Lost in thought, Wen Lan unconsciously finished every strawberry in the second glass bowl.
The television continued playing in front of her, but her mind had long since drifted elsewhere.
The spacious living room fell quiet again, with only the faint chatter from the television filling the air.
Reclining on the sofa, she caught the scent of the mist roses blooming in the distant garden, mingling with the lingering sweetness of strawberries. The intertwined fragrances drifted gently around her.
Overcome by a sudden wave of drowsiness, Wen Lan slowly closed her eyes.
She hadn’t slept well the previous night, and combined with the frailty of this unhealthy body, she quickly slipped into a deep sleep.
The sun gradually sank toward the horizon.
Brilliant evening clouds spread across the deep blue sky, now nearly black, bathing the tranquil dusk in warm colors.
A breeze swept through the irises lining the garden paths, drifted over the rose garden, and finally slipped into the living room.
It gently lifted Wen Lan’s long hair where she lay on the sofa, lingering around her with quiet affection.
She remained completely unaware.
Her long lashes rested peacefully against her cheeks as she slept soundly.
Holding a small glass bowl, Wen Wu carefully made her way downstairs.
The moment she spotted Wen Lan asleep on the sofa, she stopped in her tracks.
Mommy was sleeping.
What should she do now?
When she had woken up earlier, she had discovered half a bowl of strawberries waiting on the bedside table.
The first thing she did was put on her little shoes and run to find her father.
“Those are from Mommy for Dudu,” Lu Zhixing had said, gently stroking his daughter’s hair, his voice as warm as ever. “Go ahead and eat them.”
Still groggy from sleep, Wen Wu blinked her beautiful, wide eyes.
It took her a moment to process what he had said.
“Mommy knows I like strawberries?”
She nibbled lightly on her finger.
Surprise lit up her chubby little face, and her eyes sparkled as though they themselves were glowing.
Lu Zhixing turned off the stove.
Lowering his head, he gently pinched his daughter’s soft cheek and smiled.
“Of course.”
His daughter was exactly like his wife.
Neither of them could ever resist strawberries.
After hearing that, Wen Wu happily took a bite.
Her heart felt as sweet as the fruit itself.
A rosy blush spread across her delicate little face.
Looking down at the small amount of strawberries left in the bowl, she waved for her father to crouch down.
“Daddy, you eat too.”
Lu Zhixing couldn’t help laughing.
He casually picked up one and ate it.
“Daddy.”
“Mmm?”
After carefully wiping the strawberry juice from the corner of his daughter’s mouth with a handkerchief, he asked gently,
“What is it?”
Blinking her eyes, Wen Wu asked in her soft, childish voice,
“Has Mommy gotten better?”
Ever since returning home this time, Mommy had hugged her.
She had even given her favorite strawberries.
The overwhelming happiness had left the little girl feeling almost dizzy.
Picking Wen Wu up into his arms, Lu Zhixing kissed her before replying,
“Mmm. Mommy will keep getting better.”
“Then… can I go see Mommy later?”
The little girl sounded a little nervous.
She hadn’t talked to Mommy in a very long time.
“Of course.”
Lu Zhixing handed the glass bowl back to her, his eyes curving into a gentle smile.
“My precious girl can also spend more time talking to Mommy. She needs us now.”
Wen Wu squeezed her soft little hands.
Her father’s words filled her with confidence.
“Then… then I’m going to see Mommy.”
Standing on tiptoe, she kissed Lu Zhixing on the cheek before pattering out of the room.
But when she reached the living room downstairs, she realized that Mommy had already fallen asleep.
Carefully placing the glass bowl onto the coffee table, Wen Wu tried her best not to make any noise.
Once she had set it down, she quietly walked over to Wen Lan and stood there, her eyes wide as she carefully studied her sleeping mother.
This was her mommy.
The woman’s sleeping face was reflected clearly in the little girl’s bright, crystal-clear eyes.
What the little girl didn’t know was that Wen Lan’s hand, hidden inside her sleeve, was curling tighter and tighter into a fist.
Wen Lan kept her eyes tightly shut, regretting that she hadn’t simply “woken up” earlier.
Her heart pounded wildly.
The unique milky scent of a young child was drawing closer and closer.
Having never had any experience interacting with children, Wen Lan could only stiffly continue pretending to sleep.
Warm breaths drifted near.
Along with the sweet milky scent came the fragrance of strawberries.
Wen Lan froze for a moment.
The little girl had eaten the strawberries?
The next instant, she felt something soft and damp brush lightly against her cheek.
The touch was so gentle, as though the little girl were afraid of hurting her.
Then came the child’s soft, babyish voice beside her ear.
“Thank you, Mommy, for the strawberries.”
“I… I really liked them.”
The last sentence was obviously spoken with nervousness.
As soon as the little girl finished speaking, Wen Lan heard her immediately run away.
The tiny footsteps echoed clearly through the quiet room before gradually fading into silence.
The living room returned to its previous stillness.
The ticking of the clock sounded once more.
Wen Lan knew it was the daily chime announcing six o’clock in the evening.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The milky scent of the little girl still lingered on her cheek.
A moment ago, while she had been “asleep,” Wen Wu had secretly kissed her.
A blush suddenly spread across the woman’s usually cool, elegant face, creeping from the tips of her ears all the way down her neck.
Uncomfortably pressing a hand against her chest, Wen Lan felt her violently beating heart pounding so hard that it almost hurt.
Her chest felt tight and heavy, as though a flash flood had burst through and swept away every shred of her rationality.
How could her daughter possibly be this adorable?
She remained seated on the sofa with her head lowered, waiting for the overwhelming surge of emotion to subside.
