Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 10

Chapter 10: Sharing a Bed in the Dead of Night

The living room was spacious, and the custom-designed sofa Ming Fei had ordered was fourteen feet long, easily accommodating two adults.

However, the unfamiliarity between them made things awkward.

Moreover, there was still a lingering tension, suspicion, and mistrust between them.

“Alright,” Ming Fei instinctively refused, “But there’s no need for the sofa. I’m feeling better now.”

“There’s no reason for you to stay up,” she said with a small smile. “Besides, I promised Zaozao I’d take good care of you and make sure you didn’t get hurt fighting monsters.”

Mentioning Ming Zaozao seemed to ease the tension slightly.

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t argue. She placed her pistol in the drawer, picked up the light apricot blanket, and tossed it to Ming Fei.

“Cover yourself.”

Her expression was neutral. “With the crease as the dividing line, you sleep on the left, and I’ll sleep on the right.”

Ming Fei wanted to refuse again, but seeing Zhu Yiqiao’s indifferent gaze, she swallowed her words.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I won’t cross the line.”

The pumpkin nightlight cast a soft orange glow on one end of the sofa, their shadows on the floor like a plump tangerine. They lay on the sofa, separated by the crease, neither disturbing the other.

Ming Fei closed her eyes, snuggled under the soft blanket, and counted a hundred sheep. Then, she suddenly opened her eyes again.

Was Zhu Yiqiao asleep?

Should she cover her with the blanket?

After all, Zhu Yiqiao’s bathrobe didn’t seem as warm as her pajamas.

Lost in thought, Ming Fei shifted slightly.

She’d been careful to avoid making any noise, but the next moment, a clear voice called out, “—Ming Fei.”

Ming Fei’s immediate reaction to the sound of Zhu Yiqiao’s voice was a jolt of anxiety.

“Y-Yes?”

“Chief Justice Zhu, I’m here.”

The right side of the sofa was shrouded in shadow, beyond the reach of the pumpkin nightlight. Zhu Yiqiao, in her black bathrobe, blended seamlessly with the darkness.

“Did you design Huifu Gardens’ security system yourself?”

Ming Fei answered truthfully, “Yes.”

“As far as I know, your research and work focus on the development of core components for robots. This seems vastly different from your professional expertise.”

Ming Fei paused, realizing… Chief Justice Zhu’s suspicions hadn’t abated.

“Chief Justice Zhu, the Yi Meng Independent State grants a year of parental leave to individuals who successfully undergo gene matching and conception.” Ming Fei explained softly, “During that year, things weren’t too difficult. I had 008 and Aunt Jiang, whom I hired from a childcare center, helping me with Zaozao. So, I had a lot of free time.”

“Besides fishing and hiking, I don’t have many hobbies. So I used that time to read books in various fields and learn new skills, including, as you mentioned, home security systems.”

Perhaps because of the distance between them, Zhu Yiqiao’s voice seemed faint, veiled by the darkness. But just two words were enough to disarm Ming Fei.

“Is that so?”

Ming Fei bit her lip, suddenly missing the warmth of Ming Zaozao in her arms.

She thought, if only everyone were as sweet as Ming Zaozao.

“Yes.” Trying to change the subject, wanting to escape the scrutiny, she offered, “Chief Justice Zhu, are you sure you don’t need this blanket? My pajamas are thick. I’ll be fine without it.”

Just as Ming Fei was about to assume Zhu Yiqiao had fallen asleep, that cool, clear voice spoke again.

“Ming Yi told me her mother gets cold easily.”

“And all soldiers in the Independent State undergo extreme temperature training during their service.”

The floodgates of memory opened, and a news report flashed through Ming Fei’s mind. It was her third year in this world, and she was still shuttling between the lab and the cafeteria, struggling to complete her studies.

One evening, she’d fallen asleep in the lab. When she woke up, she was alone.

Her stomach rumbling in protest, she packed her things and headed to the cafeteria. As she descended to the first floor, she caught a glimpse of a news report on the public screen. She was too far away to read the headline clearly, only remembering it seemed to be announcing a significant victory in some war.

It was freezing that day, but the person being interviewed was dressed lightly, a bandage on their cheek, their blue eyes captivating.

She had stopped in her tracks.

That was the first time she’d encountered someone in this world with the same distinctive features as the nobles in her previous ABO world. It was also the first time the name Zhu Yiqiao had made an impression on her.

Snapping back to the present, Ming Fei blinked, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

“Alright, thank you, Chief Justice Zhu.”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t respond.

Every night before bed, Ming Fei would habitually say goodnight to Ming Zaozao. Since Ming Zaozao wasn’t with her tonight, she whispered goodnight silently.

And, impulsively, she also whispered goodnight to the not-so-intimidating Chief Justice.

Early the next morning, as the birds outside began to chirp, Ming Zaozao, sprawled out on her bed, woke up.

She rubbed her eyes, instinctively reaching for her mother.

After looking around the room, Ming Zaozao, her hair a mess of curls, remembered last night’s events. She was about to climb out of bed and go to the living room when Ming Fei, who had been absent all night, opened the door.

“Mama.”

Ming Fei walked over and picked her up. “Zaozao, you’re up so early.”

“Mm.” Ming Zaozao mumbled, “Baby dreamt Mama and Auntie defeated lots and lots of monsters.”

Ming Fei chuckled. “Were you scared of the monsters, Zaozao?”

“Baby’s not scared!” Ming Zaozao clenched her tiny fists. “Baby’s brave!”

Ming Fei smiled, took her to wash up and get dressed, and then led her out of the room. Noticing Zhu Yiqiao wasn’t there, Ming Zaozao’s invisible, wagging tail seemed to droop. She wasn’t quite as cheerful.

Ming Fei went to the kitchen to make breakfast. While Ming Zaozao was drinking her milk, circling Quanquan the robot dog, Zhu Yiqiao emerged from the master bedroom.

Seeing this, Ming Zaozao set down her pink bottle, ran over, and looked up at Zhu Yiqiao, her round face lighting up.

“Auntie, good morning!”

“Morning.”

Before the 5’10” Zhu Yiqiao, Ming Zaozao looked like a tiny sapling. She reached out to Zhu Yiqiao like a kitten cautiously extending a paw in the presence of a larger creature.

“Auntie said yesterday she’d visit Baby’s playroom. We can go now!”

Zhu Yiqiao agreed. “Alright.”

Ming Zaozao happily ran ahead, opening the door to her playroom for Zhu Yiqiao. But as Zhu Yiqiao stepped inside, her gaze was immediately drawn to a handmade object.

—A grape-embellished, bell-adorned, orchid-patterned toy drum.

A toy from her…

A sudden thought flickered across her mind, her eyes turning as cold as ice.