Chapter 311: Ruan Danchen Felt like She Had Fallen into Their Trap

At that time, he lowered his head, and she could feel his scorching breath with her face and lips. She dared not breathe at all.

Ruan Danchen was extremely confused now, and she felt like her head was about to burst. Her face became warmer and warmer, almost as though it was going to burn. She lowered her head as she was afraid to meet his gaze. The way he looked at her was like he wanted to swallow her whole. She was unsure whether she was seeing an illusion or not.

She always felt that it was better for her not to imagine that he reciprocated her love.

She managed to calm down with great difficulty, then she started to blush again. He went as far as to put his hands on that part of her body!

His large and hot hands were clutching her armpit just adjacent to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and his thumbs were pressing on the side of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She felt like he was holding half of them.

This hooligan!

When that thought crossed her mind, she felt his thumb pressing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Ruan Danchen took a deep breath and raised her head to glare at him, only to meet with Qi Chenglin"s expression remained serious. He used his glistening eyes to stare at her earnestly like what just happened was only her illusion.

At that time, even Ruan Danchen was undecided whether he did that on purpose or not. She dared not question him about his actions rashly when she saw his honorable expression.

Then, she heard him asking seriously with his deep and mellow voice, "Can you stand on your own now?"

Ruan Danchen was extremely embarra.s.sed after he said that. He sounded like she purposely let him support her so that she could be in his arms.

She moved her legs and felt that they were still uncomfortably numb, but she could still bear it because she was mentally prepared. She nodded at him.

Qi Chenglin immediately let go of her. Ruan Danchen"s body became stiff all of a sudden and her abdominal muscles contracted. When he withdrew his hands, his thumbs rubbed softly against the small b.u.mps of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

She was not sure whether he did that deliberately.

When she looked at him, she saw Qi Chenglin lowered his head to talk to Qi Youxuan and did not behave unusually.

Could it be that she blamed him wrongly again?

He seemed like an honorable man, not that kind of man who would sneakily take advantage of women.

When she was still puzzling over that matter, she heard Qi Youxian talked to his father. "Dad, when I went to bed last night, didn"t you tell me that you"re not free to fetch me today?"

"…" Qi Chenglin pouted unhappily. "I"m free now."

"As a man, you shouldn"t always go back on your word." Qi Youxuan shook his head. "How could you change your mind so fast like a woman?"

Qi Chenglin had no reply to that.

Ruan Danchen could not help but stare at Qi Chenglin. She remembered that she told him last night that she would send the stuff to Qi Youxuan today.

Maybe that was the reason he came here as well?

After thinking, she felt that it was not very possible. She was certainly not so charming to make the Qi family"s young master came here on purpose just to see her, was she?

Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Ruan Danchen took the opportunity to hand over Qi Youxuan"s stuff to Qi Chenglin. "Youxuan left this stuff in my house last night, so please take it back."

Qi Chenglin looked askance at her coldly and did not take it.

Ruan Danchen"s arm was extended awkwardly. After a while, she was tired and put her hand down. Then, he heard Qi Chenglin asked her with a cool and mocking voice, "Don"t you like Youxuan?"

"Don"t talk nonsense! I like Youxuan very much," answered Ruan Danchen hurriedly.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the little boy heaved a sigh of relief and blushed bashfully.

Immediately after, she felt a soft little hand squeezed into her palm. Her heart melted by that soft feeling of his hand.

Ruan Danchen lowered her head and saw Qi Youxuan timidly put his other hand behind his body. He blushed and lowered his head and said, "Aunt Ruan, I like you very much too."

Ruan Danchen could not help but smile at him gently. However, she heard Qi Chenglin"s low and mellow voice again. "Why do I felt like you always try to chase us away?"

Ruan Danchen was speechless.

She was only trying to chase him away, okay?

"I apologize if I made you feel that way," said Ruan Danchen softly.

Qi Chenglin felt that she apologized unwillingly. He knew that she wanted to chase him away, and only him.

"Miss Ruan, I suppose that you haven"t had your meal yet at this hour, right?" Qi Chenglin looked at his watch. Qi Youxuan was dismissed at four-thirty in the afternoon and it was four forty-five now.

Ruan Danchen did not know how she should answer him. She puckered her lips, then she heard Qi Chenglin said, "It"s inconvenient for you to send the stuff here. Let me treat you to dinner."

