As the key slid into the lock, the door that hadn't been opened in days was finally pushed ajar, and a faint whiff of dust filled the air.
Looking at the slightly dusty room, Jiang Mu turned her head apologetically to Huo Yuhao and smiled.
"Sorry about the dust. It's been a while since we were last here."
Initially, she planned to eat out, but Huo Yuhao insisted, and unable to resist him, she ended up buying some ingredients and decided to cook herself.
"Mom, let me clean up," Jiang Nannan said as she deftly stepped inside, familiar with her surroundings.
"Alright." Jiang Mu nodded. "Yuhao, you can rest for a bit. I'll go prepare the food now."
Before she could finish her sentence, Huo Yuhao cheerfully interrupted, "Auntie, I can help Nannan out with the chores…"
Jiang Mu's face turned serious. "That's not proper. How could we let a guest do housework?"
"Auntie, we're here to celebrate your discharge from the hospital. What's the point of making distinctions between guests?"
"Still, it's not right. People will talk if they hear about us making our guest do chores."
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao showed a helpless expression. Glancing at the groceries in Jiang Mu's hand, his eyes suddenly brightened.
"Auntie, at least let me help with the cooking! I'm actually pretty good at it. You can try my cooking tonight."
"Well…"
"Auntie, guests usually bring gifts, right? I came empty-handed, so let me at least do something!"
Before Jiang Mu could argue any further, Huo Yuhao swiftly took the ingredients from her and headed toward the kitchen. Jiang Mu and Jiang Nannan were left looking at each other in surprise.
Seeing the conflicted expression on her mom's face, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but laugh.
"It's okay, Mom. You know what Yuhao's like. If you make him just sit and watch, he probably won't want to come back next time."
"He really is a good kid." Jiang Mu sighed.
As Jiang Nannan recalled Tang Ya's constant bragging about Huo Yuhao's cooking skills back at the academy, she suddenly felt a bit excited for dinner.
"Mom, Xiao Ya said Yuhao's cooking is amazing. We might be in for a treat tonight."
"Really?"
Jiang Mu's curiosity grew, and as she entered the kitchen, seeing Huo Yuhao's knife skills far surpassing her own, all her doubts vanished.
Throughout the cooking process, Jiang Mu's role was reduced to fetching utensils and seasonings—essentially just an assistant.
Watching Huo Yuhao move skillfully in the kitchen, Jiang Mu suddenly thought of something. Her face flushed as she carefully glanced toward the doorway. Seeing that Jiang Nannan was busy cleaning the bedroom and not paying attention, she mustered the courage to turn toward the young man who had his back to her.
"Yuhao…"
"Hm?" Huo Yuhao paused for a moment, turning his head back to see Jiang Mu's embarrassed expression. He was puzzled.
"What's wrong, Auntie?"
"Well… it's just…"
Every time she was about to speak, a wave of intense shame washed over her.
"Since my heart surgery, I've been experiencing… some side effects."
"Side effects?"
Huo Yuhao was taken aback. During his checkup, everything seemed fine.
"Auntie, please don't be nervous. What exactly are the symptoms?"
"Just… don't tell Nannan, okay? It's just that… certain places… well…"
The more Jiang Mu tried to explain, the more embarrassed she became. After a long pause, she finally managed to explain her situation. In the process, she felt as though her spirit had transcended into a higher level of embarrassment. Oddly enough, her voice became steadier.
In simple terms, her face had grown thicker—figuratively, of course.
As for Huo Yuhao, he was completely dumbfounded. He never imagined such a bizarre side effect existed.
Was it some kind of ultra-sensitive physique?
For some reason, Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered the amusing image of the small, lively bead sitting in his palm during the heart treatment, but Jiang Mu's voice quickly pulled him back to reality.
"I've tried many remedies over the past few days, but none seem to work. Do you have any ideas?"
I don't know!
Huo Yuhao wanted to say that this was beyond his expertise, but seeing Jiang Mu's troubled and bashful expression, he felt compelled to come up with a solution.
After a mental storm of ideas, a sudden thought flashed through his mind. He hesitantly looked at Jiang Mu.
"Auntie, have you considered… drinking alcohol?"
"Drinking?"
Seeing Jiang Mu's confusion, Huo Yuhao coughed lightly and explained seriously,
"Auntie's condition might be related to heightened sensitivity. It'll take time to adjust. One way to speed up the process is to introduce stronger stimuli."
"Drinking a little can increase blood circulation and might help with your… uh… side effects."
In simple terms, after a few storms, the little disturbances shouldn't be a big deal anymore.
"I see… Thank you, Yuhao." Jiang Mu's eyes lit up as she gratefully nodded before leaving the kitchen.
Not long after, the sound of mother and daughter chatting could be heard from outside. Soon, the door opened and closed, and Jiang Mu returned to the kitchen with a sigh.
