Chapter 15

Finally finishing their meal, Shen Zhirou wanted to get up and clear the takeout boxes from the coffee table. But Lu Yao was leaning softly against her, showing absolutely no intention of moving.

Shen Zhirou helplessly poked Lu Yao’s waist, coaxing her good-naturedly: “Yaoyao, how about I carry you to the bed to rest first? I’ll clean up here and come join you right away.”

Lu Yao nestled softly in Shen Zhirou’s arms without responding. Her usually cool eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in to kiss the corner of Shen Zhirou’s lips. Then, with her own lips brushing Shen Zhirou’s neck, she murmured: “Jie Jie, am I not as important as these plates?”

Shen Zhirou smiled helplessly and scooped Lu Yao into her arms, her voice warm and gentle: “Of course you’re more important. Alright, I’ll stay with my Yaoyao first.”

Lu Yao nodded contentedly, draping her soft arms around Shen Zhirou’s neck and rubbing her forehead lightly against her shoulder. This was a side of Lu Yao Shen Zhirou had never seen before—exceptionally obedient and clingy.

The smile on Shen Zhirou’s lips deepened as she let Lu Yao lean into her embrace. Lu Yao buried her face into the crook of Shen Zhirou’s shoulder, softly acting spoiled.

Shen Zhirou assumed Lu Yao had missed her, and her heart felt like it had been dipped in honey. She pulled Lu Yao closer and kissed her.

Shen Zhirou hadn’t expected them to cuddle in bed all the way until nightfall. Lu Yao even wrapped around her, asking for a waist rub, and Shen Zhirou happily obliged her girlfriend.

Lu Yao complained that the mattress wasn’t comfortable and insisted Shen Zhirou hold her while rubbing. Shen Zhirou good-naturedly agreed, planting occasional kisses on the little cat in her arms who was acting so spoiled.

Shen Zhirou’s gaze softened with tenderness. She hadn’t anticipated such a windfall from this visit—getting to see Yaoyao so delightfully clingy.

“Jie Jie.” Lu Yao squinted her eyes in comfort from the massage and called out softly.

“I’m here. What’s wrong? Is this position uncomfortable? Want to switch?” Shen Zhirou asked hurriedly.

Her question was perfectly innocent, but to Lu Yao’s ears, it carried a teasing undertone. She opened her fox-like eyes, which held no trace of aloofness—only the sly glint of a predator eyeing its prey.

“Jie Jie? What position do you want me to switch to?” Even as she spoke, she melted against Shen Zhirou, murmuring the words right by her ear. The once-innocent question now dripped with flirtation, turning the tips of Shen Zhirou’s ears a delicate pink.

Lu Yao noticed, of course. They’d only just shared their passion, yet Shen Zhirou still blushed instinctively at such talk—even though she was always the one to take the initiative. It amused Lu Yao no end, and she couldn’t resist pressing further: “Jie Jie, why aren’t you saying anything? Your ears are turning red. What’s the matter? I meant a perfectly serious position. Are you the one thinking naughty thoughts?”

Faced with Lu Yao’s relentless teasing, Shen Zhirou’s heart pounded faster and faster. The Lu Yao in bed bore no resemblance to her usual cool detachment—she always knew just how to tempt Shen Zhirou until she couldn’t hold back and claimed her fiercely.

Sure enough, amid her racing heartbeat, Shen Zhirou felt Lu Yao’s slender fingers toying with her ear tip. With feigned innocence, Lu Yao asked: “Jie Jie’s ears are so cute—they turn red at the slightest touch…”

She didn’t finish before Shen Zhirou’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in as a flurry of deep kisses descended. Lu Yao kissed back eagerly, melting into Shen Zhirou’s arms like a contented kitten…

When Shen Zhirou woke, daylight streamed brightly through the gaps in the curtains. Lu Yao was still sleeping soundly in her embrace. After a night of wild passion, this was their first time sharing such an experience since getting together. Shen Zhirou could scarcely believe that her usually cool and aloof Lu Yao had lingered in bed with her for so long.

She gazed down tenderly at the woman in her arms—their closest moment. Yet a flicker of fear stirred in Shen Zhirou’s heart, afraid Lu Yao would transform back into that distant, detached version of herself. Leaning down slightly, she pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Lu Yao’s lips.

Lu Yao had slept deeply and contentedly in Shen Zhirou’s arms—far better than the stiff hotel mattress. She felt utterly refreshed after the rest.

Slowly opening her eyes to find Shen Zhirou watching her, Lu Yao lightly poked Shen Zhirou’s cheek and leaned in close: “Jie Jie, do you want me again?”

Shen Zhirou’s ear tips flushed faintly as she denied it in a hurry: “No way. I’m not that kind of person.”

Lu Yao let out a soft chuckle and nuzzled against her in her arms. “Right, you’re the picture of propriety. So who was it that held me close and kept kissing me last night?”

“Don’t, don’t fool around.” Lu Yao’s hands weren’t behaving themselves as she rubbed against Shen Zhirou, acting all spoiled. Shen Zhirou was afraid she’d lose control again—her Yaoyao was far too tempting in bed.

