However, she quickly snapped out of the man's tender trap.
Si Nian hadn't forgotten the last time she provoked the older man and felt uncomfortable for several days afterward.
Just thinking about it made her legs go weak.
The saying that men in their thirties are like wolves and in their forties like tigers was indeed no lie.
She admitted she had spoken too loudly before about him being inadequate.
While of course anyone would want their man to be exceptionally capable in that department, if it happened too frequently, she would be the one feeling utterly drained.
Si Nian shivered and sobered up instantly.
"It's so cold, let's go to sleep," she chuckled twice.
Having said that, she hurriedly tried to bypass the man and get into bed.
The next second, a large hand grasped her waist from behind.
That hand was broad, scorching hot, and firm.
The sky wasn't completely dark yet.
Zhou Yueshen looked down, able to clearly see her delicate and lovely profile.
His tall, broad-shouldered body pressed against her from behind, leaning close to her ear, his voice again low and lingering: "Nian Nian..."
Si Nian opened her mouth and said slowly, "W-what is it?"
Zhou Yueshen hesitated for a rare moment, then said, "There's a method to keep you from feeling cold."
Si Nian's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately became wary. "No, I refuse."
After speaking, she quickly broke free from the man's embrace, burrowed under the covers, closed her eyes, and said, "I'm asleep, ZZZZZZ..."
Zhou Yueshen: "..."
On the day the Eldest Child and Second Child finished their exams and started winter break, a rare bright sun finally emerged.
Although the air outside was cold, it was much better than the dreary, gloomy weather of the past few days.
In the mountains, the air held more moisture, making it prone to dampness on overcast days.
Staying in such a place for too long could easily lead to rheumatism.
Just as Si Nian had carried her own quilt downstairs to air it in the sun, she saw the two little ones, hand in hand with their backpacks, bouncing their way home.
"Mom! Mom, I'm done! Today's test was super easy!"
As soon as Second Child saw his mom, he immediately let go of his big brother's hand and came bouncing over to Si Nian, saying with a proud face.
Hearing this, Si Nian raised an eyebrow. "Little Han is that amazing? Could you score eighty points this year then?"
Second Child nodded with exaggerated humility. "I think I can get ninety, and get a big red flower, even bigger than brother's." He gestured a super big size for Si Nian.
Si Nian laughed, feeling somewhat surprised.
When she first arrived, she had seen Second Child's test papers.
His Chinese scores were mostly around thirty or forty, and his math scores could even be in the single digits.
He had a kind of luck where even random guesses would all be wrong.
Over the past half year, although he had obediently studied and could now pass, Si Nian was still quite skeptical that a half-year could lead to such a dramatic turnaround.
Si Nian glanced at the little fellow standing before her, back straight, standing tall, clutching his backpack with both hands and tilting his head up.
She thought, if this child had a tail, it would surely be wagging like a puppy's.
"Little Han is so great, tomorrow Mom will buy you a toy gun!"
Si Nian patted his head in encouragement.
Zhou Zehan immediately broke into a satisfied smile.
Si Nian looked at Zhou Zedong standing quietly to the side. This child was older, had more psychological scars, and coupled with his set personality of being withdrawn and holding grudges, even though his attitude towards her had softened, his fundamental nature was hard to change.
An introverted and solitary personality destined him not to be as outgoing as Second Child.
"How did Little Dong do on the exam?"
Zhou Zedong immediately straightened up and said, "Mom, I did alright."
He probably glanced quickly at his younger brother and added, "I calculated, I didn't get a single question wrong."
Zhou Zehan blinked. You could calculate that yourself?
Si Nian looked at Zhou Zedong and smiled. "Little Dong is amazing too. What would you like? Mom will buy it for you tomorrow."
Zhou Zedong's eyes lit up. "I... I'd like that calligraphy practice book..."
After saying this, he quickly lowered his head and added in a small voice, "The one Mom bought before... is finished."
Si Nian was taken aback for a moment, then the corner of her mouth twitched.
Isn't practicing handwriting at home every day tiring enough?
Other kids let loose during winter break.
But he was something else.
Indeed, a top student's hobbies were different from others'.
She looked at the Eldest Child, her heart aching a little. "Little Dong, you're only ten. Burying yourself in studying every day will be exhausting."
The Eldest Child was stunned, unsure how to respond.
After saying this, Si Nian ruffled his hair. "It's winter break. Rest more, exercise appropriately. Staying cooped up at home all the time might stunt your growth, you know."
Hearing this, the Eldest Child immediately became anxious.
He had originally thought all parents liked children who loved studying, which was why he worked hard every day, spending all his time on studying aside from doing chores.
Other kids' mothers forced their children to study, but Mom was different.
Mom cared more about their feelings and physical health than their studies!
Mom was like the mom from storybooks.
Only the mom in storybooks could be this good.
The Eldest Child looked at Si Nian, his gaze full of gratitude and admiration. If Mom hadn't reminded him, he might have stopped growing.
He grinned, his smile as gentle and pleasant as a spring breeze in March. "Mom, I understand."
Si Nian rarely saw him smile. This smile actually made her pause for a moment.
The Eldest Child looked really handsome when he smiled, much gentler than his father.
Among the little ones at home, her heart ached the most for the Eldest Child. Being a bit older, he had to take care of his two younger brothers in every way, but never really treated himself well.
Second Child hurriedly chimed in, "Mom, I run to school every day. I'm the fastest runner in my class."
The little guy who had to compete in everything couldn't help but speak up again.
Si Nian couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, Mom knows you're the best. The weather's clear, go upstairs and bring your quilts and sheets down to air in the sun."
The two little ones immediately dashed upstairs.
Si Nian went to the kitchen to make lunch.
When she came out after packing things up, she saw the two kids placing several plastic bottles on the table. The bottles were filled with water and looked a bit misshapen.
She was puzzled. "What's this? Why are there so many bottles filled with water?"
Second Child immediately explained, "Mom, Dad made these for us at night. He said since Mom didn't want them, he gave them all to us to use. He told us to hold them while sleeping, they're really warm, and can warm our feet too."
Second Child was very happy because with these bottles, he was never afraid of the cold at night anymore.
Putting them in the bed beforehand made it so warm and cozy when going to sleep.
Si Nian was taken aback for a moment, recalling that night when the man said there was a method to keep her warm...
Could it have been this?
Si Nian: ... Letting your mind wander to the wrong place will only lead you astray.
What bad intentions could an older man have? He just wanted to boil water, put it in bottles, and keep her warm.
Si Nian: A person with impure thoughts hears everything as dirty.
— To myself
