No? Can I read the mind of my mortal enemy?

Pei Jingnian's meaning was quite clear.

He already knew what it was.

In her panic, Shi Qiao blurted out, "This has nothing to do with you! I... I accidentally spilled water on it."

Pei Jingnian took another half step closer, his broad shoulders blocking most of the light source.

"Hmm...I see." He slightly curled the corners of his lips, his eye bags becoming more prominent, and he drew out the last syllable of his voice.

Honey, when will you ever be careless again?

I'm thirsty.

Just when Dang Qiao thought Pei Jingnian was already being unrestrained enough, his inner thoughts always managed to redefine the boundaries once again.

She frantically turned up her voice, "It's drinking water! Pei Jingnian!"

Pei Jingnian took the bedsheet from her hand, saying, "I didn't say it wasn't drinking water."

It's all the same anyway.

No, it will quench thirst even more.

As long as she's my wife, I'll obediently accept her.

Don't worry, honey, there won't be any left over.

Shi Qiao was at her wit's end; even the last bit of energy she had left to fight Pei Jingnian for the bed was gone because of his inner thoughts.

Rather, if she continued to argue, it would only make her seem like she was trying to cover something up.

She clenched her fists tightly, pushed open the glass door, and said, "Fine, whatever."

"Where are the pudding bread and cookies I asked you to buy yesterday?"

Pei Jingnian bent down to open the washing machine door, pretending to be serious, "Yes, I've put them all on the table for you, baby."

"I don't know what you'd like to drink. We've heated up some milk and cocoa. Which one would you like to pair with?"

"I felt like you'd like the nama chocolate from the shop next door too, so I bought a whole tray of each flavor." He was adjusting the washing machine settings, dawdling a bit.

"Who's your baby? Don't try to take advantage of me." Shi Qiao's gaze wandered, but unconsciously returned to the dining table.

In front of the main table were pudding bread slices cut into bite-sized pieces, and some of each flavor of cookie were picked out and piled into a beautiful cookie tower on an elegant little plate.

The steaming drinks, along with the creamy aroma of the desserts, wafted into her nostrils.

Pei Jingnian seemed to have anticipated that she would suspect him, so he deliberately placed the gift bag used to hold bread and cookies on the table.

There was also a special card attached to it that was only available for in-store purchases.

People actually queue up specifically to buy it.

Shi Qiao gripped the wall with both hands, only half her face showing. "Pei Jingnian, how did you do that?"

She was genuinely curious.

If she learns this time management skill, will she still worry about not being able to buy limited edition signed books in the future?

Pei Jingnian paused while pouring laundry detergent, then placed it on a nearby shelf and moved over to Shi Qiao.

"Want to know?"

"Professor Pei's lectures are not free."

As he leaned forward, his collar drooped down with gravity, revealing his collarbones and arrow-like points pointing towards the more obscure depths.

His dark eyes were fixed unblinkingly on her lips, his meaning clear.

Shi Qiao swallowed hard, trying to straighten her gaze. "Teach me or don't, it's up to you."

"Anyway, I won't need to run errands myself anymore!"

"I've eaten!"

She slunk away.

Seeing that Shi Qiao wasn't paying attention to them, Pei Jingnian immediately returned to the washing machine.

Open it up and take out that pile of pale yellow bedding.

Finding the sweetest spot, she lowered her head, her lips slightly parted.

It smells good.

His fingers clenched tightly, creating countless wrinkles.

It was as if, while doing something wrong, I had rubbed her into the thin sheet.

"Wife...I love you so much..."

The phone vibrated twice.

Pei Jingnian raised his head unhappily and took it out of his pocket.

He then realized that Lu Zhou had sent him several messages beforehand.

[Lu Zhou: This Gangdong area is really congested! I don't care, you have to reimburse me for the postage.]

[Lu Zhou: You still owe me a favor, did you hear me!]

[Lu Zhou: ? Damn it! They just took the stuff and then ignored me?]

