The baby slapped me, and I said, "Sit on my lap and slap me."

On the flight back to Beijing, Wen Yu used every trick in the book, acting cute and pitiful, crying and making a scene, almost threatening to hang herself.

It's just like a pitiful little green tea puppy whose food rations have been cut back.

But Su Qingyao's heart was as firm as a rock, and she was determined not to be swayed.

Just kidding, if I let him run wild like this, my back will have to retire sooner or later.

Wen Yu lowered his head, his bangs falling down to cover the dark emotions churning in his eyes.

He obediently buried his face in the crook of her neck, nuzzled her, and said in a muffled voice, "...Okay, whatever my wife says."

Go along with your wife first.

Mischievous ideas were swirling in his mind very quickly.

Anyway, hands don't count, and mouths don't count either... First, confuse your wife, and then get more sweetness from her.

We agreed on three days a week? He'll always find a way to make up for the remaining four days.

No more than twice a day? But it doesn't say that one time can't be equivalent to five, six, seven, or eight times.

He didn't lie to his wife; he was simply working within the rules to achieve sustainable development.

Having figured it out, Wen Yu raised an eyebrow and looked up with a soft, harmless expression, his eyes crinkling as he gazed at her.

Su Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief when she saw how obedient he was.

The two looked at each other and laughed. One thought everything was calm, while the other's heart was already churning with turmoil.

-

When the plane landed in Beijing, Su Qingyao didn't go home; instead, she had Wen Yu take her directly to the hospital.

She had been having a blast in Scandinavia for over a month and had so many fun things to share with her mother.

Wen Yu quietly stayed by her side, listening to her chatter about the aurora, sleds, her frozen red nose, and the warm venison soup. He would occasionally chime in with a few words, his gaze always fixed on her radiant profile.

When the caregiver, Aunt Zhou, saw Wen Yu, she was stunned and looked somewhat surprised and nervous.

Wen Yu gave her a brief look, and she quickly lowered her head, reverting to her usual composed and quiet demeanor.

Visiting hours end after dinner.

Wen Yu put his arm around Su Qingyao's waist as they walked out of the hospital building. A night breeze blew, and he suddenly pulled her into his arms, his lips close to her earlobe, his voice low and soft.

"Honey, does this mean I've... officially met your parents?"

Su Qingyao's face flushed, and she nodded slightly before turning around to stare intently at him.

"Behave yourself, my mom might be asleep, but she's conscious! If you dare treat me badly, you'll... hehe, you're finished!"

Wen Yu nodded obediently, "Don't worry, wife, I'll definitely do my best. How was your performance today?"

"It's alright, barely passing."

"My wife should reward me."

He smiled, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

"Will you move in with me?"

"Dream on." Su Qingyao blushed and pulled away. "I'm going back to my dorm."

Wen Yu's eyes darkened, but his face still showed that aggrieved expression.

"The dorm is cold and empty, and your roommate isn't here either. There are still ten days until school starts, and I'm worried about you."

"Don't try to trick me."

Su Qingyao poked his chest and said shyly, "As for living together... let me think about it."

Despite Wen Yu's resentful gaze, Su Qingyao resolutely returned to Peking University.

Wen Yu stood there watching her walk away until her figure disappeared into the dormitory building, then slowly put away the gentle expression on his face.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket, the cold light of the screen reflecting on his emotionless face.

He called Qin Yue to inquire about Song Yunyan and Zhou Yibei's recent situation, and his expression relaxed a little after learning that they were behaving themselves.

Su Qingyao returned to her empty dormitory and had just lain down when her phone vibrated.

Thinking it was Wen Yu, she clicked on it with a smile, but unexpectedly it was a message from Song Yunyan.

"Little Yaoyao, are you back from Northern Europe?"

Su Qingyao's smile froze, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face.

The last time I replied to him was more than a month ago, explaining that I couldn't let him pick me up at the airport.

After that, she went on a wild trip in Northern Europe and hardly checked her messages, but she posted frequently on her WeChat Moments, including photos of her and Wen Yu.

She scrolled down and saw that several posts had Song Yunyan's likes, and there were even private messages from him asking how her trip was going, but she didn't reply to any of them.

No matter what, Song Yunyan had been kind to her, not to mention their childhood friendship.

Su Qingyao thought for a moment, then opened the chat box, briefly explained her itinerary for the past few days, and apologized for not replying to the message sooner.

Song Yunyan replied quickly.

"It's alright, just get some rest these next couple of days. Are you free to grab a bite to eat the day after tomorrow?"

Su Qingyao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll book the restaurant."

"I'm older than you, so you have no right to make the decision. See you at Yunmu Restaurant at 7 PM the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, see you the day after tomorrow."

Just after I sent the message, Wen Yu's message popped up.

Honey, did you close the window properly?

My dear husband: "It will get colder tonight."

My dear husband: "I'm downstairs. Call me anytime if you need anything."

Attached was a photo taken from below, showing the lit window of her dormitory room.

Su Qingyao's heart skipped a beat, and she walked to the window to look down.

Under the streetlights, he leaned against the bus stop, looking up in her direction.

In the darkness, his expression was indistinguishable, only the blue glow of a lighter flickering between his fingers.

Su Qingyao made a video call, and Wen Yu answered immediately.

On the screen, his eyebrows were slightly raised, and the corners of his lips were lazily curved. Under the dim light, his face was so beautiful that it looked like a seductive ghost that could bewitch people.

"So proactive, honey," he said in a low, husky voice, "Missed me?"

Su Qingyao's ears burned, and she quietly pressed her hand to her wildly beating heart. "Why don't you go home?"

He chuckled softly, but his eyes remained deep and thoughtful.

"There's no point in going back home if I don't have a wife."

Su Qingyao's heart softened for a moment, and she deliberately asked, "So you're planning to stay downstairs all night?"

"Hmm," Wen Yu nodded, the camera zoomed in a bit, revealing the dark light in his eyes.

"Looking out your window, thinking about how your wife cried in my arms yesterday... it's not so bad."

Su Qingyao bit her lip. Even though they had already done the most intimate things, she still couldn't resist Wen Yu's words.

She abruptly changed the subject, "Why do you keep playing with your lighter? Is it a habit?"

"I used to smoke," he said casually, fiddling with the silver lighter, his fingers opening and closing it. "I quit, but when my hands feel itchy, I play with this."

"That's great!" she whispered.

"I don't like guys who smoke."

A low chuckle escaped Wen Yu's throat.

Silly wife.

I quit for your sake.

He had a mischievous thought in his mind, "What if I start smoking again now? Will you stop liking me then?"

Su Qingyao thought about it seriously for a while, then gently shook her head.

No, you're the exception.

Her voice was soft, yet earnest, "It's okay if you smoke... but you have to brush your teeth after you smoke before you can kiss me."

Hold.

Wen Yu's breath hitched, and his lower abdomen tensed.

Does she even realize that this kind of unintentional flirting is the most deadly?

He was thrown into a state of confusion by her casual remark, while she, on the other side of the screen, was still innocently considering the consequences of his smoking.

It's too clean.

It's so clean it makes you want to get it dirty.

"Wife."

His voice was terribly hoarse. The camera slowly panned down, sweeping over his bobbing Adam's apple and the faint outline of his chest muscles visible beneath his shirt, with an alluring quality.

Are you sure... you're not coming home with me tonight?

"Um?"