Shen Nuan felt her scalp tingle under his gaze. Leaving felt wrong, but staying felt awkward too.
Not only did he remain silent, he kept staring at her, making it impossible for her to guess what he was thinking.
“Sir…”
She had barely spoken when he suddenly asked, “How’s your hand?”
He didn’t seem angry, and Shen Nuan let out a sigh of relief inwardly, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
“It’s much better.”
As if to prove she wasn’t lying, she stretched out her fair hand.
“I’ve been applying the burn ointment regularly. It’s no longer red or swollen.”
Fu Shijing glanced at her hand and saw that it was indeed just as she said.
“If I catch you going into the kitchen again, I’ll deduct your salary.”
Shen Nuan pouted.
“Yes.”
【Listen to that. I cook for him and he still wants to dock my pay. Being a total pushover for someone you like is really tough.】
999 sympathized with her.
【Big Boss, I understand.】
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
Hearing the System notification, Shen Nuan suddenly felt that having her salary deducted wasn’t so bad.
She immediately flashed a bright smile.
“Please wait a moment, Sir. I’ll bring the soup.”
Seeing her enthusiasm, Fu Shijing neither spoke nor refused.
Shen Nuan happily brought over the sober-up soup she had prepared. She actually didn’t know how to make it, Chef Hu had taught her.
“It’s just the right temperature. Please have some, Sir. It’s my first time making this, so it might not taste very good. Please forgive me.”
His first time?
Fu Shijing had never been in the habit of drinking hangover soup. Even when he got drunk, he never touched this sort of thing.
Yet, looking at the yellow broth with pieces of citrus peel floating on top, it was obvious she had spent a long time preparing it.
Fu Shijing finished the soup in one go. Lowering his eyes, he saw the pure smile on her face.
The soup was sweet with a hint of sourness, but the smile on her face was even sweeter.
His heart stirred slightly.
Shen Nuan didn’t dare ask whether it tasted good. She wasn’t confident at all. Even Chef Hu had said he had never seen Sir drink sober-up soup before, so she had only decided to give it a try.
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
There was a reward?
Did that mean he was fairly satisfied?
“Sir?” she called softly and carefully.
Realizing that he had been staring at her absentmindedly, Fu Shijing coughed lightly and calmly put down the bowl.
“You can go sleep now.”
“Don’t, Sir.”
Shen Nuan smiled ingratiatingly.
“I’m not sleepy. I can continue telling you stories.”
Stories!
Because of the stories she told last night, Fu Shijing had lain awake in bed with her figure filling his mind and her soft voice echoing in his ears.
Never before had he been so out of control. He had actually spent the middle of the night unable to sleep because he was thinking about a woman.
Rubbing his temple, Fu Shijing said, “No need. Go rest early.”
Watching the door close before her eyes, Shen Nuan could only fret helplessly.
She had waited so long only to be shut out. Although she had earned some money, it was only a drop in the ocean. She was still far from one hundred million.
At this rate, she really was heading toward an early death.
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
She decided to try one more time.
Shamelessly, she knocked on the door.
“Sir, I still have something unfinished. May I come in?”
There was no response, so she gathered her courage.
“Sir, then I’m coming in.”
She carefully opened the door and tiptoed inside, only to see Fu Shijing emerging from the walk-in closet.
“Sir, are you getting your pajamas? Shall I get them for you?”
“What haven’t you finished?” Fu Shijing asked without handing them over.
“I… um…”
Stupid brain, think of an excuse!
The large bed entered her peripheral vision, and inspiration struck.
“Sorry, Sir. I forgot to change the bedsheets today. I’ll do it right away.”
His eyes narrowed and his tone changed slightly.
“Butler Zhou assigned you work again?”
She almost forgot that Butler Zhou had told her to rest.
Quickly, she covered up.
“No. Butler Zhou assigned someone else. I just didn’t want to be lazy, and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity you gave me. I wanted to find something to do.”
Seeing her humble and careful manner, Fu Shijing stopped questioning her.
