Acting cute is shameful, but it works.
The moonlight outside was cool and clear, and the plane trees on both sides of the road looked as if they were covered with a layer of white frost. In the dim light, only one rickshaw was running at a steady speed on the road.
Suddenly the carriage jolted, and Qingcheng was almost thrown out. The driver in front of her exclaimed in surprise and stepped over the handlebars to check the wheels.
The sycamore trees rustled, and Qingcheng felt something was off: "What's wrong?"
The rickshaw driver walked around the rickshaw once: "I'm sorry, a thin lead wire got caught in my wheel. Please find another rickshaw."
Before he finished speaking, the driver pulled Qingcheng off onto the main road like a shooting star. Qingcheng followed him in a daze and ran away, not knowing what the driver was afraid of.
But the chaotic footsteps behind her urged Qingcheng to run. She had no time to care whether it was a spy or some other weird thing behind her; running was the right thing to do.
In her panic, Qingcheng glanced back and saw dozens of thugs wielding watermelon knives and axes, yelling that they wanted to chop her up.
Good heavens, they're not the Green Gang, they're the Axe Gang! Old Li's intelligence was way off.
The menacing plague demons drew closer and closer, pressing down with overwhelming force. The driver's lips moved rapidly: "This way."
In the darkness, Qingcheng pushed over a bamboo pole in the alley, and along with several figures rushing forward, they all turned into a crisp snapping sound.
However, he couldn't withstand their overwhelming numbers. The coachman alone was no match for them. In the midst of the melee, he was slashed across the arm. Qingcheng was caught off guard and was punched hard in the chin.
"You bastard! I'm so angry!" Qingcheng gritted her teeth and kicked the other man hard in the groin. The monster inside her roared: "You bastard, I have to meet my future father-in-law tonight!"
A scorching cloud of air emanated from her mouth. Qingcheng grabbed one person by the collar and flung him away with all her might, instantly unleashing her power to knock the group of plague gods behind her to the ground.
The driver hesitated for less than a second before handing the stolen machete to Qingcheng and then snapping the necks of the remaining thugs with his bare hands.
Holding the watermelon knife, Qingcheng suddenly realized she didn't know how to use it! Besides, running around aimlessly wasn't a solution; her stamina couldn't compare to those energetic men.
On a sudden impulse, Qingcheng grabbed the copper basin next to the sink, and while hitting it with a watermelon knife, shouted, "Fire! Fire! That piece of trash has set it on fire!"
Sure enough, as soon as she shouted, the surrounding residents turned on their lights, and many people, still in their pajamas, rushed into the alley, completely blocking the narrow passage.
In a race against time, Qingcheng dropped her tools, grabbed the driver, and ran towards the main road. The two of them raced through the neon-lit metropolis of Shanghai until the plague was left far behind.
But Qingcheng dared not be careless. With caution in mind, she led the driver quickly into a vegetable market, where hardworking vendors were already setting up their stalls.
After Qingcheng helped the driver knock on the door of the management office and gave the contact number to the duty officer, she finally felt relieved. This was one of their transportation stops.
Looking at the driver, his arm was bleeding profusely, dripping all the way, and his face was as white as Cao Cao on the stage.
Upon seeing this, the administrator immediately made a phone call and had someone bring in a freshly slaughtered rooster. He also poured several basins of dirty water at the entrance of the market, so that once the pork and fish stalls opened, the bloodstains would no longer be a problem.
It wasn't until she was cleaning her wound that Qingcheng felt a soreness and pain in her chin. Looking in the mirror, she saw a large bruise on her chin. Oh no, she was disfigured!
"Comrade, how did you get involved with those ruthless thugs from the Axe Gang?" The coachman skillfully bandaged his wound.
Qingcheng replied, half-truthfully, "I offended a dancer. Comrade, what's your name? My name is Zhou Xiao. Thank you so much for today."
"You're welcome. Just call me Yingqi. The caravan shop is too late and there's no one there. I happened to be free, so I came to help pick someone up." The driver was about the same age as Qingcheng, but there were no fewer than seven or eight scars on his arms.
