Zhuang Qiting raised his eyebrow with a subtle smile, gently placing his palm on her stomach. “So it only comes after having a child.”
This part—so small, so delicate, so soft—could it really carry a child?
Li Yaru was unnerved by his serpent-like gaze, her voice trembling, “Don’t even think about it, old thing, I won’t allow it!”
Being called “old thing” put Zhuang Qiting in a foul mood. He pressed his palm more firmly, trying to scare her.
“We’re married, having a child is normal, isn’t it? Sooner or later, you’ll have to.”
…………
She knew he was right—eventually, she’d have to have a child to inherit Wangzhen Restaurant, her family’s business.
That was something she fought hard to keep. She wanted to pass the restaurant down through the generations, maybe even run it for a hundred years!
“Will there be something in there then?” Zhuang Qiting’s eyes darkened as his fingers traced her skin.
Li Yaru shrieked, batting his hand away. “Old thing, you really are full of wicked ideas. Even if there is, you can’t have it—it belongs to my daughter.”
Zhuang Qiting said, “Babies can drink formula. I’ve heard formula makes them grow stronger.”
Li Yaru rolled her eyes. “You and your three brothers are all big and tall—don’t tell me it’s because you drank formula?”
Zhuang Qiting pressed his lips together, his eyes shadowed with complicated emotion. He and his brothers didn’t drink formula.
In those days, there was no such thing. He’d never had his mother’s milk either—it was always the nursemaid’s.
Wealthy families back then all kept nursemaids.
His mother had said it wasn’t that she didn’t want to breastfeed, but his father wouldn’t allow it.
As a child, Zhuang Qiting hadn’t understood; now he did.
If he had a daughter, there’s no way he’d let Li Yaru breastfeed her! Dream on—that was his wife, all his.
“If it’s a daughter…” Zhuang Qiting frowned, thinking seriously, then reluctantly nodded. “One month, at most.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, daughters get formula, leave them to the nanny. No need for you to get up at night.”
“…Pervert. What kind of father are you?” Li Yaru soon realized something was off. Heaven, what were they talking about?
How did it go from that to feeding babies? The topic wasn’t even relevant!
She slapped Zhuang Qiting’s chest and, still annoyed, tugged on his perfectly tied necktie.
As he looked over with a composed gaze, she grumbled, “Don’t come up with such rotten ideas.”
Zhuang Qiting laughed—he really had scared her.
He gently wiped her chest and buttoned her shirt, one button at a time.
She was wearing an exquisite lace blouse today, a new-season release from her favorite brand.
“Don’t worry, Ah Rou, I’m not in a hurry. We’re newlyweds. Once this semester ends, how about I take you to Rome for a vacation?”
“Of course!”
Li Yaru’s face lit up with joy; in a moment, she’d forgotten all about having children.
If Zhuang Qiting took her out to eat, drink, and play, she was happy. If he started lecturing or quizzing her, she wanted to bite him.
Two weeks before finals, Li Yaru spent every day chewing her pen, memorizing notes, scratching her head, and studying at home.
She had no thoughts of going out to play. Every evening after work, Zhuang Qiting would see his wife diligently studying in the office and couldn’t help feeling gratified.
Yet along with the pride, he felt heartache.
He was full of contradictions. When his wife was obedient and studious, he felt guilty that she couldn’t just be happy and carefree.
When she was lazy and mischievous, he wanted to drag her into the study and force her to read.
Sometimes even Zhuang Qiting couldn’t understand his own complex emotions.
He laughed at himself and quietly closed the study door behind him, tiptoeing away so as not to disturb her.
Li Yaru’s motivation for studying was simple—it wasn’t for knowledge. She just thought failing her exams would be humiliating.
Ever since she’d married Zhuang Qiting, she’d become a celebrity on Hong Kong Island, a socialite praised by everyone.
Annoying paparazzi often camped outside her school, and if they ever found out she failed her finals, they’d write some over-the-top headline in the paper, and she’d be ruined—
[Shocking! Zhuang Family Young Madam fails finals, ridiculed by all! Beauty and the dunce, elite school bought with donations, perfect image ruined! Husband defends his wife: “I love her looks, none of your business!”]
Li Yaru couldn’t bear the thought. If she really failed, both the Old Li Family and Old Zhuang Family would lose face!
With that belief, she buried herself in her studies, frantically reviewing English vocabulary.
At nine-thirty in the evening, Zhuang Qiting came to the study and told Li Yaru to rest.
He wouldn’t allow her to keep memorizing. Studying was important, but marital life was even more important.
The little thing seemed to have forgotten—it had been four days since they’d been intimate.
He’d had to exercise more every day just to burn off his excess energy.
“Come to the bedroom and rest, Ah Rou. You can study more tomorrow.” Zhuang Qiting rapped his knuckles twice on the heavy desk.
“Wait, let me finish this question.” Li Yaru didn’t even look up, eyes fixed on the letters.
Zhuang Qiting stood in front of her, watching her do the problem.
He waited a long time, so long he almost gave her the answer himself. Finally, Li Yaru picked B, and he let out a breath of relief.
His wife really was clever—she got it right.
“Alright, time to wash up and sleep. There’s papaya and bird’s nest in the kitchen, have some.”
“Wait, I want to check the answer.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled, stopping her from flipping through her book. His voice was soft and low, “No need. Every answer you chose was correct.”
“How do you know? You didn’t even read the question.” Only now did Li Yaru lift her eyes to look at him—and she was a little startled. “You…”
Her cheeks flushed. “Why are you dressed like this?”
Zhuang Qiting looked down at himself, not finding it strange. He’d just changed into a new robe.
“You don’t like it?” He smiled warmly.
