Chapter 6

Chu Ruoyou quickly regained her composure, easily deflecting the curious gazes from the neighboring table.

“What about being a Dog?”

Yun Huizhi thought maybe she’d just admitted it out of impatience. “Really? You’re really a Dog?”

“What about it?” Chu Ruoyou suppressed her emotions, waiting for the words to follow.

Seemed it was true. Yun Huizhi wasn’t foolish enough to calculate the age difference. She smiled at her and said sweetly, “Nothing. Being a Dog is good.”

“Good in what way?”

That question was too deep. Adhering to her professional dedication of never brushing off the Client, Yun Huizhi raised her phone and unlocked the screen, putting on a serious act: “I’ll look it up. One moment.”

Chu Ruoyou closed her eyes, her temples aching.

“Straightforward, cautious, loyal, values friendship, high self-esteem… See? They’re all positive traits.”

Yun Huizhi happily announced to her.

Chu Ruoyou propped her chin on her hand: “There must be bad ones too. Tell me some.”

“Ah, let me look again.”

Yun Huizhi flipped through several entries before finding them: “Prone to anxiety, can be narrow-minded, self-centered. And also!”

“Tends to express love improperly, impervious to romance, doesn’t understand romance. In short, pretty unlucky.”

She read aloud with exaggerated cadence. Chu Ruoyou, stung by the words, controlled her expression but was angry enough to laugh.

“These personality traits are related to zodiac animals?”

After reading them, Yun Huizhi also found it absurd: “Seems even less accurate than horoscopes.”

Surely, not all Dogs get divorced.

Chu Ruoyou, however, laughed at herself: “But there are some accurate parts.”

Yun Huizhi didn’t ask which parts were accurate. Using high emotional intelligence, she said: “Older Sister, you’re so outstanding. I believe all the positive traits are accurate. Let’s just ignore the flaws; the author was talking nonsense.”

Chu Ruoyou looked at her playfully. She was probably about to ask something like “Where exactly do I seem outstanding,” but the arrival of their food interrupted their conversation.

The dishes arrived, filling the table. It was more than two girls could finish.

Yun Huizhi had tried to dissuade her earlier, but Chu Ruoyou, with deep pockets and a grand air, had insisted on tasting all the local specialties.

After tasting, Chu Ruoyou indicated she wasn’t used to it. Sour and spicy weren’t her preferred flavors.

“You eat more. You’re a bit thin,” she instructed Yun Huizhi.

Seeing Yun Huizhi’s good appetite, she seemed to think of something, and her tone softened: “From now on, I’ll treat every meal. You can eat whatever you want.”

It sounded like she thought Yun Huizhi’s thinness was due to economic hardship and hunger.

What era was this?

Yun Huizhi couldn’t stand the thought and explained: “I can’t gain weight no matter how much I eat. I’ve always been on the lean side since I was a kid. I lose weight just lying down.”

Hearing this, Chu Ruoyou glanced at her.

Yun Huizhi detected envy, jealousy, and resentment in that glance.

She honestly tried to comfort her: “You’re also slim, and your figure is great. You have a habit of working out, right?”

Chu Ruoyou’s shoulders and neck were straight, the lines of her arms and legs were pleasing, and her waist and abdomen were firm. It was a healthy physique.

“I do, but not very often. I’m usually quite busy.”

“What kind of work do you do?”

Chu Ruoyou evaded: “Just focus on eating.”

So Yun Huizhi learned another thing Miss Chu was unwilling to discuss—her profession.

After lunch, they originally planned to continue exploring. But the benevolent cloudy weather turned sunny and flipped its mood. The sun fully emerged, baking people dizzy.

Seeing that Chu Ruoyou was tired, Yun Huizhi proposed: “How about we go back for a nap first and come out to continue exploring this afternoon?”

“Sure.” Chu Ruoyou agreed readily. She indeed didn’t want to be outside under the sun.

Back in the room, they turned on the air conditioning. Only then did Yun Huizhi feel revived.

No matter how cool the town was, the midday sun in July was no joke.

She splashed tap water on her face, washing away the summer heat she’d picked up outside.

The mouthwash had a spicy, minty taste. It was the first time Yun Huizhi had used this brand. She hadn’t been able to stand the taste at first but now quite liked it.

On the vanity sat several bottles and jars that weren’t hers. Just looking at the brands told her Chu Ruoyou didn’t hesitate to spend money on her face.

Yun Huizhi certainly did too, but to maintain her persona, she’d locked the expensive stuff in a cabinet, leaving out only a set of affordable products.

The room had been cleaned in the morning. Pushing open the bathroom door to come out, it was so clean outside that only the scent of gardenia drifting from a glass bottle remained.

This aromatherapy’s scent was pure, even sweeter and fresher than real gardenias. Baked by the sunlight, it flowed freely throughout the room.

The smell alone lifted one’s spirits.

Before she had time to fully relax, looking up, Yun Huizhi’s heartstrings abruptly tightened.

Chu Ruoyou had drawn the curtains, taken off her clothes, and was leisurely changing into her nightgown.

Yun Huizhi’s body reacted faster than her brain. She quickly turned her back and apologized profusely: “Sorry, I didn’t know you were changing.”

After she spoke, Chu Ruoyou didn’t respond for a long while.

With no further sound from behind, she figured the nightgown must be on. Had she actually gotten angry?

Sure enough, “narrow-minded” was a flaw of some Dogs. Seemed there was some accuracy to it.

She slowly turned around, ready to explain further, only to see Chu Ruoyou leaning against the bookshelf, waiting for her to turn back, with no sign of anger.

