MGASC -Chapter 3 An Alluring Scene

“Dad! You’re back!”

“Dad, you’ve been released!”

“Dad, so you’re not dead after all!”

The three little ones sprang up in unison, sending the chopsticks clattering to the floor.

Lin Tianyue only noticed the movement in the kitchen and came in to check. In front of him were three kids, each with shiny, greasy mouths from eating. The youngest still had grains of rice stuck at the corner of his lips, mumbling “Dad” with his mouth full, chewing away.

On the stove was a large bowl of braised pork, mostly finished, glistening with oil. There was still half a tray of rice, quietly giving off its aroma.

“There’s meat at home? Who made this?” Lin Tianyue asked, his sharp gaze turning toward Lin Xun.

Lin Xun didn’t even want to mention the person’s name: “Her!”

“What time is it? You’re not asleep and sneaking food in the dark?”

The youngest quickly spoke up: “It’s because she hid all the good food and didn’t give us any! Dad, we’re not stealing… Brother and I are really hungry…”

The second son lowered his head: “She took all the money, and for the past three or four days we could only eat cornbread…”

The eldest frowned: “Stop it!”

Lin Tianyue’s brows knitted like mountain peaks, and he clenched his fists.

He and Zhang Qiao had ended up together in a messy, accidental way—he slept with her and got her pregnant.

Two months into their marriage, he had realized that his wife was lazy and greedy, not an easy woman to deal with. Normally, he would even remind Lin Xun that she was pregnant and needed nutrition, so she could eat whatever she wanted. In terms of allowance, he had never shorted her.

But hiding food and not letting the kids eat because of her greed—that was going too far!

He had clearly left her enough money to support the whole family.

Seeing his dark expression, the eldest Lin Xun comforted him: “Dad, are you hungry? Do you want me to serve you a bowl first?”

Lin Tianyue’s face was icy: “I’m not hungry. You three finish it all.”

With that, he clenched his fists and strode out, pushing open the door to his and Zhang Qiao’s room.

“Zhang Qiao, I left this family to you, and you—”

He stopped mid-sentence as Zhang Qiao’s startled scream cut him off.

She was bathing!

More precisely, she was finishing up her wash. She had just scrubbed herself with a towel, changed into her sleepwear, when Lin Tianyue barged in.

Even with her sleepwear on, he caught a glimpse of her snow-white waist.

A plain cotton vest and shorts with a white floral pattern, normally dowdy, looked fresh and delicate on Zhang Qiao. The hot water had tinted her pale skin pink. Her slender waist was perfect, with a slight baby bump on her lower abdomen.

Her long hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders, and her almond-shaped eyes, now staring at Lin Tianyue, resembled a frightened little fox.

Lin Tianyue had always known Zhang Qiao was beautiful, but because of her temper, he had never really appreciated it. Seeing her like this—fresh, delicate, and alluring—he froze, staring at her lithe, pale limbs. His throat tightened, and his usually cold face flushed red.

His ears burned, until a flustered and angry Zhang Qiao threw the washbasin at him: “You pervert! Don’t you know how to knock?”

Lin Tianyue dodged cleanly, though stray drops splashed onto his pants, hot and stinging his thighs.

Somewhere else was reacting… uncontrollably.

He cleared his throat: “This is my house; what’s the point of knocking? Besides, you’re wearing clothes, aren’t you?”

Even so, he turned his back instinctively.

Only then did Zhang Qiao realize it was Lin Tianyue, the male lead, who had entered.

Tall and burly, at least 185 cm, slightly unkempt with a bit of stubble, wearing a simple blue cloth outfit, he looked rough yet undeniably handsome, exuding raw masculinity.

Zhang Qiao blinked, thinking: So this is the so-called rugged man? No wonder he’s the male lead—he’s really handsome!

She almost chased her precious little ones away in shock.

Turning, she quickly threw on a jacket: “So it’s you. You’ve been released?”

“What, are you not happy?”

“Of course I am! I’m more than happy.”

It was just that he came back so suddenly, she hadn’t been prepared. “By the way, what were you about to say when you came in just now?”

Lin Tianyue ran his large hand through his rough short hair, still fixated on her slender waist and limbs.

Right, what was he going to say?

Oh, he remembered!

He turned, his expression hardening: “Zhang Qiao, I don’t ask you to treat those three kids as your own, but don’t go too far! Lin Xun said they’ve been eating only cornbread for days. Did I give you too little money? Hiding meat for yourself is one thing, but not giving them even a bit of soup? Are you still human?”

Hearing his fierce scolding, Zhang Qiao finally understood where his anger came from.

She calmly turned to tidy the bed, smiling: “Aren’t they eating right now? And they seem to be enjoying it.”

“They…”

Lin Tianyue was momentarily speechless.

Zhang Qiao glanced at his flushed face.

A tall, dark, and imposing man, looking flustered like this, was actually kind of amusing.

She sat on the bed and spoke softly: “The three kids are at that rebellious age. Caring for them requires the right method. Lin Tianyue, this is my first time being a stepmother, and I’m trying to adjust. You can’t judge by the process, you have to look at the result, right?”

Lin Tianyue didn’t reply, studying her intently.

His gaze was investigative, almost like he was trying to figure her out.

When did she start speaking sense? Or was she planning some other mischief?

Today, her attitude was unusually good, but she hadn’t always been like this…

Lin Xun, Lin Ran, Lin Jin—they were all unlucky orphans, just like him.

When he found them under the bridge, they were almost starving. He thought, since he was alone, a few companions wouldn’t hurt, and he brought them home.

Later, he accidentally slept with Zhang Qiao and got her pregnant.

He knew it was difficult for a single young woman to become a stepmother to three unrelated kids.

Before, when she had conflicts with the kids, he wouldn’t press the matter as long as it wasn’t too extreme. Scolding her would only cause chaos in the household.

But this time, she suddenly changed. Not only did she not argue with him, she explained everything calmly.

It was like a punch to cotton—he wasn’t used to it.

He mumbled his approval: “As long as you have this mindset, it’s fine.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t treat anyone unfairly, and definitely not the kids.”

“…Hmm.” Lin Tianyue gave her a deep look.

Zhang Qiao, however, worried. He returned so suddenly, and there was only one bed—how would they sleep tonight?

Just as she was pondering, Lin Tianyue said: “Alright, it’s late. Go get some sleep. I’ll check on them.”

With that, he turned and left.

Zhang Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had some sense.

But soon after she lay down in her pink-canopied wooden bed, just as she was drifting off, the bed dipped on one side. Light leaked in, and a tall body pressed against hers.