Chapter 23: Poised for the Night Raid

On his way back, Xiang Ri couldn't help but feel a deep disdain for that foolish policewoman. Did she truly think his IQ was below 25? Any normal woman would have been paralyzed with fear at the sight of a gun, yet she had not only kept her composure but even identified the model. And now, she was tailing him—a dangerous man—with such cool-headedness. How could there not be something suspicious? If it weren't for his eagerness to get home and see his girl, he would have certainly taken advantage of her failed ambush before leaving her in the dust.

"You're finally back! What trouble have you been stirring up this time?" Chuchu glared at Xiang Ri as he stepped through the door.

"Just had a drink at the bar," he replied matter-of-factly.

"The bar?" She moved closer, sniffing the air and, sure enough, caught the scent of alcohol. "You reek! Get in the shower before you suffocate me!"

"Right, right," Xiang Ri headed towards the bathroom.

"Wait!" Chuchu followed him, her nose twitching. "What's with the perfume? I can smell it on you."

"There were lots of women at the bar; I probably brushed up against one by accident," he said, feigning confusion.

"Really?" She eyed him suspiciously, sniffing him again. There were multiple perfume scents on him, but she eventually accepted his explanation.

"You done with your shower? Want to join me?" Xiang Ri attempted to change the subject, hoping to avoid further interrogation.

"Die! From now on, you're not allowed to go to bars without me. If you want to go, you take me with you!" Chuchu's tone was domineering. Ever since meeting his parents, she had firmly assumed the role of his girlfriend.

"Okay, okay... But are you sure you don't want to join me? We could have a romantic bath together…"

"Romantic, my foot!" Chuchu pushed him into the bathroom and plopped back down on the couch to watch her soap opera.

A while later, Xiang Ri emerged from the bathroom, dressed in loose shorts and a t-shirt, and joined her in the living room to watch the show.

"Did you just drink, or did you have dinner too?" Chuchu asked, eyes still glued to the TV.

"Just drank," Xiang Ri replied, his gaze lingering on her profile, growing more enamored with each glance.

"There's food in the kitchen. You can heat it yourself, or I can do it—before you burn the house down," she said as she stood up and walked into the kitchen.

Xiang Ri's eyes followed her as her perky hips swayed under her short skirt, causing him to swallow hard. I'm not hungry for food right now; I'm starving for something else, he thought.

Chuchu, oblivious to his thoughts, returned with two dishes and a bowl of rice. She placed them carefully on the coffee table, her gestures tender, resembling a newlywed wife.

Xiang Ri lazily picked up the bowl, scooped a bite, and tasted it.

"Good?" Chuchu's eyes were no longer on the TV; they were fixed on his face, waiting for his reaction.

"It's alright," he said, his face expressionless, though inwardly surprised. Who would have thought that a rich heiress like her could cook so well? He had already been taken aback when he saw her fry an egg, thinking that was the extent of her culinary skills. Now he realized she could truly handle herself in the kitchen.

"Just alright?" Chuchu pouted, clearly unhappy with his critique.

"Just kidding, silly! It's delicious," Xiang Ri quickly added, seeing her downcast expression and not wanting to upset her any further.

"You're the silly one! Is it really good?" Her lips curled into a smile, her eyes brimming with amusement.

"Do you think an honest man like me would lie?" Xiang Ri feigned an aggrieved expression, as if wronged. Then, with sudden curiosity, he asked, "By the way, who taught you how to cook like this?"

Chuchu had been preparing a retort to his boast about being honest but instead puffed up with pride. "I'm not telling you!" she teased.

"I don't need you to tell me. I already know," Xiang Ri said nonchalantly.

"Bragging, huh?"

"It's just like one of those second-rate soap operas."

"What?"

"Come on, it's obvious you learned it from your mother, didn't you?" Xiang Ri voiced his suspicion.

"Huh? How did you know that?" Chuchu's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"I even know what your mom said to you while she was teaching you to cook," Xiang Ri grinned mischievously, acting as though he had some divine insight.

"I don't believe you!" Chuchu looked defiant.

"Your mom said, 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.' And she probably added that it's how she captured your father's heart too," Xiang Ri repeated a cliché he had picked up from a TV drama.

"You—you eavesdropped on me and my mom! I'll starve you to death!" Flustered, Chuchu grabbed a plate of kung pao chicken and began to storm off.

"Wait a minute!" Xiang Ri stepped forward to block her. "I didn't eavesdrop!"

"Oh really? Then how do you know?" Chuchu glared at him suspiciously.

"I guessed! Think about it, when did your mom tell you that?" Xiang Ri was getting frustrated.

"When I was fifteen... but wait, how could you have overheard that? Were you really just guessing?" Chuchu's eyes widened in disbelief.

"I told you, your husband's a genius! How could you doubt me?" Xiang Ri snatched the plate back from her and sat down to eat.