He’d just showered, his hair hanging loose and unruly. The dark blue silk robe clung to his powerful frame, the collar wide open, the sash loose around his waist, showing off his muscular chest.
The sight made Li Yaru’s heart race.
He usually didn’t look like this. Always in a formal three-piece suit, even at home he dressed properly. Except in private, he never appeared so wanton.
“This fabric feels really nice…” Li Yaru licked her dry lips, her hand reaching out to touch his arm.
Because of her studies lately, Zhuang Qiting hadn’t gotten too wild, restraining himself.
He only held her tightly at night, occasionally getting handsy, but hadn’t taken things further.
It had been four days since… She was a little embarrassed. When he wanted her too much, she found him annoying; when he held back, she missed the feeling.
Li Yaru swallowed, hooking her fingers around his sleeve and looking up at him with bright eyes.
Standing in front of her, Zhuang Qiting looked down, taking in every bit of her bashful, slightly shy demeanor.
He was so tall he blocked the light, his shadow falling over her.
“Are you wearing perfume? Is it the Henry Jacques Tourbillon Perfume?” Li Yaru’s nose twitched. She asked in a small voice.
Zhuang Qiting leaned down, bracing his arms on the chair’s armrests, his broad body enclosing her. The scent intensified, his gaze enveloping her. “You like the smell—I know.”
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew intimate and ambiguous. Li Yaru felt dizzy, something warm and slick seeping out before she knew it.
After a moment of staring, Zhuang Qiting suddenly swept her up from her chair, holding her in his arms.
Before she could find her balance, he gripped her thighs and strode towards the bedroom.
Li Yaru knew exactly what was coming, and didn’t resist—she just clung tightly to his neck.
Like a spark on dry tinder, the flames roared up, leaving her eyes wet and her limbs weak.
Falling onto the soft mattress, Zhuang Qiting eagerly explored. Sure enough, she was already slick.
He smeared his fingers across her lips, and as she protested, he licked his own fingers to taste her.
Li Yaru was stunned by this behavior. “You…”
“Tastes good.” He commented coolly, but the fire in his eyes was burning hot, the desire to possess her almost tangible—far from the calmness in his tone.
…………
He was like a predator ready to strike, his chest swelling with desire. “It’s been four days, Ah Rou. How many times do you owe me? Have you counted?”
“You—you’re shameless! How can you owe someone that! How do I owe you—”
Zhuang Qiting undid his belt, then reached for her nightgown’s strap, all while speaking calmly.
“Twelve times in total. Doing it once cancels two, a spanking of twenty times cancels two, say something sweet—if I’m satisfied, that counts as one. You figure out what’s most cost-effective.”
Li Yaru was dumbfounded, then suddenly struggled violently.
This old beast, old beast, old beast! So he’d been lying in wait for her! No wonder he’d suddenly turned into a celibate for the sake of her studies these past few days—he’d had her fooled!
“Old—”
He pinched her chin and smothered her lips with his, his voice thick with desire as he murmured, “Good girl… best say something nice, don’t make me angry, or you’ll get it.”
Kissed until she was dizzy, Li Yaru didn’t have the strength to curse him.
She was already halfway there, having been left unsatisfied for four nights—both of them feeling like a short separation after a newlywed’s honeymoon.
Burying her face in the pillow, her slender waist bent like a willow branch, ears filled with the crisp sound of slaps and vigorous movement.
“Mm… Husband…” She had no choice but to give in and call him that.
Zhuang Qiting couldn’t handle it when Li Yaru called him husband in bed. He closed his eyes and caught his breath, holding her close.
She might be greedy, but she was delicate. After four days without, she surely couldn’t take much more.
“I’ll go slower, slower.” He kissed her ear, wouldn’t let her kneel, but cradled her in his arms, kissing and murmuring “baby” as he moved.
It took her a moment to adjust, but soon enough, she urged him to go faster, to hit the right spot.
Once she was used to it, things quickly hit their stride—they fit each other perfectly.
…………
Sometimes Zhuang Qiting felt he existed just to serve her.
“You little thing, always needing to be taught a lesson.” He gave her a slap, then another three for good measure.
His rough palm left her fair skin flushed pink. Li Yaru enjoyed the play, not bothering to argue.
She just squinted, humming as she lay back and enjoyed, occasionally making requests.
Zhuang Qiting adored her like this, meeting her every demand. If she said left, he went left; right, he went right.
He was like a machine gun under her remote control.
After satisfying her for a long while, Zhuang Qiting took her fingers, kissing and biting them.
While she was still dazed, he suddenly stopped and leaned in to whisper by her ear, “Baby, call me Daddy.”
Li Yaru was slow to react, confused as she looked at him. “…Call what?”
The man’s handsome face was beaded with sweat, his eyes blazing with possessiveness. “Call me Daddy.”
Li Yaru was shocked. This man really had a thing for playing daddy! Calling him “husband” wasn’t enough, now he wanted to be called daddy?
“Shameless.” She cursed weakly, “I said you want to be my father, and you really do…”
Zhuang Qiting’s face darkened, his movements rougher, unmistakably threatening.
Li Yaru was like fish on the chopping board, no strength to resist. Tears welled in her eyes as she pouted, “Alright, alright, I’ll call… Daddy…”
Those two words were like a drug. Heat surged up in Zhuang Qiting, making him throb with satisfaction. He held Li Yaru tightly. “Ah Rou…”
Skin to skin, sweat mingling.
“Let’s only have daughters, alright?” He kissed the corner of her lips. “One’s not enough, let’s have two—two daughters, both like you, not me. If I have you three, that’s all I’ll ever need.”
He’d had enough of little boys—growing up with three younger brothers and a horde of cousins, he’d been annoyed to death by them.
“Pervert…” Li Yaru’s eyes rolled back. She had no idea how the topic had circled back to having children again.