Chapter 67

Lu Yao had said that, but she had driven out early, stopped by the supermarket to buy a bunch of things, and arrived at Shen Zhirou’s place by five o’clock. All in all, she had been waiting at the door for nearly an hour.

Seeing that the coldness from the past few days was gone from Shen Zhirou’s eyes, Lu Yao finally let out a small sigh of relief. Just a few days ago, Jie Jie had been so distant that even if she had come to wait like this, she would have been chased away.

Lu Yao gripped the door handle behind her and tried to stand, but she had been squatting for too long, and her legs were completely numb. She wobbled unsteadily, on the verge of toppling over, but Shen Zhirou spotted it in time and pulled her into her arms first.

It was just a simple hug, but Lu Yao’s ears turned bright red. Her legs were still aching and numb, and the sudden stand had made them feel like they didn’t belong to her at all. She had tumbled straight into Shen Zhirou’s embrace, and her heart fluttered with anxiety. Jie Jie was still mad at her—was she unhappy about being hugged like this?

Lu Yao carefully clutched at Shen Zhirou’s jacket, barely steadying herself. Her gaze timidly shifted upward, trying to gauge Shen Zhirou’s expression. She had wanted to reach out and touch her before, but had been rebuffed several times. Lu Yao feared it would be the same now—that Jie Jie had only steadied her out of convenience and would push her away soon.

Shen Zhirou had no idea about all the overthinking Lu Yao was doing. But seeing the cautious look on the girl in her arms, she felt a pang of reluctance to be harsh. One hand stayed around Lu Yao’s waist, drawing her a little closer, while the other used the key to unlock the security door.

Shen Zhirou first helped Lu Yao over to the sofa and got her seated before going back to pick up the three bags by the security door. Her gaze swept toward Lu Yao as she casually asked, “You went to the supermarket?”

“Yeah, I bought a bunch of veggies and fruit, and some shrimp too. I’ll make dinner tonight,” Lu Yao said quickly, afraid that Shen Zhirou would take over all the work.

She had come to make a good impression, after all—she couldn’t let her girlfriend lift a finger!

Shen Zhirou glanced at her and nodded with a faint smile. “Alright, you do it.”

Lu Yao’s ears flushed pink again at the sight of Shen Zhirou smiling at her. Jie Jie had smiled at her, and she hadn’t been told to leave. A spark of confidence flickered in Lu Yao’s heart, mingled with a sour ache. In the past, she could have snuggled right up to Jie Jie whenever she wanted, but now she didn’t dare. She longed for Shen Zhirou to kiss her like she used to.

Lu Yao pressed her lips together, finally tearing her gaze away from Shen Zhirou. She couldn’t keep staring so blatantly, or Jie Jie might realize her intentions weren’t entirely pure and send her packing, ruining all her efforts.

Shen Zhirou emerged from the bedroom in her pajamas and saw Lu Yao still sitting on the sofa. She sat down too. “How are your legs? Still numb?”

“Much better, it’s fine now. Oh, right—this is the outfit from last night. I washed and dried it already.” Lu Yao handed the paper bag to Shen Zhirou.

Shen Zhirou nodded and set the bag aside. Her eyes turned to Lu Yao, who was dressed in a pure white skirt suit today. The hem fell just to her knees, cinched at the waist with a silver chain, giving her an air of elegant refinement and delicate slenderness.

“Yeah. So, you’re starting your vacation soon? Any plans?”

They sat two seats apart, as if a whole galaxy stretched between them.

“Nothing special. Just want to rest for a bit.”

Lu Yao swallowed the words “I want to properly court you.” She was afraid saying it outright would make Shen Zhirou uncomfortable, so she kept those thoughts locked away.

It felt like they had gone back to the early days of knowing each other—polite and distant.

“Jie Jie, I’ll go make dinner. Wait for me.” Lu Yao had already planned out what she’d do next. She needed to show off her skills in front of Jie Jie and make sure no other cats or dogs lured her away. The thought brought back the image of Shen Zhirou wearing matching couple’s formalwear with that girl from the Company last night, and a wave of jealousy soured Lu Yao’s mood. She hadn’t even gotten to wear something like that with Jie Jie yet.

“I’ll help wash the veggies—that’ll speed things up.” Sitting idly on the sofa felt awkward to Shen Zhirou, so she got up and joined Lu Yao in the kitchen, pitching in as her assistant.

Lu Yao stole a glance at Shen Zhirou, hesitated, then asked, “Jie Jie, besides eggs, is there anything else you avoid eating?”

She sneaked another look at Shen Zhirou’s expression, and seeing no anger, she relaxed a little. Her past self had been so awful—she hadn’t even known what foods the person she liked avoided.

“Only that one thing. Nothing else is off-limits. Eggs were ages ago—I thought I’d gotten over it, but I overestimated myself. The smell alone drags all those old memories back.” Shen Zhirou spoke evenly, her expression barely rippling.

“Alright then. Later I’ll make enoki beef, three-color shrimp, clear pork bone soup, and stir-fry a few veggie sides,” Lu Yao said, swiftly changing the subject lest she upset Shen Zhirou.

“No need for too much; it’s just the two of us.” As she spoke, Shen Zhirou began rinsing the cucumbers, enoki mushrooms, eggplants, and the like in the sink. The little room fell quiet for the moment.

