Ever since waking from that dream, Fu Shijing had not slept again.
To be precise, he simply could not fall asleep.
His mind was filled with her image, and all sorts of inappropriate thoughts arose uncontrollably.
When Shen Nuan arrived at the bedroom, she found him already fully dressed, with even his tie neatly fastened. She secretly wondered why he had been getting up earlier and earlier lately.
It looked like she would have to wake up even earlier tomorrow.
“Sir, are you heading to work already?”
Fu Shijing gave a slight hum. Although his eyes rested on her, his thoughts were occupied by the bold version of her from his dream.
He must have gone crazy. It was broad daylight, yet he was already letting his imagination run wild.
“Aren’t you eating breakfast?” Shen Nuan asked concernedly.
If he skipped breakfast, that meant fewer chances for her to earn money.
At the mention of eating, Fu Shijing’s gaze fell on her vivid lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and an urge to taste their sweetness surged within him.
He turned his eyes away.
“No.”
Shen Nuan stepped closer and smiled ingratiatingly.
“Skipping breakfast is bad for your stomach, Sir. You should eat something.”
Damn it. Did she know how enchanting her smile was?
His large hand wrapped around her slender waist and pulled her toward him.
【Ding! System reward credited: 100,000 yuan.】
Though confused by why he had suddenly embraced her, Shen Nuan would never refuse when money was involved.
“Sir, what’s wrong?”
Seeing the puzzled expression on her face, Fu Shijing realized he had lost control and immediately released her.
“I’m going to work.”
“Have a safe trip.”
After watching him leave, Shen Nuan could not help saying,
【Little Nine, don’t you think he’s acting strangely? I can’t put my finger on it, but something feels off.】
【I feel the same way.】999 nodded.
After spending some time at Halfway Mountain Forest Villa, Shen Nuan had been working diligently and had gotten to know several people.
Usually, she ate with Aunt Wang, and today Liu Hao joined them.
Liu Hao had an outgoing personality and was always willing to help others, making him popular among everyone.
It was only through Aunt Wang that Shen Nuan had become acquainted with him.
Halfway through the meal, Liu Hao suddenly asked,
“Shen Nuan, do you have a boyfriend?”
Without thinking much about it, she answered, “No.”
Upon hearing that, Liu Hao grinned broadly.
“So you still don’t have a boyfriend.”
Aunt Wang put down her chopsticks and teased him.
“You brat, why are you asking so many questions?”
Liu Hao stole a glance at Shen Nuan, who was still eating.
“Aunt Wang, I was just asking casually.”
As someone with experience, Aunt Wang merely smiled without saying anything.
【Big Boss, do you think he likes you?】999 asked.
Shen Nuan found that unlikely.
【Every day I shamelessly flatter Fu Shijing. In everyone’s eyes, I’m just a vain woman trying to seduce the boss and climb the social ladder. Why would anyone like me?】
【But it really looks that way.】999 analyzed. 【Otherwise, why would he smile so happily after hearing that you don’t have a boyfriend?】
Shen Nuan had been too focused on eating to notice Liu Hao’s expression.
Since Little Nine thought so, she decided to pay more attention in the future.
【I’ll try to avoid talking to him. I don’t want Fu Shijing to misunderstand. Even if he doesn’t like me, my devoted-lackey persona can’t collapse.】
Just in case.
【Exactly.】999 wholeheartedly agreed.
After lunch, Liu Hao left first because he had something to do.
Once only the two women remained, Aunt Wang earnestly advised her.
“Nuan Nuan, the benefits at the villa are good. Work here for a few more years and save some money. Even if you leave one day, you’ll at least have enough capital to start a small business.”
Shen Nuan smiled and nodded slightly.
In truth, she knew very well that when the time came, staying here any longer would no longer be suitable. Leaving was inevitable.
The fewer people who knew for now, the better.
Pulling Shen Nuan aside to an empty corner, Aunt Wang asked with concern,
“Nuan Nuan, I heard from others that you’ve been cooking for Sir. Is that true? You…”
She paused and ultimately swallowed the rest of her words.
Shen Nuan understood what she meant.
She had heard the gossip in the villa too. People thought she was trying to climb the ranks and seduce Fu Shijing.
In truth, she really did have ulterior motives.
She answered honestly.
“Yes, I’ve cooked for Sir before. I know what everyone says about me.”
Aunt Wang sighed worriedly.
“Nuan Nuan, Sir isn’t someone who falls in love easily. In the past, there were maids who tried to win his favor, but all of them were driven away.”
She had always believed Shen Nuan was different from the others, and she still believed so.
Shen Nuan did not care about what others thought because she had no choice.
“Thank you for your concern. I have my own reasons. I’ve already accepted the possibility of being kicked out.”
