Chapter 188: Things Boys Are Too Shy to Say

A week later.  

Bencheng Hospital.

These past few days had been crazy busy for Xiao Yu. Ever since he got back to Bencheng, it seemed like everyone wanted to visit him. First, the criminal investigation team came, then people from the city bureau, and even folks from the capital dropped by. Other cities sent visitors as well.

Finally, his mom, dad, and even his mother-in-law came by to check on him.

At some point, Xiao Yu felt like he had become some kind of zoo exhibit, like a monkey behind glass.

It was so frustrating.

Luckily, his wife had been by his side the whole time. That made his days bearable, at least.

“I’m just a poor, unloved kid who really likes his big sister, but she won’t even give me a kiss. I’m heartbroken!” 

Xiao Yu, lying in his hospital bed, blinked innocently as he looked up at Mu Qingwu. She rolled her eyes at him from the bedside.

He was playing the part of the sad, neglected little brother who could only be cheered up with a kiss.

After a week of recovery, Xiao Yu’s injuries had actually healed a long time ago thanks to his system skill. But he had to pretend to still be recovering. 

He couldn’t risk people thinking he was some kind of freak, right?

Since the hospital life was dull, teasing his sister had become his only source of entertainment.

“We’re in a hospital!” Mu Qingwu’s bright eyes were filled with helplessness as she reached out and pinched his cheek, laughing softly, “If Mom saw you, she’d kill you!”

‘Girls and their habit of solving things with violence,’ Xiao Yu pouted.

‘You just wait. One day I’ll mess with you so bad, you’ll regret this,’ he thought with a grin. 

This teasing big sister of his deserved some special treatment someday. 

But just then, Mu Qingwu leaned closer, her flawless face inches from his. She kissed him on the lips. 

“Happy now?” she asked.

“Haha!” Xiao Yu laughed, pulling her into his arms and planting several kisses on her in return.

“You’re always bullying me,” she complained playfully, though she made no move to pull away from him. Instead, she stayed in his arms, letting him hold her. 

Status, reputation—none of that mattered as much as her little brother did. Even if someone saw them being close, so what?

Still…

A look of confusion crossed Mu Qingwu’s face. Why was her brother healing so fast?

Didn’t he break two ribs?

These past few days, Mu Qingwu had been staying at the hospital with Xiao Yu, watching over him. She knew better than anyone how his injuries were healing. Thinking about last night, a blush crept over her delicate face. 

A guy with two broken ribs… how could he possibly be so…

***

Nighttime.

The two of them were squeezed together on the small hospital bed like a cozy little couple.

“Hey, can I ask you something, little brother?” Mu Qingwu asked softly, resting her head on his chest.

“Don’t ask if I loved you, I never did. Ask again and I might just start,” Xiao Yu joked, rolling his eyes. 

His sister was definitely picking up some cheeky habits.

“I’m going to hit you!” she teased back, pretending to be mad. “Be serious. If we never had kids, would you divorce me?”

Ah, the classic trick question.’ 

Xiao Yu’s face twitched slightly before he put on a serious look. “From two perspectives, the answer is no, I wouldn’t divorce you.”

“Really?” Mu Qingwu’s curiosity was piqued. “What two perspectives?”

“Well, first,” Xiao Yu grinned, “we’re still in the honeymoon phase, so there’s no way I’d leave you.”

Mu Qingwu chuckled. “And the second?”

“Secondly…” Xiao Yu sighed dramatically. “If I divorced you, my parents probably wouldn’t have the money to find me another wife.”

“Hahaha!” Mu Qingwu burst into laughter, lightly punching her mischievous little brother.

“Hey, don’t laugh! It’s a very real problem, you know,” Xiao Yu said, pretending to be serious. “We don’t have a fortune like you do. But that’s not the main point.”

“Oh? So what’s the main point?” Mu Qingwu was laughing so hard she could barely contain herself.

“The main point is…” Xiao Yu sighed, sounding exasperated, “If I ever divorced you, my mom would break my legs. There’s just no way it’s happening.”

“Haha, you’re so bad!” Mu Qingwu giggled, hugging her brother tightly. “You’re always trying to make me laugh.”

“Wrong! This isn’t called being bad,” Xiao Yu shook his head.

“Then what? Good bad?” Mu Qingwu asked, confused.

“Why bring up ‘bad’ or ‘dead’? That’s so unlucky!” Xiao Yu chuckled mischievously. “It should be… you’re so bad, but in a good way!”

Mu Qingwu, “…”

“Come on, say it for me?” Xiao Yu wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

“Not happening.” Mu Qingwu teased back, “You push me too much and I’ll really divorce you.”

“Alright, let’s get a divorce,” Xiao Yu joked, laughing.

Mu Qingwu just stared at him in disbelief.

“Hey sis,” Xiao Yu said, pulling her closer. “Do you think we could still be friends after a divorce?”

“How fake.” Mu Qingwu rolled her eyes. “What you really want to ask is—can we still do it after a divorce, right?”

“Why do you always have to call me out like that?” Xiao Yu burst into laughter, hugging her tighter. “You know, when I first saw you, I instantly thought… I have to figure out how to make this woman my wife.”

“Hmph!” Mu Qingwu was clearly pleased by his sweet words. “Love at first sight?”

“Want to hear something guys are usually too shy to tell girls?” Xiao Yu asked, grinning.

“Of course!” Mu Qingwu’s eyes lit up.

“Love at first sight? It’s just a fancy way of saying I was physically attracted to you.” Xiao Yu laughed. “Honestly, if the girl looked like Aunt Fu Rong, would guys even pretend to believe in love at first sight?”

“Haha!” Mu Qingwu leaned into his shoulder, laughing. “Anything else?”

“Also, when girls tie little hairbands for guys, it’s really a turn-off,” Xiao Yu complained, twitching the corner of his mouth. “But when they call you ‘daddy,’ that’s definitely a turn-on.”

“Bite you to death!”

No matter how much of a queen or boss she was, even Mu Qingwu couldn’t handle this. Blushing furiously, she bit down on her brother’s neck.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu grinned stupidly, showing off his teeth. His mischievous thoughts were still itching to come out.

But, considering his sister and his mom both had fists bigger than his, he decided it might be best to pick his battles and save his teasing for another time.

Still, for the sake of his own survival, Xiao Yu’s eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. 

“Ah…!”

“What’s wrong?”

Mu Qingwu let go, concerned as she looked at her brother.

“My eye… My eye’s going blind!” Xiao Yu feigned distress, covering one of his eyes dramatically. “Something seems to have gotten in it!”

“Huh?” Mu Qingwu quickly sat up, leaning in closer to check. “Don’t move, let me see.”

“Okay.”

Xiao Yu obediently let his sister pull his eyelid open.

“I’ll blow on it for you.” Mu Qingwu bent down, gently blowing on his eye. “Phew… Phew…”

“Sis.” Xiao Yu gazed at her face, which was now so close, and at her slightly parted lips. “Get a little closer.”

“I’m already close,” Mu Qingwu frowned.

“A little closer,” Xiao Yu coaxed softly.

“Fine…”

Sighing in defeat, Mu Qingwu leaned in closer. “Okay, don’t move… Mm!”

Xiao Yu stole a kiss from her lips, seizing the moment to sneak in his victory.