A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go

Mei Wanying knew Pei Yan so well that she recognized his footsteps the moment she heard them.

Her sleepiness vanished.

She hurriedly sat back down in the bathtub, covering her body with flower petals.

At that same moment, Pei Yan entered the bathroom, her nightgown in his hand. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, the very picture of propriety.

Despite having been intimate countless times, a scene like this was still enough to make one blush.

Mei Wanying kicked the water’s surface, creating a small splash. "Get out."

"You didn’t grab a change of clothes. Ding Xiang is looking after Ling, so I had to be the one to run the errand."

The man offered this explanation, set the nightgown down, and turned to leave without another word.

His departing back told Mei Wanying that he had truly only come to deliver the clothes, with no other intentions. He was completely innocent!

His "uprightness" made her own reaction seem excessive.

She silently cursed how devious he was.

’He’s clearly teasing me, yet he’s putting on the airs of a perfect gentleman.’

’Tsk.’

’Shameless!’

Outside the bathroom, the man wiped a droplet of water from his face with the pad of his finger.

It was warm and carried the scent of flowers.

’Just like Ah Yin’s own scent,’ he thought. ’It’s lovely.’

He hadn’t stayed in the bathroom for long, but he had seen her small face, wreathed in steam, as clear as day.

’Ah Yin’s skin was tinged with a faint blush, looking so delectable. A few strands of long hair clung to her slender neck...’

Pei Yan’s mind began to wander, but just then, he saw Ling trotting after him and quickly composed himself.

Ling’s little face was taut, her tiny brows furrowed in disapproval.

She gravely informed Pei Yan, "Mother is taking a bath-bath. Boys can’t go in!"

The little one was so worked up that she managed to blurt out a long sentence, her small face filled with urgency.

’My legs are too short; I’m slower than Daddy.’

’I am Mother’s daughter. I have to protect Mother!’

Her little hands clutched Pei Yan’s robes, and she used all her might to try and drag him away.

All the while, she muttered incessantly, "No looking, no looking..."

"Mother... is a little girl..."

"Daddy... is not..."

She even scolded Pei Yan. "Daddy, not listening!"

After her scolding came a threat. "Not listen... wolf will get you... carry you away..."

Ever since she’d learned to talk, Ling had become remarkably eloquent, far more so than other children her age.

She mumbled complex sentences, but those close to her could understand what she meant.

The "disobedient" Pei Yan’s mouth twitched. ’I’m Ah Yin’s husband, not some stranger.’

’Besides, what kind of wolf could possibly carry me away?’

’I’m not that weak...’

But on second thought, it was a good thing his daughter understood the difference between men and women at such a young age.

A healthy sense of caution had to be cultivated from a young age. Ah Yin had taught their daughter very well.

Pei Yan apologized to her. "Daddy was just bringing Mother her clothes. I didn’t see anything and came right out. It was Daddy’s fault. Daddy won’t go in next time."

Ling looked up at him. Seeing his sincere apology, she was satisfied, and her furrowed little brows finally relaxed a bit.

She pulled him back toward the main room. "Girls can’t look, either."

When her mother was bathing, even she wasn’t allowed inside. If she really missed her, she could only stand at the door and talk to her.

As the voices of the father and daughter faded into the distance, Mei Wanying, still in the bathroom, couldn’t help but chuckle.

She suddenly understood why Pei Yan had left so decisively.

’With Ling chasing him, how could he dare to linger?’

A smile touched Mei Wanying’s lips. Her daughter was so sweet. Such a tiny little thing, and she already knew how to protect her.

Her heart felt warm and fuzzy.

Ling was truly wonderful.

From the day Ling was born, she had brought her mother so much happiness.

Mei Wanying stood up and climbed out of the tub. She dried the water from her body before finally picking up the nightgown from the side.

The weather was hot, so the nightgown was very thin.

It was a honey-colored gauze robe paired with an embroidered bodice of the same color. On Mei Wanying, it looked both gentle and alluring.

