Shen Moran had spoken too soon, for when it came time to act, she found herself at a complete loss.
Setting aside the gaudy, brightly colored lingerie, she was shocked to see a thong. What was this strappy contraption? And what about this piece of transparent white tulle? Why, of all things, was there a black-and-white lace apron?
It was so tiny; what on earth could it possibly cover?
In a daze, Shen Moran felt as if certain images were already flashing through her mind.
Shen Moran closed her eyes in agony.
She had never imagined that there would come a day when she would be packing lingerie for a stranger.
Just then, Sun Heng entered the bedroom after speaking with Su Nian. She looked up and saw Shen Moran looking bitter as she shoved clothes into the suitcase, and she felt Shen Moran glare at her the moment she noticed her presence.
Shen Moran’s brow was furrowed, and her expression was written with unhappiness from head to toe.
She looked utterly resentful.
Sun Heng was baffled. It was one thing for her to be angry because of a slip of the tongue earlier, but she had done nothing since entering the room. Why was this woman angry again?
She did not think she had done anything to offend her.
“What is wrong?” Sun Heng asked cautiously. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” Shen Moran replied, turning back to continue packing. “You will be staying at my place for at least a week, so I packed some pajamas and underwear for you. See if you need anything else. If not, take what you need for now, and I will come back to pick up more if necessary. For today, just bring these.”
Sun Heng glanced at the suitcase. She traveled frequently, so she used a large suitcase. Shen Moran had packed several nightgowns and sets of underwear, plus some outerwear. Counting what she was already wearing, she had three or four outfits—enough to last for a short while.
She just hoped her right arm would take a long time to heal.
The longer, the better.
“That is enough.” Sun Heng smiled at her. “I am sorry for the trouble.”
Shen Moran looked up at her, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable under the gaze of those long, dark eyes. She gave a faint “mm” and kept her head down to finish packing. “I am going to check on Su Nian.”
Su Nian was in the bathroom packing face masks for Sun Heng. Shen Moran looked at the products and was slightly taken aback.
A single sheet mask cost over a hundred yuan even through a purchasing agent, not to mention the essence and face cream, which cost ten thousand yuan a bottle—more expensive than gold. Even the unassuming wooden comb probably cost at least a thousand.
As expected of a boss, she really was wealthy.
Shen Moran glanced at Su Nian and said, “Be careful, do not be so clumsy. Just take all of these; do not bother picking and choosing.”
Su Nian turned back and asked, “But Sister Heng said she did not need everything. One or two masks and a bottle of toner would be enough.”
Shen Moran insisted, “Take them all. They will fit in the suitcase.”
She knew that people accustomed to these products would suffer skin breakouts if they switched to cheaper alternatives. Besides, Sun Heng might act a bit hoodlum-like, but her clothes and accessories were all expensive. Shen Moran felt that Sun Heng was already inconveniencing herself by staying at her place, and since the injury was her fault, it would not hurt to bring everything.
Su Nian did not fully understand but dutifully stuffed everything into the toiletry bag. Sun Heng stood by the suitcase, feeling a pang of guilt as she watched the two sisters running around for her.
“There are some wontons I wrapped a couple of days ago in the freezer. Should we bring them, too?” Sun Heng suggested. “It would be a waste if they go bad.”
Shen Moran looked at her. “You made them yourself?”
“Yeah.” Sun Heng said proudly, smiling, “I am a great cook. If you do not believe me, ask Niannian.”
Su Nian immediately raised her hand and smiled, “Sister’s cooking is super delicious, even better than restaurant food!”
Really?
This woman could cook?
Shen Moran did not quite believe it, but she nodded anyway and told Su Nian to pack their things and head home.
After making sure all appliances were off, Shen Moran took them home. On the way, Su Nian was chattering excitedly with Sun Heng, but eventually, she grew sleepy and fell silent. By the time Shen Moran parked the car, she realized Su Nian had fallen asleep on Sun Heng’s shoulder.
Shen Moran frowned, but her tone was much softer. “Why did she fall asleep in the car?”
Sun Heng laughed, her voice gentle. “It is normal for a child to be exhausted after playing all day.”
Shen Moran said nothing. She got out of the car, opened the door, and shook Su Nian gently. “Wake up. I cannot carry you upstairs.”
Drowsy and startled, Su Nian rubbed her eyes and yawned. “Is it time for class?”
“What class?” Shen Moran asked. “Do you sleep whenever you go to school?”
Su Nian realized where she was and knew that one more word would lead to a scolding from Shen Moran. She moved sluggishly out of the car and went to the trunk to get their luggage.