Shen Zhirou watched from nearby. What caught her off guard was Lu Yao’s surprisingly deft knife work and her efficiency in the kitchen. Granted, Lu Yao’s old job had kept her too swamped for much home cooking, at least in Shen Zhirou’s memory.

An hour and a half later, Lu Yao’s dishes were nearly done—even the pork bone soup simmering in the clay pot filled the air with its savory aroma. Together, they carried everything from the counter to the dining table.

“Jie Jie, try what I made. See if it’s any good. Start with some soup.” Lu Yao handed over a small bowl she’d ladled full, her eyes gleaming as she fixed them on Shen Zhirou. Not a hint remained of the impatience from two months back.

Shen Zhirou took a sip. Lu Yao’s cooking held up well; the soup was rich and fragrant. “Not bad. Very flavorful.”

“Eat plenty if you like it.” Lu Yao watched Shen Zhirou dig in, but her own thoughts drifted to the past. Two months ago, she’d never have pictured herself doing any of this—she’d have dismissed it as a pointless waste of time. Yet here she was now, scheming every way she could to linger at Jie Jie’s a little longer.

As she ate, Lu Yao mulled over the evening ahead. How could she wangle another sleepover like last night? She knew full well that even dinner was a special indulgence from Shen Zhirou, but a sliver of hope lingered all the same. Rejection was old hat by now; asking wouldn’t kill her. At worst, she’d look foolish. And for winning over a girlfriend, a spot of embarrassment was a small price.

Decision made, Lu Yao found the rice in her bowl even tastier.

After dinner, Shen Zhirou wouldn’t hear of Lu Yao tackling the dishes solo. They split the work: one soaped them up, the other rinsed them clean.

With the pots and pans squared away, Lu Yao took to wiping down the dining table until it gleamed. Running out of chores at last, she edged closer to Shen Zhirou and shot her a pitiful look. “Jie Jie, I… I rushed out this afternoon and forgot my keys. Could I crash here tonight? If not, no big deal—I’ll grab a room at a nearby hotel.”

She tacked on the reassurance in a hurry, eyes glued to Shen Zhirou’s face. One second. Two…

Those few wordless seconds had Lu Yao squirming like she was on pins and needles. She inwardly kicked herself for jumping the gun. After her string of flops—not to mention her parents’ embellished complaints—Jie Jie sharing dinner with her was already saintly patience. And here she was, pushing her luck.

Sweat prickling her skin, Lu Yao rushed on: “Really, it’s fine. Don’t feel bad…”

“You can.” The words slipped from Shen Zhirou’s lips just as Lu Yao started backpedaling. Her eyes, which had begun to dim, lit up like a starved kitten spotting its owner with a treat.

“Thanks, Jie Jie! Can I wear the outfit you gave me today tomorrow? I’ll wash it when I head home and bring it back once it’s dry.” Lu Yao’s eyes sparkled, her mind abuzz with plans. She’d wear Jie Jie’s clothes back in the morning, launder and dry them perfectly, then return—buying her another half day here. If fortune smiled, maybe even another night!

Shen Zhirou could see right through Lu Yao’s obvious plotting—the girl might as well have shouted it. She simply chose not to make an issue of it. “Do whatever. I’m beat; I’m off to shower.”

With that, Shen Zhirou headed to the bathroom. Lu Yao, meanwhile, flopped onto the bed and rolled about in glee twice over. The mattress was stiff palm coir, though, and the chain on her skirt promptly chafed red welts into her waist. She paid it no mind. Jie Jie letting her stay was windfall enough—even a bed of solid stone would feel like heaven tonight.

Lu Yao rummaged through the closet and found the nightgown she had worn the night before. She planned to hop in the shower the moment Shen Zhirou emerged. Sprawled on the bed, she kept stealing glances toward the bathroom, her ear tips tinged pink. People were always like that—greedy for more. Now that Shen Zhirou had given her permission to stay, Lu Yao’s thoughts began to wander. She still remembered the time back home when Jie Jie had carried her into the bathroom for a bath, only to pin her against the wall and ravish her. The mere sound of running water from the bathroom was enough to make Lu Yao’s legs turn to jelly.

It had been two full months since she and Jie Jie had been intimate. The one time in between had been when Jie Jie was drunk, and Lu Yao had touched herself while gazing at her face. The memory alone brought a flush to Lu Yao’s cheeks. She missed Shen Zhirou so badly.

Shen Zhirou finished her quick rinse in just over ten minutes and stepped out. After blow-drying her hair, she intended to lounge on the bed and scroll through her phone. Lu Yao’s ear tips flushed crimson at the sight of her approaching, as if blood were about to drip from them. She desperately wanted to say something to Shen Zhirou but didn’t dare. Jie Jie wouldn’t even let her hold her hand—she couldn’t push her luck. What if she spoke up and Jie Jie barred her from coming over tomorrow?

Lu Yao lay there pouting, stewing in her frustration for a while before slinking off to the bathroom for her shower.

Shen Zhirou had of course noticed Lu Yao’s earlier fidgeting. With her fair skin, Lu Yao only took on that rosy glow when she was shy or when Shen had teased her too relentlessly. Shen Zhirou quickly pulled out her phone and picked a random drama to watch, determined to distract herself.

She hadn’t agreed to reconcile yet, after all. She couldn’t let Lu Yao get her way so easily.