Chapter 3

Their gazes met, and Lu Yao was the first to break the silence. “Put the toiletries in the bathroom of the room as well.”

“Okay.” Shen Zhirou didn’t have many things, so she quickly finished unpacking.

“It’s getting late. Let’s turn in early.” With that, Lu Yao turned and headed into the bathroom.

The words “I haven’t eaten yet” caught in Shen Zhirou’s throat. From the look of it, Lu Yao had already eaten. A pang of disappointment settled in Shen Zhirou’s heart. She cooked quickly, and in no time at all, two dishes came off the heat one after the other.

She set the dishes on the dining table, hesitating over whether Lu Yao might join her for a bite.

Just then, Lu Yao emerged from the bathroom after her shower. Not finding Shen Zhirou in the bedroom, she stepped out to look for her.

She spotted Shen Zhirou bustling about in the dining room. Lu Yao walked over in a few strides and leaned against the wall. Fresh from her shower, a faint mist still clung to her face, bathing her in a soft glow. “You haven’t eaten yet?”

“Mm. I was thinking of waiting for you. Want to have some together?” Shen Zhirou extended the invitation tentatively, her eyes flickering as she glanced at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao’s brows furrowed ever so slightly, a flicker of displeasure passing through her that was too subtle to detect. She disliked the sensation of someone else dictating her rhythm.

Lu Yao lifted her gaze to meet Shen Zhirou’s and let out a sigh. “No need to wait for me in the future. I’ve already eaten out. Well, since you’ve gone to the trouble, I’ll keep you company and have a little more.”

“Okay.” Shen Zhirou answered with a soft smile, her already enchanting eyes sparkling brightly. The sight left Lu Yao frozen in place.

Shen Zhirou’s eyes were beautiful—clear and infused with a gentle warmth. They weren’t the sort to captivate at first glance, but the longer one looked, the harder it became to look away. Lu Yao had chosen Shen Zhirou from a sea of blind dates largely because of those eyes.

Noticing Lu Yao’s unwavering stare, a faint blush colored the tips of Shen Zhirou’s ears. She averted her gaze first and changed the subject. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

Lu Yao snapped back to reality, her expression composed once more, though her brows remained lightly knitted. She felt that Shen Zhirou’s words had shattered the comfortable atmosphere that had just settled over her.

“Okay.” Lu Yao responded coolly. She picked up a bite from the dish in front of her—a concession to Shen Zhirou’s effort. But the moment the flavors hit her tongue, her expression eased, and she found herself reaching for another dish to sample.

Seeing Lu Yao dig in, Shen Zhirou’s limpid eyes gleamed with delight as she watched her expectantly. “How is it? Good?”

Lu Yao met Shen Zhirou’s gaze and gave a small nod, her thin lips curving just enough to deliver the answer Shen Zhirou craved. “Not bad. This cashew shrimp is better than anything I’ve had at a few restaurants.”

Delighted by the praise, Shen Zhirou’s eyes sparkled even more. “If you like it, I can make it for you anytime. And if you’re free at lunch, I could bring something to your company.”

“No need. Don’t waste your time on trivial things like that. It’s just lunch—I can grab something on the go.” Lu Yao’s voice turned chilly. She wasn’t accustomed to anyone disrupting her orderly routine, not even her chosen marriage partner.

In an instant, Shen Zhirou felt herself hurled back to their blind date, faced once more with that same icy Lu Yao, her words as aloof and cutting as ever.

“Sorry. I overstepped.” Shen Zhirou apologized first, her gaze brushing against Lu Yao’s before skittering away.

Hearing the apology softened Lu Yao’s tone. “That’s not what I meant. You have your own job. No need to pour so much energy into me. We both have work to do. Things are fine as they are right now. Eat up.”

“Okay.” As Shen Zhirou ate, she stole glances at Lu Yao seated across from her, pondering deep down just how Lu Yao had ever taken a shine to her. Lu Yao seemed so exceptional, hailing from an entirely different world.

Lu Yao was dressed in a black silk nightgown that hugged her lithe figure like a second skin. She showed no reserve around Shen Zhirou, forgoing any underlayers. A generous swath of pale, flawless skin spilled from her neckline, and three centimeters below the center of her collarbone lurked a tiny red mole.

Her wavy brown hair cascaded lazily over one shoulder. Beneath those cool, distant eyes sat a pert nose and finely wrought thin lips. Expressionless, her face radiated aloof nobility—and an irresistible allure.

Lu Yao only managed a few bites before setting down her chopsticks. Although Shen Zhirou’s cooking was delicious, it couldn’t override her years-long habit. At this hour, she normally wouldn’t even take a sip of water, much less eat anything. Sharing a few bites with Shen Zhirou tonight was already breaking the rules for her, and Lu Yao knew it wasn’t a good precedent.

