CHAPTER 264: CHAPTER 224

Mo Junhua stayed close to Lan Tian, gazing at her with longing as she packed, "Kid, grandma and the others are returning to Mo Village, and you’ll be alone at home. Why not come back with me and stay at the military base? We’ll get news faster there. Besides, grandma is also worried about you. She specifically told me to take good care of you."

Returning to the base to wait for news—that was an option.

Lan Tian turned and looked at him, with a teasing, almost laughing glance. Her long, dense eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, tickling Mo Junhua’s heart, making it itch and tingle as if an electric current was running through his body. The splendor in her eyes shimmered like starlight, her flirtatious gaze captivating.

Mo Junhua shivered, his blood seemingly flowing backwards, his heart pounding "thump thump thump" at an increasingly frantic pace, as though it would leap out of his chest the next moment.

The kid was enticing him again.

A pair of porcelain-white, delicate, and soft hands slowly, slowly reached out. Mo Junhua stood rigidly, his eyes following those hands.

Closer, closer, and even closer.

Mo Junhua felt both anticipation and nervousness, conflicted about whether he should firmly refuse or willingly give in.

Looking at Mo Junhua’s face full of expectation, his eyes hazy, Lan Tian squinted her eyes and suddenly tightened her grip, drawing the collar tight.

Suddenly, a tight pressure encircled his neck, a stinging pain spreading from his neck, his chest feeling increasingly deprived of air. Mo Junhua felt suffocated. His blurry vision quickly cleared, his body remained still, and he looked up at Lan Tian.

"Kid?" His eyes were filled with innocence, grievance, and confusion.

Lan Tian snorted, releasing her grip and smoothing out the wrinkled clothes with care before a satisfied smile appeared on her face. Then, grabbing the collar again, she slowly pulled him closer. Her other hand roamed mischievously across Mo Junhua’s chest as she asked with malice, "You’re so old and haven’t touched a woman; how do you get by usually?"

Lan Tian’s suggestive gaze fell on Mo Junhua’s lower half; her expression sincere, her eyes pure. Anyone listening to her without context would have thought she was an innocent and adorable girl.

Was Lan Tian innocent? The answer was no. She’d flirted with Mo Junhua in her family’s vegetable garden when she was just a few years old; if she could do that, how pure could she be?

"Five-fingered lady?"

Mo Junhua was completely bewildered, unsure where this lady had come from, as he hadn’t sought any ladies except for Lan Tian.

"Left hand or right hand? Or do you use both? Which hand do you use more often?" This isn’t a survey; why ask with such detail?

Mo Junhua felt like the world was ending. Why was he standing here discussing such a topic with the kid? And that hand teasing his chest, could she not? Didn’t she know men couldn’t withstand such teasing?

Mo Junhua felt like he might be a pervert; he knew it wasn’t right, but damn it, he liked being flirted with by the kid. It would be best to consummate the marriage; nobody would believe it otherwise. They had been married for years and besides sleeping, they’d done nothing else in bed. It was worse than being a beast.

Mo Junhua also had his principles. He grabbed the wandering hand and pushed himself back two steps, putting some distance between them. Too close, and he couldn’t think straight. Another reason not to go back to the base was to keep her hands off him; not that he hadn’t noticed her eyes always roving over him, especially more evident when he wore a tank top or was bare-chested.

"Kid, come back to the base with me!" Mo Junhua was stubborn, circling back to this matter after a detour.

Lan Tian snorted, "You can barely take care of yourself, and you still want to abduct me? Do you have a vendetta against me?"

Given Lan Tian’s understanding of Zhou Yuwei, if she couldn’t have something, she’d destroy it instead. The notion of just wanting her beloved to be happy was never Zhou Yuwei’s style. This time, the improprieties at Fengyun Hotel... coupled with the two charges, plus the case involving Yanhua, Zhou Yuwei wouldn’t escape a death sentence or a life sentence.

Bonud in jail for life, there was no possibility for her and Mo Junhua. At this time, if she didn’t drag Mo Junhua down with her, then she wouldn’t be Zhou Yuwei.

Mo Junhua didn’t grasp the full meaning of Lan Tian’s words, but he would soon understand.

"Alright. I’ll go back with you," Lan Tian agreed idly to Mo Junhua’s nagging, intending only to stay at the military base for a few days anyway.

Having received a satisfactory response, Mo Junhua felt fulfilled and eagerly began to help Lan Tian pack up. As a man, he was not skilled at these meticulous tasks; his ’help’ only made things messier, leaving the bed in disarray. Lan Tian couldn’t stand it and shooed him out.

Lan Tian didn’t want his help, so Mo Junhua ran off to help Grandma Sun and the others with their chores, always mindful to curry favor.

After lunch, Mo Junhua drove Grandma Sun and the others to the train station, leaving Lan Tian and Chun Mei at home. Grandma Sun clung to Lan Tian, giving her endless instructions about her food, clothing, and daily routines. Lan Tian patiently listened until Grandma Sun ran out of things to say. Then, with Zhao Li’s urging, they all got in the car.

