Huo Zheng nodded, but he still said, "It's also fine if she's not willing."
"If she's not willing, then help her find a hobby. How can you just say that it's fine? How can you be like this as her fath…" Qiao You'an coughed and corrected her words, "How can you be like this as her boyfriend?"
Qiao You'an was so used to talking to her children and her husband that she almost said the word 'father'.
Huo Zheng understood Qiao You'an cared about Lin Xiaowan's well being so he said, "Thank you, Sister-in-law."
Qiao You'an nodded and did not continue on that topic. Instead, she asked, "Hey, can you help take care of Dabao and Erbao for a few days after the new year?"
Huo Cheng would only start work after the 15th of the first lunar month. Hence, the couple would usually leave their children behind and spend some time alone. It was the same the summer Huo Zheng met Lin Xiaowan.
Apart from Huo Zheng, usually the nanny would also help take care of the children.
"... Alright."
…
Huo Cheng and Qiao You'an left on the second day of the lunar new year. They took the children to visit the Qiao family's house in the morning before they left on a plane at night.
When Huo Daobao and Huo Erbao woke up in the morning and could not find their parents, they did not cry. After changing their clothes, they held hands and went for breakfast.
Some employees in the Huo family's old residence had also returned to work.
Huo Zheng had just brought a bowl of white fungus porridges out of the kitchen when he saw the two brothers yawning as they walked in. He praised expressionlessly, "You did well changing your clothes."
The nanny who had taken care of the two children since they were young quickly brought them away to wash their faces and brush their teeth.
Huo Zheng carried the bowl of porridge upstairs into the bedroom.
Although the double curtains had been drawn, Lin Xiaowan was still sleeping with her face buried in the blanket.
Huo Zheng tested the temperature of the porridge before he placed it on the coffee table. After that, he went to the bathroom to wet a towel with warm water before he gently woke Lin Xiaowan up and wiped her face.
Lin Xiaowan went to bed a little late last night. After a long time of not being together, Huo Zheng had coaxed her gently and convinced her to sleep with him. He was successful in his quest. After the deed was done, she had complained, saying that she would not give him a chance to pursue her anymore and blaming him for going overboard.
Huo Zheng had found it funny at that time. He hugged her waist and kissed her before he said, "Didn't you say that I was too restrained and reserved before this?"
Lin Xiaowan bit him angrily, thinking that the man next to her was extremely annoying.
'He didn't even manage to adhere to the rule of no kissing and no hugging for long! B*stard!'
Lin Xiaowan was still in a bad mood after Huo Zheng woke her up. She ate the porridge and expressed her dissatisfaction.
"You said you were going to pursue me, but you didn't pursue me at all! How could you do… that… when you're still pursuing me? That's something only couples do!"
"Aren't we a couple?" Huo Zheng asked, pretending to raise his eyebrows in surprise, "We're wearing our rings after all."
Lin Xiaowan was shocked by his shamelessness. "Why are you like this? You're the one who said I couldn't take it off!"
"That's because we're a couple!"
Lin Xiaowan was rendered speechless by his words. After a while, she reached out and pinched Huo Zheng's face and asked, "Did your soul get replaced? You never used to talk like this."
In the past, if this happened, Huo Zheng would listen to her complain in silence before he replied with an 'Okay. I'll pursue you after this.'
Huo Zheng cleared his throat and asked, "Don't you like it this way?"
"Don't slander me. When did I say such a thing?" Lin Xiaowan said. She tried to recall, but she could not remember when she had said such things. However, when she pressed him again, she was only met with silence.
Lin Xiaowan was speechless.
'You changed so quickly?'
"A-anyway… It's not that I don't like it," Lin Xiaowan said. Then, she took another bite before she said, "I don't want to eat anymore."
Huo Zheng finished her leftovers and remained silent.
A thought appeared in Lin Xiaowan's mind at this moment. She grabbed his arm and asked, "Is it because I said you were very different when you were with Song Zhiyi?"
Huo Zheng only looked at her silently. However, his gaze told her that she had guessed correctly.
Lin Xiaowan smiled, feeling that he was a little cute. She said, "I like you like this. I didn't say that I didn't like it. I like that you openly show me affection. Song Zhiyi said that you're childish and clingy, but I don't think so. I like you being clingy, and occasionally, there's nothing wrong with being childish."
Huo Zheng finally replied, "Hmm."
Worried that he would feel pressured, Lin Xiaowan added, "Actually, if you don't want to change, you don't have to change. I'm not saying you have to be as passionate and enthusiastic as you used to be. I just want you to express your love for me instead of keeping quiet and letting me guess your thoughts. It's very tiring having to constantly guess another person's thoughts."
Lin Xiaowan reached out to hug him and said, "Just be yourself."
Huo Zheng returned the hug and said, "Okay."
"I like it when you show me affection," Lin Xiaowan said truthfully, "So… So don't always leave me guessing whether you love me or not. Do you understand?"
Huo Zheng lowered his head and kissed her. Then, he pulled away and whispered, "I love you."
Lin Xiaowan panted slightly after the kiss. It took a while for her to recover her breath before she leaned against him and said, "But you still have to pursue me."
Huo Zheng nodded and kissed her again.
…
On the night of the seventh day of the lunar new year.
Qiao You'an video-called her sons. When she was done talking to them, she asked to speak to Lin Xiaowan.
Huo Dabao passed the tablet to Lin Xiaowan, who was fiddling with her architectural model before he helped her with the model.
Lin Xiaowan adjusted the tablet and found a flattering angle before she asked, "What's wrong, Sister?"
"There's something I need to trouble you with."
Huang Dabao and Huang Erbao were in the same class, and there was a parent committee in the class. A few parents decided to organize a gathering and invited Qiao You'an out to plan the gathering.
Qiao You'an was usually participate in such things, but children like playing together. As such, she would not refuse a chance for the children to play together.
Most parents naturally did not want their children to lose at the starting line. Apart from studying and attending classes, the children spent time in cram schools and also various activities. With their 'elite' education, there was almost no time for them to play.
Lin Xiaowan was a little nervous. "Ah, but I have never participated in this kind of parent-child activity before."
Qiao You'an laughed. "I'm not asking you to attend on my behalf. I just want you to attend a meeting with them to discuss the venue and things to buy. You just need to listen to them and tell me about it; I'll deal with everything after that. Oh, remember to take note of the expenses as well."
Lin Xiaowan finally understood Qiao You'an's meaning. After a while, she asked curiously, "What do you usually do at such gatherings?"
"It's different every time," Qiao You'an replied, "One summer, there was a play by the children. There was also one time when we played parent-child games to develop the children's potential… When the children were in first grade, we went on a camping trip."
Lin Xiaowan was amazed. When she was in school, she only studied and went home. When she was in junior high school, she worked part-time. There was nothing worth remembering during her years in school.