Chapter 009: In Broad Daylight—Did You Think I Wanted to Kiss You?

"You... how can you be so sure it's a girl!"
Shi Runrun blushed, her cheeks aflame, and her words were met with a man's amused laughter.
"If I say it's a girl, then it's a girl. Or you could give me twins—I wouldn't mind either!"
Shi Runrun was speechless.
He was talking about having children in broad daylight...
Wait a minute!
Weren't they discussing her schooling just now? How did the conversation shift to having babies?!
Shi Runrun was helpless. She could only resort to gentle persuasion and persistent pleading: she explained how important her studies were, promised she would not let the baby come to harm, and under the man's coercion, shyly called him "husband" several times before the mischievous man finally relented.
"You can go to school, but I must personally drive you every day. There's no room for negotiation on that!"
Seeing him relent, Shi Runrun agreed at once, so delighted she nearly bounced on the spot.
The man nearby watched his little wife in such a state and tugged at the corner of his mouth in resignation. How did he end up marrying such a little fool?
Now that he'd agreed she could continue her studies, Shi Runrun hurried upstairs to pack her schoolbag.
When she came back down, the mischievous man who had been sitting on the sofa was already waiting for her in the car outside.
Shi Runrun, with her small backpack, ran over to the car. She instinctively reached for the backseat door, but the man in the driver's seat stopped her.
Xiao Xuezheng, his gaze lingering on her throat, said, "Sit in the front."
"Ah?"
Shi Runrun paused, but obediently let go of the rear door handle and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door and sitting down.
Just then, Aunt Lin walked over, covering her mouth with laughter. "Oh my, young madam, the passenger seat beside young master—no woman has ever sat there in all these years!"
Hearing this, Shi Runrun's eyes widened. She immediately glanced at the man beside her, who coughed lightly, a flush creeping up his handsome face.
Shi Runrun had no idea that for his daily commute, Xiao Xuezheng was usually chauffeured. But when it came to driving her to school, he trusted his own skills more, so he insisted on driving himself.
He spoke to Aunt Lin, "Aunt Lin, remember to deliver her nutritional lunch at noon. I'll send you the address later."
Aunt Lin agreed, and Xiao Xuezheng started the car. Before pressing the accelerator, his deep black eyes narrowed slightly, noticing she hadn't fastened her seat belt.
In the next moment, he released the steering wheel and leaned over toward Shi Runrun.
As his handsome face drew closer, Shi Runrun thought he was about to do something and quickly shrank back, waving her hands. "Xiao Xuezheng, what are you doing?! It's broad daylight, don't—"

Shi Runrun immediately shut her eyes.
But what she expected didn't happen. The man simply reached over and buckled her seat belt, nothing more.
Shi Runrun opened her eyes, meeting his attractive, smiling gaze, and then her forehead received a gentle tap as he snorted, "What are you thinking, in broad daylight?! You thought I wanted to kiss you?! Little minx!"
Little minx...
Shi Runrun was speechless.
Her cheeks burned, her face hot, and her almond eyes were wide with indignation!
Who was he calling that?
Was he talking about her...
How was she a little minx?!
She wanted to turn to argue, but the man had already pressed the accelerator, and the white Maserati glided smoothly toward her school.
Perhaps mindful of her pregnancy, Xiao Xuezheng kept the speed controlled, driving steadily along the road.
While driving, he glanced at her in the passenger seat. Sure enough, the little one had fallen asleep against the car door.
A droplet of crystal-clear saliva trickled from her lips...
He frowned slightly, caught between amusement and exasperation. Were all pregnant women so fond of sleep?
And the drooling—when would she outgrow that?
He certainly didn't want to wake up every morning with his chest damp!
Soon, Shi Runrun's school, Capital University, appeared in the distance.
As if by telepathy, Shi Runrun awoke at that moment. She saw the university looming ever larger and quickly said to him, "Xiao Xuezheng, stop here, just let me off right here!"
Unclear why, the man braked. Shi Runrun unbuckled her seat belt, thanked him, and was about to get out when his long fingers hooked her backpack strap.
He looked at her and asked, "Isn't it still over a hundred meters? Why not let me take you to the school gate? Am I, as your husband, so embarrassing?"
Shi Runrun hurriedly waved her hands. "No way! It's because you're too impressive. With this car, if we pull up at the gate, won't it cause a sensation among the students?"
That "you're too impressive" brought a satisfied smile to the man's lips.
"And think about it, if I get out of your car, what will others think of me? They might think I'm being kept by some wealthy old man..."

She muttered, her voice growing softer, but the man heard her.
Xiao Xuezheng frowned. "You're saying I'm a wealthy old man?!"
Shi Runrun immediately smiled apologetically. "Not at all! I wouldn't dare! Just drop me here, I'll walk over myself! Goodbye!"
She waved at him and tried to slip away, but Xiao Xuezheng caught her wrist and pulled her back.
He looked at her, displeased, and snorted, "Shi Runrun, after what you just said to your husband, I'm very unhappy. Now, you must promise me one thing before I'll let you go!"
Shi Runrun stared at him with round eyes. "What is it?"
The man pointed to his right cheek and said in a low voice, "Kiss me. Otherwise, you won't be going to school today!"
Shi Runrun was speechless.
What the... this man, how could he be so mischievous and petty...
But seeing more and more students gathering at the school gate, Shi Runrun, afraid of being noticed, could only pucker her lips and lightly brush his right cheek with a kiss.
Then she quickly pushed his hand away, announced she was going to school, and hurried off.
Xiao Xuezheng watched her petite figure darting away like a mouse fleeing a cat and couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
He touched his right cheek and wondered if he was really that scary. Silly little thing.
...
Just as she entered the campus, her best friend and roommate Cen Huan rushed toward her, demanding answers about the previous incident.
A month ago, at the party where Shi Runrun was framed by Shi Qing, Cen Huan had been present, but she hadn't been able to help in time.
For the past month, Shi Runrun had been on medical leave. This was her first time back at school since that event.
"Runrun! What happened to you this past month?! You only just came back—you scared me half to death!"
On the path in front of the teaching building, Cen Huan grabbed her hand and questioned her.
Shi Runrun hesitated, thinking it over, and finally decided to tell Cen Huan everything: how she'd been kicked out of the Shi family, how she was pregnant with Xiao Xuezheng's child, and how she'd married him.
"What?! You married Xiao Xuezheng?! The Xiao Xuezheng from the Xiao family?! Did I hear that right?!"