[Cheng Cheng] Miao Miao, why aren’t you answering your phone?
[Cheng Cheng] ???
[Cheng Cheng] What happened? Is your little brother causing trouble again?
[Cheng Cheng] See the messages and call me back, Miao Miao!
After dinner, Cen Miao sat on the sofa, curiously watching the yellow sponge on TV that could talk. When Qin Zelin went upstairs, he only noticed a tuft of messy hair sticking out above the sofa back.
“Hahaha!”
With the laughter, the tuft of hair on the sofa trembled.
Qin Zelin paused as he stepped into the elevator: “…….”
After nine o’clock, having finished some work and read for a while, Qin Zelin left his study.
Seeing the lights and the door of the next room open, he peeked inside but saw no one.
Only the light flashing from a backpack on the small sofa caught his eye.
A phone?
Qin Zelin knocked and entered the room. “Cen Miao?”
In the bathroom, after the servant had filled the tub and added a blue bath bomb, Cen Miao was happily playing when he heard Qin Zelin call his name.
Why was this human calling him?
Reluctantly, he got out of the bathtub and opened the door with a “click.”
Still a little upset over being forced to eat vegetables at dinner, he pouted in his tone: “Why are you calling me?”
Hearing the voice, Qin Zelin’s mind went blank.
The hot, humid steam carried the scent of bath soap, and his gaze collided with Cen Miao’s bare body, fair with a delicate blush.
Water droplets slid along the thin, faintly pink collarbone, brushed over the chest, trailed down the slender white waist, toward the lower abdomen… all the way down.
Little monster… trying to tempt him.
Qin Zelin’s Adam’s apple rolled uncontrollably. He quickly looked away, voice tight: “Why didn’t you put on clothes before coming out?”
Cen Miao tilted his head, completely unaware, “You can only put clothes on after bathing and drying.”
He was such a hygienic little zombie!
Qin Zelin: “…….”
“Isn’t there a bathrobe? Next time, at least put on a robe before coming out halfway through the bath.”
“Oh,” Cen Miao said indifferently, pouting slightly.
“Check your phone; it looks like you have a call. If you need anything else, tell Uncle Lin. I’ll go back to my room first.” Qin Zelin said, escaping quickly, and let out a long sigh as he closed the door.
Back in his room, he went straight to the bathroom.
The shower ran, water washing over his tense shoulders, down his spine to his lat muscles, finally converging at his abdomen with visible veins.
The images in his mind kept overlapping.
Two completely different bodies.
Qin Zelin glanced down and clicked his tongue, lowering the water temperature slightly.
The cool flow continued, but it could not extinguish the heat burning between his lower abdomen.
His body’s reaction became more obvious, impossible to ignore.
Qin Zelin reminded himself he had been too busy recently; it was normal not to have taken care of things for a long time.
He sighed deeply and reached down.
After a while, accompanied by low, heavy breaths, some other things were washed away with the water flow.
Next door, Cen Miao put on pajamas and left the bathroom. He picked up his phone from the backpack, which was flashing “Cheng Cheng” on the incoming call screen.
The original owner’s best friend? In his memories, this person was very nice.
Cen Miao pressed the green button, and an anxious voice came through the receiver.
“Miao Miao, why haven’t you answered your phone? Did your little brother cause trouble again? If so, I’ll come over right now.”
“No, I was just… taking a bath,” Cen Miao replied quickly.
The person on the other end paused and cautiously asked, “Miao Miao, is someone beside you? Why didn’t you reply to my WeChat this afternoon?”
“I went to… register this afternoon.”
“Register??? You got married?” Cheng Cheng’s voice shot up instantly.
Cen Miao: ? Register means get married?
“Yes, I got… married,” Cen Miao said, nodding as he spoke.
“!!!”
“Were you forced, babe?” Cheng Cheng asked in a lowered voice.
Cen Miao: “No, my shoes weren’t broken, but I bought new ones—dog slippers. Very cute, I like them.”
Cheng Cheng: “???” Damn!!! Something’s seriously wrong!
“Sky tiger?” Cheng Cheng whispered a code.
“What tiger?” Cen Miao had just asked when he heard a series of beeps.
Cheng Cheng: “It’s over. He didn’t reply to the cat-chasing-mouse code!!!”
Cen Miao answered with a questioning “Mm,” scratched his head, set the phone aside, and went into the bedroom.
In a city rental apartment, Cheng Cheng hung up and quickly rode to Manfu Residential Area. After knocking and getting no response, he tried calling Cen Miao, only to find the phone was off.
It’s over!
Completely over!
Just now, Cen Miao deliberately changed the subject, turning “being forced” into “slippers.” He must be hinting that someone is beside him and it’s inconvenient to speak!
Besides, he has no partner but suddenly said he’s married. It must be a warning!
His precious one is in danger!
I was really stupid just now! I didn’t understand Cen Miao’s intention!
Cheng Cheng didn’t hesitate and immediately called the police.
As night deepened, the villa area was silent.
A police car slowly drove in. The Bodyguard opened the gate, puzzled.
In the third-floor bedroom, Qin Zelin had just fallen asleep when a knock woke him.
He opened the door to see Old Lin and the Bodyguard, with several police officers standing behind them. Wrapping his robe tighter, his brows furrowed, a hint of annoyance in his gaze: “What happened?”
“Sir, we received a report from Cen Miao’s friend, saying he might have been coerced. After warning him, the friend lost contact. Based on the last phone location, we came to confirm the friend’s safety.”
Qin Zelin frowned deeper. “He’s already asleep. He hasn’t been coerced. His friend misunderstood.”
“I’m sorry, sir. We need to see him personally to ask some questions. Please cooperate.” The young officer said firmly.
Although this villa area housed the rich and powerful, they didn’t fear authority!
Qin Zelin considered calling his superiors but realized it was late. Not a big deal.
“Come with me.” Qin Zelin led them to knock on the next room’s door.
After several knocks, Cen Miao finally woke, half-asleep, thinking he was still in the post-apocalypse base.
Hmm?
Has Caretaker Dad come back?
The door opened. Cen Miao’s hair was half wet and messy. He hugged a pillow, rubbing his eyes sleepily, and spoke:
“Daddy~”
Soft, sleepy, and slightly hoarse.
……………..??
Everyone at the door froze.
The Bodyguard’s ears turned red. He… they mean President Qin likes being called that by Madam?
The young officers exchanged glances. Looking at Qin Zelin, their expressions became complex and knowing—like they were observing someone with a very unusual hobby.
Qin Zelin: “……”
After a tense silence, a female officer recovered first. She softened her gaze, voice gentle: “Are you Cen Miao? And who is this gentleman beside you?”
Cen Miao snapped fully awake, realizing he was no longer in the base but in another world.
He remembered what Cheng Cheng had said on the phone and pointed at Qin Zelin, tone firm and decisive.