On the elegant, high-end spiral staircase, a tall, handsome man led a slender, radiant woman upward.
The sound of his shoes stepping on the stairs revealed his urgency.
The deep, heavy footsteps landed one after another on the floor, and simultaneously, into Song Xinya's heart.
The higher they went, the faster her heart beat.
Qin Yuhe walked with such rushed steps that the ten boxes of mulberries he held in his other hand tottered precariously.
With a thud, a box of mulberries fell onto the stairs.
The plastic box hit the floor and popped open, sending mulberries tumbling out one after another, as if scrambling to escape.
Song Xinya instinctively reached out to pick them up.
Qin Yuhe said, Don't waste our precious evening time picking up mulberries.
Song Xinya was speechless.
He truly lived up to the name King of Haste; he was really in a rush.
They passed the spiral staircase and arrived at the second-floor corridor.
Song Xinya thought to herself that since they were already on the second floor, a little extra time wouldn't matter. He shouldn't be in such a rush anymore.
But he pulled her into a run.
The wind whistled past her ears, and the hem of her skirt fluttered and billowed like red waves.
Her smooth, long hair drifted in the air like dissipating ink-black smoke. In the dim lighting, it looked hazy and soft, swirling and swaying, as beautiful as a wondrous dream in an ink wash painting.
Song Xinya's hand was held firmly by Qin Yuhe as she followed his pace and ran forward.
Looking at his back, the corners of her red lips curled into an upward arc, harboring a shy blush.
Mr. Qin seemed exceptionally hungry...
On the first floor, Song Tingye and Qin Yuyan were thirsty and came out of their rooms to get some water.
The two of them saw the couple running upstairs.
Song Tingye asked, My sister and brother-in-law are running in such a hurry. Did something major happen?
Qin Yuyan replied, I feel like my brother is the one in a hurry, because my sister-in-law is completely being dragged forward by him.
Song Tingye cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouted, Brother-in-law, do you need my help?
Qin Yuhe yelled back, Say one more word, and I'll punish you with ten sets of Chinese exam papers!
Song Tingye complained, Sister, look at brother-in-law! He's punishing people for no reason.
Song Xinya shouted, Say one more word, and I'll punish you with one hundred sets of Chinese exam papers!
Song Tingye turned his head to look at Qin Yuyan. Those two must have been King Zhou of Shang and Daji in their past lives. That's why they're tormenting an innocent citizen like me.
Qin Yuyan, thinking of how much Song Tingye usually took care of her, said, Brother Ye, I'll back you up.
She cupped her hands into a small megaphone and yelled upstairs, Brother...
Qin Yuhe replied, Ten sets of math exam papers.
Qin Yuyan called out, Sister-in-law...
Song Xinya replied, One hundred sets of math exam papers.
Qin Yuyan turned around and walked toward the kitchen. I think we should just go drink our water.
Song Tingye agreed, We're just kids, why should we argue with those two adults? They are older, so we should be more accommodating toward them.
Qin Yuyan nodded heavily. Uh-huh.
After drinking their water and walking back, they passed the spiral staircase. Song Tingye had sharp eyes and spotted the dropped box of mulberries.
Those two adults are too immature. Throwing perfectly good fruit on the ground—what a reckless waste of God's gifts and good food. Don't they know how hard the farmer uncles work?
Song Tingye walked up and gathered all the scattered mulberries back into the box.
After washing them again, he tasted one mulberry. This fruit is exceptionally delicious.
Qin Yuyan said, Let me try one too.
Once they started, things got out of hand. Their mouths simply couldn't stop, and they ended up eating all the mulberries Qin Yuhe had bought.
...
Bang—the bedroom door was pushed open with formidable force.
Song Xinya was tossed onto the bed by Qin Yuhe.
Tossed onto the bed alongside her were the nine boxes of mulberries.
Lying in the middle of a pile of mulberries, Song Xinya felt as if she were a mulberry herself.
Destined to be eaten.
Qin Yuhe pressed one leg against the mattress, his lean and muscular body leaning over her.
Song Xinya braced her hands against his firm chest, her palms curling slightly at the scorching heat radiating from him.
Take a shower first.
Qin Yuhe replied, Let's do it once first, then shower.
... Song Xinya protested, That's not how it works. The procedure is always to shower first, and then do that.
Qin Yuhe countered, You aren't a robot, why follow a procedure? We should just do whatever feels best.
Song Xinya argued, You might feel good, but if you don't pay attention to hygiene, what if I get a gynecological infection?
Qin Yuhe said, Would skipping a shower just once give you an infection? Am I really that dirty?
Despite his words, he still respected her wishes, prioritizing her health, and straightened his body.
Actually, I already took a shower today. Before coming back to Jingbei to see you, I washed up.
That was why he had pressed her down the moment they entered the bedroom.
Of course, since his wife cared more about hygiene, he would definitely cooperate with her.
I'll go shower again.
He unbuttoned his shirt as he walked toward the bathroom.
Knowing he was in a hurry, Song Xinya also cooperated. To save time, she went to the next room to shower.
When she finished showering and returned to the bedroom, she saw Qin Yuhe shirtless, wearing only a pair of gray sweatpants, eating mulberries.
Out of the nine boxes of mulberries, eight were already empty!
Song Xinya suddenly grew terrified, unable to even take a step forward.
Why on earth was he eating so many mulberries!
