Sexy?
Fu Shijing looked her up and down, his gaze settling on her slightly upturned, glossy cherry lips. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he suddenly found himself wondering what it would feel like if she kissed it.
The moment the words left her mouth, Shen Nuan regretted them.
Especially under his burning gaze, she instantly felt like some shameless hooligan.
“Sir, let’s go.”
Keeping her head down, Shen Nuan hurried ahead without daring to look at him.
999 asked with a grin.【Boss, are you embarrassed?】
【How could I possibly be embarrassed?】She considered herself thick skinned enough.
【I just think I said the wrong thing. What if he thinks I’m a pervert?】Shen Nuan defended herself.
999 only felt that his host was far too flirtatious. Anyone without strong self control would have a hard time resisting her.
【How could that be? I think the male lead looked pretty happy.】
【Happy? Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?】
Shen Nuan could not help glancing back.
Who knew he had already walked right up behind her? The instant she turned around, the tip of her nose bumped straight into the man’s rock hard chest.
“Hiss…”
Tears nearly sprang from Shen Nuan’s eyes from the impact. When had he gotten so close behind her?
Seeing her little face scrunched up in pain, Fu Shijing asked with concern, “Does it hurt?”
【Ding~, two hundred thousand yuan has been credited to the system account.】
Knowing he was worried about her, Shen Nuan naturally would not miss such a good opportunity to make money. She rubbed her nose pitifully and mumbled, “It hurts.”
“Let me see.”
Without thinking much of it, he lifted her delicate chin and carefully examined her face.
Forced to look up at him, Shen Nuan quietly said, “I’m fine,” worried that Fu Shijing might notice something suspicious.
Fu Shijing frowned slightly.
“It’s a little red.”
That was because she had rubbed it herself, Shen Nuan thought silently.
“Be more careful when you walk.”
“Mhm.”
Fu Shijing still wanted to say something when a delighted voice suddenly called out from behind them.
“Nuan Nuan.”
Hearing her mother’s voice, Shen Nuan instinctively stepped back and looked toward Ruan Jingya with a face full of joy.
“Mom.”
Fu Shijing was slightly displeased by the obvious distance she immediately put between them, though he did not show it.
“Nuan Nuan, you’re back. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have picked you up.”
Shen Nuan walked over to her mother and affectionately linked arms with her.
“I came out with my boss.” She secretly glanced at Fu Shijing. “My boss is really nice. He let me come see you.”
Her boss?
Fu Shijing found that title particularly awkward. It only made the distance between them seem even greater.
Ruan Jingya also noticed the man standing beside her daughter. Dressed in a tailored suit, he looked completely out of place in the old stairwell.
So this was Fu Shijing?
It was the first time she had ever seen the man her daughter had fallen for from such a close distance. She had to admit that her daughter’s taste had always been excellent.
“Hello, Boss. Thank you for bringing Nuan Nuan back,” Ruan Jingya greeted with a warm smile, graceful and elegant.
Fu Shijing forced a polite smile and gave a slight nod.
“Hello, Auntie.”
Auntie?
Ruan Jingya had not expected him to be so courteous. Not only did he not put on any airs, but he was remarkably polite.
“Ah… hello, hello.”
Shen Nuan was also slightly surprised. She had assumed this proud and aloof man would behave the same as always, yet today he was unexpectedly courteous.
Only then did Ruan Jingya remember the bag in her hand.
“I bought dinner. Boss, why don’t you join us?”
“No need to trouble yourself, Auntie. We’ve already eaten.”
“That’s right, Mom. We’ve already had dinner,” Shen Nuan added.
Out of courtesy, Ruan Jingya invited him again.
“Since you’ve already eaten, then Boss, please come inside and have a seat.”
She had invited him before, but he had not accepted. Shen Nuan did not think he would agree this time either.
“Mom, don’t…”
Fu Shijing smiled faintly.
“All right.”
