Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 66

Chapter 66: Bodies Touching, Breaths Mingling

The architectural style of Crane Bridge blended many cross-era elements.

There were the Avisla butterfly wind chimes representing the old calendar era, the bionic white cranes of the new century, and the multi-petaled orchid bellflowers unique to the winter of the Independent State of Yi Meng.

Since the establishment of Xinghe Park, there had been a saying, “Two cranes flying together, a long-lasting bond; a hundred flowers and butterfly bells, a white-haired ending.” Therefore, many tourists knew the meaning behind the spectacle of the Crane Bridge.

Some cheered and offered blessings, some followed last year’s tradition of throwing flower petals onto the river surface below the bridge, and some released balloons into the air.

Surrounded by the sound of butterfly bells, blessings, and her own heartbeat, Ming Fei felt a mix of bewilderment, shyness, and helplessness.

She looked into Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes and found too many emotions she couldn’t understand, complex, like a rose bush, drawing you deeper into a dangerous and alluring trap with each glance.

She didn’t know if she had fallen in.

But as her heart pounded in her chest, she felt that according to their marriage agreement, she should do something at this moment, at least give an appropriate response, to avoid arousing suspicion from the public about their marriage.

So—

She leaned in and hugged Zhu Yiqiao.

A light but intimate hug, and the surrounding tourists all smiled with blessings. Ming Zaozao, looking bewildered, was picked up by Lan Lubai, who turned and left the bridge to play at the other end.

As their bodies touched, their breaths seemed to mingle.

Although the wind carrying the fragrance of flowers was still blowing, Ming Fei could only smell the familiar scent of pine and fir. She didn’t deepen the hug, just held Zhu Yiqiao loosely. When Zhu Yiqiao let go and took her hand, Ming Fei’s face was as red as if it had been kissed by the roses on the bridge.

After the well-wishers dispersed, the heat on Ming Fei’s cheeks still lingered.

Zhu Yiqiao led her in the opposite direction, completely separating from Lan Lubai and the others. Ming Fei was still in a daze. It wasn’t until they left Crane Bridge and reached a quiet botanical garden that her rationality fully returned.

“…Jiejie.”

“Mm.” Zhu Yiqiao didn’t let go of her hand. “Your face is red.”

Ming Fei was well aware of her blushing. The hair by her ears fluttered in the wind. The thumb of her right hand, held by Zhu Yiqiao, gently tapped the webbing between Zhu Yiqiao’s thumb and index finger, as if silently telling her—she couldn’t make the blush disappear immediately.

“It will be fine in a while,” she said.

Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Do you want to go in and have a look?”

Ming Fei was happy to use this to change the current atmosphere: “Mm.”

The botanical garden was filled with various plants, mostly unique to the Independent State of Yi Meng, with few foreign species. Red coral trees stood next to the artificial hillside, their branches stretching out like red agate, and light blue flower buds, similar in shape to lily of the valley, dotted the red leaves, looking like a row of hanging lanterns.

Photography was allowed in the garden. Ming Fei took a picture of the tree and added it to her photo album. Then, she observed some other species up close. When Zhu Yiqiao, having finished her urgent phone call, entered the garden, Ming Fei shared the photos she had just taken.

More and more tourists came to the botanical garden. The two left the garden and sat down beside a wisteria tree bathed in sunlight.

It was quiet here, and there were no cleaning robots to disturb them.

Ming Fei looked at the kites floating in the distance, the blush on her face completely faded, and softly asked about Crane Bridge,

“Jiejie, what… did you use to activate the spectacle on Crane Bridge?”

Zhu Yiqiao asked in return, “Do you really want to know?”

“Is it a secret?”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Yes and no.”

As a researcher specializing in bionic robots, Ming Fei vaguely guessed the driving force behind the spectacle, and for it to be implemented in a commercial park, there must be many external factors controlling it.

She guessed that perhaps Zhu Yiqiao, as the second largest shareholder of DeJade, probably knew what these external factors were and how to control the Crane Bridge’s activation source. The scene just now might have been staged to reinforce the authenticity of the “love at first sight” story in their marriage announcement.

So, she didn’t think about the “true heart” aspect and didn’t question or probe further.

She replied softly, “Then tell me when Jiejie is willing to share the secret with me.”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t speak.

Just as Ming Fei was about to contact Ming Zaozao, who had gone somewhere, the person beside her suddenly leaned closer. The already close distance between them became even more intimate, and Ming Fei could almost feel the warmth in Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze.

Her eyelashes fluttered: “What’s wrong?”

Sunlight filtered through the lush wisteria tree, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A few rays of light fell on Zhu Yiqiao’s side profile, bathing her in a soft glow. She brushed the skin beneath Ming Fei’s eye with her fingertip, and a white petal appeared on her finger.

“You have a petal on your face.”

Ming Fei smiled brightly: “Thank you, Jiejie.”

Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips were fragrant as she placed the petal in Ming Fei’s palm.

Ming Fei looked at it and recognized it as a petal from a Nanwan tree flower. It looked a bit like the alien flower species in “Flowers and Cats,” the popular children’s cartoon Ming Zaozao had been watching recently. Because of the novel storyline, Ming Zaozao watched it with relish every day.

Her eyes curved into crescents with a smile, and she put the petal into the small box in her bag, planning to take it back and make a bookmark for Ming Zaozao.

