Spoiled by Love – Sweetheart, Don’t Tempt Me

Ah… The little guy let out a silent wail in her heart. So it turned out that Mom was being punished by Dad to write a self-criticism letter because of this. That meant she was the real culprit who got Mom into trouble!

Sniff, sniff. Feeling guilty, the little guy shrank her head slightly, a small wave of remorse washing over her for what she had done to Mom.

Hmm? How could her dear mom’s sharp eyes miss the little guy’s unusual behavior? Zhan Niantong immediately pieced it together. No wonder Xia Zhennan had found out-it must have been this little tattletale who spilled the beans!

Xiaomai timidly lifted her little head, only to meet her mom’s piercing gaze. That look sent shivers down her spine. Letting out a soft whimper, she quickly clung to her mom’s leg and confessed, “Mom, I was just worried about you! That’s why I called Dad. Please don’t be mad.”

It had to be said-she really had the whole “mom with authority” thing down. Just one look was enough to make the little guy confess everything. But, to be fair, the little one hadn’t really done anything wrong. Squatting down to her daughter’s level, Zhan Niantong said gently, “Mom’s not mad. It’s Mom who made you worry. I should be the one saying sorry to you.”

“Mom had her reasons!” Xiaomai declared, trying to comfort her. Her mom was someone who valued emotions and loyalty, and she wanted to learn from her. One day, she too would be a person of loyalty and heart.

“Aww, my sweet little angel,” Zhan Niantong cooed. If only her little treasure could be this angelic all the time! She didn’t hold back and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Now go keep Aunt Qiao company and watch cartoons, okay?”

Heading to the bedroom, Zhan Niantong settled into Xia Zhennan’s usual executive chair. She began browsing the internet for examples of self-criticism letters. The variety was overwhelming-so many styles and formats that her head started spinning. Deciding to give up on copying others, she grabbed a pen and wrote the words “Self-Criticism Letter” in bold at the top of an A4 sheet. Then, chewing on the pen cap, she began to brainstorm.

“Dear Husband, I was wrong!”

…

She had thought she’d struggle to write anything, but the moment her pen touched the paper, it was as if she was possessed by some divine muse. Words flowed effortlessly, and before she knew it, she had filled the entire A4 sheet. In fact, she was so caught up in the momentum that she felt an urge to start on a second page.

Just then, the phone rang. It was Xia Zhennan. His first words were, of course, about the letter: “How’s the self-criticism coming along?”

Glancing at the densely packed sheet of paper, Zhan Niantong’s lips curled into a sly smile. Her expression carried a hint of pride. “It’s all done. Handwritten, and I made sure it’s a full two thousand words.”

“Oh?” His voice carried a trace of amusement. How obedient she was, even handwriting it. What a silly little thing. Xia Zhennan raised an intrigued eyebrow. “Read it to me.”

Over the phone, Zhan Niantong felt a surge of courage, not sensing anything amiss. Clearing her throat, she picked up the self-criticism letter and began to read it aloud, word by word, in a clear voice: “Self-Criticism Letter-Husband, I was wrong! I truly was. I have been reflecting deeply all afternoon and am still in the process of reflection. I shouldn’t have disregarded my own safety, putting myself in danger, making you worry and angry. But, husband, I’m so afraid when you’re angry! Every time you get mad, your face tightens, dark and cold, not handsome at all. You’re much more charming when you smile…”

Her voice grew softer and eventually faded into a whisper.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the lengthy self-criticism letter, unable to continue reading.

Is this a self-criticism letter? Really? As she read, her cheeks felt hot, and her heart raced like a rabbit bouncing around in her chest.

The sudden silence from his wife didn’t surprise Xia Zhennan. His clever mind quickly deduced the true theme of this ‘self-criticism letter.’

With a hint of teasing, his voice came through the phone: “Why did you stop reading?”

To continue reading such embarrassing words felt worse than tying a noose around her neck. How had she even managed to write them in the first place? Ugh, with his intelligence, he must have figured out what she wrote and was probably laughing at her on the other end!

Hmph, she had to come up with an excuse: “Uh, since it’s a self-criticism letter written on paper, you should read it yourself. It’s not meant to be read aloud; otherwise, it becomes a verbal criticism. Not only would my hand get sore, but it would also waste ink and paper. Isn’t the government promoting thrift and avoiding waste these days?”