Shen Zhirou’s gaze burned with intensity, and Lu Yao naturally sensed it. She was clearly attractive to Shen Zhirou, which meant the next steps would be straightforward. With that in mind, Lu Yao smiled at her, curving her thin lips, and asked the woman across the table, “Am I good-looking?”

Only then did Shen Zhirou snap out of it, realizing she’d been staring at Lu Yao the whole time she ate. When Lu Yao posed the question, color flooded her cheeks and the tips of her ears at a visible pace. How embarrassing—she’d been so rude on their very first night living together, gawking like that.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Shen Zhirou mumbled, shoving two quick bites of rice into her mouth as she apologized.

Lu Yao’s smile deepened. In this short span, Shen Zhirou had apologized twice already, a clear sign of her gentle temperament and pliability. She was perfect—obedient, compliant, the type who could satisfy her parents and, most importantly, those eyes of hers. Lu Yao liked them very much.

Lu Yao looked away, pursing her lips in a faint smile as she shook her head. “It’s fine. I’m your fiancée—you can look all you want.”

Far from easing her embarrassment, Lu Yao’s words made her choke. She fumbled for a napkin and coughed lightly.

Lu Yao rose and poured a glass of water from the dispenser, handing it over. “Eat slower. I’m tired; I’ll head to bed and wait for you. Shower after dinner before you come, or you’ll smell.”

“Okay,” Shen Zhirou managed weakly. Each word from Lu Yao sent her heart racing faster, like thunder rumbling relentlessly against her chest. Wait for her… in bed?

Shen Zhirou shook her head, chiding herself for jumping to conclusions. They’d only met three times, counting today—it couldn’t possibly be that quick. Lu Yao must just want to build some rapport to speed up the marriage.

Reassuring herself inwardly, she cleared the table and kitchen, then made her way anxiously to the master bedroom.

The door stood slightly ajar; Lu Yao hadn’t closed it.

Shen Zhirou pursed her lips and rapped lightly on the doorframe. Lu Yao’s clear, cool voice drifted out from within.

“This is your home now too. Make yourself at home—no need to knock.”

Shen Zhirou hesitated a moment, then pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Mm. Moving in so suddenly… I’m still not used to it.”

Lu Yao’s gaze softened as it locked onto Shen Zhirou’s eyes. She nodded with a smile. “No rush. Take it slow—you’ll adjust after a few days.”

Her eyes held a lazy warmth now, far from their earlier chill. Shen Zhirou stole a few glances before looking away.

“Then I’ll go shower first. It’s past eleven—you go ahead and sleep.” Shen Zhirou checked the time and spoke hurriedly. Lu Yao had returned late, and dinner had dragged on; it was very late indeed.

“Okay.” Lu Yao closed her eyes briefly and switched off the room’s main light, leaving only the two dim bedside lamps glowing. Their warm light played across her fair skin, lending her face a gentleness it hadn’t shown during the day.

Shen Zhirou lingered on the sight for a moment before retreating to the bathroom.

Lu Yao’s eyes narrowed slightly as she sank comfortably into the plush bedding. She loved a mattress this soft and yielding, even if she knew it wasn’t great for her back. This one cradled you in cozy warmth the moment you lay down.

The sound of running water soon pattered from the bathroom. Lu Yao’s fingers drummed lightly on the thin quilt, betraying no hint of sleepiness in her eyes. Lying on her side, she let her gaze drift toward the bathroom now and then.

Shen Zhirou made quick work of her shower, finishing in twenty minutes and tidying the bathroom afterward. She slipped into her light blue nightgown, took several deep breaths in front of the mirror, clenched her fists, and finally opened the bedroom door.

She was a creature of routine, her life dull and predictable: work, home, repeat. Childhood experiences had left her with scant material desires. Every step felt scripted—university, a stable job, and now this blind date.

Deciding so quickly to live together with Lu Yao was probably the most rebellious thing Shen Zhirou had ever done in her life. Up until now, she had never rebelled—not even once—and she certainly hadn’t dared to. Besides her paternal grandmother, no one cared about her or her little sister. They had no room to disobey.

Shen Zhirou snapped out of her wandering thoughts and walked toward the bed, phone in hand. Just as her gaze landed on Lu Yao, Lu Yao opened her eyes and met her look.

It might have been an illusion, but Shen Zhirou felt that the Lu Yao lying there on the bed had lost some of her usual aloof pride. Instead, she seemed softer, warmer somehow.

“Still not asleep? Did I wake you?” Shen Zhirou clutched her phone tightly in her right hand and asked, a touch of nervousness in her voice.

Lu Yao propped herself up a little. One thin shoulder strap slipped down her pale shoulder, but she paid it no mind. She simply beckoned Shen Zhirou over with a crook of her finger. “Of course not. I’ve been waiting for you.”