Fu Shijing felt his chest tighten slightly, and the words “get out” caught in his throat.
She had never hidden her affection for him. As time passed, he didn’t know when he had stopped rejecting it, and a faint joy quietly stirred in his heart.
Letting her work in his house made Fu Shijing realize for the first time that he had made a mistake in his decision.
Not because Shen Nuan wasn’t suitable, but because he found himself unable to stop paying attention to her. It felt as though something was gradually slipping beyond his control.
He tapped her forehead and questioned her, while at the same time reminding himself.
“What are your responsibilities?”
Responsibilities?
It was obvious that he meant she had crossed the line. It seemed sweet talk couldn’t be used too often, otherwise it would backfire.
“My responsibility is to serve Sir well.” Changing the topic, she asked with concern, “Have you eaten? Skipping meals is bad for your health. Should I have the kitchen prepare something, or I can make it myself.”
“You can cook?”
Fu Shijing knew nothing about her private life and had never paid attention to it. He hadn’t expected her to know how to cook.
Shen Nuan nodded ingratiatingly.
“I can make egg fried rice and stir fried shredded potatoes.”
【Big Boss, don’t expose yourself.】999 hurriedly reminded her.
【Right, I almost forgot.】She was currently a fallen rich young lady.
Afraid that he might become suspicious, Shen Nuan lowered her eyes to conceal her guilt.
“After my family went bankrupt, all our chefs left, so I had no choice but to learn. But even after all this time, I only know these two dishes. Sir, please don’t dislike them. Would you like to try some?”
Fu Shijing didn’t want to see her looking so dejected and answered before thinking.
“Make some egg fried rice.”
Shen Nuan looked up happily.
“Yes. Please wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon.”
【Ding! The System has credited 100,000 yuan.】
Having successfully escaped and earned another reward, Shen Nuan happily went to the kitchen.
Her joy was written all over her face, and all because she could cook for him.
Fu Shijing had met many women like Shen Nuan who stubbornly pursued him, but this was the first time he had seen someone so easily satisfied.
He had always disdained love, yet seeing her happy somehow improved his own mood.
Not wanting to waste time, Shen Nuan headed to the kitchen.
Although it was late, Chef Hu was still on standby. As long as Sir needed something, they would prepare it immediately.
“Hello, Chef Hu.”
Shen Nuan knew Chef Hu, though only one sidedly, as they had barely spoken before.
Seeing someone come in, Chef Hu reminded her,
“The kitchen in the main house isn’t a place people can enter casually. If you’re looking for something, you can check the staff cafeteria.”
Knowing the villa’s rules, Shen Nuan smiled.
“Chef Hu, Sir is hungry and asked me to make egg fried rice for him.”
“You’re making it?”
Naturally, she couldn’t tell him that Fu Shijing had been annoyed by her pestering and perhaps wanted to see her embarrass herself.
Chef Hu looked both surprised and curious as he quietly observed her.
“You’re Sir’s personal assistant?”
“Yes, Chef Hu. It’s Sir’s order, I wouldn’t dare lie to you.”
As the saying went, one shouldn’t hit a smiling face. Moreover, she worked beside Sir, so Chef Hu naturally didn’t dare say much, though he couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
Sir had actually asked her to cook. It was obvious he held her in high regard.
“Since it’s Sir’s arrangement, then go ahead.”
Chef Hu stayed to supervise from the side.
Shen Nuan quickly finished making the egg fried rice. Back when she lived in a rented apartment, she had made it most often because it was quick, easy, and cheap.
When she arrived at the bedroom, Fu Shijing had just come out after showering.
For some reason, only a bath towel was wrapped around his lower body, leaving his upper body bare.
Droplets of water mischievously slid from his hair onto his firm chest, rolling down over his clearly defined abs before disappearing beneath the towel.
One drop, then another.
Seeing it made her face flush red and her mouth dry.
Shen Nuan desperately wanted to compliment him, but her mind suddenly crashed. She could only stare blankly and say nothing.
“Seen enough?”
The man’s deep voice suddenly sounded beside her ear, startling Shen Nuan back to reality. Her face immediately turned scarlet.
“Cough, I didn’t mean to stare, Sir.”
She lowered her head and avoided his gaze.
Fu Shijing teased her deliberately.
“Then you did it on purpose?”
Shen Nuan was speechless.
How could she have known he wouldn’t wear a shirt? Normally, he guarded himself against her like a thief, so why wasn’t he avoiding her now?
“Um, your egg fried rice is ready. I’ve put it on the table outside.”
“You made it?”
Seeing her discomfort, Fu Shijing was in an exceptionally good mood and walked toward her.
