CHAPTER 256: CHAPTER 256; WHY NOT?

Minghao stopped in front of him, did another quick spin, and planted her hands on her hips, facing him, looking all dolled up.

"Well... Well..." she spoke up grinning. "How do I look? What do you think little brother?"

Zhihao squinted at her like he was a very serious judge in a very serious competition. He tilted his head, walked slowly around her in a circle, then poked the side of her braid.

"You look like a malnourished walking flowerpot," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, his lips twitching.

Minghao gasped, pretending to be offended. "I do not! I look adorable in this!’

"You do too," he teased, crossing his arms across his chest like a little gentleman. "You have got flowers on your dress and you smell like one. If a bee comes, I’m not saving you. That would be your fault and no one else!"

"That’s so mean of you!" she said, but she was already laughing.

Zhihao grinned, unable to hold back anymore. "I’m just saying just in case, if you get chased by bees, I warned you."

Minghao rolled her eyes and gently swatted his arm. "Then I’ll tell them you smell like shampoo and they will go after you instead."

"Fine. We will both get chased," he said with a shrug. "We can run together."

They looked at each other for a second, her in her swirly dress, him with his half-messy hair, and burst into laughter. He was glad she was back to being herself! Military life wasn’t for someone like her.

The hallway echoed with the sound of their joy, the kind that only kids with too much imagination and not enough worries could ever make.

Then Minghao grabbed his hand. "Come on! Let’s go before the bees find us."

Zhihao let her drag him along, both of them racing down the hallway like it was a magical path leading to anywhere but here. They looked beautiful and adorable.

They took the stairs down to the living room.

— — — — — —

"Auntie, what kind of a dress do you think should I wear?" Twilight was nervous and she wanted to be more comfortable and arraigned with the family dress code. She didn’t want to be too standing out and also below average. She wanted to blend in

She was used to wearing trousers and jackets, but now, she couldn’t be the odd one out. She needed to behave like a girl.

"Wear a flowery dress! And those bandages, did the doctor say they could be removed?" She didn’t think she would be comfortable going out with those bandages all over her face.

"You don’t have to worry about that Auntie.." she rushed back into the closet and began looking for a dress. While they were in the garden, the maids had arranged their clothes in the closet after machine wash and drying.

Xu Xie also found a nice flowery dress that was presentable and for the first time, she looked girly.

Twilight held the soft fabric up to her frame, turning slightly in the mirror.

The dress had delicate pink and lavender flowers that danced across a cream background, with thin straps and a modest hemline that fell just above her knees.

It wasn’t something she would have picked out for herself, but somehow, it didn’t feel wrong. Not anymore.

She slipped it on and adjusted the neckline. It fit her better than she expected. She ran her fingers down the sides, the unfamiliar smoothness of the dress making her pause. A part of her felt exposed like she had shed a layer of armor, but another part of her... felt seen.

"Auntie," she called from the closet doorway, her voice quieter, unsure, "is this okay?"

Xu Xie looked up from her seat and blinked, startled by the transformation. "Oh my," she smiled warmly. "You look lovely. Just like how you should be!" She looked very different in a dress.

"Always dress like that!" Xu Xie stood up and gently walked over, adjusting a small fold near Twilight’s waist and tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.

"You will fit right in. And don’t worry, nobody’s going to ask questions about the bandages on your face. If they do, they will have to be answerable to me," Xu Xie added with a wink.

Twilight managed a small smile and nodded.

Once they were done, they left their bedroom.

— — — — — —

When Tang Fei emerged, wrapped in a towel, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting patiently, her clothes folded neatly beside him. Her dirty clothes were already cleaned up in the machine, washed, and even ironed before getting stored away.

Huo Ting Cheng was a neat guy and handled his responsibilities very well.

He looked up as she walked out, his eyes softening as they met hers.

There was something in his gaze that made her heart clench, not hunger, but affection. A quiet kind of devotion and possessiveness that scared her more than any passion ever could.

"You will catch a cold like that," he murmured, standing and gently tugging the towel tighter around her shoulders, careful not to let his fingers wander around her body. "Come, and get dressed."

Tang Fei nodded and turned her back to him as she slipped into the dress.

The fabric was cool against her skin, and the cut hugged her waist before flowing freely to her ankles.

The ruffled sleeves gave her a youthful elegance, and the V-neckline... well, she noticed the way his eyes lingered for a heartbeat longer than usual before he looked away. Did he make the right choice?

He handed her the sandals, then reached out and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear. "You look so beautiful, Mama," he said quietly, not like a compliment, but it was a fact. Her beauty could drive him crazy.

She bit her lip, cheeks tinged pink, blushing; he was getting better and better when it came to flattering her. "Thank you."

Tang Fei had just finished adjusting the straps of her dress when he stepped behind her, arms sliding around her waist with quiet certainty.

His embrace was firm but gentle, his chest warm against her back hugging her intimately. She was his woman and was getting better with their skinship.

She didn’t pull away and let him cuddle her and she leaned into him, letting her head rest lightly against his shoulder. His breath slowed and deepened.

"You smell like rain and lavender combined!" he murmured against her hair, his lips brushing past her crown. "Sweet... and clean. Like something I want to keep close you know..."

His nose traced a line down to the curve of her neck, and she felt the lightest press of his lips there, soft, reverent. Were all men like this? Were all men this romantic? Were all men this sweet and warm?

Her breath caught up while her mind went wild. "You are getting better at this," she whispered, teasing him. As days went by, he was expressing himself more and more. The atmosphere around them becomes more intimate.

His only answer was a faint chuckle, and that sounded like music in her ears; it was a rare moment to hear him laugh or see him smile, next followed by another kiss, this time at the base of her neck. "I don’t need to practice with anyone else," he said. "Some things come naturally." Yes, when you love your woman, you would know what to do and expect of you.

She turned in his arms slowly until they were face to face. His hands slid up her back, fingertips barely grazing her spine, and she felt her pulse skip a bit.

"You are dangerous when you are this gentle," she whispered, her eyes searching his. It was a rare thing, actually, and I wondered if he was plotting something.

He bent forward slightly, brushing his lips across her cheek, then near the corner of her mouth, never quite claiming it, just tasting the closeness. He gently pecked her before gazing into those eyes.

"No," he breathed, resting his forehead against hers intimately, only God knows how much he has been controlling himself when it came to her. "This is the safest I have ever been. The most sane."

And she believed him. She tiptoed and kissed him vehemently.

Her fingers found the edge of his shirt, curling there, as if holding onto something fragile.....