Chapter 1639

After making all the arrangements, Xiao Qingqing was about to head out when she swung open the door and nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of someone standing right outside. A startled yelp escaped her lips. Seeing her genuinely frightened, Samuel turned around with a concerned look. "Did I scare you?" Xiao Qingqing pressed a hand to her chest, exhaling in exasperation. "You think? Uncle, you nearly gave me a heart attack! Standing there like a ghost—couldn’t you at least make a sound?" She paused, eyes widening. "Wait… how long have you been here?" Samuel merely smiled, offering no reply. Oh no. Oh no no no. Xiao Qingqing forced a calm expression. *There’s no way he heard anything… right?* But before speaking, she cleared her throat nervously. "Uncle… you didn’t, uh, hear anything just now, did you?" "If you’d prefer, I can pretend I didn’t." Her face burned crimson. If embarrassment had a ranking, this would be the gold-standard case study. "Ha-ha, well, Uncle, maybe you could just… pretend you didn’t—" "But," Samuel cut her off, his voice low and deliberate, "I *am* curious to see how you plan to… spoil me." Oh god. If there had been a mouse hole nearby, she’d have bolted into it faster than the rodent itself. "I was just joking! You—weren’t you working downstairs?" "Finished early," he said, taking a deliberate step forward. Seeing the situation, Xiao Qingqing hastily pushed Samuel back and leaped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. "Uncle, the surprise I prepared for you... it's better if you see it without me around. I'll head back to my room—take your time enjoying it." Samuel observed her nervous—no, downright guilty—demeanor... Something was definitely off! Just as she turned to flee, he swiftly grabbed her wrist with one hand and pushed the door open with the other. The moment the door swung wide, the room erupted in a sea of pastel pink, brimming with cartoon princess motifs. Samuel couldn't help but burst into laughter. So this was why the girl had been so excited, holed up alone in here earlier. She'd been plotting mischief all along! Xiao Qingqing squeezed her eyes shut. She'd only meant to tease him a little—who knew she'd get caught red-handed? This was beyond embarrassing. Another chapter added to the textbook of social disasters! "So... Uncle, you're... not mad, are you?" Samuel wiped the smile off his face and turned to her with a stern gaze. "What do you think?" Xiao Qingqing instinctively straightened her back. Of course he was furious! "I... You told me to redecorate according to my own preferences!" "So this is genuinely your taste?" Of course not. Xiao Qingqing had loathed anything pink and frilly since childhood... But she didn't dare admit it, stubbornly insisting, "Yeah! All girls love this style, don't they?" "Mm, good," Samuel nodded approvingly. "Starting today, I'll happily enjoy our Qingqing's doting on her uncle." Xiao Qingqing let out an awkward chuckle, her face burning with embarrassment. Then his next words turned her to stone. "As thanks for your thoughtfulness, I've decided to share this joy with you. So from now on, you'll be sleeping in this room with me." Without hesitation, Xiao Qingqing threw up her hands in surrender, her expression deadly serious. "Uncle, I was wrong. I shouldn't have played that prank on you." Samuel suppressed a laugh, maintaining his stern demeanor as he crossed his arms and studied her intently. His scrutinizing gaze made her squirm, as if she were a lamb roasting over hot coals. Lowering her voice, she pleaded, "Uncle, just punish me instead. Whatever you want—as long as it makes you feel better." "Oh?" Samuel unfolded his arms and took a step forward. A sudden wave of nervousness hit her. Had she just dug herself into a deeper hole? Frantically, she thrust out her palm. "Uncle... just hit me! If I make a sound, I'm not human!" Instead, Samuel casually took her soft hand in his and said mildly, "Domestic violence is illegal." Domestic... violence? They weren't even married! Before she could react, he tugged her forward, pulling her effortlessly into his arms. As the distance between them closed, Xiao Qingqing's nervousness surged, her mind instantly flashing back to yesterday's scene at the old house where he'd pinned her down and kissed her. She struggled briefly but couldn't break free. Taking advantage of her height, she ducked her head down defiantly. *Let’s see if Samuel can bend down far enough to kiss me now!* Noticing her little scheme, Samuel finally smirked, the corners of his lips curling with mischief. Without warning, he swept her off her feet, cradling her in his arms as he strode toward the pink canopy bed. Xiao Qingqing gasped in alarm, her eyes wide with panic. "Third Uncle! Wh-what are you doing?" His voice was calm, almost teasing. "Didn’t you say I could punish you however I wanted?" "B-but not... *that* kind of thing! We're not—this isn’t real! Third Uncle, I don’t want to—" Before she could finish, he reached the bed and set her down gently. The moment her feet touched the floor, she spun to bolt—only for Samuel to yank her back effortlessly. One hand held her firmly in place while the other traced the delicate curve of her jade-smooth cheek. He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her skin. Terrified, Xiao Qingqing squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips together tightly. But the expected kiss never came. Instead, a deep, velvety voice, laced with amusement, whispered by her ear— "Since when did such a little girl have such a dirty mind?" Her eyes flew open in shock, only to find his face still dangerously close. The sudden movement made her lips brush lightly against his cheek. She quickly tilted her head back, irritation bubbling inside her. What a hypocrite! Samuel was absolutely turning the tables on her! Watching her puffed-up cheeks and barely contained frustration, Samuel couldn’t help but chuckle. He released her hand, strolled casually to the bed, kicked off his shoes, and sprawled out comfortably. As he closed his eyes, seemingly ready to rest, Xiao Qingqing was utterly baffled. What was this about now? No punishment? Perfect. She seized the moment. "Well then... I won’t disturb your rest, Third Uncle. I’ll just—" "Stay right there. Reflect on your actions. And while you’re at it, admire your handiwork." His eyes remained shut, but Xiao Qingqing understood perfectly. This jerk was treating her like a misbehaving toddler—making her stand in the corner! Talk about outsmarting yourself and losing big. Samuel lay there for over an hour, appearing to have dozed off. Xiao Qingqing was just plotting her escape when— "If you move, you’ll regret it." His voice was smooth, almost lazy. He never bothered with pronouns, but since they were alone, she knew exactly who he was addressing. Straightening up, she declared, "Third Uncle, I apologize. I’ll restore your room to its original state as soon as possible." "Wrong." Samuel opened his eyes and sat up. "Go get your pillow and pajamas. Starting tonight, you’re sleeping here."