“Do whatever you want. I’m taking a shower.”
“Okay.”
As soon as he entered the bathroom, Shen Nuan’s shoulders slumped.
【Little Nine, how am I supposed to win him over? Help me think of something—getting rejected all the time clearly isn’t working.】
She really had no ideas left.
999 thought for a moment before revealing a mischievous smile.
【Big Boss, why don’t you just pretend to faint? Collapse into the male lead’s arms and take advantage of him. Even touching him earns rewards.】
Shen Nuan had her concerns.
【Nothing works forever. I’m afraid he’ll see through me. By then, not only will I fail to enjoy any benefits, I’ll just end up embarrassing myself.】
【Why?】999 didn’t understand.
While slowly changing the bedsheets, Shen Nuan exaggerated dramatically.
【He might slap me straight onto the floor, the kind where I won’t even be able to get back up.】
【Not that extreme, right?】 To be safe, 999 suggested, 【Big Boss, should I ask my master? He’s experienced in this area.】
Shen Nuan was astonished.
【You can ask your master?】
【Of course, but it’ll cost money.】
【How much?】
Ever since seeing Fu Shijing drinking through the System’s screen, Shen Nuan had learned that nothing came free.
999 awkwardly raised one finger.
【This much.】
【One hundred thousand?】
999 stammered.
【One million.】
Shen Nuan nearly lost her breath.
【That much? Are you systems or money grubbers?】
【It can’t be helped, Big Boss. My master also has missions. If he fails, he’ll die too.】
Everyone had their difficulties, so Shen Nuan stopped making things hard for him.
【I’ll try fainting first. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll ask your master. Money should be spent wisely.】
【Sounds good.】
Shen Nuan timed things perfectly. By the time Fu Shijing emerged from the shower, she had just finished changing the sheets.
Unfortunately, he was wearing pajamas today, leaving her with no excuse to praise him.
Compliments out of nowhere would only seem fake.
Noticing his damp hair, she walked over with a gentle smile.
“Sir, let me dry your hair.”
Deliberately avoiding her smile, Fu Shijing wanted to change this strange lack of control over himself.
“No need. Once you’re done, go rest.”
Shen Nuan’s hand had barely reached the hair dryer when his words stopped her.
Though reluctant, she obediently complied.
“Good night, Sir.”
Clutching the removed sheets, she deliberately pretended to trip over them. Closing her eyes, she tilted stiffly toward him.
“Ah!”
She even let out an exaggerated cry.
Reacting quickly, Fu Shijing caught her.
Shen Nuan opened her eyes in feigned surprise and happily thanked him.
“Thank you, Sir.”
He scolded sternly, “Idiot. Can’t you watch where you’re walking?”
Shen Nuan was stunned by the reprimand.
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan has been credited.】
“I understand.”
After releasing the arm around her waist, Fu Shijing let go before she could even enjoy the moment.
Not wanting to leave just yet, she timidly asked, “Sir, can I hug you? Just once, okay?”
Hearing that, 999 gave another thumbs up. With such a bold host, how could the mission possibly fail?
Why was she suddenly asking for this?
Fu Shijing wondered inwardly.
“Why do you want a hug?”
“I…”
She had only wanted to test the waters. She had already prepared herself for rejection, but now that he asked, what excuse could possibly make him agree?
Her hesitation convinced Fu Shijing that something was bothering her.
“Speak.”
Shen Nuan guiltily shut her eyes.
“I… I miss my family.”
He should have refused, but his throat tightened instead.
Poking her forehead, he said, “Are you a child? Since when do people need hugs because they miss their family?”
【Why is the male lead so dense?】999 held his forehead speechlessly.
【Then I’ll just say it clearly.】
“I… cough… I also see you as family, Sir. I want to hug you. Is that okay?”
Hug him?
Her face turned scarlet as she lowered her head shyly.
Fu Shijing’s lips curved upward.
“If you miss your parents, call them. I’ll allow you to go out once a month.”
Shen Nuan was naturally happy about being allowed outside, but only if she earned enough money to survive.
