Chapter 24

Cheng LiQi said, then closed up the gaps between her fingers, covering her eyes tightly.

Shao ChengZe retreated a step awkwardly, gritting his teeth as he tried to explain the situation to his daughter, "Mom is asleep. Dad wanted to carry Mom to the bedroom."

Cheng LiQi opened up the gaps between her fingers again. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked at everything with her big eyes. She was considerate of her dad and didn't poke holes in his story further. She just went along with his words, saying, "Mom's room is next to mine. Dad, you have to carry Mom gently and not wake her up."

"Okay, will little LiQi lead the way for Dad?"

Shao ChengZe couldn't make eye contact with his daughter now. This was the first time in his life that he felt so awkward.

"Okay, Dad." Cheng LiQi turned around and walked in front, leading the way for her dad.

Shao ChengZe supported Cheng Jinlan by the waist and carried her horizontally in his arms. Cheng Jinlan frowned and opened her blurry, drunk eyes. Seeing the person in front of her, the creases between her brows smoothed out. Her fingers lightly touched his jaw, going upwards until they reached his ears. She mumbled softly, "Shao ChengZe, why are your ears red?"

Shao ChengZe's shoulders stiffened. Her voice was so slurred that he couldn't help but call out softly, "Miao Miao."

"Mm." Cheng Jinlan responded indistinctly. She wriggled around in his arms to find a comfortable position and fell back asleep.

She was really drunk, otherwise she would never have let him get so close to her, let alone initiate such intimate touches.

Cheng LiQi led her dad into her mom's room. She tiptoed and stretched out her little arms to flip open the blanket. She patted the pillow, "Dad, you have to put Mom down gently and slowly."

"Okay."

Shao ChengZe gently and slowly placed the woman in his arms onto the bed. He took the thin quilt to cover her body, tucking in the corners neatly. Cheng Jinlan's back touched the soft bed. Her arms hugged the blanket as she fell into a deep sleep.

Cheng LiQi stood at the side watching her dad's actions. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay, Dad. Let's not disturb Mom's sleep now." Cheng LiQi took her dad's hand and said softly, "Let's go out."

Shao ChengZe bent down to carry his well-behaved little one. He turned off the lights and left the room, leaving the door ajar.

Cheng LiQi drank a big glass of water and lay back in bed. She didn't want to listen to Dad tell stories anymore. To use her big uncle's words, she wouldn't make things difficult for him or herself.

"Dad, sing me a song. Sing the nursery rhyme you sang the other day. Dad's singing is the best."

"Okay." Shao ChengZe patted her shoulder gently as he sang the low, melodious tune that slowly filled the room.

Cheng LiQi felt very comfortable being patted by her dad. Listening to her dad's singing by her ear was better than listening to it on the phone. The overlapping drowsiness made her whole body relax. Her heavy eyelids slowly drooped down.

Suddenly, there was a loud rumble of thunder and lightning outside. The gloomy sky all day seemed to burst open as heavy rain poured down.

Cheng LiQi was just about to fall asleep. She was startled awake by the thunder, sitting up in bed anxiously as she looked at her dad, "Dad, it's thundering outside."

She was most afraid of thunderstorms.

Shao ChengZe covered her ears and held her in his arms, gently coaxing her, "Little LiQi isn't scared. Dad is here. Dad will stay with you." Cheng LiQi asked Shao ChengZe, her voice aggrieved, "Dad, can you not go back home tonight? I'll be scared."

"Okay, Dad will stay here tonight."

Hearing her dad's words, Cheng LiQi slowly calmed down. She hugged her dad's arm, "With Dad accompanying me, I won't be afraid. After I fall asleep, Dad can sleep on the sofa in the living room. The sofa is soft and comfortable to sleep on." She thought of something else, "If Dad stays over, you can also take care of Mom in the morning. Mom hasn't been feeling well these two days."

Shao ChengZe's eyelashes were gentle, "Our little LiQi is so smart."

Cheng LiQi smiled. Her clear eyes looked earnestly at her dad, "Dad, boys cannot secretly kiss girls."

Shao ChengZe's expression froze again, but he also knew he couldn't deny it anymore. He sincerely promised his daughter, "Dad remembers."

Teacher Cheng nodded, "Dad, do you want me to keep it a secret and not let Mom know you wanted to secretly kiss her?"

Shao ChengZe stroked her hair, "If little LiQi is willing."

Cheng LiQi thought about it, "I can only keep this kind of secret for Dad once. There's a phrase 'this will not happen again'. It means that if you make a mistake, you only get one chance. I'll forgive you this time, but you can't do it again next time."

Shao ChengZe felt utterly ashamed, "Thank you little LiQi for giving Dad a chance."

"You're welcome, Dad."

Cheng LiQi covered her mouth as she yawned drowsily. She really was tired. Today was already an hour later than her usual bedtime. Although the thunder outside was still continuing, Mom was sleeping next door and Dad was by her side, so she had nothing to fear. Before long, her breathing evened out.

