Lin Qianwei’s hair was so soft, like the finest silk, smooth and sleek to the touch.
While Ji Yunxiao was blow-drying her hair, she kept running her fingers through it, and suddenly couldn’t help but pick up a lock, placing it in her palm and gently kissing the ends.
Her heart felt like it was melting with honey, overflowing with tender affection, but just then, Lin Qianwei happened to see this scene and slapped the back of her hand, scolding coldly, “Pervert.”
“I, I…” Ji Yunxiao realized she had no way to explain herself, so she just admitted it openly, “Maybe I am.
I just want to kiss you, I want to kiss you everywhere.”
Lin Qianwei seemed to remember something, and her face, already flushed from drinking, turned even redder, like a perfectly ripe apple.
She lifted her beautiful, misty eyes to glare at Ji Yunxiao, then wobbled to her feet, putting her hand on Ji Yunxiao’s neck.
“Don’t move.” The alcohol was hitting Lin Qianwei now, her gaze already unfocused, her steps unsteady, but she still stared at Ji Yunxiao with a blank face and threatened, “I want to kiss you back.”
This woman was just too cute.
Ji Yunxiao thought she’d misheard and asked again, “What did you say?”
“I said, I want to kiss you back.” With that, she didn’t care whether Ji Yunxiao agreed or not, stood on tiptoe, puckered her lips, and started kissing the top of Ji Yunxiao’s head over and over.
Ji Yunxiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but still bent down to make it easier for her.
“So fragrant.” Lin Qianwei, tired from kissing, collapsed into her arms, grabbed her long hair and sniffed it, eyes half-closed, mumbling, “What kind of shampoo is this?”
Ji Yunxiao told her, “Neroli.”
No wonder it was so warm and sweet.
Lin Qianwei yawned, rubbed her cheek against Ji Yunxiao’s shoulder, and, eyes closed, said, “I want to use this shampoo tomorrow too.
Get it ready for me.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled, “Yes, ma’am.”
Lin Qianwei fell asleep in Ji Yunxiao’s arms, but her hair still wasn’t dry, so Ji Yunxiao let her lie on her lap and kept blow-drying it gently until all that thick, long hair was completely dry, then tucked her under the covers.
Under the orange wall lamp, Lin Qianwei’s delicate, perfect features were softened, making her look much more docile than usual.
Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but look at her a few more times, then reached out, gently tracing from her soft cheek, to her nose, to her chin, and finally to her eyelids.
“Wifey, you look just like Sleeping Beauty right now.”
Ji Yunxiao teased her long, thick lashes with her finger, but after just a couple of strokes, Lin Qianwei frowned in annoyance, swatted at her, and muttered, “Can you not? It’s so itchy.”
“My bad, my bad, I’m sorry.” Ji Yunxiao didn’t dare mess with her anymore, tucked her arm under the covers, and left.
She still had work to do and had to stay up late, so after leaving Lin Qianwei’s room, she went straight to the study.
By two in the morning, she was finally wrapping up her work.
Ji Yunxiao stood up, massaged her temples, and decided to get some air on the balcony.
But when she stepped outside, she saw a graceful figure.
Lin Qianwei pushed open a door, went in, turned on the light, and came out again a moment later, frustrated, “Where is she? Where’s Ji Yunxiao? Where’s my wife?” She looked like she was about to cry, “Why are there so many rooms and none of them have her!” She really seemed upset, but Ji Yunxiao found it a little funny.
While Lin Qianwei went into another room, Ji Yunxiao quickly slipped into the next one, got under the covers, and pretended to be asleep.
When Lin Qianwei opened that door and turned on the light, all she saw was Ji Yunxiao sleeping peacefully.
“Finally caught you.” Lin Qianwei walked over, pounced on her, hugged her through the blanket, and mumbled, “Sister Xiaoxiao, don’t leave me…”
Ji Yunxiao’s eyes instantly filled with tears.
She hugged the still-drunk woman and said softly, “I won’t leave you.
I’ll never leave you again.”
After holding her for a while, Ji Yunxiao remembered she still had to finish up her work, so she tried to move Lin Qianwei under the covers and head back to the study.
But Lin Qianwei clung to her arm and wouldn’t let go.