Xia Zhennan, taking her flimsy excuse seriously, nodded: “Hmm, you have a point. I’ll read it properly when I come back.”

Wait, read it when he returns? In front of her? She’d die of embarrassment!

“How about I mail it to you?” That way, he wouldn’t read it in front of her, and she wouldn’t feel so awkward!

But Xia Zhennan used her own words against her: “No need. Didn’t you just say the government is promoting thrift? The postage from Haicheng City to Anping is quite expensive. Let’s save it. I’ll be back in a few days anyway, no rush.”

Uh… Zhan Niantong felt metaphorical black lines sliding down her forehead, as if she had dug a pit for herself and was now buried in it.

Although she didn’t have to recite the lengthy two-thousand-word “self-criticism letter,” the core idea still needed to be reported verbally to the head of the family. “Come on, tell me, after all this reflection, what did you realize was your mistake?”

Well… she hadn’t really figured it out yet, honestly unsure of where she went wrong!

Getting herself into trouble was clearly not the right answer. She could only bow her head and honestly admit, “Could you give me a hint?”

Xia Zhennan’s tone suddenly turned a bit helpless. “Niantong, who am I to you?”

Hmm, he rarely called her Niantong when it was just the two of them. Whenever he used her name so tenderly, it always meant he was about to say something important, and her heart leapt to her throat. “You’re my husband!” She silently added in her mind: I’m your wife!

“You still remember I’m your husband.” Sometimes Xia Zhennan felt a bit exasperated with his straightforward wife.

Her dear husband’s tone was a bit off, so she quickly replied, “I’ve always known, and I always remember my role!”

“Since you know, then remember, a couple is essentially one entity. If you encounter anything, you should tell me immediately, not choose to hide it from me.” Her secrecy made him worry and also feel a lack of trust. Trust is the best bond for maintaining harmony between a couple. Without trust, what kind of marriage is there?

Letting herself fall into danger, Xia Zhennan naturally felt bad, but it wasn’t anger-it was heartache. Heartache mixed with guilt, because when she was in danger, he couldn’t be there for her immediately. It was a terrible feeling, and he wished he could be transferred back to Haicheng City to be by her side.

Oh! So it was about this, Zhan Niantong suddenly understood. “I wanted to be honest with you, but when I get anxious, my words just come out all wrong.”

Embarrassingly, she admitted to babbling nonsense!

“I’m your husband. No matter what happens, you don’t need to be anxious or afraid with me. Just handle it calmly.”

The third young master was indeed a leader; his advice was clear and commanding. Even over the phone, she felt his imposing presence, and she couldn’t argue back, mainly because he was right. Zhan Niantong could only promise obediently like a child, “Okay, I know. Next time something like this happens, I’ll definitely report to you first and get your approval before deciding whether to intervene!”

Xia Zhennan rolled his eyes silently. Apparently, all he said just now was in vain; this girl still hadn’t grasped his point. “Fine, you can never keep your hands and feet to yourself. Anyway, I’ll be back soon, and from now on, I’ll be the one to take action.”

With her chivalrous heart, it’s impossible for her not to act heroically! That’s the most genuine part of her, the most captivating part, and the part that makes him worry the most.

Hearing that her dear husband would take action, Zhan Niantong was thrilled. Her husband’s skills were truly impressive, and she loved watching him in action. “Haha, great, great!”

Silly girl, she was so delighted by his words. “From now on, if anything happens, remember not to hide it from me.”

This time, the silly girl reacted quickly, playfully sticking out her tongue as she hurriedly promised, “I’ll change today. Whenever something happens, I’ll tell you first, no secrets between us.”

“Mm.” Xia Zhennan uttered a single syllable, but his satisfaction and pleasure were evident in his low, slightly lazy tone.

Since a couple is one entity, both sides must do their part. She had promised, so naturally, she wished her dear husband well too. “Then if anything happens with you, you should tell me immediately too. Of course, I mean personal matters, not work-related ones.” She wouldn’t interfere with his work, nor could she; she couldn’t influence his job!

“Got it.” Xia Zhennan’s rich voice was clearly filled with joy, and one could imagine how bright his smile must be at that moment.