Hiding something

Qiao Ruo was confident that Cree's adoptive mother would show up again, and that what happened that day was not the end of it. But not wanting to complicate things for the moment, she had not spoken about Li Yao's visit to the mansion, even after a few days had passed. She racked her brains for a solution, knowing very well that Li Yao would pose a threat to her relationship with Cree.

They were at the park having a late-night picnic when she decided to ask Cree what he thought of his mother's attitude to him having a relationship.

"Of course, it will not be easy. My mother is even harder to handle than Madam Venus," Cree stated. "I hope that the fact that my mother is in town will not stress you out too much."

She swallowed. "Not at all. Are you positive that she will not be a problem for us?"

"She always had her ideal daughter-in-law figure in her mind, but what can she do when the person I love is you?" he teased her by poking her with a blade of grass he had picked. She poked him back with another blade of grass.

"Just how do you want to win this battle against her, Cree?" she asked, placing her head in his lap, exhausted from all the playing. Above them, a bed of twinkling stars adorned the sky.

"Be polite, but ruthless," he laughed. "Fight till the end, show her what you're made of."

"What am I made of, Cree?" she giggled.

"Sugar, spice, and everything nice." It was a quote from a poem he had known in primary school. However, he continued, "And a bit of attitude."

She pinched him for the statement.

...................

Hours later, she had fallen asleep precisely at midnight when they were catching a movie at home, and he recalled that he had a few matters to settle with Ye An.

Ye An answered the call on the third ring.

"What's up, Boss?" Ye An sounded a bit sleepy as if he had been taking a nap when Cree called.

"Give me the latest update on my mother's whereabouts."

"She's living at the Emerald City. She arrived a week ago."

"I know that she's here. But, strangely, she has not made any moves so far."

"Perhaps she already came over," Ye An said. "Historical records of her last travels with the PickMeUp private taxi service indicate she came this way three days ago."

Cree was appalled. If she had come by to the mansion, indeed, it would have been picked up by the surveillance cameras, but even Qiao Ruo had not said a word. Knowing his mother's personality, Li Yao would not stop until achieving something. If his mother had come to the mansion when nobody was around, he was sure she would come by again or even called him. She would not have left her pursuit of finding out about his new lifestyle just because nobody was at home.

Unless she had already met Qiao Ruo? Then, why had she not told him? Was there anything more?

Ye An cleared his throat. "Brother, there's something more."

"Is it about my mother?"

"No. It's about your little girlfriend."

Cree gulped. From Ye An's grave tone, he gathered that it had to be problematic, so he set up a meeting the next day for them to have a discussion.

The next morning, breakfast was in bed for Qiao Ruo, who hated getting anything done on a lazy Saturday morning. Cree had learned to fry pancakes, and he was eager to present his new 'creations' to Qiao Ruo. However, it had taken him hours to get them in the right shape and size, and he sincerely hoped she would not have to starve from the long waiting time.

When he served the dishes to Qiao Ruo, he noticed that she was lost in thoughts, contemplating something in her mind with the utmost difficulty.

"Are you concerned because in two days, you are reporting for work in a new office?"

Qiao Ruo hesitated on how to answer him as she had her mind fixated on Li Yao's threat, and how she had insisted on having Cree obey her and getting engaged to a wealthy woman. At that juncture, she had forgotten her own needs and considered if this was what he needed in life to succeed in his career. His adoptive parents controlled his life, and he had needed her help to rebel against them, but what were the consequences of doing so?

She didn't want him to worry, so she pasted a fake smile on her face and told him, "Cree, I'm just wondering what to eat for lunch."

He put the dishes on the bedside table in her room before laying her down on the sheets. She welcomed the warmth of his body on hers, and he ran his fingers through her soft and silky hair. "Xiaoruo, you can't trick me. Something is going on, and you don't want to tell me. Is it work or something personal?"

She hurriedly made an excuse. "Just a friend back home. I'm worried about her. Her mother-in-law made a presence in her life, and she feels threatened. She grew up in the countryside, and her husband is from the city."

"Oh?" he removed his fingers from her hair and stroked her face lovingly. "Why do I feel that this friend is so familiar?"

She just smiled at his question. "Perhaps one day, I can introduce her to you."

"Now, I want you to focus on me and breakfast." He gazed into her eyes, dominating her with the seduction of his stares. The sweet surreality captured her as he pressed his lips against hers hungrily. Whatever worries residing in her mind was lost, as she unwinded in his arms and yielded to passion.

While Cree was naturally gentle with her, seeing her all disheveled and wearing nothing but her thin nightdress turned him on. He didn't know when she had changed into the nightgown, but it was making her so desirable and invoking his hunger. She allowed him to explore her body with his fingers, twitching from the sensitivity of his touches as he deftly slipped his fingers under her nightdress.

He pulled back just as everything was getting too wild between them, and she let out a few soft moans. Due to her tender age, he had to be careful of exposing her to the risk of unwanted pregnancy. He wanted her to enjoy her youth before even thinking of going down that route with her. Constraining himself, he took a few deep breaths.

"Why did you stop?" she whined as he covered her with the duvet.

"I take it as you're no longer hungry?" he teased. "Breakfast is getting cold, my dear. Or were you hungry for another kind of breakfast?"

"You're so mean!" She pinched him on the cheek and clambered out of bed to grab her share of food.

"So, what's the agenda for today?" she asked as they were having their meal in bed.

"I have to meet a friend today, so could you grant me just two hours?" He pleaded pretentiously with adorable puppy eyes.

"Is your friend male or female?"

He was sure her possessive nature was taking over her once more, and he immediately told her, "I'm meeting Ye An. You could check with him if you don't trust my words."

She flatly denied, "No, it's nothing like that. I was asking."

"Oh, but why do I feel a bit of jealousy from you when you asked me that question?" He stared into her eyes and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Or do you not trust me?"

"I do," she insisted, and to prove her statement, she kissed him on the lips. But he felt something was off. She had to be hiding something.

Cree scrutinized Qiao Ruo meticulously, then took his eyes off her. He questioned himself if she trusted him, then why was she keeping the fact of his mother's visit from him? Cree remembered distinctly how yesterday, he had accessed the surveillance records from the corresponding application installed his smartphone, only for him to witness with his eyes their initial meeting. However, the recordings did not sound, and he pondered what Li Yao had told Qiao Ruo.

He fathomed his mother was no ordinary woman, and she must have subjected Qiao Ruo to interrogation. Still, he was confident in Qiao Ruo not giving in to his mother at all. Being the tough cookie she was, his mother had likely lost this round.

But then, why didn't she tell him anything? He didn't like it that she kept things from him, especially when she didn't question him about Yueling and immediately drowned herself in alcohol. What if something happened to her because she bottled all her feelings?

"Xiaoruo, is there something you need to tell me?" he asked.

"I'm fine." She played with a strand of hair and smiled at him sweetly. "How can there be anything wrong with me, Cree? I'm just in front of you."