Neither Ruan Jingya nor Shen Nuan had expected him to agree. But since the invitation had already been made, there was no way to take it back.
So Ruan Jingya and Shen Nuan walked ahead while Fu Shijing followed behind them.
When they reached the fifth floor, Ruan Jingya quickly unlocked the door and apologized.
“I’m sorry. The house is a little messy. Please have a seat while I make some tea.”
Just as she finished speaking, Shen Xiao came out of the bedroom.
“Jingya, you’re back?”
“Dad,” Shen Nuan called happily.
“Nuan Nuan, you’re back too.”
Shen Xiao first cupped his daughter’s face before pulling her into a hug.
Watching the affectionate interaction between Shen Nuan and Shen Xiao, Fu Shijing felt a faint sense of displeasure.
Not forgetting Fu Shijing, Shen Nuan quickly pulled away after hugging her father.
“Dad, my boss came too.”
“Your boss?”
Following his daughter’s gaze, Shen Xiao froze in shock.
Fu Shijing!
Fu Shijing greeted him first with perfect courtesy.
“President Shen.”
Recovering from his surprise, Shen Xiao politely replied, “President Fu, hello. Please have a seat.”
There was no way Fu Shijing would appear in his home for no reason. Shen Xiao guessed it had something to do with his daughter.
“President Fu, thank you for keeping Nuan Nuan at the company. If she hasn’t done well enough, please forgive her.”
In Fu Shijing’s eyes, her parents clearly had not thought too deeply about the relationship between them. He had come rather abruptly, and without proper preparation. It was not the right time to tell them that he wanted to pursue Shen Nuan.
Looking toward the well behaved young woman beside him, he said, “Shen Nuan works seriously and puts in great effort. I’m very satisfied with her.”
【Ding~, two hundred thousand yuan has been credited to the system account.】
He actually praised her.
Shen Nuan was pleasantly surprised.
Seriously? Hardworking?
Back then, Shen Xiao had wanted his daughter to work at the family company, but all she wanted was to have fun. She had only lasted two days before giving up.
Now, seeing how much she had changed, Shen Xiao felt deeply gratified.
At that moment, Ruan Jingya brought over the tea.
“Boss, please have some tea. It’s nothing special, so I hope you won’t mind.”
Fu Shijing accepted it with both hands.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
He glanced meaningfully at the uneasy Shen Nuan beside him.
“Even ordinary tea has its extraordinary side. As long as you like it, that’s enough.”
【Little Nine, what does he mean by that?】
Shen Nuan felt there was another meaning hidden in his words, but she could not figure it out.
【I think the male lead means that once you like someone, nothing else matters.】999 guessed.
Shen Nuan was not sure whether that was really what he meant, but she decided to believe it.
After taking a sip of tea, Fu Shijing noticed that the three of them were still standing. Realizing he had unintentionally become the center of attention, he immediately stood up.
“Uncle, Auntie, please sit.”
Shen Xiao and Ruan Jingya exchanged bewildered glances before the experienced Shen Xiao spoke.
“Please, have a seat, President Fu.”
Only after they had all sat down did Fu Shijing sit as well.
Silence gradually filled the room, and no one quite knew what to say.
Ruan Jingya secretly tugged at her daughter’s sleeve, leaving Shen Nuan no choice but to explain why she had come.
“Dad, Mom, I just wanted to come back and see you.”
“We’re doing well, Nuan Nuan. Don’t worry about us. Just take good care of yourself,” Ruan Jingya said gently.
“I won’t drink anymore. I’ll go find a job and pay off our debts as soon as possible.”
Shen Xiao hated to see his daughter leave again, but he was even more worried that she might suffer outside.
“I know, Mom.”
After reassuring her mother, Shen Nuan turned to her father with a bright smile.
“Dad, as long as you’ve come to your senses, that’s all that matters.”
At that moment, Fu Shijing felt like an outsider.
And he had no desire to remain one.
