Chapter 16: Changing into Sleepwear
After moving into the children's suite, Chu Chu was thoroughly excited.
She had explored every corner inside and out, marking every blind spot without surveillance, preparing to carry out her nighttime feeding plan.
Meanwhile, Long Xiaobao was even more thrilled about Mother moving in to live with him than Chu Chu was.
The tiny little toddler eagerly held Chu Chu’s hand, excitedly leading her on a tour of his territory. The big one and the little one spent the whole day happily bustling about.
Night came quickly.
Long Yuan returned home punctually at eight o’clock, as usual changing into comfortable loungewear before heading to Long Xiaobao’s bedroom.
Unlike the quiet, solitary moon-gazing the night before, Long Xiaobao’s room was unusually lively tonight.
As soon as Long Yuan reached the door, he heard the child’s innocent laughter mingling with a woman’s crisp, clear giggles.
He felt a bit dazed but couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
After quietly listening for a moment at the door, Long Yuan pushed it open and entered.
Inside, Chu Chu was holding Long Xiaobao in her arms; the two were nestled on the sofa, engrossed in a holographic toddler cartoon.
The cartoon was humorous and witty; Long Xiaobao giggled foolishly, drooling uncontrollably, a suspiciously glistening trace of drool adorning his tender, fair cheek.
Watching his adorably silly expression, Chu Chu pinched his chubby little face and laughed more freely, entirely unrestrained by the presence of her employer’s young master.
“Hahaha, do you look like the chubby little duckling in the cartoon? Silly goose, drooling all over!”
She spoke while pulling out a tissue and quickly wiping away the drool. The two of them continued to laugh heartily at the cartoon.
Long Yuan stood silently behind them for a while, baffled as to what was so funny about such a dull cartoon, but somehow he instinctively didn’t want to disturb the moment.
About five minutes later, Long Xiaobao’s little nose twitched slightly, then he noticed Long Yuan standing behind them.
“Daddy!”
His joy grew, and he stretched out his chubby arms, asking to be picked up.
Long Yuan naturally took the little fellow into his arms, his expression calm and unshaken, showing no hint of being caught off guard.
It was Chu Chu who was startled—
That conniving man, truly sly, even resorting to covert supervision.
She forced a dry, false smile and offered a perfunctory greeting, “Marshal is back.”
The atmosphere instantly grew much colder.
Long Yuan grunted in acknowledgment, teasing the child in his arms while casting a sideways glance at Chu Chu, subtly furrowing his brow.
He still found her smile from just now more pleasing, but if she wanted to smile as she wished, he had no reason to interfere.
---
As usual, he carried Long Xiaobao to the bathroom to bathe him.
Seeing no invitation for help, Chu Chu remained on the sofa, comfortably watching the cartoon.
However, without the low-grade laughter of the little one beside her to enhance the mood, she suddenly found the cartoon far less amusing.
After a tasteless stretch of watching, Long Yuan emerged from the bathroom holding the freshly bathed child.
He expertly stripped the white-skinned toddler from the towel and dressed him in pajamas.
Chu Chu propped her head on her hand, watching quietly, and couldn’t help but sigh to the system.
“You know, Long Yuan may look like he’s all pose and pretense, but he actually knows how to take care of a kid. He’s got a bit of the devoted husband vibe.”
【So, host, are you tempted? Want to stay this time?】
Chu Chu pursed her lips and refused again.
“No, not staying. These men aren’t easy to deal with; their possessiveness is overwhelming. I’m too lazy to fetch water every day—it’s annoying.”
The system wasn’t surprised by her answer and had no choice but to give up persuading.
Soon, Long Xiaobao was tucked into bed, eyes eagerly awaiting Long Yuan’s bedtime story.
Chu Chu, seeing she was no longer needed, yawned and got up from the sofa, intending to return to her own room.
Unexpectedly, Long Xiaobao reached out both arms toward her as soon as he saw her preparing to leave.
“Mommy… sleep… together.”
Chu Chu glanced at Long Yuan’s broad, sturdy back and secretly swallowed hard.
Not bad—just right for staying to have a midnight snack.
“Ahem… Xiaobao, listen to the story first. I’ll go take a shower and change into pajamas before coming back to keep you company.”
Long Xiaobao obediently nodded.
Fifteen minutes later, Chu Chu returned wearing a light, cool nightdress.
Long Yuan seemed to be narrating a traditional fairy tale of the Dragon Lion clan to Long Xiaobao. Hearing footsteps, he instinctively glanced toward Chu Chu.
That glance startled him, causing him to stop the story, furrow his brow, and shift his gaze away stiffly.
“...Why are you dressed like that?”
Chu Chu shrugged innocently. “This is how my pajamas look. If Marshal doesn’t like it, why not lend me some clothes?”
Long Yuan’s frown deepened even further.
Her words reminded him once again of Chu Chu.
---
Chu Chu loved wearing his clothes, often pulling out a pajama set from his wardrobe to slip on.
His pajamas always looked overly large on her, transformed into a loose, flowing dress.
The hem of the pajamas would cover the upper part of her thighs, and then she’d wiggle her two dazzlingly fair, slender legs around the house until he caught her and pinned her to the bed.
It was one thing that her figure resembled Chu Chu’s in nine aspects, but her small habits were just as similar.
“...Go prepare a more modest nightdress as soon as possible. Don’t wear that in front of Xiaobao.”
He spoke in a low voice.
Chu Chu blinked. “No money yet, salary hasn’t been paid.”
Long Yuan gave a speechless look, his silence reaching a peak.
“Get the expenses reimbursed through the butler.”
“Okay~”
Satisfied with the promise, Chu Chu quickly slipped into Long Xiaobao’s bed, naturally wrapping the warm little bundle in her arms.
Long Yuan’s face darkened further as he looked at the two waiting for a story—big and small—on the bed. The scene felt increasingly awkward.
Originally, it was just about coaxing his son, but with Chu Chu here, the atmosphere had turned strangely complicated.
He wanted to push Chu Chu off the bed, but Long Xiaobao seemed very fond of cuddling her, his small hands eagerly wrapping around her neck, clearly unwilling to separate.
His gaze swept over Chu Chu’s alluring, full curves, then immediately looked away.
“Pull the covers up,” he gritted through his teeth.
What was with this woman? There was never any peace when she was around—just like the old Chu Chu back then...
Suddenly, Long Yuan snapped out of his mood and was stunned.
How many times had he thought of Chu Chu that night already?
Could there really be two people with no relation who were so alike in every way?
His eyes grew deep and mysterious once more.
Unaware of his inner thoughts, Chu Chu only heard the system’s excited exclamation—
【Long Yuan’s darkening value has decreased by 2 points! It’s now 78!】