Chapter 363: Year After Year, the World’s Warmth and Chill

Airport.

Mu Qingwu gently caressed her pregnant belly. Her gaze carried both elegance and a hint of enchanting allure. Countless onlookers—particularly some men—couldn’t help staring. Even though she was seven months pregnant, Mu Qingwu still exuded a noble, graceful aura.

She was the ideal and model in the hearts of many women, and the goddess in the eyes of every man. It seemed the word perfect was coined just for her. Until…

Mu Qingwu’s eyes lit up, and a trace of delight surfaced on her stunning face.

By the arrivals gate, Xiao Yu—dressed in a National Security uniform, eyes bright as stars, corners of his mouth curved—approached Mu Qingwu with quick strides. Gently hugging his wife, he lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her enticing red lips. 

“Sis, I’ve missed you so much I couldn’t sleep.”

“Oh, really?”

Mu Qingwu leaned into her younger husband’s arms, her soft, charming eyes glistening.

“It’s true.” Xiao Yu’s black pupils were like a starless night sky. “If you don’t believe me, look at my expression, look into my eyes… Are they sexy? Don’t they say I’ve really missed my sister?”

“Haha…” Mu Qingwu’s laughter made her shoulders tremble with delight. “Stop that, there are so many people around!”

“How is that possible?” Xiao Yu frowned, blinking. “Sis, look closely again… Doesn’t it look awesome?”

“Awesome… more like silly!”

Mu Qingwu laughed so hard she practically collapsed into her younger brother’s arms.

Xiao Yu, “…”

‘This annoying sister—never lets me goof off in peace.’

After she’d laughed enough, Mu Qingwu’s eyes grew soft. She took her brother’s hand.

“Let’s head home.”

“All right.” Xiao Yu held her hand tightly, walking toward the airport exit. Still unwilling to give up, he asked, “Sis, you really don’t think my gaze is sexy?”

“Hah…” Mu Qingwu couldn’t hold back her laughter again, trying her best to suppress it. “Aren’t you afraid people will make fun of you?”

“Fun of what?” Xiao Yu had never cared about others’ stares. “We only live once. How many days can we truly feel happy? We’ll live however we please.”

“You make it sound convincing, but… it really does make sense.” Mu Qingwu chuckled.

“Of course it does.”

Outside the terminal, Xiao Yu supported his wife as they headed for their Rolls-Royce parked on the street. He nodded at Bai Ting, who stood by the car, helped his wife settle in, then grinned. 

“Sis, I’ve gotta tell you, us men sometimes live a pretty miserable life.”

“Oh?” Mu Qingwu’s curiosity was piqued.

“You have no idea. Whenever some male celebrity messes up, it’s guys like me, ordinary and honest, who get hurt.” Xiao Yu’s face looked resigned. “I’ve been in the capital these past few days, and a male star got into trouble. So I’m walking down the street, and a few women point at me and say, ‘Men who look like these celebrities are all scumbags…’ Sis, you can’t imagine how pained I felt inside!”

“Haha!” Mu Qingwu burst into laughter again, nearly going limp, and leaned against him, feigning annoyance. “At a time like that, you must’ve been drinking, right? Why didn’t you have some food to go with it? Maybe you wouldn’t have gotten so drunk then.”

Xiao Yu, “…”

He suddenly realized his wife’s words had quite the sting.

‘All right then… don’t blame your brother for being ruthless!’

He sealed her lips with a sudden kiss. Only when Mu Qingwu was left dizzy did Xiao Yu smile in triumph. Gazing at that lovely face in his arms, as radiant as ever, he found himself wondering: When would the baby be born?

The baby’s father and mother hadn’t been intimate in so long. Xiao Yu couldn’t guarantee how much longer he could hold out, nor that he could resist his wife’s beauty. After all, while a man might use his brain for everyday thought, at certain moments the body might not always heed the mind.

Thinking about the baby, Xiao Yu bent down, resting his cheek on Mu Qingwu’s pregnant belly to listen. Suddenly, he felt a movement there—as though the baby inside lightly kicked his face.

Xiao Yu froze, his eyes going wide.

‘D-did our baby just kick me?!’

“Dummy,” Mu Qingwu said softly, taking in her brother’s shocked expression with a gentle smile. “At seven months, the fetus’s movements are usually pretty strong. When you weren’t around, I often felt the baby punching and kicking.”

“Really?”

Shaken from his daze, Xiao Yu’s face reddened with excitement, his eyes brimming with joy.

“Mhm.” She pinched her silly brother’s cheek and looked at him with a gaze as tender as flowing water. “It might be a boy, you know.”

“A boy?” Xiao Yu grinned widely. “A boy’s great.”

“What if it’s a girl?” Mu Qingwu teased.

“Even better.” Sitting up, Xiao Yu’s smile grew brighter still. “They’re both our precious treasures.”

“Mom, and your father and mother, told me a few days ago…” Mu Qingwu leaned into her brother’s arms. “Now that you’re back, maybe we should think of a name for the baby.”

“I already have names ready,” Xiao Yu grinned, holding his sister close. “If it’s a boy, we’ll call him Xiao Mu, and if it’s a girl, Xiao Wu. One part from my name, one part from yours.”

“Xiao Yu like the rain in a pond, and Mu as in rekindling in the midst?” Mu Qingwu’s lips curved into a smile. “And Xiao Wu… what’s the meaning behind it?”

“Nothing so complicated.” Xiao Yu pecked her cheek. “Sis, shut off your brain once in a while. Don’t live so stressed. We’ll just be a normal, happy couple.”

He recalled what Wang Dong had said: sometimes it’s better to be a bit foolish and live more easily. On second thought, it made some sense.

The car came to a stop. They were home.

Opening the door, Xiao Yu helped Mu Qingwu out. He waved Bai Ting away. “Sister Bai, take a few days off. I’ll be with Sis.”

“Mm.”

Bai Ting nodded and drove off.

The young couple happily headed inside.

Xiao Yu shrugged off his jacket and crouched down to get slippers for his wife. At seven months pregnant, bending over was quite a chore.

Removing his own coat, Xiao Yu set about cooking, while Mu Qingwu stayed by his side, watching him wash rice and chop vegetables. She couldn’t embrace him from behind as before, but she could cling to his arm. Now and then, they exchanged glances and smiled without words.

Some people promise you a city where flowers never wither.

Some people grant you a dream that never ends.

There will always be someone who comes just for you.

Year after year, in this warm and chilly world.