He was certain that the next time he came, things would be different.
…
The next day, Halfway Mountain Forest Villa.
After seeing Fu Shijing off to work, Shen Nuan began her own duties.
Her morning was mainly spent organizing his personal wardrobe and cleaning the master bedroom.
In the afternoon, she simply cleaned the common areas outside the bedroom.
Even if the floor was already polished until it gleamed, it still had to be cleaned again according to the rules.
She had been working peacefully when one of the maids, Song Yan, suddenly spoke in a mocking tone.
“Some people really don’t know their place. They think sucking up to someone will let them climb the social ladder and become a phoenix.”
Shen Nuan rarely spoke with her. Being mocked so suddenly, she instinctively wondered if she had somehow offended her.
“Don’t say that,” another maid, Xiao You, said, hoping to keep everyone from arguing.
“I’m just telling the truth. This is the first time I’ve ever seen such a shameless woman. She practically throws herself at Sir.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “shameless woman.”
Shen Nuan knew everyone gossiped about her behind her back. She had never paid much attention because it was true that she openly fawned over Fu Shijing.
But she had never interfered with Song Yan’s work. Coming over just to insult her was Song Yan’s problem.
Shen Nuan had no intention of putting up with it.
“Move aside.”
She continued sweeping.
“Hey, what are you doing? You deliberately brushed your broom against my shoes. What do you mean by that?”
“Really? I didn’t notice. Besides, didn’t I already tell you to move?”
“You said it so fast. How were we supposed to react? You did it on purpose.”
Look at how arrogant she was.
Shen Nuan intended to teach her a lesson.
Smiling calmly, she replied, “Maybe it’s because someone spends too much time gossiping behind other people’s backs that even the broom can’t stand it anymore.”
Song Yan snapped angrily, “Stop pretending. You heard me. Do you seriously think someone like you can reach Sir’s level? Look at your own status. What are you dreaming about? You really don’t know your place.”
Her expression turned cold.
“Whether Sir likes me or not is Sir’s business. What does it have to do with you? Instead of wasting time talking about other people, you’d be better off doing your own work.”
“You’re just saying that because you feel guilty.”
Afraid things would get out of hand, Xiao You hurriedly tried to stop them.
“That’s enough, Song Yan. We still have work to do.”
“Work?”
Song Yan grew even angrier.
“Why is the area she’s responsible for so much smaller while we have to clean so much more?”
Filled with resentment, she said bluntly, “Don’t think I don’t know how many people you’ve been cozying up to behind the scenes. Isn’t it all because you want to become the mistress of this house? Do you really think you’re some rich young lady? Do you honestly think you’re worthy?”
【She’s gone way too far.】999 protested.
Shen Nuan comforted him.
【It’s okay, Little Nine. This is actually pretty normal. No matter where you go, you’ll always meet narrow minded, jealous people like this.】
Before she had transmigrated, she had just entered the workforce and was constantly bullied by both her supervisors and coworkers.
【Humans really are complicated.】999 shook his head. 【Why does everyone always have to compete?】
【You’ll get used to it.】
Shen Nuan shot back, “I may be an ordinary person, but at least I know not to slander others. I also know basic manners and decency. People with filthy hearts see filth in everything.”
“You called me filthy? I’m going to Butler Zhou and demand justice.”
Song Yan was furious. She had worked here for years, yet she had been outdone by someone who had only just arrived. She refused to swallow such humiliation.
The commotion caught Butler Zhou’s attention. With his hands behind his back and a stern expression, he walked over.
“What’s all this noise?”
“Butler Zhou.”
Shen Nuan also greeted him respectfully.
“Butler Zhou, you came at just the right time. Everyone here knows Shen Nuan keeps trying to please Sir whenever he appears. That’s already beyond the scope of her duties, and I’ve discovered she has improper feelings for Sir.”