“Nuan Nuan, as long as you know what you’re doing, I won’t say any more.”
Seeing that persuasion was futile, Aunt Wang only reminded her,
“Sir has high standards, and he’ll expect even more from you. Work hard.”
Understanding her good intentions, Shen Nuan smiled gratefully.
“I understand. Thank you.”
Aunt Wang waved her hand with a smile.
“What are you thanking me for? Go take a nap. There’s still work this afternoon.”
After their conversation, Shen Nuan returned to her room.
Fu Shijing’s birthday was next week, and she began agonizing over it.
She had never seen him wear the red bracelet she had given him before. He had probably thrown it away, or perhaps he had never even looked at it.
She wanted to earn some money through his birthday, but as merely a maid, giving him a gift seemed inappropriate. Yet she was unwilling to let such an opportunity pass.
【Little Nine, should I still give him a birthday present?】
999 offered his sincere advice.
【I think you should. Birthdays only come once a year. What if the male lead becomes happy because of your gift? The reward might be huge.】
【You’re right. Then I’ll do it.】Shen Nuan stopped hesitating. 【As for what to give him, I’ll search online.】
She immediately picked up her phone and searched for what gifts could make the opposite sex happy.
He already had plenty of expensive clothes. She only had a few hundred yuan and had not received her salary yet. How could she afford them?
Shen Nuan immediately discarded that idea. They were not a couple. She was merely a devoted lackey.
She had never noticed him using perfume, though she had smelled a faint pine scent whenever she was near him. Unfortunately, even though cologne was cheaper than custom-made clothes, premium brands were still expensive.
【Big Boss, give him a tie.】
Seeing the suggestion, 999’s eyes lit up.
【Little Nine, why a tie?】Shen Nuan asked curiously.
【I’ve read in novels that giving someone a tie symbolizes binding them to you. It can express your feelings.】
There was such a meaning?
Clearly, she had not read enough novels.
【Then it’s settled. A tie. Since I can go out once every month, I can buy it then.】
That afternoon, Shen Nuan noticed that the lights in her room kept flickering, so she went to find a repairman.
Unexpectedly, she bumped into Liu Hao in the garden.
Stopping his work, he called out,
“Nuan Nuan, where are you going?”
Remembering what the System had said, Shen Nuan had no intention of talking too much.
“I’m looking for a repairman.”
“What happened?” Liu Hao asked enthusiastically.
“The light in my room seems broken.”
“Oh, a broken light? I know how to fix it. I’ll do it.”
Since he wanted an excuse to get closer to her, he naturally did not want to miss the opportunity.
“No, I’ll find…”
He smiled. “It’s just a small thing. Come on.”
With that, Liu Hao took the lead.
Unable to refuse his goodwill, Shen Nuan gave up on finding the repairman.
Soon, the light was fixed.
“All done, Nuan Nuan.”
“Thank you, Liu Hao.”
“It’s nothing. You’re too polite. Helping others is a joy.”
Liu Hao flashed his honest-looking grin.
Shen Nuan made an excuse.
“I still have things to do, so I’ll be going.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
But after taking a few steps, Liu Hao followed behind her with a bashful smile.
“Nuan Nuan, I forgot to tell you, I don’t have a girlfriend either. Looks like we’re destined. Nuan Nuan, when are you free? I…”
“Si… Sir!”
Liu Hao froze in shock.
As soon as Fu Shijing entered the living room, he saw a man following her and asking attentively when she would be free.
His intentions were obvious.
Turning around, Shen Nuan immediately broke into a brilliant smile when she saw the man she longed for.
“Sir, you’re back!”
Fu Shijing walked directly between them, cutting off their eye contact, and turned toward Butler Zhou.
“Butler Zhou, is this how you manage your staff? Not staying at their posts and wandering around freely?”
Though he did not mention her by name, Shen Nuan knew she was also at fault.
Having just arrived, Butler Zhou quickly admitted his mistake.
“Sir, this was my oversight.”
He shot Liu Hao a glare.
“What are you doing here?”
Liu Hao trembled.
“Sir, I was helping Nuan Nuan fix her light. That’s why I came here. I was wrong.”
He had wanted to impress the girl he liked, but who could have expected Sir to catch him at that exact moment?
Nuan Nuan?
Such an intimate way of addressing her.
Fu Shijing felt inexplicably irritated.
“Butler Zhou, you know how to handle this.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Butler Zhou barely dared to breathe.
Fu Shijing looked at Shen Nuan.
“You, come here.”
Then he turned and left.
Shen Nuan hurried after him. She had never expected that simply fixing a light would lead to such a big issue. Since Liu Hao had been punished because of her, she felt guilty.
“Sir, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let him fix the light and leave his post.”
He stopped, his voice turning cold.
