Su Qingning was truly happy because her mother had finally accepted Lin Xiao. Even if her mother hadn't accepted him, Su Qingning had already resolved to live a good life with Lin Xiao. But with her mother's blessing, her happiness soared.

The mother and daughter chatted downstairs for a while. When Su Qingning noticed her mother seemed tired, she took her upstairs to rest.

Lin Xiao rose and stepped out of the villa, settling into the pavilion in the courtyard. He began to ponder the identity of the people they had encountered on the highway earlier that evening.

Just as he was thinking, a call came through from Xiao Shixiong.

Lin Xiao answered it.

"Boss, Bai Bufan has been dealt with."

"Hn, got it."

"Boss, I apologize for what happened today. Rest assured, nothing like it will ever happen again!"

"It's fine, it wasn't your fault. But next time, make sure you eradicate them, root and stem!"

"Understood!"

"Anything else?"

"No, that's all."

"Alright, hanging up."

Lin Xiao ended the call. The kidnapping was certainly not Xiao Shixiong's fault, so Lin Xiao had no intention of blaming him for it.

When Su Qingning came outside, Lin Xiao was just about to head in to rest. Seeing her, however, he changed his mind. He waved at her as she walked toward him.

Su Qingning quickened her pace and was soon standing before him. Lin Xiao wasted no time pulling her directly into his embrace.

Su Qingning didn't feign reluctance. It wasn't the first time he had held her so dominantly, and besides, she loved the feeling of being in his arms. It made her feel exceptionally secure.

She hooked her arms around Lin Xiao's neck. Her enchanting, peach-blossom eyes held a touch of shyness, yet she gazed straight into his.

"Is our mom resting?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile.

Su Qingning nodded. "Lin Xiao, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, my mom and I would have probably..."

Lin Xiao silenced her, not with words, but by pressing his lips to hers. It was just a light peck, as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water's surface. He didn't dare to deepen the kiss. He couldn't, not when it was that time of the month for her. A more passionate kiss would surely make her uncomfortable, and that was the last thing he wanted.

"You're impossible! You get bolder by the day, kissing me whenever you feel like it!" Su Qingning said with a playful pout.

Though she feigned anger, her tone was pure coquetry. Moreover, Lin Xiao noted with delight that she had referred to herself with a cutesy affectation for the very first time. He couldn't help but hug her tighter.

Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, "Honestly, if anyone should be saying thank you, it's me. I should be thanking our mom for accepting me. Even though I felt that I would love you even if she didn't, having an elder's blessing makes me feel even happier."

His words sent ripples through Su Qingning's heart. At some point, her enchanting, peach-blossom eyes had grown misty. She looked at him, her expression full of emotion. The moment their gazes met, she did something incredibly bold—she took the initiative and kissed him on the lips.

Lin Xiao was so aroused he desperately wanted to kiss her back with unrestrained passion. But the thought of her current condition forced him to restrain himself. To curb the impulse, he deliberately changed the subject.

"The bar reopens tomorrow. Are you nervous?"

Su Qingning shook her head. "Not at all. With you here, I'm not the least bit nervous."

"Really? Do I have that much power?"

She nodded without hesitation.

Lin Xiao broke into a happy grin. Of course he was happy. Earning the approval of the woman he loved was certainly cause for celebration.

"So, when should I go see our dad?" Lin Xiao asked.

"How about tomorrow morning? Is that okay?" Su Qingning gazed at him, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Xiao nodded. "Of course. If you wanted to go right now, I'd go with you. I'm just afraid we might disturb our dad's rest by going so late."

PFFT.

His words made Su Qingning laugh. It was a sad topic for her, yet she couldn't help but giggle.

Lin Xiao smiled along with her. Just as he was about to speak again, an alarming wave of killing intent washed over him. His nerves instantly tensed. He subtly extended his senses and found the source of the murderous aura right at the villa's main gate. It seemed an assassin had come to call.

"Darling, it's getting late. You should go inside and get some rest," Lin Xiao said softly.

Su Qingning, however, pouted. "But I want to keep talking to you!"

It was rare for her to take the initiative like this, so Lin Xiao certainly couldn't refuse.

"Of course. I only suggested you rest because I was afraid you were tired. If you're not, then I'd love to keep talking too."

Su Qingning nodded. "Lin Xiao, can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"How come I've never heard you mention your parents?"

"Oh. I'm an orphan. I was raised by my masters."

Su Qingning gasped, looking at Lin Xiao in utter shock. She couldn't believe it. She never imagined that Lin Xiao was an orphan, or that his past was so tragic—even more so than her own.

"You're an orphan?"

Lin Xiao nodded. "Are you surprised, darling?"

"It's not that I'm surprised... I just thought my life was hard enough. I never imagined you had it even worse," she said, her voice filled with heartache. Her gaze was filled with boundless compassion.

Lin Xiao just smiled. "It's alright. I've had a pretty good life, actually. My masters doted on me. But what about you? After our dad passed away, life must not have been easy for you and your mother, right?"

His words seemed to unlock a flood of buried memories, and her expression dimmed slightly.

"Yes, it was very tough. But thankfully, that's all in the past now," she said with deliberate understatement.

Having been married to her for some time, Lin Xiao knew she was an incredibly strong person who disliked burdening others with her troubles. For someone so stoic to admit it was 'tough' meant her life had been truly difficult. A pang of sympathy shot through him, and he pulled her into a tighter embrace.

"I really regret not meeting you sooner. If I had, I could have protected you properly."

"It's not too late now," Su Qingning replied, her smile blooming like a flower. "Besides, we have a whole lifetime ahead of us."

Her smile was so radiant it seemed to eclipse everything around them, even dimming the luster of the moon in the sky.

Just then, that bone-chilling killing intent pulsed again, as if baiting Lin Xiao to come and find its source. He was losing his patience.

"Darling, it's really late. Go on and rest. Your husband has something to think about. I'll come cuddle with you in a bit."

"You wish! I don't want to cuddle with you!" Su Qingning retorted shyly.

Despite her words, she obediently stood and started walking toward the villa. After a few steps, she paused and turned back, tilting her head as she looked at him. Her mischievous expression was utterly captivating.

Lin Xiao smiled.

And in that moment, Su Qingning suddenly ran back to him.

She threw her arms open wide, pouting playfully as she said, "Husband, I want you to carry me to bed."

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