She stood before the mirror, opened the essential oil, squeezed a few drops into her palm, and was about to apply it to her stomach when the door behind her was suddenly pushed open. The man stood at the bathroom entrance. The steam from the shower had not yet dissipated, filling the room with the fresh scent of body wash, which, combined with the heat, created a somewhat decadent atmosphere.
Su Qi froze for a moment. She was about to close the bathroom door. How had this man gotten in? Hadn't she locked it?
Before Su Qi could step forward to close the door, the man had already walked in brazenly. He glanced at the essential oil on the vanity, then at her stomach.
"I'll do it. You sit down."
Huo Tingyun picked her up and sat her on the edge of the bathtub. The bathroom was very large, and the vanity was over a meter long. After seating Su Qi, he picked up the essential oil. She didn't know how he knew how to use it, but he skillfully dripped it into his palm, rubbed his hands together to warm it, and then covered her stomach with his palms.
The man's palms were a little warm. As they rested on her stomach, the essential oil felt slippery. Su Qi tried to push his hands away. "Let go of me..."
She wasn't wearing anything at all. Even though she had been intimate with this man many times, she still felt a bit embarrassed.
"What are you shy about? Where on your body haven't I seen?"
Huo Tingyun chuckled deeply. Su Qi noticed how white and perfectly straight his teeth were, better than any porcelain veneers. His lips were full and red. When he smiled, he looked like the male lead in a youth idol drama, or a sunny Korean drama protagonist. Whether it was the warm bathroom lighting or something else, the man's usual sharpness had faded, replaced by an unexpected gentleness.
Su Qi struggled for a moment, then stopped, allowing the man to apply the essential oil to her.
Perhaps it was because the man had eaten his fill, but his actions carried no other intention. Instead, there was a hint of fatherly care in them.
Su Qi felt a slight unease in her heart.
Huo Tingyun loved Xu Lin Yun. Xu Lin Yun was Huo Tingyun's "white moonlight." Logically, Huo Tingyun should have preferred Xu Lin Yun's child. Yet, he had intercepted the divorce agreement and made her move back to Shallow Water Bay. It was utterly baffling. Su Qi was becoming increasingly confused by this man's behavior. It seemed that since the divorce, he had become more and more erratic, his actions completely beyond her comprehension.
On impulse, Su Qi blurted out, "Do you prefer a boy or a girl?"
"I like either, as long as it's yours."
The man's voice was pleasant, making Su Qi pause, unsure if he was telling the truth or not.
After applying the essential oil, her stomach felt less bloated and much more relaxed.
Su Qi let out a sigh and tried to get down, but the man simply held her as he lowered her.
He took a bathrobe from the rack, put it on her, and even tied a bow. Then he picked her up again and placed her on the bed.
"Sleep now. Goodnight."
Su Qi felt like she was dreaming.
It must be a dream.
How could Huo Tingyun be so good to her?
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly!
When Huo Tingyun finished his work and returned to the room, Su Qi was fast asleep. He showered, lifted the covers, and lay down beside Su Qi, turning off the bedside lamp.
Although Su Qi was only five months pregnant, her belly was slightly rounded, making sleeping inconvenient. She lay on her side, finding no comfortable position. The man took a pillow and placed it under her stomach. Supported by the soft pillow, Su Qi finally seemed more comfortable. The frown on her brow eased, and she continued to sleep soundly.
The next morning, when Su Qi woke up, she found a bolster pillow on her bed. It was long and oddly designed, but it was surprisingly comfortable to sleep with, perfect for a pregnant woman.
Strange, who bought this? Was it Aunt Wu? She arrived so early and brought such a large bolster pillow.
After Su Qi finished her morning routine, she went downstairs. Aunt Wu was already preparing breakfast. Seeing Su Qi descend, Aunt Wu smiled and corrected herself, "Young Madam, you're awake."
Su Qi paused. Ever since the news of her divorce from Huo Tingyun had reached the Huo family, Aunt Wu had changed her address. The last time she had called her Miss Su, but now, after only a few days, she was calling her Young Madam.
"Aunt Wu, you can just call me Xiao Su from now on."
Su Qi sat down.
"Xiao Su?" The man put down his tablet. He wore gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge, giving him a somewhat roguish appearance. His voice held a teasing tone as he spoke, "I'm Little Cat, who likes to eat little fish."
Su Qi's movement of sitting down halted. Her face instantly flushed, and her hand, reaching for her water glass, almost trembled.
When did this man become so good at flirting?
How had she never noticed before that this man could also say cheesy pickup lines?
If anyone else said it, it would be incredibly cheesy.
But who was he? He was Huo Tingyun.
He was so handsome that even his flirtatious behavior felt charming, not cheesy at all.
Even Aunt Wu, at her age, couldn't quite handle such a romantic remark.
"Young Master, I'm still here, an old bone. If Young Master and Young Madam want to flirt, I'll excuse myself."
Aunt Wu, after serving Su Qi her pregnancy-friendly breakfast and tidying up the kitchen, left.
Su Qi watched Aunt Wu's retreating back. "Huo Tingyun!"
"Hmm?"
The man raised an eyebrow and looked up lazily.
This was the first time Su Qi had seen Huo Tingyun wearing glasses, especially gold-rimmed ones. This man perfectly embodied the phrase "refined scoundrel." He looked cultured and gentle, but only Su Qi knew how much of a jerk he was.
After breakfast, Huo Tingyun had to go out for a meeting. Lin Te parked the car and walked to the entrance, waiting for Huo Tingyun at the foyer. Upon seeing Su Qi, Lin Te also looked incredulous. "Miss Su?"
"Rude. Call her Young Madam."
Huo Tingyun said calmly.
Lin Te's eyes widened. "Young Madam? Sir, didn't you divorce Miss Su..."
Lin Te didn't even know about it.
It was Su Qi's turn to be surprised.
"Lin Te, you're becoming more talkative lately."
Huo Tingyun finished his coffee and stood up. He took a couple of steps, then suddenly turned back and kissed Su Qi on the forehead. "Wife, I'm going to work now."
What the hell?
Su Qi's mind went blank. What had Huo Tingyun just called her?
Wife?
Wife!
It was more shocking than seeing a dinosaur from the Jurassic period come back to life.
Su Qi sat there blankly. Long after Huo Tingyun had left, she still hadn't reacted.
What exactly did this man want?
Su Qi was becoming more and more confused. She quickly took a sip of soy milk to calm her nerves.
After breakfast, Su Qi picked up her phone and called Huang Ying. She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. As soon as the call was connected, she spoke.
"Sister Ying, I've already sent in my resignation. I'm not feeling well and need to rest for a while."