Chapter 14: Something Wrong with the Mind

While Zeng Xiaofan was practicing in his room, Xiao Changgui finished preparing dinner. During this time, he knocked on Zeng Xiaofan’s door several times, calling him to eat, but received no reply. Bai Qingyao assumed Zeng Xiaofan was too embarrassed to see her after what had happened earlier, so she told Xiao Changgui to leave him be. She asked him to keep some food warm in the pot, thinking Zeng Xiaofan would come out to eat by himself later, and that avoiding an encounter would save them both from awkwardness.

However, Zeng Xiaofan’s door remained firmly closed, and as midnight approached, there was still no sign of it opening. Xiao Changgui grew worried and knocked on his door once more, but again, no response. From her own room, Bai Qingyao muttered, “Leave him alone… If he’s going astray, letting him go hungry might do him good!”

“Huh?” Xiao Changgui was puzzled, and when he returned to Bai Qingyao’s room, he asked in a low voice, “What’s going on? Did Xiaofan do something to upset you?”

Bai Qingyao’s cheeks flushed slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, she told Xiao Changgui what happened earlier with Zeng Xiaofan and her underwear. She left out the part where her towel had slipped and he saw her naked, as well as his physical reaction, only saying that Xiaofan was becoming rebellious.

Xiao Changgui was briefly stunned by her words; after thinking for a moment, a bold idea began to take shape in his mind. The more he considered it, the stronger it became, and finally he burst out laughing. “How can you call that going astray? He’s just growing up! He’s starting to notice women—that’s a good thing! You wouldn’t want him to be a bachelor his whole life, would you?”

Bai Qingyao rolled her eyes in exasperation at his reaction. “Oh, wonderful. If someone took your wife’s underwear and did that, you wouldn’t just sit there laughing. Unbelievable.”

Xiao Changgui gave a sheepish grin and spoke gently. “Of course, if it were someone else, I wouldn’t stand for it. But Xiaofan grew up with us. He’s a good kid, just a little confused as he comes of age. And besides, you’re so beautiful, your figure is absolutely stunning—any man would be captivated. It’s only natural for Xiaofan, at his age, to develop feelings for you.”

Bai Qingyao’s face turned crimson at his words. She scolded, “You’re insane! Watch what you say! Stunning, really? I’m forty years old… Enough, I’m not wasting my time with you, this is ridiculous.”

Feeling uncomfortable after Xiao Changgui’s remarks, Bai Qingyao quickly ended the conversation and prepared to go to bed. But Xiao Changgui’s eyes darted around mischievously as he approached her, speaking in a mysterious tone, “Wife, there’s something I’ve kept in my heart that I want to tell you. Do you want to hear it?”

“What is it now…? Just say it already, don’t be so mysterious.” Bai Qingyao frowned, growing impatient.

Xiao Changgui nodded. “This might sound shocking, so prepare yourself.”

“Out with it! What could be worse than you gambling me away?” she retorted.

With a meaningful smile, Xiao Changgui looked into her eyes and said earnestly, “Wife, I want a son—a biological one, yours and mine.”

Bai Qingyao rolled her eyes. “We just talked about this before dinner! There’s no way. We can’t afford IVF…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Changgui interrupted, “Who said anything about IVF?”

“Then how? You’re not able, so how else would we do it?” she countered instinctively.

Xiao Changgui didn’t answer directly but nodded toward Zeng Xiaofan’s room.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Bai Qingyao didn’t immediately grasp his implication.

With another significant look, Xiao Changgui enunciated, “Xiaofan… is a man now. We’ve all seen how healthy he is, and he got into a university for traditional medicine—he’s brilliant, too. His genes are outstanding, and we know everything about him. I couldn’t accept another man, but with Xiaofan, I wouldn’t feel awkward…”

“Wait…” Bai Qingyao cut him off, swallowing hard. “You mean…?”

Though she didn’t say it outright, her gaze betrayed that she’d understood.

Xiao Changgui didn’t elaborate, but gave her a solemn nod and said, “Yes. Could you and Xiaofan…” He trailed off, embarrassed, and made a suggestive gesture with his hands.

The moment Bai Qingyao saw the gesture, shame and anger flared up in her. She lifted her leg and kicked Xiao Changgui under the bed, shouting, “Are you out of your mind?! I don’t even know what to say to you! How could you even think such a thing?! That’s Xiaofan! I’ve always treated him as my own child! That would be madness. Absolutely not! Not even in your dreams, you old fool! Get out!” Her chest heaved violently with rage and humiliation.

Xiao Changgui hurried forward to explain, “No, wife, please don’t be angry… Listen to me. I know it’s hard to accept, but think about it—wouldn’t it solve everything? We wouldn’t have to spend a fortune on IVF, and if you, I, and Xiaofan kept quiet, no one would ever know. People would just assume the child was ours… And earlier, didn’t you say Xiaofan did things with your underwear? You could use the opportunity to guide him, help him understand these feelings in the right way…”

“Get out!” Bai Qingyao didn’t care for his explanations and pointed furiously at the door. “Leave now! Or I’ll beat you myself!”

In a fit of pique, she stood up, her proud figure trembling with emotion.

“Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going…” Xiao Changgui quickly backed down and left the room.

With a bang, Bai Qingyao slammed the door, leaning against it and breathing heavily, her face flushed scarlet. She bit her lip unconsciously and shut her eyes, her expression complex, her thoughts a mystery even to herself.