"Aunt Ruan, I want to eat the food you cook, may I?" said Qi Youxuan hurriedly.

"I—" Ruan Danchen was interrupted by Qi Chenglin when she was just about to talk.

"Youxuan, don"t be naughty, we"d be causing her too much trouble," said Qi Chenglin indifferently.

Qi Youxuan pouted disappointedly. He lowered his head and drawled a reply, "Okay. I really like to eat the food that Aunt Ruan cook, it has the taste of a mother"s cooking. Although I grew up without a mom and have never even seen a picture of her or taste her cooking before, I was always warmed by the food Aunt Ruan prepared. I—"

Ruan Danchen did not have the heart to reject his request when she saw he was on the verge of crying. She hated to let Qi Youxuan down.

Ruan Danchen felt so sorry for him, especially when he said that the food that she cooked had the taste of a mother"s cooking. She hurriedly said, "No problem at all. Although the food I cook isn"t as good as the food of Dynasty, you all can come to my house if you don"t mind. I"ll cook for, Youxuan."

"Please don"t force yourself to do that," said Qi Chenglin coolly.

Although his face remained solemn and indifferent, when Ruan Danchen stared at it, she was annoyed by him because she felt like he was mocking her.

She stole a glance at him furiously and softly replied, "No problem."

Qi Chenglin sneered and did not reply to her.

Qi Youxuan cheered joyfully, "Thanks, Aunt Ruan."

He then turned around and bounced his way to the black Benz with Qi Chenglin.

"…" Ruan Danchen stared at their backs and felt like she had fallen into their trap.

Qi Youxuan opened the car door. Then, he climbed into a child safety seat and buckled the seatbelt on his own. He did it effortlessly and it was clear that he had done it on his own for countless times.

Ruan Danchen felt quite sad when he saw what Qi Youxuan did. Usually, for children of Qi Youxuan"s age, their parents would help them to do this kind of thing. Although the parents might spoil their children by doing that, most of them could not help but do it.

When she saw Qi Youxuan"s smooth movements, she wondered when he started to do this kind of thing on his own. Qi Chenglin was raising Qi Youxuan alone, and men were generally less attentive than women.

Besides, he always put on a poker face and quarreled with Qi Youxuan frequently. He did not feel the need to give in to a child sometimes, and he certainly was not so attentive in helping Qi Youxuan do this kind of thing.

Ruan Danchen felt very sorry for him—she wished she could hug and take care of him lovingly when she saw Qi Youxuan did this kind of thing.

After Qi Youxuan buckled his seatbelt, he surrept.i.tiously raised his thumb at Qi Chenglin from his seat. "Dad, well done!"

His father told him last night that he would bring him to Aunt Ruan"s house the next day. He thought that the chance was gone when he saw Aunt Ruan came to send his stuff. However, he was surprised when his father successfully manipulated Aunt Ruan so that she would fall into his trap.

Indeed,

older gingers were spicier

Qi Chenglin"s lips curled upward slightly—he appeared to be in a good mood.

When he saw that Ruan Danchen had not followed them into the car yet, Qi Youxuan rolled down the window and leaned out of it and waved at a daydreaming Ruan Danchen. "Aunt Ruan, come here quickly!"

Ruan Danchen stopped daydreaming and walked to the other side of the car and got into it. She sat beside Qi Youxuan.

Qi Youxuan tool out a packet of fruit milkshake from the side pocket of his bag. Qi Chenglin saw what he did from the rearview mirror and said, "Don"t eat junk food after you drink that so that you won"t be too full for dinner. It"s almost dinner time now."

"Okay." Qi Youxuan promised him straight away.

"Hmm… Can you take me to the mall first? I"m out of vegetables," said an abashed Ruan Danchen.

"Mhm," replied Qi Chenglin very proudly. He drove his car to a supermarket which was on the way home.

Qi Chenglin was in no hurry at all. He strolled at the lanes between the shelves slowly like he had never been to a supermarket before. He was curious about everything that was displayed on the shelves and took each of the things one by one and inspected them before putting them back.

At that time, an old lady aged around fifty years old and a young lady aged around thirty years old walked toward him with a trolley. A boy was sitting on a small foldable seat in the trolley. He was around the same age as Qi Youxuan.