Only when his daughter was fast asleep did Shao ChengZe slowly withdraw his arm and get up. His legs were numb from squatting, so he stood in place for a while to recover. The thunder was getting louder and louder, as if wanting to split the sky open. She didn't like thunderstorms. He turned and went to stand by the door of the next room to check on the situation inside.

Cheng Jinlan was half-asleep. There was an indescribable discomfort in her body. Her stomach felt unwell from drinking too much, and her lower abdomen felt uneasy because of her period. With the loud rumbling thunder, she tossed and turned in bed, flipping around like a pancake. No matter how she lay, she felt uncomfortable.

Shao ChengZe walked to the bedside, leaning down to ask softly by her ear, "Where does it feel uncomfortable?"

Cheng Jinlan mumbled, "Stomach."

Shao ChengZe's hand covered her stomach, gently massaging it, "Does this feel a little better?"

His hands were big. As he moved, the warmth from his palms passed through her thin pajamas. The tearing pain in her stomach alleviated significantly. Cheng Jinlan sank her head further into the pillow, "Press harder."

Shao ChengZe exerted more strength with his hands, "Like this?"

Cheng Jinlan let out a soft moan. This felt comfortable. She was too lazy to respond.

After a while, Cheng Jinlan mumbled, "Thirsty."

Shao ChengZe leaned in closer to listen, "Where else feels uncomfortable?"

"Thirsty." Cheng Jinlan unconsciously responded according to his words.

"I'll go get you water."

Just as Shao ChengZe was about to remove his hand, Cheng Jinlan reached out to press his hand back down, dissatisfied, "Don't stop."

Shao ChengZe continued massaging her as he asked, "Do you still want to drink water?"

"Want. Thirsty."

Shao ChengZe smiled helplessly, "Let me go get water for you first. Very quick, won't even take a minute. Then I'll continue massaging, okay?" Cheng Jinlan contemplated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing to his proposal, "Then be quick."

"Okay." Shao ChengZe responded.

Though he said it would be quick, it still didn't end up very fast. Shao ChengZe had to find a cup and honey to mix a cup of warm honey water.

With a cup in each hand, he supported her up, "Miao Miao, sit up to drink water."

"You're so slow." Cheng Jinlan grumbled dissatisfiedly with half-closed eyes.

Shao ChengZe admitted his mistake, "Sorry."

When the water was brought to her lips, Cheng Jinlan took a small sip first. It was slightly sweet and not bad tasting, so she slowly drank it in small mouthfuls.

In the end, she still drank too hurriedly, causing water to flow from the corners of her mouth.

Shao ChengZe placed the cup on the bedside table. His fingers on her cheek intercepted the trickling honey water, sliding upwards from her cheek to stop at the corners of her lips without leaving.

Her cherry lips glistened with the honey water under the dim, warm yellow lamplight, shining with a rosy luster.

It was a bright, overt temptation, hooking people towards an abyss of no return.

As if knowing his thoughts, her hands wound around his neck as she lightly tilted her head up, gazing at him hazily as if waiting for his kiss.

This scene was extremely similar to a rainy night many years ago.

The beast in his heart slowly awakened, breaking out of its shackles and cage, howling and roaring.

However, his daughter's words were like a tightening spell around his head, repeatedly sounding by his ear.

In the end, Shao ChengZe turned his head away.

Cheng Jinlan seemed dissatisfied. Her fingers gripped his chin to make him face her again. She kissed him in a manner that did not allow him to evade.

Shao ChengZe hesitated for a moment, but it was just a moment. The next second, he took control, caressing, embracing, and gently nibbling those cherry red lips that had appeared countless times in his dreams.

The dreamscape had entered reality. He couldn't distinguish whether this was currently a dream or if the softness in his arms, the warmth on his lips, the breath in his mouth, were truly his to possess.

The moment their tongues touched, Cheng Jinlan suddenly opened her eyes. The drunkenness seemed to clear from her eyes. Her fingers touched his face as she frowned. Her tongue retreated and her teeth bit down on the corner of his lips without holding back any strength. The taste of blood spread. Her lips pressed against his lips...as she fell asleep.

The heavy rain turned to a light drizzle that continued through the night. On the clear morning after the early summer rain, there was dazzling sunlight, the fragrance of flowers, and birdsong.

The doors of the two adjoining rooms opened simultaneously. A big and small figure stood in the doorway in identical postures.

Cheng Jinlan had woken up groggy. One hand grasping the doorknob and the other rubbing her messy hair, wanting to make herself more awake.

Cheng LiQi had just woken up and was still in a daze. One hand grasping the doorknob and the other rubbing her messy hair, unclear about where she was right now.

Shao ChengZe walked over from the living room wearing a white shirt and apron, still holding a ladle in his hand.

The mother and daughter duo were stunned seeing him. Their blurry vision gradually became clear. Both pairs of eyes landed on the obvious wound at the corner of his mouth at the same time.

There was bewilderment in Cheng LiQi's eyes.

There was murderous intent in Cheng Jinlan's eyes.

Then...the memories that had died amidst last night's thunder began attacking her muddled brain.