Chapter 5

When he pushed open the door to the art room, he saw the mother and son lying on the carpet, busy drawing. The two of them looked up at the same time, their identical eyes staring straight at him. Their faces were both speckled with paint, and paintbrushes were scattered all over the floor around them. Xiaoyu happily ran over, his eyes sparkling. “Daddy, you're home!” Huo Congli picked him up and walked over to Su Jingwan. He reached out to help her up, immediately checking on how she was doing. “Thank you for taking care of him. Are you tired?” Su Jingwan shook her head. “He was very well-behaved. He was easy to take care of.” She had never looked after another child before, so she didn't know whether all children were as obedient and sweet as Xiaoyu. Even when he was sick and had to take bitter medicine, he never cried or threw a tantrum. Now that Huo Congli was home, the child was his responsibility again. Su Jingwan left the art room and went straight to the bedroom to wash her face. … She had just wiped the paint off her face when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. Huo Congli rested his chin on her shoulder, his thin lips brushing kisses against the most sensitive spot on the side of her neck. Su Jingwan dodged him and scolded him softly. “…Don't kiss me there.” The skin there was thin and easily left visible marks. Huo Congli's Adam's apple bobbed. “Don't you like the jewelry I had delivered this afternoon? Why haven't I seen you wearing it?” In the past, whenever he gave her diamond jewelry, she would put it on immediately and admire herself for the entire evening. She would even take pictures and post them on her social media to show off her wealth. Huo Congli was always the first person to like her posts. That afternoon, he had checked his phone countless times, refreshing her social media over and over, but he never saw a new post from Su Jingwan. His mood had turned gloomy. He was afraid she had blocked him from seeing her posts. Later, he borrowed Assistant Li's phone and opened Su Jingwan's social media, repeatedly comparing what he could see on both accounts to make sure he hadn't been blocked. She hadn't blocked him. She simply hadn't posted anything. Su Jingwan wiped the remaining water from her face and answered honestly. “Of course I like it. What woman doesn't like diamonds and jewelry? I'm a materialistic person. The more you give me, the better.” “I didn't post anything because I didn't have time. I spent the afternoon drawing with Xiaobao, and I also took a look at some of the designs I made back in college.” She had majored in fashion design at university, but after graduating, she hadn't picked up a paintbrush again. She had devoted herself entirely to romantic relationships instead. “Do you want to study design again?” Huo Congli asked. Su Jingwan thought about it seriously. “I do want to study it again, but I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the hard work. I'll be lazy for a couple of days first and think about it.” She had a very clear understanding of herself. Whenever she wasn't completely sure about something, she tended to give up easily. It was better to wait until she had made up her mind before taking action. “Whenever you decide, just tell me. I'll make the arrangements for you.” Huo Congli gathered her long hair and gently tied it up. “Okay.” And then there was nothing more to say. Silence was the last thing Su Jingwan was comfortable with. Feeling awkward, she looked at the man behind her through the mirror. Huo Congli's eyes were filled with unmistakable desire. “Do you want to?” He drew in a sharp breath and immediately looked away, only daring to ask carefully, “Mm. Can I?” Su Jingwan turned around in his arms and faced him. “What if Xiaoyu comes looking for us halfway through?” Huo Congli couldn't worry about that anymore. He lowered his head, wanting to kiss her, but she raised a fingertip and pressed it against his thin lips. The woman gave a soft click of her tongue. The man immediately backed away with restraint. Afraid of upsetting her, he looked utterly dejected. Su Jingwan reached out and rested her hand on his belt. Before doing anything, she glanced up at him and pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. “…You'll wash my hands for me afterward.” She had just washed them. “Okay.” Huo Congli was almost crazed with desire. He couldn't wait any longer before capturing her lips in a kiss, like a traveler who had wandered through the desert for far too long, desperately drinking from a long-awaited source of water. No one knew how much time had passed. Eventually, the sound of running water once again filled the bathroom. Su Jingwan's unfocused gaze remained blank for a couple of seconds before she impatiently wiped her hands against Huo Congli's custom-tailored shirt. He simply indulged her, allowing her to do whatever she wanted without the slightest complaint. Her home clothes were no longer neat, and underneath, she was left with nothing. The corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose were flushed. One shoulder was exposed, her lips slightly swollen from his kisses, and her eyes glistened with moisture. Perhaps feeling worn out and wanting to get a little revenge, she raised the hand she had just dried against his shirt and lightly slapped Huo Congli's face, complaining coquettishly, “Huo Congli, you're so dirty.” The disgust in Su Jingwan's voice was unmistakable. Huo Congli knew how much she valued cleanliness, and he also knew that she genuinely found him dirty at the moment. So he turned his head and kissed her palm, drawing her fingers gently into his lips as though trying to appease her. “Mm. Don't be angry, honey.” The sight was far too suggestive. Just one more glance at it made her face feel hot. She quickly pulled her hand back to stop him from kissing it again, her fingertip landing against his chin. “Huo Congli!” … They had originally planned to send Xiaoyu to the old residence for Madam Huo to look after for the night, but the little boy had only just experienced what it felt like to be loved by his mother today. No matter what they said, he refused to leave. Huo Congli couldn't bear seeing tears fall from those eyes that looked exactly like Su Jingwan's, so he could only give up on sending him away. He went to coax the child to sleep while Su Jingwan lay on the bed, wearing a face mask as she watched a TV series. Suddenly, she remembered the sapphire jewelry set that had been delivered that afternoon. It was worth enough to buy Ji Huaizhi a lifetime of luxury. She casually hooked the multi-million-yuan sapphire necklace around her finger. Still wearing her face mask, she made a silly expression, snapped a picture, and posted it to her social media. She had deliberately posted it for Ji Huaizhi to see. Although she had blocked him, he would certainly find a way to snoop on her, even if he had to use a friend's account. Wouldn't Ji Huaizhi be furious seeing how well she was living? What a pity she couldn't personally enjoy the look on his face when he lost his composure. Within a minute of posting, the picture had already received dozens of likes. As usual, Huo Congli was the first to like it. After liking the post, he saved the picture. Xiaoyu was lying against his chest. His fluffy little head leaned over to look at his phone screen. The little boy was unusually excited tonight and couldn't seem to fall asleep no matter what. If he didn't sleep, Huo Congli couldn't rest easy enough to return to his wife. “Xiaoyu, it's time to sleep.” The little boy lay on top of him, slowly trying to summon some sleepiness. At the same time, Huo Congli received messages from his group of childhood friends. **Bo Ze:** Cong-ge, come out and hang out at the usual place? **Xiao Jin:** This guy came back to the country today. He's been pestering us to throw him a welcome-back gathering. Huo Congli glanced at the time. Eight o'clock in the evening. **Huo Congli:** I'm putting the kid to sleep. Give me a moment. Xiaoyu eventually couldn't resist his sleepiness and soon drifted into a deep sleep. Huo Congli quietly left the child's room. When he returned to the bedroom, Su Jingwan was lying on her stomach watching her show. She merely lifted her eyes when he entered. “Is Xiaobao asleep?” “Mm.” Huo Congli sat down beside her. Noticing that her long hair was only half dry, he immediately went to get the hair dryer and continued drying it for her. “Bo Ze is back in the country. He arranged a small gathering, and Xiao Jin will be there too. Do you want to come?” “No.” Su Jingwan rejected the idea without even thinking. “Why would I go to your childhood friends' gathering? They don't bring female companions anyway.” Huo Congli pressed his lips together slightly. Lowering his eyes, he asked, “If there's an event in the future where I need to bring a female companion, would you be willing to go with me?” The outside world only knew that Huo Congli had a son. The internet was constantly filled with speculation about which wealthy heiress the child's mother was, and that kind of gossip had never really stopped. In the past, Su Jingwan had also refused to let the outside world know that she was Mrs. Huo. She certainly wouldn't have appeared in front of cameras with her arm linked through Huo Congli's. She had been afraid Ji Huaizhi would be unhappy if he saw them. Su Jingwan adjusted herself into a more comfortable position and answered sincerely, “If you're not afraid of me causing trouble for you, then I'd be willing to go.” “I'm not afraid. As long as you're by my side, no one will dare give you trouble. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you. What do you have to be afraid of, Wanwan?” Huo Congli gently stroked the top of her head, his voice exceptionally tender. “Hey, Huo Congli.” Su Jingwan put down her tablet. The way he was flirting with her felt strangely unsettling, so she stubbornly put on an annoyed expression. “If you keep talking like that, I'm not letting you go out anymore. Sweet-talking comes so naturally to you. Have you said things like that to other women before?”