Finally, they could go back. Chun Mei sighed with relief in the car, happy to no longer see Lan Tian, the demon.

Lan Tian and Chun Mei stood at the yard’s gate, watching the car disappear into the distance before turning back to the house. Chun Mei went to rest, while Lan Tian returned to her room to stash her belongings into the Sleeve Universe, leaving only a backpack outside for appearances.

Given Chun Mei’s current condition, she couldn’t work. If Lan Tian followed Mo Junhua back to the base, it wouldn’t be safe to leave Chun Mei alone—should anything happen, they’d be too far away to help. As Zhao Li and the others had returned from the front line, Mo Junhua wanted to show his authority as the family head during a review session. Such an occasion couldn’t happen without Chun Mei.

After sending Grandma Sun and company on the train, Mo Junhua went to Chun Mei’s hospital to request her leave. The leave was granted smoothly, as Lin Guohao had already learned from Lan Tian about Chun Mei being kidnapped and drugged, which had left her in shock.

Mo Junhua returned from the hospital to pick up Lan Tian and Chun Mei, and the three rushed to the base.

With only two rooms at home, one bedroom for Lan Tian and Mo Junhua and a study, Lan Tian thoughtfully suggested Chun Mei sleep with her while Mo Junhua used the study. Lifting Chun Mei’s bag, Lan Tian headed to the bedroom.

Mo Junhua could only give Lan Tian a pitiable look, but she pretended not to see and turned her head away. Mo Junhua silently followed behind, his eyes drifting towards Chun Mei.

Chun Mei’s lips twitched, saying nothing as she took her backpack to the study. Lan Tian shot Chun Mei a white-eyed glare—it seemed her kindness was taken for granted.

Chun Mei ignored Lan Tian. Really, her brother had it tough. Mo Junhua was pleased with Chun Mei’s tact and, considering her as a patient, went to help her make the bed.

Lan Tian snorted, looked toward the book room door before entering, and noticing the siblings weren’t watching, she pinched and cast the Cleaning Technique. A gust of wind blew through the room, instantly making it spotless and refreshed.

After tidying the room, Lan Tian went to the kitchen. She picked Spirit Vegetables from the Storage Basin, washed the pot, rinsed the rice, and simmered it with a slice of Spirit Ginseng. This congee would restore vitality for ordinary people; for Chun Mei, it was the best. The Spirit Ginseng wasn’t precious to Lan Tian—it was far more potent than common ginseng—but too much could be deadly. In other words, Chun Mei’s body couldn’t withstand it; over-nourishing could be fatal.

After the uncomfortable car ride, Chun Mei was exhausted. Once the bed was made, she crawled in and fell asleep.

Mo Junhua came out to see the bedroom, not finding Lan Tian but noting how much brighter the room was than usual. He then turned to the kitchen but stopped mid-step, perhaps recalling something, and headed back to the bedroom to check the wardrobe, where he saw Lan Tian’s personal belongings and intimate clothing neatly arranged, which brought a smile to his face.

In the kitchen, noticing the newly added fresh vegetables, Mo Junhua glanced at them but ignored them, walking over to Lan Tian to roll up his sleeves and help. "Girl, let me help you pick the vegetables."

Without hesitation, Lan Tian handed over the vegetables to Mo Junhua, telling him which ones needed washing, then patted her backside and headed to the living room. Mo Junhua felt frustrated; he came to pick vegetables to bond with the girl, but now she was gone. His heart felt blocked, but his hands kept moving.

The congee was ready around seven or eight in the evening. Lan Tian went to the study to call Chun Mei for dinner. Half-asleep, Chun Mei allowed Lan Tian to pull her up, drinking the congee with her eyes closed, and then went back to bed.

Mo Junhua, a grown man, couldn’t fill his stomach with just congee. After finishing it, he cooked a pot of noodles in the kitchen, which finally satisfied his hunger.

After the meal, Lan Tian went to clean the dishes, while Mo Junhua prepared tea in the living room, his moves graceful and pleasing to the eye. When Lan Tian finished with the dishes, Mo Junhua already had tea ready, patting the spot next to him invitingly, "Girl, come and have some tea."

Lan Tian looked at him and walked over silently, sitting in the rattan chair next to his and accepting the cup of tea with a sip. She pondered where this old married couple’s routine had come from.

After washing up, the two lay side by side on the bed, separated by a three-centimeter gap. Mo Junhua could feel the cool temperature of Lan Tian’s body and his mind echoed her words, ’Left hand or right hand?’ Catching a glimpse of her hands crossed over her chest, he imagined her hands would be...

What an unbearable thought.

Such thoughts should be avoided, as they lead to indecent images. Mo Junhua told himself to refrain, but his mind uncontrollably painted these forbidden scenes, quickening his breath and increasing his sense of repression. He glanced at Lan Tian and moved slightly away, afraid Lan Tian would notice his abnormal behavior.