Many children, many blessings; a stunningly beautiful wife is given to you right from the start.

Shen Qinghe was pulled into Lin Mo's arms, blanket and all.

This completely stunned her.

The man's burning breath enveloped her completely, the fusion of ice and fire making her stiffen.

In Shen Qinghe's mind, the little figure dressed in a noble lady's dress was frantically pulling her hair, jumping up and down, and about to explode on the spot.

【Aaaaaaah!】

He hugged me! He hugged me from behind!

My innocence! My adherence to moral principles!

however.

Another tiny figure, dressed in a thin nightgown and shivering in the cold wind, sighed comfortably.

"Wow...it's so warm..."

My uncle's chest...it's so hot...

Being held like this, I feel... I'm not so scared anymore...

Lin Mo could clearly feel the stiffness and slight trembling of the delicate body in his arms, as well as its breathtaking softness and curves.

Tsk.

The feel of this is amazing.

Lin Mo was secretly delighted, but he kept a straight face.

"Alright, stop overthinking and go to sleep."

He spoke as if he were a virtuous gentleman who could remain unmoved even with a woman in his lap.

But the hand wrapped around Shen Qinghe's waist revealed his true thoughts.

His fingertips, intentionally or unintentionally, traced the waistline of Shen Qinghe, which was taut with tension, and felt its astonishing slenderness.

After he did that, Shen Qinghe was no longer able to sleep.

She stood frozen in place, afraid to move, lest the big gray wolf behind her devour her.

But fate just loves to watch the drama unfold.

"Crack—Boom—!!!"

Another flash of lightning, followed by a deafening clap of thunder, seemed to rip the roof off the entire Qingya Residence.

"ah!"

Shen Qinghe's last shred of rationality was instantly overwhelmed by fear. She screamed and shrank into Lin Mo's arms, grabbing Lin Mo's arm around her waist tightly with her backhand, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

"hiss--"

Lin Mo gasped.

Goodness, that power! Did he practice the Nine Yin White Bone Claw?

He looked down and saw that the beauty in his arms was trembling like a leaf, her face buried in the quilt, only her watery eyes filled with terror showing.

Seeing Shen Qinghe's pitiful appearance, on the verge of tears, Lin Mo's slight resentment at being scratched vanished instantly.

Oh well, never mind.

Who told me to be so chivalrous?

Instead of getting angry, he hugged her even tighter, gently resting his chin on the top of her fragrant hair, and whispered in her ear in a tone that coaxed a child.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's just thunder, it won't strike you."

Let me tell you a joke, and you won't be afraid after hearing it.

Shen Qinghe trembled and remained silent.

Lin Mo didn't care whether she was listening or not, and continued talking to himself.

"Once upon a time, there was a mountain, and on the mountain was a temple..."

Shen Qinghe: "?"

What time is it? How can my uncle still be in the mood to tell stories for children?

Lin Mo continued speaking.

"There was an old monk in the temple telling stories to the young monks. What were they telling?"

He paused deliberately, then asked in a mysterious tone.

"It tells the story of... once upon a time, there was a mountain, and on the mountain lived a temple..."

Shen Qinghe: "..."

Is this... a joke?

Why...isn't it funny at all?

But... why do I feel less panicked when I listen to his nonsense?

Lin Mo's deep, steady voice acted like a tranquilizer, forcefully injecting into Shen Qinghe's chaotic thoughts.

The thunder outside the window continued, but with that sound as a companion, all the fear seemed to be kept outside this small bed.

Shen Qinghe gradually stopped trembling.

The hand gripping Lin Mo's arm unconsciously loosened its grip, but it still lingered on that strong arm, reluctant to let go.

"I...I've been afraid of thunder since I was a child."

In the darkness, she finally mustered her courage and spoke softly.

"When I was little, whenever there was thunder, my mother would hold me and sing me a folk song from Jiangnan."

"Later... my mother passed away, and I was left all alone, with this zither to keep me company."

"Then... the Shen family fell from grace, and I married into the Lin family... all that was left was this zither..."

Shen Qinghe choked up.

Lin Mo listened quietly without interrupting.

He could sense that this seemingly delicate and artistic goddess was actually incredibly stubborn at heart.

Her world was very small, so small that it consisted of only a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument), which served as the repository for all her emotions.

That's why she broke down so much when even this only hope was in danger of being destroyed.

Don't worry.

After she finished speaking, Lin Mo slowly opened his mouth.

"I'll put the instrument back together for you tomorrow after it's dried, and not a single part will be missing."

He paused, his voice lowering.

"Besides, you're not alone anymore."

"Think about it, you now have an eldest sister, a second sister, a third sister, a fourth sister, and a fifth sister."

"Oh right, there's also the seventh sister, the eighth sister, and the ninth sister."

Lin Mo's voice slowly spread in Shen Qinghe's ears.

"And you also have..."

"I."

Lin Mo gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head.

"Although it's only in name for now, your husband is so outstanding, making it official is just a matter of time, isn't it?"

Husband...

He... finally admitted that he was his...

and……

yes……

I am no longer alone.

She had always kept herself locked in the small courtyard of Qingya Residence, in her own world.

But actually, without realizing it, she already had so many family members.

The gentle eldest sister, the straightforward second sister, the intelligent third sister...

and also……

And... this man holding her.

This man, who appears glib and smooth-talking, can actually keep all the storms of life at bay.

Shen Qinghe felt as if her heart was filled with something.

It feels warm and full.

Before I knew it, the torrential rain outside the window had turned into a light drizzle, gently tapping on the windowpane like a lullaby.

Inside the room, only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and... two intertwined, increasingly rapid heartbeats remained.

The embrace, originally meant to comfort fear, has completely changed its meaning at this moment.

The tense atmosphere disappeared, replaced by an ambiguous feeling that made people blush, their hearts race, and their mouths dry.

Just then, Lin Mo's hand, which had been obediently wrapped around Shen Qinghe's waist, suddenly started to wander again.

His fingers slowly traced the waistband of her nightgown, his fingertips hooking the thin strap and gently lifting it.

Feeling the loosening around her waist, Shen Qinghe trembled.

But then, the stiff body gradually relaxed and softened.

She could clearly feel the burning heat of his chest behind her, and the increasingly inappropriate hand that was setting her on fire all over.

However, her eyes were no longer shy; instead, she suddenly turned around in his arms.

In the darkness, the two faced each other, their breaths audible.

Lin Mo could even smell the delicate fragrance of orchids in her breath.

He couldn't see her expression, but he could feel a burning gaze fixed firmly on his face.

next second.

A soft, warm touch was precisely imprinted on his lips.

That kiss was awkward and clumsy, like a fawn tentatively licking.

But that resolute determination to risk everything was clearly conveyed through this simple touch.

Instantly separate.

Shen Qinghe buried herself in Lin Mo's chest, her slender arms tightly encircling his strong back.

Her warm, fragrant body gently embraced her.

A soft, almost inaudible murmur escaped from Shen Qinghe's lips.

"My husband..."

"You...take me..."