October 23rd, Saturday, Frost’s Descent. According to family tradition, the younger generation must return to the elders’ home for a meal at the end of the month to reunite.
Che Xiayun’s grandfather, the patriarch of the Che family, preferred tranquility and lived alone in a small village near the capital, detached from worldly affairs. Naturally, he did not wish for the younger generation to disturb him frequently.
Thus, at the end of each month, Che Xiayun would usually spend a couple of days at Ma Qingyu’s home with her.
Ma Qingyu’s father, Ma Mingzhe, was somewhat old-fashioned but cherished talent and had a fondness for calligraphy and painting. Che Xiayun would always bring items like brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones whenever she visited, so Ma Mingzhe found her quite endearing.
As for Ma Qingyu’s mother, Pan Anqi, the previous Che Xiayun had viewed her as slightly plump, with a full figure, a bit greedy for small advantages, yet kind to the younger generation. But now, from the perspective of this new Che Xiayun, an experienced adult Pan Anqi was nothing short of a malicious green tea bitch.
With this reasoning, Pan Anqi seemed highly suspicious. Although Che Xiayun was idle and supported many omegas, she had never treated Ma Qingyu poorly. In fact, she had entrusted Ma Qingyu with managing all her assets such trust!
So Che Xiayun couldn’t understand: why would Pan Anqi want to have her killed?
Ah, the lives of the wealthy are truly complicated.
To preserve her own life, Che Xiayun racked her brains for solutions, but it was utterly baffling. Without knowing the reason someone wanted her dead, she had no idea how to avoid the danger.
Once again, she could only take things one step at a time.
Auntie Xu packed her luggage and had the servants load it into the trunk of the car, reminding her, “Young mistress, there’s a cold wave coming soon, and the temperature will drop. Remember to dress warmly. I’ve prepared a thin fleece hoodie and a long trench coat for you.”
Che Xiayun stood by the luxury car as Driver Zhang opened the door for her. “I know, it’s just for one night.”
Ma Qingyu didn’t need to bring luggage but rode in the same car with her. After all, returning to her parents’ home after marriage, traveling separately would give the impression of a strained relationship and lack of intimacy.
The back seat of the extended business sedan was spacious, equipped with a small table and an internet-connected display for watching TV, very luxurious.
However, Che Xiayun only wanted to sleep. She had stumbled upon an incredibly captivating anime the night before and accidentally stayed up until 3:30 a.m., nearly oversleeping in the morning.
Ma Qingyu wore a beige dress that day, accentuating her curvaceous figure. The slightly curled ends of her hair rested on her shoulders, and a few unruly strands at her temples playfully curled upward, adding a touch of liveliness to her serene appearance.
She sat quietly beside Che Xiayun, gazing out through the thick bulletproof and privacy glass, even though the rapidly passing scenery outside held little significance for viewing.
Leaning against the comfortable seatback, Che Xiayun dozed off, her head gradually tilting away from its original position and involuntarily leaning toward Ma Qingyu. The sudden sensation of falling jolted her eyes open.
It wasn’t a hundred-meter cliff or a bottomless abyss around her, but a face close at hand, a slightly pointed chin, a perfect jawline, subtly upturned corners of the lips, and an adorable petite nose.
Unconsciously, Che Xiayun thought to herself: Beautiful sister, let me hug you. Let’s get close.
But she quickly came to her senses Ma Qingyu was indeed a beautiful older sister, but not one she could embrace, much less cling to.
She lifted her head from Ma Qingyu’s shoulder, blinked her bright, deer-like eyes, then rested it back against the seat. After adjusting her position several times, she still couldn’t find a comfortable posture.
Ma Qingyu had been watching her out of the corner of her eye the whole time and subtly shifted closer. “You can lean on me to sleep.”
Che Xiayun was stubborn. “No need, we should be arriving soon.”
Yet before long, she fell asleep again. Her body, however, was honest her little head cleverly found its way to the crook of Ma Qingyu’s neck, and she snuggled comfortably against her side.
Che Xiayun woke once and realized she was not only leaning on Ma Qingyu but had also draped her hand over Ma Qingyu’s thigh. Groggily, she moved her hand away, but as soon as she fell back asleep, it found its way right back.
