Chapter 55 Pursuit

Chapter 55 Pursuit

Miaomiao’s children’s suite came with its own bathroom and study. Ming Can had rushed straight to the bedroom when she entered, completely ignoring the other areas.

She took a deep breath, crawling from the head of the bed to the foot, from where she could see into the study.

Chi Xiao was seated at Miaomiao’s small desk, wearing a black hoodie without a hood, which made his fair skin stand out even more, his amber eyes as clear as crystal.

Noticing her head peeking out from under the bed, he raised an eyebrow, looking at her like a cat caught in the act, and said leisurely, “Good afternoon, Miaomiao’s mom.”

The air became thick with tension.

Ming Can glanced down at herself, clad in a beige striped loungewear set, casual and relaxed, but thankfully, the long sleeves and pants were decent and not revealing at all.

She hurriedly climbed off the bed, padding over to the study door in her slippers, gripping the cuffs of her sleeves, trying to maintain her composure as she asked, “What are you doing here?”

Sitting on Miaomiao’s small chair, Chi Xiao’s long legs were awkwardly folded, his body leaning back lazily. He replied calmly, “I couldn’t sleep, so I came to check on Miaomiao’s math homework and plan how to teach him next.”

Several math workbooks were spread out on the table, and his long fingers tapped them absentmindedly, his every move suggesting—

He was here for a legitimate reason.

And she.

Sneaking into her son’s room to whisper bad things about his father while the boy slept, was that something a person did?

Leaning against the door frame, Ming Can, knowing she was in the wrong, still put on a proud face and criticized him boldly, “Speak softer; can’t you see Miaomiao is sleeping?”

Chi Xiao nodded, “I’m sorry.”

His apology was swift, but there was no trace of remorse on his face.

Supporting himself on the table, he slowly stood up, his height suddenly towering over her, his gaze condescending and tinged with a cold arrogance.

Caught in the act of gossiping behind someone’s back, Ming Can’s defiance naturally waned. She didn’t look up at him, muttering softly, “Let’s talk outside; don’t wake Miaomiao.”

Although Miaomiao’s room wasn’t small, Ming Can felt confined, eager to leave and avoid having all three of them crammed in the same space.

Leaving Miaomiao’s room, Ming Can gently closed the door and glanced sideways at the man beside her.

He stood with one hand in his pocket, neither too close nor too far away.

But his presence was strong, his eyes lazily fixed on her, as if his gaze alone could pin her down, enveloping her in his aura.

Ming Can couldn’t help but recall the first few times Chi Xiao visited her home, acting like the most polite guest, his behavior extremely restrained and composed, never letting his eyes wander, always maintaining a very proper social distance.

Of course, he wasn’t standing particularly close now either.

But his demeanor had clearly changed.

As they spent more time together, he seemed less restrained, gradually allowing himself to invade her personal space and letting his gaze linger on her for longer periods, just as it did now.

Even now, Ming Can still believed that Chi Xiao, at his core, was a polite and well-mannered young man.

The increasing sense of invasiveness she felt from him—

Perhaps, it was also due to her own indulgence.

She indeed didn’t mind his actions.

For the first time in her life, she found that the approach and gradual integration of an adult male into her personal life was acceptable. The hard shell she usually wore seemed to soften naturally in front of him.

In any case, Ming Can didn’t object to his presence in her home or his gaze on her, but his current expression—smirking while looking at her—seemed a bit too presumptuous.

“What do you want to say?” Chi Xiao asked casually, “Here?”

Ming Can couldn’t help but glance at her clothes again.

Lounge wear was indeed too informal.

Her hair was loose, casually draped over her shoulders, and she wondered if it looked messy.

If she ran back to the bedroom to change into something more appropriate, it would seem like she cared too much about her appearance in front of him.

Forget it, this would have to do.

After considering Chi Xiao’s question for a moment, Ming Can lifted her eyes and met his gaze calmly, “Let’s go to the music room.”

She did have some things to discuss with him, hoping to persuade him to bring the piano over, so talking in the music room was a good choice. There were two violins she rarely played, a subtle hint.

The music room was at the far end of the living area, with a window facing east, spanning nearly thirty square meters, spacious enough to serve as both a music room and a gym.

Ming Can walked in and immediately noticed several unfamiliar pieces of exercise equipment next to the solitary treadmill.

Looking up at a tall piece of equipment that almost reached the ceiling, she asked curiously, “What’s this?”

“A high-pulley machine,” Chi Xiao replied casually, “for shoulder and back exercises.”

Ming Can nodded in understanding, glancing involuntarily at Chi Xiao’s shoulders and back.

Even in a loose hoodie, his broad and lean build was evident.

Previously, she had only seen his abs at the villa in the ski resort, but not his back…

Stop.

Ming Can’s lashes fluttered as if burned by a spark, quickly retracting her gaze.

She inwardly grumbled: Is he really treating this place like home? Buying so many expensive items without knowing how long he’ll stay.

Chi Xiao didn't notice her small actions.

His gaze swept over the violin stored in the glass cabinet, and he slowly blinked before turning his eyes to Ming Can, signaling that she could start speaking if she had something to say.

