Chapter 38: I’ll Wash You

When Hua Man woke up, the sky had already darkened.

“You slept more soundly than I did, the patient,” Yang Zhao said from where she sat nearby.

Hua Man flushed with embarrassment.

As she sat up, she felt a throbbing pain in her head and couldn’t help but frown. Could she really be coming down with a cold?

“Take a look.”

Yang Zhao handed her the tablet.

Hua Man took it. The screen was filled with various styles of pajamas, dazzling in their variety.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she selected a few relatively conservative sets and handed the tablet back to Yang Zhao.

“What kind of taste is this?” Yang Zhao expressed strong dissatisfaction with Hua Man’s choices. “They’re too ugly.”

With that, she cleared those items from the shopping cart and continued picking herself. “From now on, I’ll select your clothes.”

Letting Hua Man buy her own clothes was simply a waste of her figure and face.

The thought of Hua Man wearing clothes she had personally chosen made Yang Zhao’s heart race with uncontainable excitement.

Hua Man nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

But unexpectedly, her thanks displeased Yang Zhao again.

“You’re mine. Buying clothes for my people is only natural. Why are you thanking me?”

Yang Zhao hated it when Hua Man thanked her—it made their relationship seem ordinary, distant, and polite.

“Don’t say things like that to others casually.”

Hua Man sighed.

Though Yang Zhao seemed overbearing and unreasonable, sometimes Hua Man felt she was a bit naive.

Unsure of the reason, she hadn’t planned to say more, but at that moment, she couldn’t help speaking up.

“If someone doesn’t feel grateful and accepts others’ kindness as their due, it fosters greed. The more they receive, the more they want.”

“You give, and they feel no gratitude. If you don’t give, they harbor resentment.”

Looking at Yang Zhao, she continued, “No one owes anyone kindness. If you give, you should expect something in return—even if it’s just a thank you.”

Yang Zhao was surprised. “Did those words really come from you?”

She almost thought she’d said them herself.

But if Hua Man was saying this to her, didn’t it mean Hua Man had lowered her guard and was even starting to consider her feelings?

It seemed… a basic level of trust had been established.

Yes, Hua Man no longer rejected her touch and could even fall asleep quickly by her side.

Only with a certain degree of trust and dependence would someone be so unguarded.

But at a time like this, she couldn’t rush things.

Otherwise, the little beast that had just let down its guard would get startled and become even more vigilant.

The timing wasn’t right yet.

She laughed. “Manman, do you have some misunderstanding about me?”

She wasn’t some great philanthropist.

Leaning in, she lifted Hua Man’s chin and kissed her lips. Yang Zhao said meaningfully, “Of course I have reasons for being good to you. Don’t you know?”

Hua Man’s face instantly burned hot. In that moment, she suddenly understood what Yang Zhao meant.

“I won’t be kind to others for no reason, nor will I just keep giving.” Yang Zhao’s hand wandered downward, finally stopping at Hua Man’s chest, feeling her racing heartbeat. “What I want is much more than what others want. A thank you won’t suffice.”

Their eyes locked for several seconds before Yang Zhao smiled and withdrew her hand. “So don’t refuse me, and don’t be so distant and polite with me. I’ll get angry.”

Yang Zhao seemed to say it casually, quickly shifting her attention elsewhere.

But Hua Man couldn’t stop thinking about her words.

What did Yang Zhao want?

She had thought Yang Zhao wanted her body, but after being her lover for so long, they hadn’t gone all the way. Sometimes, Hua Man didn’t even feel much substance in her role as a lover.

She buried her heavy thoughts deep inside and didn’t show much emotion on the surface.

As night fell, Yu Shan brought dinner over.

Considering Yang Zhao’s illness, the food was all light and bland.

Yang Zhao set down her chopsticks after just a few bites.

At that moment, Yu Shan cautiously said, “Miss, Zhao Yang wants to see you.”

“Her?” Yang Zhao scoffed. “I won’t see her.”

“Understood.” Yu Shan wasn’t surprised at all and quickly arranged for someone to handle it.

Hua Man thought that was the end of it, but soon Yu Shan secretly pulled her aside.

“That bitch Zhao Yang refuses to leave,” she said through gritted teeth. “She insists on seeing Miss and is making a huge scene downstairs.”

“Doesn’t the hotel have security?” Hua Man frowned.

Yu Shan was stunned.

Hua Man continued, “If she’s still causing trouble, just have security drag her out. Don’t let her appear in front of Miss.”

It took Yu Shan a long time to find her voice. “What’s gotten into you today?”

To say something like that.

Hua Man didn’t respond. She had only done what a bodyguard should do.

After learning about the design contest, she had let go of a lot. Yang Zhao wasn’t a good person, and Zhao Yang probably wasn’t simple either. Since neither was good, she had no reason not to side with Yang Zhao.

But she hadn’t expected Zhao Yang to be so persistent this time.

When she heard the knock, Hua Man thought Yu Shan had forgotten her keycard.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Zhao Yang’s pitiful face.