According to confidentiality regulations, they couldn't talk too much. Qingcheng thanked Yingqi again and left early as the market opened. The first light of dawn shone on the road outside. She had to go back to the safe house to change her clothes.
As she turned into the alley leading to the apartment building, Qingcheng turned up the collar of her coat, silently repeating to herself: Gao Junxiao is sleeping, Gao Junxiao is sleeping...
The cool wooden handrail brushed against her palms. Qingcheng glanced around from time to time, walking and stopping in the familiar corridor. She casually glanced at Gao Junxiao's door. Good, it was closed.
She didn't dare linger and quickly walked past Gao Junxiao's door. Suddenly, the man's door swung open, and Gao Junxiao, propped up on his arm, smiled with a hint of unease: "You're going back to your own home, why are you acting like a thief?"
It was extremely quiet all around, and every second seemed to stretch out. Qingcheng's voice was like a gust of wind, barely audible, as she whispered: "It's too early. I'm afraid it will disturb the neighbors' rest."
“It’s already affecting things, turn it around!” Gao Junxiao’s hand was already on her shoulder.
Even after rehearsing it countless times in her mind, Qingcheng still couldn't maintain absolute composure under Gao Junxiao's eagle eye. She could only try her best to appear natural: "Don't pull me, I'm too tired and want to go back to rest. Do as you please."
Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best. Qingcheng had no intention of wasting her breath explaining how she injured her chin.
Gao Junxiao showed no intention of letting Qingcheng off the hook. He forcefully ripped off her collar, which she had raised. Qingcheng had nowhere to escape, so she could only look down at her toes. She had the right to remain silent, after all.
To her surprise, Gao Junxiao straightened her collar and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"
Huh? Was he trying to probe her? If it was too early, the breakfast shops wouldn't be open yet, but the shopkeepers in the suburbs might get up earlier than those in the city. Several of his intentions flashed through Qingcheng's mind.
Before Qingcheng could figure it out, Gao Junxiao sighed, "If you haven't eaten, I'll just buy another one."
Qingcheng stared at Gao Junxiao expectantly, wondering if he wasn't going to ask any further questions.
"Hehe, I wouldn't be surprised if you came home with a knife stuck in your forehead right now," Gao Junxiao said as if he could read minds. "Come in, I'll apply some medicine for you."
"If you bring bad luck upon yourself, you'll be the one with a knife stuck in your forehead," Qingcheng muttered to herself about the man's gossipy nature, but her body betrayed her as she was led into the house by him. Who could resist the tenderness of an awkward man?
Neither of them spoke after entering the room. Gao Junxiao prepared the first-aid kit expressionlessly, the sharpness in his dark eyes slowly torturing her. Qingcheng noticed that he was wearing a bathrobe and pajama bottoms, making his aura even more imposing, radiating a dangerous aura.
The colder he became, the more anxious Qingcheng grew, unsure of his intentions—was he sulking, or was he about to explode?
After a few awkward minutes, Gao Junxiao used tweezers to make her nod her head to the side. To avoid the awkwardness of eye contact, Qingcheng lay down on the man's lap and said whim, "I'm so tired, let me lie down for a while."
Her actions were too intimate, and Gao Junxiao visibly stiffened: "You little rascal, you know how to play dumb when you get into trouble. Staying out all night is one thing, but where did you bump your chin? You're always doing dangerous things, you're really something else."
Ke Qingcheng closed her eyes, but still couldn't resist rubbing against the man's leg. Hmm~ She didn't want to listen to his nagging. A click of the tongue came from above, followed by a cool touch on her chin. It seemed that Gao Junxiao had given up on lecturing her.
The exhaustion of the night burst forth in the warm harbor. Qingcheng couldn't help but yawn, and finally, unable to resist the overwhelming sleepiness, she fell into a deep sleep.
The heartless little girl fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. However, Miss He couldn't hear his complaints at all. Her lazy sleeping face was even more alluring. Gao Junxiao gently kissed her forehead, but the scent of men's cologne and a faint smell of smoke wafted from her hair.
