Control (Futa) - Chapter 15

15. Cohabitation

Ji Xun normally lived alone in the city center, close to her company and school for convenience. She would only return to the Ji family villa in the suburbs to have meals with her parents when she had time.

However, after coaxing Tang Mingling into changing their relationship status, she immediately wanted to $\text{cohabit}$ with her. Tang Mingling initially felt it was too fast. There were no feelings between them; it was just a secret $\text{sex}$ $\text{partner}$ agreement.

But Ji Xun told her that after the banquet, many people already knew they were dating. Cohabitation would solidify their relationship. Since they had already skipped dating and $\text{had}$ $\text{sex}$ countless times, $\text{cohabitation}$ didn’t seem like such a big deal.

Tang Mingling wasn’t truly unwilling; she just felt the need to maintain a certain reserve. Only after the other woman $\text{coaxed}$ her and explained the benefits of living together did she agree.

The Ji family residence was not far from where Tang Mingling lived. Ji Xun was moving her luggage from the Ji family house. As she was leaving, she ran into Ji Jue, who had just returned home.

“Where are you going? Not coming home to stay?” Ji Jue was surprised to see her sister, who rarely came home, moving luggage.

Ji Xun had been thoughtful and $\text{private}$ since childhood, rarely discussing her decisions with the family.

But she was also smart, and every step of her life was meticulously planned and error-free.

Even if her sister wanted to help, she couldn’t. So, she simply respected her decisions and thoughts.

“Moving to Mingling’s place,” Ji Xun instructed the $\text{butler}$ to take the luggage to the car.

“Are you two serious?” Ji Jue asked hesitantly. Someone had already told her about the charity gala. She initially thought it was a rumor, considering her sister’s physical $\text{condition}$… She never expected Ji Xun was actually moving in. “Then is she…?”

After watching all the luggage being loaded into the car, Ji Xun picked up a large stuffed bear toy, still encased in a plastic bag, that was placed by the door. She looked back at Ji Jue. “Sister, don’t worry. She isn’t afraid of me. Bring Shuyu over to play when you have time. She and Ximin are good friends.”

Ji Xun had someone deliver the luggage to Tang Mingling’s villa. When she got out of the car and saw Tang Ximin, she took a new stuffed animal from the back seat—one Tang Xuyu had mentioned wanting—and gave it to her.

“Auntie, are you going to live with us from now on?” Tang Ximin asked, hugging the large stuffed bear Ji Xun gave her, standing by the door.

“Does Ximin agree to let Auntie move in?” Ji Xun knelt down, meeting the child’s gaze, and asked seriously.

“If Mom says it’s okay… then it’s okay.” Tang Ximin rarely got to make decisions. Her life was entirely decided by Tang Mingling. Under Ji Xun’s gentle gaze, she thought for a moment before whispering, “I like Auntie. It’s nice when Auntie is here.”

Every time Ji Xun appeared, she brought changes that made Tang Ximin happy. In her eyes, Ji Xun represented the image of “good.”

Seeing the small face, so similar to Tang Mingling’s, seriously saying she liked her, Ji Xun couldn’t help but smile. She reached out and $\text{stroked}$ the top of her head. “Thank you, Ximin.”

“You’re welcome.” Tang Ximin hugged the bear tightly, shyly hiding behind the toy.

When Tang Mingling came downstairs, she saw the warm scene of Ji Xun and her daughter at the doorway. The image was like that of a mother and daughter. In contrast, she was far less gentle with her daughter than Ji Xun was. She felt a little uneasy for a moment.

Walking slowly to the doorway, she stood beside Tang Ximin and said coolly, “The room is ready. The luggage can be taken upstairs.” Her appearance interrupted the conversation between the big and the small. Ji Xun looked up at her, with a look that was both a smile and not a smile.

When her mother appeared, Tang Ximin habitually fell silent. She didn’t expect her mother to suddenly speak to her.

“Do you like the bear?” After Ji Xun left to arrange the luggage transfer, Tang Mingling looked down and asked her.

“…$\text{Mmm}$, I like it.” Tang Ximin didn’t dare to look up at her, responding softly while hugging the stuffed bear. She was afraid that if she answered incorrectly, her mother would get angry and throw away the toy or drive Ji Xun away.

While talking to Ji Xun, she was back and forth, but when speaking to her, she was like a robot. Her daughter’s differential treatment made Tang Mingling feel a little depressed. For the first time, she directly confronted the fact that she was a failed mother, and even a failed adult.

It was true that her failed marriage prevented her from raising her head in her social circle. But she was only venting all this resentment on her child, showing her own weakness and incompetence. But it shouldn’t be like this…

If an outsider like Ji Xun could be good to her child, why should she be so harsh on her daughter?

Tang Mingling slowly knelt down, mimicking Ji Xun’s earlier posture, looking into her daughter’s eyes. When Tang Ximin looked over, she forced a smile. “If you like the bear, how about Mom takes you to the children’s amusement park to play with the bears?”

Tang Ximin was stunned for a moment. After looking at Tang Mingling for a long time, she whispered, “Really? Mom is going to take me to the children’s amusement park? Is that okay?”

Tang Mingling raised her hand and $\text{stroked}$ her daughter’s soft hair. “$\text{Mmm}$, after the amusement park, we can go to the aquarium to see the dolphins. How does that sound?”

Tang Ximin’s eyes widened, staring at the gentle mother in front of her. A light gradually appeared in her eyes, and she nodded softly.

When her gaze fell on Ji Xun behind her, she thought, It’s so great that Auntie Ji Xun can move in.