TFRLTOP Chapter 19 Part 2

“Miss Chu.” It was Steward Wu’s voice.

Ming Ming didn’t turn around, keeping up the melancholy, sorrowful aura.

“Steward Wu, please analyze the imagery in this courtyard.”

Steward Wu: “……”

“Including, but not limited to, the autumn wind, the falling leaves, me on the swing, the gardener who isn’t showing off his muscles…”

Steward Wu: “…………”

“So that’s why you like sitting here—you’ve been watching them.”

A low voice came from behind, freezing Ming Ming in place.

“Not impressed by their muscles? How about I line them up in front of you and have them all show off at once?”

Ming Ming almost turned to stone.

It was Huo Xiao’s voice.

“Oh dear, the spring fatigue and autumn lethargy make my eyes so heavy… now I’m even hallucinating?” Ming Ming muttered, leaning weakly on the swing. “I’ll just take a little nap.”

She pulled the wool blanket tightly over her head.

Ming Ming’s “ming” was truly first-class.

First-class at what?

First-class at playing dumb.

Huo Xiao waved his hand, letting Steward Wu leave first. Before leaving, Steward Wu thoughtfully called the muscled gardeners away too.

Huo Xiao had only heard that Chu Yun was sitting on the swing in the courtyard. He hadn’t expected that, without taking a step or making a sound, he would get a “surprise.”

Looking around at the courtyard, seventy percent of it was evergreen shrubs—dense and green, the exact shade he imagined over his head.

His little lover stares at the gardeners’ muscles every day at home—what a future!

What show did she watch last night after dinner? He had casually asked—it was called “Desperate Housewives” or something?

Just from the title, it didn’t seem serious. If it were serious, she’d be wearing headphones.

Even after everyone left, Huo Xiao stood there, motionless, eyes on the blanket-wrapped figure. If he wanted, no one within three steps could sense his presence.

After a while, Ming Ming thought everyone had left. Slowly, she poked her head out from the wool blanket, sensing no danger.

When she looked up, she met Huo Xiao’s expressionless face.

Locking eyes, Ming Ming nearly had her soul scared out of her.

Was this person a ghost? How could he be completely silent??

She was so frightened she couldn’t speak. When she recovered, her body went soft. Hands clasped over the armrest, chin resting on top, she pitifully looked up at him, lips pouting softly: “Fifth Master…”

A perfectly smooth, natural set of movements.

Huo Xiao nearly laughed at her audacity.

“Your skills really keep improving,” Fifth Master Huo said with a cold sneer.

“No, not at all.” Ming Ming tilted her head, resting it on her arms, innocence plastered on her face, but speaking provocatively. “It’s not my fault you never come home, I’m lonely.”

Huo Xiao leaned in, pinching her cheek. “Unreasonable. I was gone three days last week. That gave you an excuse, right?”

“……”

Ming Ming ignored him and continued: “…When someone’s lonely, they tend to look for substitutes. But a substitute is still just a substitute. It can never compare to the real thing.”

Huo Xiao’s pinch turned into a gentle caress.

“Nonsense.”

Ming Ming grinned slyly, her eyes sparkling. She lifted her body closer, hand near her mouth, whispering, “Fifth Master, their muscles aren’t as nice as yours…”

This didn’t flatter him at all. He mercilessly exposed her: “When I’m home, I don’t see you hanging around me that much. In fact, I caught you a few times deliberately avoiding me.”

Ming Ming’s face changed color, recalling certain images, her body tensing reflexively, feeling sore all over.

She instinctively tried to shrink back.

“See? You’re avoiding me again.”

Fifth Master Huo said casually, crouching down, arms pinning Ming Ming in the swing.

She shrank her neck.

His hands landed on her pale arms, stroking up and down. Huo Xiao’s thick callouses always left marks, yet now the sensation on her tender skin felt electric.

The blanket slipped to the ground.

His hands moved to her waist, tickling her sides.

Ming Ming: !!!

“No, no! It’s ticklish… hahaha… stop, Fifth Master…”

She laughed uncontrollably, twisting and wriggling, unable to escape his grasp.

The swing rocked. A misstep sent Ming Ming tumbling onto the wool blanket.

Exactly as he wanted. He pressed closer, hands never stopping, Ming Ming laughing, rolling beneath him.

“Stop! I’m wrong, I really am, Fifth Master, forgive me… hahaha…”

“Wrong about what?” Huo Xiao asked deeply.

“I won’t avoid you anymore! Hahaha… no more avoiding, no more watching the gardeners, no one at all, not even Steward Wu!!!”

Huo Xiao deliberately twisted her words: “I didn’t expect you’d even watch Steward Wu.”

“I didn’t!” Laughing until tears gleamed in her eyes, Ming Ming’s gaze glinted red, scolding him softly, “Fifth Master, you’re so mean!”

“Mean?”

Huo Xiao continued tickling her. Ming Ming laughed herself into exhaustion, unable to fight or even call out.

“You promised not to avoid me. Look—you’re still avoiding.” Fifth Master Huo calmly stated a fact.

Ming Ming’s eyes widened in disbelief, shocked by his shameless audacity.

Huo Xiao leaned in, his breath brushing her face. Ming Ming breathed softly, chest rising and falling. Her gaze landed on his sharp lips, then his eyes, emotions swirling chaotically.

No—it was actually easy to understand.

“You little liar,” he said.

“Deserve punishment,” she whispered back.