Her friend, who had been partying all night, had a boyfriend and they were even smoking together! She smelled of soap, so she must have just taken a shower. It's true what they say, you have to be careful of unwanted advances. Gao Junxiao's gaze dimmed. He wanted to shake her awake, but his hand, which had just touched her hair, turned into a loving caress.
She wasn't wearing makeup or earrings, so she probably wasn't the type I was thinking of; she always liked to go out with large groups of men and women.
But the thought of her taking such a risk late at night made Gao Junxiao feel uneasy. He ran his fingertips along Miss He's smooth cheek from her temple, his dark eyes gleaming. "You really think I can't handle you, huh? I'll deal with you when you wake up."
The clouds outside the window turned from pure white to a vibrant sunset. Gao Junxiao slowed down his turning of the pages and leaned closer to observe Miss He's sweet sleeping face. Her slender wrists rested on the pillow, and her thin, fair skin revealed a few blue veins.
Like a clean lotus root, its snowy, crispy, and fragrant appearance makes one want to take a bite. Gao Junxiao awkwardly looked away and tucked Qingcheng's wrist back into the blanket. Perhaps he was hungry.
When he returned from the kitchen, the room was even darker. Gao Junxiao turned on a small lamp to continue reading, but Qingcheng was sleeping right next to him, so it was hard not to notice. He simply lay down next to Qingcheng, his lips unconsciously curving upwards. No book could compare to his wife.
Goodness, she's sleeping so soundly, isn't she hungry? But as he got closer, he caught a faint scent of cologne in her hair, which made Gao Junxiao's good mood not sink. What brand of perfume is that? How can it last so long? It's so annoying!
At this moment, Gao Junxiao glanced at the cold teacup on the table. He remembered the unpleasant feeling of having snowballs stuffed into his collar before. He raised an eyebrow, picked up the frozen ceramic cup, and mischievously flicked a few drops of icy tea onto Miss He's face.
Perhaps feeling unwell, Qingcheng whimpered and kicked her legs in protest, showing signs of waking up. Having succeeded the first time, Gao Junxiao's arrogance was greatly emboldened. He yanked off half of Qingcheng's blanket and gestured around for a while. Finally, he determined the location for pouring water, carefully controlling the amount, because he would be sleeping in this bed that night.
Water droplets trickled down Qingcheng's cheeks, down her neck, and onto her lips. Qingcheng immediately shrank back, kicking off the covers in discomfort. The water stains at the corners of her mouth looked like she was drooling. Hehe, he'd try to scam her later and make her wash his sheets. Gao Junxiao was gloating over his masterpiece when, in an instant, he was pinned down by Qingcheng.
She rolled over too quickly, and he got too close, making Qingcheng hug him like that. Gao Junxiao felt a strange sense of unease and tried to push her away.
However, Miss He's long legs pressed down again, and Gao Junxiao couldn't help but groan. Any movement would cause unnecessary friction. Oh well, he had brought this upon himself.
Actually, her body was soft and delicate, and it felt quite comfortable to be pressed against him. However, her warm breath kept spraying on his neck, and her legs were not very still... Gao Junxiao felt a surge of heat rising from his lower body and rushing into his brain. Should he silently recite the Heart-Cleansing Mantra?
What nonsense! This is my future wife, not an outsider. Hehe, why not... This thought was immediately rejected by Gao Junxiao. She trusts him so much, how can he betray her trust? What distinguishes humans from beasts is propriety and righteousness.
Calm down! He gripped the sheets tightly, trying his best to control himself. Even being on an electric chair wouldn't be this bad.
Just as Gao Junxiao was having a mental battle, Qingcheng let out a sleepy moan, her innocent eyes slowly opening, then instantly turning to terror. The two were in such an intimate and affectionate position that the air seemed to freeze, and it felt like only the two of them were staring at each other in the world.
Finally awake, Gao Junxiao was somewhat gloating. He pointed at her delicate nose and accused her first: "It's not the first time you've slept in my arms. Look how comfortable you are, drooling. Get down now! You're too heavy, you need to press your legs down."
After Gao Junxiao's "kind" reminder, Qingcheng hurriedly let go to wipe the corner of her mouth, her little face turning bright red, probably embarrassed and annoyed by her unseemly sleeping posture.
