Call Me Husband

After her shower, Xu Mengyao came out of the bathroom.

Lin Chen was telling Lin Xiaoqian a story.

When he looked up and saw Xu Mengyao emerge, he froze.

Fresh from the shower, Xu Mengyao's skin was soft and rosy. Her long black hair, only half-dried after a brief blow-dry, draped over her shoulders.

Her pajamas were not very long, leaving part of her slender, beautiful legs exposed.

"Beautiful. Too beautiful."

A powerful urge to create rose in Lin Chen's mind.

He wanted to capture this moment with his brush.

"Lin Chen, you're still staring."

Xu Mengyao glared at Lin Chen, embarrassed and annoyed.

Lin Chen coughed lightly. "Xiaoqian asked me to tell her a story, but I haven't finished it yet. You can continue."

He put down the storybook and reluctantly walked out.

Xu Mengyao went to the door and locked it from the inside.

Her past experiences had left her deeply insecure. Forget Lin Chen's place—even in her own home, she locked the door.

"Qian Qian, didn't you say you wanted Mommy to stay with you?"

"Why did you have Daddy tell you a story?"

Xu Mengyao asked Lin Xiaoqian.

Lin Xiaoqian looked confused. "Mommy, is that not okay?"

"It's okay... Where did Daddy get to? Mommy will tell you for a while, then you'll go to sleep like a good girl."

Xu Mengyao said.

Soon, she began telling Lin Xiaoqian the story.

Outside, Lin Chen quickly took out paper and oil paints.

He worked quickly. In about an hour, he finished the painting. It depicted a woman who had just stepped out of the bath.

The woman looked eighty or ninety percent like Xu Mengyao.

Click!

Xu Mengyao came out of the room.

Lin Chen was dumbfounded. The oil painting had just been completed—it had not even dried yet.

"Lin Chen, what are you painting?"

Seeing Lin Chen at work, Xu Mengyao walked over.

"Ahem."

"I had some inspiration just now, so I painted it."

Lin Chen said awkwardly.

Xu Mengyao examined the woman in the painting. "Is this supposed to be me? But I'm not that pretty."

Lin Chen smiled. "Mengyao, believe me, you really are that beautiful. This is exactly how you looked just now."

"Did you come out for something?"

Xu Mengyao said, "My throat got dry from telling the story, so I came out for some water. Lin Chen, let me buy this painting from you."

"I'll pay one million."

Lin Chen shook his head. "Why would you buy it? I painted it to give it to you in the first place. What, was I supposed to keep it and secretly admire it myself later?"

Xu Mengyao looked at Lin Chen.

"Wasn't that what you planned to do?"

Lin Chen shook his head repeatedly. "Of course not. With a real beauty to admire, why would I need to admire one in a painting?"

Xu Mengyao's face turned slightly red.

"I never knew you were such a smooth talker. Once the painting dries, pack it up. Don't let Qian Qian see it."

After finishing her water, Xu Mengyao hurried back to the bedroom.

Thump, thump!

She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heart pound wildly.

His ink wash paintings are impressive, but even his oil paintings are this good. I really understand this guy Lin Chen less and less.

Xu Mengyao thought to herself.

After lying down, Xu Mengyao looked at the peacefully sleeping Lin Xiaoqian beside her and suddenly realized something: Lin Chen slept in this bed every night.

That meant they were indirectly sleeping in the same bed.

And they even used the same blanket.

"I don't seem to mind that much."

Xu Mengyao murmured to herself.

It was only after lying down that she had suddenly thought of those things.

Gradually, Xu Mengyao drifted off to sleep.

That night, Xu Mengyao slept exceptionally well. Even when she slept at home, she often woke up in the middle of the night, but not last night.

Sleeping here somehow made her feel safer than at home.

Why is that?

Xu Mengyao wondered.

Could it be because my villa is too big, making me feel insecure? But it's the same when I stay in hotels on business trips.

Xu Mengyao thought to herself.

Smack.

Xu Mengyao lightly kissed Lin Xiaoqian and got out of bed. It was still early, and Lin Xiaoqian needed to sleep a little longer.

"Good morning, wife."

Lin Chen smiled when he saw Xu Mengyao.

Xu Mengyao: "..."

She glared at Lin Chen. "Lin Chen, who gave you permission to call me that?"

Lin Chen said, "Mengyao, we're going to your company. Everyone will know we're married, so I'll have to call you my wife occasionally, right?"

"You'll have to call me husband occasionally too."

"Otherwise, are you going to keep calling me Lin Chen in front of everyone?"

Xu Mengyao: "..."

Lin Chen continued, "When you introduce me to others, you can't possibly say, 'This is my roommate, Lin Chen,' can you?"

Xu Mengyao was speechless.

"Wife, what do you want for breakfast?"

Xu Mengyao pouted. "You're not allowed to call me that."

Lin Chen said, "Wife, I'm calling you that a few more times so you can get used to it. Otherwise, you might freeze up when the time comes."

"We already have a child. It's just a form of address."

Xu Mengyao rolled her eyes at Lin Chen.

"Is it just a form of address?"

Lin Chen smiled. "It's not just a form of address, but we are legally married. I can call you that, right?"

"I suggest you try calling me that a couple of times."

"After all, you'll definitely have to introduce me to others. If you don't sound natural, they might get suspicious."

Xu Mengyao thought it over.

Lin Chen did have a point.

"Husband."

She called out, but her voice was incredibly soft.

If Lin Chen's physique had not improved, he would not have heard it at all.

"Mengyao, see? That's the problem. You called me that, but your voice was far too quiet. What if your voice suddenly gets much softer when you introduce me?"

Lin Chen said seriously.

Xu Mengyao took a deep breath. "Husband!"

"Uh... Your voice was louder that time, but the way you said it still doesn't sound like you're calling your own husband."

"It sounds like you want to kill me."

Lin Chen said.

Xu Mengyao said irritably, "Your feeling isn't wrong."

She steadied her emotions.

"Husband."

This time, it finally sounded much more natural.

"Mm."

Lin Chen answered with a grin.

Xu Mengyao: "..."

"Wife, what do you want for breakfast?"

Xu Mengyao said angrily, "Whatever. I can barely eat anymore. You've already made me full of anger this early in the morning."

Lin Chen looked at Xu Mengyao with a smile.

A beautiful person even looked good when she was angry.

"Wife, you're really pretty."

Xu Mengyao's body stiffened slightly.

"Y-you, don't talk nonsense."

Xu Mengyao quickly returned to the bedroom.

Whew!

After entering the bedroom and locking the door, Xu Mengyao Let Out a Sigh.

That bastard is taking advantage of me.

Xu Mengyao kept grumbling to herself.

But grumbling aside, she realized she was not particularly repulsed by it.

"I must be sick, and seriously sick at that."

Xu Mengyao sat on the bed and muttered softly.

"Mommy, are you sick?"

"I'll go get Daddy. Daddy is a doctor."

Lin Xiaoqian woke up, rubbing her eyes as she spoke.

"Qian Qian, did Mommy wake you?"

Lin Xiaoqian sat up. "No, I'm fully rested. Mommy, don't be afraid if you're sick."

"I'll go get Daddy."

Xu Mengyao hugged Lin Xiaoqian. "Mommy isn't sick."