There was clearly something wrong with this body.
It was as fragile as glass, unable to withstand even slightly intense emotions without making her feel ill.
…
Meanwhile, Lu Zhixing had just ladled the steaming, milky-white fish soup into a white porcelain bowl when hurried little footsteps sounded behind him.
Unhurriedly setting down what he was holding, he turned around and effortlessly scooped the running Wen Wu into his arms.
The gentle smile in his eyes made the man’s refined features appear especially warm.
“Slow down.”
When he saw the little girl’s flushed cheeks beaming with delight, he paused in surprise.
It had been a long time since she had smiled so happily.
“What happened? Why are you smiling so brightly?”
Lu Zhixing gently pinched her chubby cheek.
“Daddy.”
Wen Wu lowered her head, preparing to share a little secret.
“Mmm?”
Lu Zhixing obediently lowered his head as well, his tall, slender frame bending slightly.
“Tell me.”
“I secretly kissed Mommy just now.”
Wen Wu spoke in her sweet, childish voice.
It was the first time she had ever secretly kissed someone.
She was still nervous about it, but she also felt incredibly happy.
Her long, curled lashes curved into little crescents.
Mommy smelled so nice.
Lu Zhixing hadn’t expected the little girl to secretly kiss his wife.
He gave a light cough and gently rubbed her head.
“I see.”
“Mommy fell asleep on the sofa.”
The little girl was clearly very proud of herself.
“I secretly kissed her.”
“Mommy smells so nice. Daddy, have you ever kissed Mommy?”
Wen Wu asked curiously.
Holding the little girl with one arm, Lu Zhixing reached with his other hand for the handle of the soup bowl.
Distracted by her question, his fingers accidentally brushed against the scorching rim.
Calmly withdrawing his hand, he looked at her curious little face and smoothly changed the subject.
“Did you thank Mommy, sweetheart?”
Wen Wu was only a little over four years old, and her attention was immediately diverted.
“I did. And I even kissed Mommy.”
The little girl looked extremely pleased with her own remarkable achievement.
“Dudu is such a good girl.”
Lu Zhixing set her down on the floor and crouched before her, his expression turning serious.
“Can Daddy give you a mission?”
Wen Wu nodded.
“Okay.”
“Can you go wake Mommy up? Dinner will be ready very soon.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Wen Wu nodded again.
“Okay, Daddy.”
Then she scampered away.
After standing up, Lu Zhixing placed the soup bowl onto a heat-resistant mat.
His gaze lingered on the reddened tips of his fingers where they had just been burned.
Yet his thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the first intimate moment he had shared with his wife…
Within the dim, intimate glow, he had been like a monster devouring his wife whole.
Years of suppressed longing had driven him dangerously close to losing control.
He hadn’t cared whether, deep down, his wife despised him for being so shameless, for lacking even the slightest masculine restraint, for knowing only how to abandon himself to desire and desperately seek her affection.
He knew only one thing.
This was the only chance he would ever have to truly possess her.
With her usual calm expression, Wen Lan watched as the little girl reminded her it was time for dinner.
Lowering her gaze to the child, who barely reached her calves, she felt her own heart rising and falling along with the little girl’s every step.
She won’t trip… right?
Wen Lan found herself worrying.
Perhaps because she herself was so tall now, the little girl seemed unbelievably tiny.
Round and chubby like a glutinous rice dumpling, she looked both fragile and irresistibly adorable.
Only after they reached the dining room did Wen Lan finally relax.
She watched as the little girl frowned with exaggerated seriousness at the tall children’s chair.
Emotion won over reason.
Without thinking, Wen Lan bent down, lifted the little girl into her arms, and carefully settled her securely into the chair.
The dining table was rather tall, covered with a spotless white tablecloth.
A bouquet of vibrant flowers stood in a vase, while warm candlelight flickered gently now and then.
The table was laden with an abundant feast, and the rich aroma of delicious food filled the air, making the entire room feel warm and romantic.
Her principal husband had clearly put great care into preparing tonight’s dinner.
Beside her, the little girl sweetly urged her to sit down.
The closeness shared between family members was unmistakable at that moment.
Yet an overwhelming sense of guilt suddenly rose within Wen Lan, pressing so heavily on her chest that she could barely breathe.
She couldn’t stop herself from thinking.
What if…
What if she wasn’t actually the mistress of this home?
When she had arrived here, her mind had been as blank as a sheet of paper.
How had the “her” from before interacted with her family?
Why hadn’t she left behind even a single memory?
Wen Lan took a deep breath.
The little girl tugged gently at her sleeve.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?”
Wen Wu looked up at Wen Lan.
Seeing the little girl’s face, identical to her own as a child, gave Wen Lan the strange sensation that time itself had become confused.
“It’s nothing.”
Wen Lan bent down and gently patted the little girl’s head, suppressing the thoughts stirring inside her.
Just as she was about to say something, footsteps sounded behind her.
The man had taken off his apron and changed into a light gray set of loungewear.
He was carrying a serving plate as he walked over.
“Good evening, Wife.”
Wen Lan pursed her lips before replying,
“Good evening.”
There were three seats at the dining table.
The man sat on the right.
The little girl sat on the left.
The only remaining seat, at the head of the table, was empty.
Wen Lan had no choice but to take the only vacant seat.
It was obvious that the man’s table manners were impeccable.
He practiced complete silence while eating.
Only the little girl occasionally made a sound.
Wen Lan felt slightly stiff under the little girl’s constant gaze from her left, but her expression remained calm and unchanged.
Then, by chance, she noticed that the pads of the man’s fingers seemed… strangely red.