“So you’re saying I’m mistreating you? Not even allowing you to repair a light?”
“No!”
Her little head shook like a rattle drum.
“How could you mistreat me? You’ve already treated me very well.”
What Fu Shijing cared about was the way she and that man had laughed together, and how that man had addressed her so affectionately.
Shen Nuan followed him into the bedroom and obediently stood to the side.
Facing her, Fu Shijing asked, “I treat you well?”
She nodded vigorously.
“Very well. Extremely well.”
The fire in his heart subsided somewhat, but not enough.
“Hold me.”
???
Shen Nuan’s eyes widened. Had she misheard?
【Little Nine, am I hearing things?】
【I heard it too. He wants a hug!】999 danced excitedly.
【Ding! System reward credited: 200,000 yuan.】
His gaze burned intensely, his voice low and husky.
“Didn’t you want to hug me last night? What, you don’t want to anymore?”
“Yes!”
She would be crazy not to. Hugs brought rewards, and she wanted them desperately.
“Then hug me.”
Swallowing nervously, Shen Nuan opened her arms and embraced him.
Looking at the woman in his arms, Fu Shijing’s brows relaxed and his mood improved considerably.
【Ding! System reward credited: 200,000 yuan.】
Shen Nuan had no idea how long she had been hugging him. Since he had not told her to stop, she had no intention of letting go.
【Ding! Hugging for over three minutes. System reward credited: 100,000 yuan.】
【Little Nine, longer hugs give rewards too?】
【That’s right, Big Boss. As long as you fulfill the male lead’s request, the longer it lasts, the greater the reward.】999 answered confidently.
In that case, she wished they could hug forever.
“You can let go now.”
Unfortunately, reality did not cooperate. His magnetic voice sounded above her head.
Reluctantly releasing him, Shen Nuan looked up at his calm face and ingratiatingly said,
“Sir, shall I tell stories tonight? I guarantee you’ll sleep well.”
Fu Shijing’s lips curled upward.
“By sleeping well, do you mean putting yourself to sleep again?”
She awkwardly laughed.
“It definitely won’t happen this time. Or I can give you a massage. I’m very good at massages.”
“Massage?”
Her massage?
Looking at those fair, slender fingers, Fu Shijing came to one conclusion.
Not suitable.
“You can tell stories.”
“Yes, stories it is.”
After Fu Shijing went to freshen up, Shen Nuan searched online for stories. Whether they could help him sleep was irrelevant. She mainly focused on romantic stories that expressed love.
Half an hour later, after his shower, Fu Shijing did not lie down immediately. Instead, he sat on the sofa reading a book while listening to her stories.
As she spoke, Shen Nuan secretly glanced at him from time to time, unsure whether he was actually listening.
After a long while, she was exhausted, but he still continued reading.
His energy was too good. Wasn’t he sleepy?
Eventually, she noticed that he had put down his book and leaned against the sofa with his eyes closed. She had no idea whether he had fallen asleep.
Her gaze landed on his slightly pursed lips.
It wasn’t that she coveted his beauty. She simply wanted to know how much reward she would get from a kiss.
And she wanted that reward.
【Big Boss, the opportunity is right in front of you.】
【What if he isn’t asleep? To be safe, I’ll test him first.】
“Taro, milk tea, and Bobo lived together. One day, Taro and Bobo argued for some reason. Taro got angry and ran away from home. Milk tea thought Bobo was too much, so he eloped with Taro, leaving only Bobo at home.”
Shen Nuan deliberately paused.
“So, this Bobo, do you want it or not?”
No response, no anger either.
He must be asleep.
Shen Nuan bent over and slowly moved closer.
Suddenly, her wrist was seized. Caught off guard, she stumbled and fell toward him.
“Ah!”
By sheer coincidence, her rosy lips brushed against the corner of his thin lips.
At that moment, Fu Shijing opened his eyes.
【Ding! System reward credited: 500,000 yuan.】
“Sir, I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Shen Nuan hypocritically defended herself, though inside she was overjoyed. Even if she had only touched the corner of his lips, it was a success in her eyes.
“Mmm.”
“Then rest early. I won’t disturb you anymore.”
Shen Nuan quickly ran out of the room, while 999 jumped excitedly.
【Yay! Big Boss finally kissed him!】
Only after hiding in her own room did Shen Nuan relax.
【He probably didn’t notice, so he didn’t pursue the matter. I’m really lucky. If I could kiss him longer, that would be even better.】
【Why do I feel like the male lead knew?】999 wondered.
【Impossible. If he’d found out, would he have let me leave so easily? He’d have thrown me out with my blanket immediately.】
【That’s true. Big Boss makes sense.】
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Fu Shijing gently rubbed the corner of his lips with his finger.
Her lips were sweet.
Even sweeter than they had been in his dreams.