Ji Yunxiao had no choice but to grab a pillow and coax her, “I’m right here, Qianqian, be good, hug this for me.”
Lin Qianwei believed her and really did hug the pillow.
Ji Yunxiao smiled, pinched her cheek, and hurried off to the study to finish up.
By the time she came back, Lin Qianwei was sleeping soundly.
Ji Yunxiao moved the pillow out of her arms, propped her chin up, and gazed at her beautiful sleeping face for a while.
Just as she was about to pull her into her arms, she heard her talking in her sleep.
Lin Qianwei started mumbling, “Mom…”
She said, “I miss you, Mom…”
Ji Yunxiao froze for a moment, then sighed inwardly.
Even though Lin Yuan wasn’t exactly a great mother, she was still Lin Qianwei’s family.
It wasn’t strange for Lin Qianwei to still long for her.
Looks like she’d have to find a way to resolve things with Lin Yuan.
But just as Ji Yunxiao was thinking this, Lin Qianwei mumbled again, “I want to eat Mom’s nougat… and coconut crisp milk cookies…”
Ji Yunxiao’s brow twitched.
As far as she knew, Lin Yuan couldn’t cook at all, and nougat and coconut crisp milk cookies were specialties of Song Qianqian’s mother.
Was Qianqian dreaming about her past life again?
Ji Yunxiao held her hand and asked softly, “Qianqian, what flavor nougat do you want?”
Lin Qianwei actually answered, “Hmm… matcha strawberry, and cocoa cranberry…”
Those were indeed the flavors Qianqian’s mom used to make.
Ji Yunxiao’s eyes reddened, and she wanted to ask more, but Lin Qianwei didn’t respond again.
“Qianqian?” Ji Yunxiao didn’t give up, shook her shoulder, and Lin Qianwei woke up a little, lifting her eyelids, looking aggrieved and impatient, “What is it?”
Ji Yunxiao cupped her face and asked, “What were you dreaming about just now? Do you remember?”
Lin Qianwei wasn’t fully awake, grumbled, and fell back asleep.
Ji Yunxiao couldn’t bear to wake her again, and just sat there, lost in thought.
She’d never been close to her own parents.
The person who’d given her the most love growing up wasn’t a blood relative, but Song Mama.
That woman was sharp and capable in public, accomplished in many fields, but at home, she was always patient and gentle.
Once, Song Qianqian saw an interview with her mom on TV, and though she was happy, she also looked a little down.
She grabbed Ji Yunxiao’s hand and asked, “Sister Xiaoxiao, my mom is so amazing.
Do you think I’ll ever catch up to her?”
Song Mama happened to come home just then and heard this.
She came over, hugged Song Qianqian, and laughed, “Why do you need to catch up to Mom?”
Song Qianqian lifted her chin and huffed, “Because I don’t want to embarrass you.
When people mention President Song, everyone’s like, wow, she’s incredible.
But when they mention President Song’s daughter? I can’t let them think, oh, she’s just a useless slacker, right?”
Ji Yunxiao laughed, “Who would think that? When people mention Song Qianqian, they all think, wow, she’s so beautiful, like a fairy.”
Song Qianqian glared at her.
“My daughter is already amazing,” Song Mama hugged her and coaxed, “I believe that if you had the same opportunities, you could follow my path to success, maybe even do better.
But there’s no need for that.”
Song Mama said, “Because that would be too hard.
I just want you to have a simple, happy life, to live however you want.
I’m healthy, I can protect you for a long, long time.”
Ji Yunxiao raised her hand, “I’ll protect you too, Qianqian.”
Song Mama heard this and pulled Ji Yunxiao into the hug, so the three of them were all together.
Back then, Song Qianqian was truly carefree, loved and spoiled, never having to face any storms in life.
Thinking of the past and the present, Ji Yunxiao suddenly felt a deep ache in her heart.
“Qianqian…” Ji Yunxiao hugged the person in her arms tighter, and heard her mumble again, “Mom, make nougat for me…”
Song Mama wasn’t here and couldn’t answer, so Ji Yunxiao pressed her lips to Lin Qianwei’s forehead and soothed her, “I’ll make it for you tomorrow.”
Lin Qianwei slept soundly.
The next morning, Lin Qianwei still had a bit of a headache.
