CHAPTER 234: CHAPTER 222 A DARK AND WINDY NIGHT IS PERFECT FOR GETTING THINGS DONE!

"What do you think?" Tong Airui reached out and pinched her nose. "Quick, use the pipette, otherwise that pinch would be for nothing."

"Oh." Yi Luowa chuckled, picked up the pipette, and drew the blood into it. "Let’s eat more tonight; we need to make up for this."

"Fourth Brother, don’t you think using such official wording with me is strange?" Yi Luowa teased him, laughing. "Let me interview you: why must you wait until after dinner to show me the quarters? Got anything planned?"

"Me? Nowhere close! I’ve got a workaholic’s life; sitting still just isn’t my thing. I came to report something to you..."

"I’m going to lie on the bed and wait for your four dishes and one soup." Yi Luowa pulled his hand away and warned, "Don’t follow me. I’m guessing there’s still someone who’s going to cause trouble, so you stay out here and entertain the guests."

"Smiling tiger? Very fitting! While you slept, I got rid of a smiling tiger, and then a poisonous scorpion... What’s wrong with you?" Tong Airui noticed her pale face and quickly walked over.

Yi Luowa waited for him to hang up before speaking. "You tell Mom everything, don’t you!"

"Giving you a pass card so you can enter and leave the factory easily in the future." Tong Airui waited for the ink to dry, then slipped the card into a sleeve. "I’ll call the gate guard later. From now on, you can come and go freely in this compound, but don’t wander around too much. You can either come to me or rest over in the back courtyard. After dinner, I’ll take you to see the living quarters there."

Doctor Ruan nearly rolled his eyes in anger. Did these two really need to be this lovey-dovey?

From his desk, where he was typing on the keyboard, Tong Airui heard the sound and looked over. "No one’s here. Come out."

"At the camp. Mom, do you need something?"

"What’s there to be scared of with my own mom? Are you coming back with me? Let me warn you—probably best not to."

Tong Yao paused. "How’s Luowa unwell?"

"Hm?"

Yi Luowa raised her petite foot and nudged his thigh.

Tong Airui froze briefly before realizing what was happening. "You’re on your period?"

"Not as much as before." Yi Luowa pulled up her pants, washed her hands, and opened the bathroom door. Tong Airui stumbled slightly, almost falling, and Yi Luowa quickly steadied him.

Deputy Captain Ruan’s expression briefly darkened before he broke into hearty laughter. "You’re absolutely right! Hahaha... By the way, is the expert you invited gone?"

Yi Luowa stood there, stunned. He wasn’t even mad?!

Yi Luowa had been listening from inside for a while. Seeing that he’d launched into long-winded chatter, she snorted disdainfully. "Smiling tiger! Old fox!"

"Oh." Tong Airui responded listlessly.

"Haha, look at your reaction." Yi Luowa smiled and blew on his finger again. "No more blood. Go do your thing."

"If it’s not too busy, could you and Luowa come back to have dinner with your grandpa tonight?"

Tong Airui doted on her with a smile. "Thanks, sis."

"Just the few days a month thing." Tong Airui smiled as Yi Luowa’s little foot extended again and caught it in his hand. "Mom, we’ll head back in a bit. Hold the fort for now."

"Where are you headed?" Tong Airui grabbed her as she was leaving.

As soon as he left, Yi Luowa’s face changed. She jabbed a cotton swab onto Tong Airui’s finger. "What’s with that woman? Spill everything honestly!"

"He found out I let Ni Lu, your aunt, stay for dinner."

Tong Airui’s smile vanished instantly. "Who said she’s set her sights on me?"

Tong Airui twitched his lips. "What’s Dad acting up about?"

"Fourth Brother..."

"You’re seducing me even at a time like this!" Tong Airui teased with a grin, before his lips claimed hers.

With a pained expression, Yi Luowa looked at him. "Fourth Brother, I’ve ruined your plans for tonight. I’m guilty, deserving of the worst punishment! You can hit me or scold me, but could you help me out first?"

"Nothing. She’s an Eagle Squadron doctor."

Deputy Captain Ruan immediately toned down his laughter and found a seat.

"Wait here. I’ll figure something out." Tong Airui rushed out the door.

"I thought you were completely out of the mood."

Deputy Captain Ruan strode in briskly, paused upon noticing that only Tong Airui was in the room.

Muttering to herself, Yi Luowa climbed into bed, pulled the covers over her head, and fell asleep.

"Wait a sec." Tong Airui begrudgingly sat down at his desk, pulled open the drawer, took out a card, and scribbled a few words on it. Then he stamped it with both his personal and official seals.

"Got distracted." Tong Airui chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"You left them in the RV." Tong Airui smiled faintly. "Dear wife, tell me—why is it so difficult for me to fulfill even the smallest wish?"

"Pfft." Yi Luowa giggled at his joke, instantly shedding her small bit of guilt. "Fourth Brother, why do you even have a pair of my pants on hand?"

Just as Tong Airui settled her onto the bed, Tong Yao’s call came through.

Yi Luowa pursed her lips. "Fourth Brother, sorry."

"Never messing with you again." Yi Luowa slumped against his chest listlessly.

As soon as she entered, there was a knock at the door outside. Tong Airui furrowed his brows slightly. "Come in!"

