68
"Break up? How is that possible."
Outside the restaurant, Bian Xun gave a cold scoff.
Braving his brother's death stare, Bian Yang gestured wildly with his hands and feet: "I admit my sister-in-law is very pretty and does well in her studies, but you know Grandpa's temper. He would never allow a girl from an ordinary family to enter our household. He's already got people investigating her..."
What ordinary girl could handle that?
Bian Xun lowered his eyes, his narrow eyes sweeping over him with an unfathomable look.
You could say his emotional intelligence was low, but he certainly knew how to address her correctly. Bian Xun nodded inscrutably.
Bian Yang's romantic experience was the only thing he could beat his brother at. To be honest, he could tell at a glance that these two wouldn't last.
A girl looking like that definitely had no shortage of guys liking her. If she just had a normal relationship, she wouldn't have to endure all the troubles brought by a disparity in social status. Plus, his brother wasn't exactly the type who knew how to date or coax a girl!
Furthermore, his brother was someone who kept everything hidden in his heart and was used to operating in silence. This was very suitable for an heir, but it would definitely cause endless conflicts in a relationship—
At most half a year, or a year tops, they would definitely break up!
Bian Yang crossed his arms over his chest, drawing a conclusion based on his ample experience.
Bian Xun pulled his dark gaze back from the glass window, looked at him, and said lightly, "Unless she wants to break up with me."
Otherwise, it's not happening.
Bian Yang was stunned. Was his brother... actually putting himself in the vulnerable position in this relationship?
Bian Xun raised an eyebrow slightly with an ambiguous certainty, his eyes clear. "Otherwise, I'm going to be this happy for another dozen years."
Bian Yang: "??"
How was he so sure??
But the man's aloof and tall figure was already walking back into the restaurant.
One big girl and one little girl were sitting by the window.
As if that was his dozen years.
While memorizing the message his brother wanted him to take home, Bian Yang couldn't help but think: They look way too much alike!!!
Inside the restaurant.
After King Taotao punished the person who dared to mock her mother, she softly shrank back to her mother's side.
Ning Ye blinked after a long moment, feeling an unexpected soreness in her eyes.
She still didn't know the true meaning of being a mother. She just pushed herself to take good care of this child who had fallen from the sky, mimicking the maternal love she had felt growing up.
But at this moment, she realized that a child's love is mutual.
Like warm flames reflecting upon each other.
There would always be various problems in this youthful romance, which she had anticipated the moment she accepted Bian Xun. But she never expected that the child's appearance would dissolve the thorns within it, turning them into warm bubbles.
"Thank you, Little Grape."
Ning Zhitao lifted her little head while chewing on a meatball. What is Mommy thanking me for?
Ning Ye couldn't help but lower her head and kiss her cheek.
Thank you—
Even though I must have carefully and persistently overcome all those difficulties ahead in life to finally have you.
But thank you for bringing out an earlier, more confident and composed version of me.
Ning Zhitao covered her cheeks and smiled, her face flushed red.
When Bian Xun walked back, the two were chatting about something unknown, looking very intimate.
He looked down at his watch, then sat back opposite them with a breezy demeanor. "What are you talking about?"
Ning Zhitao looked up with pure and filial innocence: "I was asking Mommy if you two would break up—"
Bian Xun: "?"
Bian Xun looked down amiably: "No."
Couldn't she think of something positive?
Ning Ye also nodded. They couldn't let the little one have such worries. Otherwise, wouldn't she grow up living in fear of her parents divorcing? Her young heart would be too traumatized.
As she nodded beside him, the corners of Bian Xun's lips lifted again.
"Your family... is everything okay?" Ning Ye asked him.
"It was my cousin, nothing to worry about." Bian Xun briefly explained his family situation to Ning Ye, then looked up. "The other relatives are nothing to fear. It's mainly my grandpa who causes trouble. It's best if you both stay close to me lately, within my line of sight."
Approaching the New Year, that old man was most prone to acting up.
Anyway, he had already laid his cards on the table. If the old man overstepped his bounds, he couldn't be blamed for losing his temper.
After Bian Xun finished speaking, he checked his watch again, his gaze unnoticeably sweeping over Ning Ye's worried, furrowed brows.
"Don't worry too much," he said with a curled lip.
"Don't worry too much, Mommy!" Ning Zhitao held her after-meal dessert, slurping it happily. "Grandpa listens to me."
The two adults looked at her at the same time. "Grandpa?"
Ning Zhitao nodded: "Yeah."
Ning Ye was the first to react, turning her head away to hide a smile. The little girl was putting herself on the same generational level as her dad, huh.
