In the dark room, Lin Fan, using the moonlight filtering in from the outside, quietly sat on the edge of the bed and put on his clothes and shoes.
Then, he tiptoed to the bedroom door, held his breath, and slowly turned the doorknob.
*Click!*
A soft sound, exceptionally noticeable in the quiet surroundings.
Lin Fan stopped, listening for any movement upstairs.
Fortunately, his sister-in-law was fast asleep and hadn't noticed anything.
Lin Fan slowly opened the door and tiptoed through the living room.
He repeated his earlier actions, carefully closing the main door, and again listened for any movement upstairs.
"Hoo~"
He let out a breath and looked for an easy spot to land.
The courtyard gate was large and heavy, and it would make a sharp metallic screech when opened or closed, making it impossible to leave unnoticed.
This might stump others, but not Lin Fan.
He walked to the corner of the courtyard, took a deep breath.
"Hey!"
Lin Fan executed a perfect "dry land explosion," shooting up like a rocket.
He used his feet to push off the wall slightly, and his body soared again, clearing the more than three-meter-high courtyard wall in one leap.
Upon landing, Lin Fan sprinted a few steps to dissipate his momentum, a smug smile appearing on his lips.
Sister-in-law, I'm truly sorry!
While the home flower is fragrant, the wild flower must also be plucked!
Lin Fan turned up his collar, zipped his jacket to the top to ward off the night's chill, and hurried towards Song Yue's house.
Less than ten minutes later.
Lin Fan arrived outside Song Yue's home.
Fearing he might disturb the neighbors, he used the same method, leaping up and into the courtyard.
"She's indeed not asleep."
As he had expected, Song Yue's room was still lit.
It was already past one in the morning. Lin Fan quietly approached the window, wanting to see what Song Yue was doing.
"Baby, be good..."
Under the soft lamplight, Song Yue, draped in a thick coat, gently rocked a child in her arms.
Her eyes were swollen, clearly having cried for a long time.
"I can't count on anyone; everyone is a liar."
"Cough, who's lying?"
Lin Fan gave a light cough, startling Song Yue, who almost jumped.
"Xiao Fan!" Song Yue turned her head, surprise, joy, and excitement flashing across her eyes in rapid succession.
"Open the door for me," Lin Fan said, gesturing with his chin.
"Okay, I'll open it right away."
Song Yue carefully placed the child on the bed and then rushed to open the door.
Lin Fan, with a bright smile, spread his arms wide.
Song Yue lunged into Lin Fan's embrace, "Xiao Fan..."
She didn't know what to say; perhaps nothing mattered at this moment.
"It's cold outside, let's go inside to talk."
Lin Fan slid his hands under her armpits and lifted her, staggering a bit as he walked into the house.
"I can walk myself."
Song Yue knew she wasn't light and feared being disliked, so she quickly struggled and landed on the ground.
They entered the house.
Song Yue glanced at the child to see if she was asleep, then turned back to find Lin Fan had taken off his shoes.
"What do you want to do?"
She asked, her face flushing red.
Lin Fan chuckled, "It's so cold, and there's no heating at home, so of course, we're going to bed."
"Didn't you move back to your own place with your sister-in-law? Why are you here?" Song Yue retorted, annoyed.
"My little lover is here, where else would I be?" Lin Fan said with a roguish smile.
"You..." Song Yue was so angry she couldn't speak. She had never met such a shameless person.
Lin Fan gently pushed her, "You go up first, move to the back, and make some space for me."
Song Yue reluctantly returned to the bed, pulling the blanket up to cover her legs.
Lin Fan immediately followed.
"So warm, so fragrant, hehe."
"Still happy?"
Seeing that he could still smile, Song Yue was greatly displeased.
"What do you say about us? How about we just cut ties completely and never see each other again?"
Her resentment was immense, and her words were icy and unforgiving.
Lin Fan reached out and patted her head, "Say that again?"
"I..." Song Yue was angry, but she truly didn't dare to say it again.
She was afraid Lin Fan would throw a tantrum and leave.
"Xiao Fan."
Song Yue called out pitifully, her eyes immediately reddening.
"Don't cry, don't cry, I'm here, aren't I?"
Lin Fan pulled her into his arms, "I have no choice. Look at my sister-in-law's attitude. If I defied her wishes, it would end up unmanageable."
"So, I don't need to be considered?" Song Yue choked out.
"I didn't say I wouldn't consider you, sigh~"
Lin Fan sighed deeply, "The great cause is not yet accomplished, and comrades must still work hard. Our work can only be carried out underground for now."
"I believe the road ahead is tortuous, but the future is bright, and we will eventually achieve a positive outcome."
Song Yue bit her lower lip. This wasn't what she wanted to hear.
She wanted to live openly with Lin Fan, even if it meant being a concubine.
"Xiao Fan, let me have a child for you," Song Yue said softly.
She couldn't think of any other way to make Xia Xue agree to her being with Lin Fan.
"Okay," Lin Fan readily agreed.
Their eyes met. After a moment of silence, Song Yue slipped under the covers.
The night was long.
Before the main event, there were many interesting preludes to savor slowly.
...
"Cock-a-doodle-doo~"
As the sky began to turn a pale white, a rooster stretched its neck and announced the arrival of a new day with its crowing.
In the bedroom, darkness and silence prevailed. A strong arm emerged from beneath the blanket, fumbling for scattered clothes.
"Xiao Fan, don't go."
Song Yue, noticing Lin Fan's movements, tightly grasped his other arm.
"It's almost dawn, and my sister-in-law wakes up early. You know that."
Lin Fan gently patted the beauty in his arms.
"Stay a little longer, just a little while," Song Yue said softly.
Lin Fan had no choice. While twirling a strand of Song Yue's hair around his finger, he nervously worried about Xia Xue discovering his absence.
"How about..." Lin Fan began, then stopped.
Song Yue looked up, "How about what?"
A wicked smile crept onto Lin Fan's lips, "It's morning, give me some breakfast."
"You... you're annoying."
Song Yue lowered her head shyly, fidgeting, "The child can walk now and eats a lot more. If you eat, she won't have enough."
"I've been talking with you all night, my mouth is so dry."
Lin Fan's voice was like a devil luring a lost lamb.
At five in the morning, as dawn broke.
Lin Fan returned home without incident and lay down on his own bed.
He concentrated and listened. There was no sound from upstairs, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, my back."
Lin Fan turned on his side, massaging his sore lower back with a wry smile.
Song Yue, experiencing extreme emotional swings, could only seek physical and emotional satisfaction through intense means.
With some time left, Lin Fan quickly caught up on sleep, allowing his tired body to rest.
Soon, loud snores echoed.
At the very moment Lin Fan fell asleep, Xia Xue upstairs suddenly opened her eyes.
She said nothing, made no movement.
Xia Xue gazed quietly at the ceiling, her beautiful eyes filled with complex, indescribable emotions.