Yama Reborn-Chapter 422 - 419: [Mother Chen’s Advice to Her Child]
Chapter 419 Mother Chen’s Lesson
In the house before his eyes, Lu Xixi, dressed in casual home attire with her long hair tied up, exuded a lazy charm. She stood at the doorway of the bedroom, leaning against the frame and looking at him. Adding to that, her eyes carried a mix of three parts confusion and three parts hesitation.
Of course, the most important part was that phrase...
"Husband~"
Chen Nuo, amidst his daze, felt as if he had returned to that time last year. After Lu Xixi lost her memory and he brought her home, she became "Little Deer and Nuonuo" under his coaxing during those days, as if time had reversed.
Even in his daze, Chen Nuo subconsciously blurted out, "Lu Yiyi?"
However, upon seeing Empress Lu frown, Chen Nuo instantly snapped back to his senses. Then, a cold sweat broke out!
"What are you doing here?!" Chen Nuo’s scalp prickled with alarm.
He dashed over in a few steps, his gaze passing Lu Xixi to scan the interior of the house, and then he pushed open another bedroom door to take a quick look. The house was empty. Alright, relieved. There wasn’t the horrifying scene of his entire family having been "drained" by Lu Xixi.
Anxious, Chen Nuo turned to Lu Xixi. "How did you get here? Shouldn’t you be across the hall?"
Lu Xixi tilted her head and stared intently at Chen Nuo, seemingly still confused and struggling to grasp the meaning of his words.
Then, her lips moved slightly, and she tentatively called out, "...You... husband?"
Chen Nuo’s breath caught in his throat. With resignation, he nodded, pointing to his own nose. "Yes, your husband!"
Looking at Lu Xixi again, the more Chen Nuo observed, the more alarmed he became.
If Empress Lu had carelessly wandered over to my place, that wouldn’t be too strange. With her abilities, a mere door certainly couldn’t stop her. But... what about the clothes she’s wearing? These pajamas, and... slippers? Hold on, if I look more closely, do the pillows and sheets on the bed also look like someone has slept there?
In his urgency, Chen Nuo immediately raised his voice and shouted, "Yu Naitang!! Little Candy!!! Where are you?!!!"
There was no response.
Chen Nuo took a deep breath, his eyes darted around, then he tried a different call.
"Gray Cat!! Gray Cat! Get your furry butt out here!! What the hell is going on?!!"
「」
"...Gray Cat... come out..."
Sprawled on the rooftop of the outermost building at the very edge of the residential complex, Gray Cat lazily shifted his body, which had plumped into a fleshy ball. He cocked an ear, listened for a moment, then lowered his head, trying to curl himself up tighter.
Stop yelling... Yelling is useless... Your own mother is plotting against you... What good will calling this cat do...
「」
At a KFC two streets away, the spacious dining area was already quite bustling in the afternoon. Western fast food was still very popular in 2002, especially among young people. To be fair, the taste and nutritional value of fast food were just so-so, but their business strategies in the food and beverage industry were indeed far ahead of domestic Chinese ones in that era.
Setting aside the hygiene behind the scenes, the cleanliness of the dining area alone made customers feel comfortable. In the large restaurant, no matter how many customers there were, the windows were bright and the tables spotless, with uniformed cleaning staff constantly bustling about.
At this time in 2002, many domestic restaurant businesses in China hadn’t yet developed this awareness. Flies could still be seen in many large restaurants.
Ou Xiuhua was currently sitting at a table by the window, with Xiao Yezi beside her. Opposite them sat the white-haired loli, Yu Naitang. Little Candy had her head down, chewing on a straw, her eyes darting around furtively.
As for Chen Dog’s daughter, Chen Yiyi, the little girl was naturally no longer in Yu Naitang’s arms. She was lying in the arms of her actual grandmother, Ou Xiuhua.
After delicately picking up and eating a couple of fries, Xiao Yezi leaned in and whispered, "Mommy... can I feed little sister some fries?"
