【I think that’s probably it.】
Could Fu Shijing be using her as a shield? If so, Grandma Fu would stop pressuring him to find a girlfriend.
No wonder he had brought her here. So he really had another motive.
999 rested his chin on his hand.
【Boss, what are you planning to do?】
【I’ll go along with it. We don’t have much time left anyway, and it’ll make Grandma Fu happy. Maybe I’ll even earn more rewards.】
No matter how she looked at it, she wasn’t losing out.
【That’s true. Boss, do your best.】
Shen Nuan smiled sweetly at the man, then obediently walked over to the elderly woman and helped fasten the jade bracelet around her wrist.
“Nuan Nuan has such a wonderful taste. Grandma loves it.” Grandma Fu laughed happily, her face glowing with delight.
【Ding! System reward credited: 500,000 yuan.】
【Five hundred thousand? Little Nine, are the rewards really this generous?】 Shen Nuan was overjoyed.
999 thought for a moment.
【Normally the reward shouldn’t increase by this much unless both the male lead and his grandmother are satisfied.】
【Then I’ll have to work even harder.】 The more sincere she appeared, the better.
Grandma Fu held Shen Nuan’s hand and looked at her granddaughter.
“Jiaqing, you’re about the same age as Nuan Nuan. Spend more time together and get to know each other. You can’t neglect your sister in law.”
Sister in law?
The title left Shen Nuan flattered beyond words.
She knew Grandma Fu had disliked the original owner, believing she had ulterior motives. The old lady’s drastic change in attitude now was probably because she adored Fu Shijing and, by extension, accepted the woman he liked.
【Boss, has the male lead’s grandmother officially accepted you?】 999 asked excitedly.
【It probably has more to do with Fu Shijing.】
After all, she was only a stand in.
“Yes, Grandma.”
Fu Jiaqing enthusiastically linked arms with Shen Nuan.
“Sister in law, I know about you. You’re the one who chased after my cousin, right?”
“Uh…”
Everyone already knew she’d pursued him. Shen Nuan secretly glanced at Fu Shijing before honestly admitting,
“Yes, I was the one who chased him.”
“Jiaqing, it doesn’t matter who pursued whom. What matters is that they like each other.” Grandma Fu spoke meaningfully.
“Yes, Grandma.” Fu Jiaqing wore the unmistakable expression of someone eagerly enjoying the gossip.
“But Sister in law, you’re so brave! I really admire you. You actually dared to pursue my cousin. You know he’s never been interested in women. All he ever thinks about is work. Grandma and Uncle…”
“Ahem.”
Fu Shijing interrupted her and naturally wrapped an arm around Shen Nuan’s waist.
“Jiaqing, it’s Grandma’s birthday. Spend more time with her.”
【Ding! System reward credited: 100,000 yuan.】
Shen Nuan silently glanced at the large hand resting around her waist.
She never minded how much money she received. As long as there was a reward, she was happy.
“Got it.”
Fu Jiaqing smiled brightly.
“Sister in law, let’s chat later. I really want to know how you and Brother Shijing started dating.”
They had never dated at all. What was there to talk about?
“Why accompany me? You young people should go have fun yourselves.”
Shen Nuan thought that was the end of it.
Instead, Fu Shijing proceeded to introduce her to every relative in the family.
【Ding! System reward credited: 200,000 yuan.】
【Ding! System reward credited: 100,000 yuan.】
【Ding! System reward credited: 200,000 yuan.】
Thanks to Shen Nuan’s wholehearted cooperation, she earned quite a generous amount.
“Shijing, since this is the first time you’ve brought your girlfriend home, you and Nuan Nuan shouldn’t go back tonight,” Grandma Fu suggested as she held Shen Nuan’s hand.
“Grandma, whatever you say.”
He actually agreed!
If they weren’t going back… where was she supposed to sleep? A guest room?
Seeing how readily her grandson agreed, Grandma Fu smiled knowingly before turning to Shen Nuan.
“They’re always busy, and Grandma stays here all alone in the old residence. It’s so lonely. Nuan Nuan, would you be willing to keep this lonely old woman company for a while?”
Lonely?
Fu Shijing chuckled quietly but said nothing.
Shen Nuan also wanted to seize every opportunity to earn more rewards, so she nodded happily.
“Of course, Grandma. I’d love to chat with you.”
“Nuan Nuan is so thoughtful.”
Grandma Fu beamed.
【Ding! System reward credited: 200,000 yuan.】
“My grandson only knows how to work. If he ever neglects you, tell me. Grandma will stand up for you.”
【Grandma Fu is so nice. Boss, keep winning her over.】 999 cheered.
【Mm, I’ll do my best.】
“Sir has always treated me very well,” Shen Nuan flattered.
“Sir?”
Grandma Fu frowned.
“Shijing, why do you and Nuan Nuan address each other so formally?”
Fu Shijing took hold of Shen Nuan’s hand. The rough pads of his fingers seemed to carry warmth, sending little tremors through her body.
“Nuan Nuan, what should you call me?”
Oh no!
She had tried flattering him and ended up doing the opposite.
She immediately corrected herself with a sweet smile.
“Shijing.”
The corners of his lips lifted.
“Chat with Grandma. I won’t interrupt you.”
Grandma Fu shot her grandson a glance.
“You brat. Later I’ll have Jiaqing bring Nuan Nuan back.”
