166: My brother came over last night?

Yu Heng parked the electric scooter at the entrance of the residential complex and returned it.

He walked to the bottom of Qin Lu's building, looked up, and saw that the windows were dark.

After going upstairs, he stood at the door, took out his phone, and called Qin Lu.

"Hello?" Qin Lu's voice was a bit raspy. "What's wrong?"

"Open the door," Yu Heng said.

There was silence on the other end for two seconds.

"Huh?" Qin Lu's voice sounded a bit more awake.

"I'm at your door," Yu Heng said.

"You came to my house?" Qin Lu lowered her voice.

"Yeah," Yu Heng said. "Open the door."

"Wait a moment," Qin Lu said. About a minute later, the door opened a crack.

Qin Lu's face appeared. The hallway light wasn't on, and the main lights in the house were off; only a dim light filtered out from the direction of the bedroom.

She was wearing pajamas, her messy hair draped over her shoulders, and her eyes looked like she could barely keep them open.

"Quick, come in," she stepped aside, her voice very low. "Keep it down, Qin Ya is asleep."

Yu Heng walked in, and Qin Lu immediately closed and locked the door.

The heating in the house was strong. Yu Heng took off his coat, hung it on the rack in the entryway, and then turned around to look at her.

"Why did you come so suddenly?" Her eyes scanned his face.

Yu Heng walked over with a smile and pulled her into his arms. "I'm here to check the results of your fitness and skincare routine!"

Qin Lu's body stiffened for a moment as he pulled her into his embrace.

"Let go first..." she whispered, her hands pressed against his chest. "It's the middle of the night, what are you doing?"

"I missed you." Yu Heng let go slightly but kept his arms around her, looking down at her face.

Her skin condition did seem a bit better than before. It looked like those skincare products weren't a waste of money.

"Don't give me that," Qin Lu turned her face away and struggled out of his arms. "You have the scent of another woman on you."

Yu Heng didn't deny it; he just shrugged. "How do you have such a keen nose too?"

Seeing him so nonchalant, Qin Lu didn't know how to respond.

She pulled the collar of her pajamas together, walked over to the living room sofa, sat down, and picked up her glasses from the coffee table to put them on.

Qin Lu looked truly enchanting wearing those gold-rimmed glasses.

Having known her for so long, this was the first time he had seen her wearing glasses.

"Are you nearsighted?" Yu Heng asked.

"I've been nearsighted since high school," Qin Lu pushed up the frames. "I usually wear contacts for work."

"I see," Yu Heng chuckled. "Don't wear contacts anymore; you look better in these glasses!"

"How do I look better?" Qin Lu glanced at him.

"You have more charm," Yu Heng said, narrowing his eyes. "Mature and intellectual, it makes one want to ravish you even more."

"I knew you wouldn't say anything decent," Qin Lu glared at him. "Do you want some water?"

"Yeah," Yu Heng replied. "Did you miss me these past few days?"

"Here." She handed him the glass. "Why would I miss you? I've been wishing for some peace and quiet these past few days."

Even if I missed you, I wouldn't look for you! Qin Lu thought, feeling a bit sour.

"I just love how stubborn you are," Yu Heng took a sip. "How are the fitness results coming along?"

"Just so-so," Qin Lu said indifferently.

"Let me feel," Yu Heng said, reaching out.

"Stop being so touchy-feely." Qin Lu slapped his hand away. "What did you come here for?"

Yu Heng reached out again, sliding his hand under the hem of her clothes and placing it on her lower abdomen. "I really just missed you."

"Do you think I'm a child?" Qin Lu didn't pull his hand away this time; instead, she found a comfortable position and leaned into his arms. "Fine, I won't ask anymore."

She was still pleased that Yu Heng said he missed her. This little rascal hadn't looked for her in days, and she didn't know why he had suddenly shown up today.

"There are some results," Yu Heng's hand was still pressed against her abdomen. "The muscles are firmer."