Ou Xiuhua sighed, took a napkin to wipe the ketchup from her daughter’s mouth, and whispered back, "Be good, the baby is still too small, she can’t eat fries. Ye Zi, you eat them yourself."
After a pause, Ou Xiuhua said to her daughter very seriously, "...Also, I’ve told you many times, you must remember, this is not your little sister! This is your older brother’s daughter. You should call her your little niece! When she grows up, she’ll have to call you ’Auntie’! Got it?"
Xiao Yezi murmured an "Oh," seemingly understanding yet not quite. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but gaze curiously at this "little niece" of hers.
Yu Naitang watched this scene.
Alright, this genius loli has given up... Whatever, let them sort it out! It’s their family’s business; they can decide for themselves. What does it have to do with me! I can’t handle it, and I won’t handle it anymore.
"Nai Tang," Ou Xiuhua said, looking up at the white-haired loli after finishing her talk with her daughter.
"Huh? Auntie?"
Ou Xiuhua frowned. The title "Auntie" actually seems a bit coarse. I’ve learned a lot these past two days. This little girl is my daughter-in-law’s student, practically a foster daughter raised abroad. So, by that logic, calling me "Auntie" is inappropriate. She should call me... Grandma? Otherwise... she calls my daughter-in-law "Teacher," and my daughter-in-law calls me "Mother-in-law?" If outsiders heard this, they’d think our family relationships are so complicated. No way!
"Nai Tang, you must remember this too. From now on, you can’t call me Auntie. You must call me Grandma."
"Grandma!" Yu Naitang switched titles promptly.
You have seniority; whatever you say goes! My teacher will have to call you Mom anyway. If you tell me to call you Grandma, then Grandma it is. Forget Grandma, even if she asked me to call her Bodhisattva right now, I, Little Candy, wouldn’t stutter at all!
Seeing the little girl had changed her address, Ou Xiuhua nodded with satisfaction and then asked, "What time did that dog of a son, Chen Nuo, tell you he’d be home today?"
Yu Naitang casually replied, "Chen Nuo, that dog of a..."
Hmm?
The little girl instantly shut her mouth, coughed subtly without changing her expression, and said, "...He said he’d arrive in the afternoon... Looking at the time, he should be about home by now."
"Mm."
Ou Xiuhua also maintained a calm expression, but she sighed internally. Sigh, he really is a dog of a guy, but for her to say it so fluently... It shows that the girl’s family still harbors a lot of resentment towards Chen Nuo. This won’t do. Things can’t go on like this; I have to find a way to resolve it.
"After we finish eating, we should probably head back," Ou Xiuhua sighed. She carefully cradled her granddaughter in her arms, adjusting her into the most comfortable position.
Xiao Yezi immediately and obediently wiped her mouth and picked up her schoolbag. Yu Naitang grabbed a backpack she was carrying, stuffed with baby diapers, a milk bottle, and other things.
"Right, when we get near home, come with me to the supermarket to buy something."
"Oh, what are you buying?"
"You’ll know when we get there."
「」
Chen Nuo knew in his heart. I’m really in for it this time. And I know I’ve been set up by Madam Ou Xiuhua. How do I know? It’s simple. After all, I’m Chen Nuo—pretty damn sharp! Lu Xixi is here alone, and from the looks of it, she didn’t just wander over—it seems like she’s been living here for at least two days. Yu Naitang isn’t with her. Ou Xiuhua and Xiao Yezi aren’t here either. And Gray Cat, that beast, has vanished without a trace. What’s so hard to guess about that?
So, Chen Nuo’s mind began to whirl rapidly.
My first thought: should I... run? No doubt about it, the house today is the set for a major family drama! But run...? The monk can run, but the temple remains! Abandon my home? Abandon Lu Xixi? Abandon my daughter? Since running isn’t an option, I need to think this through carefully.
"Sigh..."
Chen Nuo simply steeled himself, turned, walked into the bedroom, and went straight to rummage through the wardrobe.
「」
Ou Xiuhua was actually being quite considerate. Instead of waiting at home, she gave her son time to return first and see Lu Xixi. Then, after waiting for about an hour by her calculations, she returned home with the three youngsters.