"That girl insisted on going out to buy the wine herself. She said she didn't trust me to do it."
Huo Yuhao chuckled.
"Nannan just cares about you, Auntie."
Jiang Mu's tone turned wistful.
"My illness has made her worry so much. Ever since she started school, she only comes home for about a month each year. Yet she's spent most of that time taking care of me at the clinic. It's been tough on her…"
As she spoke, Jiang Mu seemed to remember something. Pausing her chopping, she turned to Huo Yuhao with a smile.
"Yuhao, I heard you're living in Heaven Dou City too. If you have time, feel free to come by. Since Nannan is away at school, it's just me at home most of the time. You could add some life to the place."
Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded.
"Of course, Auntie. I'll come over often to mooch a meal, as long as you don't kick me out."
"Why would I kick you out? You're always welcome."
Just as Jiang Nannan returned with the wine, the last dish was served on the table.
"Nannan, come eat! The food tonight is so good, you'll be licking your plate clean."
Seeing the beautifully presented dishes on the table, Jiang Nannan was stunned.
"Mom, did you make all of this?"
Jiang Mu's face reddened as she waved her hand.
"Don't be silly. Yuhao did all the cooking. I was just his assistant."
The fact that their guest ended up cooking instead of the host made Jiang Mu, who was naturally shy, feel even more embarrassed.
"All of it? Yuhao, how are you so good at cooking at your age? Where did you learn?"
"I just like experimenting with it in my free time. Luckily, I seem to have a bit of talent… Go ahead, try it."
At his words, Jiang Nannan picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and tasted it. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she couldn't help but look at Huo Yuhao in surprise.
"Yuhao, I finally understand why Xiao Ya kept praising your cooking. This is more than just a bit of talent."
"I'm glad you like it."
Huo Yuhao smiled, and Jiang Mu handed her the bottle of wine, teasing with a grin.
"You two are still too young, so you'll have to settle for juice."
Looking at the bottle, Jiang Nannan suddenly hesitated.
"Mom, have you ever had alcohol before?"
Jiang Mu paused for a moment.
"I don't think so."
But then she waved it off, poured herself a small glass, and said nonchalantly,
"It's fine. Just a little bit. With Yuhao here, nothing bad will happen."
There's a first time for everything, she thought. Besides, compared to changing her underwear multiple times a day from her side effects, what was a little alcohol?
Half an hour later.
One moment, Jiang Mu had been chatting with them happily, and the next, she suddenly collapsed onto the dining table without warning, muttering something unintelligible in her sleep.
Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan exchanged a glance, falling into silent contemplation.
(End of chapter)
After a brief examination, confirming that Mother Jiang was just drunk, Huo Yuhao raised his head and looked at Jiang Nannan, who had a worried expression on her face. He smiled awkwardly but politely.
"Auntie's drinking capacity is really something."
Jiang Nannan let out a sigh of relief, feeling a little unable to hold back her laughter. She restrained herself from laughing as she tidied up the dishes on the table and said softly, "Thank you so much for today. I'll take care of things here. Could I trouble you to carry my mom to the bedroom? It's getting cold, and I don't want her to catch a chill sleeping here."
"No problem."
Without thinking much, Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement. Given his current physical strength, carrying an adult was no big deal, especially since Mother Jiang wasn't that heavy.
He easily picked her up in a bridal carry and asked softly, "Which bedroom?"
"The one on the left," Jiang Nannan said while wiping the table, not even raising her head. "Just place her on the bed, and I'll take care of the rest later."
"Got it."
The weather in Tian Dou City was a bit cold. Mother Jiang was wearing a warm-looking cashmere coat. Huo Yuhao noticed that her once pale neck and cheeks were now slightly flushed, likely due to the effects of the alcohol.
After taking just a few steps, he felt Mother Jiang's eyelids twitch slightly. Her rosy lips became even redder and more inviting, and warm breaths intermittently brushed against Huo Yuhao's neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
"So hot…"
Mother Jiang, whose consciousness had just begun to return, was overwhelmed by an inexplicable heat in her body. She instinctively shifted her body, startling Huo Yuhao, who quickly stopped walking. To prevent her from slipping, he had to hold her a bit tighter.
Behind him, Jiang Nannan clearly heard her mother's murmuring, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She subconsciously sped up her cleaning.
As Huo Yuhao moved closer, his breath faintly brushed against Mother Jiang's face. For some reason, she stopped squirming. But in the next moment, Huo Yuhao saw Mother Jiang raise her delicate hand and fumble with the buttons of her coat.
With a soft pop, the first button came undone, revealing a hint of her tightly confined chest beneath her vest. Without the support of one button, the other buttons struggled to hold the fabric together, as if making one last effort to protect their owner.