She rubbed her temples, got up to wash, and when she came back and saw the two pillows on the bed, the memories from last night suddenly came flooding back.
She seemed to remember pressing down on Ji Yunxiao’s shoulders and kissing her hair over and over, and even going a little crazy in the middle of the night, searching room after room just to find Ji Yunxiao.
And then they ended up sleeping together…
So did that mean they were really living together now?
The more Lin Qianwei thought about it, the hotter her face got.
By the time she finally calmed down and went downstairs, Ji Yunxiao and Lin Youran were already sitting at the dining table together.
When Lin Youran saw her, she jumped down from her chair and ran over, gesturing excitedly.
“Auntie, come quick! Sister Xiaoxiao made two boxes of really pretty candy, and she said we have to wait for you to eat them together.”
Lin Qianwei let the little girl pull her over, looking unmoved, and even asked coolly, “What kind of candy is so special that you have to wait for me?” Once Lin Qianwei sat down gracefully, Ji Yunxiao opened the box.
“Look.”
Lin Qianwei’s eyes lit up.
“Nougat?” The matcha strawberry nougat was made with matcha powder, freeze-dried strawberries, and other ingredients.
The red and green colors looked great together, and you could even see the shape of the freeze-dried strawberries in the cross-section.
It was definitely eye-catching.
Lin Qianwei picked up a piece and tasted it.
As the sweetness spread in her mouth, she squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
Next to her, Lin Youran also grabbed a piece and popped it in her mouth, clapping as she chewed, mumbling, “So yummy!” Ji Yunxiao opened the other box and smiled.
“Try this one too.”
This box was chocolate-colored, dotted with nuts and cranberries, and looked just as tempting.
Lin Youran didn’t even wait to swallow the nougat in her mouth before grabbing a second piece.
Ji Yunxiao pinched her little face and laughed, “Don’t rush, eat slowly.”
Lin Youran nodded obediently.
Ji Yunxiao then asked Lin Qianwei, “Is it good?” Lin Qianwei was about to say it was just okay, but when she looked up and saw the anticipation in Ji Yunxiao’s eyes, she suddenly couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“It’s pretty good.” That’s what Lin Qianwei ended up saying.
Actually, it was really delicious.
Across from her, Ji Yunxiao’s eyes curved with a smile.
“Looks like you really like it, since you gave it such a high rating.”
Lin Qianwei finished chewing her candy slowly and looked at Ji Yunxiao.
“So ‘pretty good’ is a high rating now?” Ji Yunxiao nodded.
“From you, it definitely is.”
Lin Qianwei shot her a light glare, but when she lowered her head, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
After breakfast, Lin Youran came back to rummage through the box, wanting to grab more of the chocolate cranberry nougat, so Lin Qianwei just handed her the whole box.
Ji Yunxiao asked, “You’re giving it all to Youran? Aren’t you going to eat any?” Lin Qianwei glanced at her calmly and said coldly, “If I want some, I can just ask you for it.
Or are you not going to make it for me anymore?” “Of course I will,” Ji Yunxiao’s fingers slid over the back of her hand, suggestively tapping, and she winked, “If it’s for you, I’m willing to make anything, even try new flavors.”
Lin Qianwei glanced nervously at Lin Youran, and only relaxed when she saw the little girl was focused on her candy and didn’t understand a thing.
Thinking about how unrestrained Ji Yunxiao had just been, she couldn’t help but pull her aside to scold her.
“Can you be a little more careful? The kid was right there just now.”
Ji Yunxiao put on a serious face.
“I meant I could try new nougat flavors, not just matcha strawberry and cocoa cranberry.
I could do other styles too, like almond Oreo, coconut mango…” Lin Qianwei snapped, “So I was overthinking it?” Ji Yunxiao looked innocent.
“If you’re overthinking, there’s nothing I can do.”
Lin Qianwei was both embarrassed and annoyed, so she poked her twice.
Seeing that Lin Qianwei couldn’t even bring herself to hit her, Ji Yunxiao just hugged her even more shamelessly.
Just then, Lin Youran came bouncing over.
She looked at the two of them hugging, opened her mouth in surprise, then turned around and ran off.
Lin Qianwei was afraid Lin Youran would fall, so she quickly pushed Ji Yunxiao away and went to check on the little one.