Worried about wearing Lu Yao out, Shen Zhirou scooped her up and carried her off to the bath. Only afterward did Lu Yao let Jiang Chen go buy breakfast and have it delivered. Shen Zhirou naturally went to answer the door, then patiently played the role of Lu Yao’s personal seat. Once breakfast was done, the two of them curled up in bed, watching a movie cast onto the TV screen. They got along just like any ordinary couple. Lu Yao had made it clear she didn’t want to date, though, and Shen Zhirou hadn’t brought it up since. Being fiancées was just as good, anyway—their life together felt perfect as it was.

Meanwhile, the family dinner Zhang Huichun had mentioned wasn’t canceled just because Shen Zhirou was absent. The gathering had never been about her to begin with; Zhang Huichun had only invited her along to put her in her place.

This meal centered on Uncle’s family of three, Lu Yao’s parents, and Ye Qi, whom her parents had summoned to join them. As for dragging Ye Qi into it, that was all Zhang Huichun’s scheme to humiliate Shen Zhirou, make her squirm, and chase her away from Lu Yao. Unfortunately for her, the plan had flopped.

Uncle’s family arrived bright and early, and Ye Qi beat them to it, showing up with bags of groceries to help prep.

Zhang Huichun opened the door, her eyes crinkling into happy slits at the sight of him. “Xiao Ye, you made it! I specifically told you yesterday just to come empty-handed, and here you are loaded down with all this. Honestly now.”

Her tone mimicked scolding a younger relative, but the grin never left her face—she clearly didn’t see him as an outsider, just ribbing him good-naturedly.

Uncle Lu Jifeng joined in the teasing. “Hey, Xiao Ye’s here too. How come you didn’t bring Yaoyao back with you?”

Ye Qi scratched his head with a sheepish smile. “Yaoyao’s swamped with work. She’s out on a business trip.”

Lu Yao ignoring WeChat wasn’t personal to Shen Zhirou—she hadn’t replied to a soul. Ye Qi was someone she found especially grating, and she hadn’t even bothered opening his messages. He only knew her whereabouts because Zhang Huichun had spilled the beans.

“Business trip, huh? Our Yaoyao’s always so busy. Xiao Ye, I’ve had your betrothal gift ready for ages. When are you two tying the knot?” Lu Jifeng chuckled.

Ye Qi flashed a bashful smile but stayed quiet. He’d heard from Zhang Huichun that Lu Yao had a girlfriend—and that they were living together. His heart raced like ants on a hot griddle; he was dying to see who this rival was and how she’d cracked Lu Yao, that toughest of nuts.

He’d known Lu Yao since they were kids and knew she’d crushed on a girl back in college. For whatever reason, it hadn’t worked out, and she hadn’t dated anyone in the years since. He’d spent that time relentlessly charming her parents, figuring that was his in. Who could’ve guessed that Lu Yao—who’d always just humored blind dates—would actually pick a partner? And a woman, no less.

It burned Ye Qi up. He’d known her longer, won over her whole family, and still she’d chosen someone else. A glint of malice flickered in his eyes.

Zhang Huichun sighed at his silence, shaking the bunch of cilantro in her hand with vigor. “It’s Yaoyao who doesn’t know a good thing when she sees it, picking a girl for a girlfriend. I’d invited her to join us today, but off she went to Yaoyao’s city instead. Sigh, trouble from the start. If you ask me, Xiao Ye’s the best choice.”

Uncle chimed in awkwardly. “Yeah, yeah, Xiao Ye’s the one. They’re still together, aren’t they? Could split any day now. Don’t give up, Xiao Ye—we’ve considered you family for ages.”

Ye Qi smiled his thanks. “Appreciate it, Uncle. I’ll redouble my efforts and win Yaoyao over proper.”

His words came with a smile, but warning bells clanged in his head. This Shen Zhirou was tougher than he’d bargained for. Lu Yao was so aloof she wouldn’t even mention a business trip to anyone, much less invite company. What spell had this woman cast on her? The more Ye Qi dwelled on it, the more frantic he grew—even his knife flew faster through the veggies.

Zhang Huichun and the others soon had the meal ready. The family dug in amid cheerful chatter, the scene warm and harmonious, as if Ye Qi were truly their son-in-law.

Meanwhile, Lu Yao had spent the entire day glued to Shen Zhirou. As the afternoon departure time drew near, Shen Zhirou caught sight of Lu Yao’s pleading gaze fixed on her and simply changed her flight to just after six on Monday morning. At worst, she’d drop her luggage off at home and head straight to the company—a bit rushed, perhaps, but not too exhausting, especially since their department wasn’t busy anyway.

Originally, Lu Yao hadn’t wanted things to turn out this way. She felt she was disrupting Shen Zhirou’s normal routine and throwing off the balance of their usual dynamic. Yet she couldn’t bear the thought of Shen Zhirou leaving. Perhaps it really was the allure of having tasted such sweetness; Lu Yao had done something she never would have considered before.