Chapter 12: Sleeping Together

Jingwan was doing her skincare when messages from Luo Leyin appeared on her phone.

Leyin: Wanwan, are you free tomorrow? We haven’t seen each other in ages~

Leyin: I heard you and Ji Huaizhi aren’t speaking. He called me so many times and asked me to talk to you!

Leyin: He really cares about you and knows he was wrong to upset you. Let’s meet tomorrow and talk properly?

Jingwan paused with lotion on her hands. She had spent four years at university chasing Ji, leaving little room for a social life. Leyin had been her roommate and only friend there. She’d worked hard to advise Jingwan and help her pursue him, and they’d been close.

Leyin had even attended the wedding photo shoot, saying she wanted to witness her best friend wearing a wedding dress for the first time.

When Jingwan didn’t reply, Leyin called. The moment she answered, a sweet, affected voice rang out. “Wanwan~ You can’t refuse to see me just because you’re angry with Ji Huaizhi. I’ve missed you so much~”

Jingwan smiled faintly, rubbing hand cream into her skin. “I’m not angry with him. I just don’t want anything to do with him anymore.”

Leyin clearly froze before recovering. “Oh, I understand. Is Huo Congli beside you? You’re saying that for him to hear, aren’t you? I know you. You couldn’t really have gotten over Ji. You’re just upset.”

“I’m serious.” Jingwan’s tone grew firm. “He’s nothing special. I don’t know what I ever saw in him.”

Outside the door, Congli stopped, Little Yu in his arms. Jingwan had the call on speaker, and he could hear every word through the crack. He knew he shouldn’t listen, but he couldn’t move. Little Yu lay obediently on his shoulder, listening with him.

“Was there something wrong with my eyes?” Jingwan went on, questioning herself. “In looks, family, education, and intelligence, Huo Congli is a whole world ahead of Ji. Yinyin, was I ungrateful? Congli and I even have a child.”

His heart raced. It was the first time she’d praised him to a friend, and he wanted to rush in and kiss her.

“…But you don’t love Huo Congli.” Leyin spoke quickly, a note of panic in her voice.

Jingwan lowered her lashes. The words pricked her heart.

When she didn’t answer, Leyin smiled, certain she’d struck home. “Wanwan, didn’t you say yourself that you don’t love him? Besides, how many wealthy marriages are happy? You and Congli aren’t from the same world. If you hadn’t been pregnant, you wouldn’t have married into the family. Didn’t he marry you for the child’s sake? You need to be realistic!”

Light from the doorway caught the moisture in Congli’s eyes. The words “you don’t love him” pierced his heart like ice. His jaw tightened, his throat dry.

On his shoulder, Little Yu’s eyes filled too. Mommy really didn’t love Daddy. No wonder she wanted a divorce. He was so sad.

“Actually, I…”

Jingwan was about to continue when the door opened gently. Congli stood there holding their son. His eyes looked almost reproachful, like those of an abandoned husband.

Little Yu reached for her. “Mommy…”

The soft call melted her heart. “Let’s talk tomorrow. Little Yu’s sick and clingy lately.”

“Wanwan, wait…”

Leyin had hoped to speak to Congli, but Jingwan hung up. Furious, she envied her friend a man like him in her bed and the Huo family’s only eldest grandson. Jingwan would never have to worry about money.

* * *

“Why did you bring him here?” Jingwan asked, touching Little Yu’s forehead. Relieved that it wasn’t very hot, she took him into her arms. His lashes were wet, as though he’d been wronged.

“Why are you crying? Do you feel unwell?” She wiped his tears with uncharacteristic tenderness.

Congli embraced her from behind, rubbing his chin against her hair. “Sweetheart, Little Yu wants to sleep with us tonight…”

The boy looked up, clutching her robe. “Mommy, can I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?”

She could do nothing with these two. “Yes. You can sleep between us.”

Delighted, he hugged her neck and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Mommy…”

Then he tugged his father’s finger. “Daddy should give Mommy a goodnight kiss too.” He was creating more chances for them to be close.

Congli needed no encouragement. He covered Little Yu’s eyes and kissed her. A light touch wasn’t enough; he tried to deepen it, only for Jingwan to bite him. “Behave.”

Their son was right there!

Congli lowered his eyes. “Sweetheart, tonight we could have…”

She covered his mouth and gave him a warning look. “One more word and you can sleep in the study.”

He kissed and licked her palm instead, expressing his frustration. Her face flushed. She caught his chin. “Huo Congli, have you no shame?”

He smiled and mouthed, I want you.

Speechless, she pushed their son into his arms. “Go and wash, both of you.”

Little Yu could finally see again. He tilted his head. “Mommy, your face is red like an apple.”

She pinched his cheek. “Your cheeks are round like apples too.”

He laughed. “Then we’re all little apples. Daddy too.” He couldn’t wait to sleep between them.

Congli took him to bathe. Half an hour later, Jingwan lay on the bed watching a variety show when the freshly washed boy climbed over, smelling of milk-scented body wash. “Mommy!”

Congli was drying his hair, bare-chested with a towel around his waist. His broad shoulders and narrow waist were on full display.

“Mommy, why do you keep staring at Daddy?”