Song Yan deliberately announced it in front of everyone, intending to humiliate Shen Nuan so badly that she would no longer be able to stay here.
The moment those words were spoken, all the other maids immediately pricked up their ears.
Everyone loved gossip.
Shen Nuan felt as though she had confessed her feelings at school while the entire campus stood around watching.
She truly had no confidence.
Although Fu Shijing already knew how she felt about him, it was also true that she had violated one of the villa’s rules.
Butler Zhou was not blind. He had long since figured things out. From the several occasions when Sir had stopped Shen Nuan from working, it was obvious she was special.
Still, he could not say so openly. This was the employer’s private business. If he handled it poorly, he would be the one to suffer.
For now, all he could do was follow procedure.
“Shen Nuan, what do you have to say?”
【Boss, are you going to deny it?】999 asked uncertainly.
【He already knows. There’s no point denying it.】
If she denied it, Fu Shijing would probably think she was a liar instead.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Nuan answered honestly.
【I do like Sir.】
Everyone present sucked in a sharp breath.
It was no secret that many maids dreamed of climbing the social ladder, but someone as bold as Shen Nuan, openly confessing her feelings like this, was incredibly rare. Most of them immediately assumed she would be thrown out.
Song Yan smirked triumphantly.
“Butler Zhou, see? She admitted it.”
Butler Zhou remained expressionless on the surface, though inwardly he wondered whether he should report this to Grandma Fu.
“We’ll wait until Sir comes back. All of you, return to work.”
Shen Nuan was surprised by Butler Zhou’s decision to settle the matter quietly.
It was clearly to her advantage.
“Butler Zhou.”
Song Yan refused to give up.
“Butler Zhou, she violated the villa’s rules.”
She had expected Butler Zhou to throw Shen Nuan out.
She had never imagined he would simply let the matter go.
“Do I need you to tell me how to do my job?” Butler Zhou asked with the authority expected of a head butler.
“No.”
Song Yan’s face turned pale as she choked on her words, utterly unwilling to accept the outcome.
She was furious that Butler Zhou was protecting Shen Nuan, and her resentment toward Shen Nuan only grew stronger.
Just then, Fu Shijing returned to pick Shen Nuan up.
Spotting him immediately, Song Yan deliberately raised her voice.
“Butler Zhou, aren’t you going to punish her? She violated the villa’s rules.”
Seeing everyone gathered together, Fu Shijing walked over.
“What happened?”
“Well…”
Butler Zhou hesitated.
“Sir, there’s someone in the villa with improper intentions, and Butler Zhou knows about it too,” Song Yan hurriedly complained, deliberately dragging the butler into it.
Butler Zhou had never met someone so utterly lacking in judgment.
He had wanted to settle the matter quietly, but she had walked straight into the line of fire herself.
Fu Shijing noticed Butler Zhou repeatedly glancing toward Shen Nuan, who stood there with her head lowered like a child who had done something wrong.
Had she made a mistake?
His voice turned cold.
“Butler Zhou, have you suddenly gone mute?”
Forced to answer, Butler Zhou said, “No, Sir. A maid reported that Shen Nuan… has improper feelings for you.”
Fu Shijing had not expected this to be the issue. His eyes flickered slightly.
Song Yan added another accusation.
“Sir, I also saw Shen Nuan smelling your clothes.”
Everyone immediately turned to stare at Shen Nuan.
Some looked shocked, some could hardly believe it, but most looked at her with contempt.
She had only caught the scent of his cologne on him that day. Later, while putting away his clothes, she had simply become curious and given them a quick sniff.
Who could have guessed someone would happen to see her?
【Little Nine, they’re making me sound like some kind of pervert.】 Shen Nuan covered her face.【This is so embarrassing. I just want to disappear into the Pacific Ocean.】
999 looked awkward.
【Not just sound like one. You really do.】
Fu Shijing looked at Shen Nuan with obvious amusement, suppressing a laugh.
“You… smelled… my clothes?”