She had just taken out her key and pulled the door open a crack when the rich aroma of stir-fried dishes wafted out from inside, mixed with the CLANKING AND CLATTERING from the kitchen.
Ou Xiuhua was momentarily startled. As she entered, she saw her son wearing a kitchen apron, sleeves rolled up, wiping his hands as he emerged. He held a spatula in one hand and, seeing her return, flashed a nonchalant smile. "Oh, you’re all back a bit early. The food just hit the wok."
With that, Chen Nuo smiled and said, "Ye Zi, go wash your hands."
"Brother!" Xiao Yezi, still young and not understanding much, happily rushed over and hugged Chen Nuo. He patted Ye Zi’s hair and said with a smile, "Go wash your hands; we’ll eat soon."
Then he glanced at Yu Naitang, who stood to one side with a tense face but eyes full of schadenfreude, and sighed, "You too."
Ou Xiuhua took a deep breath, just as she was about to speak, Chen Nuo slapped his forehead. "Ah! I need to toss the food in the wok!"
Saying this, he dove back into the kitchen.
Ou Xiuhua’s breath caught in her throat. She was instinctively about to shout loudly and took a breath to yell, but suddenly felt a nudge in her arms. Looking down, her precious granddaughter had woken up.
I definitely can’t yell! It might scare the child.
Exhaling forcefully to quell her rising anger, Ou Xiuhua carried the child into the inner room. There she saw Lu Xixi standing quietly by the window, gazing outside.
At the sound, Lu Xixi merely turned her head, her gaze sweeping over the child before her eyes softened slightly.
"I need to change the baby’s diaper," Ou Xiuhua sighed. As she spoke, she pulled one out from the bag and, fumbling a bit, laid the child flat on the bed.
Changing a baby’s diaper... I did it when Chen Nuo was little. I also did it when Xiao Yezi was little. Xiao Yezi wasn’t that old, so it had only been a few years. Fortunately, she hadn’t forgotten the skill completely. Ou Xiuhua had been a bit flustered at first these past two days, but after two days, she had regained her proficiency.
Now, she was quick and deft with the change. Lu Xixi, who had initially been staring out the window with an air of indifference, was drawn by the activity and looked over curiously.
"Would you... like to try?" Ou Xiuhua took the initiative to ask. She had actually tried to converse with Lu Xixi many times over the past couple of days, but Lu Xixi’s response was always cool and silent. Ou Xiuhua felt helpless. Had she been someone with a more fiery temperament, she might have lost face and even held a grudge.
But Ou Xiuhua was kind-hearted, gentle, and stubbornly principled. No matter how you look at it, the Chen Family has wronged this girl. The poor girl, nameless and unacknowledged, followed my son, bore his child, wasn’t even allowed to see her parents, and was kept hidden away... Who wouldn’t be upset?
Moreover, Yu Naitang had laid some groundwork—she dared not say her teacher had amnesia or had gone mad, and certainly not that Lu Xixi could absorb the life force and blood essence of living beings. So, she had said that Lu Xixi had been a bit traumatized after childbirth, her mental state was a little poor, and she had become somewhat withdrawn.
Upon hearing this, Ou Xiuhua, far from taking offense at Lu Xixi’s cold demeanor, felt even more guilty. It’s all my son’s fault, that scoundrel! He caused all this suffering!
Besides, Ou Xiuhua had also realized that Lu Xixi’s coldness wasn’t directed specifically at her—she was just as aloof even towards Yu Naitang. Thus, Ou Xiuhua truly believed Yu Naitang’s explanation that Lu Xixi had "suffered a trauma and become somewhat withdrawn."
Seeing Lu Xixi show interest in changing the baby’s diaper, Ou Xiuhua’s spirits lifted immediately. She beckoned Lu Xixi closer for a better look, then deliberately slowed her movements, demonstrating step by step...
She didn’t realize that right behind her, her rascal of a son was peeking from the doorway.
