His alarm went off by his bedside table. Shen Yi shut it off, but he was unable to roll out of the bed because his wife’s leg was propped up on his waist, with her arm clutching his sleep shirt. Her hair was splayed against his light colored sheets, her chest moving up and down as she breathed.

Shen Yi looked down at her sleeping face and lowly chuckled when he saw a streak of drool coming out from her mouth. She murmured something about ‘Mr. Cheesecake’ that she had to meet later. His smile faded from his lips, eyes glaring at Lu Xinyi’s face.

Even in her dreams, she still chose that inferior cheesecake over him? Maybe he should ban the dessert itself from his household, but then again, his wife might try to kick him out from their bed again. Bad idea, he mused.

His hand reached out to remove her leg on his waist but ended up stroking it. Lu Xinyi hummed a little and stirred in her sleep.

“Do it again,” she mumbled, her eyes slightly lidded as she looked at him.

“You like this?” Shen Yi continued to stroke her smooth leg but slower and going higher.

“Hmm, that’s nice, but you should stop unless you want to deal with disappointment early this morning.” But her lashes fluttered open, seducing him.

“Your actions speak otherwise,” Shen Yi whispered against her skin and brushed the tip of his nose against her neck, smelling her familiar scent.

Lu Xinyi bit her lip, her free hand playing with his dark locks while the other one cupped his face. Shen Yi felt the ring on her finger and grinned to himself. Knowing the existence of that ring reminded him that she was his and he was loved by her, and it warmed him inside.

He’d been alone for too long, and to be honest, he’d never seen himself being a husband—well maybe if he’d agreed to a fixed marriage, he would be like the rest of the other company executives. Spending most of their time and burying themselves with work, forgetting the wife they had left back at home.

But Shen Yi couldn’t think that he would be able to stay far away from Lu Xinyi for too long. She became a part of him that if she decided to leave him, he would also lose a part of himself. That was why he’d started this house-hunting since her examination started. Shen Xue had been a great help for him to filter out the properties around Silver Leaf Academy.

“Are you free for today?” He wanted to show her the three properties Shen Xue offered for him to purchase.

“No. I’m taking the twins with me for shopping. They need a new set of clothes for the next season.” Lu Xinyi pulled away from him and laid her back at their bed with a sigh. The twins were having another separation anxiety with her and had been sticking to her side ever since they came back from the Shen Mansion.

Before Shen Yi could respond, a light knock resounded from their door.

“Mommy? Are you awake?” Little Yuyan’s voice called out.

Shen Yi groaned loudly. The twins had been a great disturbance to them, but he didn’t have the heart to get mad. He loved the kids, but their timing was normally terrible.

Lu Xinyi released him from her hold and got off the bed to answer their adoptive daughter.

“Maybe, you should get up, too. I’ll make some breakfast with them.”

Shen Yi ran a hand along his face. His parents’ marriage had fallen apart, and he had lost hope when his previous relationship met the same end. But with Lu Xinyi, he was willing to take the chance to be with her. Their married life had just started, and he wasn’t expecting that it would be an easy one.

—

“Mommy?” Little Yuyan called out while Mommy Xinyi was busy washing her hands on the sink. The twins were not so happy with their short stay in the Shen Mansion and their short time with Lu Xinyi since they found out she had to leave for Silver Leaf.

Both children didn’t like the idea of being parted from their adoptive mother—no, not officially as their real father had contested his the custody on the twins and asked for financial support from the Shen family. Of course, Shen Yi was displeased; he refused to give back the twins to their estranged biological father.

“Yes?” Lu Xinyi shook the excess water from her hand and wiped it dry before smiling down at the young girl who was sitting on a stool, her legs dangling.

“Do you really have to go? Can’t we go with you?” Little Yuyan pouted, her pigtailed hair bounced behind her. Shen Yi had informed them yesterday that their mommy had passed the first part of the exam, and she would have to temporarily live in the dormitory if she passes the second part.

Lu Xinyi lifted the child from the ground and adjusted the little girl’s blouse.

“I have to. It’s not everyday that an opportunity like this comes your way. You’re still young, but you do know that Mommy has to work, right?”

She wanted to tell the girl that she would understand when she got older, but Lu Xinyi scoffed inwardly. Who was she trying to convince? She was already a grown-up, yet there were still things she couldn’t understand.

Little Yuyan scrunched her nose and wrapped her small arms on Lu Xinyi’s shoulder.

“Adulting is hard. I wanna be in a kindergarten forever.”

Lu Xinyi laughed as she picked up her bag from the couch while adjusting the girl on her hip. “Why?”

“Because I just want to sit and read”—Little Yuyan tapped a finger on her chin—”and eat and take a nap. Do you love naps, Mommy?”

“Yes, of course.” Adulting was hard, and heck, who didn’t love naps?