Chapter 15

Bai Lu tossed and turned in bed.

The main bedroom light was off, with only the soft glow of the bedside lamp remaining. The room’s heater was on full blast, and a humidifier hummed silently in the corner.

Bai Lu’s limbs shifted restlessly across the bed. Her slightly overheated skin only felt some comfort when constantly touching the cool spots on the sheets.

Maybe it was just her imagination, but she felt a faint fragrance permeating the space. Perhaps it was coming from the clothes? She lifted the fabric of the nightgown to her nose and sniffed. A light scent of cedarwood, a very faint, cool fragrance.

Bai Lu had smelled it on Lu Zhi before, like distant mountain spring blossoms.

She remembered a time before when she’d barged into Lu Zhi’s room one night, back at the Bai Family Residence. Lu Zhi had been wearing a dark green silk slip nightgown, that seductively enchanting color draped thinly over skin like ice and bones like jade. Her expression had been lazy, her sharp brows and eyes making her look like… a siren.

Suddenly feeling parched, Bai Lu abruptly sat up in bed and went out to get a glass of water.

She deliberately added a few ice cubes from the fridge to the glass and even pressed it against her face.

“The heater’s on way too high…” Bai Lu muttered under her breath. She went to check the thermostat near the entryway; the air conditioner display showed 27°C. She pressed the button a few times until the number dropped to 24°C, then turned to go back to her room.

Passing the master bedroom, she saw light spilling from the crack under the door. Bai Lu paused for a moment. Since it was still early, she decided to go in.

Lu Zhi was doing yoga when she heard the knock. The only other living thing in the apartment was Bai Lu, so without hesitation, she let her in.

Opening the door, Bai Lu immediately saw Lu Zhi doing a plank on a yoga mat by the window. Her tight yoga top clung closely to her body, perfectly displaying her graceful figure.

Bai Lu let out a small, silent gasp of admiration, found a soft upholstered stool to sit on, and didn’t speak right away. She waited for a while, until Lu Zhi had finished her timed set and sat up, before curiously asking, “How long can you hold that?”

“Three minutes,” Lu Zhi stood up, stretching her limbs to relieve the tight muscles. Her voice carried a slight breathlessness. “Any longer isn’t good for the body.”

Bai Lu thought about how she herself could only manage thirty seconds and let out an “Ah.” At the same time, as Lu Zhi moved, Bai Lu’s gaze was uncontrollably drawn to her beautiful abdominal lines—the smooth, defined contours forming a subtle, toned center on her slender waist.

It looked very touchable…

“Is the heat making the air too dry?” Lu Zhi asked, looking at the glass of water in Bai Lu’s hand.

“No, it’s okay,” Bai Lu hastily averted her gaze and sipped the water. The icy liquid slid down her throat, bringing a moment of clarity to her dizzy brain.

Lu Zhi thought for a moment, then got up and retrieved the scented candle from the bedside table. “It helps with sleep.”

Bai Lu took it readily, noticing the wax had a slight dip in the center, clearly having been lit before.

“What scent is this?” she asked curiously.

“White peach,” Lu Zhi said.

Lu Zhi turned around and rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a black lighter. Her slender finger pressed down; with a “click,” a small flame leaped out. She brought the lighter close to the candle, the black cotton wick catching a pale wisp of smoke, a faint fragrance slowly swirling between them.

“Fruity scents are quite refreshing and sweet.”

“Mm, it smells pretty nice.”

Lu Zhi smiled. Looking down, she could see Bai Lu’s long, curled eyelashes. Two small flames danced in the young lady’s clear eyes. Her nose was delicate, her lips a vivid red—she looked like a beautiful porcelain doll.

She was still wearing her own pajamas. The loose V-neckline revealed a soft, fair neck and a hint of lovely allure.

Lu Zhi averted her gaze, sat back down on the yoga mat, and looked at Bai Lu’s face with a steady expression.