Chu Ruoyou smiled knowingly and asked her: “It’s not like you haven’t seen it before. Why the sudden modesty?”

“…”

Yun Huizhi retorted: “A consensual thing is completely different from deliberately peeping at you while you change!”

“I didn’t think you were deliberately peeping. What are you afraid of? Am I that petty?”

Yun Huizhi lifted her chin slightly: “I’m a person of high quality. I don’t want to give you a chance to misunderstand. An apology is due when it’s due. Got a problem?”

“No.” Chu Ruoyou gave a perfunctory smile.

They each got onto the bed from their respective sides and looked at their phones—one replying to messages, the other playing a game, not disturbing each other.

During this time, Chu Ruoyou finished the tea she had steeped beforehand in her water glass and started a conversation: “I’ve noticed you don’t like drinking water.”

Yun Huizhi’s mind was absorbed in her game. She casually responded with an “Ah,” sounding like both agreement and a question.

“You only drank one milk tea this morning, and just a couple sips of water at lunch.”

“Mm. I don’t like plain boiled water.”

“Then brew some tea, or add lemon. In this heat, you need to hydrate.”

She wanted to say drinking water had many benefits, like being good for a girl’s skin, but Yun Huizhi’s skin looked well-hydrated regardless, so she didn’t nag further.

The game finally ended. Yun Huizhi put down her phone and had a moment to think about Chu Ruoyou’s words.

She realized Chu Ruoyou had genuinely cared about her water intake, saying quite a lot. How rare.

She immediately became obedient: “Okay, I’ll drink some now.”

She picked up a bottle of mineral water from the nearby table, took a sip, then screwed the cap back on—just enough to wet her lips.

Chu Ruoyou, however, shook her head, frowning: “For a bottle this size, you should drink at least two a day. Three is actually just right.”

You’re really nosy.

This thought rose and then fell. For some reason, Yun Huizhi felt a strong urge to listen to her.

Obediently, she drank half the bottle and said to Chu Ruoyou: “Okay, you supervise me. From now on, I’ll drink two bottles every day. No, three?”

“Alright.” Chu Ruoyou was confident: “I’ll make sure you develop the habit of drinking water.”

That’s a bit scary.

This Older Sister seemed to like training people.

Yun Huizhi grumbled inwardly.

The two finally lay down to properly sleep.

But even though Chu Ruoyou’s breathing was very light, Yun Huizhi still focused entirely on the rhythm of her breath, following her pace.

Soon, Chu Ruoyou turned over, changing from lying on her back to facing away from her. Her breathing became even shallower.

This was probably her sleeping habit. It was nothing, but Yun Huizhi remembered waking up that morning and seeing her back turned towards her, and the psychological state she’d been in then.

The phrase “casual fling” appeared in her mind again.

Her breathing rhythm became disordered. On a whim, she shifted over and wrapped her arm around Chu Ruoyou’s waist.

If Chu Ruoyou showed displeasure, she would obediently and politely retreat.

But Chu Ruoyou didn’t speak; her body showed no aversion either.

This made Yun Huizhi think of more. For instance, bumping into Chu Ruoyou changing clothes just now, seeing that for comfort while sleeping, she had also taken off her bra.

Observing at close range in the dark of night versus gazing from halfway across the room in the afternoon were completely different sensations.

So when Yun Huizhi had turned her back earlier, it was actually out of shyness. Her face had burned.

Chu Ruoyou probably guessed as much, which was why she had foxily pressed her, asking what she was being modest about.

They both knew: where was this “high quality”? Yun Huizhi had fled out of guilt from having too many improper thoughts.

Her breath puffed against Chu Ruoyou’s cheek. Before she could move, Chu Ruoyou took the initiative to turn over, closed her eyes, and kissed her directly.

Chu Ruoyou’s tongue was soft and moist. The kiss swept away any thoughts from Yun Huizhi’s mind. She could only be carried along, sinking into it.

When she regained awareness, they were already completely unclothed.

She didn’t want to stop. Even though she remembered Chu Ruoyou’s nonsense about paid services being reserved for the night—who would listen to that? Afternoons were just as suitable for pleasure.

Chu Ruoyou clearly wasn’t going to be difficult about it either. As Yun Huizhi’s hand moved downwards, she cooperatively opened her legs.

The gardenia scent turned from fresh and cool to sticky, mixing with other smells. It couldn’t compete with the fragrance of the flower but acted like a stimulant, allowing the passion to proceed smoothly.

Chu Ruoyou’s state was much better than this morning. Though not exactly ecstatic, she seemed to be enjoying it.

This kind of thing wasn’t difficult or complicated. Having done it once, she was more prepared now, so there was more tacit understanding.

“Does it hurt?”

She shook her head.

Yun Huizhi seriously instructed: “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable. I’ll listen. Just don’t bite me.”

Chu Ruoyou suddenly covered her eyes, but the corner of her mouth couldn’t be hidden, curving into an irrepressible smile.

Yun Huizhi found it infuriating but could do nothing. She leaned down and kissed her, intending to steal all her oxygen, making her breathless so she couldn’t laugh at her anymore.

As she felt the ache spreading in her arm, Chu Ruoyou’s voice became more and more pleasing to the ear.

Like the calls of birds in a mountain valley, not crisp and ear-piercing, but clear, soft, and graceful.

Simultaneously, as if caught in some struggle, it tempted you to walk deeper into the forest, to save her, or simply to catch a glimpse of her.

So although her arm ached, Yun Huizhi couldn’t bear to stop. The sound by her ear couldn’t stop either.