Chapter 25: Clouds Obscure the Moon Above the Waterfront Pavilion

"Were you out on a date with another woman?" Nicole Kidman leaned close to Chen Siyuan’s ear, whispering with a look that suggested she knew everything.

Chen Siyuan remained unfazed, letting out a scoff. "Nicole, when did you become a detective? Though your skills are a bit lacking."

Nicole Kidman licked her red lips. "Jack, you’re too calm, but that just proves you have something to hide!"

"Alright, stop guessing. If you have nothing better to do, help me wash the vegetables." Chen Siyuan didn't indulge her, scolding her slightly before turning back to his cooking.

Nicole Kidman stared at him with her beautiful eyes for a long moment. Finding no cracks in his composure, she sighed helplessly and said, "Fine!"

With that, she actually started helping him wash the vegetables. The superstar, who had never lifted a finger for housework, was now acting as a kitchen hand.

"Daddy, I’ll help too!" Just then, Liu Yifei ran in to join them.

Despite the help from Nicole and Yifei, dinner was much later than usual because Chen Siyuan had returned late.

"I’m going to wake Mom up!" After the food was on the table, Liu Yifei offered to go get Liu Xiaoli.

"Jack, you should really hire a cook. If you’re busy and can’t make it back, you can’t just leave a pregnant woman hungry," Nicole said, suddenly turning serious. She had no problem keeping Liu Xiaoli company, but she couldn't cook—which was why dinner had been so delayed.

Chen Siyuan glanced at her and nodded slightly. "I’ll head to Chinatown tomorrow to have a friend help me find a reliable cook." He was open to good advice.

"Actually, I can still cook," Liu Xiaoli’s voice came from behind them.

Chen Siyuan hurried over, carefully helping her down the stairs. These days, Liu Xiaoli was treated like a national treasure at home.

"Your only job right now is to rest and take care of the baby. Don't worry about anything else; I’ll handle it." He turned to her, adding, "I was planning on hiring someone anyway. You're eating for two now, and you might get hungry at any time."

Seeing him so insistent, Liu Xiaoli didn't push back. After all, they had the means, and hiring a cook would make things easier for him. Besides, she enjoyed being doted on by her husband.

After dinner, Chen Siyuan took Liu Xiaoli for a short walk outside before she grew sleepy again. He helped her upstairs and tucked her into bed.

"Daddy, it’s not bedtime yet. Let’s watch a movie!"

Liu Yifei, wanting to squeeze in a little more time, dragged Chen Siyuan toward the screening room. He would try to pluck the stars from the sky if she asked, let alone watch a movie.

Liu Yifei clung to his arm as they entered. Nicole Kidman, naturally, followed along.

"Let me pick one!" Nicole offered to find a disc.

"The bottom drawer..."

Nicole rummaged through the top drawer, then reached for the bottom one, only to find it locked.

"Just pick anything," Chen Siyuan said, keeping a perfectly calm expression. But Nicole had already guessed something. With a mysterious smile, she pulled a random disc from the top drawer and put it in the player.

It turned out to be a rather dull art-house film. It was by a famous director and had even won awards, but the content was so obscure and difficult to follow that it made one drowsy. By the halfway mark, Liu Yifei was already yawning.

"Xixi, if you're tired, go on up to bed," Chen Siyuan said, ruffling her hair. There was no point in her forcing it.

"Mm, goodnight, Daddy! Goodnight, Auntie Nicole." Liu Yifei nodded, yawning as she left the room, her eyes barely able to stay open.

Once she was gone, Nicole Kidman returned to the cabinets. "Jack, don't you want to show me your private collection?"

Crouched in front of the drawers, the fabric of her dress pulled tight, she looked like a perfectly ripened peach. Chen Siyuan had never been a saint. He had changed a lot since marrying Liu Xiaoli, keeping himself in check even during her pregnancy. But today, the temptation of saving Jennifer had broken his resolve, and it seemed to have unleashed the demon within.

Looking at Nicole, who was blatantly seducing him, his body betrayed his intentions.

Nicole stood up, her graceful steps bringing her right in front of him. She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Jack, you are so full of surprises. I never expected you could hold out for so long!" She bit her lip slightly.

She knew exactly how to display her greatest charms. Although Chen Siyuan’s hands remained still and his face remained calm, Nicole bit her lip and whispered into his ear, "Jack, don’t worry. I won’t ruin your relationship with Liu, and I won’t ask you to take responsibility. I have my own needs, and rather than letting some random man benefit, I’d rather it be you..."

As soon as she finished, it was like dropping a lit match into a barrel of gasoline. Even though Chen Siyuan had turned over a new leaf after marriage, he was no saint.

On the big screen, the boring art-house film played on. To anyone else, it remained obscure, but Chen Siyuan suddenly understood it. Damn it, it was a film about an affair! Even a veteran like him had been fooled, which was why he’d left it in the top drawer. Those directors were truly something else!

Once he grasped the subtext, he realized the director was a deep-seated pervert. It was a PG-rated art film that was NC-17 at its core.

Chen Siyuan frowned and abruptly stuffed a piece of cloth into Nicole Kidman’s mouth.

"Mmmph!" Nicole’s eyes widened in an instant.

...

Lying alone in bed, Nicole Kidman felt as though her entire body had fallen apart. She hadn't known Chen Siyuan at all. She had fully unleashed the demon living deep within his heart, and she had become its sacrifice. She didn't possess Liu Xiaoli’s flexibility, but the demon was there to make her lose herself in extreme pleasure.

Even in such a disheveled state, the smile on Nicole’s face remained bewitchingly beautiful. Originally, she had only been curious about Chen Siyuan’s change. As it turned out, curiosity killed the cat. Of course, having reached a silent understanding with Tom Cruise, she felt no psychological burden. Just as she had said, she had her own needs.