However, it seemed their owner had other thoughts. Mother Jiang's hand moved down, skillfully undoing the rest of the buttons in no time. Her ample figure, which had been tightly restrained by the vest, was now fully exposed before Huo Yuhao.
A faint fragrance drifted out from the low neckline of her vest, mixed with the smell of alcohol, making its way into Huo Yuhao's nose. He could only grit his teeth and quicken his pace.
However, Mother Jiang didn't seem satisfied. One of her hands slipped inside her vest, and after a brief rustling sound, the snap of a clasp echoed in his ears, like the final cry of a knight defending his princess.
As the last restraint was undone, a wave of relief washed over Mother Jiang. Her lips parted slightly, and a soft, barely audible moan escaped her. She curled up slightly, snuggling deeper into Huo Yuhao's chest. The soft sensation pressed against him, like ripples on water, while a deep, seemingly endless cleavage threatened to swallow all the light in the world.
Huo Yuhao felt like he was on the verge of losing control as he finally made it into the bedroom. Thankfully, Jiang Nannan had already tidied up the bed earlier, so he didn't need to do much more.
With one hand, he lifted the blanket and gently laid Mother Jiang on the bed. Just as he stood up, Mother Jiang, now out of his arms, furrowed her brows and instinctively reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Even though there was still the fabric of her gray vest between them, Huo Yuhao could clearly see everything. He felt his eyelid twitch uncontrollably. If he hadn't propped himself up with his hand, his head might have already fallen into…
What am I supposed to do now?!
He suddenly regretted suggesting alcohol as a remedy in the first place.
"Auntie, Auntie, wake up…"
Hearing Huo Yuhao's voice, Mother Jiang's tightly shut eyes fluttered, and she slowly opened them under his hopeful gaze.
"Yuhao…?"
Her dazed eyes regained a bit of clarity upon seeing the boy in front of her. Her lips parted slightly, and though her voice was hoarse, it carried an unusual softness. "Auntie, how are you feeling?"
"My head's a little dizzy…"
Her speech was slow and muddled. After a long pause, she spoke again, belatedly asking, "Did I… get drunk?"
"Yeah, Auntie. Could you let go of me for a moment? I'll go make you some tea to help sober you up. I don't think the alcohol remedy is working…"
As Huo Yuhao spoke, he tried to free himself from her embrace. However, in her intoxicated state, Mother Jiang didn't think much of it. She thought he was blaming himself for her getting drunk, so she instinctively tightened her grip, pulling him closer.
"It's okay, it's not your fault."
That's not the point!
Whether it was the atmosphere or just his exhaustion, Huo Yuhao's breathing grew heavier, his breath brushing against Mother Jiang's face, causing her body temperature to rise even more.
Mother Jiang bit her lip lightly, her face flushed unnaturally red. She absentmindedly stroked the back of Huo Yuhao's head, as if she were trying to endure something.
Despite the heat building between them, her voice remained soft and gentle. "Next time… just drink a little less…"
In her drunken haze, any sense of shame seemed to vanish. In fact, she found this floating sensation quite pleasant, especially with Huo Yuhao's hot breaths fanning her rising body heat.
A thought suddenly popped into her mind—wasn't this treatment working really well?
Once the thought emerged, Mother Jiang's mind began to drift into dangerous territory. She swallowed lightly and gazed up at Huo Yuhao's deep blue eyes.
"Yuhao… how about… you stay here tonight?"
"…?"
Completely unaware of the strange direction her intoxicated thoughts had taken, Huo Yuhao was stunned.
What's happening?
How did things turn out like this?
Before he could gather his thoughts, Mother Jiang's soft, sultry voice filled with unusual emotion echoed again.
"I feel like… the hangover would go away faster this way."
Would it?
Huo Yuhao's lips moved, but he didn't know what to say. Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching could be heard, followed by Jiang Nannan's concerned voice.
"Yuhao, how's my mom—"
In the next instant, time seemed to freeze. Jiang Nannan's voice cut off abruptly, and the room fell into complete silence.
Seeing the scene before her, Jiang Nannan's mind went blank.
A disheveled, flushed beauty lay on the bed, her arms wrapped around the neck of a young boy. The bizarre scene was shocking, to say the least.
Most importantly, that beauty was her…
The strange emotions that had stirred within Jiang Nannan when she saw Huo Yuhao treating her mother earlier surged back, spreading rapidly through her heart in a twisted frenzy.
Clinging to a shred of hope, Jiang Nannan's voice trembled as she asked in confusion, "What… what are you two doing?"
(End of chapter)
Komentar Paragraf
Fitur komentar paragraf sekarang ada di Web! Arahkan kursor ke atas paragraf apa pun dan klik ikon untuk menambahkan komentar Anda.
Selain itu, Anda selalu dapat menonaktifkannya atau mengaktifkannya di Pengaturan.
MENGERTI