Shen Zhaoning strained to turn her head, finally getting a clear look at his current state.
That handsome face was now inches away. His brows were still slightly furrowed, but those eyes, usually sharp as a hawk’s, were tightly shut. Long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyelids.
He was… actually asleep?
Fu Huaixu’s brows remained furrowed even in sleep. Shen Zhaoning reached out, wanting to smooth away the tension.
After calming her emotions and mustering considerable effort, she finally managed to slowly push Fu Huaixu off of her.
She stood up and straightened her slightly disheveled clothes.
Fortunately, the sofa was spacious enough to accommodate his tall, slender frame.
Shen Zhaoning removed his shoes, fetched a blanket to cover him, then turned and went to the bathroom. She dampened a towel with warm water and gently wiped Fu Huaixu’s face and hands.
“What a troublesome guy,” she murmured softly.
By the time she finished, it was already one in the morning. Deciding against working on her drafts, she went straight to bed.
9:00 AM
Sunlight lazily filtered through the gaps in the curtains, spilling onto the head of the bed. The air still carried a lingering, intimate scent.
Shen Zhaoning was awakened by the sound of a ringing phone. She slowly opened her eyes.
She found herself nestled entirely within Fu Huaixu’s embrace. His strong, muscular arm was wrapped tightly around her waist. Shen Zhaoning’s cheeks instantly flushed with heat. She then gently lifted his arm, moved it aside, and let it rest.
Reaching for the nightstand, she picked up her phone, swiped to answer, and spoke with a voice still dry and hoarse from sleep. “Hello?”
On the other end, her assistant Su Yue’s urgent voice came through:
“Ms. Shen! You had an appointment yesterday with the designer from Wood & Stone Design Company to finalize the renovation style at the studio. He’s been waiting here for almost half an hour now, and you haven’t arrived?”
“I… I know. I’ll be there in about an hour!” she replied rapidly, her tone filled with panic and regret.
Hanging up, Shen Zhaoning, disregarding her nakedness, hurriedly got out of bed, grabbed the clothes she had prepared, and rushed into the bathroom.
Inside, she looked up at her reflection in the mirror. Her fair skin was marked with unmistakable, suggestive red traces, especially on her chest, as if silently testifying to the previous night’s frenzy.
“That damn man,” she cursed bitterly.
That damn man must have been starved for centuries. All night long, he had turned and twisted, finding different ways to torment her, back and forth, nearly costing her her life.
Her entire body ached now, especially there, which felt sore and swollen. It would probably hurt for several days before easing up.
In the middle of the night, she had been sleeping deeply when, in her drowsiness, she felt someone kissing her.
At first, she thought it was a dream. In the dream, the person kissed her gently and lingeringly, a familiar sensation, so she allowed herself to sink into it, enjoying the illusory sweetness.
But the “dream” refused to end. Instead, it intensified until there… she jolted awake.
The moment she opened her eyes, Fu Huaixu’s enlarged, handsome face filled her vision. His gaze was hazy, clouded with lingering desire, as he moved against her…
“Fu Huaixu!” she exclaimed, trying to push him away.
But the man was like a fortress of bronze, unmoving. His arms held her firmly, leaving her no room even to turn over.
“Don’t move…” His voice was hoarse, thick with sleep and desire. “Zhaozhao… say you love me, quickly!”
“Let go of me!” She struggled, but her strength was utterly insignificant in his grasp.
In the end…
She felt like a small boat caught in a storm, helpless amidst towering waves, repeatedly crashing against hard rocks.
Every bone in her body seemed to have been taken apart and haphazardly reassembled. Every inch of her skin screamed with soreness and pain, even her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
She could only let him have his way. She didn’t know how many times he had taken her, until eventually, exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep.
Fifteen minutes later, Shen Zhaoning had already changed her clothes and applied light makeup. Stepping out of the bathroom, she glared angrily at Fu Huaixu, who was still fast asleep.
Remembering she had a few hundred dollars in cash in her bag, she took out five hundred, wrote a few words on a piece of paper with a pen, and placed both on the bedside table.
