Chapter 128: "Tian Ai" Approves

It was ten o’clock at night in Beiyang City, Huaxia.

A cyan-blue Ferrari LaFerrari was driving at a leisurely pace along the empty perimeter road. With no other vehicles in sight and the route hugging the banks of the Hun River, the atmosphere was peaceful, calm, and pleasant. The fragrance of lush green grass and leaves, carried on the faint, humid breeze from the river, acted as a balm to the soul, soothing the restlessness caused by the day’s troubles. At least, that was what Xue Tian’ai had been hoping for.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xue Tian’ai felt an itch of unease. Ever since they had climbed into the car, Qin Mengxue had kept her face taut and her alluring lips pursed in a pout. She hadn’t said a single word, her slender, delicate hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that she radiated an aura of pure, unadulterated annoyance.

A moment ago, Xue Tian’ai had been forced to face a agonizing dilemma. Qin Mengxue, Gan Bingning, and Su Jiaqi had all asked him to choose whose car he would take home. While all three women had worn charming, captivating smiles when they asked, Xue Tian’ai knew better than to take those smiles at face value. Given the situation, he had felt that no matter who he chose, the outcome would be dire. In a desperate move, he had resorted to rolling dice: one and two for Qin Mengxue, three and four for Gan Bingning, and five and six for Su Jiaqi.

Through some behind-the-scenes manipulation, the die landed on two. As planned, he ended up in his wife’s car. After all, he lived with Qin Mengxue, so it was the most logical choice—not to mention the unpredictable disasters that might occur if he let Su Jiaqi or Gan Bingning drive him home. Even so, Qin Mengxue hadn't given him a single pleasant look since they started the engine; she simply drove on, lost in her own world.

"Wife... can we say something to each other?" Xue Tian’ai finally couldn't take the silence anymore. He reached out and tentatively poked her soft, flawless arm.

"Hmph!" Qin Mengxue let out a heavy snort. She didn't speak, but she didn't stop him either.

"Look, honey, it's late at night... it's so dark and quiet, I'm getting a little scared," Xue Tian’ai said, looking at her with a pitiful, puppy-dog expression.

"Hmph!" Another cold snort. Qin Mengxue didn't believe for a second that he was scared, let alone that his pathetic act was genuine.

"Come on, wife, be a dear and give me a smile," Xue Tian’ai said. Seeing she remained unmoved, he steeled himself, tugged at his own cheeks, and made a goofy, mischievous face.

Although Qin Mengxue kept her eyes on the road, she frequently glanced at him from the corner of her eye. When she saw his ridiculous expression, her stoic facade finally cracked, and the corners of her mouth curled upward against her will.

"Aha! Wife, you finally smiled! I was starting to think you were suffering from facial paralysis!" Her subtle change in expression hadn't escaped his sharp eyes.

"You're the one with facial paralysis!" Qin Mengxue retorted, irritated that she had broken her composure.

"Holy cow! A miracle! My mute wife can actually speak in full sentences!" Xue Tian’ai exclaimed, covering his mouth in mock delight.

"Xue Tian’ai, you..." Qin Mengxue was so frustrated she didn't know what to say. She gave the steering wheel a light, venting slap and let out a dainty, indignant huff. "I am not a mute! And I am certainly not paralyzed!"

"Yes, yes, of course... My wife's voice is as sweet as a skylark's, and her every smile is enough to topple cities and kingdoms! How could you ever be a mute?" Xue Tian’ai seized the opportunity and laid the flattery on thick.

"Hmm? Really? Am I truly as good as you say?" Everyone loves a compliment, and Qin Mengxue was no exception. Her face flushed slightly, and she turned her head away, pretending not to care.

"Absolutely! Of course! Bien sûr! Mochiron desu!" Xue Tian’ai affirmed his statement in several different languages.

