Soren stepped inside the house and loosened his tie as he looked around. The lights in the house had been turned off which was the indication that his twins had already gone to bed. He was about to go up to check up on them when he noticed the warm yellow light in the living room.

He frowned and walked over. As he looked inside, his lips curled up into a smile. His wife Cui Xuqing was sitting cross-legged on the wool rug with her head on the low coffee table. Soren came closer to her and crouched down to look at her. Her laptop was placed on the coffee table and currently on the screen, the slideshow of their couple photos played. Soren's smile deepened when he looked at her screensaver.

Case documents were scattered on the table and she held a pen in her hand. A pair of glasses were perched on her nose. Her eyes were closed as she seemed to be sleeping. Soren didn't want to wake her up, so he slowly and carefully peeled off her glasses and set them aside. Suddenly, she moved and opened her eyes slightly to look at him.

With her arms wide open, she pounced on him and rubbed her nose against his neck, "You're back?" Her voice was sleepy and she sounded so cute that his heart melted.

Tucking her hair behind her ear, he hummed, "Hmm... I'm back. Why are you working so late? Go to bed to rest."

"I was waiting for you," she said with her eyes still closed.

historical

Soren felt warm inside but it didn't last long as she opened her eyes and cupped his face to look into his eyes.

"Look carefully, it's still me who loves you the most." Soren felt like laughing as she continued, "Your kids are heartless. They didn't even wait for you and went to sleep. Aren't I still the very best?"

Soren patted her head, "Yes, my Qingqing is best!"

She looked smug as she said, "Of course, I am." She poked his chest and went on, "But you still love those heartless kids more than me!"

Soren wasn't even surprised anymore at how she always did this. She truly believed in the saying that children are the debts of past lives. And that's why she was always mad at Soren for pampering them more than it was necessary. Obviously, she wasn't a heartless mother but she didn't spoil their kids as he did.

"I think our kids are very well behaved," he told her. Seeing her glaring at him, he asked, "But do tell me what happened?"

Cui Xuqing pulled his ear, "It should be me asking you. How dare you buy candies for them behind my back? And you even told them to hide it from me? Those heartless kids have taught you to keep secrets from me now? It's candies now, what are you gonna hide in the future? A mistress?!"

"Huh?" Soren was taken aback by how the topic jumped from one thing to a completely different one. He was still feeling guilty when she brought up the candies but where did that mistress come from? "Is that how you think I am?"

Cui Xuqing snorted, "Don't show me that cute face. I'm not falling for it."

"But you did fall for it," he pointed out. After all, all he had to offer back then was his cute face. She was the older one who had a stable career. He was just a university student back then.

Cui Xuqing cleared her throat and didn't continue this topic as she said, "I'm warning you. Stop buying things for the kids behind my back. I'm gonna confiscate your cards otherwise!"

Soren suddenly didn't seem to know what to say about this threat.

"Your indulgence is gonna rot their teeth!" said Cui Xuqing and Soren lowered his head. Seeing how he seemed to be reflecting on his mistakes, she sighed and stood up, "Did you eat anything?" Soren shook his head. She flicked his forehead, "Why are you like this? Have you seen the time? Is it okay to skip dinner like this?" She pulled him up and went on, "Go and freshen up. I'll call someone to cook you something."

Although she said that, Soren knew very well that she already had the cook on standby so that the cooking auntie could make him a bowl of noodles. It wasn't the first time he came home late and it definitely wasn't the first time she was acting like this.

Their relationship was just as Cui Xukun had said. One was pampered and the other loved to pamper her. It was quite obvious that Soren always gave in to his wife. How could he not? She had always played the role of an elder in her life and it was the first time, she got the chance to be pampered. Soren just wanted to do everything possible for her. Even if it meant letting her act like a little tyrant at home.

As he sat down with a steaming hot bowl of tomato and beef noodles, Cui Xuqing didn't leave. Even if she had dinner already, she still sat down with him and just watched him eat.

"You should have come with me," said Soren. "I'd have introduced you to Cloe."

Cui Xuqing's attention was caught as she asked, "She was also there?" Soren nodded and her lips turned down as she sighed, "Why didn't you tell me earlier she'd be there? That brother of mine is not bringing her to meet me and now, I lost another chance to see her."

"Maybe it's not fated yet," commented Soren with a smile. He knew how much she wanted to meet Cloe but he also knew that both Cloe and Cui Xukun needed some time. And with Cui Xuqing's exciting personality, it was better to just wait.

"It's not like I'd eat her or something," she commented. "I just bite but not so often."

"Qingqing, your definition of 'not so often' is certainly distorted," he told her while pointing at his chest.

Cui Xuqing cleared her throat as she said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Soren chuckled at her reaction and didn't continue this conversation. It was so weird how even after so many years of their marriage, she'd still become shy.. Obviously, she loved to bite but she definitely wouldn't say it.