She quickly packed her luggage, planning to finalize the renovation matters before heading straight back to the capital.
When Shen Zhaoning arrived at the studio, Su Yue was sitting on the sofa with the person in charge, discussing the details. This place used to be a wedding dress studio, and the previous owner had left some furniture behind when moving abroad.
“Director Shen!” Su Yue greeted her as she approached.
Shen Zhaoning gave a slight nod.
“Sorry, I was delayed by something. I kept you waiting,” Shen Zhaoning stepped forward, extending her hand. Her tone carried a hint of apology but was mostly composed. “I’m Shen Zhaoning.”
The man standing opposite had been frequently checking his watch, impatience clearly etched between his brows.
However, when he looked up and saw Shen Zhaoning, the complaint on the tip of his tongue abruptly stuck in his throat.
The woman before him wore exquisite makeup, her figure elegantly outlined by a well-tailored apricot-colored dress. Her bright, captivating face bore a perfectly measured smile—polite yet radiating an undeniable presence.
The annoyance in the man’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a flicker of admiration.
He quickly composed himself and shook Shen Zhaoning’s hand. “Hello, I’m the lead designer for this project. My surname is Zhang, Zhang Qian.”
“Mr. Zhang.” Shen Zhaoning smiled slightly and sat down opposite him. “Let’s get started.”
Zhang Qian nodded, opening the portfolio in his hands. “Miss Shen, these are our preliminary design proposals. Please take a look.”
Shen Zhaoning took the portfolio, skimmed through it briefly, and then offered her opinion:
“The first floor should be a jewelry display area, and the second floor will serve as the office space. In terms of style, I want it to be French-inspired, high-end, but with soul.”
“What kind of ‘soul’ does Miss Shen have in mind?”
Shen Zhaoning gently tapped the design on the portfolio. “I want a fully open display model, without those rigid glass counters. Jewelry is art and should be displayed as such.”
“At the entrance, I want black lines outlining an arched doorway with stone edging, evoking an elegant and romantic feel.”
“Like a Parisian style?”
“Yes,” Shen Zhaoning nodded. “The space should feature herringbone parquet flooring in a natural wood tone, a ceiling with carved patterns, and pearl chandeliers.”
As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, as if the vision were already materializing before her eyes. “The combination of black lines and the arched doorway should give a sense of both modernity and vintage charm.”
The natural wood flooring and carved ceiling aim to create a warm and elegant atmosphere.
As for the pearl chandelier, it should be the kind that sparkles with changing light, dotted across the ceiling like stars.”
Zhang Qian listened to her description, and his eyes gradually lit up:
“Miss Shen, are you suggesting combining modern minimalism with French romance to create a unique sense of space?”
“Yes,” Shen Zhaoning nodded, “that’s exactly the feeling I want. Each piece of my jewelry should showcase its uniqueness as a work of art, and they need a home worthy of them.
This studio should not only display jewelry but also showcase a lifestyle, a pursuit of beauty.”
Zhang Qian put down his pen and looked at her, his eyes filled with a hint of admiration:
“Miss Shen, your ideas are quite unique. This fully open display model, combined with elements of French romance, would indeed give people a refreshing feeling. However, such a design would present certain challenges in construction.”
“I know,” Shen Zhaoning smiled, “that’s why I sought out Wood and Stone. I believe that with your capabilities, you can definitely bring my vision to life.”
Zhang Qian fell silent for a moment, then nodded: “Alright, Miss Shen. However, I will need you to provide more detailed information about the style and positioning of your jewelry, so we can better integrate your ideas into the design.”
“No problem,” Shen Zhaoning turned to Su Yue, “Su Yue, give the portfolio of our jewelry to Mr. Chen.”
Su Yue quickly handed over an exquisite portfolio. Zhang Qian took it, flipped through a few pages, and the admiration in his eyes deepened: “The design of these jewelry pieces is truly artistic. Miss Shen, your vision is quite distinctive.”
“Thank you,” Shen Zhaoning smiled slightly, “I just hope that my studio, like my jewelry, can tell its own unique story.”
Next, Shen Zhaoning and Zhang Qian engaged in an in-depth discussion about the design details.