An hour later, Shen Nuan had enjoyed chatting with Grandma Fu and the rest of the family so much that she had earned a considerable number of rewards. She would have loved to keep talking.
But Grandma Fu was elderly and needed her rest, so Shen Nuan couldn’t continue disturbing her.
Fu Jiaqing escorted Shen Nuan to Fu Shijing’s bedroom.
“Sister in law, this is Brother Shijing’s room. I’ll head out now.”
Fu Jiaqing had received a message from her cousin saying it was getting late and Grandma should rest early. Otherwise, there was no way she would have sent her sister in law back so soon.
“Wait…”
Watching her leave in a hurry, Shen Nuan asked,
【Little Nine, does this mean I’m sleeping in the same room as Fu Shijing tonight?】
【Since everyone believes you and the male lead are a couple, probably.】
Remembering that time was running out, Shen Nuan decided she absolutely had to seize this opportunity to earn more money tonight.
When the bedroom door opened, Fu Shijing was standing there bare chested.
Shen Nuan’s eyes nearly popped out.
Why isn’t he wearing a shirt?
What a feast for the eyes.
I love looking.
He’s too handsome.
Back when she was working, one of her coworkers had once enthusiastically explained that looking at handsome men every day wasn’t just visually pleasing for women. It also boosted one’s mood, lowered blood pressure, reduced the risk of heart disease, and could even extend one’s lifespan.
Especially someone like Fu Shijing, the novel’s male lead, who had both an impossibly handsome face and a perfect physique.
As long as she survived this crisis, why would she ever worry about living a short life?
Fu Shijing disliked being stared at so openly, especially in a situation like this.
Yet somehow, her gaze didn’t make him uncomfortable.
“I was just about to take a shower.”
He walked toward the sofa.
“Oh.”
Embarrassed, Shen Nuan quickly looked away.
“Um… I’ll go find your pajamas, Sir.”
She hurried off, completely forgetting that they weren’t at Halfway Mountain Forest Villa.
Her foot caught on the leg of the sofa, sending her stumbling straight toward the man in front of her.
Fu Shijing instinctively caught the woman who had suddenly thrown herself into his arms.
The force of the collision threw both of them off balance, and they toppled backward onto the sofa together.
“Ah…”
Her soft red lips landed squarely on his.
Both of them froze.
【Ding! System reward credited: 1,000,000 yuan.】
【Ahhh! Boss, you kissed him! You really kissed him!】
999 shyly covered his eyes, yet couldn’t resist peeking through his fingers.
Stealing Fu Shijing’s first kiss was worth one million yuan!
Shen Nuan was thrilled.
But after the excitement came a problem.
Unlike last time, when he hadn’t known about it, this time he had witnessed everything clearly.
【Ding! Kiss exceeds three minutes. System reward credited: 300,000 yuan.】
【Ding! Kiss exceeds five minutes. System reward credited: 500,000 yuan.】
The longer the kiss lasted, the greater the reward.
Shen Nuan honestly wanted to keep kissing forever.
Unfortunately, she was beginning to lose the strength to maintain such an awkward position.
Just as she was about to give out, the man’s hand tightened around her slender waist.
With a slight movement, he effortlessly lifted her.
Shen Nuan found herself sitting on his lap.
She was desperately wondering how to explain herself when his calm voice sounded beside her ear.
“Have you kissed enough?”
Enough? How could she possibly have enough?
That was a fully formed one million yuan sitting right there.
Even if she had to kiss him for an entire hour, she would never say no.
But she didn’t dare admit that.
“I… I’m sorry. I… I really didn’t mean to do it.”
She wondered whether he would believe her.
She hadn’t meant to?
Fu Shijing was dissatisfied with that answer.
If she hadn’t meant to, why had she kissed him for so long?
In truth, he himself had almost wanted to deepen the kiss even further.
He looked furious.
Then again, what man would happily let his first kiss be stolen, especially by a woman he supposedly didn’t love?
Shen Nuan hurried to admit her mistake.
“I was wrong, Sir. I shouldn’t have fallen on top of you.”
The more Fu Shijing listened, the deeper his frown became.
He had thought the accidental kiss would make her happy.
Instead, the only one who had enjoyed it was him.
【Little Nine, I have a feeling I’m about to be kicked out this time.】 Shen Nuan panicked inwardly.
999 didn’t think so.
【Boss, you’re still sitting on the male lead’s lap. No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like someone who’s about to throw you out.】
【I honestly didn’t even realize it. Good thing you reminded me.】
Afraid of making him even angrier, Shen Nuan tried to stand.
Instead, the man tightened his arm around her waist.
“Sir, I was wrong.”
She looked at him pitifully as she apologized again.
Still calling me Sir?
Did she truly not understand, or was she pretending not to?
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“I’ve never liked coming out on the losing end.”
“I understand. I was wrong.”
Shen Nuan nodded meekly.
“So…”
His gaze slowly lowered until it rested on her soft, rosy lips.
“So?”
Shen Nuan’s heart pounded wildly.
【Little Nine, why do I feel like there’s something strange about the way he’s looking at me?】
999 noticed it too.
【He looks like he wants to swallow you whole.】
Fu Shijing smiled faintly before slowly uttering three words.
“Kiss me back.”
“Ki…”
“Mmph…”
Before Shen Nuan could finish speaking, he captured her lips, deepening the kiss with unmistakable affection.