Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Do You Want Me to Hold Your Hand While You Sleep?
Su Bao sat beside Su Nian, earnestly helping her check the completed reports when he suddenly noticed the sound of typing had stopped. He realized that Su Nian was daydreaming.
Su Bao asked, “Mom, are you tired? I can finish the rest, you go rest.”
Hearing this, Su Nian propped her head up and looked at her handsome son, smiled and said, “Son, is it hard following mom? Helping with work and also taking care of your sister.”
Su Bao shook his head and replied, “I am the only man in the house; I should take care of mom and sister.”
Su Nian felt both warmth and bitterness in her heart, thinking if the children had a father, they probably wouldn’t have to mature so early, so young yet already understanding a man’s responsibilities.
Su Nian smiled and picked him up: “Little man who’s three, you should go to sleep too.”
Su Bao didn’t like being carried by others and immediately wriggled down, earnestly saying, “I’m almost four.”
“Mom almost forgot, what do you want for your birthday this year?”
Su Bao coldly turned his head and walked towards the door, sensibly saying, “Just buy something for my sister. I don’t want anything.”
“That won’t do, mom would feel guilty, go take a bath first, mom will go downstairs and bring your sister up.”
Su Bao is very independent, insisting on doing everything himself, unlike Su Zhen who loves to act coquettishly and clingy.
Downstairs, father and daughter were still laughing joyously, Shen Hanxiu was sitting behind Su Zhen, his large hand holding her small one, teaching her to write his name stroke by stroke.
Su Nian went downstairs and interrupted this warm scene, “Zhenzhen, it’s time for your bath and bed.” Then she turned to Shen Hanxiu and said, “You should head back too.”
Knowing his thick-skinned nature, Su Nian didn’t bother to argue and carried Su Zhen upstairs, helped her bathe and dress. Shen Hanxiu, looking relaxed, stood by the door not leaving nor helping, and even teased Su Nian, “You’ve learned to handle everything yourself.”
There was a time when she couldn’t even take care of herself.
Su Zhen eagerly pitched her mother, “Uncle Shen, my mom can do everything!”
Su Nian placed Su Zhen on the bed; both little ones lay obediently under the covers, with Su Zhen liking to hold Su Bao’s hand as she slept, a long-standing habit.
Su Zhen looked at Shen Hanxiu still standing by the door and asked Su Nian, “Mom, aren’t you scared sleeping alone?”
Su Nian tidied up the blankets for the kids, sat by the bed and asked her, “Do you want to come and sleep with mom?”
Su Zhen then glanced at Shen Hanxiu standing by the door and said, “Mom, if you’re afraid, you can hold Uncle Shen’s hand as you sleep.”
As soon as the words were out, Su Bao tugged at her hand, Su Nian gave her a glare, then stood up and changed the topic, “Hurry up and sleep!”
Su Zhen shyly exchanged smiles with Shen Hanxiu.
Su Nian closed the bedroom door, looked at Shen Hanxiu with an irked tone, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Su Nian just wanted to get rid of him quickly, leading the way in front, then opened the main door and watched him walk slowly with one hand in his pocket.
Shen Hanxiu, seeing her unenthusiastic send-off, stepped up to her, smiled and asked, “Do you want me to hold your hand as you sleep?”
His teasing look paired with his voice, deep and sultry in the night, made Su Nian’s face unknowingly flush with heat, as she grabbed his arm and tossed it out, “Leave quickly!”
Shen Hanxiu stood still, looked down at her, observing her slightly shy demeanor, quickly lowered his head and left a warm kiss on her forehead, “Goodnight.”
Until his figure disappeared into the villa across, Su Nian hadn’t recovered, touching the spot on her forehead he kissed, recalling his warm breath leading to her blushing furiously.
Though they had been extremely intimate before, now just a goodnight kiss stirred her heart.
Su Nian lay in bed, her mind swirling with thoughts as she fell into a messy sleep, waking up remembering nothing but feeling exhausted.