Holding the candle quietly, Bai Lu was silent for a moment.

Slowly, it wasn’t the heat of the small flame in her hands that she felt, but rather Lu Zhi’s gaze from across the room that made her face grow slightly warm. She looked up uncomfortably, her tone becoming pointed. “What are you looking at?”

“Looking at how well-behaved and adorable you look when you’re quiet,” Lu Zhi said with a smile.

Bai Lu bit her tongue, immediately regretting why she’d knocked on Lu Zhi’s door just because she couldn’t sleep.

“I’ve always been well-behaved,” she mumbled defiantly in a small voice.

Lu Zhi tilted her head slightly, not refuting it, but instead looked at Bai Lu and suddenly asked, “Can you cook?”

“Huh?” Bai Lu responded.

As if it were the most natural thing, Lu Zhi said, “I’m a bit hungry after exercising.”

It took Bai Lu a moment to react before she pointed at herself, asking, “You want me to cook?”

Lu Zhi nodded. “There are fresh ingredients in the kitchen. Take a look and see if there’s anything you can make. Consider it… your rent.”

Bai Lu let out an exclamation, still holding the candle as she chased after Lu Zhi, who had already stood up and was walking out. She protested loudly, “What rent?! Shen Qing, I’m a guest! I’m only staying one day—what’s this about rent?!”

“Just a moment ago I said you were so well-behaved, and now asking you to make a meal is starting an argument with me.” Lu Zhi had already reached the living room. Hearing the commotion behind her, she turned around gracefully, her fingers catching the young lady’s wrist. The candle flame, which had been flickering wildly and about to go out, slowly steadied and grew bright again.

Choked with indignation, Bai Lu finally gritted her teeth after a long pause and said, “Fine, I’ll make you something!”

Leaning against the bar counter, Lu Zhi watched as Bai Lu huffily stomped over and opened the refrigerator. The ingredients inside were indeed complete, all purchased by the hourly housekeeper and neatly arranged.

Lu Zhi didn’t cook at home very often. Any ingredients that hadn’t been used in over two days, she almost always let the staff take home.

Puffing out her cheeks, Bai Lu searched through the fridge: water celery, kale, lettuce… She really wanted to sabotage Lu Zhi, but for most of the ingredients in the fridge, she only knew their cooked forms and had never dealt with the raw versions. Plus, with the owner of the house watching from behind, she didn’t dare try anything.

After looking for a while, she took out a handful of bok choy, two eggs, and a pack of thin noodles.

“This is all I know how to make.”

Lu Zhi looked them over and nodded. “That’s fine. Noodles are easy to digest at night.”

Seeing Lu Zhi just standing there being a bossy spectator, even casually commenting, Bai Lu’s anger flared up. She raised her voice, “I’m making two bowls. After we eat, you’re doing the dishes!”

Lu Zhi responded with a noncommittal “Mm,” then watched as Bai Lu washed the pot and turned on the stove, her movements looking rather proficient.

Bai Lu made her one and only signature dish: bok choy and egg noodle soup.

In the past, whenever she had an overly extravagant wish or wanted to buy something, simply serving a bowl of noodles to Father Bai or her older brother Bai Hao had never failed her. Over time, she’d perfected a skill that at least produced something edible.

“Eat up.”

Fifteen minutes later, a bowl of noodles was placed in front of Lu Zhi: clear broth, a fried egg, leafy greens, and plump white noodles.

Lu Zhi picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. How to describe it? The noodles tasted like noodles, the veggies like veggies, the egg like an egg. It wasn’t bad, just… just plain, average home cooking.

But since the Eldest Miss had personally gone into the kitchen, Lu Zhi wasn’t too picky. She gave face by nodding and saying, “Not bad.”

“Of course! I’ve been perfecting this skill for almost ten years,” Bai Lu said, quite proud, her delicate chin raised high. If she had a tail, the young lady would be wagging it furiously by now.