"Ugh, I haven't agreed to marry you yet!" Chuchu blushed and playfully pinched his arm.

"No rush! We can talk about marriage after we've had kids," Xiang Ri teased, biting into a piece of chicken as he narrowed his eyes at her. Why does she always pinch me? This bad habit definitely needs to change.

"Ugh, you're impossible! I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm watching TV," Chuchu turned her head away.

After finishing his meal, Xiang Ri, too lazy to clean up, stretched out on the couch, his legs propped under Chuchu's hips.

"What do you think you're doing!" Chuchu pushed his legs off, her face flushed with playful annoyance.

"My legs were cramped for so long, they're sore. Let me stretch them out," Xiang Ri replied with a shameless grin.

"Stretch them somewhere else!" Chuchu shot him a sharp glance.

"How about on your lap then?" Xiang Ri chuckled mischievously.

"You're despicable!" Chuchu, refusing to be outdone, half-lay on the couch and placed her legs on his stomach.

"This is outrageous!" Xiang Ri feigned protest, though secretly he was delighted. From this angle, he could admire her even more closely.

"I like it this way!" Chuchu, still pouting in defiance, hadn't noticed how much she was exposing herself.

"Like it or not, it won't change anything!" Xiang Ri, up to no good, lifted one of her legs onto his own, making it easier for him to indulge his gaze.

"Hey!" Chuchu realized his intentions and kicked her foot at him.

"What lovely little feet!" Xiang Ri caught her foot and gently stroked it, teasing her.

"Let go of me!" Chuchu struggled, trying to free her foot.

"Like this?" Xiang Ri pushed further, pulling her closer by the leg, bringing her right into his lap.

"What—what are you trying to do?" Chuchu's eyes showed a flicker of panic.

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm a gentleman. I'm just holding you while we watch TV," Xiang Ri smirked, pulling her firmly into his arms.

"You're the one with the dirty thoughts!" Chuchu squirmed but couldn't break free. The strange sensation of their bodies pressed together made her heart race and her face flush.

"Just watch TV," Xiang Ri said as he rested her legs across his, savoring the cool, soft touch of her smooth skin.

"Your legs tickle! And you have so much hair!" Chuchu complained, shifting uncomfortably.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it after a while," Xiang Ri reassured her.

"Let's be clear: no touching!" Chuchu was starting to feel more and more ticklish, his legs moving beneath hers. She couldn't let him take it any further.

"Touch what? Yours or mine?" Xiang Ri feigned ignorance, continuing to brush his hand lightly against her skin.

"Stop moving! One more move and I'm going to bed!" Chuchu threatened, hinting that if he kept it up, he'd lose his chance to hold her any longer.

"Going to bed? Sounds perfect! You promised we'd sleep together tonight," Xiang Ri's eyes gleamed, delighted at the suggestion.

"Ah! I'm not done with my show yet. We'll talk later," Chuchu quickly avoided his gaze, flustered.

"What's there to watch? It'll be re-run anyway. Don't forget, we have class tomorrow. Early to bed, early to rise, don't want to be late again," Xiang Ri ignored her protests and stood up, scooping her up and heading straight for the bedroom.

"No! Put me down! It's not even 11 yet, I'm not finished watching!" Chuchu shrieked.

"Too late now. Once we're in the bedroom, you follow my rules," Xiang Ri said with a devilish smile, tossing her onto the bed.

"What—what are you doing? Don't try anything funny! We agreed you'd stay fifty centimeters away from me!" Chuchu, a little frightened, curled up on the edge of the bed.

"Relax, I know! You talk too much. I just want you to get some sleep. Haven't you heard that lack of sleep is a woman's worst enemy when it comes to her skin?" Xiang Ri threw out his trump card.

"I know that already! I don't need you to tell me. My skin is naturally good, I'm not worried!" Chuchu said proudly.

"Even natural beauty fades. If you keep staying up late, you'll get crow's feet, and little red spots will start showing up on your face. Your skin will start to sag too," Xiang Ri continued his scare tactics.

"Stop it! Fine, I'll sleep!" Chuchu, terrified by his description, quickly lay down.

"Heh, that's more like it! You sleep on that side, I'll stay on this side," Xiang Ri grinned mischievously.

"No way! You sleep on the same side as me," Chuchu, sensing his bad intentions, immediately called him over to sleep beside her, unwilling to leave herself vulnerable.

"What? I thought we agreed to sleep on opposite ends!" Xiang Ri pretended to be hurt.

"I changed my mind. Is that a problem? But there's still going to be half a meter between us," Chuchu said, drawing an imaginary line on the bed with her finger. "Don't you dare cross it."

"Fine, fine, I'll do as you say," Xiang Ri obediently lay down beside her. As long as they were in bed together, he was halfway to success. He was ready for the night's ambush. 

Heh heh.