Ma Qingyu noticed everything clearly, even the adorable smacking of Che Xiayun’s lips in her sleep, the stubborn strand of hair sticking up on her forehead, and the occasional trickle of drool at the corner of her mouth.
As the car pulled through the large iron gate of the Ma family villa, Driver Zhang brought the vehicle to a smooth stop. “Young Master, Madam, we’ve arrived.”
Ma Qingyu responded softly, “Mm.”
Che Xiayun frowned, too drowsy to even open her eyes, her entire body steeped in exhaustion.
At the entrance of the main villa, Pan Anqi stood with several servants, waiting for their arrival.
Driver Zhang greeted her and bent to open the car door. Everyone turned their smiling faces toward the car, only to see, Che Xiayun fast asleep, with her restless hand draped over Ma Qingyu.
Even Ma Qingyu, who had witnessed many grand occasions, flushed slightly. She nudged Che Xiayun gently. “Time to wake up.”
Driver Zhang chuckled and glanced at Pan Anqi, casually smoothing things over. “Please excuse the informality. The young master was overly exhausted from last night’s exertions and dozed off in the car.”
Pan Anqi smiled graciously. “Not at all, it’s quite normal for young people to be a bit sleepy.”
Inwardly, however, she was cursing Che Xiayun: This brat doesn’t know her own limits. She has little talent but a pretty face, surrounded by a flock of omega admirers. If it weren’t for her wealthy family, I’d never have agreed to let my daughter marry into such a situation.
Che Xiayun slowly roused herself, leaning on Ma Qingyu as she sat up. Blinking blearily, she spotted Pan Anqi, rubbed her eyes, and looked again, puzzled. “What are you doing here?”
Pan Anqi’s smile instantly froze.
Ma Qingyu tugged at her sleeve and whispered a reminder, “We’re at my house.”
Che Xiayun suddenly understood. She picked up the small gift beside her and said, “Oh, right. Let’s go in then.”
With that, she stepped out of the car, turned to Pan Anqi, and flashed a bright, eight-toothed smile, presenting the gift with both hands. “Good morning, Mother-in-law. Just a small token nothing much.”
Pan Anqi quickly composed herself, returning the smile as she accepted the gift. “Xiayun, you silly child, you didn’t have to bring anything. Just treat this place as your own home.”
After a few polite exchanges, the group made their way into the villa.
Though it was called morning, it was already past ten o’clock. With lunch preparations underway, Che Xiayun headed straight upstairs. Pan Anqi went to the kitchen to discuss the menu, while a servant led Che Xiayun to her room.
The Ma family villa was built in a European style, spacious and bright, with every corner spotlessly clean and free of dust.
Upon entering the room, the first thing that caught the eye was a massive bookshelf filled with a dazzling array of books. Next, one could see several oil paintings hanging on the walls. Between the balcony and the bedroom stood a floor-to-ceiling window with thick, light-blocking curtains. In front of the window was a small round table, a beanbag chair, and a soft stool.
The floor was covered with a plush carpet, and the bedding was a warm orange hue. The ceiling was adorned with a painted starry sky, making the overall arrangement feel incredibly cozy.
Not bad, Che Xiayun nodded to herself. In terms of room setup, Pan Anqi had been quite considerate.
After the servant left, she casually placed her suitcase by the bed, drew the curtains, stripped off her clothes, and lay down on the bed. She picked up a soft, fluffy white bun-shaped pillow, rolled herself into the blanket, and closed her eyes comfortably.
Forget everything else, she was going to catch up on some sleep first.
Downstairs in the living room, Ma Qingyu and Pan Anqi were chatting. It was already past eleven in the morning, and Ma Mingzhe, who had left to go fishing at around five, returned with a carp. Since carp has many small bones and isn’t easy to eat, he instructed the kitchen to debone it and make fish balls.
Ma Mingzhe unwrapped the gift Che Xiayun had brought him, holding a piece of pine-soot ink that was uniformly colored, of exceptional quality, and had a dark, bluish tint. A rare smile appeared on his face. “That child, Xiayun, why did she bring another gift?”
Pan Anqi half-scolded, “She certainly knows how to cater to your preferences. I wonder if she even remembers she has a mother-in-law.”
