Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Overate
He gently pinched her cheek. "Why did you sneak out here to mop the floor?"
Xia Liang’s touch made Xi Yiqian shut her eyes in embarrassment. "The bathroom floor was wet and slippery. I was afraid you guys might get up in the middle of the night and fall."
What a kind girl. Xia Liang thought, shaking his head. He gently tapped the bridge of her nose. "Let me help," he offered.
Xi Yiqian quickly stood up and nodded, her face flushing. "Okay."
Xi Yiqian took the mop and started cleaning up the water, while Xia Liang was in charge of wringing it dry. Working together, they had the bathroom cleaned up in just five minutes.
After setting the mop aside, Xia Liang patted Xi Yiqian’s head. "Alright, time for bed."
"Okay."
The moment Xi Yiqian agreed, Xia Liang suddenly scooped her into his arms. Her heart, which had just calmed down, began to race again.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Xia Liang gave her a playful look. "What am I doing? Can you stop me?"
"I... I..." For a moment, Xi Yiqian didn’t know what to say, and could only pout up at him.
Seeing her expression, Xia Liang stopped his teasing. "I’m just kidding. It’ll be pitch-black when I turn off the light. You’re so clumsy, I’m worried you’ll fall."
With that, Xia Liang switched off the light, and the room was plunged into darkness. Startled, Xi Yiqian instinctively threw her arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest.
"Don’t be afraid," Xia Liang soothed her gently, carrying her toward her room.
He opened the door and placed her on the bed. After watching her get settled under the covers, Xia Liang gave her a little wave. "Alright, sleep well... good night."
Hugging her blanket, Xi Yiqian nodded. "Good night."
CLICK.
He turned off her light, quietly closed the door, and returned to his own room.
「The next day」
A knock on the door woke Xia Liang up. From the other side, he heard Xi Yiqian’s gentle voice.
"Xia Liang, time to get up and eat breakfast."
This feels just like when my mother used to wake me up for school.
"Mm, I’m up," he called out.
Stretching lazily, Xia Liang got out of bed and came out of his room just as Luu Qi emerged from hers, yawning widely.
"Sister Yiqian, what did you make? It smells amazing!"
From the kitchen, Xi Yining peeked her head out and replied in a low voice, "I made you guys some mung bean porridge, steamed dumplings, and soup dumplings. Go wash up, it’ll be ready in a bit."
"Okay!"
The two agreed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Five minutes later, Xi Yiqian brought the mung bean porridge to the table and served them each a bowl. Luu Qi’s cravings were already in full swing, so she ignored the heat, grabbed a steamed dumpling with her bare hands, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Xi Yiqian jumped in surprise. "Be careful, it’s hot!" she couldn’t help but warn.
Xia Liang just waved his hand dismissively. "It’s fine. Don’t worry about her, she’s never had any table manners." As he spoke, he also picked up a steamed dumpling and popped it into his mouth. A bite of dumpling, a sip of porridge.
Mmm, perfect.
When Xia Liang looked up again, he noticed that besides Xi Yiqian, Luu Qi was also staring at him. Her eyes were filled with disdain. You’re doing the same thing, so how can you criticize me?
Seeing Xia Liang look up, Xi Yiqian asked with a hint of anticipation, "Is it good?"
Xia Liang took another sip of porridge and nodded in approval. "Mmm, it’s delicious."
Beside him, with her mouth still full of a soup dumpling, Luu Qi mumbled her agreement. "Mmm... s’delishush!"
Hearing this, Xi Yiqian let out a sigh of relief, her eyes curving into happy crescents as a smile bloomed on her face. "If you like it, eat more. I made plenty."
After finally taking a sip of porridge to wash down the dumpling, Luu Qi gave Xi Yiqian a big thumbs-up. "Sister Yiqian, you’re amazing! My brother must have done something great in his past lives to get a girlfriend like you!"
The compliment instantly turned Xi Yiqian’s face bright red. Hearing Luu Qi refer to her as Xia Liang’s girlfriend made her blush unbearably, though she was also secretly pleased.
After breakfast, the three of them cleaned up the dishes together before heading out the door. When Luu Qi saw the BMW A7, she shot Xia Liang a pointed look. She hadn’t forgotten this car belonged to his first sister-in-law.
Xia Liang, however, appeared perfectly calm as he unlocked it. "Get in. I’ll drop you at the hotel first."
"Mhm." Xi Yiqian nodded obediently and got into the car, with Luu Qi joining her in the back.
The entire ride, Luu Qi was on pins and needles, terrified that Xi Yiqian would suddenly ask who owned the car. She was already racking her brain, trying to figure out how to cover for Xia Liang. But her worries were for nothing. In Xi Yiqian’s eyes, one car was the same as another, and she never asked the question.
After dropping Xi Yiqian off at her hotel and waving goodbye, Xia Liang continued on toward Yunni Cafe. On the way, Luu Qi couldn’t help but comment on his calm demeanor.
"Hey, Bro, aren’t you afraid your second sister-in-law will find out about this?"
Xia Liang shot her a sidelong glance. "I’m not worried, so why are you in such a panic? The emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is."
"You!" Luu Qi huffed, turning her head away with puffed cheeks. "Fine, you remember this! If things go wrong, don’t come crying to me."
Seeing her reaction, Xia Liang quickly backtracked. "Hehe! Of course not! I was just joking. You’re your cousin’s most indispensable little cousin, after all."
"That’s more like it." Luu Qi was quite pleased by that comment, nodding in satisfaction as if she had forgiven him.
The car soon pulled up in front of Yunni Cafe. Xia Liang led Luu Qi inside. The moment they entered, Luu Qi saw Qingxue sitting at the counter and walked over with a cheerful grin.
"Sister-in-law Qing!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Qingxue turned and saw the two of them. She stood up, pleasantly surprised. "Xia Liang, Qiqi, you’re here! Have you had breakfast?"
The two exchanged a look before speaking at the same time.
"We ate."
"I haven’t eaten!"
The air went still. Qingxue looked at them, completely puzzled. "So... did you eat or not?"
"I ate," Xia Liang said smoothly, cutting in before Luu Qi could speak. "But Luu Qi said she hasn’t. She wanted to eat with you."
"Really?" Qingxue looked at Luu Qi with hopeful eyes.
Luu Qi surreptitiously rubbed her already stuffed belly and forced a smile. "Yes."
Hearing her confirmation, Qingxue looked a little disappointed and patted her own stomach. "Aw, that’s a shame. I’ve already eaten."
But her spirits quickly bounced back. She looked at Luu Qi with excitement. "Since you haven’t eaten, I’ll take you out! I know this breakfast place with amazing soy milk and fried dough sticks."