Sun Heng rubbed her shoulder, which had gone numb from the pressure, and said gently to Shen Moran, “Do not be so fierce. Niannian is afraid of you.”
“She should be.” Shen Moran glanced at the little girl busy with the luggage. “If I am not fierce, she will be climbing all over the place sooner or later.”
After addressing Su Nian, Shen Moran turned back to Sun Heng.
“And you,” she complained. “You should have woken her up. She weighs over a hundred pounds. Does your shoulder not hurt?”
Sun Heng had not expected to be scolded while sitting perfectly still, so she explained, “I do not think she weighs over a hundred pounds.”
Shen Moran raised an eyebrow. “Is that the point?”
Sun Heng cowered.
She did not dare to speak.
What was going on?
Her wife scolded her like she was a dog.
Sun Heng began to doubt herself. If she really won Shen Moran over, would her life be like this every day? Then again, was this ferocity not a form of care? Why did Shen Moran not scold others? She only scolded her! That must mean she was special!
Yes, that had to be it!
In an instant, Sun Heng did a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in her heart. She smiled and looked up at Shen Moran. “You are right.”
Shen Moran was confused. What did she just agree with?
Whatever, it did not matter.
Shen Moran helped Sun Heng out of the car, watched as Su Nian dragged the suitcase to the building entrance, and called out for her to press the elevator button.
“You can sleep in Niannian’s room, and Niannian will sleep with me.”
As soon as they entered, Shen Moran took charge of the sleeping arrangements.
Shen Moran’s apartment was over ninety square meters, with two bedrooms and a living room. The master bedroom was small, and the guest room was even smaller. Originally, she had intended to use the guest room as a study, but ended up just installing a cabinet and a desk. Su Nian’s current bed was just a regular folding sofa.
Su Nian changed the sheets and quilt cover to a clean set featuring a cute yellow duck, making the space look cozy.
“Let us leave it at this for tonight.” Shen Moran checked the time; it was past eleven. She urged Su Nian to go to sleep. “You have class tomorrow, so go wash up first.”
“What about Sister?” Su Nian asked worriedly.
Sun Heng smiled at her. “It is fine, go ahead and use the bathroom.”
Su Nian kept looking back as she took her pajamas away. Once the bathroom door closed, Shen Moran turned to Sun Heng and said, “Later, I will help you wash your face.”
“Oh, sure.” Sun Heng’s ears flushed slightly as she stared at Shen Moran. “So, what should I do if I want to take a bath?”
Sun Heng was asking a genuine question, not trying to be flirtatious.
Shen Moran looked at her. They shared an awkward glance before Shen Moran looked away, crossing her arms to avoid her gaze.
“The doctor said it is best if you do not bathe for a while,” Shen Moran said. “It is not hot, so just endure it for these two days. You can take a bath once your right hand is better.”
Sun Heng nodded in agreement.
After Su Nian finished her shower and went to sleep, Shen Moran took Sun Heng to the bathroom. She laid out all of her expensive skincare products and heated a new towel with boiling water, then leaned in to wash Sun Heng’s face.
Sun Heng stared fixedly at Shen Moran, her eyes settling on her eyelashes and thin lips.
People said people with thin lips were heartless, but Sun Heng felt that Shen Moran looked exceptionally beautiful. She was perfect; a little more would be too much, a little less would be too plain.
Perhaps Sun Heng’s gaze was too direct; Shen Moran frowned and scolded, “Close your eyes.”
“Oh.” Sun Heng reluctantly closed her eyes and stood before Shen Moran to have her face washed.
Shen Moran had hoped that Sun Heng closing her eyes would make things less awkward, but she found that it only made things worse. Sun Heng stood before her like a pillar, and the humid, cramped bathroom made Shen Moran feel restless and hot.
Sun Heng’s eyes were closed, and her lashes curled slightly like tiny swings.
Shen Moran carefully cleaned Sun Heng’s face with the warm towel while quietly observing her.
Sun Heng’s nose bridge was not high, but it was beautiful, and her lips were full. There was a faint mole near the tail of her eyebrow and another unremarkable one near the bridge of her nose.
Besides her face, her neck was beautiful too.
One could clearly see the graceful contours of her neck, and the deep hollows beneath her collarbone were particularly stunning. The muscles moved gently with each breath and swallow, revealing a subtle, soft beauty.
When Shen Moran regained her senses, she realized her hands had stopped moving. She had been staring at Sun Heng’s neck for a long time, unaware that Sun Heng had already opened her eyes.
Shen Moran looked up and met Sun Heng’s smiling, slender eyes.
“What are you looking at?” Sun Heng asked in a low voice in the narrow bathroom. “Am I beautiful?”