Thinking about the nougat, Ji Yunxiao was worried she’d remembered wrong, so she called out, “Lin Youran.”
Lin Youran lifted her little head, blinking her big eyes at her.
Ji Yunxiao rubbed her face and got straight to the point.
“Does your grandma know how to make nougat?” Before Lin Youran could answer, Lin Qianwei, who was about to leave for work, replied from the other side, “She doesn’t.”
Ji Yunxiao looked thoughtful.
“I see.”
Lin Qianwei was a bit curious.
“Why are you suddenly asking that?” Ji Yunxiao arched her brows and said casually, “I was just wondering if you’ve ever had nougat made by your mom.”
“Of course not.” Lin Qianwei looked a little awkward.
“What are you thinking? She’s a pampered heiress who never even touched housework.
Even when the family was about to go bankrupt, she never cooked.”
Lin Qianwei sighed.
“Honestly, I’ve never eaten anything she made, ever since I was a kid.”
Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
Qianqian’s mom was always busy with work, handling all sorts of things every day, but even so, she still often cooked for her daughter herself.
Ji Yunxiao sighed too.
Lin Qianwei chuckled.
“What are you sighing about now?” Ji Yunxiao wanted to tell her about the dream she had last night, but Lin Qianwei glanced at the time and realized she was running late, so she said goodbye and got ready to leave for work.
Ji Yunxiao chased after her.
“Don’t you want me to drive you?” In the past, Lin Qianwei would have insisted Ji Yunxiao drive her, but now there was a kid at home.
Lin Qianwei could only say generously, “You stay with Youran.”
With that, she got in the car.
Lin Youran seemed to sense her reluctance to leave and came over holding up her nougat.
She said sweetly, “Sister Xiaoxiao, you don’t have to keep me company all the time.
I can play by myself.”
Ji Yunxiao bent down and rubbed her head, then asked tentatively, “Other kids all go to kindergarten.
Don’t you want to go too, Youran?” As soon as she heard that, the smile on Lin Youran’s face vanished and she pouted.
“I don’t want to go to kindergarten.”
With that, she ran off again.
Ji Yunxiao played games with her for a while and even made her dolls some fancy new clothes.
Only then did the little girl cheer up, so Ji Yunxiao took the chance to ask, “Why don’t you want to go to kindergarten, Youran?” Lin Youran held up her pretty doll and answered seriously, “Because there’s no freedom in kindergarten.
I don’t like it.”
Ji Yunxiao asked, “Don’t you want to play with kids your own age?” Lin Youran answered without hesitation, “No.”
She lifted her cute little face and looked genuinely disgusted.
“They’re all so childish.
I don’t want to play with them.”
Ji Yunxiao was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing.
She picked up the little dumpling sitting on the floor, grabbed the Rubik’s Cube next to her, and said gently, “Okay, we won’t play with those childish kindergarten kids.
I’ll teach you how to solve a Rubik’s Cube.”
Lin Youran really was smart.
She quickly learned how to solve one side, but getting all six sides would take more time.
She watched Ji Yunxiao solve the whole cube with ease, her eyes full of admiration.
Ji Yunxiao had her scramble the cube and then solved it again herself.
After a few rounds, the worship in Lin Youran’s eyes was almost tangible.
Looking at her, Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but think, she really is just a kid.
And a kid who thinks other kids are too childish.
All morning, Ji Yunxiao kept Lin Youran company while working remotely and got a lot done.
After lunch, she went out and bought two big bags of roasted coconut chips, came back and made coconut crisp milk pastries, and let Lin Youran try them first.
Seeing her reaction was good, Ji Yunxiao packed them up, added some freshly made nougat, and took them all to Lin Group.
Lin Qianwei was still in a meeting.
Through a pane of clear glass, Ji Yunxiao could see her wife.
Unlike the soft and proud cutie she was at home, Lin Qianwei at work was in full command.
Just one look from her was enough to make people feel suffocated.
When she came out, Ji Yunxiao handed her a freshly made coffee and smiled, “President Lin, you were so impressive just now.”
Lin Qianwei took the coffee, shot her a glare, but didn’t bother avoiding her and just kept working.
By the time she was free again, half an hour had passed.
