Chapter 4

The night rain drummed against the leaves of the few trees in the courtyard. The sound pierced into the room, covering the unscheduled intimacy of the early dawn.

Skylight, filtered through the clouds, spread downwards. Occasional voices from downstairs drifted up. Yun Huizhi was the first to wake.

Once her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she saw the person beside her facing away, more than half an arm’s length apart, as distant as if nothing had ever happened.

Realizing this, Yun Huizhi felt a strange sensation. She chewed on it for a few minutes before realizing it wasn’t distress.

She didn’t care what attitude the stranger beside her held. She just found it interesting.

This was probably what a casual fling meant.

She’d never experienced it before, only heard about it. She neither longed for it nor rejected it.

When Chu Ruoyou unexpectedly appeared, with the right time, place, and person, this thing happened.

A spur-of-the-moment attempt. It seemed not bad. At least the experience of being intimate with a beautiful woman wasn’t terrible. It was novel and pleasant.

But now, a night later, it belatedly dawned on her: they’d both been too careless. Their vigilance towards each other wasn’t high enough, nor had they considered the worst possible consequences.

As she got out of bed and took a few steps, she felt light-headed. Certain memories surfaced, making her heart tremble.

Intertwined breaths, murmured whispers, kisses repeated over and over, and a burning body temperature.

She continued thinking further. Her own recklessness was due to never overly cherishing herself, and she was confident she held the upper hand here in Jianjia Town. But what about Chu Ruoyou?

Why wasn’t she worried?

Divorced and dejected, looking for a thrill?

Lost in these wild thoughts, she took a shower. When she came out, she saw Chu Ruoyou was still asleep.

This Older Sister had average stamina.

After making that silent assessment, Yun Huizhi dressed neatly and went out to have breakfast alone.

The breakfast shop was on the next street, run by a husband and wife. It was more hygienic than other places.

Mainly, the taste was good. Yun Huizhi came here three to five times a week.

After eating, she packed a portion of rice noodles for Chu Ruoyou.

While packing it, the shop owner’s wife casually asked who she was taking it back for. Yun Huizhi spun a tale: “It’s also for me. I’ll be hungry again by the time I walk back, just in time to eat another portion.”

“You’re so thin your waist is only a handspan wide. Can your appetite be that big? It’s for your boyfriend, right? New relationship?” The shop owner’s wife joked.

“Sis, your imagination is pretty good.”

For starters, the gender was wrong.

Without thinking, Yun Huizhi had put on a pair of white shoes that day. She carefully avoided puddles the whole way, swinging the bag of rice noodles in a leisurely mood.

She greeted a few familiar guests in the courtyard. Just as she entered the front hall, the front desk clerk, Little Zhang, looked at her with his perpetually sullen face.

She thought to herself: the gap between people is a huge injustice.

Little Zhang was naturally sour-faced; it wasn’t easy that he hadn’t been complained about as a front desk clerk. Or maybe he had been and just didn’t know it.

But the same expression on Chu Ruoyou’s face was a feast for the eyes.

Expressionless, staring right at you.

Making you want to stare back.

She could tell Little Zhang had something to say. She walked over and asked: “What is it? Did your younger sister ask you to give me something again? I told you, I don’t want it.”

“She did, then didn’t.”

“What do you mean?” Yun Huizhi was confused.

Little Zhang was concise: “She wanted to bring you breakfast. I said, last night you slept in the same room with another woman, not in a friendly way. She was very upset and said she never wants to see you again.”

Brilliant. Yun Huizhi inwardly marveled at Little Zhang’s eloquence. “Thanks for helping me.”

Little Zhang hadn’t intended to help her; he just told the truth.

Thinking about how the two of them clearly didn’t know each other well when they checked in yesterday, he added: “You really aren’t familiar with her?”

“We will be,” Yun Huizhi smiled.

Little Zhang understood. He wasn’t interested in girls’ affairs. Thinking it best if his sister gave up on being friends with this person sooner, he went back to looking at his book.

Back in the room, Chu Ruoyou was already awake. She was leaning against the headboard, looking at her phone and typing out a message.

The sound of the door opening and closing made her look up after sending the last line. Her face held little expression.

