Chapter 9

As night deepened, the villa's lights quietly softened.

After dinner, Sakura was gently carried back to her room by Minamino Shuichi.

She nestled in his arms, her nightgown as soft as a cloud, her long hair cascading down his arm, carrying a faint scent of roses. She didn't speak, but simply nuzzled softly against him, a movement like a cat, or perhaps a deliberate act of affection.

"Is your stomach too full?" Minamino Shuichi asked, looking down at him with a subtle concern in his voice.

"No." Sakura looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "But right now I'm craving... something sweet."

"You've eaten quite a lot."

"But I still want to eat." She said, gently turning over and pressing herself against him, her hands supporting her chest, her face close to his handsome face, her eyes smiling.

Nan Ye Xiuyi held his breath for a moment.

As she pressed down, her loose nightgown slipped down slightly, revealing her fair, jade-like collarbone and the barely visible curves of her skin.

His gaze involuntarily fell on the soft curves of her chest—which, due to her pregnancy, were noticeably fuller than before, with gentle lines and clear contours.

Nan Ye Xiu subconsciously swallowed.

A barely perceptible layer of dangerous red light flickered in his green eyes, his handsome face was calm yet tense, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

"You...you're pressing down on me like that, it's dangerous," he whispered, his voice much hoarseer than usual.

"Where is it dangerous?" She tilted her head innocently, smiling seductively. "I'm just getting a little closer to you, okay?"

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, her breath lightly brushing against his chin, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly, like a fox deliberately stirring up trouble.

Minamino Hideichi gritted his teeth and tried his best to stay conscious: "You're pregnant, you can't move around."

"But your eyes are wandering." She playfully tapped him lightly, feigning grievance. "Where were you looking just now? You were looking so intently, not even looking away when I was so close."

"You were the one who pressed down first."

"I didn't take my clothes off." She smiled even more sweetly.

Even if you're wearing clothes... I can't hold back any longer.

She laughed even harder, snuggling against his chest, her soft body pressed against him, and suddenly said in an incredibly natural tone:

"Can I have dessert for a late-night snack?"

Shuichi Minamino: ...

His expression froze for a moment.

"You...you were flirting with me just now so you could get dessert?"

Sakura smiled innocently: "Hmm. Didn't you say you can't eat anything too sweet at night? Well, I was thinking... how about trying the cuteness trick?"

"..."

Nanno Shuichi stared at her silently, his heart pounding wildly.

She actually used her "irresistible" attraction to get permission for a late-night snack.

“You…” He sighed and reached out to cup her face. “You’re getting worse and worse.”

"I'm not bad~" she pouted, "I just... really want to eat a little bit of dessert. I'll go to sleep after I eat it."

"If you eat it, you'll still cause trouble."

No way!

"The result of your saying 'no' last time was that you ate five pieces of cheesecake, then got diarrhea and wouldn't let me scold you."

“I was an exception that time!” She slapped him on the shoulder. “Now I want strawberry mille-feuille, or crème brûlée… or…”

"That's enough." He pinched her cheek. "You're carrying my child, so you have to control your sugar intake."

"Hmm...then I'll have the low-sweetness one?"

"no."

"May I lick it?"

"no."

"Then I'm going to kiss you to vent my anger."

"..."

"I want a kiss."

She actually pounced on him, planted a light kiss on the corner of his mouth like a cat's paw, and then smiled like a little fox who had successfully stolen a bite: "It's sweet now~"

Startled by the kiss, Minamino Shuichi subconsciously touched the corner of his lips and chuckled softly.

“You…” He rolled over and gently pressed her down, his forehead against hers, “Don’t use your husband as bait next time.”

"Aren't you doing this willingly?" she asked with a smile in her blue eyes.

"...I'm willing to be lied to by you for the rest of my life."

Night fell quietly, and stars twinkled outside the window.

He held her in his arms as they lay on the soft bed, his hand gently resting on her flat stomach.

"Go to sleep well tonight and don't sneak downstairs to find dessert."

"...Could you have my favorite honey toast for breakfast tomorrow?"

"You're in charge tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Mmm." He kissed her forehead. "I'll spoil you no matter what you say."

She closed her eyes, leaned against his chest with a smile, and whispered:

"...It's so good, I think I really married a good husband."

Nanno Shuichi didn't say anything, he just hugged her tightly.

Because throughout his life, he had long regarded her as his only faith.

As dawn broke, morning light streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Golden rays slanted across the marble floor of the Minamino family home.

Inside the bedroom, the bed was covered with snow-white, soft bedding.

