
Humming happily, Luo Mingjing continued working on Shi Min’s battle gear, hemming it with meticulous care.
Shi Min glanced at the garment in his hands and raised an eyebrow. “Pink?”
Light pink, girlish pink.
Luo Mingjing’s eyes curved into a smile as he held up the bra. “You’re a young woman in your twenties. This color suits you.”
Shi Min let out a cold laugh.
Luo Mingjing said, “Don’t you realize that, deep down, you’re actually quite girlish?”
Shi Min didn’t even bother lifting her eyelids. “Your illusion.”
“Contrasting charm,” Luo Mingjing repeated, admiring the pink bra with satisfaction. “This is my first attempt at lingerie. If it’s uncomfortable, you can always take it off.”
Shi Min scrolled through Fiona’s first ten-day performance report and said indifferently, “As long as you’re happy.”
“When is the interview?”
“Tomorrow morning. They’ll come here. Also, there’s something else. Fiona’s been busy and suggests you hire staff.”
“For Mirror·Realm?” Luo Mingjing pondered for a moment. “What kind of position?”
“Multimedia promotion,” Shi Min said. “A girl submitted her résumé to the company. Fiona forwarded it to me. Would you like to arrange an interview?”
Luo Mingjing took her phone and carefully reviewed the applicant’s résumé. Surprised, he exclaimed, “From Wang Zhenyu’s studio?”
“Yes, she resigned from Wang Zhenyu’s side,” Shi Min explained. “Universal Studio’s funding chain collapsed, and Chinese Crane ‘s sales performance suffered greatly due to this incident. He faces massive breach-of-contract penalties, and most employees have quit.”
The oven timer rang. Luo Mingjing retrieved the cookies, cheerfully biting into one and offering the other half to Shi Min. Smiling, he remarked, “What do you call this? Karma.”
Shi Min glanced at the half-cookie he offered and raised an eyebrow, making a sound of disapproval.
Luo Mingjing didn’t understand her reaction. “What’s wrong?”
Shi Min said, “Alright, let me show you how couples should pass things.”
She picked up the cookie, placed it in her mouth, then embraced Luo Mingjing’s neck and lightly kissed him, transferring the other half into his mouth.
After the kiss ended, Shi Min raised an eyebrow and asked, “Did I teach you well?”
Luo Mingjing snapped back to reality, chewing the cookie and nodding obediently. “…Got it, Sister.”
After lunch, Luo Mingjing finished making the clothes they would wear that evening, washing and drying them. The two prepared to head to Yuefeng Entertainment to treat Yang He to dinner.
Once everything was packed, the old phone sitting in the corner of the studio rang.
Luo Mingjing was startled and rushed over to pick it up.
The old number hadn’t been deactivated, but few people called it anymore. At this moment, only one person could possibly be calling.
Li Xiang.
Silence reigned on the other end of the line, and Luo Mingjing didn’t speak either. But his expression changed—sharp, yet tinged with confusion. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned around, grabbed Shi Min’s hand, and held it firmly.
The warmth of Shi Min’s palm reassured him. Finally, he spoke to the person on the other end. “…Li Xiang, I need to meet you.”
After a prolonged silence, Li Xiang, suppressing his anger, slowly said, “Luo Mingjing, I’m not the same as before. I have a child now, I’m married, and I need a normal life. What happened back then is in the past. Bringing it up now does no good for anyone. Why are you doing this? If you hate me, go ahead and target me alone. Unlike you, I have a family to consider. You think I don’t know you investigated me?! Did you think about my situation?! Luo Mingjing, do you know my wife was doxxed by netizens? Her school forced her to resign voluntarily—she just gave birth and already lost her job! My in-laws’ entire family has been affected because of you… My brother-in-law was about to start a job, but now it’s gone, and his girlfriend left him… You don’t understand. You’re not in Haishi. Sometimes I have to admit, even after all these years, why are you still holding onto this? What outcome do you expect? Am I supposed to go to prison for you or suffer in your place?”
“Some things are in the past, and I know it’s unfair,” Luo Mingjing’s expression hardened. The last trace of complexity disappeared. He said coldly, “It has nothing to do with me.”
Li Xiang suddenly raised his voice. “I’m a father now. I’m putting this out there—if anyone scares my daughter, I’ll risk my life to fight you to the bitter end!”
With that, Li Xiang hung up.
Shi Min said gravely, “So, not an apology.”
“Perhaps the public attention… disturbed the child,” Luo Mingjing said. “I thought the heat had passed. Not exposing him would’ve been better.”
“Do you feel guilty?”
“No.” Luo Mingjing shook his head. “Just a bit regretful, but… I don’t want to forgive him. He was my childhood friend, but sentiment doesn’t matter anymore. I never intended for him to repay me—I just want fairness, an explanation. Repayment…”
Luo Mingjing let out a soft laugh, murmuring, “Can he ever repay me? My mother, the suffering I endured, almost my entire ruined life… Some things are too painful to cry over. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to stand up again. Can he possibly repay me for what I’ve suffered all these years?”
“Then prepare yourself mentally,” Shi Min said. “Seeking justice will inevitably affect his family, even his daughter. At the very least, his wife can’t escape involvement. Xiao Pi investigated—once this case is officially investigated, her relatives involved in the scandal will likely face suspension and investigation. Their lives in Haishi will undoubtedly be disrupted. But, Luo Mingjing, there’s no injustice here. This is the price they deserve to pay.”
“I know.”
Luo Mingjing’s other phone rang. It was Lawyer Huang Youwei.
“Good news,” Lawyer Huang said. “Little Luo, we just received notice from Haishi Public Security. Higher authorities have organized an investigative team to reopen the case. Let’s discuss a time to go to Haishi together. Your sister already sent me the photos from back then. The injury report will be out tomorrow. Things look promising for your rights defense.”
“Thank you, Lawyer Huang. You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s my duty.”
So, it was indeed because of the investigation in Haishi that Li Xiang, frightened, contacted him.
After hanging up, Luo Mingjing hugged Shi Min tightly, closing his eyes and exhaling deeply into her hair.
“He only thought to contact you now that the investigation is affecting his life,” Shi Min observed. “He’s a selfish man. So, I don’t want you to consider his future consequences during this rights defense. Luo Mingjing, listen to me—it’s all deserved.”
“I won’t pity him,” Luo Mingjing said softly. “No, I won’t.”
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