Before the break, Gao Junxiao had already applied ice to her chin, so even though it was so close, the injury on her chin wasn't as noticeable anymore.
But her hunched body suddenly sprang up, her eyes wide open: "You actually complain that I'm heavy, you heartless jerk! Where am I heavy? Tell me clearly, which leg of yours am I pressing down on?"
Qingcheng had just woken up, her voice still a little languid, and even though she shouted loudly, she still lacked some momentum. Gao Junxiao said calmly, "Of course it's because you've crushed all three of my legs. What if they break? Don't you care about me at all?"
Upon hearing her own teasing, Qingcheng's expression froze, and her eyes involuntarily glanced at him, seemingly still unconvinced, and she retorted matter-of-factly: "Serves you right, who told you to secretly sleep next to me. No, wait, you're standing guard pretty well, which means you're not crazy, you should be happy."
This logic baffled him. He suddenly pulled the blanket over his waist. Gao Junxiao's face burned. This female hooligan was quite domineering!
Her whole body was soft, except for her mouth, which was hard. Gao Junxiao simply crossed his legs and tried to outdo her in shamelessness: "Huahua, what do you mean by secretly? You're sleeping in my bed, and I'm lying openly in my own bed. Is there a problem? On the contrary, you're not reserved at all. Lying in someone else's bed and spouting nonsense, you should at least show a shy expression."
"Shy? You've been watching too many dramas. We're so close, your bed is my bed too. Stop thinking about romance and face the mundane realities of life." Qingcheng lectured Gao Junxiao with a look of disdain.
Want to act like an old married couple? Gao Junxiao immediately got into character: "That makes sense. Shouldn't you go wash your pillowcases and sheets now?"
"It's the dead of winter, the pipes are almost frozen, and you expect me to wash pillowcases and sheets? Have you no conscience?" Qingcheng kicked him and said arrogantly, "However, since you helped me apply the medicine, I'll treat you to a meal outside."
"No way. It's not a special day today, why waste that money? It's one thing if you don't do housework, but being thrifty should be an essential skill for every wife. You need to relearn your financial management skills, otherwise how can I entrust the money and the house to you in the future?" Gao Junxiao pinched Qingcheng's little face and coaxed her. Didn't he even ask if she had cooked anything?
Using the dim light from the desk, Qingcheng grabbed his messy hand and said proudly, "I'm treating you with my own money. And you don't have to show your true colors now. You're going to be a commander someday, so be generous. Don't be stingy with a few coins and make your men laugh at you."
"Me, stingy? If I were really stingy, I'd let you go out late at night, let you smell like wildflowers and weeds, and come back and annoy me. Go ask around, which husband is as generous as me?" Gao Junxiao saw her lower her head and sniff her sleeve, and kindly reminded her, "Hair!"
Qingcheng pulled a strand of hair from her bangs, and her face flushed even more after smelling it. "Feeling guilty now?" Gao Junxiao rolled his eyes at her, letting the little girl figure it out herself.
"Hehehe, you're a great hero who wiped out the bandit alliance, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Such a wise and mighty Commander Gao shouldn't bother with a little woman like me. Today I've changed to a men's cologne, definitely not the kind you're thinking of." Miss He's tone was a bit timid, quite adept at judging the situation!
I see. But Qingcheng is so carefree and doesn't know how to behave properly. She doesn't even know how many men look at her with such lustful eyes. Does she think she can give him a break?
Qingcheng pounced on him and acted coquettishly, but Gao Junxiao "powerlessly" pushed away Qingcheng's delicate hand that reached out to him: "Go away, don't touch me and try to take advantage of me. I'm a man of status too."
"Oh, even if you're worth a lot, I can still book you for a year, right? Brother Xiao, I'm so hungry right now, let's go eat." Qingcheng hugged Gao Junxiao's arm and pressed herself against him without any restraint.
She's provoking him again. Gao Junxiao pulled his numb arm away. If he let her continue her antics, things could easily escalate.
"Ugh, I can't even touch you." Kiyosumi gave him a soft push. "Don't you know my character? I'm upright and honest, and I already informed you beforehand, so what's there to worry about?"
