Sniffling hard, I suddenly sat up halfway and hugged Su Liumeng tightly.
“You’re bad.”
“You bullied me.”
Su Liumeng sighed helplessly and patted my back.
“It’s my fault. Baby, you can hit me.”
I snorted softly and pulled away.
“I won’t hit you.”
“Why not? Let it out—you’ll feel better.”
I glared at her weakly. My voice grew smaller, my head lowering.
“…I can’t bear to.”
At those words, it felt like Su Liumeng’s head had been struck by a hammer.
Buzz—all ability to think vanished.
Watching the girl cling to her as if she wanted to swallow her whole, my gaze went a little blank.
This was… what?
“Baby, how can you be this good?”
“So good that I can’t bear to bully you.”
I slowly reached out, softly hugging her back, and whispered words that made Su Liumeng’s brow twitch wildly.
“It’s okay if you bully me a little.”
I blinked innocently. Those irresistibly tempting words filled Su Liumeng’s mind with countless images—every single one making her blood rush upward uncontrollably.
She forced my head upright and looked into my eyes, where tears hadn’t fully faded yet.
Xiaoyan was just too adorable—always making her waver between wanting to bully her and not wanting to.
Facing her scorching gaze, I lowered my head guiltily, unable to meet her eyes.
“I said it a long time ago.”
As if recalling something, Su Liumeng reached down to test something.
Then she stared at her fingertips. “Just as I thought—it’s already not…”
“So pinching baby’s foot actually…”
“W-who has—!” Like someone whose tail had been stepped on, I clapped my hand over her mouth and glanced nervously toward the window.
Outside was nothing but darkness.
I buried my head deep, almost completely hiding in her embrace.
“Don’t say such explicit things.”
“What if someone walks by outside?”
“No one will.”
Su Liumeng whispered in my ear like a succubus.
“I already arranged it.”
“Tonight, no one will come disturb us.”
I froze.
Was that really necessary?
As if reading my thoughts, Su Liumeng explained,
“If I wasn’t careful—if I missed this chance—the next one might be years later.”
Why did that sound so resentful?
“Years later?” I coughed lightly and bit her shoulder.
“That’s not that dramatic.”
“I’ve already given myself to you.”
“I’m punishing you for talking nonsense.”
“Alright, alright.”
“I know my baby loves me.”
“I’m already satisfied—how could I blame you for not loving me enough?”
Su Liumeng patted my back, soothing me, letting me leave marks on her shoulder that belonged only to me.
“Are you done marking?”
“Then it’s my turn.”
“Ah?”
I hadn’t thought that far at all.
I was just venting my anger—how did she grab onto it and climb higher?
“Wait… what are you trying to do?”
No matter how many times, my tone was never forceful.
It always sounded dull—and incredibly cute.
“Nothing much.”
Su Liumeng stared at my snow-white shoulder and delicate collarbone, thinking about where would be most appropriate.
I shrank back instinctively, trembling, and raised my hands to cover myself.
“You can’t do that.”
“Zhizhi will see.”
“She’ll think you bullied me at night.”
Su Liumeng was stunned.
That… was actually a problem.
“It’s fine, other places also—”
I pretended not to understand her implication and tried to get out of bed.
“Wait for me a bit.”
“I’ll go take a shower first.”
Calling it a shower, but really, it was a brief escape.
I was too hot—so hot my whole body felt like it was melting.
My head felt like I was drunk, slipping into some strange state.
I had no idea what I was about to do, or what I even wanted to do.
I was afraid that if I lost my head for even a second, I’d say something I normally never could.
“You’re not allowed to go.”
How could Su Liumeng let something already at her lips slip away just like that?
She knew Xiaoyan too well.
She talked big, but in reality, she was more timid than anyone.
If she went to take a shower and cooled her head, she’d probably come back acting cute, saying she was already sleepy and that it would have to wait until next time.
Her ankle was grabbed—only three or four inches away from an extremely sensitive spot.
I started trembling uncontrollably, like prey sensing imminent danger, every hair standing on end.
“Next time, can you not grab my ankle?”
“I didn’t grab your foot directly.”
“I’ve already respected baby’s opinion a lot.”
Her reasoning was flawless. I couldn’t find any argument against it, so I could only let her continue.
“Baby, have you ever worn thigh-high socks?”
The sudden topic change caught me off guard.
“What thigh-high socks?”
Su Liumeng hinted deliberately.
“Your legs are so straight, so slim.”
“They’re not bony either—just soft and nice to look at.”
“They’d look amazing in thigh-highs.”