Ou Xiuhua didn’t notice Chen Nuo behind her, but she did notice Lu Xixi’s gaze suddenly get distracted and look past her. Ou Xiuhua then turned sharply and saw Chen Nuo grinning sheepishly. She snapped, "You..."
Chen Nuo had already stepped in, bypassing Ou Xiuhua to scoop up Chen Yiyi into his arms.
Ou Xiuhua had already raised her hand to strike, but Chen Nuo, holding the child, quickly backed away. "Don’t, don’t! I’m holding the baby!"
"......"
Chen Nuo coughed and said in a low voice, "Uhm... how about we eat first? We can talk after dinner?"
Ou Xiuhua coldly replied, "We’ve already eaten outside."
With that, she approached, took the child from Chen Nuo’s arms, and admonished in a low voice, "Don’t hold the baby if you don’t know how! Her neck is still weak; you need to support her head from behind!"
Then, with a complex look, she glanced at Chen Nuo and then at Lu Xixi. "Both of you, come out. I have something to say."
Ou Xiuhua took the lead and headed out. Chen Nuo had no choice but to follow. Glancing back, he saw Lu Xixi still standing there serenely, as if she hadn’t understood. He thought for a moment before reaching out to pull her.
Lu Xixi raised an eyebrow and deftly dodged Chen Nuo’s hand.
Ou Xiuhua saw this, and her heart twinged. This won’t do. Without some drastic measures, I’m afraid the girl’s grievances won’t be resolved.
「」
In the living room, no matter how much Chen Nuo pretended to be busy cooking or tidying up, Ou Xiuhua had made up her mind and simply let him continue his act. No matter how Chen Nuo bustled about, Madam Ou just sat on the sofa, holding the baby and watching him coldly.
When the food was served, Chen Nuo made a show of being hospitable. However, Xiao Yezi had already eaten her fill, so despite her older brother’s enthusiastic encouragement, she only managed a couple of bites before she couldn’t eat anymore. Yu Naitang, as a gesture of courtesy, had a small half-bowl of rice and picked at it grain by grain—though his main motivation was to watch the drama unfold. Lu Xixi sat nearby, quietly observing the family. Her eyes held a hint of curiosity, but she kept her lips sealed and remained silent.
Seeing Chen Nuo eating slowly, dragging it out, Ou Xiuhua wasn’t anxious. She simply waited patiently for her daughter Xiao Yezi to finish, then said slowly, "Ye Zi, go get the things Mom bought on our way back, the ones in that red plastic bag."
Xiao Yezi obediently scrambled down from her stool, hopped and skipped away, then returned carrying a bag.
When Chen Nuo saw it... he put down his chopsticks.
He looked at Ou Xiuhua.
Ou Xiuhua was actually a bit nervous. But when she thought about how crucial it was for her son and his wife to live together peacefully in the future, she knew that if Lu Xixi didn’t vent her grievances today, it would likely lead to unrest at home later. So, she braced herself and met Chen Nuo’s gaze with a cold stare.
Chen Nuo let out a wry smile and slowly stood up.
He took the plastic bag from Xiao Yezi’s hand and opened it. Inside, he saw something with ridged teeth, wide and quite large!
Good heavens... A washboard!
Chen Nuo: "......"
Ou Xiuhua took a deep breath. She first placed the child she was holding onto the sofa, propping her up with a cushion. Only then did she rise, walk over to the cabinet, take out incense from a drawer, and light a stick, offering it before the portrait of the late grandmother hanging on the wall.
"Grandmother," Ou Xiuhua purposefully avoided looking at Chen Nuo, bowing her head instead and speaking loudly to the kindly-looking old woman in the portrait, "By rights, I’ve remarried out of the Chen Family and am no longer considered a Chen. But Chen Nuo is still my son, the sole heir of the Chen Family. Now that there are no elders in the house, if I don’t intervene, his conduct will only get more out of line. Today, it’s not as a remarried woman meddling in the Chen Family’s affairs, but as a mother who failed to raise him properly that I must step in. Please forgive me, and don’t feel sorry for your grandson! He has committed a grave error; Punishment is necessary!"
