Chapter 178 - 176: Xiao Xia, How About Not Going Home Tonight?

Chapter 178: Chapter 176: Xiao Xia, How About Not Going Home Tonight?

Kids don’t need much sleep, so Lin Xiaoman woke up early. She subconsciously wanted to go play with her older sister and brother-in-law, but found the bedroom door was shut tight.

’I wonder what those two are secretly doing in the bedroom.’ Thinking of some embarrassing scenarios, she suddenly covered her face and began to snicker.

’Since my brother-in-law and sister are making a baby, I’d better not knock and disturb them.’

Xiao Man played quietly with Xiao Yuyuan in the living room by herself, glancing toward her sister’s bedroom from time to time. It was so quiet—not a single sound. ’Mom and Dad aren’t usually like this at all.’

After some time, Lin Yanwan tiptoed out of the room. Her hair was a mess, and she wore only a pair of light green pajamas. Her face flushed, she ran straight into the bathroom. A moment later, the water heater clicked on, followed by the sound of running water.

Lin Xiaoman held Yuyuan in her arms, squeezing its little paw pads. She found her sister’s retreating figure very suspicious.

When her sister came out a little while later, she picked up a glass and took a big gulp of water. Xiao Man sniffed the air. Her sister carried a strong scent of roses, one she’d never smelled on her before.

"Where’s my brother-in-law?" Xiao Man asked.

"He’s still sleeping. Don’t go and disturb him. He’s exhausted, so let him get some proper rest," Lin Yanwan warned her little sister. "And don’t you dare tell Mom and Dad!"

"Okay."

Xiao Man nodded obediently, though she didn’t quite understand. Her mom had told her that giving birth to her had been incredibly painful, so why did her sister seem perfectly fine while her brother-in-law was the one who was exhausted?

"Sister, when am I going to have a little niece?" Xiao Man asked out of the blue.

"Xiao Man!"

Lin Yanwan, both flustered and annoyed, tapped her sister on the head. ’I really have no idea what this kid thinks about all day. She’s just a child herself, so where does she get all these strange ideas?’

Besides, in this life, she and Jiang Xia hadn’t actually *connected* in the truest sense of the word. How could there possibly be a baby!

’What happened in my dreams doesn’t count!’

’Judging from their experience in her past life, even if they connected seven or eight times a day, they still wouldn’t have a child. It wasn’t something that just happened because you wanted it to.’

"Is having no summer homework making life too easy for you? I think I need to have a word with Teacher Xia and ask her to find something for you to do."

"Waaah, no, Sister! Xiao Man was wrong!"

Lin Yanwan huffed softly and walked into the kitchen to start on dinner.

Before he knew it, the harsh sunlight outside the window had softened. Perhaps because he could sense his wife’s presence the entire time, Jiang Xia slept exceptionally soundly all afternoon.

He opened his eyes, a little disappointed not to see his wife. He threw back the covers and got out of bed, only to realize he was completely naked. ’How irritating,’ he thought. ’She even secretly took off my underwear.’

’Tch. All the courage from two lifetimes, and she only dares to do this while I’m asleep.’

He checked the time: 5:49 PM. As Jiang Xia got dressed, he had to admit that after his wife’s massage, his body felt much, much better. At the very least, he felt more relaxed.

He walked out of the bedroom and saw his little sister-in-law hunched over a small drawing board, completely focused on her art. Meanwhile, Yuyuan was sleeping lazily on the balcony, which had been soaking in the afternoon sun. He smiled faintly. This person and this cat didn’t need him to entertain them at all; they were perfectly happy on their own.

"Xiao Man, what are you drawing?"

"I’m drawing Yuyuan!" his little sister-in-law answered instinctively. Turning to look at Jiang Xia, she said in pleasant surprise, "Brother-in-law, you’re awake!"

"Yeah. I haven’t slept that well in a long time."

He smiled, walking over to Xiao Man’s side. He noticed the cat she was drawing looked a little odd.

"Yuyuan keeps moving around and won’t cooperate!" his little sister-in-law said, pouting.

"Haha, let me give it a try. You know, when you’re drawing little animals, you have to capture their key features. That’s how you make it look just like them."

Jiang Xia smiled faintly, took Xiao Man’s hand, and guided her to slowly draw a cat stretching. His little sister-in-law watched, oohing and aahing in amazement.

"Brother-in-law, you’re so amazing!"

"Once you get the hang of drawing, you’ll be able to do it easily too. Just keep practicing!"

Having successfully shown off his drawing skills to his little sister-in-law, he smiled, patted Xiao Man’s head, and walked toward the kitchen. His wife was stewing a corn and pork rib soup. Red dates and goji berries floated in the pot, and the air was filled with the uniquely fresh and sweet aroma of corn.

Jiang Xia gently wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist, nuzzling his cheek against hers.

"Honey, why didn’t you wake me up?"

"You looked so exhausted, I wanted you to sleep a little longer."

"Next time you want a look at my body, just ask. No need to be so sneaky." He affectionately nibbled her ear. "You didn’t do anything to me while I was asleep, did you?"

Lin Yanwan’s face flushed red, and she retorted defensively, "How could I? It’s not like I don’t know what it tastes like!"

’Oh, right, right, right...’

He gave her a knowing smile.

’Did she really think he didn’t know? For at least a little while, he was clearly aware that he was holding her as he slept, and her hands hadn’t stopped their little movements for a second.’

"Babe, can I hold you like this to sleep every night from now on?"

"Why don’t you just say you want to spend the night here every night?" Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. ’This guy does nothing but daydream all day.’

Jiang Xia gulped. "...Actually, that’s not out of the question."

"I’m fine with it. You just have to go talk to my parents. As long as they don’t have a problem with it, we’re good," Lin Yanwan said with a grin.

Jiang Xia immediately deflated. He remembered in his past life, on the day after their wedding, they had followed tradition and returned to her parents’ home. That night, his father-in-law had insisted that the newlywed couple sleep in separate rooms.

’He would hold that grudge for two lifetimes.’

"Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense all day. Go find something to do. We’ll be eating in a little while."

"I want to do it with you."

Jiang Xia cupped her cheeks and gave her a deep kiss.

At six-thirty, the sun began to set, painting the sky with beautiful, fiery clouds, like the blushing cheeks of a young maiden.

When Lin Gaoyuan and Ji Wanqiu returned home, the young couple had already prepared a table laden with fragrant dishes.

"See? I told you our son-in-law was still here," the mother-in-law said, looking up at Jiang Xia with a satisfied expression.

’What mother wouldn’t want her son-in-law to be a good man who was devoted to his family and doted on his wife? Especially with a not-quite-grown-up daughter at home, looking after her all day was pretty tiring.’

After dinner, Jiang Xia shamelessly lingered, making no move to go home. As the clock neared midnight, his mother-in-law finally couldn’t hold out any longer.

"Xiao Xia, it’s so late. Why don’t you just stay the night?"

"Mom, I... I couldn’t possibly," Jiang Xia said, feigning embarrassment. "There’s no room for me to sleep here."

Though that’s what he said, inwardly he was bursting with joy.

’The apartment had three bedrooms and one living room. They couldn’t very well have Xiao Man share a bed with her sister while he slept in his little sister-in-law’s room, could they?’

’That would be improper.’

’Clearly, the only solution was for the young couple to squeeze in together. He was already halfway to being a member of the Lin Family anyway. If tonight went smoothly, it would be no problem to make up the other half.’

And so, his father-in-law nodded magnanimously.

"There’s room. We have a sofa bed. It’s both comfortable and soft."