“Especially suitable for…”
“For tonight.”
I finally understood what she meant.
My face turned bright red.
“So you want me to wear a full set and crit you harder?”
“That’s not an unfair interpretation.” Su Liumeng said confidently, then softened her tone with a trace of pleading—the kind I couldn’t resist.
“It’s just a tiny wish of mine.”
“I’ve already restrained myself as a foot fetishist, respected baby’s bottom line.”
“Can’t you satisfy me a little?”
“……”
Now, I was really soft-hearted.
What should I do?
I really can’t handle Su Liumeng begging.
“N-next time…”
After saying that, I felt it wasn’t convincing at all. I’d said “next time” too many times.
So I raised my small hand and swore solemnly in front of her.
“Next time, okay?”
“Next time I’ll definitely satisfy you.”
“This time, I’ll satisfy you in other ways.”
The part that made my heart race finally arrived.
Even though Su Liumeng was already so busy, she still found time to whisper in my ear.
“Xinxin, what I told you at the beginning—I wasn’t joking.”
“Huh?”
“N-no.”
“That would… kill me.”
I tried to curl up, but there was nowhere left to retreat.
All I could do was close my eyes.
My clenched hand at my side betrayed my true feelings.
Maybe…
Maybe it wasn’t that unbearable.
The moment that thought surfaced, I startled myself.
The next day.
The sun was already high in the sky, yet I was still sprawled in bed, unwilling to move even an inch.
The reason was simple.
I had just turned over slightly—and the pain like my bones were about to fall apart
made me afraid to move again.
The air was already clean and clear, yet my body temperature kept rising.
What happened yesterday—something I would never forget.
How could someone treat another person like that?
It was like… like—
I buried my head in the blanket, unable to lift it at all.
Finally, I found the right word.
Like frying an egg.
You even have to flip it repeatedly.
“Baby, it’s time to eat.”
Su Liumeng pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of plain porridge.
“No.”
“I don’t want it.”
I didn’t lift my head, still curled up in my little sandpit, responding in a muffled voice.
“You can’t skip eating.” Su Liumeng coaxed me patiently.
“At least eat a little.”
Looking at Su Liumeng, who looked refreshed enough to run laps around the Earth, I felt anger rise instantly.
Why was I the only one this exhausted?
Fine, wedding night exhaustion—I could accept that.
But last night, I barely moved at all, yet I still felt completely broken.
I suddenly threw off the blanket and glared at her angrily.
“Eat what?”
“Can’t you see what state I’m in?”
“Hiss—”
The movement was too big. I winced and curled back up again.
Su Liumeng felt heartbroken.
Just moments ago, she could still see a little black tuft of hair.
Now it was gone—only a small lump under the blanket remained.
“Just take a sip.”
“You can’t leave your stomach empty in the morning.”
“You already have a weak body.”
“If you don’t take care of it properly, it’ll be even harder to recover later.”
“So what if I die.” I spoke without thinking.
Su Liumeng’s expression darkened instantly. Her tone turned sharp with anger.
“Xiaoyan, do you even know what you’re saying?”
I pursed my lips, knowing I’d said something wrong.
“Just put it on the table.”
“I’ll drink it later.”
“Alright. Don’t let it get cold.”
Before she left, I poked my head out again, still worried about my daughter.
“Zhizhi is awake, right?”
“Did she make a fuss about wanting to see me?”
“She asked where Mommy was.”
“I told her you were still sleeping and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
“So she obediently went to play with the little orange cat.”
“Good.”
“If she’s hungry, warm some milk for her.”
“She’s still in the breastfeeding stage.”
“She shouldn’t eat too many random things.”
“Milk should be her main food.”
“I’ll remind her.”
After Su Liumeng left, I carefully lifted the blanket, held the small bowl, and took a few sips.
Once warmth settled in my stomach, I felt much better and curled back under the blanket again.
I didn’t want to go anywhere today.
I was exhausted.
Not just a little exhausted.
And I’d only slept for a few hours.
It should’ve been over already, yet Su Liumeng just had to relive last night.
I bit my lip carefully.
How could someone be like that—like a machine that never understands the word “enough”?
No matter how it happened, I was always the one completely worn out.
That was unacceptable to me.
After thinking for a long time, I found only one word to describe it.
I’m weak.
I hugged my little blanket tighter, reluctantly admitting how it actually felt.
Honestly…it wasn’t that uncomfortable after all…
Knock knock knock.
After the New Year, the Su residence was still lively as ever.
I suddenly remembered—I still had to take my daughter to meet the elders of the Su family.