Whether Adele followed through on her threat was unknown. However, when she returned to her dorm, it was already almost noon. The girl was in a good mood, humming a tune and walking briskly. She carried some sweet treats she bought to appease certain people, opened the dorm door with her key, and called out, “I’m back~”.

“Xiao Ai, First Snow, have you been good?”

“Did you miss me?” Of course they did, there was no need to ask. This was also one of the sources of Adele’s daily happiness.

Before she got a reply, the cute sound of “da-da-da” footsteps approached. Xiao Ai was running down the stairs from the second floor. Her eyes were fixed on Adele as she ran towards her.

Adele squatted down and caught Xiao Ai in a full embrace. The little one’s body was soft and fluffy, emitting a faint, captivating fragrance. Adele couldn’t help but close her eyes and gently peck Xiao Ai’s cheek. Little children are so milky and cute! Adele suddenly felt the urge to have a second and a third daughter! But perhaps it was because she hadn’t experienced the disastrous period of raising a child that she felt all children were wonderful.

But in reality, Xiao Ai was a special case. Her cuteness and obedience were reserved only for Adele. But even the cute and soft Xiao Ai seemed a bit aggrieved at this moment. She buried her face in Adele’s chest, her shoulders trembling slightly, remaining silent for a long time.

“Xiao...Xiao Ai...” Adele finally reacted and called out worriedly.

“Xiao Ai is okay...” She rubbed her eyes.

“Just...missed Mama too much.”

“Last night, after Sister First Snow left, the room was so dark, I was so scared...”

“I kept hugging Mama’s pillow, hiding under the covers.”

“Imagining Mama was still beside me, I fell asleep unknowingly.”

“But when I woke up and found Mama wasn’t there, I felt so sad...” Xiao Ai’s language skills were now sufficient for her to haltingly express her feelings.

After hearing this, Adele felt a pang of guilt and heartache. The excitement of her date with Tang Linlang faded like a tide, leaving behind stinging sand. She suddenly felt a pang of conscience, as if she had become a bad mother who left her child at home to go out on a date! Ugh, I’m not a bad Mama!

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Xiao Ai...”

“I-It’s okay, Mama.” Xiao Ai wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and comforted Adele, pretending to be strong.

“As long as Mama comes back, it’s okay.”

“Xiao Ai is very good, I cooked eggs for myself at noon!”

Xiao Ai’s words reminded Adele of something. She quickly picked up the desserts she bought.

“Th-Then Xiao Ai must not be full yet!”

“This, this is a very famous dessert. Mama waited in line for a long time to buy it!”

Hearing this, Xiao Ai’s eyes lit up. She carefully took the dessert from Adele’s hand, a small, beautifully decorated cake, and murmured, “Mama...”

But surprisingly, Xiao Ai didn’t act like other children, unable to resist delicious food. Instead, she held back her urge to devour the dessert, looked up at Adele, and said, “Let’s eat together, Mama!”

“Eh...” Adele was filled with surprise. But after she reacted, her expression changed from surprise to deep emotion. Waaah, Xiao Ai...is an angel! Is there really such a good child in this world!? And I didn’t cherish her! I’m so guilty! I only cared about my date and forgot to take care of the obedient Xiao Ai. Thinking of Xiao Ai sleeping alone in the empty bed last night, covering her head with the blanket and hugging her pillow, pretending that she was still beside her, Adele felt a dull ache in her heart.

She blushed, sniffed, and pretended to be calm, “Mama already ate at noon. This is a gift for Xiao Ai...” She reached out and stroked Xiao Ai’s hair, feeling its smoothness and softness in her palm, and continued, “It’s also Mama’s apology, Xiao Ai, I’m sorry...can you forgive Mama this time?”

Xiao Ai blinked in confusion, her upturned gaze innocent and pure. “But I never blamed Mama.”

“!” Another critical hit to her heart. Even after enduring so much grievance and loneliness, in Xiao Ai’s heart, Adele was still the best Mama. And she never blamed Adele. There was only longing.

