On a clear morning after the rain, warm sunlight gently brushes the earth through thick clouds.
Shen Lang wakes up to the mumbling of the landlady, who is nestled in his arms.
Opening his eyes, he sees the beautiful face of the mature woman beside him, her lips curved in a satisfied smile.
Just then, the alarm on the nightstand goes off.
Xia Shuyi frowns and lazily snuggles closer to Shen Lang, reluctantly opening her slightly reddened eyes to look at the young man next to her, asking with a hint of dependence, "When did you wake up?"
"Just now."
Shen Lang picks up the phone to turn off the alarm, then snuggles back into the warm covers, holding the landlady's full and warm body close.
"It's still early. Let's rest a bit more."
Xia Shuyi's figure is truly perfect, and holding her feels wonderfully fulfilling.
"Ah, you're still so young."
Xia Shuyi gently caresses Shen Lang's face, teasing him with the tone of a caring older sister, "You're just like my little Mengmeng."
A soft thud.
The bedroom door is slowly pushed open, and both of them instinctively shiver.
Shen Lang quickly sticks his head out of the covers to look at the door.
It turns out Mengmeng, in her cartoon pajamas, has woken up.
"Mommy, Big Brother."
The little girl, still groggy, doesn't ask why she's in the next room or why the two of them are together.
She lazily greets them, then climbs onto the bed, pulls back the covers, and snuggles between them, quickly falling asleep with a soft snore.
They exchange a glance and smile knowingly.
Shen Lang gently rubs the little girl's head, "Xia Jie, you know, this really does feel like a family of three."
"Why, do you want to become a dad?"
Xia Shuyi, brushing her daughter's messy hair, playfully jokes, "Don't men usually dislike raising someone else's child?"
Options:
"That depends on who it is. Xia Jie, you're so beautiful, and I get a cute daughter for free. Isn't that a good deal?"
"Forget it, Xia Jie. Let's just drive to get a marriage license now. I'll take care of both you and Mengmeng. I'll even take Mengmeng's surname if needed!"
"It depends on who's the dad. Mengmeng is so cute. When she grows up, she'll be even prettier than you. Even if she's not my biological child, isn't that still a win?"
"That depends on who it is," Shen Lang says, gently caressing Xia Shuyi's cheek in a semi-joking manner. "Xia Jie, you're still so beautiful. I get a cute daughter too. Isn't that a good deal?"
These answers are a bit cheesy, but option 1 is the most reasonable. Given their current relationship, saying option 1 isn't too far-fetched.
Xia Shuyi clearly sees Shen Lang's words as a joke, and Shen Lang responds in kind. This way, he doesn't disrupt the mood and can still compliment both mother and daughter.
Xia Shuyi is smart and knows Shen Lang is joking. Even if she knows he's just trying to make her happy, she still appreciates it. Sometimes, it's not about whether the words are true, but about making the woman happy.
However, there's a risk with this approach. If Xia Shuyi gets serious and asks, "Do you really think that way?" it could be tricky to handle.
Xia Shuyi looks at Shen Lang with a serious expression, as if she's about to ask something important.
Shen Lang can't help but gulp.
Could it be that the landlady wants to get serious? Does she really want me to become a dad?
"You're such a tease."
Xia Shuyi eventually gives Shen Lang a knowing look, but her face is still smiling with satisfaction.
This outcome matches what Shen Lang expected.
"When I first met you, I thought you were a sincere, simple college student."
Xia Shuyi smiles wryly, "I didn't expect you to be more smooth-talking than any man I've met."
Xia Shuyi had already seen that Shen Lang was not a simple, honest college student. After all, his eloquence was sharper than that of some big bosses she knew, so he was definitely not an ordinary student.
This is quite practical.
Using an analogy from the internet, it's like choosing between a lively, active Siberian Husky and a calm, reliable Golden Retriever. Most people know the Husky might be trouble, but they still prefer its energy and interaction. Only a few might choose the reliable Golden Retriever.
The same goes for the "scumbag" theory.
Everyone knows scumbags are risky and can easily use someone up and then leave. Yet, many women still fall for their sweet talk and get trapped.
Xia Shuyi knew Shen Lang was no saint.
But she willingly stays with him and enjoys his flirtatious words.
Even now, Xia Shuyi doesn't understand why Shen Lang has changed so much.
After years in business, Xia Shuyi has turned down many smooth-talking big shots and scheming younger men. She considers herself quite perceptive.
When she first met Shen Lang, she thought he was a shy, honest college student.
Who would have thought she would end up sharing a bed with that same college student, and even be the one pursuing him?
If she was mistaken, it must be because Shen Lang hid it very well.