[Lu Zhou: Am I just a loophole between you two, something to be used and then discarded?]

[Lu Zhou: 666, still ignoring me.]

When he sent the message, he was busy in his room smoking the stimulant he had just gotten yesterday and had no time to pay attention to Lu Zhou.

He sullenly put down the blanket in his hand and replied with a single finger.

[Pei Jingnian: Please don't.]

[Lu Zhou: What do you mean, "don't"? I got up at 3 AM to buy you those lousy cookies!]

[Lu Zhou: Didn't you ever consider what if I was still in progress?]

[Pei Jingnian: Lu Zi, you can just brag about these things to outsiders. I know your own limitations.]

[Pei Jingnian: I mean, don't fall for that trap anymore.]

[Pei Jingnian: Small ones are easily broken.]

[Lu Zhou: ?]

For a moment, he didn't know which of Pei Jingnian's words to question.

[Lu Zhou: If you provoke me again, I'll be waiting for your wedding night, sitting at your house.]

[Pei Jingnian: Whatever, I'm just afraid you'll feel inferior.]

Lu Zhou: ...

He simply couldn't win an argument with Pei Jingnian.

[Lu Zhou: Alright, let's get down to business.]

Lu Zhou called directly, "How long do you plan to keep those three people, Ruan something-or-other, locked up? What are you going to do with them?"

Pei Jingnian lowered his brows. "No rush."

"My wife..." He glanced at Shi Qiao, who was obediently eating pudding cake, his sharp eyebrows turning into a gentle breeze, "She still wants to slap them ten times herself."

Lu Zhou snorted coldly, "Alright, alright, you can continue."

"I'm worried you'll stretch your resources too thin. What if you explode before you even catch her and scare your wife away?"

Pei Jingnian lowered his eyes, buried himself in the pale yellow quilt, and gently rubbed against it.

Stop jinxing.

*

Shi Qiao ate until she was half full, then leaned back in her chair.

I have to say, it's really delicious.

It has a rich milky flavor while perfectly balancing the slightly salty taste of the butter, so it won't get cloying even after eating it for a long time.

She divided the remaining untouched bread and cookies into two portions, intending to give one portion to Youyou and one portion to Shen Chen.

She had just started packing when she caught a glimpse of Pei Jingnian coming out of the balcony with his phone in his hand, then lying down on the sofa and closing his eyes.

She stretched her neck slightly, and Pei Jingnian, resting his head on her arm, curled up a little as he squeezed into the sofa.

Her eyelashes drooped, and her breathing was steady.

Shi Qiao covered her heart, feeling a mix of emotions.

Oh no! Her conscience!

She silently re-divided it into three portions, and even added an extra piece of what she considered the best coconut chocolate for Pei Jingnian.

Next, she changed her clothes, carefully opened the door, and tiptoed to the entryway to change her shoes.

As soon as I touched the doorknob, the weight on my shoulder was lifted.

Pei Jingnian's fingers naturally rested on her waist, his voice trembling slightly with a hint of grievance, "Are you leaving?"

"Why didn't you call me?"

His head drooped, his stray hairs brushing against her slightly burning earlobes, his breath filling her ears.

"You don't need me anymore?"

"No, no," Shi Qiao said, fiddling with the hem of her clothes with her index finger. "I... was thinking... that you would get up at three in the morning to queue up for bread and stuff for me."

"It's been a bit tiring, so... we can take a break from today's pick-up and drop-off duties."

Pei Jingnian's body stiffened slightly, his breath lingered in the air, and soon, a clear smile appeared on his lips.

He crossed his arms and wrapped them around her lower abdomen from behind, pulling her towards himself.

It cannot be refused.

"I heard you feel sorry for me with my own ears."

"I'm so happy."

[I'm even happier that you're always willing to accept the role I play.]

Shi Qiao: !

Before she could react, his thin lips swiftly kissed her flushed cheeks.

His lips were moist and burning hot.

"Baby, I love you so much today too."