Ming Can took a moment to gather herself and said without blushing or hesitating, "It's almost the New Year. In my family, we always exchange gifts during the New Year."

Chi Xiao was taken aback.

He hadn't expected that a wealthy family like the Mings, with its constant internal strife and scheming, would have such a warm custom.

"How do you exchange gifts?" he asked.

If she directly demanded that he must give her a gift, it would seem too deliberate. Ming Can decided to use Miaomiao as a cover, which would also turn this activity into a fun parent-child interaction game, making Miaomiao happy.

Ming Can said, "If the three of us play, let's set the rules like this: put three slips of paper in a box, each with our names written on them. Whoever draws whose name has to give that person a handmade gift."

Miaomiao is so young; he wouldn't buy gifts himself. A handmade gift is perfect for a child like him, and it can also strengthen the parent-child bond. Ming Can thought her idea was simply brilliant.

She paused and asked Chi Xiao, "Do you have any objections?"

Chi Xiao replied, "No."

He was a bit dazed.

He hadn't expected Ming Can to bring this up.

Perhaps his life experiences were too limited; he had never played such a cute game before, and it felt somewhat unbelievable at first.

Ming Can nodded, as if assigning a serious task, "Then when Miaomiao wakes up, we'll draw lots."

Her luck in drawing lots had always been excellent; she got whatever she wanted.

The only time she didn't get what she wanted was in her first year of high school, when she participated in a lottery organized by the school club federation. She wanted to draw the most common prize, a calligraphy fan inscribed with "Pass Every Exam," but unexpectedly won a special prize—a burgundy wool scarf hand-knitted by a classmate from the handicraft club.

Although it wasn't what Ming Can wanted, wearing the scarf seemed to bring her good luck in exams, and she felt she had hit the jackpot.

As for today,

For a small lottery among three people, she would add a little cheating when preparing the slips of paper later. Drawing Chi Xiao's handmade gift was a sure thing.

Great achievers use every means at their disposal, and Ming Can was about to cheat for the first time in her life, feeling surprisingly calm.

She walked leisurely to the wall, took out a violin from the cabinet, and asked Chi Xiao casually, "Senior, what do you think of my violin?"

Chi Xiao came over, looked at the violin in her hands for a while, and said indifferently, "It looks nice."

Clearly an expert.

Why pretend to be a layman?

Ming Can placed the violin on her shoulder, held it firmly with her chin, raised the bow, and faced the bright window, playing a series of melodious notes.

Wearing simple and comfortable loungewear, she seemed to step onto a stage just by casually plucking the strings, elegant and dazzling, standing in the clear light, more radiant than the sun itself.

After a brief performance, Ming Can put down the bow, turned to look at him, and asked again, "How was it?"

Her long hair lazily draped over her shoulders, the ends brushing against the violin's surface, gilded by the sunlight, gently caressing her fair and radiant face. Her dark eyes looked up at him, filled with a smile, sparkling like a constellation of stars.

Chi Xiao said, "It sounds good."

Ming Can wasn't sure if he genuinely thought it sounded good or was just being polite.

In any case,

Saying two more words would definitely be a struggle for him.

She carefully returned the violin and bow to the cabinet, straightened them, and gently closed the glass door.

She hoped he understood that even if she stopped playing the violin, she could still collect violins.

With everything said, Ming Can felt much lighter and more at ease facing Chi Xiao. She blinked and asked, "If there's nothing else, I'll..."

"There is."

He interrupted her abruptly, facing the window, his handsome yet aloof face illuminated by the afternoon sun, his amber eyes nearly transparent.

Ming Can asked, "What is it? Go ahead and say it."

Chi Xiao lifted the corners of his lips, smiling leisurely, his gaze falling softly on Ming Can's face through his pale eyelids. His eyes, though faint, looked at her deeply, as if flames were dancing and expanding within them.

Ming Can's heart skipped a beat, and she shifted her weight backward, feeling an inexplicable pressure under his intense gaze.

It felt like if he kept looking at her this way,

She would fall into his eyes.

They stood face-to-face beside the cabinet, very close. Chi Xiao suddenly raised his hand, placed it casually on Ming Can's head, and gently ruffled her hair, saying softly, "A small favor, please."

This was the first time a boy had touched her head. The last time he tried at the ski resort, he only grazed her helmet, and she kicked him in anger. This time, it was a genuine touch.

Ming Can took a deep breath, thinking she could kick him after he finished speaking.

Chi Xiao quickly withdrew his hand, as if tasting just enough.

Realizing he wasn't kicked immediately, his smile deepened, and he slowly lowered his head, focusing on her eyes and saying:

"I want to pursue you."

The words came without warning, catching her off guard.

It seemed as if time and space had come to a standstill.

Ming Can’s lashes fluttered, her eyes clouding over as if she hadn’t heard clearly.

“I’m not putting on a show for anyone,” he said, his smile fading, enunciating each word carefully. “This is real.”

“A pursuit with the intention of a relationship.”

“Will you give me a chance?”