Cheng Liqi pushed open the door just as Cheng Jinlan had barely managed to tidy herself up. She propped herself up on the bed and opened her arms to Cheng Liqi. "Sweetie, come to Mommy quickly."
The tears welling up in Cheng Liqi's eyes turned into a smile as she drowsily ran over, climbed onto the bed, and nestled into her mother's embrace.
Cheng Jinlan touched her forehead—no fever, and she wasn't sweating. She kissed her hair. "Sweetie, did you have a nightmare?"
Cheng Liqi snuggled closer. "No, I just missed Mommy and wanted to sleep with you."
Cheng Jinlan gently stroked her soft hair with her fingers. "Sleep now. Mommy will always be with you."
"And I'll always be with Mommy too," Cheng Liqi murmured, breathing in her mother's sweet scent as she slowly closed her eyes.
Shao Chengze lay on the floor, using his arm as a pillow, one long leg stretched out casually and the other slightly bent. Listening to the soft whispers from the bed, his expression was tender. Anyone who didn’t know better might think he was lounging on a sunny beach by crystal-clear waters. He had never realized before that under the bed could be such a nice spot.
Cheng Jinlan counted her daughter's long eyelashes, rising and falling with each breath. The tension in her body gradually eased. Moving carefully, she turned and peeked under the bed.
Shao Chengze tilted his head to meet her gaze, his dark eyes crinkling with a brightness like scattered stars.
"Can I come out now?" he mouthed.
Cheng Jinlan was about to nod when Cheng Liqi turned over in her sleep, murmuring, "Mommy..." Cheng Jinlan quickly moved back, patting her little shoulder soothingly. "Mommy's here, sweetie. Don’t be scared."
Cheng Liqi drowsily opened her eyes. "Mommy, can you turn off the light?"
Cheng Jinlan reached for the remote, and the room plunged into darkness.
Cheng Liqi rested her head on her mother's arm and wrapped her arms around her neck, mumbling, "Mommy, can you sing me a lullaby?"
"Of course," Cheng Jinlan began to hum softly.
Her clear voice was especially tender in the dark. Cheng Liqi smiled sweetly in her half-asleep state. Listening to her daughter's steady breathing, Cheng Jinlan felt her eyelids grow heavy, her consciousness fading. Just before she drifted off, she wondered if she’d forgotten something, but sleep overtook her, and she fell asleep with her daughter.
The alarm clock jolted her awake. Cheng Jinlan opened her eyes abruptly—she remembered what she’d forgotten. Cheng Liqi wasn’t in bed. She turned to look under the bed, but no one was there either.
"Liqi!" she called, getting out of bed.
Cheng Liqi ran in from outside, holding a glass of water. "Mommy, you're awake!"
Cheng Jinlan steadied the glass. "Yes, sweetie. When did you wake up? Did you sleep well last night?"
Cheng Liqi took a big sip of water. "I just woke up. I slept great! I always sleep so well in Mommy's arms."
Cheng Jinlan tapped her nose. It seemed he had already left, and Cheng Liqi hadn’t noticed. She resolved never to let him in at night again—it was too nerve-wracking.
After quenching her thirst, Cheng Liqi remembered something important. She tugged her mother’s hand, her expression mysterious as she whispered, "Mommy, I think we have a 'Tianluo Girl' at home. There’s food on the table, and it smells delicious. Did you make it, or was it the Tianluo Girl?"
Cheng Jinlan ruffled her hair. "It was probably Grandma who brought it over."
"Ohhh," Cheng Liqi scratched her head. "So Grandma is the Tianluo Girl."
Cheng Jinlan eyed the food on the table—it looked freshly made. If he had left this morning, where had he slept last night? Surely not under the bed all night... though he had seemed quite comfortable there.
After washing up with Cheng Liqi, Cheng Jinlan checked her phone. He had texted around seven, likely when he left.
She asked, *Where did you sleep last night?*
The reply came quickly: *Guess.*
Cheng Jinlan refused to play along. He could sleep wherever he wanted. She set her phone aside and focused on breakfast with Cheng Liqi. Only after settling into her office with a cup of coffee did she reopen her phone. After replying to work messages, she finally checked his text—and nearly spat out her coffee.
It was a photo.
A toned abdomen with well-defined abs, one area noticeably bruised—probably from her kick the night before. She had admittedly used a bit too much force.
She typed furiously: *What’s wrong with you?*
First thing in the morning...
He called, but she declined. She wasn’t in the mood for his antics.
After the call ended, another message arrived: *Look closely at the photo.*
Cheng Jinlan considered blocking him again. Why would she scrutinize such a photo? To wake herself up?
As she swiped, she noticed the bruise—her doing. She had kicked him harder than intended.
Another voice message came: "See it?"
His voice was hoarse, with a hint of feigned weakness.
She couldn’t resist replying: *You’re so fragile.*
She’d only kicked him a little harder. Was he really hurt?