Gao Junxiao turned his face away and sneered sarcastically: "Hmph, do I need to worry about you? Miss He, you have a lot of friends around you, men and women combined, you need to write a list of them, otherwise I'm afraid you won't have enough days to enjoy the stars."
“Brother Xiao, I’ve already given myself to you, and we’ll have plenty of time to watch the stars together.” Qingcheng leaned forward and asked tactfully, “How about I give you my bottle of cologne? It’s understated yet sophisticated, perfect for a mature and successful man like you. It will definitely add extra charm to you.”
"Tch, who cares!" But a wise person knows when to yield, and no one can resist a few kind words. Gao Junxiao deliberately mimicked Qingcheng's tone and asked, "After applying it, will Miss He find herself unable to resist getting closer?"
"Hehe, I don't need perfume at all. I just want to get close to you. You are the old dream buried deep in my heart, the only one, the sun, moon and stars, the good man I will share the candlelight with in the future." Kiyosumi danced around and regained her usual quick wit. "Since I met you, the harsh winter has ended and the Milky Way shines forever."
"Tsk~ My poor ears are suffering. This is the first time I've heard someone recite love words with such grandeur and eternity. Please practice some more." Gao Junxiao clicked his tongue, but couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips. "Then let me ask you, what's wrong with your chin?"
"...I ran into some hooligans." Kiyosumi's words were muffled, as if she had a preserved plum in her mouth.
"Oh my, I didn't expect you, Miss He, to fight with hooligans. I underestimated you." Gao Junxiao really wanted to tie up the woman in front of him to save himself the trouble.
"I don't want it to be like this either. Ever since school, I've always been the one holding the umbrella. Whenever the power goes out in the dorm, everyone hides behind me. I'm the one who moves books, changes light bulbs, and kills bugs. It's lonely at the top. I'm used to being a bodyguard, always protecting my sisters. Actually, I also want to be a little cuter." Kiyosumi lowered her head sadly, a sly glint flashing in her eyes, gone in an instant.
"Come here, let me hug you. Just because they treat you like a man doesn't mean you can act like one. Why are you standing up for yourself in this kind of situation? What are you thinking about all day?" Gao Junxiao hugged Qingcheng. "From now on, let them find their own boyfriends or brothers. What's the point of them always coming to you? They may not care, but I do."
Qingcheng nodded obediently in her arms, but couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, instantly ruining the beautiful atmosphere.
"What are you laughing at, huh?" Gao Junxiao asked, displeased.
"No, no, I'm laughing at myself." Covering her mouth, Qingcheng shook her head vigorously, but one foot had already stepped off the edge of the bed, as if she was about to slip away.
Gao Junxiao's playful side suddenly kicked in. He pulled the man back and pinned him to the bed, tickling him. "You little rascal, come here. Did you really think I believed your nonsense? I was giving you a way out, but you just... Don't you like to laugh? I'll let you laugh your fill."
Seizing the opportunity, Kiyosumi suppressed a laugh and protested, "I took the liberty of doing it, hahaha, ah, you... be serious."
The bed creaked and groaned from their playful fight. Gao Junxiao held the beautiful woman within reach, his hands relentlessly stroking her: "Are you even human? You're always doing things that make me anxious. Today I'll teach you a lesson."
"Hahahaha, I take back what I said, I'm not giving you perfume anymore, ahahaha, you're so childish." Qingcheng laughed uncontrollably, but still stubbornly insisted, "Wait a minute, did you hear a knock on the door? Is Chen Yao back?"
"You little liar, do you think he'd fall for it? Chen Yao is still in the Northeast undergoing reorganization." Gao Junxiao said condescendingly, "I have to set a rule: you can only call me by my name in my bed, no mispronouncing it, and you're not allowed to call any other man, or you'll be punished."
"Pah, who cares about you!" Qingcheng spat at him mercilessly, then suddenly grabbed his collar and leaned in for a light kiss. After the kiss, Qingcheng declared triumphantly, "Do I look like a rule-abiding person to you?"