"I don’t know who Da Peng got them from. Use these first; I’ve already sent him to buy more." Tong Airui helped her into the bathroom, and as he closed the door, reminded her, "Check whether your pants got stained. If they did, I still have a spare pair for you."

"The smiling tiger’s gone?" Yi Luowa asked, clutching her stomach.

Too embarrassed to meet his eyes, Yi Luowa nodded miserably.

It’s unclear how long she slept, but eventually the pain woke her up. She rubbed her aching belly and sat up.

"Rui’er, where are you?"

Deputy Captain Ruan chuckled. "I heard from Jiajia that she had a hard time finding you. I thought you’d returned already and I might find her here. Airui, you’re something—you came to work even on your day off! I could never be as diligent as you."

"The blood sample has been collected, Doctor Ruan," Tong Airui reminded him with a frown.

It wasn’t long before Tong Airui returned with half a bag of sanitary pads in his hand.

"The expert’s resting inside, so keep your voice down!" Tong Airui replied impatiently with a glance.

Leaning against the door, Tong Airui chuckled. "No rush; there’s plenty of time."

"F-Fourth Brother... I surrender!" Yi Luowa finally managed to push him away, gasping for fresh air. "You’re going to suffocate me like this!"

Military Doctor Ruan hastily gathered the equipment and stormed out the door with his medicine kit.

Yi Luowa put the pipette back, picked up a cotton swab, pressed it against the injection site, and bent her head to blow on it. "Big sis is giving some magic breath; now it won’t hurt anymore."

"Fourth Brother, are you still taking me to see your quarters tonight?"

"I’m already used to emergency stops. This tiny hiccup? It’s nothing. Is your stomach still hurting?"

"If he doesn’t act up, he wouldn’t be your grandpa." Tong Yao sighed. "Your dad’s acting up too."

Tong Airui gazed down at her, a mischievous curve to his lips. Her whole face was bright red. "If this gets to you, what’s going to happen in the future?"

Clutching her stomach, she got out of bed and leaned against the door to listen for a while. When it seemed clear that no one was around, she carefully opened the door just a crack.

"Damn it, what a terrible time for this!" Yi Luowa smacked her own forehead angrily, grumbling over not even having brought a bag. What to do now?

Fourth Master had it rough, but he couldn’t complain. When he was home, someone was always knocking on the door. Here, the old guys were taking turns checking on him. Thinking he’d finally have some peace tonight? Nope—his wife’s "relative" paid a visit. With nowhere else to vent, he channeled it into his intense kiss.

"The dark, windy night is perfect for handling business! That’s what’s planned. Women are cuter when they occasionally play dumb." Tong Airui playfully smacked her on the butt. "Go ahead. If you don’t sleep now, you probably won’t get any sleep tonight."

"Lose something?" Tong Airui raised an eyebrow.

"Everyone likes Luowa. Her presence will lighten the atmosphere."

But before his laughter was completed, Yi Luowa’s next statement made him choke.

Yi Luowa noticed the heavy breathing coming from behind her. She smirked slightly. How could this person be this angry and yet not leave?

Yi Luowa felt like she was asking for trouble. She’d intended to comfort him, but that simple kiss nearly left her out of breath as Tong Airui’s fervent longing took over.

"Yeah, we’ll make up for it tonight." Tong Airui smiled mischievously.

Tong Airui hesitated. "Luowa’s feeling a little unwell..."

His mother’s tone carried a bit of helplessness, and Tong Airui frowned lightly. "Grandpa’s acting up again?"

"Nonsense! Look at the face she made; she clearly sees me as a love rival. And she’s the daughter of some big shot—sounds like a good match for you!" Yi Luowa puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.

"Nothing. Just... you looked so pitiful, I wanted to call you." Yi Luowa leaned forward and lightly kissed his thin lips.

Tong Airui laughed and picked her up. "Go rest for a while; dinner’s coming up."

"If I’m going to be jealous, it ought to be for someone worthy. Someone like her? She’s not as pretty as I am, way older, and aside from being taller, what does she have on me? Tell me, Squad Leader Aldrich: when someone like her sets her sights on you, don’t you find it irritating?"

Yi Luowa came over, glanced at the card, and asked, "A ’Specially Appointed Automotive Engineer’? Fourth Brother, what kind of game are you playing?"

Yi Luowa rubbed her butt and stubbornly walked into the bedroom.

"No kidding. Look at poor Tong Airui." Yi Luowa burst into laughter. "Fourth Brother, the pants aren’t stained."

Tong Airui curled his lip into a faint smile. "That’s exactly why you’ve never climbed to my position in all these years."

Yi Luowa let herself be carried without resistance.

"Where’d those come from?" Yi Luowa asked skeptically.

"Of course, to at least show you the door."

"I love seeing you jealous." Tong Airui laughed with delight.

"You have a lot of free time today?" Tong Airui’s voice turned frigid; his impatience had reached its limit.

Tong Airui glanced at Yi Luowa, who was lying motionless on the bed. "Sounds lively. Do you think the two of us going back will calm things down?"

"They specifically asked for me... Let go of my foot first." Yi Luowa struggled to pull her foot free, pouting as she sat upright. "Alright, let’s go home to be the firefighters."