Adele’s psychological defenses instantly crumbled! She was completely captivated by Xiao Ai. She immediately hugged Xiao Ai and cried, saying that she was a terrible mother. Then it was Xiao Ai’s turn to reach out and comfort Adele, stroking her hair and whispering in her ear, “No, you’re not.”

“Mama is the best Mama in the world~.” Except for not being obedient enough, she was the best. An indescribable emotion flickered in Xiao Ai’s seemingly clear and pure eyes.

After that, she sat in Adele’s lap and enjoyed the sweet dessert. Xiao Ai acted naturally, some cream staining her soft, pink lips. Adele reached out and gently wiped it off. Then, something unexpected happened. Seeing Mama wiping the cream off her lips, Xiao Ai was first stunned, then she suddenly stuck out her tongue and licked Adele’s fingertip.

Adele couldn’t process this sudden change. By the time she reacted, Xiao Ai had already taken her entire finger into her small mouth. Adele could clearly feel the warmth of the girl’s mouth and the softness of her little tongue. Instantly, Adele’s cheeks were flushed.

And Xiao Ai then released Adele’s finger, which was now wet and slippery. She opened her mouth, revealing her glistening, pink mouth, as if saying, “I’ve eaten it all clean, Mama~.”

Adele felt a shiver run down her spine. Th-This kind of thing... Of course, she didn’t think Xiao Ai did it on purpose. On the contrary, the innocent Xiao Ai must not understand the ambiguity of this action. She just naturally licked the cream off her fingertip. Thinking of this, Adele suppressed her racing heart and, following Xiao Ai’s mood, praised her, “...Xiao...Xiao Ai did a good job, but next time...” It would be better not to do this next time.

But before Adele could finish, she met Xiao Ai’s excited gaze.

“Really!?”

“Ugh...” So the little one only heard the first half of the sentence and completely ignored the second half.

“Then I’ll lick Mama clean next time~”.

“That sounds so weird!” Adele exclaimed in a panic. Then, she spent some time finally making Xiao Ai show an expression of “seeming to understand.” The girl thought, She probably understands now, and finally felt relieved.

After finishing the dessert, a satisfied expression appeared on Xiao Ai’s face. Then, she opened her arms. Adele, understanding tacitly, carried the little one upstairs to the bedroom in a princess carry.

After entering the room and seeing that it was empty, Adele asked curiously, “Didn’t First Snow come today?”

“Mm! Sister First Snow didn’t come, meow.” Xiao Ai imitating First Snow’s tone was so cute!

“Is it too cold in winter, so she’s sleeping in at home, that lazy cat?”

“Well, whatever, Xiao Ai, is there anything you want to do?”

Xiao Ai’s eyes lit up. “Yes!”

“What is it?”

“Play games with Mama!”

“We can play games, but promise Mama, don’t get addicted, okay?”

“Ad...dicted?” Xiao Ai heard this word for the first time and tilted her head in confusion.

Adele thought for a moment and explained, “Addiction means being hopelessly in love with something or someone.”

“That’s called addiction, and it’s usually not a good state.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ai was first surprised. So...my feelings for Mama are addiction! Xiao Ai had been trying to find the right word to describe her feelings for Adele, and now that she had finally found it, how could she not be excited? But after hearing Adele’s later explanation, she pouted, unconsciously clutching her skirt, thinking, Why...is that state not good? Is it wrong for me to be addicted to Mama?

The little one shook her head vigorously. No! It’s perfectly right for me to be addicted to Mama! This was the first time Xiao Ai defied Adele’s thoughts, sticking to her own ideas. It was unclear whether this was a good change or a bad one. Because it meant that from now on, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Xiao Ai would have more of her own opinions. And Adele might eventually lose her authority in front of her, to the point where she could be disobeyed, or even bullied...

The key was that Adele was completely unaware of this! She just started the game and, as usual, played happily with Xiao Ai, completely unaware of the shadow looming over her future, vaguely in the shape of a “rebellious daughter”!