Bai Lu brought her own bowl to the bar counter as well. She hadn’t eaten much at the annual meeting that evening, only having some drinks, which had all been digested by now. She hadn’t felt hungry before, but when Lu Zhi mentioned it, she realized her own stomach felt empty too.

Unlike Lu Zhi’s polite appreciation, Bai Lu truly believed her cooking was top-tier. The hot soup and noodles slid down, quickly causing a fine layer of sweat to appear on her nose in this warm winter room.

Lu Zhi watched the girl eating across from her with such gusto, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes.

This kid is really quite forgiving of herself, she mused. Her confidence was as mysteriously unshakeable as ever.

After the late-night snack, Bai Lu insisted on watching Lu Zhi wash the dishes, as if only by making her work right in front of her could she consider the score settled.

Observing Bai Lu’s earnest expression, a sense of mischief arose in Lu Zhi. She deliberately propped her head on her hand in a lazy pose and said, “Just leave them for now. The housekeeper can take care of them tomorrow.”

Bai Lu glared. “No way, they’ll stink by tomorrow.”

Lu Zhi was unconcerned. “It won’t happen that fast. Leaving them overnight is fine.”

“No! We agreed—I cook, you wash the dishes!” Bai Lu’s brows furrowed, her expression resolute as she glared at Lu Zhi. After a long moment, she lifted her pretty chin and suddenly said four words: “Arrogant and lazy.”

Lu Zhi froze for a second, then almost laughed out loud. Those were the exact four words she’d used to describe Bai Lu back in the art studio. She hadn’t expected them to be thrown back at her so quickly.

Unlike Bai Lu, Lu Zhi wasn’t so easily provoked. She just responded with an “Oh,” holding back her laughter, and spoke in a deliberately roguish tone: “Yes, I am lazy and love comfort.”

Bai Lu hadn’t expected such shamelessness. Flustered for a moment, she just futilely glared at her with those dark, bright eyes, trying desperately to express her condemnation through her gaze.

Finding her utterly adorable, Lu Zhi couldn’t help but reach up and pinch the girl’s smooth cheek. “Stop glaring, your eyeballs are about to pop out.”

Bai Lu froze. After a moment’s pause, a blush quickly spread across her face. She wiped her face reflexively and muttered a small protest: “You pervert…”

Lu Zhi openly accepted the insult, then said with a smile, “You go wash the dishes, and I’ll grant you one request.”

Her voice was soft and coaxing, like she was placating a child.

“I won’t…” Bai Lu started to refuse, but her gaze lingered on Lu Zhi’s face. She changed her tune, saying, “Then I want to pinch your cheek.”

Lu Zhi raised an eyebrow, then generously offered her face: “Go ahead.”

Seeing her so straightforward, Bai Lu suddenly felt a bit awkward. She also felt she was getting the short end of the stick—Lu Zhi had pinched her face; pinching back was only fair and square. How could that count as her request?

But the opportunity was rare, and she feared Lu Zhi might change her mind. She hurriedly reached out and pinched Lu Zhi’s cheek.

Though she called it a pinch, she barely used any force at all, just a symbolic squeeze.

“Well? How was the feel?” Lu Zhi even asked her.

“I-it was… okay…” Bai Lu bit her lip, acting dismissive. Her gaze fell to the tabletop in a fluster. Her fingers, now lowered, rubbed together unconsciously, as if that incredibly soft and delicate sensation hadn’t quite faded yet.

Lu Zhi smiled, then said, “Then go wash the dishes now.”

Having gotten her wish, Bai Lu replied with an “Oh” and stood up smoothly, about to take away the empty bowls, when it suddenly dawned on her. “Wait, that’s not fair!”

Lu Zhi looked at her with a tolerant gaze: “What is it now?”

Bai Lu protested, “You pinched me just now too. That just makes us even.”

“So what else do you want?”

“I…” Bai Lu’s lips moved, and then she suddenly pushed her luck further, saying, “I also want to touch your abs.”