“Yes, I made it.”
Shen Nuan only felt that he was standing too close, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, making her own body grow warm.
She frantically tried to think of a compliment different from before.
Come on, brain, think!
Fu Shijing chuckled softly.
“Why aren’t you looking anymore?”
“Uh…”
Her gaze landed on those prominent eight pack abs, and before she knew it, the words slipped out.
“Sir, your abs are so big~”
As soon as she said it, her face became even redder.
Wasn’t she openly admitting she’d been staring?
Fu Shijing raised his brows and smiled.
【Ding! The System has credited 50,000 yuan.】
“Wait outside.”
“Okay.”
Shen Nuan quickly fled, afraid he might pursue the matter.
【Little Nine, that was so embarrassing. I was worried he’d tell me to get lost.】
She patted her burning cheeks, trying to calm herself.
【It’s fine, Big Boss. You only told the truth, and you got a reward too. That means the male lead isn’t angry.】
【Really? That’s great then.】
Comforted by the System, Shen Nuan sat quietly at the dining table and waited.
After changing into his pajamas, Fu Shijing came to the table and looked at the plate of egg fried rice. At least it looked decent.
“Sir, please enjoy.”
Perhaps because he was bewitched by her expectant eyes, Fu Shijing actually took a bite.
“Sir, how is it?”
The eggs were too salty, while the rice itself lacked flavor.
Then he noticed her reddened hand and asked coldly, “What happened to your hand?”
Afraid he would dislike her poor cooking, Shen Nuan quickly hid it behind her back.
“I accidentally burned it. It’s nothing.”
Fu Shijing grabbed her wrist and saw the obvious red mark, his brows furrowing.
“If you got burned, why did you keep cooking? Are you an idiot?”
【Ding! The System has credited 300,000 yuan.】
Shen Nuan didn’t care about being scolded. What she cared about was the money.
【Little Nine, why is the reward so high?】
【Because you’ve triggered the male lead’s concern, so the reward has multiplied.】
【Then when my foot was injured and he carried me, why didn’t the reward increase? That’s unfair.】
999 explained,【This time you were injured while cooking for the male lead, not from an accident, and certainly not from pretending to gain sympathy. The System judged that your efforts to lick the male lead were sincere.】
【I see. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I wasted so much time.】
So the more sincere she was, the more the rewards multiplied.
999 scratched his head.
【I only learned this when the System distributed the reward.】
【Fine. Knowing now isn’t too late.】
Seeing her silently staring at him, Fu Shijing realized his tone had been too harsh.
“Did I speak too harshly?”
“Hm? Ah?”
She had been talking with the System and had forgotten to answer. Was he reflecting on himself?
Shen Nuan smiled gently.
“No. As long as Sir doesn’t dislike it.”
Her words struck heavily against his heart.
Her humility, her carefulness, her attempts to please him were exactly the things he despised most, and yet they made him feel ridiculously good.
With a solemn expression, Fu Shijing released her hand and quietly ate.
【Little Nine, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong? Why does he seem angry?】
【I don’t know. Big Boss shouldn’t have said anything wrong. Could it be because the egg fried rice wasn’t good?】
【Not good? But he’s almost finished the whole plate.】
999 concluded,【A man’s heart is deeper than the ocean.】
Shen Nuan wholeheartedly agreed.
【Especially Fu Shijing. He’s impossible to understand.】
After he finished the entire plate, Shen Nuan heard another notification.
“Don’t cook again in the future.”
Fu Shijing tapped her forehead once more.
Shen Nuan had just been happy about earning money, only to find herself immediately fired from cooking.
“But why?”
“It doesn’t suit you.”
His gaze landed on her hand.
She really only knew those two dishes, so it indeed wasn’t suitable.
She immediately thought of another way to earn rewards.
“Sir, I can do many other things. If you can’t sleep, I can sing lullabies.”
After all, in novels, nine out of ten domineering CEOs had stomach problems, and eight suffered from insomnia. Fu Shijing was no exception.
Fu Shijing stopped walking, and Shen Nuan bumped into his firm back.
“A lullaby?”
He was curious. Shen Nuan smiled brightly.
“Yes, I guarantee you’ll sleep well.”
She was bluffing. Her sleep quality was good, but only for herself.
【Ding! The System has credited 50,000 yuan.】
Fu Shijing sat on the sofa with his eyes closed. Looking at his flawless face, Shen Nuan swallowed unconsciously. Everyone loved beautiful things, and she was no exception.
Her singing wasn’t good, but since she had bragged so much, she had no choice but to sing.
“Sleep, sleep, my dear…”
Suddenly realizing something was wrong, she hurriedly stopped. If she continued, she’d probably be told to get out.
