Chapter 388: The willing kind

“Jiang Huiying, self-taught beast tamer. Four prairie wolves. At first, she seized two; the other two were tamed and kept by Fang Hongding. From beginning to end, it was always one of Jiang Huiying’s wolves carrying out the killings. The only regret is that Fang Hongding died, and the thread leading to the poison racket was cut off. Take a few days off. There’s nothing urgent for our team right now. Old Zhou and I can cover things. We’ll call you when there’s work to be done.”

“…”

Xiao Yu grinned as he ended the call. Poking his head out from the kitchen, he saw his father, mother, and mother-in-law all laughing and chatting around his wife.

His lips split into a wide, silent smile.

This was what a happy home felt like.

A pair of loving, nagging parents. A doting mother-in-law. A clever wife who knew when to play dumb.

“Home,” such a warm word.

The “roof” radical shelters against the cold wind and rain.

The horizontal stroke with three slashes represents the longings of those inside. 

The two strokes pointing outward are for those away, gazing back home.

And the vertical hook binds the entire family tightly together.

Reborn into this life, I’m so glad to have all of you… truly glad!

“Dinner’s ready!”

Xiao Yu emerged with plate after plate of food. 

Of course, on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month—Mid-Autumn Festival—family reunion was incomplete without homemade mooncakes. Though pitifully small, he made sure everyone got one. Fragrant, flaky, sweet—delicious in every bite. 

Sweetness in the heart, smiles on every face.

***

“Little brother.”

As the young couple saw off their elders at the door, Mu Qingwu leaned into her husband’s arms. “I really wish every day could be like this.”

“That’s easy.” Xiao Yu wrapped an arm around her. “Whenever we have time, we’ll bring Mom and Dad over. Actually, once the baby’s born, they’ll be here every day.”

She smiled and nodded. “I want ice cream.”

Pregnant women supposedly shouldn’t eat ice cream. She was teasing him.

“All right, today I’ll be generous.” He nodded enthusiastically. “What flavor do you want? I’ll head to the supermarket.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he mentally slapped himself. Would he get himself killed? He couldn’t even remember what flavor his wife liked? Had he even chosen an urn yet—sliding-lid or flip-top?

Sure enough, Mu Qingwu narrowed her eyes in that teasing, half-smile. “You know which one I like.”

Xiao Yu’s heart sank. He’d never been this afraid in his life.

She could have smacked him flat, but she gave him another chance.

‘What to do…’ 

His wits kicked in. “Sister, it’s getting dark, and I can’t bear to let you walk home alone. Tell you what, let me walk you back first, then I’ll go buy the ice cream.”

He dog-legged her arm gallantly.

“Ha!” Mu Qingwu couldn’t help laughing at her brother’s cleverness. She pinched his cheek. “You look so scared, I was just teasing.”

“Phew!” Xiao Yu exhaled in relief. “I really wanted to slap you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” She stuck out her pregnant belly in challenge.

“Okay, I wouldn’t.” He cowered, guiding her gently back into the house. “Why so fierce? You think you’re so powerful? Go ahead, play me forever; I’m your willing puppet!”

“All right, my little brother is the strongest.”

Mu Qingwu’s smile softened as the two returned home.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Xiao Yu craned his neck. “Comfort me?”

“If you act cute, I will.”

She sat on the sofa and reached out an arm.

“I don’t know how to act cute,” he protested. Yet he leaned into her, letting her wrap her arms around him. “Sister, what do I mean to you?”

“Of course, you’re my—” She kissed his forehead. “Great hero.”

“Really?” He brightened. “That’s wonderful.”

“Great hero, in this life, who is there you wouldn’t dare to challenge?” Mu Qingwu asked softly.

“My sister, our baby, our parents.” Xiao Yu smiled. “There are plenty of them.”

“Tell me, why do people envy the heroes and heroines they see in movies and dramas?”

Her eyes, like water, brimmed with tenderness.

“I think,” Xiao Yu closed his eyes and buried his face in her embrace, “it’s because no matter how fiercely they quarrel, how huge the conflicts, how far they drift apart, or how much time passes, no matter how impossible it seems, everyone knows off-screen they’ll end up together.”

“That does seem true.” Mu Qingwu nodded.

“Yeah.” Xiao Yu smiled. “That unshakable sense of destiny and security, where in this unpredictable real world can you find it? Sadly, movies are movies and life is life. Take us: you run a company, I’m a cop. Even if we want to be sweet together every day, it’s not easy.”

“Well, then…” She pressed her lips to his ear teasingly, “Will we ever argue someday, and then—”

“Stop it, we’re different.” He lifted the corner of his mouth. “Our moms already know each other, we can’t live without each other, and with our own baby on the way, we’ll never part. I’ll just endure a little and stay by my big sister’s side.”

“For a lifetime?”

She hugged him tightly.

“I think,” Xiao Yu looked up at her, “having the same people by your side is the greatest thing to boast about, whether it’s love or friendship. After autumn comes winter, and next year we’ll still be happy together, right?”

“Of course.” She nodded.

“Let’s play a game.” He grinned. “You mimic me saying something. If you lose, you owe me one favor. Deal?”

“Okay.” Her eyes twinkled.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Ready?” she echoed, laughing.

“That doesn’t count,” he protested.

“That doesn’t count,” she shot back, winking.

“Again.”

“Again.”

“Sis…” Xiao Yu softened his voice. “I love you!”

“I love you too.” Mu Qingwu smiled gently. “I lost!”

He bowed his head and kissed his wife.

He’d lost—completely and utterly. To be at her mercy for a lifetime—and he was perfectly happy about it.