Miscalculation

"Alright," the executive nodded.

Jiang Qing settled back into her workstation, sighing as she faced the towering stack of documents before her.

Sigh.

While the boss was off enjoying a sweet romance, she was stuck grinding through these files—truly, the life of a workhorse.

At least Su Hua paid well.

After ending the call with Jiang Qing, Su Hua continued scrolling through her phone screen, which displayed the tracking app installed on Lin Xuan’s device.

There was another type of tracker—one that could be implanted inside a person’s body. That would be far more discreet, eliminating concerns about losing the phone or being unable to monitor someone if they weren’t carrying it.

But back then, Su Hua had worried about potential harm to Lin Xuan’s health, so she’d opted to install the tracking app on his phone instead.

She stared at it for a long moment before finally swiping her finger across the screen—deleting it.

She should trust Ah Xuan.

People always said couples needed space. If she kept monitoring him like this, what would happen if he someday discovered the tracking app? Would they end up fighting over it?

With that done, Su Hua got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and headed to the study.

Lin Xuan was slumped over the desk, his consciousness fully absorbed in researching medicine within his spatial ability. So focused was he that he didn’t even notice Su Hua entering the room.

Su Hua leaned down slightly, her slender fingers tracing the contours of Lin Xuan’s brows, his lips.

Her beautiful eyes curved into crescents.

Every inch of Ah Xuan was crafted to her exact tastes.

Feeling the touch on his face, Lin Xuan quickly withdrew his consciousness from the spatial realm.

"Hua Bao?" he asked, concerned. "Why aren’t you resting more?"

"Because I can’t sleep without Ah Xuan beside me," Su Hua murmured, a playful smile curling her lips.

She settled onto his lap, looping her arms around his neck.

Worried she might slip, Lin Xuan immediately wrapped an arm around her slender waist—so delicate it could barely fill a single grasp.

"Ah Xuan is so thoughtful," Su Hua whispered, her red lips brushing against his ear. Her warm breath sent a tingling shiver down his skin.

Lin Xuan instinctively tilted his head away.

Amusement glinted in Su Hua’s eyes.

Ah Xuan’s ears were so sensitive.

Not letting him off so easily, she took his earlobe between her lips, her tongue teasingly flicking against it.

Lin Xuan: "!!!"

Hua Bao’s seductive techniques were getting far too skilled.

He couldn’t help but squirm.

If he didn’t, she’d stoke his desire beyond control.

Su Hua chuckled softly against his ear before murmuring, "Ah Xuan, I’m still injured. Be good, or you might reopen my wounds."

Lin Xuan knew she was doing this on purpose—taunting him, fully aware he wouldn’t dare move too roughly out of concern for her.

But this time, Hua Bao had miscalculated.

"Alright, I won’t move," Lin Xuan agreed, nodding.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Su Hua’s eyes.

Ah Xuan really was so obedient.

She leaned in to kiss his earlobe again, but Lin Xuan caught her chin, turning her face toward him.

His lips met hers.

Soon, the sound of their heated kisses filled the study.

Su Hua remained perched on his lap, arms coiled around his neck as Lin Xuan’s mouth trailed down to her throat. She arched into him, fingers tangling in his hair as she exposed the elegant curve of her neck.

Back when Lin Xuan had been inexperienced in matters of intimacy, he’d been clueless. Now, however, his skills were refined—and he knew exactly where this insatiable woman’s weak spots lay.

Before long, Su Hua was thoroughly aroused, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes dark with desire.

"Ah Xuan… Ah Xuan…" His name spilled from her lips in a breathless chant.

The air between them grew thick with tension.

Just as things were about to escalate, Lin Xuan abruptly stilled.

"Ah Xuan? Why did you stop?" Su Hua’s skin burned, her face nuzzling against his in restless frustration.

Lin Xuan drew a deep breath.

This little temptress was going to be the death of him.

Suppressing his own urges, he caught her wandering hands—which had already slipped beneath his shirt—and said in a husky voice, "Hua Bao, wait a moment."

"Ah Xuan, you…" At this moment, the teardrop mole at the corner of her right eye made her look especially alluring.

"Let’s go back to the bedroom first, alright?" Lin Xuan suggested.

Su Hua’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Was Ah Xuan finally going to devour her?

How impatient of him.

A smirk curled her lips. "Of course. Whatever Ah Xuan wants."

"But Ah Xuan… carry me?" Her voice dripped with a coquettish sweetness.

"Alright."

Lin Xuan had already planned to do so.

Scooping her up, he carried her bridal-style toward the bedroom.

Su Hua nestled obediently against his chest, her soft arms looped around his neck as she gazed up at him.

Ah Xuan was so considerate.

She couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.

Once he laid her on the bed, Lin Xuan leaned in close.

"Hua Bao," he murmured, his voice a low, intoxicating whisper by her lips.

Su Hua expected him to kiss her, closing her eyes in anticipation.

But instead—

"Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet. You should rest properly first."

Su Hua: "!!!"

Seeing the shock in her eyes, Lin Xuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of smug satisfaction.

Finally, he’d turned the tables on her.

For the longest time, Hua Bao had relentlessly teased him without ever letting him have his way. Now it was her turn to endure the torment.

"Ah Xuan," Su Hua pressed her lips together. "My injuries are fine."

She was aching—needing him to relieve her.

Ever since getting hurt, her body had become far more sensitive than before.

Lin Xuan’s expression turned serious. "I’ve learned from the doctor how to properly care for wounds. Repeated tearing will only delay healing. Hua Bao, behave."

"But—"

Before she could protest, Lin Xuan pressed his forehead to hers and raised a brow. "Is Hua Bao so desperate for me to touch her that she’d risk reopening her wounds? Just so I’d have to stay by her side longer?"

"And those times you ‘accidentally’ bumped into the table—were those on purpose too?"

This was his trump card to keep her in line.

Sure enough—

Su Hua’s fingers clenched the bedsheet.

No.

She couldn’t let Ah Xuan find out she’d done those things deliberately. She didn’t want him to think poorly of her.

"I didn’t," she denied, shaking her head.

Lin Xuan had no intention of calling her out—doing so would only make her anxious.

"I was just teasing," he said, ruffling her hair with a smile. "Hua Bao would never hurt herself on purpose."

Su Hua bit her lip.

If Ah Xuan knew the truth—that she really had done those things—would he think she was disgusting? A fraud?

No.

He could never find out…

Her fists tightened.

Uu.