A beautiful woman stepped out of the bath.
Xia Tian was completely stunned. The rising steam around Zeng Rou made her appear ethereal, her elegance enhanced by the mist. Her perfect figure was revealed before his eyes, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"Um... where should I sleep tonight?" Xia Tian dared not stay near Zeng Rou any longer. Otherwise, he couldn't guarantee what he might do.
"You can sleep in that room. Tiantian and I will sleep next door," Zeng Rou said, pointing toward a room on the first floor.
"Oh—then I'll go to bed first." Xia Tian quickly escaped from what he felt was a dangerous situation.
Watching him flee like a frightened rabbit, Zeng Rou couldn't help but smile. She had smiled a lot today—something rare for her. Usually, she hardly ever smiled, but ever since meeting Xia Tian, her face seemed unable to hide her happiness.
She understood why Xia Tian ran away. He was afraid he might lose control around her. If she were alone in a room with any other man, she would feel uneasy even if she wore several layers of clothing. But here, in this villa with Xia Tian, she felt no fear—even while wrapped only in a thin bathrobe.
She even found herself blaming Xia Tian for being too honest.
"Tiantian, do you like Brother Xia Tian?" Zeng Rou asked as she looked down at her daughter in her arms.
"I like him," little Tiantian replied in her soft, childish voice.
"Mommy likes Brother Xia Tian too, but there's a big age difference between us." That was the boundary Zeng Rou could not cross. She liked Xia Tian very much and wanted him to stay by her side forever—but she couldn't be that selfish.
Tiantian was already sleepy, so Zeng Rou carried her back to the room.
"Mommy, I want to sleep with Brother Xia Tian," the little girl said drowsily.
"No, Tiantian, be good. Xia Tian is very tired. You should sleep now."
"No, I want to be with Xia Tian."
Meanwhile, in his own room, Xia Tian found himself unusually restless. Normally, he slept soundly, even practicing the Tianxing Jue in his dreams. But tonight, he tossed and turned endlessly—unable to fall asleep.
It was the first time in his life he had ever experienced insomnia.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Zeng Rou's face.
Knock, knock!
"Xia Tian, are you asleep?" Zeng Rou's voice came from outside the door.
"Not yet," Xia Tian replied, opening the door.
Zeng Rou now wore a silk gauze nightdress. It was soft and elegant, her skin glowing with the smoothness of a twenty-year-old.
"Tiantian wants to sleep with you," Zeng Rou said helplessly.
"Alright," Xia Tian said, taking Tiantian gently by the hand.
"Mommy, come here," Tiantian said, reaching out toward her mother.
"What's wrong, Tiantian? Don't you want to sleep with your brother?" Zeng Rou asked softly.
"Mommy, come too. Let's all go together." Though her words were childish, both Xia Tian and Zeng Rou understood what she meant—she wanted them all to sleep together.
"Be good and stay with your brother. Mommy will sleep next door."
"No, Mommy has to come too," Tiantian insisted, her eyes filling with tears.
Seeing her daughter's pitiful expression, Zeng Rou sighed in defeat. "Alright, Mommy promises you."
As soon as Tiantian heard that, her tears vanished, replaced by a bright, sweet smile.
"You little rascal," Zeng Rou said fondly, tapping her daughter's nose.
"I'm sorry to trouble you," she said to Xia Tian.
"Haha... no trouble at all," Xia Tian replied awkwardly, scratching his head.
The three of them lay down together. Xia Tian took the outer side, Zeng Rou lay on the inner side, and Tiantian slept between them. Though Tiantian was small, the distance between Xia Tian and Zeng Rou was still uncomfortably close.
Neither of them knew what to say. Fortunately, Tiantian fell asleep quickly.
Xia Tian, who was already sleepless, now found it utterly impossible to rest. He could feel the warmth of Zeng Rou's body beside him.
Zeng Rou, too, was wide awake.
Then, suddenly, Xia Tian heard a faint noise.
"Someone's here," he said quietly. He slipped out of bed and picked up the Qingyun Dagger from his side.
"What's wrong?" Zeng Rou asked, alarmed by his movement.
"Do you usually sleep in the room next door?" Xia Tian asked in a low voice.
"Yes."
"Then that's it. Stay here and don't move. I'll be back soon."
With that, Xia Tian moved silently out of the room.