Looking at Qingcheng's adorable pout, Gao Junxiao's throat went dry. The string that had been stretched to its limit finally snapped. He quickly covered her lips with his, grabbed her wrist, and pressed her down firmly.
Even though her initiative was merely a fleeting, restrained touch, the sweet taste was irresistible. Gao Junxiao's mind was filled with nothing but a burning, lingering desire to explore every inch of her being and to claim the nectar he deserved. He's lively eyes gradually closed as he continued his pursuit.
The dim light illuminated the two figures, casting their silhouettes on the wall, and the only sound in the room was the soft creaking of the spring mattress.
*Smack* A slight sting on his buttocks pulled him back to his remaining rationality. Damn, this little girl has gotten bold, daring to make faces. Gao Junxiao flicked her straight, delicate nose. When he spoke, he didn't even know his voice could be so hoarse and deep. He could only grit his teeth and continue to warn, "Don't do anything dangerous again, or you'll face other punishments."
"Danger? Why can't you touch a tiger's butt?" Qingcheng lifted Gao Junxiao's chin and said breathlessly, "Use whatever tricks you have. Anyway, you look so good, I won't lose out."
"You took advantage of me. You even wanted to book me for a year. Did you think I was some kind of courtesan?" Gao Junxiao squinted, scrutinizing the beautiful woman beneath him. "Hey, have you gone bad, or have you just revealed your true nature?"
"Guess?" Qingcheng blinked her hazy eyes.
"I won't guess, I won't lose out anyway." Gao Junxiao couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a sense of spring warmth and flowers blooming, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. He combed her fluffy hair with his hand, thinking he would let the little rascal go for today.
Just then, light footsteps sounded outside. Gao Junxiao glanced at the door curiously. Who was it?
Before he could react, a furious roar came from outside the bedroom: "You little brat, what mischief are you up to?"
father!
In an instant, the two sat up as if electrocuted, looked at each other, and Gao Junxiao immediately felt a tightness in his chest, as if he couldn't catch his breath. How could his father have a key to his room! This was really bad.
"I already said there was a knock on the door. What do we do now?" Kiyosumi pouted, looking aggrieved.
Gao Junxiao felt like he had shot himself in the foot, but he didn't know that the old man had the key: "My father is a typical Westerner with a Chinese heart, a feudal patriarch. For him, our situation is already a compromise."
Kiyosumi, standing beside him, bit her lip and shoved him, silently complaining about his carelessness.
Although the two were fully dressed, anything that passed through his old man's loose tongue could taint their innocent relationship, and he might even look down on Qingcheng. That wouldn't do; she had to enter his family with dignity in the future.
Gao Junxiao straightened the wrinkles in his clothes and whispered to Qingcheng to hide quickly. He would find a way to get the old man out of there. Qingcheng nodded in agreement with a look of utter despair.
"Xiao Xing, I heard your voice, get out here right now!" the old man urged again.
"Coming, coming." Gao Junxiao turned around and saw that Qingcheng had disappeared. As long as she was hiding, he gently opened the door a crack.
Outside the bedroom door, Old Master Gao leaned on his cane with a grim expression. Gao Junxiao asked tremblingly, "Father, have you eaten?"
"No, why aren't the living room lights on? I knocked on the door but no one answered, but your bedroom light is on, and I called you for ages but you didn't come out," Mr. Gao asked curiously.
"I was engrossed in my book and didn't hear you." Gao Junxiao forced a bright smile, but his body blocked the doorway, preventing his father from getting in even a little bit.
"Keeping a mistress in another secret place? I don't even want to go in. Look at the mess in the room. The blankets are all wrinkled from morning till now. You haven't even bothered to tidy up. Do you have seven sons or eight daughters?" The sharp-eyed old man had already noticed the messy bed in the room.
"I don't work on weekends, so I'm lying in bed reading." Gao Junxiao lied very smoothly.
"If you don't want your eyes anymore, then donate them to those in need. Where did you pick up such a bad habit? We need to find someone to discipline you," Old Master Gao said through gritted teeth.
Gao Junxiao chuckled awkwardly as he invited his father into the living room before cautiously closing the bedroom door.
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