Watching his antics, Qin Mengxue shook her head helplessly. Her husband was truly a unique specimen. Yet, she found that she didn't seem to dislike this uniqueness anymore.

Suddenly, Qin Mengxue slammed on the brakes. The LaFerrari came to a screeching halt, the tires wailing against the asphalt. The sound was piercing, but that wasn't the point—the point was that Xue Tian’ai hadn't been wearing his seatbelt!

"Damn... wife, are you trying to murder your own husband?" Fortunately, Xue Tian’ai was well-trained and managed to prevent his handsome face from making intimate contact with the expensive windshield.

"I'm tired. You drive," Qin Mengxue said, as if she hadn't heard his complaint. Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and stepped out.

Xue Tian’ai shook his head, half-laughing, half-crying. He got out of the car and flicked her forehead playfully as she stood by the passenger door. "You’re just being lazy!"

He walked around to the driver's side. Despite the flick to her forehead, Qin Mengxue wasn't angry; she didn't mind his intimate gestures at all. In fact, she stuck her tongue out playfully at his back before slipping into the passenger seat.

The LaFerrari started up again. Even though it was one of the world's top supercars and the road was empty, Xue Tian’ai didn't push it to its limits. He simply cruised slowly along the path. Now that he had managed to coax Qin Mengxue into a better mood, he wanted to savor the tranquility of the suburban night. Lush, green hills stood on the other side of the Hun River—a perfect scene of green waters and verdant mountains.

Xue Tian’ai couldn't help but think that if the three women hadn't been there tonight, he wouldn't have minded letting Fu Hanbi and his four dim-witted thugs meet their maker. He truly was a killer at heart, he sighed inwardly. Since returning to Huaxia, he felt his temper had softened and his strikes had become far less lethal. Was this the charm of his homeland? Or was he simply getting old?

"Hey, Xue Tian’ai..." Qin Mengxue mimicked his earlier gesture, poking his arm with her soft hand.

"Hmm? What is it, wife?" Xue Tian’ai’s thoughts snapped back, and he turned to look at her with a gentle gaze.

"There's... there's something I wanted to discuss with you," she said, lowering her head, her hands twisting together in a display of uncharacteristic shyness.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Xue Tian’ai was confused. What was this about now?

"Since we are married, maybe... when we're alone, I could just call you Tian’ai? Calling you Xue Tian’ai feels a bit too distant..." Her voice grew quieter, and her face grew redder with every word. She wasn't even sure what she was thinking herself. After seeing how Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi had acted today, even a novice like her in matters of the heart felt a sense of crisis, and she wanted to close the distance between them.

"Tian’ai, huh..." Xue Tian’ai murmured thoughtfully, then his eyes lit up. "Actually, I think 'husband' sounds better... but if you like that, call me whatever you want."

Qin Mengxue’s face turned beet red at the word "like," and she couldn't help but ask herself if she truly did.

"Hmph... fine then, I'll call you Tian... Tian’ai when we're alone..."

"Wait, wife, why is your face so red?" Xue Tian’ai took one hand off the wheel to pinch her soft cheek. "And it's so hot! Don't tell me you're blushing..."

"I am not! It's just..." she began, quickly lifting her head to protest.

"It's just the sunset reflecting on me, I’m not... not blushing, and certainly not red-faced!" Xue Tian’ai interrupted her, mimicking her tone perfectly.

"..." There was no doubt about it—those were the exact words she had been about to say. She sat there, mouth agape, stunned into silence.

"Wife, I hate to remind you, but it’s the middle of the night! There’s no sunset, and the moon hasn't even come out yet!" Xue Tian’ai chuckled mischievously.

Qin Mengxue was a mix of embarrassment and fury, her face shifting through a kaleidoscope of emotions. Finally, unable to take it anymore, she licked her lips, gritted her teeth, and in the next second—

"Ouch!" A cry of pain echoed inside the cabin.

As for who let out that cry... well, let’s just say Xue Tian’ai had it coming!