The thought that Pei Yan’s hands had touched these clothes made the tips of Mei Wanying’s ears burn.

She let out a heavy breath and stepped out of the bathroom.

Mei Wanying had a slender figure, and her movements were as graceful as a willow swaying in the breeze.

Compared to a few years ago, her aura had undergone a world-altering change. She was no longer naive and artless, but possessed the charm of a mature woman, a beauty so stunning it left one breathless.

Looking at this version of Mei Wanying, the tips of Pei Yan’s ears turned red.

’Ah Yin is a woman.’

’My woman!’

’And I had a hand in her transformation.’

Pei Yan’s heart hammered like a drum. For some reason, he suddenly didn’t dare to look at Mei Wanying.

He lowered his eyes and stammered, "Let’s eat. It’s getting late."

It wasn’t just Pei Yan; Mei Wanying felt shy as well.

The last time he came to Jiangnan, he had only dared to climb into her bed at night.

In the pitch-black darkness, they could avoid much of the awkwardness.

This time was different.

The room was brightly lit, and they could see each other’s reactions perfectly.

Seeing Pei Yan’s red ears and how he didn’t dare to meet her gaze, Mei Wanying clicked her tongue in amazement.

’To think a scoundrel like him could be thin-skinned sometimes.’

’How rare!’

Once Pei Yan got embarrassed, Mei Wanying no longer felt embarrassed herself.

She sat down at the small table.

On the table were light and refreshing dishes. As the hour was late, not many varieties had been prepared.

The main dish was chilled noodles that had been run through ice water, served with shredded chicken and side dishes.

There were also various braised snacks, boiled water caltrops, and a fresh fruit platter.

There weren’t many different kinds of food, but they still filled the small round table.

At the restaurant, Mei Wanying had only eaten two pieces of dessert. After her bath, she was a little hungry again.

Sitting face-to-face with Pei Yan, she tasted a little of every dish.

They would be going to sleep right after eating, so there was no need to get too full. Mei Wanying ate slowly and deliberately, taking just a few bites before mostly stopping.

Whatever Mei Wanying ate, Pei Yan ate. He was a complete copycat.

Mei Wanying shot him a glare, which only made Pei Yan eat with even more gusto.

Watching them eat with such relish, a suspicious bit of moisture appeared at the corner of Ling’s mouth.

She draped herself over Mei Wanying’s lap, staring at her eagerly. "Mother, want to eat..."

Mei Wanying patted her daughter’s round little belly. "Go to sleep first. You can eat when you wake up."

Ling was a good sleeper and could sleep right through until dawn. When she woke up, she could have breakfast.

Seeing that she couldn’t get any food from her mother, the little one twisted around and went over to Pei Yan.

She looked at him with a wide grin. "Daddy..."

She pointed at the bright red watermelon. "Want to eat..."

The watermelon was on a platter of ice, exuding a cool mist. No matter how foolish Pei Yan might be, there was no way he would give that to a child.

He had someone take the fruit platter away. "Be good. We won’t eat it."

Ling: "..."

’Daddy and Mother aren’t eating, but I can!’

Her little finger pointed at the braised tofu, and Pei Yan had that taken away, too.

Ling didn’t give up and pointed at the cold noodles. Unsurprisingly, they were also removed.

Pei Yan grandly called it "not leaving things out to tempt the child."

If Ling couldn’t eat, they wouldn’t eat either, to spare the child from the misery of her cravings.

Pei Yan considered himself a doting father, always thinking of his child’s well-being.

As a result, Ling glared at him huffily, snorted, stomped her foot, and turned her back on him, refusing to acknowledge his existence.

Pei Yan tried to coax the little one. "What do you want to eat? Tomorrow, Daddy will have the kitchen make it for you. Whether it flies in the sky, swims in the water, or runs on the ground—no matter what you want, Daddy will find it for you."

Ling covered her ears, refusing to listen to him.

Pei Yan was about to say more, but Ling threw herself directly into Mei Wanying’s arms.

"Mother, make him... go home!"

Pei Yan: "..."