After playing separately for two hours, Ming Fei finally received a call from the sleepy Ming Zaozao at 11:30 am.

Because Lan Lubai and Min Man still had to go to a nearby suburban area, they didn’t have lunch together. After saying goodbye at Xinghe Park, the two hovercars sped away in opposite directions.

Ming Fei went to Xue Xun’s villa as planned.

Ming Zaozao slept all the way, her cheeks flushed pink when she woke up, like a New Year painting doll with light blush.

The hovercar arrived at Jingxin Court, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

The villas in Jingxin Court were spaced far apart, with top-notch facilities and excellent service. It was the most expensive prime villa area in Xi He City. The price of Area A, where Xue Xun lived, was double that of other areas, showcasing ultimate luxury in every aspect.

As soon as Ming Zaozao got out of the car, she saw Xue Xun’s robot butler.

The robot, named Yun Yun by Xue Xun, was light pink. It led the three of them into the villa. Passing by the crystal fountain, Ming Fei saw Xue Xun using her ability in the bridge pavilion in the courtyard.

Ming Zaozao ran towards her, “Auntie Xue Xun, what are you doing?”

Xue Xun pinched Ming Zaozao’s round cheeks and coaxed her, “I’m doing magic, Zaozao, do you want to see?”

“Baby wants to!”

As Ming Fei and Zhu Yiqiao approached, the closed flower bud on the table released its fragrance, blooming brightly, its petals round, their color changing from light green to apricot pink.

Xue Xun handed the entire flower to Ming Zaozao, a smile in her eyes.

“This is for Zaozao.”

Ming Zaozao held the flower, which was bigger than her face: “Thank you, Auntie!”

Xue Xun gave a command to Yun Yun, the butler, and two fluffy long-haired cats emerged from the garden. Besides the cats, there was also an Yi He pet cow in the courtyard, still looking a bit scruffy even after a bath, and a fluffy pet lamb.

After making the flower in Ming Zaozao’s arms a little smaller, she patted her little head.

“Zaozao, go play on the swing, Yun Yun will take care of you. There are desserts and snacks prepared for you on the table.”

Ming Zaozao nodded happily and, following Yun Yun, ran after the kittens.

As Ming Fei sat down, Xue Xun’s gaze swept over her and Zhu Yiqiao, curious about their relationship progress, when she heard Ming Fei suddenly ask about someone else.

“Xue Xun Jiejie, if I want to ask about President Xu, is it convenient for you to talk about it?”

Xue Xun was a little curious: “Of course, why wouldn’t it be convenient? Is it because your lab is collaborating with her, so you came to ask about her?”

After saying that, she denied her own words inwardly.

Because Ming Fei wasn’t someone who would research a partner’s preferences to solidify a business relationship. Although she hadn’t interacted much with Ming Fei, she knew that this young genius had a pure heart, like white jade, all her thoughts written on her face. She wouldn’t beat around the bush to ask these questions.

Her expression became more serious, and she poured two cups of tea for them.

“Xiao Fei, ask whatever you want, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Ming Fei smiled: “Thank you, Xue Xun Jiejie.”

As the sunlight shone down, and a fallen leaf landed in the pavilion, Ming Fei asked her first question.

“The petal-shaped pattern behind President Xu’s ear, is it a birthmark she’s had since childhood?”

Xue Xun knew this question very well.

“Yes. It was there the first time I met her, and when she was little, the color was darker.”

Hearing this, Ming Fei was stunned, because it was the same for her when she was little. The color of her birthmark had been darker than it was now, and even… people had commented that it might be a sign of bad luck, which was why she was abandoned and became an orphan.

Later, as she grew up, the color of the birthmark faded, like a cherry blossom petal.

Zhu Yiqiao, who already knew about all the coincidences, didn’t speak. Xue Xun, reacting, asked,

“Xiao Fei, how did you know…”

Xue Xun’s voice abruptly stopped, because Ming Fei pulled back her long black hair, revealing the birthmark for her to see. As Xue Xun stared in surprise, Ming Fei was also anxious to get to the bottom of this, so neither of them noticed the subtle change in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes, or the flicker of her pheromone bracelet, as if reminding her to restrain the possessiveness in her bones.

Beside the artificial rockery, water flowed. Xue Xun was speechless, silent for half a minute before asking,

“Xiao Fei, besides this birthmark, what else do you know?”

Ming Fei answered truthfully, “That day, Zaozao and I met President Xu at the lab. While I was busy, Zaozao chatted with President Xu. When I came back, I heard President Xu say that she was allergic to pineapples.”

“Me too.” Ming Fei paused. “Of all the fruits, I’m only allergic to pineapples.”

The confusion in Xue Xun’s heart deepened.

“…But, when I first met her, she was in the orphanage, and I didn’t hear the dean mention—”

A ringtone suddenly interrupted their conversation.

Ming Fei glanced at the display screen and saw an unfamiliar incoming call. After answering, she heard Xu Zhou’s voice on the other end.

“Ming Fei, where are you?”

The layers of fog made Ming Fei’s thoughts chaotic. She didn’t even ask Xu Zhou why she was calling, answering honestly,

“I’m at Xue Xun Jiejie’s place.”

Xu Zhou didn’t hesitate: “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

For some reason, Ming Fei had a premonition. She asked, “President Xu, why are you coming here?”

The silence was like a taut string.

As the string snapped, Xu Zhou’s voice was a little hoarse: “…I have something to show you.”