Ji Yunxiao finally got a chance to come over and opened the box filled with nougat and coconut crisp milk pastries.
“You made these too?” Lin Qianwei asked.
Ji Yunxiao nodded.
They were chatting when the phone rang again.
After tasting a piece and clearly wanting more, Lin Qianwei said to Ji Yunxiao, “Leave these here, don’t touch them.
I’ll eat them later.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled and agreed, “Okay.”
Looked like she really liked them.
The call lasted a few minutes.
When it ended, Lin Qianwei came over and asked, “Do you know who just called?” Even though Ji Yunxiao was lounging on the sofa looking relaxed, she’d caught every word Lin Qianwei said earlier.
Ji Yunxiao replied, “If I’m not wrong, it was the kindergarten principal?”
“Yeah.
To make sure Youran could go to school peacefully, I invested in a kindergarten.
But who knew, after just a few days, that kid refused to go back.” Lin Qianwei picked up a piece of nougat, studying the pattern on it.
“The principal just called to ask about Youran again.”
She asked Ji Yunxiao, “How can I get Youran to go to kindergarten?”
Ji Yunxiao shot back, “Do you know why Youran doesn’t want to go?”
Lin Qianwei: “Why?”
Lin Youran was good-looking, and all the kids at kindergarten liked her.
Plus, with Lin Qianwei’s investment, the teachers and staff wouldn’t dare neglect her, so it probably wasn’t an external issue.
Ji Yunxiao told her, “Because your niece thinks the other kids at kindergarten are too childish.”
Lin Qianwei: “……”
Ji Yunxiao said, “Isn’t she a lot like you?”
Lin Qianwei: “?”
Back then, Qianqian also refused to go to kindergarten after a while.
It was only because she had company that she regained interest in going.
Lin Qianwei said coldly, “I really didn’t stay in kindergarten long.
I learned everything there, so I just skipped straight to first grade.”
Hearing this, Ji Yunxiao suddenly felt a little sad.
She realized again that in this world, Qianqian’s path had completely changed.
But that didn’t mean Qianqian had lost all her old memories.
Last night’s sleep talk was proof.
Ji Yunxiao asked casually, “Do you know why I made you nougat and coconut crisp milk pastries?”
“No idea,” Lin Qianwei crossed her arms, her tone icy.
“Don’t keep me guessing, just tell me.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled and slowly said, “Because last night, in your sleep, you said, ‘Mom, I want to eat your nougat and coconut crisp milk pastries.’”
After she finished, Ji Yunxiao stared straight at Lin Qianwei, trying to awaken some buried memory.
But Lin Qianwei met her gaze, and that delicate, snow-white face slowly turned stormy.
Lin Qianwei put down the coconut crisp milk pastry, refusing to eat any more.
She even wiped her hands with a tissue, then came over and grabbed Ji Yunxiao’s shirt collar, demanding, “You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You want to play risky games? But this is a bit much, isn’t it?”
Ji Yunxiao was a little confused.
“Huh?”
Lin Qianwei let go, her beautiful face stern as she glared at her.
“Or are you just trying to take advantage of me?”
This time, Ji Yunxiao was genuinely lost.
“Take advantage how?”
“Ji Yunxiao, don’t play dumb!” Lin Qianwei’s ears were faintly red.
She said coldly, “You just said I talked in my sleep, called you ‘Mom,’ and said I wanted to eat your nougat and coconut crisp milk pastries… Isn’t that taking advantage of me?”
Ji Yunxiao burst out laughing.
She really hadn’t thought of it that way.
“No laughing,” Lin Qianwei glared at her fiercely, then added, “And my mom never made me nougat or coconut crisp milk pastries.
How could I say something like that in my sleep? Did you just make it up?”
Ji Yunxiao hurriedly said, “No, I didn’t make it up.
Have you ever thought, maybe you have another mom?”
Ji Yunxiao had been thinking: back then, on that crashed plane, it wasn’t just Song Qianqian, but also Song Mama.
If Qianqian crossed over to this world after the crash, could Song Mama have come too?
But Lin Qianwei couldn’t imagine that.
She looked at Ji Yunxiao, confusion and doubt in her eyes, and finally asked uncertainly, “What do you mean, Ji Yunxiao? Another mom? Don’t tell me… you, you want to be my mom?”
