Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Yan

Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Yan

Lu Mingchao was slightly stunned and remained silent for a long time.

"Xie Yan, I can touch a magical space."

"Mingchao, I pretty much guessed it," Xie Yan's voice was light, like flying snow in winter, or willow catkins in spring.

"The fewer who know about secrets, the safer they are."

He hadn't entertained the thought of exploring it further.

But just for a moment, he extinguished the idea.

He only needed to know that Mingchao treated him with utmost sincerity and truthfulness.

The more unfathomable Mingchao was, the more at ease he felt.

Xie Yan kept massaging Lu Mingchao’s lower abdomen, his expression calm and serene.

"Xie Yan..."

"If you called me A Yan, it would make me even happier," Xie Yan looked up, meeting Lu Mingchao's gaze.

Lu Mingchao: ...

Her blessings were less important than a simple term of endearment?

How shallow!

Lu Mingchao hummed softly, reopened her book, and occasionally peeked at Xie Yan out of the corner of her eye.

Though she stared at the yellowed pages, the words barely registered. Perhaps at that moment, Lu Mingchao wanted more to read the book called Xie Yan.

What kind of family could raise such a youth with this kind of disposition?

Without the sound of flipping pages, the room was quiet.

Xie Yan teased, "Is this page particularly to Mingchao's liking?"

A sly smile flashed in Lu Mingchao's eyes as she waved at Xie Yan, "Come closer."

Xie Yan, confused, slightly tilted his neck forward.

Lu Mingchao lifted Xie Yan's chin, her tone bold and bright, "This particular book of yours really catches my eye."

"Can I take a little taste?"

Without warning, Lu Mingchao straightened up, her lips leaving a faint, light imprint on Xie Yan's right cheek, and the book fell onto the low table.

A breeze flipped through the pages, causing them to rustle softly.

The brief kiss left Xie Yan momentarily stunned.

A blush spread from his cheeks to his ears, the color as vivid as a ripe peach, bright and alluring.

It felt like a tiny pebble had dropped into his heart, creating gentle ripples that spread outward.

The stone sank into the sea, but the ripples remained.

While Xie Yan was in a daze, Lu Mingchao had already picked up the book with a serious expression, her eyes fixed straight ahead, as if she wasn’t the mischievous one.

Starting today, I’m going to be a bit more playful.

Just as Lu Mingchao expected Xie Yan to shyly look away, Xie Yan, with a flushed face, leaned in close. “Mingchao, you can also take a little taste of the left cheek.”

Lu Mingchao: Is Xie Yan planning to take the upper hand?

When it concerns her position in the household, how could she tolerate this?

Lu Mingchao draped her arm over Xie Yan’s shoulder, and her lips found his right cheek once more.

Xie Yan’s laughter was deep and joyful.

Lu Mingchao could even feel the vibration of Xie Yan’s chest.

“A Yan.”

“You should continue rubbing my stomach.”

Those warm hands are too good to waste.

Xie Yan nodded, his smile never fading.

A Yan.

It really sounds nice.

As time passed, the sound of the wind could still be heard. The warm yet cool sunlight tirelessly shone. Lu Mingchao leaned back in her chair, and at some point, she closed her eyes, first dozing off, then falling into a deep sleep.

Watching Lu Mingchao’s relaxed sleeping face, Xie Yan gently slowed his hand’s motion on her stomach.

This nap stretched on for more than half an hour.

When she woke up again, there was still a hand on her stomach through her clothes. The owner of the hand was as handsome as ever under the winter sun.

“I fell asleep, and you didn’t even take a break.”

Lu Mingchao’s voice was slightly hoarse.

Xie Yan softly said, “Not tired.”

“Would you like some water?”

Lu Mingchao shook her head. “I promised Jingyi and Ru’an I’d make some milk tea.”

“Back then, there was Zengzi who kept his promise by slaughtering a pig.”

“Nowadays, there’s Mingchao who makes milk tea, always true to her word.”

“You should try it too. Drinking milk tea under the cool winter sun can be quite delightful.”

Xie Yan slightly frowned. “No need to rush. We can do it anytime after these few days.”

“It’s alright.” Lu Mingchao said with a smile.

For someone so well-prepared, making milk tea was a breeze for Lu Mingchao.

Before long, the rich aroma of milk tea filled the air, tempting their taste buds.

Xie Jingyi looked up, her chubby cheeks wiggling. "Mother, is this milk tea?"

Her eyes were bright, and the drool hanging from the corner of her mouth was also glistening.

"Sanbao, watch your drool," Xie Ru'an handed over a handkerchief and reminded her with a smile.

Xie Jingyi hastily wiped her mouth. "I'm being very careful, but my drool doesn't listen to me."

Xie Ru'an sighed helplessly and carefully wiped her face, holding her little cheeks in his hands.

"Erbao, why is your drool so obedient?" Xie Jingyi tilted her head, her big eyes filled with pure confusion. "Can you teach my drool too?"

Xie Ru'an: "I can't do that~"

Lu Mingchao blew on her tea. "It's too hot, wait a bit before drinking."

"Sanbao, scoot back a little."

Xie Jingyi sniffed, her voice soft and sweet. "Okay."

Xie Jingyi sat on a small stool by the wall, her eyes wide and unblinking as she stared at the steaming milk tea, constantly swallowing her drool. She occasionally patted her chubby little belly, muttering to herself as if trying to calm her stomach.

Then, she started counting on her fingers, waiting for the time to pass.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

Twice again.

Xie Jingyi felt her eyes becoming tired.

"Alright, alright," Lu Mingchao handed out small bowls to everyone.

Xie Jingyi extended her pink little tongue, licking slowly at first, then gradually increasing her speed.

Lu Mingchao’s lips twitched slightly. "Sanbao, you can actually drink it like you would drink water."

It reminded Lu Mingchao of a puppy lapping up milk.

Xie Jingyi looked up, puzzled, with a milky ring around her mouth. "Mother, I am drinking it."

Lu Mingchao: ...

Xie Ru'an and Xie Huaiqian were far more composed and refined.

Xie Ru'an was naturally this way, while Xie Huaiqian perhaps had the natural bearing of a great general.

"Mother, this is so delicious."

Even while licking it, Xie Jingyi wasn’t slow at all.

"Mother, my tummy says it’s still hungry and wants another bowl."

Before she could finish, Xie Jingyi let out a contented burp.

Jingyi's small eyes darted around as she looked left and right, trying not to admit that she had burped.

Lu Mingchao took Jingyi's empty bowl and firmly shook her head, saying, "Everything in moderation."

"Jingyi, if you drink too much, your tummy will protest."

"Your little tummy won't let you eat anything else."

Jingyi looked down at her round belly, realized she couldn't see her toes, and then burped again.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop drinking."

"What do you think?" Lu Mingchao turned her head to look at Xie Yan, who was drinking in small sips.

Xie Yan said, "It's really good."

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow. "Does it feel a bit too sweet?"

His Mingchao also had sharp eyes.

Lu Mingchao chuckled. "Next time, I'll make something light and refreshing for you guys."

"Xie Yan, we're husband and wife; there's no need to be so formal."

Trouble comes knocking.