Xavier Fosterno called Lao San to pick them up. He'd had a bit to drink—not enough to be drunk, but certainly not enough to drive.
Besides, Cecilia was already woozy and needed someone to look after her. His little wife had barely finished one glass of fruit wine before getting all muddled and clingy, draping herself over his arm, demanding cuddles and comfort.
Xavier Fosterno pulled her into his arms, murmuring softly to her.
"Honey, uuuh, my head's spinning."
"Mm, didn't I tell you not to drink? And yet you did."
The intoxicated are often slow to react. She blinked, thought for a moment, and replied, "I didn't drink—just grapefruit juice, it was pink and sweet."
Her voice was soft and sticky, lips still sweet from the wine. Her fair cheeks were flushed, hot and soft to the touch.
Xavier Fosterno gently stroked her cheek, and with his other hand, raised the privacy partition between the front and back seats. She was far too adorable. No one else should look.
"Baby, that was fruit wine."
"Fruit wine?" She tilted her head, savoring the taste, then nodded. "I want to drink it again next time."
He couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, but you'll get dizzy all over again."
Cecilia burrowed against his chest. "Then rub my head for me. If you do, I won't feel dizzy."
Obligingly, Xavier Fosterno placed his hand at her temple, tending to her every need. "Better now? Feeling good? Is Madam satisfied?"
After spending so much time chatting with their little one, even his own way of speaking had gotten cuter.
"Go to sleep, then. Your husband will carry you home." The young woman in his arms drifted off peacefully.
The car soon arrived at their apartment complex. Xavier Fosterno took off his jacket and swaddled her before carrying her upstairs.
Because of the upcoming grand opening, their little one had asked Ye Jing to stay at the old house for a couple of days. The apartment felt empty with just the two of them.
Xavier Fosterno laid her gently on the bed. His first thought was to get Cecilia into something more comfortable. He was just about to leave when she latched onto his arm.
Still half-asleep, she blinked groggily. "Don't go."
"I'm not going. Just getting you some pajamas, okay?"
The little one shook her head and stared at him with a dazed expression, still clinging to his arm as she tried to sit up. Xavier Fosterno reached out to steady her slim waist.
"Baby, not even pajamas? You’ll be so much more comfortable once you change."
Patiently coaxing her, Cecilia clung to his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, refusing to let go or speak.
Xavier Fosterno leaned over and rubbed her little ear. "Guess our Cecilia will have to be a stinky girl tonight."
All he could smell was her sweet fragrance. He flagrantly lied with a straight face.
"Then… you can hold me while we get the pajamas." Cecilia pondered for a moment and finally relented, lips pouting as she laid down her conditions. "But—you can't put me down!"
He couldn’t help but suspect she wasn’t really drunk. After all, sober Cecilia wouldn’t dare be so bold.
"Okay, I’ll hold you."
Her tiny frame was nothing to Xavier Fosterno, who was six-foot-two. Holding her was like carrying a little dumpling—she was completely bundled up in his arms.
At the wardrobe, Xavier Fosterno opened the doors, sifting through pajamas. "What color do we want tonight, hmm?"
With one arm under her, he used the other to rummage through the clothes.
Cecilia, hanging quietly onto his neck, peered seriously at her options.
"Pink ones?"
She shook her head.
"Yellow?"
Still a shake.
"Blue? Or purple?"
She frowned, suddenly fierce. "No!"
Hm. She doesn't even want her favorite purple.
"White, then?"
Cecilia nodded. "Zhiyeno likes little white bunnies."
His heart nearly melted at her sweet voice. Xavier Fosterno took out the white pajamas and set her at the edge of the bed.
"But what Zhiyeno really likes is Cecilia. I’d like you in anything."
"Not true! Let me tell you a secret." While he helped her slip her arms through the sleeves, Cecilia looked perfectly serious as she prepared to spill "Zhiyeno's" little secret.
"Oh? What kind of secret is that?"
"Whenever I wear a white nightgown, Zhiyeno always wants to pounce on me. He wants to kiss me, and then... do other things."
Her cheeks grew even redder as her little finger pressed to her lips, making a 'shh' gesture.
......
Xavier Fosterno felt his mind go blank—it was true, he really did want to tease her most when she wore white.
He always thought she didn’t know a thing… but maybe she liked being teased, too?
He chuckled low in his throat. Well, tonight he’d found out a big secret indeed.
Once she'd changed, he scooped her up again and carried her to the bathroom, perching her on the sink to wash her face.
With the weather turning cold, he worried she’d catch a chill if she showered, so he settled for a washcloth, wiping her delicate neck. Cecilia, wide-eyed and obedient, stared at him the whole time.
Xavier Fosterno couldn't resist teasing. "Baby, why are you staring at me?"
"Because you're handsome."
"And am I cool, too?"
"Mhm, very cool..."
"Is Charles Chase cool?"
"Also cool..."
"How about Julian Jarvis? Is he cool too?"
"Yep, very cool..."
Xavier Fosterno could only shake his head—he asked for it. "So, am I the coolest?"
"No, Zhiyeno is the coolest."
......
Ah, when she was drunk, she’d forget all about loyalty.
Her slender legs hooked around his waist as Xavier Fosterno, struggling to keep it together, cleaned her up. At last, he carried her back to bed.
He leaned down and captured her lips.
A kiss—and then, what she’d called 'that thing.'
——
The next morning, in another building of Qinghe Community.
Mia Moore woke up groggily and rolled around the bed. Er Dou, who normally loved curling up at the edge, was nowhere to be seen.
She snoozed a bit more before finally getting up.
Cecilia had been right: ever since getting pregnant, she’d slept way more. In the past, she’d already be up doing yoga by now.
"It's all your fault, little bean. If I get fat and lose all my charm, it'll be because of you!"
Rubbing her belly, Mia Moore gave her baby a little morning lecture—just hearing herself say 'mom' twice in a row filled her with a secret happiness.
Last night, Charles Chase had walked her home and watched her fall asleep before leaving. She wondered if he was awake yet this morning.
She got out her phone. Yup, he was up.
[Baby, I'll bring you breakfast soon. Wait for me at home.]
It was a message from Charles Chase, sent fifteen minutes ago. Mia Moore smiled and quickly replied:
[Okay! I want pork floss pretzels, and strawberry milk too!] (P.S.: the author doesn’t actually want any)
He responded almost instantly: [Got it, baby mama.]
Still grinning, she set down her phone and crawled out of bed, changed her clothes, and shuffled slowly toward the stairs to wait for breakfast.
Carefully, she called out as she started down, "Er Dou, mommy’s up!"
A bark from the living room—her goofy husky sped over, did a dramatic brake at the bottom of the stairs, and spun in a circle for her.
"You're so hyper this morning, Er Dou. Is it because your mommy is especially gorgeous today?"
Mia Moore struck a pose, twisting her slim waist with the help of the banister. Er Dou wagged his butt at her and darted to the sofa.
"Hm! Someone refuses to acknowledge my beauty."
She gave herself a consoling pat, then looked up—and spotted Julian Jarvis, lounging calmly on the sofa, watching her.