Volume One, Chapter 10: I Said to Touch the Abs, But Never Said It Had to Be Just Once!

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Xu Qingning is currently unemployed, naturally having plenty of free time. Having just cleared her debts, she sat on a bench by the street, watching the bustling crowd with great contentment.

Before choosing any tasks, she was confined to the system space every day, undergoing intense training and practicing relentlessly.

After taking on tasks, her mind was constantly occupied with progressing through the storylines and unlocking hidden points.

Looking back, she realized she had never truly stopped to appreciate the scenery around her.

Speaking of debts, Xu Qingning suddenly realized she had overlooked a fundamental question: where did this debt on her come from? And why had her parents in the task world never appeared?

If they were never even programmed into existence, then why did Pei Xi say her parents were loving and her family harmonious? Surely he wasn’t just making things up on a whim?

In other words, Pei Lin must have thoroughly investigated her background—so what exactly had he discovered?

She didn’t believe that Pei Xi, who had constructed such a complete world, would erase these parts.

It was as if something important had been overlooked.

As she pondered this, the system’s prompt sounded again in her mind.

[Side storyline triggered. Would you like to activate it?]

Her heart raced instantly; she had a strong feeling this was connected to her doubts!

[Activate!]

The next moment, her phone rang, the screen clearly displaying the word [Mommy].

She pressed the answer button, listening to the breathing on the other end, her emotions complex.

In her entire life, apart from the director who acted as a mother figure, she had never once called anyone “Mom.”

“Sweetheart! Can you hear me? Do you want to come home for dinner tonight? Mommy made your favorite seafood porridge and crispy pork!”

Tears welled up immediately. Such a gentle voice—it was as if this truly was her mother.

Sniffling, she never expected her voice to say “Mommy” so effortlessly, as if she had been calling out that name all her life.

“Mommy, I’m here.”

The other side clearly heard her heavy sniffles, their tone growing anxious.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Are you feeling hurt? Tell Mommy, and I’ll have Daddy back you up later!”

Xu Qingning wiped her tears and smiled through them. “No, I’m not hurt. I just missed you!”

“My dear, why are you so clingy? It’s only been two days since we last saw each other, and you already miss Mommy so much?”

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“Yes, I really, really missed you!”

“Then come home for dinner tonight?”

“Okay, I will!”

After hanging up, Xu Qingning stared at her phone, trembling as she opened the photo album.

What had been an empty interface instantly filled with numerous densely packed folders.

She opened the first folder labeled [Home with Precious Treasure], each photo telling the story of how happy a little girl she was.

There were videos of someone shoving a piece of dough into her hand, forbidding her from destroying other pastries, photos of her in new clothes, and quirky family portraits...

Xu Qingning felt her tear ducts nearly break loose. At this moment, it was as if she had been wandering in the cold wind for a long time and suddenly thrown into a warm, broad embrace.

The overwhelming fullness made her so happy she cried.

Wiping her tears, she suddenly had an intense desire to see Pei Xi, to show him these photos and thank him for letting her experience the warmth of family.

She hailed a taxi and began calling Pei Xi.

“Qingqing, what’s wrong?”

When his voice came through, she suddenly remembered Pei Xi was at work.

“Am I disturbing you?”

“No, Qingqing, you will never be a disturbance to me.”

A small flame ignited warmly in her heart. “I’m on my way to see you now, Pei Xi. I have something I want to tell you.”

“All right.”

After hanging up, Pei Xi pressed the intercom button. “The lady should arrive in about ten minutes. Arrange for someone to pick her up.”

Walking into the office, Xu Qingning immediately threw herself into Pei Xi’s arms. The scent of bitter wormwood was no longer as pungent as before but somehow even more appealing.

“Pei Xi, thank you! Truly, thank you so, so much!”

His large hand rubbed the back of her head. “Qingqing, you should be the one thanking yourself. It was your sincerity that opened their hearts. I didn’t do anything.”

Seeing her like this, Pei Xi could guess what was going on. While happy for her, he also felt relieved.

His Qingqing still yearned for familial love, which meant she still had normal emotional needs.

Since that was the case, his focus shifted to something else. “So, can I come home with you tonight?”

Winning the approval of his future in-laws was the first battle.

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Xu Qingning playfully blinked. “You want me to take you home? Fine, you have to beg me, and I might agree.”

Pei Xi looked down at her, the corners of his mouth curving into a slight smile. “I think Qingqing would prefer me to ask with actions rather than words.”

He took her hand and placed it in front of himself. “The compensation you mentioned earlier—shall we start now?”

Such a seductive offer! Pei Xi was definitely doing this on purpose!

But there was nothing she could do; Xu Qingning fell for it every time. Though she said she’d think about it, her hands were already honestly poking here and squeezing there.

Combined with Pei Xi’s changing expressions, she swallowed nervously more than once.

Such a feast for the eyes—this was truly irresistible!

Just as she was getting carried away, Pei Xi held her wrist, his voice pleading softly in her ear, “Qingqing, if you keep going, I won’t be able to hold back...”

Thinking of that day when little Pei Xi greeted her, she laughed and withdrew her hand.

“No more touching, no more.”

“But Pei Xi, your self-control isn’t very strong! You should practice more when you have time!”

Pei Xi chuckled. If he could control it perfectly, that would be unnatural.

Besides, it was a physiological reaction born of affection, unlike the wild beasts who acted on impulse everywhere.

He would never force her in any way before she fully accepted him.

“So, Qingqing, are you agreeing to take me home?”

Xu Qingning shook her head. “I never said no! But what we just did only counts as a phone call’s compensation. If you want to delay your request now, the interest will increase!”

She smiled like a crafty merchant. “There was no limit on how many times you could touch my abs back then, Pei Xi. You’re completely mine!”

Pei Xi’s smile was gentle. “Good, as long as you like it, Qingqing.”

By the way, did her parents know she had registered her marriage with Pei Xi?

If they didn’t, and she introduced Pei Xi as her husband, would her parents gang up and throw both of them out?

Compared to her wild imagination, Pei Xi was much calmer. He rubbed Xu Qingning’s head.

“Don’t worry. Even if they do get mad, they’ll only scold me. They wouldn’t dare hurt you.”

“By then, Qingqing, you have to help mediate the argument!”

Oh no, that sounds even worse—what should she do?