With that, Ou Xiuhua knelt with a THUD! Right before the late grandmother’s portrait, she kowtowed three times, BANG! BANG! BANG!
Madam Ou kowtowed with genuine force. After the three resounding knocks, her forehead was red.
Chen Nuo furrowed his brows. She’s genuinely angry this time.
Ou Xiuhua turned around to look at Chen Nuo. Her voice was calm but her words were clear and direct.
"Xiao Nuo, I admit I haven’t been a responsible mother. I’ve let you and your sister down in the past. I failed to set a good example as a parent, and I even broke the law. But now that I’m back and living in this home, I can’t ignore something this significant. You’re grown up now; you have abilities, money, businesses, and status in the outside world. If you refuse to listen to me, I can’t force you. But if you refuse to repent for something like this, then as your mother, if I can’t control you, I also can’t bear to watch you continue such despicable things. If worst comes to worst, after today, I’ll take Ye Zi and leave this house. Out of sight, out of mind. You can go on your reckless ways as you please."
Chen Nuo sighed. "It won’t come to that, really... I’ll do whatever you say."
Ou Xiuhua took a deep breath, walked over to a drawer, and took out a ruler. It was that kind of bamboo ruler. In earlier years, such rulers were common in southern households; young women and wives would use them for cutting and tailoring simple clothes at home. It was about two fingers wide and two Chinese feet long.
Mmm... and it hurt like blazes when you were hit with it! In those days, it was a source of childhood trauma for many children. What child from that era hadn’t been mischievous and caused trouble, only to be held down by their parents, pants pulled down, and spanked on the backside with such a ruler?
"Chen Nuo, kneel for me." Ou Xiuhua’s voice trembled slightly, but her expression remained taut.
Chen Nuo took a deep breath and, with a THUD, knelt on the washboard, his knees landing squarely on it.
"Listen well. If you refuse to accept this beating, you can snatch this ruler, snap it in two, and throw it away. If you do that, I’ll turn around and leave without another word!"
Hearing Ou Xiuhua’s words, Chen Nuo nodded and said with a bitter smile, "Mom, it’s okay. Go ahead and hit me. I accept the Punishment."
"...Good."
Ou Xiuhua’s eyebrows twitched. She closed her eyes, clenched her teeth tightly, and swung her hand.
SMACK!
The sound was crisp and loud. Ou Xiuhua heard it, and her own heart trembled.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a red welt stretching from Chen Nuo’s left cheek down to his neck. Ou Xiuhua hadn’t held back at all; she had truly struck him hard.
And Chen Nuo had neither dodged nor used his abilities to lessen the impact; he had taken the blow squarely.
Seeing the mark on her son’s neck, Ou Xiuhua’s heart softened, and she felt a pang of pain.
But... she knew very well that today’s drama served two purposes. First, to truly punish Chen Nuo for his audacious and outrageous act. And secondly... it’s actually for my son’s own good. My daughter-in-law has suffered such a huge grievance... What woman could bear that? Unless the two of them don’t stay together and just split up. But they already have a child! So, they have to live together. And since they have to live together, my daughter-in-law must be allowed to vent this grievance she’s holding in! Otherwise, with resentment suppressed in her heart, their life together won’t be peaceful!
After the first solid smack, Ou Xiuhua saw that Lu Xixi showed no reaction. She sighed helplessly in her heart, gritted her teeth, hardened her resolve, and raised her hand again...
SMACK!
The second blow was even harsher than the first.
Nearby, Xiao Yezi stared in stunned silence, then suddenly burst into tears with a loud WAH! She rushed forward and grabbed Ou Xiuhua’s sleeve. "Mommy! Mommy, don’t hit Brother!!!"
"Ye Zi, stand aside!" Ou Xiuhua said coldly, pulling Ye Zi away.
Chen Nuo took a deep breath and gently pulled Xiao Yezi further back. "Ye Zi, Brother did something wrong and needs to be punished. It’ll be okay once Mom is done."
