Women, How Terrifying They Can Be

Early this morning, Xia Muzhu was already up and bustling about, moving back and forth between the kitchen stoves to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner.

Lin Yu, having just used the bathroom, lay back down on his bed and couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for her.

After all the exertion last night, how does she still have so much energy?

Last night, Lin Yu and Xia Muzhu, the siblings, had gone out for a walk.

As they walked, they accidentally got separated from Xia Yueshan.

Poor two children, over ten years and a hundred-plus months old, lost from their family at night. Not knowing what to do, the two of them, panicked and flustered (scratched out)

...panicked and anxious, ended up in a hotel. It wasn't until midnight that they remembered their home address and made their way back under the cover of night...

Rubbing his face with his hands and giving his cheeks a light pat, Lin Yu let out a long sigh, quickly got out of bed, and headed to the kitchen, intending to help Xia Muzhu with the work.

The chores for the whole family shouldn't all fall on her shoulders alone.

After entering the kitchen, Lin Yu took advantage of Xia Yueshan's absence to sneakily be affectionate with Xia Muzhu for a while. Afterwards, he helped as an assistant, doing whatever tasks he could manage.

The injury on Lin Yu's foot was now mostly healed. Although a slight limp was still noticeable when he walked, it wasn't a big deal. He estimated it would fully recover in a few more days.

This foot injury had really annoyed Lin Yu. It was worse than breaking a couple of ribs—it was such a hindrance to daily life...

And nightlife is part of life too!

While washing vegetables, Lin Yu turned his head and stared seriously at Xia Muzhu for a moment, trying to find any trace of fatigue on her beautiful, serene face.

But he soon gave up. Her complexion today was incredibly good, with that rosy, delicate skin and her radiant, glowing spirit.

If he didn't know her well enough, Lin Yu would have suspected she secretly drank some kind of all-in-one tonic soup for health and vitality...

...

Drink...

...

Isn't that stuff just protein?

Lin Yu withdrew his gaze and shook his head silently. The old saying really holds true.

The field never gets worn out; it's the ox that dies from exhaustion.

Last night, she was practically melted into a puddle of mush, yet this morning she got up as if nothing had happened.

Women.

Truly terrifying!

Hmm...

Perhaps it's also related to her nightly exercise routine.

There was a lot to do today: putting up Spring Festival couplets, a thorough cleaning, steaming fish, stewing pig trotters...

But the most troublesome and labor-intensive task was undoubtedly making dumplings.

In the northern New Year's Eve feast, dumplings are an indispensable delicacy with significant symbolism.

They represent reunion.

This is also the most valued aspect among the many elements of the New Year.

After helping Xia Muzhu chop and wash the ingredients in the kitchen, Lin Yu held her close and was affectionate for a while longer before reluctantly leaving the kitchen.

Honestly, it's no wonder the two of them were still so lovey-dovey even after living together for so long.

In this little home, it wasn't just the two of them.

That not-so-old but overly perceptive third wheel made both of them somewhat restrained.

Xia Muzhu, needless to say, as the older sister, always had to maintain some dignity. In front of Xia Yueshan, she felt too embarrassed to be too intimate with Lin Yu.

As for Lin Yu, his skin was thick enough.

But every time he remembered those earnest promises he made to Xia Yueshan about not being interested in his sister, Lin Yu also felt a bit unable to keep a straight face.

This resulted in the two only being able to sneakily be affectionate like a normal couple when Xia Yueshan wasn't around.

Looking at their guilty and cautious behavior, anyone who didn't know might think they were having an affair...

...

It was actually quite thrilling!

...

"Get up, get up!"

Lin Yu walked into Xia Yueshan's room, reached out, and yanked the blanket off.

There was a lot to do today, and Lin Yu wasn't foolish enough to do it all himself. Wasn't there a ready-made labor force right here?

If you don't use it, it's a waste. And who wouldn't use free labor?

Xia Yueshan must have stayed up late last night; Lin Yu remembered that when he and Xia Muzhu returned late, he was still in the computer room playing games.

At that time, Xia Muzhu was too tired to bother urging him to sleep. She went back to her room and practically fell asleep the moment she touched the mattress.

Lin Yu's energy was still quite ample, but he was too lazy to deal with it and didn't want to bother.

As a fellow man, Lin Yu understood him well. Forgetting the time when you're into a game you want to play—how normal is that? Why disturb his fun?

But that's one thing.

You sleep late, I don't care. But if you can't get up and don't want to work, that's just not acceptable!

Xia Yueshan was sleeping soundly. Disturbed from his sweet dreams, he was extremely displeased, his body almost filled with irritable morning grumpiness.

He lay on the bed, whining irritably a couple of times, his arms and legs flailing about on the mattress.

This was his usual trick. Generally, by putting on this whiny, lazy act, he could drive away whoever was bothering him and go back to sleep peacefully.

This time was the same. He whined and acted up a bit, and sure enough, the room fell silent. Just as he relaxed, ready to sink back into dreamland, a chill hit his buttocks, jolting him instantly awake.

"Damn it!"

Xia Yueshan hurriedly yanked up his pajama pants and underwear, which had been pulled down to his knees. He clutched the waistband tightly, glaring indignantly at Lin Yu standing by the bed.

Lin Yu wore a mischievous grin, urging him:

"Hurry up and get to work!"

Xia Yueshan was furious, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

He couldn't win a fight, couldn't win a fight, just couldn't win a fight.

After Xia Yueshan changed his clothes and had a bite to eat, Lin Yu started assigning him tasks: first, tidy up the house properly, then put up the Spring Festival couplets.

Thanks to Xia Muzhu's daily cleaning, the house was in no way dirty or messy. But for a fresh start in the New Year, it was still necessary to thoroughly clean all the nooks and crannies that were usually easy to overlook, to welcome the coming year.

After the thorough cleaning came the time to put up the "Fu" character and the Spring Festival couplets.

Lin Yu's foot injury wasn't completely healed yet, so the horizontal scroll above the door had to be put up by Xia Yueshan standing on a chair.

While Xia Yueshan was putting up the horizontal scroll, Xia Muzhu also came out to join in, conveniently helping Xia Yueshan check if it was crooked.

Xia Yueshan stood on the stool, holding the horizontal scroll high, following Lin Yu's instructions, shifting his body a little to the left, then a little to the right.

After Xia Yueshan adjusted his position slightly once more, the scroll finally settled in a suitable spot.

She was just about to speak when a large hand covered her mouth.

She looked at the owner of the hand beside her. Lin Yu wore an expression of complete innocence, as if nothing had happened, still continuing to make Xia Yueshan sway back and forth.

Her eyes held reproach as she looked at Lin Yu, yet her brows and eyes were full of laughter.

So mean...