Bian Xun closed his eyes and ground his teeth. "Ning Zhitao, it's time for you to go to bed."
"Okay, Daddy." Ning Zhitao checked her smart watch and indeed let out a yawn.
Even during winter vacation, a good baby must go to bed early and wake up early!
Bian Xun paid the bill and walked out, catching another glimpse of Ning Ye from the corner of his eye.
She hadn't noticed at all.
This little fool.
...
On the way back, Ning Ye took the initiative to hail a cab, setting the drop-off point at the entrance of Bian Xun's residential complex.
It wasn't far from the school. She planned to walk back to her dorm after walking Bian Xun and the child upstairs.
But just as they reached the bottom of the building, Bian Xun grabbed her wrist. "The kid wants to take a bath tonight."
Ah, Ning Ye also remembered.
During this time that Ning Zhitao had been with her dad, her baths must have been quite makeshift. Bian Xun would adjust the water temperature, let Ning Zhitao go in and wash herself, and then dry herself off. Bian Xun could only guard the bathroom door to prevent any accidents.
He had taken care of the child by himself throughout her entire finals week, hardly letting Ning Ye bear any burden. Ning Ye immediately felt guilty. "I'll do it."
The hot water splashed, steaming up the bathroom with mist.
Ning Zhitao finally had a fragrant bath. Mommy had lathered her with bubbles and blow-dried her hair until it was soft. She stood on a small stool, applying children's face cream by herself.
Ning Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief and raised a hand to wipe her sweat.
Her collar was slightly open from the heat, revealing a small section of her pale, slender neck and delicate collarbones that extended downwards.
With the start of the holidays, the challenge of being young parents had truly begun.
She had never bathed a child before, but she often watched videos of netizens bathing dogs to relieve stress. Now that she had finally experienced it firsthand, she broke a light sweat.
Taking care of a child was truly physical labor.
But taking care of a child's daily life was just one aspect. When the next semester actually started, what would they do about parent-teacher meetings and various parent-child activities?
Ning Ye took the water Bian Xun poured for her, her expression turning serious.
She had classes every day next semester, and Bian Xun was nearing graduation, so he couldn't be free every day either. But the child's situation was so bizarre that they couldn't just hand her over to others. The only solution was for the two of them to squeeze in time wherever possible, complementing each other to ensure one of them was always available.
Ning Ye spoke seriously, "Let's sync our schedules."
Bian Xun's gaze landed somewhere unknown. He looked away and sat down as well. "Alright."
This holiday, Ning Ye had part-time tutoring jobs in both the morning and afternoon. One family lived in the south of the city, and the other in the north, which meant a long commute that made it impossible for her to return at noon. These jobs had been arranged before Ning Zhitao time-traveled here. Had she known the situation in advance, Ning Ye would have considered turning one down. Now, she would try her best to space out her class hours.
In addition to that, she would spend her weekends visiting major hospitals in Jing City to look for any traces of her mother. She knew exactly what was wrong with her mother's health, so she only checked the relevant departments. Even so, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but she tried to minimize any wasted time.
All things considered, she didn't have much free time. Her only complete block of free time each week was from Friday afternoon to evening, because she didn't have to go to her second tutoring job then. It was her time to rest.
"I probably only have Friday nights completely free," Ning Ye said with an apologetic look.
At other times, she would squeeze in whatever moments she could to take over his shifts. If he had something to do, Ning Ye would ask for time off.
That was roughly it. It was the best she could do right now.
Bian Xun crossed his arms and listened for a moment. He watched her clear, calm almond eyes as she thought. They were like still, pure warm water; the hardships of life could only cause ripples that she would eventually smooth away.
She was always in motion—studying, working, or dealing with a little creature that suddenly needed her care. She always adapted and handled things as quickly as possible.
It was the first day of winter break. Most of her peers were probably lounging lazily at home, but she didn't have a single moment to relax.
But that was fine. Bian Xun would weave himself into her life, like fine, tight stitches locking her edges.
All of his programming now had a core line of code.
He nodded. "Okay."
Friday, then.
Her schedule was seamlessly integrated into his timetable.
From then on, Friday became Bian Xun's private holiday.
...
"Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad!"
After wiping her little face, Ning Zhitao waddled into the bedroom like a little penguin and immediately fell fast asleep, smelling sweet and fresh.
Once the child was asleep, only the two adults were left in the house.
The children's channel on the TV was suddenly changed.
In the spacious apartment, the presence of the man before her suddenly became too powerful to ignore.
Wearing only a thin shirt, he leaned back against the table. The fabric pulled tight over the flat, firm lines of his chest, abdomen, and arms. His lowered gaze was cool and profound, and a certain silent tension began to bloom.
