Chapter Eighty-Two

After Zhou Yu finished speaking, he returned to the car. Once the three women were inside, he said, "Nian Yu, Xiaojie, please step outside for a moment."

Nian Yu, noticing Zhou Yu's unpleasant expression, didn't argue and replied coolly, "Keep your voice down."

With that, she took Xiao Jie and left.

Zhou Yu muttered under his breath, "Keep my voice down? What does she think about all day, always calling me a scoundrel."

Pan Yuxin spoke softly, "Yu, what's wrong?"

Zhou Yu pulled Pan Yuxin close and gave her two quick spanks, saying, "Who told you to run across just now? Were you trying to get yourself killed?"

Pan Yuxin looked at Zhou Yu with teary eyes, feeling wronged. "I was just worried about you," she said.

Zhou Yu replied, "You—this has happened before. Do you want me to owe you another one? Or do you want me to watch you die right in front of me?"

Pan Yuxin quickly shook her head. "No, you don't owe me anything. I did it of my own accord."

Zhou Yu looked at Pan Yuxin with a hint of sorrow, gently stroking her hair and forcing a bitter smile. "Silly girl, you can't do that again. Your Yu won't die so easily."

Pan Yuxin didn't respond, gazing at Zhou Yu with tears in her eyes.

Looking at her pitiful face, Zhou Yu acted on impulse, pressing his lips to hers. He didn't kiss her deeply, nor did he merely brush her lips—a firm, lingering kiss, and then he pulled away.

"Go to sleep," Zhou Yu said.

Pan Yuxin stood there, stunned, unable to grasp what had just happened.

Zhou Yu lightly tapped her on the bottom again. "Don't just stand there. Time for bed."

Only after that did Pan Yuxin come to her senses, her cheeks flushed as she climbed onto the bed.

Seeing Pan Yuxin settle in, Zhou Yu opened the door and called Nian Yu and Xiao Jie back in.

As soon as Nian Yu entered and saw Pan Yuxin lying in bed, she teased, "Husband, when did you become so quick?"

Zhou Yu, hearing her words, walked over and slapped Nian Yu's bottom. "Are you mocking me? I ought to strip you right here and teach you a lesson."

Nian Yu pouted. "No way, you always bully me."

Zhou Yu pulled her into an embrace. "Still daring to say bad things about your husband? Tonight, you’re punished—sleep with me."

Nian Yu struggled for a moment but soon gave up. "Ugh, scoundrel," she muttered.

Xiao Jie watched their playful banter with a smile and quietly climbed onto the bed as well.

After a while, Nian Yu said, "Let’s get some rest. We’ll need strength to save people later."

Zhou Yu, holding Nian Yu, found a spot to lean back and nap.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before Nian Yu gently woke him.

"What is it?" Zhou Yu asked groggily.

"It's dawn. Time to get up. Aren't you supposed to rescue someone?" Nian Yu replied.

Still half asleep, Zhou Yu rose, opened the door, and called out, "What time is it?"

Wang Hao, who was outside, answered, "It's not even seven."

Zhou Yu, upon hearing this, shouted, "Wake me at nine!"

He closed the door and went back to bed.

By then, Xiao Jie and Pan Yuxin were already awake. Seeing Zhou Yu's sleepy state, Xiao Jie suggested, "Come sleep up here. Yuxin and I will go take a look outside."

With that, she took Yuxin and left.