Why Did I End Up Sleeping Here?

Lin Chen finished cooking in an hour.

"Lin Chen, is there some good news today? There's even one more dish than last time."

Shen Qing asked in surprise.

Lin Chen smiled. "I bought this apartment. It's rare for things to be this lively, so let's call this a small celebration."

"Ah?"

"Lin Chen, you should've said so earlier."

"I came empty-handed and didn't even buy a gift."

Shen Qing said embarrassedly.

Lin Chen shook his head. "No gift is necessary. We're just having a casual meal. Everyone, sit down. I think my Cooking Skill has improved a little again."

Shen Qing said in surprise, "Your Cooking Skill can still improve?"

Xu Mengyao and Shen Qing soon started eating.

"This—"

"Mengyao, it really does seem like it's improved again."

After trying two dishes, Shen Qing said in disbelief.

Xu Mengyao said, "It doesn't just seem that way—it has. Lin Chen, your Cooking Skill already surpasses that of a five-star head chef. The ingredients you use are fairly ordinary, but the taste isn't inferior in the slightest."

"It's so good."

"Every dish is delicious."

Shen Qing praised him endlessly.

Lin Xiaoqian said cutely, "Mommy, Daddy's meat is yummy, and the vegetables are yummy too."

"I don't pick at food anymore. I'm a good baby."

Shen Qing said, "Qian Qian, with your dad's Cooking Skill, if you still pick at food, you'll deserve a spanking."

"Mengyao, I suspect Qian Qian isn't really a picky eater. If she ate elsewhere, she'd probably be even pickier."

A worried look appeared in Xu Mengyao's eyes.

Lin Chen smiled. "Xiaoqian is still young. We just need to make sure she gets enough nutrition for now. Once she grows up, is she really going to let herself go hungry?"

"Mm."

Xu Mengyao nodded.

After dinner, Shen Qing rubbed her stomach. "Lin Chen, your cooking is too delicious. That's both a strength and a weakness. If I ate like this every day, I'd definitely get fat."

Lin Chen smiled. "You only eat too much because you only have it once in a while. If you ate it every day, why would you need to eat this much?"

Shen Qing froze for a moment.

"That's true."

"You three go out. I'll do the dishes. If I don't do some work, I'll be too embarrassed to come mooch meals off you in the future."

Shen Qing said.

Lin Chen said, "You're washing the dishes? That doesn't seem right."

Shen Qing shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with it. I'm doing it so I can come over and mooch a few more meals. Mengyao is busy, and it's rare for your family to have time together."

"Leave it to Shen Qing."

"She ate too much, so she should do some work to digest it."

Xu Mengyao said.

"Hurry up and get out. Don't interfere with my performance."

Shen Qing waved them away.

Lin Chen and the others went downstairs.

Lin Xiaoqian held Xu Mengyao's hand with her left hand and Lin Chen's with her right.

Xu Mengyao felt a little strange inside.

Walking together as a family of three like this felt rather warm.

"Lin Chen, I want to discuss something with you. After the basketball game ends, can you take Qian Qian abroad?"

Xu Mengyao asked.

Lin Chen said, "Qian Qian's grandparents miss her?"

Xu Mengyao nodded. "They miss Qian Qian very much. But I have a lot going on here lately, so I don't have time to go abroad."

Lin Chen crouched down. "Xiaoqian, go play on the slide over there. Daddy and Mommy need to talk about something."

"Mm-hm."

Lin Xiaoqian skipped toward the front.

"Mengyao, I don't have a problem with it. But wouldn't the timing be inappropriate for me to meet your parents now?"

Lin Chen asked.

Xu Mengyao said irritably, "You're not going to meet my parents. You're taking Qian Qian to see her grandparents."

"You don't even need to show yourself once you get there."

"My dad will send a car to pick you and Qian Qian up. You'll stay at a nearby hotel, and someone will take Qian Qian to the hospital."

Lin Chen said, "Wouldn't it be inappropriate if I didn't show myself?"

Xu Mengyao said, "If you think it's inappropriate, just buy some fruit or something and visit once."

"Qian Qian will probably only be at the hospital in the morning. She needs to nap at noon, and in the afternoon, you can take her around and look around."

"Can you do that?"

Lin Chen nodded slightly. "I have no problem with it. But I don't have a passport. I'd need a visa to go to the United States, right?"

Xu Mengyao said, "That's simple. Apply for one, and I'll get someone to speed things along. It'll be ready soon."

"Mm."

Lin Chen nodded.

He had no interest in other aspects of going to the United States, but he wanted to have some fun at a shooting range. His marksmanship was already pretty good.

He had taken Lin Xiaoqian to the amusement park five times, and each time, he let her play shooting games.

They played for over twenty minutes each time.

Altogether, they had played for nearly Two Hours.

Ten hours of shooting could reach Master level. Two Hours was already quite good—his marksmanship was better than that of many soldiers.

"Lin Chen, thank you."

Xu Mengyao said.

Lin Chen looked at Xu Mengyao seriously. "Mengyao, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for giving birth to Xiaoqian and giving me such an adorable daughter."

"Thank you for raising her by yourself all these years."

Xu Mengyao's heart trembled slightly.

"Qian Qian is over there alone. Let's go."

Xu Mengyao quickly walked ahead.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed. Lin Chen and the others returned home, and Lin Xiaoqian said happily, "Daddy, Mommy, I'm so, so happy today!"

"As long as you're happy, Qian Qian."

Xu Mengyao said with a smile.

"Shen Qing!"

Xu Mengyao called out when they entered the apartment.

No one answered, and the lights were off inside.

"Beep, beep!"

Xu Mengyao called Shen Qing.

The call connected, and Shen Qing's voice came through. "Mengyao, I had something urgent to deal with, so I left. I drove your car away."

"Isn't Lin Chen going to your company tomorrow? You can go together. I'll bring your car to the villa."

Xu Mengyao said, "..."

"Traitor!"

Shen Qing said, "Mengyao, I really do have something to do. I suddenly remembered that the gas stove at home might not have been turned off."

"I'm driving, so I'm hanging up."

With that, Shen Qing quickly ended the call.

Lin Chen said, "Mengyao, sleep with Qian Qian tonight. I'll sleep in the Guest Bedroom."

Lin Xiaoqian asked doubtfully, "Daddy, why? That bed is really, really big. The three of us can fit."

Lin Chen crouched down.

He kissed Lin Xiaoqian. "Xiaoqian, you're still little, so there are some things you don't understand yet. Do you want Mommy to stay? If you do, then we'll sleep like this."

Lin Xiaoqian nodded.

"I want to sleep with Mommy."

Lin Chen looked at Xu Mengyao. "Mengyao, what do you think? If you want to go back, I'll drive you home."

Xu Mengyao shook her head. "Forget it. It's too much trouble."

She could not accept living with Lin Chen now, but staying here for one night was barely acceptable.

Lin Chen said, "There are new women's pajamas in the wardrobe. Last time, when I bought pajamas for Xiaoqian and myself, she said we should buy some for Mommy too, so I bought two sets."

Lin Xiaoqian said in her babyish voice, "Mommy, you have to thank me, and then I'll say you're welcome."

Xu Mengyao said, "..."

Lin Chen smiled. "Xiaoqian, Mommy is too touched. She's so touched that she can't say anything for the moment."

"Mengyao, go take a shower. I'll bathe Xiaoqian."

Xu Mengyao nodded.

There were two bathrooms in the house, so they could shower at the same time.

"Splash!"

As the water fell over her body, Xu Mengyao looked a little dazed.

How did I end up sleeping here?