Ning Ye suddenly recalled the iron-hard sensation of him pressing against her in the haunted house.
She instinctively grabbed her coat and stood up. A physiological nervousness surfaced at her fingertips, and her heart contracted and raced.
"Then... then I'll head back to the dorm now."
Bian Xun's dark eyes shifted. He slowly stood up as well, not stopping her.
He moved inch by inch with a noble, languid grace, hinting at something unspoken.
However, he put on his coat too and walked her back to the university.
As it happened, today was Friday.
It was already past nine o'clock. The residential compound was completely silent, save for the sound of their footsteps walking side by side and the ambiguous rustle of their clothes brushing against each other.
Bian Xun walked very close to her. The distance between them had long ceased to be safe. Her elbow and arm brushed against his chest, making it feel as if they were half-embracing.
His breath was faintly perceptible, occasionally brushing against her earlobe.
Of course, she had no idea that a certain someone was deliberately seducing her, keeping his chest muscles constantly flexed.
He appeared nonchalant, but in reality, he had completely encircled her within his territory.
Unconsciously, Ning Ye's memories were stirred, recalling his quiet, gentle kisses in the haunted house and the peppermint candy he had passed to her.
Bian Xun was truly...
She admitted that when she first liked him, it was purely out of physical attraction.
He possessed an aura entirely different from ordinary male college students.
He drew people in like a black hole.
Passing through the campus gates, the university was completely deserted. They walked along a quiet, empty path. As they passed the library and the streetlights flickered out, the tip of her nose suddenly felt cold.
Her eyelashes caught a tiny snowflake.
It was snowing in Jing City.
Ning Ye blinked and couldn't help but reach out to catch the snow. Her tense heart grew even softer and sweeter.
On a night like this, at a moment like this, she actually wanted a kiss.
And more... the kind of exploration that belonged to lovers.
But the person beside her remained silent, seemingly content just to quietly accompany her through the first snow of the year.
Ning Ye pursed her lips and looked up. Her dorm building was already close at hand.
Was this what being in love felt like? Her steps actually slowed down. Shielded by him in the snow, she finally mustered her courage and stood at the entrance of the dorm.
Well then, ending the day here was nice too!
Ning Ye reached out and grabbed the door handle of the dorm building. It was very cold. At the same time, a soft chuckle sounded from behind her.
The voice was very close, right by her ear. Bian Xun lowered his head. "Look at the notice."
Ning Ye's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She looked up and saw a notice posted on the door about an adjustment to the dorm curfew.
Ah!
Her counselor had mentioned it before, but she had been studying so intensely during finals week, while balancing her jobs and the kid, that she had completely forgotten.
Then... then...
Her fair ears stood out in the snow, slowly turning red, as if chilled by the wind and snow, or perhaps heating up. With her back to Bian Xun, she carefully studied the brief notice as if engaged in some monumental contemplation.
Bian Xun could hardly contain himself. He silently held back his laughter, watching her rack her brains.
Wickedly, he didn't offer to speak first.
Even though he had actually been thinking about this all day.
Finally, Ning Ye turned around. Her clear almond eyes were lighter than the snowflakes, and the faint blush on her cheeks was like a love poem. She quickly informed Bian Xun.
"If it's convenient, I'll have to stay over at your place tonight."
Her voice was soft, brave yet shy, as she took a small step toward him.
Bian Xun's heart took a massive critical hit.
She was curious too, cautiously exploring the adult world. She had thought about it for a long time—shy, yet honest, like a leaf with clear veins or a sapling with neat branches. In this winter where she had someone by her side, she tentatively reached out her fingertips, groping her way forward.
Fortunately, her hand was caught in his.
Ning Ye looked away slightly, not daring to meet his deep, starry eyes that were filled with a smile.
Oh my, making such an implication was really...
Bian Xun curved his lips and closed his eyes. He felt as if snowflakes were gently falling onto his heart, like fine white icing sugar sifted across the ground by the moonlight.
It was a cool sensation, leaving him aching and tender.
He opened his eyes and looked at the person in his arms.
The person he liked so, so much this year.
Could he do even better in the future? In the long run, would he be able to protect them forever? What kind of difficulties would they face?
He couldn't see that far ahead just yet. Bian Xun only knew that he wanted to hold her tight.
The campus had long been emptied of people. It was so quiet it seemed left entirely to the two of them. The branches divided the moonlight into crescent shadows that fell upon their overlapping shoulders.
"So—"
Bian Xun pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to kiss the burning corners of her eyes, chuckling with every kiss.
"You thought about it for ages."
"And all you came up with was how to reward me?"
Is that it?
