Lin Xiao hugged her tightly.

"I went out for drinks with some friends."

Su Qingning tilted her head up and stared straight at him.

"I woke up and you weren't beside me. I thought you didn't want me anymore!"

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Silly girl, how could I ever not want you?"

"Then… next time you go out, can you tell me first? I was really worried!"

"Okay."

"Should we go back inside, then?"

Lin Xiao agreed, scooping her up into his arms and carrying her back into the villa.

Once they were in bed again, Su Qingning curled up tightly in his embrace, hugging him even more desperately than before.

"Honey, are you alright?" Lin Xiao asked gently.

He could tell something was off with her.

Su Qingning shook her head. "I'm fine, I just had a nightmare."

"What did you dream about?"

"I dreamed that you got together with Xiang Xue and Mei'er and abandoned me," Su Qingning said in a low voice. "I cried and begged you to stay, but you were so determined to leave."

Her voice was as fragile as a small animal on the verge of being abandoned.

No wonder her eyes were so red when I saw her earlier. It must have been the nightmare.

Lin Xiao held her closer.

"Silly, dreams always mean the opposite."

Su Qingning nodded vigorously.

"There, there. Don't be afraid, your husband is here. I'll always be by your side, unless you don't want me. No, even if you don't want me, I'll still shamelessly cling to you!"

Su Qingning laughed, amused by his words.

The gloomy mood from the nightmare vanished without a trace.

She snuggled deeper into his arms.

"I want you. I'll always want you."

Lin Xiao hummed in response.

Perhaps feeling exceptionally safe in Lin Xiao's embrace, Su Qingning fell back asleep a few moments later.

Lin Xiao, on the other hand, didn't feel sleepy at all.

Holding such a stunningly beautiful woman in his arms, he was less inclined to sleep than ever.

But this time, he didn't go anywhere. He simply lay there, quietly holding her.

His heart was filled with a profound sense of peace.

「A silent night passed.」

When Su Qingning opened her eyes again, it was almost eight o'clock.

She had slept soundly.

The first thing she saw was Lin Xiao.

Her mood instantly brightened.

"Good morning!"

"Morning," Lin Xiao smiled. "Are you hungry?"

"Are you?"

"A little."

"Then wait here, I'll go make you breakfast!"

"You're not going to sleep a little longer?"

Su Qingning shook her head. "Nope!"

"Alright, then. You go make breakfast, and I'll sleep a bit more."

"Okay!"

She reluctantly pulled herself from Lin Xiao's embrace.

As she turned to leave, Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed, focusing on her perky bottom.

He couldn't resist reaching out and giving it a slap.

Damn. It felt amazing.

Su Qingning's pretty face flushed red.

"You're horrible!"

With that, she scurried out of the room.

Lin Xiao grinned, then picked up his phone and called Bei Kuang.

Bei Kuang answered instantly.

"Dragon Lord, your orders?"

"Accompany me to Jinhai City this morning."

"When do we leave?"

"After breakfast."

"Understood, Dragon Lord. I'll wait for your call."

Lin Xiao confirmed, and they both hung up.

Chu Xiangxue and Shao Mei'er had drunk a lot the previous night, so they were still asleep when Lin Xiao sat down for breakfast.

Shen Jingzhe, however, was awake.

Her attitude toward Lin Xiao was even colder than before.

It couldn't be helped. Just seeing him reminded her of what had happened when he was helping her detoxify the night before.

Yes, even now, Shen Jingzhe still suspected Lin Xiao could see in the dark.

Unfortunately, the man adamantly denied it.

Since Shen Jingzhe had no proof, she could only bottle up her anger.

During breakfast, Lin Xiao said, "Honey, I have to go to Jinhai City this morning."

"To Jinhai City? Is something wrong?" Su Qingning asked curiously.

Lin Xiao nodded.

"I have to take care of a few things."

"Then I'll go with you!"

"There's no need. You just be good and wait at home. I'll be back this afternoon."

"But I want to go with you!" Su Qingning whined playfully.

He wasn't sure when she had started acting so coquettish with him.

But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that she was so incredibly beautiful that when she acted this way, her charm was as devastating as a nuclear weapon.

Lin Xiao found it nearly impossible to resist.

However, this trip was to deal with the Shao Family, not for fun.

Taking her along would be inconvenient.

"Baby, I'd love to take you, but this is really business. Next time you want to go somewhere, just the two of us will go, okay?"

Su Qingning felt a pang of disappointment.

She wasn't angry that he wouldn't take her to Jinhai City.

She was upset about having to be separated from him, even briefly.

Yes, Su Qingning hated goodbyes.

She hated them a lot.

"Don't be upset. I really do have something important to do," Lin Xiao explained patiently.

Su Qingning pouted.

"Fine, then. But you have to come back as soon as you can!"

Lin Xiao smiled and nodded.

His gaze then fell on Shen Jingzhe, who had been focused entirely on her food.

Sensing his stare, Shen Jingzhe couldn't help but look up.

It wasn't so much a look as a glare. She shot Lin Xiao a look with her sharp, clear eyes, a gaze as cold as ice.

Lin Xiao knew that last night's events had left her feeling resentful toward him.

So, even as she glared, he could only offer an apologetic smile.

He had no choice. He was counting on her to protect Su Qingning today.

"Jing Zhe, I'm entrusting my wife's safety to you," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

"You don't need to remind me," Shen Jingzhe replied coldly.

Thankfully, Su Qingning was long used to Shen Jingzhe's cold demeanor.

Otherwise, she would have retorted on Lin Xiao's behalf.

After breakfast, Lin Xiao prepared to leave.

Su Qingning reluctantly walked him to his car.

"Husband, have a safe trip!" she said, looking at him with tears welling in her eyes.

Her gaze was filled with an unwillingness to see him go.

Lin Xiao nodded, reaching out to caress her fair cheek.

"Be good and wait for me at home."

"Mhm, I'll be good and wait for you to come back!"

"Call me anytime if you need anything," Lin Xiao added.

Truthfully, if the Xue Family hadn't been courting death time and again, constantly testing his patience, Lin Xiao wouldn't have been willing to part with Su Qingning.

He wouldn't have dared to.

After all, she was a prime target now.

Everyone wanted a piece of her.

Su Qingning nodded obediently. "I will."

"Remember to miss me," Lin Xiao reminded her again.

"Mhm, you have to miss me too!"

"Of course. We haven't even separated yet, and I already miss you."

Su Qingning's heart instantly soared with joy.

Lin Xiao gave her tender cheek a gentle squeeze.

Then, he hit the gas, and the car sped away from the villa.

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