After Shen Zhirou finished tidying everything up, it was only half past six. She went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Not knowing Lu Yao’s preferences, she simply pulled out some milk and bread, planning to make sandwiches to pair with the milk.
These were simple tasks, and Shen Zhirou handled them with ease. When she returned to the bedroom, Lu Yao was already awake, lying in bed and staring into space.
Shen Zhirou met Lu Yao’s eyes and saw that her gray-brown gaze had regained its usual clarity, no longer carrying the soft, lingering tenderness from the night before.
Lu Yao gave Shen Zhirou a lazy glance and asked, “Why are you up so early?”
“When I lived in my apartment, I always got up early to make breakfast for myself. I wasn’t sure what you like, so I prepared sandwiches and milk. Want to join me?” Shen Zhirou looked at Lu Yao, her thumb absently rubbing against her other fingers as she spoke.
“No thanks. I’m in the habit of eating at the company. Jiang Chen will pick me up after I shower and drop you off at work on the way. Or if that’s inconvenient, you can take my car—I hardly ever drive it anyway.” Lu Yao’s voice was cool and crisp. She propped herself up and slipped into the black silk nightgown beside her, which just barely covered her snow-white skin. Then she rose and headed into the bathroom without waiting for a reply.
Her movements were brisk and efficient, devoid of any lingering intimacy from the previous night. She didn’t spare Shen Zhirou so much as an extra glance, acting as if they were mere strangers—despite how intimately they’d been entwined just hours ago.
Shen Zhirou stood frozen in place. Her parents had divorced when she was young, leaving her to grow up with her younger sister and grandmother. Visits to her mother’s or father’s homes always left her walking on eggshells, for those places never felt like home; they only amplified her sense of being an unwelcome guest.
Those early experiences had made her acutely sensitive to others’ moods. The faintest hint of displeasure would trigger her instinct to tread carefully, desperate not to be cast aside. She’d clearly sensed a change in Lu Yao’s demeanor just now.
With Lu Yao declining her invitation, Shen Zhirou heated the milk for herself, quickly pan-fried a sandwich, and sat at the dining table to eat. But her attention stayed glued to the master bedroom.
From inside came the sound of Lu Yao on the phone, discussing what sounded like an urgent matter.
Lu Yao had several meetings lined up that morning. The project under her charge was nearing completion, and the final stages demanded extra precision.
She wore a light-colored sheath skirt paired with a V-neck beige blouse, the little red mole below her collarbone peeking out subtly. Last night, she’d kept Shen Zhirou from lingering there precisely to avoid any unsightly marks.
Recalling the night before brought a faint smile to Lu Yao’s lips. She’d only agreed to the blind date to get her mother off her back. None of the candidates appealed to her, so she’d planned to pick someone passably attractive and call it a marriage. Meeting Shen Zhirou had been unexpected. She loved Shen Zhirou’s eyes—clear yet infused with a gentle warmth, so much like that person’s.
Shen Zhirou’s temperament was agreeable too, never pushy. What surprised Lu Yao most was their compatibility in bed. She savored that sensation. Though it was a first for both, Shen Zhirou had been tender, with impressive stamina. Lu Yao was pleased with her selection.
She applied light makeup, swiped on taupe lip gloss, smoothed her hair, and grabbed the car keys from the drawer. Her work kept her perpetually busy, her schedule erratic, and her assistant Jiang Chen was equally swamped. Worried she might neglect Shen Zhirou or that Shen Zhirou might demand too much of her time, Lu Yao decided letting her use the car made the most sense.
With that, she tucked her phone into her small bag, snatched the keys, and stepped out of the room. Jiang Chen was waiting downstairs.
Spotting Shen Zhirou at the dining table, Lu Yao walked over, set the keys down, and said, “Jiang Chen’s downstairs waiting for me. Take your time eating, then drive to the company. Parking’s on B2 level right here in the building—elevator goes straight there. Don’t worry about the house; the auntie will clean up. Skip waiting for me for dinner tonight. The project’s wrapping up, so it’ll be a late one.”
Shen Zhirou quickly pushed the keys back. “No need—I can just cab it to the company.”
“The car’s just sitting idle. Waste not to use it, especially since neither of us drives it much. I had it filled up recently, so the tank’s full—drive it easy. And if Jiang Chen’s ever tied up, you can swing by and get me. Here, take it. No time to argue—I’m off.” Lu Yao met Shen Zhirou’s eyes, then turned and left.
