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“Meiqiu.”
Cheng Wanyue walked to the bed, closed the tablet, and picked up the cat.
“You’ve already watched two episodes today. No more—it’s bad for cats’ eyes to watch TV for too long.”
Meiqiu pawed at her clothes, pulling her pajama neckline low.
Cheng Wanyue slapped its paw away. “Go learn how to catch mice. A cute kitten with no skills will be laughed at when it goes out to play.”
Meiqiu jumped down and circled around Qing Hang’s feet, softly meowing.
Normally at this time, he would scoop Meiqiu up with one hand, but not today. Meiqiu’s attempt at affection was futile.
Cheng Wanyue thought Qing Hang had improved, avoiding the “kind father, strict mother” routine. She sat on the carpet teasing the cat for a while before realizing his attention wasn’t on Meiqiu.
He was staring at the recovered earring.
The earrings Zhou Yu and Qing Hang had given her were very similar. That day, he had tried hard to find something similar, but they weren’t identical. Upon closer inspection, the differences were clear.
“Chi Yue found it,” Cheng Wanyue casually explained. “I went to ask for his help, and he returned it to me.”
“Where did he find it?”
“It got caught on him.”
“How did your things end up caught on him?”
“On the day Huo Zhi returned, I was harassed by strange men before going to the hospital to find you. Chi Yue happened to pass by and helped me. He drove me to the police station to file a report.”
Cheng Wanyue had mentioned this incident to Qing Hang, though she omitted many details. On the way back while packing, she chatted with him about Huo Zhi and Cheng Yanqing, introducing them beforehand so the meeting wouldn’t feel awkward.
The next morning, Qing Hang woke up early and searched for a long time at the place where the earring was lost. But since it had snagged on Chi Yue, even counting all the ants in that area wouldn’t have helped him find it.
“You didn’t tell me that Chi Yue was the one who took you to the police station.”
“Because he wasn’t important.”
Until today, Cheng Wanyue and Chi Yue had no real connection. She barely remembered meeting him at the bar.
She asked Chi Yue to help at the wedding because he didn’t have any unpleasant attitudes. Though he played in a band, he was respectful and polite. People with overly strong personalities might cause trouble at weddings.
Cheng Yuzhou had meticulously planned this wedding—it couldn’t afford any flaws.
“We didn’t exchange contact information. He sent me a private message on Weibo, which I only saw the day before yesterday. You didn’t think I deliberately sent you to look for the earring in the wrong place, did you?”
Cheng Wanyue wouldn’t have teased him like that even as a child. “What kind of person would do such a mean thing? Qing Hang, do you really think I’m that bad?”
“No, I didn’t think that,” Qing Hang placed Meiqiu aside. “Don’t be mad—I was just surprised. I’m glad you found something you cherished so much.”
Kneeling halfway on the plush carpet, he pressed one hand against the white fur and slowly moved forward. First, he touched her fingertips, gently rubbing her index finger before intertwining his fingers with hers.
He brushed her forehead and kissed the tip of her nose.
He had brushed his teeth twice—the faint smell of alcohol wouldn’t repel her.
Seeing her furrowed brows relax, he lifted her onto his lap. Her thin pajamas clung softly to his chest. Her hands were cold, so they slipped beneath his shirt hem. Meiqiu darted between the gap behind his waist and the bed, its tail brushing against her arm. Ticklish, she finally laughed.
Qing Hang naturally shifted the topic. “What will Uncle Cheng’s reaction be when he sobers up tomorrow?”
Cheng Wanyue sighed dramatically, pretending to be troubled. “If you don’t listen to him, it’ll be dangerous.”
Qing Hang replied, “The balcony is too far away.”
“You still want to climb the balcony?” Cheng Wanyue widened her eyes in surprise. “Isn’t that like sneaking around for an affair?”
She had guessed that Qing Hang wouldn’t obediently stay in the guest room tonight, so she hadn’t locked the door.
“We’re doing this openly—let’s use the front door. Climbing the balcony is dangerous. Even if you don’t die from falling, you’d still have to lie in bed for half a month. Cheng Yanqing would definitely hold that over your head forever.”
“I’m the one who has leverage over him.”
Cheng Wanyue raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
Qing Hang couldn’t help but chuckle. “When I was about to climb, he had already jumped to Huo Zhi’s balcony. I only had the intention, but he actually went through with it.”
Cheng Wanyue, “...”
Impressive.
“So you feel better now? My dad wasn’t targeting you specifically—he’s like that with Cheng Yanqing too. Even though Zhi Zhi is practically a daughter-in-law of the Cheng family, they’re not officially married yet. Every time Zhi Zhi visits, my dad forbids them from sharing a room. He’s quite traditional in this regard.”
She had always been free-spirited and never followed rules.
“It’s fine. Where there’s a policy, there’s a workaround. But don’t follow Cheng Yanqing’s example. He climbed the balcony because Huo Zhi wouldn’t open the door for him. I left the door open for you. Two knocks mean goodnight; three knocks mean you want to come in—I’ll understand immediately.”
Qing Hang chuckled, his chin resting against the nape of her neck. “Mm-hmm.”
Cheng Wanyue ran her hands over his abs. Sitting like this, the lines of his muscles were even more pronounced. “Mom’s already on board. As for Dad, whether it’s as a son-in-law or a foster son, he’ll call you ‘Dad.’ Once he sobers up and thinks it through, everything will be fine.”
“Son-in-law…” Qing Hang repeated the words softly.
“Cough, cough,” Cheng Wanyue pretended to cough, her mischievous hands moving upward inside his shirt.
Before she could do anything naughty, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her out. Leaning forward, he forced her to recline backward until her back rested against the sofa.
The straps of her nightgown had long slipped off her shoulders.
With one hand, Qing Hang pushed Meiqiu aside, and with the other, he supported Cheng Wanyue’s waist. His first kiss landed on her abdomen through the silk fabric.
Her short hair tickled her skin—it was itchy.
Cheng Wanyue kicked him, but he caught her ankle and spun her around, embracing her from behind.
From this angle, they could see the moon outside the window.
The city lights were bright, and there were few stars.
Cheng Wanyue thought about how he had worked overtime yesterday, taken an early flight today, and drank alcohol tonight. He must be exhausted.
“We’ve hugged, we’ve kissed—now go back to your room and sleep soundly.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Five minutes later.
Cheng Wanyue looked down at the arm draped across her waist. “If you don’t leave soon, I might have some other ideas. Did you bring protection?”
Qing Hang knew she was joking. “I did.”
“Where did you hide it?” Cheng Wanyue pretended to grope around. “Liar. Time to sleep.”
Qing Hang stood up as she pulled him, then pushed him out of the room.
He stood outside, waiting for her to close the door.
Cheng Wanyue handed Meiqiu to him, letting the cat accompany him for the night.
After closing the door, two soft knocks sounded from outside.
She knocked twice in response.
Goodnight, goodnight.
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