Ou Xiuhua took another deep breath. Seeing Ye Zi pulled away, she clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and swung her hand again...
This time...
Hm?
Ou Xiuhua opened her eyes to find her hand suspended in mid-air, her wrist caught. Looking down, she saw Lu Xixi standing before her, having appeared at some unknown moment. Her expression was still coolly indifferent, but she was frowning at Ou Xiuhua.
"...Don’t... hit him."
Ou Xiuhua’s heart eased, yet a secret thrill sparked within her. This means Lu Xixi still... still cares for Chen Nuo... Then there’s a chance!
"Chen Yiyi’s mom, Chen Nuo he... you..." Ou Xiuhua said, her expression complex.
"Don’t hit him," Lu Xixi repeated, her words clearer and more articulate this time.
Ou Xiuhua felt increasingly joyous. She slowly lowered her hand and looked carefully at Lu Xixi, then at Chen Nuo.
"You mean... don’t hit him? You... you’re willing to forgive him?" Ou Xiuhua’s voice was somewhat anxious.
But Lu Xixi just furrowed her brow. Truth be told, given Her Majesty the Empress’s current mental acuity, she hadn’t understood such complex words at all.
Lu Xixi’s frown, however, caused Ou Xiuhua to misunderstand again.
Hmm, since she doesn’t want me to hit him... then...
"Chen Nuo, you will kneel here," Ou Xiuhua said slowly. "When... your daughter’s mom says you can get up, that’s when you’ll get up!"
Chen Nuo blinked. "...Keep kneeling?"
"Your say doesn’t count, and neither does mine! It’s up to your daughter’s mother whether you can get up or not."
Having said that, Ou Xiuhua tossed the ruler aside, turned to the sofa, picked up the child, and, pulling along the still-dazed Xiao Yezi, went straight back into the inner room.
Her departure couldn’t have been more resolute.
Chen Nuo: "......"
Alright then... He turned to Lu Xixi.
"Uh... Honey?"
But Lu Xixi seemed to have already lost interest in the scene. She turned her head away and looked elsewhere.
"So... can I get up now?"
"Honey, please say something?"
"Huh? Why are you walking away?"
He watched as Lu Xixi actually began to step towards the bedroom.
"Hey! Lu Xixi??"
"PFFT... HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Yu Naitang, who had been quietly sitting at the table watching the drama, suddenly erupted with laughter, spraying rice from her mouth.
Chen Nuo watched her coldly and said, "It’s getting late. Now that you’ve finished your meal, shouldn’t you go home to sleep?"
Yu Naitang spread her hands. "Your mother, who is my teacher’s mother-in-law and therefore my grandmother, has already made it clear. We will all be living together from now on. The old lady said that since we’re all one family, we should live under one roof. There’s no reason for family to live apart."
Chen Nuo frowned. "We weren’t really living apart, just across the hall."
"Your mother said that won’t do. Separated by two doors and a corridor, that’s two households. It’s improper! Don’t tell me about it. Your mom said it, so go argue with her."
Chen Nuo was stunned. "But... my place only has two bedrooms..."
"Your mother will take one room with the child, and your daughter’s crib will be placed beside her bed," Yu Naitang quickly said.
"So, I’ll share a room with your teacher?" Chen Nuo mused. That could actually work...
"Hmph," Yu Naitang said coolly. "Your bedroom has been commandeered by me and my teacher these past two days."
Chen Nuo frowned. "Then where will I sleep?"
Yu Naitang smiled with great delight.
"Take a guess?"
「」
「After nine o’clock that night.」
The Chen family had already turned off the lights. Ou Xiuhua had actually pretended to come out to use the restroom earlier and had taken a glance at her son. Seeing Chen Nuo still kneeling there, her eyes showed a hint of heartache, but she had steeled her heart and returned to her room.
Desperate diseases require desperate remedies!
Chen Nuo, however, didn’t really mind. He had been kneeling for over two hours, and to him, it was nothing much.
Just as he was lost in thought, his heart suddenly clenched!
He looked up to see Lu Xixi, who had silently made her way to stand before him.
