Her smile deepened, her eyes curving into crescents, not uttering a word but just staring at him with her bright, glossy eyes.
Never enough, never enough, just could never get enough of looking at him.
âGone silly?â Shen Chiâs lips also curled up, and he reached out to pinch her cheek.
Hmm, it felt good, soft and smooth.
Xu Chaomu swatted his hand away, scolding: âWhy are you pinching me? Iâm not made of clay.â
âAll dirty,â Shen Chi disdainfully glanced at her.
The room was too shabby, with wood piled up in the corner, as if no one had cleaned it up for a long timeâdust was everywhere.
Xu Chaomuâs face had also gathered quite a bit of dust; she had been sleeping on the floor for a long time.
âYou still touch me even though Iâm all dirty?â Xu Chaomu huffed coldly.
On one hand, he was disdainful of her being all dirty, and on the other, he pulled her tightly into his embrace.
This was called something, wasnât it? His mouth might not admit it, but his body was very honest.
She hooked her arms around his neck, only a few centimeters away from him.
So close, close enough for her to clearly see his face.
Even when he blinked, she could see it all distinctlyâthis manâs eyelashes were so long, they cast a fan-like shadow over his eyes like shutters.
The high bridge of his nose, lightly pursed thin lips, a profile sharp as cut by a knife.
Having not seen him for many days, now she could never get enough of him no matter how much she looked.
âYou donât want me to touch you?â Shen Chi teased her with a question.
âMhm!â Xu Chaomu blinked, declaring firmly and spiritedly.
âThen Iâll let go.â
After saying that, Shen Chi pretended to loosen one hand.
âNo!â Xu Chaomu, scared, quickly clung to his neck, tucking herself tightly into his embrace.
Shen Chi laughed, holding her even tighter.
He just liked this feeling of holding her in his armsâwith her there, he truly could give up everything else.
Xu Chaomu hid in his embrace, feeling a very tranquil and comforting sensation from his chest.
His body still carried that faint scent of grass and wood, something she had grown familiar with over the years.
How she wished to hold on to him like this forever.
At that moment, she was like a little cat, lying securely and steadily in his arms.
Shen Chi held her, and he wasnât willing to let go either.
But Xu Chaomu hadnât noticed Shen Chiâs woundâwhen she rubbed against him, she accidentally brushed his arm.
It agitated his wound, causing Shen Chi to frown from the pain.
But the bliss of holding her in his arms was enough to offset all the pain.
The room was small, with the scent of wood lingering in the air, and the incandescent light bulb above flickered from time to timeâeverything was silent.
Everything that had happened earlier seemed like a dream.
âMumu, did you miss me?â
Shen Chi stroked her hair and whispered in her ear.
His warm breath twined around her neck, causing a tingling sensation.
Xu Chaomu lifted her head from his chest, shaking it like a rattle drum: âXiaoshen, I donât miss you.â
âWhat Xiaoshen, call me hubby,â Shen Chiâs eyes darkened as he insisted heavily in her ear.
Xu Chaomu refused to call him that; she had been tricked by him several times before and hadnât gotten back at him yet.
Xu Chaomu shook her head again: âWhatâs hubby? Can you eat it?â
Her shaking head looked so adorable that Shen Chiâs heart melted.
He seriously lowered his voice into her ear: âHubby⦠can be eaten.â
Xu Chaomuâs face flushed red: âPervert!â
âHmm? What are you thinking about?â Shen Chi deliberately teased.
âShen Chi, youâre a big pervert! I donât want to stay with you anymore, Iâm taking the baby and running away from home!â Xu Chaomu huffed coldly.
âThis is called hooliganism?â Shen Chi looked at him with ill intent.
Seeing the dangerous message in his eyes, Xu Chaomu quickly moved a little farther away from him.
âDonât move, let me hold you for a while.â
Shen Chi couldnât bear to let go of her; he just wanted to keep holding her like this.
Actually, Xu Chaomu couldnât bear it either. She pretended to be reluctant, struggled a few times, and then let him hold her in his arms.
Whispering softly and nuzzling close to each otherâs ears.
Xu Chaomu nestled in his embrace, contentedly closing her eyes.
The room was quiet, no other sound was heard, and they could even hear each otherâs steady breathing.
Even though it was summer, Xu Chaomu didnât feel hot at all; she just wanted to hold onto him.
She didnât want to break the tranquility, and after a long while, she finally spoke up.
âFourth Brother,â she lifted her head.
Her clear eyes looked into his, blinking as if they could speak.
That âFourth Brotherâ made Shen Chi pause, five years after coming back, she hadnât called him Fourth Brother againâ¦
Every time, she would call him by his name, âShen Chi,â âShen Chi,â and even âPresident Shen.â
It was as if time had frozen; her sweet and sticky âFourth Brotherâ echoed in his earsâ¦
It was as if they had returned to the past, back then, she used to call out âFourth Brotherâ every day!
Of course, when she was unhappy, she would directly call him by his name.
He didnât mind it; whatever she called him was fine, of course, âhusbandâ was even better.
He knew that when she was unhappy, she would call him âPresident Shen,â just like him, when he was unhappy, he would call her by her full name âXu Chaomu.â
He smiled, his lips curving up, his big hand touching her cheek.
âHmm.â
âHehe.â Xu Chaomu looked at him and giggled foolishly.
Seeing her silly laughter, Shen Chi also smiled: âWhat are you laughing at?â
âFourth Brother, how can you be so handsome, an evergreen in my eyes.â
âI know.â
ââ¦â Xu Chaomu gave him a blank look, âCanât you be a bit more modest?â
âThen do you think I have any other merits?â The certain someoneâs voice turned indifferent, reverting to thick-skinned mode.
âYouâre rich.â
âWhat else?â
âThatâs it.â Xu Chaomu shrugged her shoulders.
âThen what about me caught your eye?â Shen Chi gazed at her.
âWhat about you caught my eyeâ¦â Xu Chaomu pondered.
What about him had caught her eye? The man had such a bad temper, and he was fierce and heartless; what about him had caught her eye?
Probably, there was some heartbeat; there werenât any reasons for such things.
âI am someone who values substance, not a member of the appearance association.â Xu Chaomu said, âSo⦠Iâm into your money!â
Shen Chiâs mouth twitched, he patted her cheek: âThen from tomorrow on, you can sleep with money.â
âStingy.â Xu Chaomu muttered.
Shen Chi laughed; he especially liked her like this. His hand, warm with his body heat, gently stroked her face. Her cheeks were soft and smooth, and he enjoyed touching her face as he held her in his arms.
The room was still very quiet, and when neither of them spoke, they could hear each otherâs breathing.
Xu Chaomu hugged his waist tightly, unwilling to let go. She hid in his embrace, quietly listening to his heartbeat.
Her fuzzy little head rubbed back and forth in his embrace, and Shen Chi let her be, the corners of his lips were curled in a smile.
âFourth Brotherâ¦â she called him sweetly again.
But she didnât lift her head, calling out to him while hiding in his embrace, like a little kitten.
âHmm?â he lowered his head, his chin just touching her little head.