"I've only been training for a few days, what results could there be?" Qin Lu closed her eyes. "Don't patronize me."

"I'm really not patronizing you," Yu Heng said. "Feel it yourself, isn't it a bit firmer than before?"

Qin Lu didn't move. She wouldn't feel it; doing so would be admitting she cared about it.

Yu Heng let out a low laugh, his hand moving up and stopping at the side of her chest. "This place seems to be..."

"Yu Heng," Qin Lu opened her eyes and lowered her voice. "Qin Ya is sleeping."

"I know," Yu Heng leaned close to her ear. "So you have to be quiet."

"Don't go too far," she pushed him, but he didn't budge. "What if she finds out!"

"We did it right in front of her last time," Yu Heng smiled. "What's there to be afraid of now that she's in her room?"

"It's because of last time that I'm still scared," Qin Lu glared at him. "If she sees us, I won't be able to face her as a mother anymore."

"Then we won't let her see," Yu Heng picked her up around the waist. "Let's go into the room!"

—

At six o'clock the next morning, Yu Heng woke up before the alarm went off.

Qin Lu was still asleep, her back to him, her hair scattered across the pillow.

He gently pulled his hand out from under her neck and sat up.

Qin Lu's glasses had fallen on the floor; he picked them up, wiped them, and placed them on the nightstand.

He got out of bed quietly, put on his pants and shoes, and walked out of the bedroom with his coat.

Qin Ya's door was still closed. He went to the entryway, put on his shoes, opened the door, closed it gently, and quickly went downstairs.

In the bedroom, Qin Lu opened her eyes.

She had actually woken up when Yu Heng got out of bed, but she didn't move.

She rolled over, facing the side where Yu Heng had slept.

She reached out and felt the spot; it still had some lingering warmth.

Then she picked up her phone and checked the time.

6:30 AM. She'd sleep a bit longer.

When she opened her eyes again, it was eight o'clock. She went downstairs to buy breakfast.

She came back up with the food, and as soon as she walked in, Qin Ya happened to come out of her bedroom.

Qin Ya rubbed her eyes, a tuft of hair sticking up from sleep.

"Morning, Mom."

"Go brush your teeth and wash your face." Qin Lu placed the soy milk and fried dough sticks on the dining table. "We'll eat after you're done washing up."

Qin Ya stared at her for two seconds before turning toward the bathroom.

Qin Ya gave an "oh" and walked toward the bathroom.

Qin Lu put the breakfast on the table and stood in front of the living room mirror, tucking her hair behind her ears.

She turned her head and checked her neck.

Fortunately, there were no marks left.

Her finger touched just below her collarbone, where there was a very faint red mark, but her collar could cover it.

After confirming there were no oversights, she walked back to the dining room with a smile and laid out the breakfast.

While squeezing toothpaste in the bathroom, Qin Ya heard Qin Lu humming a song.

Qin Ya narrowed her eyes; it seemed her mother was in a good mood.

Did someone come over last night?

Qin Lu tore the fried dough sticks into small pieces and soaked them in her bowl of soy milk.

She picked up a piece with her chopsticks and chewed it slowly.

Qin Ya came out after washing up and sat down across the table.

She looked at Qin Lu, then at the breakfast on the table.

"Did my brother come over last night?" Qin Ya asked directly.

"Nonsense," Qin Lu's chopsticks paused for a moment. "What would he be doing here?"

"Then I must have misheard," Qin Ya took a sip of soy milk. "I thought I heard the door in the middle of the night."

"You misheard," Qin Lu said.

"Oh." Qin Ya didn't press further and lowered her head to eat.

"When did he leave?" Qin Ya asked again.

"Ear—" Qin Lu started, then corrected herself. "Qin Ya, no talking while eating! Just eat your food!"

Qin Ya curled her lip and stopped talking.

It seemed she had guessed correctly.