Their eyes met. Yun Huizhi felt as if a fawn had darted out from some bush and knocked her over. She was dazed for a moment.

Just-woken Chu Ruoyou carried a trace of lazy tenderness between her brows, mingled with a faint, barely perceptible awkwardness.

The moment she thought about the reason for that awkwardness, Yun Huizhi’s breathing slowed, and her thoughts scattered wildly too.

She broke the oppressive silence first: “You’re awake. Perfect. I brought you breakfast. Wash up and come eat.”

She placed the takeout box on the long wooden table and walked to the window. Turning back, she asked: “Can I open the curtains now? Let some air in. It’s cool outside today.”

Only after coming in from outside could she smell it: this room reeked of furtive passion stolen in the night. A faint, lingering, secret fragrance, causing faces to flush and hearts to race.

Chu Ruoyou neither nodded nor shook her head, leaving Yun Huizhi somewhat baffled. She asked lightly, “Are your hands still sore?”

—

This morning, accompanied by the sudden downpour, besides the deep physical communication, they had exchanged a few brief words.

The state of absolute candor couldn’t be faked. Yun Huizhi could very clearly feel that Chu Ruoyou was nervous, coupled with a kind of natural rawness.

It wasn’t just a matter of never having tried with a girl.

During the process, Yun Huizhi hadn’t had the energy to pay attention. As they finished, she couldn’t help but say: “You don’t seem like someone who’s been married.”

It was just a moment of passion, dazzled by the perfectly matched exchange, a random flirtatious thought.

As soon as she said it, she felt it wasn’t good. That line was so tasteless. A divorced person must be feeling terrible. She was just being insensitive.

Deliberately killing the mood.

Just as she was about to apologize, Chu Ruoyou wiped away her physiological tears and returned to the indifference from before the madness. She replied calmly: “That’s precisely why I got divorced.”

Stunned, Yun Huizhi was greatly surprised: “He couldn’t perform?”

This sort of thing was likely difficult to speak of. Chu Ruoyou’s expression stiffened. She lowered her eyes awkwardly and said quietly after a moment: “Mm. It never really worked.”

Yun Huizhi understood then. No wonder she lacked experience. No wonder she got divorced. No wonder she chose to find a temporary travel companion.

Setting aside her inner thoughts, Yun Huizhi consoled her like a good person: “Then divorce was a must. You can’t be blamed. How much does a disharmonious married life affect feelings? You’re still young, don’t be discouraged. Just find another one at worst, someone capable.”

Chu Ruoyou looked at her upon hearing this. Her eyes still glistened with unshed tears, yet her expression was calm. Looking closer… was that a hint of pleasure?

What was she happy about?

Yun Huizhi was first puzzled, then it hit her. It was because, after Chu Ruoyou’s disheartenment, she had given her an excellent experience.

She was that “capable” one!

Cool!

Self-satisfied and considerate, she raised a pair of willow-leaf brows. “Do you want more?”

Chu Ruoyou refused flatly. “No, it hurts a bit.”

“Where? How come?”

Yun Huizhi was slightly crushed. She had no choice but to show her hand for inspection: “I clipped my nails very cleanly.”

“It went on a bit long, so no.”

“Alright.”

She had indeed been greedy just now and asked for quite a lot. Yun Huizhi honestly admitted she was barely holding on: “Actually, my arm is sore too.”

Being the one on top, the muscle that probably needed the most exercise was the jaw muscle, because at every crucial moment, she had to grit her teeth and persevere. She couldn’t leave someone hanging.

The Client issued a merciless command: “Train your arm strength well.”

—

Now, Chu Ruoyou’s concern for her made her feel flattered, yet also couldn’t help but overthink.

She walked towards the bed and saw the things casually thrown on the floor and nightstand last night. Their presence everywhere reminded her of the previous night’s abandon.

The mess, and Chu Ruoyou’s not-entirely-innocent gaze, left her at a loss, even a bit shy. So she sat down on the edge of the bed.

With her back to Chu Ruoyou, her words, however, were not restrained: “I’m not sore anymore. Do you want to try during the day?”

Chu Ruoyou said coldly: “Not necessary, thank you.”

Then added: “Today is a paid service. Let’s leave it for tonight.”