Qi Youxuan blinked his large coal-black eyes at the trolley before he glanced at the trolley Ruan Danchen was pus.h.i.+ng. He glanced at Qi Chenglin"s back and furtively pulled the sleeve of Ruan Danchen"s blouse.

Ruan Danchen lowered her head and saw the little boy wanted to say something, albeit hesitant.

Ruan Danchen bent her body and leaned closer to him. She asked him gently, "What"s the matter?"

"Can kids really sit in the trolley?" asked Qi Youxuan curiously.

Ruan Danchen was startled, then she crouched down. "Youxuan, you"ve never been to a supermarket before?"

Qi Youxuan shook his head innocently. "Dad"s usually busy and never brought me out to a supermarket. Nanny Chen is the one who buys groceries in our family. Granny is worried to let me go out with Nanny Chen alone because Nanny Chen is old and Granny felt that I"m too naughty, so she"s worried that I might be lost in crowded places. She"s usually the one who buys the junk food that I eat, and I find out about all the different types of junk food from the commercials."

Ruan Danchen felt sorry for him and she caressed the little boy"s soft cheeks. Then, she carried him and put him on the seat in the trolley.

Qi Youxuan blinked his large eyes and his face was filled with curiosity. His small hands were clutching the armrest in front of him and he was extremely excited when he sat in the trolley.

"Dad, look at me!" shouted Qi Youxuan happily. Of course, he did not shout too loudly in public because he did not want to disturb others. He did that without an adult telling him to do so because he had an excellent upbringing.

Qi Chenglin was holding a packet of

pocky

in his hands and he was observing it interestedly. He turned his head when he heard Qi Youxuan called him, and he saw Qi Youxuan was waving his hands and moving his feet happily. He was clearly overjoyed.

Ruan Danchen was pus.h.i.+ng the trolley behind Qi Youxuan. Everyone would a.s.sume they were a mother and her child from their appearance because they resembled each other.

Qi Youxuan"s eyes and mouth took after Qi Chenglin, but his forehead and nose resembled Ruan Danchen"s.

Previously, n.o.body had ever compared the appearances of Ruan Danchen and Qi Chenglin. However, after he scrutinized their faces, he felt they looked like each other more the longer he observed them.

That was an extremely beautiful scene, Qi Chenglin smiled involuntarily. His facial features seemingly turned gentle as he smiled, his sharp eyes had become warmer, and he was staring at Ruan Danchen and Qi Youxuan gently.

After that, he gazed at Ruan Danchen. He did not attempt to conceal the affection in his gaze at all. He fixed his gaze at her like he wanted to melt her with his gaze.

Ruan Danchen felt utterly embarra.s.sed and was clueless about what she should do next. She stood still and felt quite uncomfortable. As she started to blush, she lowered her head because she felt shy to stare at Qi Chenglin.

However, the little boy who was sitting between them did not sense the warm and ambiguous chemistry between the two adults, and he was still amazed by the goods displayed.

"Dad, can you please come here and push the trolley together with Aunt Ruan?" asked Qi Youxuan longingly. He was blus.h.i.+ng shyly. "Like a family of three."

Ruan Danchen felt like her head just exploded, her hands which were on the trolley"s handle trembled involuntarily.

Then she heard Qi Youxuan begged Qi Chenglin. "Dad, please? I"m begging you."

His begging voice could melt anyone"s heart.

Ruan Danchen could not help but raise her head and stared at Qi Chenglin curiously.

She was having an internal conflict. She wished she could provide Qi Youxuan with the happiness that came with a complete family, but she was afraid to get close with Qi Chenglin.

Qi Chenglin happened to stare at her at the same time. He put on a faint smile and his gaze was gentle.

Unable to hold his gaze, Ruan Danchen lowered her head and blushed. She felt extremely uncomfortable.

Ruan Danchen kept her head lowered as Qi Youxuan stared at her longingly and nervously. She saw Qi Chenglin"s refined leather shoes were moving toward her slowly.

Then, she felt her shoulder was being touched by something. She knew that he was standing beside her even though she did not raise her head.

They were standing close to each other side by side. He appeared to be especially tall and straight when he stood beside her. Ruan Danchen felt extremely stressed. her hand grasping the trolley handle tightly due to her nervousness.