Sakura woke up a little earlier than usual.

She slowly opened her eyes. Beside her, Minamino Shuichi was still fast asleep, his expression calm, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly, and his hair a little disheveled. His breathing was steady, showing no signs of waking up.

She blinked and muttered softly, "I didn't get dessert last night... I really want some now..."

She gently lifted the covers, revealing a lace slip dress, her stomach flat, her legs bare. She walked barefoot on the carpet, her movements extremely stealthy, glancing back every step, as if she were "escaping from prison."

She pushed open the door, crossed the hallway, and like a little kitten stealing something, slipped downstairs and headed straight for the kitchen.

"There should still be some matcha cream puffs from yesterday in the fridge..."

She opened the refrigerator door and exclaimed softly, "Yay! It's still here!"

She had just taken her first bite, and before she could even celebrate, a very low, deep male voice, carrying a dangerous undertone, came from behind her:

“…Hoshino Sakura.”

Sakura almost slammed the cream puff back onto the plate with a "click," her whole action resembling a student caught stealing candy by their parents.

She stood frozen in place, then slowly turned around.

— Sure enough, Minamino Shuichi leaned against the kitchen doorway, wearing black trousers and a white T-shirt. His hair was a little messy, but his eyes were very clear, and his green eyes exuded a strong "early-rising parent aura".

He held the coat he had just put on in his hand, his eyebrows slightly raised, and a smile playing on his lips.

"You sneaked downstairs just to steal some cream puffs?"

"I...I didn't..." she denied instinctively.

There was cream on the corner of her mouth.

"..."

"The evidence is conclusive."

"...I was just hungry."

Breakfast hasn't been prepared yet.

"But... I didn't eat yesterday..."

“Do you remember me saying that you should control your dessert intake?” He approached slowly. “In the early stages of pregnancy, you are not allowed to eat anything too sweet.”

"Just one bite!" she said hastily, preparing to turn and run away.

But it was too late.

The next second, she was swept up in Minamino Shuichi's arms. Before Puff could be put down, she could only bite her lip and protest softly:

What are you doing?

“I’ll punish you,” he said firmly. “For stealing candy and lying, trying to cover it up.”

You're making a mountain out of a molehill!

"You're my wife, of course I have to care."

"You're interfering too much!" she protested, biting her lip, her face already flushed.

The bedroom door was pushed open with a bang, and Sakura was carried back to the soft bed and gently tossed onto the center of the bedding.

"Put me down! I want to keep eating dessert!"

“Sure.” He slowly unbuttoned his cufflinks, his green eyes narrowing slightly. “You’ll have to accept your punishment first.”

"...What kind of punishment?"

What do you think?

"You wouldn't be..."

"You know I won't let you eat too many sweets."

"Then what are you going to do... Ouch!"

Before she could finish speaking, a large hand gently patted her round bottom, making a soft sound through her nightgown.

"Minamino Shuichi!! Are you crazy!!"

"It's because you're too disobedient." He leaned down, placed his hands on either side of her, and looked down at her blushing face after being caught red-handed.

"Why did you spank me?!"

“Just a warning,” he whispered in her ear. “If you don’t listen… I’ll kiss you until you admit your mistake.”

"I don't acknowledge it!"

"Okay, then I'll do it now..."

He leaned down and kissed her lips.

This kiss wasn't as gentle as he usually was; it carried a hint of punitive aggression. Their lips intertwined, their breaths mingled, and although she tried to struggle, the warmth of his lips quickly made her heart race uncontrollably.

"You little rascal." He nibbled on her lips and chuckled softly, "From now on, if you sneak a dessert, you'll have to pay with a kiss."

"...You're a scoundrel."

"Legal thugs".

In the end, Sakura didn't get to eat the late-night cream puffs she had been dreaming of, but she did get to be fed low-sugar milk pudding by Minamino Shuichi.

She nestled in his arms, clutching the pudding, and ate it while muttering to herself:

"Why are you so controlling of me..."

"Because you are now not only my wife, but also the mother of my baby."

"...Then you kissed me for too long, didn't you?"

That's because you didn't push it away either.

Her face flushed, and she muttered softly, "I just... my lips are weak."

“Then I’ll make it up to you from now on.” He smiled, “Once in the morning and once in the evening, until you stop craving desserts.”

"...You really are...too cunning."

"But you like it."

"No way!"

She turned to look at him, still holding the spoon in her mouth, but he only smiled and remained silent.

The morning light shone through the curtains onto them, and even the air tasted as sweet as frothy condensed milk.