Ma Mingzhe carefully stored the ink, his smile unwavering as he stroked his chin. “It’s the thought that counts.”
Hearing her father praise Che Xiayun, Ma Qingyu couldn’t help but smile. However, as Che Xiayun still hadn’t come downstairs, she grew a bit anxious. “Mom, I’m going upstairs to check.”
Pan Anqi agreed, “Alright, and call Xiayun down while you’re at it. It’s almost time for lunch.”
“Mm.”
Ma Qingyu headed upstairs but suddenly paused, unsure whether her mother had arranged for Che Xiayun to stay in her room or the guest room.
Last time, although Che Xiayun had ostensibly agreed to share a room with her, she had actually slept in the guest room at night. A servant had spotted her leaving the guest room in the morning and privately informed Pan Anqi, which had led to Pan Anqi developing some dislike for Che Xiayun.
Ma Qingyu could actually understand Che Xiayun’s perspective. Since childhood, they had only been playmates and had never taken their relationship further. Putting herself in Che Xiayun’s shoes, if a childhood friend were suddenly arranged to marry you by your elders, would you share a bed with them without any romantic feelings?
The answer was no. Her actions that night, when Che Xiayun was drunk, had already crossed a line. For several days afterward, Ma Qingyu had felt regretful, fearing that their relationship might drift apart.
Lost in thought, she found herself instinctively standing at the door of her own room. She gently pushed it open. The room was dimly lit, and nothing seemed disturbed, but there was a silver-white suitcase by the bed.
Ma Qingyu followed the line of the suitcase to the bed, and for a moment, her breath caught Che Xiayun had a habit of sleeping naked, and her sleeping posture was far from ideal. She often kicked off the blankets, resulting in a scene that was rather suggestive.
What exactly did it look like?
By the faint light filtering through the door, Ma Qingyu could see Che Xiayun’s beautiful hair spread across the pillow. Following the line of her jaw downward, her gaze fell upon the gently rising collarbones and the subtle curve of her chest, half-hidden beneath the thin blanket.
She closed the door behind her with a soft, careful motion.
In the dimly lit room, the white steamed bun-shaped pillow that had originally been on the bed had rolled onto the carpet. Ma Qingyu bent down to pick it up, her eyes drifting back to Che Xiayun, who lay peacefully asleep on the bed fair-skinned, adorable, as if waiting to be disturbed.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for the “big child” on the bed slowly opened her eyes, turned her head, and looked at her in confusion. The room was too dark, and it took Che Xiayun a moment to process what she was seeing.
Che Xiayun thought she must be mistaken. How could Ma Qingyu be in her room without knocking? But after confirming she wasn’t hallucinating, she shrank further into the blanket, her voice still hoarse from sleep. “Why are you in my room?”
Ma Qingyu lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the emotions that might frighten her. Clutching the white bun pillow, she replied calmly, “This used to be my room, but now it’s ours.”
Che Xiayun’s mind struggled to catch up. After a moment of thought, she understood. “You mean I’m sleeping in your bed?”
Ma Qingyu gave a slight nod. “Mm.”
In a roundabout way, it’s as if we’re sharing a bed not me sleeping with you, nor you sleeping with me.
Che Xiayun feigned composure, scoffed lightly, and said indifferently, “So what if I’m sleeping in your bed? Was it necessary to stare at me like that?”
Ma Qingyu replied in an equally detached tone, “I just got here.”
At most, I’ve only been watching you for a few minutes.
Che Xiayun wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, leaving only her head exposed, and stared intently at Ma Qingyu. “Oh.”
As Ma Qingyu moved a little closer, Che Xiayun flinched, her heart racing and her mind in disarray. Was she going to? Could she be?
But Ma Qingyu merely placed the white bun pillow on the bedside table. “I came to wake you up. It’s time for dinner.”
“Mm, I know.”
Che Xiayun breathed a sigh of relief, watching as Ma Qingyu opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind her. Only then did she dare release her grip on the blanket, her palms slightly damp with sweat.
In the dimly lit room, she stared blankly at the starry pattern on the ceiling and murmured to herself, “Seems like this bed is quite comfortable to sleep in, after all.”