She then saw Qi Chenglin raised his hands and placed them on the trolley"s handle. He appeared to unconsciously put his right hand on the back of her left hand, and it covered almost half of her left hand.

Ruan Danchen felt his hand was blisteringly hot and she felt like her hand was burned by it. She immediately withdrew her hand without any hesitation. She felt quite awkward afterward because her movements were a little exaggerated.

"Sorry," muttered Qi Chenglin with his cool and mellow voice as he glanced at her calmly.

Ruan Danchen was unsure whether he did it on purpose or not, so she did not know how to reply to him. She was blus.h.i.+ng furiously, and even the part of her hand which was touched by him felt like it was burning. She felt like current was flowing incessantly at the back of her hand.

She put her hand beside her thigh and secretly rubbed the back of her hand against her pants, but she could not rub away the strange feeling of her hand. It still felt extremely numb.

"What"s the matter?" Qi Chenglin peered at her indifferently—he did not miss her little actions. He understood the reason she was doing it and her lips curled slightly upward.

"Nothing." Ruan Danchen"s scalp, ears, and the back of her neck felt numb. Her hand was sweating due to her nervousness. She clenched her fist for a short while before raising her hand and grabbed the handle of the trolley. Of course, she placed her hand far away from Qi Chenglin"s hand.

Both of her hands were placed just next to each other and it made her movements extremely awkward.

Qi Chenglin glanced at her hands and his attractive lips curled upward scornfully. He said with his deep and mellow voice, "If Miss Ruan felt that it was awkward for the two of us to push the trolley together, I could push it on my own."

Ruan Danchen wanted to agree with him at first, but Qi Youxuan would not allow that to happen. He immediately turned his body around and said, "Aunt Ruan, I hope you can push the trolley together with Dad. Is that okay?"

Blus.h.i.+ng, Ruan Danchen felt extremely uneasy. She found it embarra.s.sing to look at Qi Chenglin. However, she could not resist Qi Youxuan"s cute little face at all.

"I"ll push the trolley together with him," Ruan Danchen forced herself to say that.

"That"s wonderful. I"ve been wis.h.i.+ng for a moment like this since a long time ago. We look like a family of three, so nice!" Qi Youxuan was delighted. He shook his little b.u.t.tocks on the seat. His little face turned red and he was waving his chubby and short little arms joyfully.

Ruan Danchen kept mum.

Qi Chenglin stole a glance at Ruan Danchen and smiled furtively.

Lowering her head, Ruan Danchen involuntarily stared at Qi Chenglin"s hands which were placed on the trolley"s handle. He was grabbing it carefreely. His fingers were slender, and she felt that he was very strong by just looking at the back of his hands. The distance between his hands was quite large, and he took up most of the s.p.a.ce on the handle. Ruan Danchen"s could only sullenly squeezed her hands together near the side of the handle.

She wondered what mischievous idea Qi Youxuan had conceived now as he twisted his bottom restlessly on the seat. Then, he turned his body around and extended his hand toward Qi Chenglin. "Dad, give me your phone for a while."

"What for?" asked Qi Chenglin with his indifferent and mellow voice as he raised his eyebrows.

"I want to take pictures of us." Qi Youxuan blushed bashfully and said, "This is the first time I visit a supermarket with Dad and Aunt Ruan. This is also the first time I sit in a little car like this, so I want to remember it."

Qi Chenglin sneered before he took out his cell phone and gave it to Qi Youxuan.

Qi Youxuan skillfully opened the camera of the phone and opened the selfie mode. After that, he extended his little arm.

"Dad, Aunt Ruan, please lower your head a bit," urged Qi Youxuan. Their face was not shown on the screen and the little boy was very anxious about it.

Qi Chenglin lowered his head first and leaned forward until his head was right above Qi Youxuan"s head.

Ruan Danchen felt sorry for Qi Youxuan after hearing what he said just now. She just wished she could satisfy his request and disregard a potential embarra.s.sment to the back of her mind.

It could be said that Ruan Danchen would try her best to make Qi Youxuan"s wish came true no matter what.

Therefore, she lowered her head too and leaned her head closer to the top of Qi Youxuan"s.1

A Chinese expression which means that old men are wiser.
A snack food produced by Ezaki Glico. Pocky was first sold in 1966 and were invented by Yos.h.i.+aki Koma. They consist of chocolate-coated biscuit sticks.