*This isn’t about fragility. A man’s waist is delicate. Can I get some compensation, Cheng? Just a little.*
He was milking a minor bruise for sympathy. Meanwhile, her own bruises from their last encounter were still fading after two days.
She replied: *You should see my body.*
The moment she sent it, she realized her mistake. Flustered, she frantically tapped to recall the message—but it was too late.
His video call came through immediately. Clearly, he’d seen it. She declined and silenced her phone, refusing to engage further. Work would calm her down—it always did.
Shao Chengze smiled as he put his phone away and returned to his office.
Yuan Zhongzhou, watching his friend, almost doubted this was the same Shao Chengze he knew. Was love really this powerful, melting an iceberg into a spring breeze?
He’d seen the Cheng family’s second daughter from afar—stunningly beautiful, but surely Shao’s obsession ran deeper than looks.
"When are you introducing her to us?" Yuan asked.
Shao’s smile vanished, reverting to his usual cold demeanor. "Why should I?"
"Just to meet friends. Hasn’t she introduced you to hers?" Yuan paused, a thought striking him. "Wait—does she even acknowledge your relationship? You see her as your girlfriend, but maybe she just sees you as a fling?"
Having never seen Shao pursue anyone, Yuan assumed his icy demeanor wouldn’t win over the Cheng heiress. Maybe she was just into his looks and stamina.
"Shut up," Shao snapped. "I’ve met her friends." He added, "And her parents yesterday."
Conveniently omitting their disapproval.
Yuan gaped. "Damn, you’re moving fast! Are you getting married soon?!"
Shao didn’t deny it. "Just prepare your red envelope. You’ll be notified."
Yuan was baffled. As a seasoned player, he was still single, while this stone-cold monk was nearing marriage. Where was the justice?
Shao tapped the desk, refocusing the conversation. "Update me on the company."
Yuan straightened. "Your planted bombs are detonating. Shao Zhangting’s mistress showed up at the office with his love child. Her relatives—professional hecklers, I swear—made a scene. Security ‘couldn’t’ stop them. The lobby’s a circus."
Security wasn’t trying hard. The manager’s wife had been ousted by Shao’s fifth or sixth mistress—he was happy to let chaos reign.
"And Shao Jingyun?"
"He’s holed up in his office, dodging creditors. Too busy to care about his new sibling."
Shao considered tightening the screws on both father and son to save time.
Yuan eyed the bruise on Shao’s forehead. "No word from your grandfather?"
"No."
"Will he agree to your terms?"
"His agreement doesn’t matter. Wu Jingyao’s the key. After decades with him, she knows his pride better than anyone. He’ll waver, she’ll panic, and that’s when she’ll slip up. I just need to wait."
Yuan admired his strategy. "You’ve sped things up lately."
"I’m in a hurry." Shao checked his phone—she was ignoring him today.
"Why?"
He was eager to share a bed with her openly—not get kicked under it.
Cheng Jinlan avoided his messages all day, knowing they’d be provocative. She had a dinner engagement that ran late. The humid night air clung to her as she stepped outside.
"Wait here, I’ll call Xiao Liu," Tang Yicheng said, loosening his tie and draping his jacket over his shoulder. He’d drunk heavily and was feeling the heat.
"Take your time." Cheng Jinlan scrolled through photos her mother had sent—Cheng Liqi asleep at her grandparents’.
"Car’s here," Tang announced.
But it wasn’t Xiao Liu’s car. It was the one in front—with Shao Chengze at the wheel.
He stepped out. "What are you doing here? Dinner?"
He’d asked her question first. She’d assumed he was stalking her, but now she wasn’t sure.
He took her bag. "I had dinner nearby. Saw you at the intersection and came over."
She eyed him skeptically but let him take her bag. Dressed in black pants, a white tee, and a baseball cap, he looked like his younger self—a style she preferred over his corporate persona.
"Need a ride?" He opened the door.
Tang discreetly stepped back. So *that’s* why Shao had texted him earlier—fishing for info.
Cheng Jinlan turned to Tang. "Have Xiao Liu take you home. Drink some honey water before bed. Come in two hours late tomorrow."
"Thanks, Cheng." Tang nodded.
She got into Shao’s car.
"Really had dinner nearby?" she asked.
He started the engine. "I did. But I chose the location after learning you’d be here. Wanted to ‘bump into’ you."
She rolled her eyes.
He glanced at her. "Mad?"
"You said it all. What’s left for me?"
He chuckled, squeezing her hand, recalling her earlier exchange with Tang.
"Why do you call Tang ‘Yicheng’?"
"Because that’s his name."
"Then why don’t you call me ‘Chengze’?"
She always used his full name, even in intimacy.
"Want me to?" she teased.
His voice dropped. "Yes."
She leaned in, her citrusy scent enveloping him. His throat tightened.
"Cheng—*cu*," she whispered, drawing out the syllable.
He blinked. "What?"
She leaned back, amused. "You’re like fermented vinegar—always sour. ‘Chengze’ doesn’t fit. ‘Chengcu’ does."
Shao Chengze: "..."
