Chapter 169

Wen Ling didn't notice his hand gradually approaching, still saying: "Besides, I wasn't in pain before, you already know."

Until Zhou Yinhe's hand grasped hers, Wen Ling froze for a moment.

"What are you doing?"

"Mm." Zhou Yinhe nodded, his eyes all sparkling.

Wen Ling frowned, "What 'mm'? What are you trying to do?"

"Mm, I want to."

Wen Ling reacted, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and said lightly: "Say it again, I didn't hear you clearly."

Seeing her expression, Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips, not daring to say more; Wen Ling snorted coldly, shook off his hand, lay down with her back to him.

"I'm warning you: if you so much as lay a hand on me tonight, I guarantee that while my grandfather hasn't returned to M Country these days, you won't see me."

Zhou Yinhe said pitifully: "Why."

"Don't ask; asking just means you want a beating." Wen Ling turned and glared at him, threatening: "Don't believe me? Try it."

"……" Zhou Yinhe stayed silent for a long while, then let out a loud hum, turned his head and refused to look at Wen Ling.

Wen Ling held back her laughter, turned back to keep looking at her phone, pretending not to notice Zhou Yinhe's deliberate hum for her ears and his childish tantrum.

They didn't fall asleep until it was bright morning; in the morning and at noon, the butler and Ning Qing came to call them for meals, but Zhou Yinhe brushed them off, and they slept until afternoon.

When they woke up, both cheeks were slightly swollen; upon going downstairs, Ning Qing gasped, hurriedly had the butler bring ice packs for them to apply cold compresses.

Ning Qing placed the ice pack wrapped in a towel on Wen Ling's face, rolling it gently, while her own son stood beside her, reducing his own swelling.

"How did you get so swollen? What time did you sleep?"

Wen Ling wasn't sure either; Zhou Yinhe said: "Probably morning, after five."

"Maybe it was because last night's food was too salty, plus staying up late, so we swelled." Wen Ling smiled embarrassedly; Ning Qing affectionately poked her forehead.

"From now on, you're not allowed to do this; it's terrible for your health."

"I know." Wen Ling smiled, leaning close to Ning Qing; Ning Qing sighed a few times, stopping her movement: "Don't move, don't move, I'm not done yet."

Wen Ling had no choice but to sit obediently.

Zhou Yinhe had already given up; besides, his back still ached a bit, and he didn't go out—when he was little and couldn't control his behavior, everyone in the household had seen how embarrassing it was, so there was no need to hide it.

But he never expected that Wen Ling would leave and return to the Qin Family, and right after her, his least-favored older sister would walk through the door.

Ning Qing was delighted to see Zhou Qiyue, stepped forward and exclaimed in surprise: "Baby, how did you suddenly come back without telling Mom? Mom could have gone to pick you up."

"No need to pick me up, Mom, do you miss me?" Zhou Qiyue flung herself into Ning Qing's arms, and in a blink saw Zhou Yinhe covering his face, trying to take the elevator back to his room.

"Well, who's this, why are you still afraid to show your face?" Zhou Qiyue stepped back, teasing with a sarcastic tone.

These petty squabbles, arguments both overt and covert, Ning Qing never intervenes, so she just smiles and watches the fun from the sidelines—whether it's her daughter or son, none are easy to deal with; if they don't get serious, the outcome is always a draw, but if they really go all out, her son's tendency to act out is something the other four can't match.

"I'm afraid to show my face? Come on, why would I be afraid?" Zhou Yinhe, hearing this, straightened his back, turned, and glared at Zhou Qiyue.

Zhou Qiyue stared at his face, paused, then burst out laughing.

"How did your face get so swollen hahaha, did you get beaten last night?" Zhou Qiyue, throwing all decorum aside, leaned on Ning Qing's arm and laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up.

Zhou Yinhe muttered a curse, turned and strode into the elevator, feeling immensely regretful.

If only I had known earlier, I should have properly used the ice pack to reduce the swelling.

But it's too late now.

Because Zhou Qiyue returned, the whole family gathered at the Zhou Family residence, including Zhou Zhaoning's future husband Zhao Ningyan, all appearing at the dinner table.

Every time Zhou Qiyue lifted her head and saw Zhou Yinhe's cold face, she wanted to laugh, but feared provoking him too much, which would ruin dinner.

Zhou Shuanglin wasn't there in the afternoon and didn't know what had happened; seeing her little daughter after a long absence, she asked: "How long will you stay this time?"

"I'm not planning to go out anyway; the world tour has ended, there's a domestic variety show inviting me to be a mentor, I agreed, next month in Lin City." Zhou Qiyue, suppressing a smile, spoke seriously to Zhou Shuanglin.

Zhou Shuanglin nodded approvingly, fully endorsing her daughter's decision; Ning Qing laughed while serving Zhou Qiyue some food, saying: "Now that you're home, rest well; in a couple days it's Uncle Jiang's birthday—you all come with me."

Zhou Qiyue replied "Okay," and while gnawing on spare ribs, she sized up Zhou Yinhe's face.

"What are you always looking at Xiao Wu for?" Zhou Zhaoning curiously asked.

"Nothing, just think he's good-looking." As soon as she said it, Zhou Qiyue couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Zhou Yinhe slammed his chopsticks down heavily and said coldly: "I'm not eating."

Ning Qing wanted to stop this sulky little son, but Zhou Yinhe had already reached the foyer of the living room and was changing his shoes.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find A Ling."

Having said that, he left without looking back; Zhou Qiyue finally couldn't hold back and burst out with a huge laugh.

Ning Qing tapped Zhou Qiyue's nose tip, helplessly saying: "You, you, now you've made your brother storm off."

Zhou Qiyue pursed her lips: "Isn't this giving him a chance to go find A Ling?"

——

Zhou Yinhe had the driver take him to the Qin Family residence; the Qin Family was just about to have a meal.

Seeing him arrive, Wen Ling froze for a moment, got up, walked to him and asked: "What's wrong?"

"My second sister came home, saw my swollen face and kept teasing me."

His tone was aggrieved and displeased; Wen Ling raised her hand to cup his face, examining it closely, then shook her head and said: "It's not swollen anymore; you look quite handsome."

"She saw me when I was still swollen." Zhou Yinhe bent over, hugged her, pressing his whole body against Wen Ling, and tentatively proposed: "I haven't had enough to eat; can I have a meal at the Qin Family?"

Wen Ling tiptoed, touched his hair, and said softly: "Of course you can."

"Then can I stay here tonight, in your room?" Having said that, fearing Wen Ling might refuse, he added: "My sister is too domineering; if I go back she'll surely keep mocking me."

Wen Ling pursed her lips and smiled; his little thoughts were practically written all over his face, plainly telling her.

"Sure."

Zhou Yinhe felt satisfied, released his hand, sat up straight, and kissed Wen Ling on the forehead.

Is there anything you want to eat? I'll have the chef make it. Wen Ling took his hand and walked to the kitchen, saying as she walked: "My maternal grandfather and paternal grandfather went out to play together; they haven't come back yet."

I'm fine.

Although he said that, Wen Ling knew how picky he was, and she herself ordered several dishes that Zhou Yinhe liked from the chef.

At that moment, a noisy clamor came from outside; a sharp female voice was clearly audible, and Wen Ling furrowed her brow.