These words stirred a mix of feelings in Yun Huizhi. She had no choice but to turn her head and blink innocently at her.

Defining the monetary relationship so clearly, afraid she’d forget she was just the Contractor.

Chu Ruoyou studied her expression to confirm there was no embarrassment there. She had deliberately brought up topics related to “money” several times, and Yun Huizhi had always responded with ease.

“Then tonight it is. I’ll listen to you. Do you have any dissatisfaction? We can slowly work things out. Or just make any requests. I’ll agree to whatever I can accept.”

She even very professionally asked for feedback and gave a guarantee.

Because of her words, Chu Ruoyou paused. “Not for now.”

Yun Huizhi definitely saw her frown fleetingly, though it returned to calm very quickly.

“Really?”

“Fake.”

Chu Ruoyou shot her a cold glance, then lifted the covers to get out of bed and wash up, unwilling to continue this topic with her.

Yun Huizhi discovered that her dagger-like glares had a unique charm. Too lazy to figure out why she was glaring, she was in a great mood and opened the curtains and window.

The smell after the rain wasn’t as strong as when she’d gone out in the morning, but it hadn’t completely dissipated. It wafted into the room.

When Chu Ruoyou came out, Yun Huizhi took the initiative to open the packaging of the rice noodles for her. “This shop’s rice noodles are especially delicious. Clear broth, not spicy but very fragrant.”

She handed over the utensils. Chu Ruoyou took them, her gaze sweeping over her.

Yun Huizhi was puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Chu Ruoyou said: “Nothing, just looking.”

Today, Yun Huizhi had simply tied her hair in a ponytail, dressed fresh and neat, and still wasn’t wearing any makeup.

Actually, Chu Ruoyou had already been awake when she took her shower. But the ridiculous events had just happened naturally, and she hadn’t really felt like dealing with anyone, so she’d closed her eyes to rest.

Fortunately, Yun Huizhi went out quickly.

After agreeing on the price, they had finalized the dates and mutually verified their health status.

Everything was proceeding according to the script, except for Yun Huizhi herself. She was beyond her expectations.

There was something a little special about her everywhere.

Only a ghost would believe the word “nothing.” Without delving deeper, Yun Huizhi deliberately joked: “You looking at me like that made me think you wanted me to kiss you.”

“That’s fine,” Chu Ruoyou said lightly.

Yun Huizhi smiled, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to her lips. She had just brushed her teeth; her lips were cold and cool.

Chu Ruoyou’s gaze was also cold and cool.

But Yun Huizhi wasn’t afraid. She liked this contrast in her. It was enough that she got hot when the time was right.

“What’s your itinerary for today?” the Client asked.

Yun Huizhi reported: “Today, we’ll just wander around town. Get familiar with the local customs and atmosphere. We can rest anytime. What do you think? I was afraid you’d be tired.”

“Mm, very considerate.”

Chu Ruoyou approved of her arrangement and tasted two mouthfuls of the noodles. “The flavor is good.”

“If you can get up tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to the shop. It’s even better than takeout.”

“I won’t be able to get up,” Chu Ruoyou refused.

“Then I’ll buy it and bring it back for you every morning. You can sleep a little longer.”

Yun Huizhi said this with a good-natured tone.

“What makes you so kind-hearted?”

“Of course, I’m tirelessly diligent, as long as you command it.”

Eight hundred a day, after all. She couldn’t cheat in vain.

Yun Huizhi sat down, picked up the round fan on the table, and began fanning her. “You’ll need to change into something with more coverage later. There are quite a few marks.”

She swore she hadn’t deliberately left any marks. It was just that Chu Ruoyou’s skin was thin; a slight suck and it turned red.

The nightgown couldn’t cover them; they were all exposed to view. The sight stirred up wild fancies, romantic daydreams.

Without raising her head, Chu Ruoyou commanded: “I’m eating. Remove your eyes from my body.”

“Already removed.”

“What are you thinking in your heart?” she persisted relentlessly.

“Eat first. I’m afraid you won’t be able to finish if I say it.”

Yun Huizhi fanned with even more vigor.

Chu Ruoyou put down her chopsticks, pulled a tissue to wipe her mouth. Her gaze shifted, and her voice was soft and coaxing: “I’m done eating. Tell me.”