“Sir, I’ll tell stories instead. Stories can help people sleep too.”
Fu Shijing didn’t refuse, and Shen Nuan took that as an agreement.
“Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. Mother Pig…”
Fu Shijing laughed helplessly.
“Do you think I’m a three year old?”
“Then I’ll tell another one. Once there was a duck who was very short, so everyone called him Short Duck. One day, he met another duck even shorter than himself. Looking at the other duck, he said, ‘I’m so short, duck.’”
【Such an obvious cheesy pickup line. He should understand it, right?】
【Even I understood it.】999 gave a thumbs up. 【Big Boss prepared so many cheesy lines.】
Only when she needed them did she realize how useful they were. Earlier she couldn’t think of compliments, but cheesy lines came naturally.
【He’s not responding. Did he fall asleep?】
Shen Nuan walked around to face him. His eyes were closed, and he seemed asleep.
Looking at his rosy lips, she desperately wanted to kiss them.
Seeing through her thoughts, 999 encouraged her.
【Big Boss, I support you. Steal the male lead’s first kiss and the reward will multiply tremendously.】
Shen Nuan really wanted to take his first kiss, but if he discovered it, the consequences would be disastrous.
【I’d better endure a little longer. I’ll kiss him when the time is right.】
【That works too.】
“Why are you standing so close to me?”
He suddenly opened his eyes, and Shen Nuan laughed awkwardly, inwardly grateful that she hadn’t acted impulsively.
“I thought you’d fallen asleep.”
His gaze fell upon her moist lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Continue.”
“Yes.”
Shen Nuan didn’t know many stories, so after he closed his eyes again, she secretly searched online.
“Once there was a deer that got lost in the forest. So she called her giraffe friend. The deer said, ‘Hello, I’m lost.’ The giraffe replied, ‘Hello, I’m a giraffe…’”
Time slowly passed, and Fu Shijing remained wide awake.
She spoke animatedly, and although the stories were childish, he listened attentively.
Eventually, when her voice disappeared, he opened his eyes and found her asleep on the coffee table.
He stood up and picked her up.
【Ding! The System has credited 100,000 yuan.】
Hearing the notification, Shen Nuan immediately woke up. Seeing herself in his arms, she was both surprised and delighted.
“Sir.”
As punishment, Fu Shijing pinched her slender waist and smiled.
“You really are something. You put yourself to sleep while telling stories.”
“Sorry, I was too sleepy.”
Standing had been tiring, so she’d sat down on the sofa. But leaning against the backrest had been too comfortable, and she had dozed off.
Secretly resting against his hard chest, Shen Nuan thought to herself, He probably didn’t notice, right?
【Ding! The System has credited 100,000 yuan.】
Outside the bedroom, Fu Shijing put her down.
“Go sleep.”
Shen Nuan shook her head and lied with a straight face.
“I’m not sleepy. I can sleep after you do.”
Seeing the dark circles beneath her eyes, Fu Shijing felt displeased.
“I don’t have a habit of having people accompany me while I sleep. In the future, if I come home late, you don’t have to wait for me.”
“It’s fine, Sir…”
The door closed.
Looking at it, Shen Nuan sighed.
【Little Nine, how did I fall asleep?】
999 comforted her.
【Big Boss has been too anxious lately and hasn’t rested well. You earned over a million yuan today, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.】
【Only a million. I’m still far from my goal.】
【Take it slowly. I think Big Boss is already amazing.】
Returning to his room, Fu Shijing noticed a four leaf clover bracelet on the sofa.
It was obviously hers.
Outside, Shen Nuan asked,【Little Nine, if I fail, what will happen to you?】
999 remained silent for several seconds before calmly replying,
【If the host is erased, I will die alongside you.】
A chill ran through Shen Nuan’s body.
【Don’t other Systems just find a new host? Why would you be dragged down by me?】
【This is the fate of our Licking Dog Systems. Either we succeed, or we perish.】
【Little Nine, I believe we’ll break free from this unfair fate together and become masters of our own destiny.】
999’s eyes filled with tears.
【Big Boss, with those words, I feel reassured.】
For herself, and for Little Nine who would never abandon her, she had to work hard and earn money.
“Shen Nuan, keep it up. You must shamelessly pursue Sir. Even if he never responds, you have to keep chasing him.”
Holding the bracelet, Fu Shijing opened the door and found her cheering herself on to pursue him.
Unaware that he stood behind her, Shen Nuan continued, “Believe that hard work will bring rewards. One day I’ll definitely kiss him.”
A kiss?
He raised his brows, and a beautiful smile curved his lips.