“You’re… the bodyguard who helped me last time?”

Seeing her, Zhao Yang’s face lit up with a smile, like grasping a lifeline. She immediately reached out to grab Hua Man’s hand. “I mean no harm. Please let me in to see Sister, okay?”

Hua Man stepped back, avoiding her touch.

“Miss Zhao, please leave immediately.”

“If you don’t, I’ll call security.” Hua Man’s voice deepened. “You wouldn’t want to be dragged away by them, would you?”

At her words, tears immediately streamed down Zhao Yang’s face. “Why are you all helping Sister bully me?”

She seemed utterly broken. “Sister has everything, and I just want to prove myself with my talent. Why does she have to make things so hard for me everywhere?”

A flash of sarcasm crossed Hua Man’s eyes.

Prove herself with talent?

“If I remember correctly, there are still news stories online about you faking your awards.”

It wasn’t just the awards—her entry had been exposed as a purchased design from someone else, modified secretly. It wasn’t original at all.

“I just need a chance for others to see my talent.” Zhao Yang bit her lip. “But Sister is going too far, trying to drive me out of the design world entirely. Don’t you think that’s excessive?”

Hua Man let out a incredulous laugh.

People really did laugh when they were speechless.

Her gaze turned cold. “She’s just upholding justice, while you stole someone else’s spot and feel perfectly fine about it. Your skin is thicker than a city wall.”

Zhao Yang’s face flushed alternately pale and green. After a long pause, she spat angrily, “What right do you have to say that? I didn’t do those things—they acted on their own. How is it my fault?!”

“Please, I’m begging you.” She changed tack lightning-fast and grabbed Hua Man’s hand. “Just let me in?”

Regardless of whether this bodyguard agreed, she was determined to see Yang Zhao. As she prepared to push forward, she suddenly spotted Yang Zhao not far away.

Her gaze was deep and inscrutable, and who knew how long she’d been watching.

Feeling Yang Zhao’s eyes on the hand she had grabbed—the bodyguard’s—Zhao Yang immediately let go. Before she could speak, the bodyguard shoved her out.

“I…”

Bang—

The door shut mercilessly.

Hua Man didn’t notice Yang Zhao behind her. After pushing the woman out, she immediately called the hotel front desk to report the harassment at the door.

After confirming they would send security right away, she hung up.

Turning around, she saw Yang Zhao staring at her intently, who knew for how long. She tensed instantly. “It’s handled.”

She had taken it upon herself to send away Zhao Yang, whom Yang Zhao hated most. She wondered if it would anger her.

“You held hands with her?”

Yang Zhao asked, her voice giving nothing away.

Hua Man blinked, completely caught off guard. With Zhao Yang right at the door, that was what Yang Zhao focused on?

And that tone, that look—if she remembered right, it was the precursor to Yang Zhao losing it.

That time at the bathhouse when she beat someone, Yang Zhao had that same eerie, chilling stare.

As Yang Zhao approached, she instinctively stepped back.

Seeing this, Yang Zhao stopped. Her eyes darkened further. “Hua Man, you held hands with her and now you’re dodging me?”

In that moment, she didn’t want to use any of her beast-taming techniques. She just wanted to grab this woman and punish her harshly.

How to punish her?

Should she have Yu Shan bring a whip, or make her a target and enjoy her fear?

“Come here.”

She clenched her fists, her voice sinking lower.

Hua Man walked toward her and stopped in front of her. Yang Zhao stared at her for several seconds before silently taking the hand Zhao Yang had grabbed.

Perhaps the most important thing was to wash clean the spot Zhao Yang had touched.

“It wasn’t holding hands just now,” Hua Man explained, seeing how seriously Yang Zhao examined her hand. “Holding hands means both parties willingly clasp together. She just tried to touch me unilaterally, and I didn’t dodge in time.”

Yang Zhao looked up. “Why didn’t you dodge?”

“I said, I didn’t have time.” Hua Man frowned, throwing Yang Zhao’s own past words back at her. “I’m the victim here too. You can’t blame me for it.”

“You’re right, it’s not your fault.” Yang Zhao paused, then nodded slowly, her voice softening. “It’s Zhao Yang’s fault.”

With that, she pulled out her phone and contacted Yu Shan.

“Keep Zhao Yang there.”

Seeing this, Hua Man couldn’t help asking, “What are you going to do to Zhao Yang?”

Yang Zhao’s expression was unreadable. “Are you concerned about her?”

“It’s a society governed by law now.” Hua Man reminded her.

But Yang Zhao ignored her words, fixating. “Are you concerned about her?”

After a few seconds of silence, Hua Man took a deep breath. “I’m concerned about you. There’s no need to take risks for someone like that.”

“Sweet talk.” Yang Zhao sneered.

“Believe it or not.”

With that, Hua Man pulled her hand free. “If you’re bothered that she touched me, I can go wash my hands right now.”

“Not enough. You need a bath.” Yang Zhao gripped her again, her tone commanding. “I’ll wash you.”