Shen Zhirou picked up her cup and took a sip of milk, a little uncertain about their current situation. To say that she and Lu Yao had completely opened their hearts to each other after last night’s events would be an overstatement. Yet to claim Lu Yao was indifferent toward her didn’t ring true either—who would invite a near-stranger to move in and hand over the keys to their car if that were the case?
She glanced at the car keys and looked them up online. Lu Yao’s Bentley had cost over 2.6 million yuan. It might not be the pinnacle of luxury cars, but for Shen Zhirou, with her annual salary of 200,000, it was more than enough to leave her stunned. She’d have to save for years before even considering splurging on one.
As she ate her breakfast, her eyes lingered on the keys sitting on the table, and memories of last night flooded back, sending her heartbeat racing. She had been working for over four years now, well past the age of majority, but there was no denying it: she was starved for affection. Her fear of loss had kept her from ever taking the initiative in romance.
Shen Zhirou reflected that Lu Yao might be busy with work most days, but that was fine—she could keep the home in order and be there waiting when Lu Yao got off shift. And that offhand remark about moving in as preparation for marriage? It filled her with a profound sense of security.
She drained the last of her milk, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and in high spirits pocketed her girlfriend’s car keys. After tidying up, she headed out to work.
She took the elevator down to the underground garage and pressed the key fob. The car beeped in response. As she approached, a sleek sapphire-blue Bentley came into view—its lines grand yet understated. She slipped into the driver’s seat.
Luckily, she was no stranger to driving; she often borrowed Zhao Tongtong’s car when picking up her sister from university or heading out for meals. The only difference was that this Bentley cost over two million more.
Zhao Tongtong was a working stiff just like her, though Tongtong had it easier. Her parents had bought her an apartment in Jiangbei City, and she’d picked up a modest commuter car for around 100,000 yuan. Life was definitely smoother for her than for Shen Zhirou.
Shen Zhirou started the engine and drove toward AFN Group. She gave the Bentley’s license plate to the security guard at the gate, who let her into the underground lot. As she stepped out of the car, she spotted Zhao Tongtong parking diagonally across from her. Tongtong saw her too and came jogging over with a grin.
“Did you get a new car? Driving in today?” Only then did she glance at the vehicle, letting out a gasp. “Holy crap, is that a Bentley?”
Shen Zhirou smiled and tugged at Tongtong’s wrist to dial back the theatrics. With a light laugh, she explained, “It’s hers.”
“Hers? Damn, you two move fast—shacking up after just two dates, and she hands you the keys to a car like that? Impressive, Zhirou. Your girlfriend must be head over heels for you.”
They strolled toward the elevator as Tongtong kept ribbing her.
“Oh, come on. What’s so special about me that she’d be head over heels?” Shen Zhirou chuckled and shook her head.
“How are you not? You’re thoughtful, kind-hearted, amazing to your friends, endlessly patient, and your cooking is to die for. If I weren’t straight, you’d have me second-guessing myself.” Tongtong was teasing, but she truly believed her friend had it all—except she was too quick to put others first, often at her own expense.
Shen Zhirou’s clear eyes sparkled with amusement, her raven-wing lashes fluttering gently as a soft pink flush colored her fair skin. “Give it a rest—you’re making me walk like a klutz.”
“I’m serious. Tell your Lu Yao to treasure you. Sweet girls like you don’t come around often—someone’s bound to try stealing you away.” As Tongtong spoke, the little bun atop her head bobbed playfully, giving her an impish charm.
“You’d better tell your Wei Xuan to treasure you. Seems like your straight-girl status is on shaky ground—you nearly went gay just rattling off my good qualities. He’s the one in trouble.” Shen Zhirou fired back with a grin as they stepped into the elevator. They were early; it was still on the minus-two parking level. She hit the button for the 11th Floor, and the doors slid shut.
Just as they were closing, someone outside summoned the elevator again. The doors parted, revealing a tall, elegantly slender woman. Her features were refined and striking, her long black hair falling to her waist in soft, artful curls that struck the perfect balance between polished and effortless. She wore a lightweight summer suit cinched at the waist with a dangling silver chain that only heightened her air of sophistication.
Shen Zhirou spotted her and smiled in greeting. “Morning, CEO Xiao.”
Even the usually lively and carefree Zhao Tongtong clasped her hands together obediently and greeted the woman. “Good morning, CEO Xiao.”
“Good morning,” the woman replied to the two of them before pressing the button for the 17th floor. The elevator instantly fell silent.