“So… can I hug you?” she asked unwilling to give up.
Amused by her persistence, Fu Shijing poked her forehead again.
“What do you think?”
The answer was obvious.
Even though she had expected rejection, she still felt a little disappointed.
“Still not going back to your room?”
“Oh.”
Shen Nuan looked back every few steps. She wanted to stay, but she couldn’t find another excuse to fawn over him and could only leave dejectedly.
At least she had asked, and he hadn’t thrown her out. She comforted herself with that.
Inside the room, Fu Shijing rubbed his fingertips unconsciously.
Why was her waist so slender?
It felt as though it would break with just a squeeze.
A day passed.
After returning from work, Fu Shijing walked from the first-floor living room to the second-floor master bedroom without seeing Shen Nuan anywhere.
He found it strange.
Usually, she would already be waiting for him, but today she hadn’t appeared at all.
He wanted to ask Butler Zhou, but stopped himself. He shouldn’t care about her, even if she had already broken through his principles.
Annoyedly removing his tie, he headed straight toward the bathroom.
The moment he opened the bathroom door, he froze.
Shen Nuan was soaking in the bathtub, her slender neck slightly raised as warm water flowed over her fair skin. Tiny droplets clung to her porcelain-like face, rosy and delicate like a lotus emerging from the water.
Even through the mist, he could see clearly.
She was bathing.
Bathing in his room!
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and suddenly he felt heat surge through his body.
“Why are you here?”
Only then did Shen Nuan notice him. Smiling sweetly, she looked at the man standing at the door.
“Sir, you’re back.”
Her eyes sparkled with laughter, and her soft voice sounded as sweet as honey.
He flushed and turned his gaze away, his voice hoarse.
“Put your clothes on and get out. Don’t bathe here again.”
Stepping out of the bathtub, she slowly approached him.
With every step she took, his heart wavered.
“But I want to kiss you, Sir.”
Her slender arms wrapped around his solid chest as she clung to him with an enchanting smile.
Heat rose to his face and spread through his body.
“Put on your clothes and leave.”
Growing bolder and more stubborn, she spoke softly, “No! I want to become your woman.”
His heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
“Shen Nuan, do you want to be fir…”
Before he could finish speaking, she took his large hand and placed it over her chest.
“Sir, I love you. I love you so much. Don’t drive me away.”
Beneath his palm was soft skin. Veins bulged on his forehead as he felt she was deliberately provoking him.
And unfortunately, he had already been set ablaze.
Grinding his teeth, he said, “Shen Nuan, do you know what you’re doing?”
Her beautiful eyes curved seductively.
“Of course I do. But I want you, Fu Shijing.”
Standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the corner of his lips.
Seeing him remain still, she asked sadly,
“Don’t you want to kiss me?”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. She looked pitiful and heartbreaking, and every sob tugged at his heart.
He couldn’t deny it.
He really did want to kiss her.
And far more than just kiss her.
She hugged him tightly, their bodies pressed together without the slightest gap.
Her alluring curves left no room for doubt.
Fu Shijing had always believed he would never be seduced by beauty and had always disdained women throwing themselves at him.
But this person was Shen Nuan.
The self-control he had always been proud of crumbled instantly.
“Sir, please love me. Please want me.”
Her soft murmur and inviting red lips were within reach.
As though possessed, his hand slid to her slender waist, his rough fingertips yearning to claim every inch of soft skin.
“Shen Nuan, you shouldn’t tempt me.”
“But I want to tempt you.”
She laughed softly, her breath fragrant.
Just as he was about to kiss her lips, Fu Shijing suddenly woke up.
Moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains. There was no Shen Nuan beside him.
Only then did he realize it had all been a dream.
And that kind of dream.
Ever since adolescence, he had never had such dreams again. Yet not only had he dreamed about Shen Nuan, he had even dreamed of wanting her…
Fu Shijing refused to believe that he had fallen for her. He had always believed everything remained under control.
But now…
When it came to her, he had lost control.