Chapter 37: Discussing the Terms

Ling Hanyu paid no mind to Song Qingtian’s attitude at all. He felt he had finally found a way to keep her in check. This woman was truly different from before—back then, she would stop at nothing to seduce and lure him, but now she actually resisted his touch.

Very good—this is so like Song Qingtian.

Ling Hanyu thought carefully. It seemed that Song Qingtian had changed ever since that time when her fake pregnancy was exposed. She had begun to push him away; even yesterday, when she tried to tempt him, it was only to stir up some excitement so they could get a divorce.

At the time, the excitement in her eyes was anything but feigned.

Such a Song Qingtian was surprisingly interesting—even made him reluctant to let go.

Ling Hanyu picked up a skewer of grilled food, tore off a paper towel to wipe the stick, and then began to eat. Song Qingtian rolled her eyes in disgust—how pretentious.

She put down the skewer and went back to work. Just then, Nuonuo woke up. Hearing Aunt Chen say that Ling Hanyu had arrived, she quickly ran over.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

Nuonuo spread her arms and ran toward Ling Hanyu, looking just like a little angel with fluttering wings.

Ling Hanyu’s eyes lit up. He stood up to greet her, picked her up, spun her around once, and then planted a kiss on her rosy cheek. Nuonuo’s happy eyes curved into tiny crescents.

Song Qingtian watched the scene before her and suddenly thought of her own father. When she was little, he used to hold her and spin her around like this—and even carry her on his shoulders and pretend to ride a big horse.

She wondered what had become of her original self in that world after she’d been transported here. What if she died? Would her father be heartbroken?

As these thoughts swirled through her mind, tears couldn’t help but well up.

Ling Hanyu saw her walking over with Nuonuo in her arms, gazed at her intently, and reached out to wipe her tears.

Song Qingtian pulled away.

“It’s nothing—I just got a bit of smoke in my eyes. Nuonuo, how about Mommy grills you some more chicken wings and corn kernels?”

“Okay! I’m going to play with Daddy in the sand now—we’re going to build a castle for Mommy to live in!”

Hearing Nuonuo’s words, Song Qingtian felt an even stronger urge to cry. She remembered saying something very similar when she was little.

“Nuonuo, you play by yourself for now. Daddy isn’t full yet—wait until he’s had his fill before you play together.”

“Mm-hmm, then I’ll play by myself for now.”

With that, Nuonuo grabbed her little shovel and went off to dig in the sand. Ling Hanyu took a wet wipe to clean his hands and continued leisurely eating his grilled skewers. When Song Qingtian wasn’t deliberately being difficult, her cooking was actually quite good. Ling Hanyu ate a lot, and after Song Qingtian finished grilling the chicken wings and corn kernels, she fed some to Nuonuo as well. Then the family of three started building their sandcastle.

They spent a rare, harmonious afternoon playing until the sun set and the sky grew dark, and only then did they begin their journey home.

On the way back, Ling Hanyu drove, Song Qingtian sat in the passenger seat, and Aunt Chen held the already-sleeping Nuonuo in the back.

Song Qingtian looked at Ling Hanyu’s perfect profile and was filled with mixed emotions. She recalled her original plan when she first arrived and tentatively spoke up.

“Ling Hanyu, I want to learn how to drive.”

“What? Are your two legs too slow when you try to run away?”

Song Qingtian’s eyes widened in surprise. What kind of twisted logic did this man have, to guess exactly what she was thinking? She hurriedly denied it.

“What are you talking about? I just want to learn to drive so I can pick up and drop off Nuonuo more easily.”

“There’s a driver.”

Ling Hanyu politely refused Song Qingtian’s request, and in her heart, she cursed him ten thousand times.

When they got home, Song Qingtian immediately took Nuonuo and headed straight for the bedroom, showing absolutely no interest in continuing the conversation with Ling Hanyu.

Ling Hanyu watched Song Qingtian’s pouty expression and chuckled, rubbing his nose.

After settling Nuonuo, Song Qingtian kissed herself, feeling as though she reeked of grilled food from head to toe. She rushed into the bathroom, took a deep breath, and then flopped down on the bed in a big “X” shape.

End of Chapter 37: Discussing the Terms