The living room lights were off, and in the darkness, the two of them simply looked at each other.
Chen Nuo gazed at Lu Xixi’s serene face and suddenly sighed. "When you fully regain your senses later and learn about all this, you’ll probably laugh at me for a long, long time..."
Lu Xixi looked down at Chen Nuo from her standing position and slowly extended a finger.
Chen Nuo’s heart stirred. He deliberately remained still, allowing Lu Xixi’s finger to land on the corner of his mouth. Then, her finger slid to his neck.
A cool sensation penetrated his skin, and in just a few breaths, the welts on Chen Nuo’s neck disappeared without a trace.
Chen Nuo was stunned!
Is she... actively... healing my wounds?! Lu Xixi still has this level of awareness?
While he was still surprised, the woman before him slowly bent down. Her head leaned toward Chen Nuo’s forehead, and her cheek gently pressed against his.
This action immediately made Chen Nuo’s expression change.
What... does this mean?
As his heart pounded wildly, suddenly, in the darkness, a faint voice entered his ears. That sweet, almost cloying voice, with its tender and soft tone, was so familiar!
"Does it hurt a lot, husband~"
?!
F*CK! ?!
Chen Nuo suddenly looked up!
In the darkness, those bright eyes stared at him, so very close, filled with that lively sparkle he knew so well! Where was the slightest hint of that vacant, dazed look?
After a few quick thoughts flashed through Chen Nuo’s mind, how could he not understand?
Seeing Lu Xixi’s mouth move away from his ear, Chen Nuo didn’t hesitate for a second. He reached out, grabbed Lu Xixi’s thigh, and with a powerful tug, pulled her entire body into his embrace!
In the darkness, their bodies pressed tightly together. Chen Nuo’s heart surged with emotion. He gasped for air and whispered, "You... you’re lucid now?"
Lu Xixi’s hands were already tightly clasped around Chen Nuo’s neck. Her lips descended upon his, biting down fiercely!
Chen Nuo hissed in pain, sucking in a sharp breath!
No! This is my wife, the mother of my daughter! I can’t resist, and I certainly can’t retaliate with my powers. Besides... could I even win if I tried?
"You... what on earth..."
After biting him ferociously, Lu Xixi, still in the darkness, loosened her grip. Before Chen Nuo could finish speaking, she once again sealed his words with her lips.
Only this time, she didn’t bite hard.
After a long kiss, one that could almost suffocate an ordinary person...
Lu Xixi’s eyes were wide, filled with tenderness, sorrowful reproach, and a deep reluctance to part. In the dimly lit living room, she sat in Chen Nuo’s arms, just staring at him.
Chen Nuo’s mouth was very sore, but his heart was filled with joy. "You... you’re okay! This is the best news I’ve received today... Were you deceiving me all day? Did you deceive my mom too? And, when did you..."
"There’s not much Time left." Lu Xixi shook her head, then covered Chen Nuo’s mouth with her hand and said rapidly, "Listen to me, don’t interrupt! I don’t have much Time left!"
Lu Xixi spoke urgently, her voice forcibly repressing her emotions as she tried to continue quickly and calmly.
"I haven’t recovered! To be precise, there’s no way I can recover! My consciousness and self-awareness actually began to revive a few days ago. But I found that once I started to show self-awareness, a force I couldn’t explain began tugging at my consciousness within my Consciousness Space! It’s like... a summoning, or a bewitchment. That force prevents my consciousness from consolidating, and I dare not let it consolidate! I feel like something is constantly spying on me, as if it’s waiting for the moment I completely regain my self-awareness! And... I have a very dangerous feeling about it!
"Therefore, I can’t let my consciousness fully awaken. These past few days, I’ve been shutting down most of my consciousness every day, keeping only a tiny fraction active, and sealing away the rest. Every day, only at this Time, do I feel that surveillance weakening, allowing me to secretly awaken for a moment!
"Chen Nuo! I’m being watched! And I feel it’s a force I can’t contend with! I have a terrifying feeling... that something awful will happen the moment I fully awaken!"
