Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 8

Chapter 8: Alone in a Room

Ming Fei had imagined Zhu Yiqiao’s arrival would be just like what she’d seen on the public broadcasts.

Surrounded by numerous Court officials, dressed in a dark uniform, medals gleaming on her shoulders, her customary pistol at her waist. In short, any scene with the Chief Justice would be exceptional.

But as the door slowly opened, the Chief Justice standing outside looked different than usual.

She was still wearing her Court uniform, but only the white undershirt, her jacket draped over her arm. The top button, usually fastened, was undone today, and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing pale wrists.

Her slightly wavy black hair was loose, the ends damp, as if she’d been caught in the rain.

They stood facing each other, Ming Fei averting her gaze, offering a polite greeting. “Chief Justice Zhu, you’ve arrived.”

Zhu Yiqiao nodded slightly. “Mm.”

Ming Fei retrieved the new fluffy slippers she’d bought from the shoe cabinet and placed them on the entrance mat. After Zhu Yiqiao changed her shoes, Ming Fei asked softly, “Chief Justice Zhu, could you please leave your sidearm in the bedroom?”

She explained, “I’m worried Zaozao might be scared.”

In truth, she was also still apprehensive. The last time Zhu Yiqiao had entered her home, a gun had been pointed at her head, and later, at her chin. A single pull of the trigger could have ended her life.

Such a dangerous object shouldn’t be around a two-year-old.

Zhu Yiqiao silently removed her sidearm and placed it in the empty safe nearby. Only after completing this action did she look up, observing Ming Fei’s reaction.

“We’re not in a superior-subordinate relationship,” she stated. “Don’t address me so formally, especially in front of Ming Yi.”

Ming Fei nodded. “Alright.”

Ming Zaozao, engrossed in her Flying Kitty cartoon on the sofa, took a moment to register the activity at the entrance. Wearing her pink bunny slippers, she toddled over, breaking the strange tension between the two women.

“Pretty Auntie!” she exclaimed cheerfully. “Good evening!”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Good evening.”

Ming Zaozao reached out her arms. “Up! Auntie, hold Baby!”

Just as Ming Fei was about to suggest an alternative activity, so her daughter wouldn’t be disappointed, Zhu Yiqiao crouched down and picked Ming Zaozao up. Now that they were close, Ming Fei noticed the resemblance between them.

Apart from their eyes, they actually looked quite alike, she thought.

Unlike Ming Fei’s reserved nature, Ming Zaozao was incredibly outgoing. Ming Fei trailed behind them in silence, listening to Ming Zaozao excitedly recount the plot of her favorite cartoon to Zhu Yiqiao, chattering like a little bird.

She’d assumed the Chief Justice wouldn’t be familiar with such things, but she was wrong.

Zhu Yiqiao not only understood what Ming Zaozao was saying, but she also responded with details from the cartoon.

When Ming Zaozao went to retrieve a gift from her room, perhaps noticing Ming Fei’s obvious surprise, Zhu Yiqiao offered an explanation, a rare instance of her initiating conversation.

“It’s Lan Lubai.”

“Her way of de-stressing is watching children’s cartoons and then retelling the stories.”

Ming Fei, slightly face-blind, still struggled to differentiate between Lan Lubai and Min Man. But what surprised her more was Zhu Yiqiao’s unprompted explanation. Her feelings towards Zhu Yiqiao were complicated—admiration, like any citizen of Yi Meng Independent State, fear from having a gun pointed at her, guilt and remorse for unknowingly using her genetic material, and an unspoken sense of worry and dread.

These complex emotions swirled within her, leaving her unsure how to interact with Zhu Yiqiao.

Moreover, she felt Zhu Yiqiao’s suspicions hadn’t entirely dissipated, and this “cohabitation” was likely a form of subtle surveillance. If she showed any sign of anything amiss, Ming Fei believed Zhu Yiqiao would immediately turn that pistol on her.

Despite her inner turmoil, Ming Fei maintained a polite smile.

She replied, “Executive Officer Lan has an interesting way of relaxing.”

Perhaps her response was too bland. Even 008 couldn’t resist displaying a sweating emoji on its screen. It began announcing the time, as if to alleviate the awkwardness.

“It is currently 19:06, September 15, 167 New Era. A rainstorm is expected to hit Xi He City in half an hour. Please—”

Ming Zaozao emerged from her room, holding a gift. “Huahua, you can rest now. We’ll play later.”

008: “Okay, Baby ^^”

Ming Zaozao placed the gift, which she had been working on for two days, on the table. Her eyes sparkling with anticipation, she proudly presented it.

“This is Baby’s present for Auntie.”

“It’s Baby’s favorite—little bunnies! The house is pink. The little white bunny in the middle can spin, the little grey bunny on the left can sing, and the little yellow bunny on the right can dance.”

“Baby worked on it for two days!” She looked up at Zhu Yiqiao. “Auntie, do you like it?”

“—I do.”

Zhu Yiqiao added, “Thank you.”

Both during her military service and after her appointment to the Court, Zhu Yiqiao had received countless valuable gifts. She’d never paid them much attention. But today, she found herself wanting to display this pink bunny Lego house in her display cabinet.

Ming Zaozao beamed, her eyes curving into crescents. “You’re welcome. Welcome to Baby’s house, Auntie.”

Dinner was a lavish affair. Ming Zaozao ate until her tummy was round and full, and soon after, she started to get sleepy.

Ming Fei maintained a healthy sleep schedule. Usually, after dinner and some light activity, she would tidy up and be in bed by ten. But tonight, she hadn’t gone to bed yet, even though it was past ten.

Because Zhu Yiqiao was still working in the study, and Ming Fei was too anxious to sleep before Zhu Yiqiao did, worried something might go wrong.

At 10:25 pm, the light in the study finally went off.

Ming Fei, pretending to watch a documentary in the living room, observed Zhu Yiqiao from the corner of her eye. Soon, the woman disappeared down the hallway and into the master bedroom.

After waiting a while longer, Ming Fei finally felt confident that the night would pass without incident. She stood up, finished the lukewarm water in her glass, and was about to head to bed when, suddenly, the lights in the living room went out.

The smart home system had malfunctioned.

Realizing this, Ming Fei immediately went to find Zhu Yiqiao. She had to make sure Zhu Yiqiao was in her room. When the system malfunctioned, it automatically activated the security locks, sealing all the rooms until the system was restored.

Unfortunately—Zhu Yiqiao emerged from her room into the hallway at that exact moment.

Ming Fei bit her lip. This meant she was about to be alone in a room with Zhu Yiqiao.

Zhu Yiqiao had changed out of her uniform shirt into a plain black bathrobe. As Ming Fei saw her clearly in the light from her phone screen, Zhu Yiqiao was also looking at her, a pistol gripped in her right hand.

Like a predator poised to strike.

Their shadows drew closer. As Zhu Yiqiao approached, Ming Fei caught a whiff of a subtle, almost imperceptible, fir scent.

Suddenly, a sharp sting shot through her gland, like a cat’s unexpected scratch. She lost her grip on her phone, and it clattered onto the carpet.

Zhu Yiqiao’s voice was cold. “What’s wrong?”