The next day was Saturday, and Ji Han Zhuo didn’t have to go to work.
Actually, no matter what day of the week it was, Ji Han Zhuo wouldn’t go to work. Every time he returned from a business trip, he would spend a few days at home being affectionate with Jiang Xizhi before heading back to work. However, this affection was limited to kissing and hugging—unless Jiang Xizhi provoked his anger, he wouldn’t take things to the final step.
Moreover, Jiang Xizhi’s leg condition didn’t allow him to do much more.
Both of them had slept relatively early the previous night. Ji Han Zhuo got up a little after seven to work out.
The reason was simple: Jiang Xizhi liked touching his abs. He had discovered this through his observations over the past few weeks. Though she was stubborn with her words, her body was always honest.
In the past, his physique wasn’t bad, and he didn’t care much about maintaining it. But now, whenever he had time, he would work out.
He knew Jiang Xizhi didn’t like him as a person, but if she liked his body, that still counted as a form of affection. At the very least, he needed something to keep her by his side.
Jiang Xizhi, on the other hand, was different. She would never get out of bed before nine.
When Jiang Xizhi was first brought back to the manor by Ji Han Zhuo, all her communication devices were confiscated. Every day, aside from spacing out and contemplating life, she could only sleep. As a result, staying in bed had become a habit.
Initially, Ji Han Zhuo wanted Jiang Xizhi to accompany him during his workouts. He tried waking her up a few times, but the girl seemed glued to the bed, refusing to get up no matter what. Ji Han Zhuo tried various methods but only managed to get her up once. In the end, he simply gave up.
As long as she stayed obediently by his side, he would let her do as she pleased.
Ji Han Zhuo timed things perfectly. Just as Jiang Xizhi woke up, he happened to step out of the bathroom after showering.
So, the first thing Jiang Xizhi saw upon opening her eyes was a breathtaking sight of a handsome man fresh out of the bath.
The man’s damp hair fell slightly over his forehead, giving him a more youthful look compared to his usual serious demeanor. His features were sharp and striking, his appearance almost bewitchingly beautiful. A black bathrobe hung loosely over his body, the collar wide open, revealing his sexy Adam’s apple and delicate collarbone. Further down was his well-built chest, fair-skinned yet powerful. The contrast between black and white created an intense visual impact.
Jiang Xizhi stared unblinkingly at the mesmerizing man before her, unable to resist swallowing. Waking up to such a sight was simply too stimulating.
Though the man had a few screws loose in his head, his looks were undeniably flawless.
“Like what you see?” Ji Han Zhuo raised an eyebrow and asked.
Jiang Xizhi blurted out, “Yes.”
“Wipe your drool,” Ji Han Zhuo said with a straight face.
Jiang Xizhi snapped back to reality and hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand—it was dry.
She grabbed the pillow beside her, which belonged to the man, and threw it at him, pouting angrily. “You tricked me.”
Ji Han Zhuo chuckled softly, catching the pillow that flew toward him and tossing it onto the leather sofa covered with a woolen blanket nearby.
“You’re easy to trick.”
If she weren’t so gullible, how could he have so easily brought her to the manor?
Seeing her displeased expression, he immediately tried to appease her. “I’ll let you touch my abs tonight.”
The girl had a slight case of morning grumpiness. Usually, teasing her was fine, but mornings were off-limits.
Jiang Xizhi rolled her eyes. “Who cares?”
Ji Han Zhuo raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Jiang Xizhi cut in again. “You said it. No taking it back.”
A faint smile tugged at Ji Han Zhuo’s lips as he nodded helplessly.
“I’ll go get your clothes. Hurry up and get out of bed for breakfast.”
Jiang Xizhi lay in bed like a pampered lord, commanding, “Mm, hurry up and go.”
To be honest, having slept with him so many times in her past life, what she cherished most were his eight-pack abs—she could never get tired of touching them. It was the same in this life. Who made him perfectly align with every one of her aesthetic preferences? His looks, his figure—everything was flawless.
If not for the events of her past life, and if he hadn’t locked her up, she might have been able to muddle through and live a haphazard life with him.
But reality made that impossible. After all, you shouldn’t jump into the same pit twice.
Besides, the current Ji Han Zhuo was still somewhat normal. In a while, he would reveal his true nature—obsessive, suspicious, and overly sensitive. By then, she wouldn’t even have time to run away.
When Ji Han Zhuo came out of the walk-in closet with Jiang Xizhi’s clothes, he had already changed into a black shirt and neatly pressed black trousers. The shirt was buttoned all the way to the top, exuding an aura of restrained elegance and asceticism.
Yet, in his hands, he held a milky-white bubble-sleeve lace-trimmed dress, which seemed somewhat at odds with his demeanor.
“Wear this. Come down for breakfast after you freshen up. I’ll wait for you.”
Ji Han Zhuo placed the clothes by the bedside and left.
Back in school, Jiang Xizhi usually wore simple white T-shirts and pants, rarely dresses. But ever since Ji Han Zhuo brought her to the manor, unless he was away on business, she had to wear dresses—unless she chose her own clothes.
If she didn’t wear the clothes he gave her, she’d have nothing to wear. She had learned this the hard way when she first arrived.
Sometimes, Jiang Xizhi couldn’t understand him. His actions made her feel like he truly cared for her, yet he always restricted her freedom, trying to infiltrate every aspect of her life and control her. At times, it made things difficult for both of them—a contradiction.
She believed love wasn’t about control but about letting go.
And even now, she still didn’t understand why Ji Han Zhuo had taken a liking to her.
After changing into the dress, Jiang Xizhi stood in front of the full-length mirror. It was pretty, yes, but it felt a bit too youthful.
She couldn’t understand why Ji Han Zhuo liked this style of dress. Shouldn’t a successful man like him prefer mature and steady women? Giving her a dress like this felt more like raising a daughter.
But no father would do such beastly things to his daughter.
When Jiang Xizhi went downstairs, Ji Han Zhuo was sitting at the dining table reading the financial newspaper—a habit of his. Being able to dominate the business scene in Jing City didn’t mean he spent his days idly.
Ji Han Zhuo had given Jiang Xizhi the best medicine, worth a fortune. After using it two or three times, her leg no longer hurt much, and she could walk freely without issue.
The moment Jiang Xizhi descended the stairs, Ji Han Zhuo shifted his gaze to her.
The girl in the milky-white knee-length dress walked toward him, her eyes clear as autumn water, her fair skin making her lips appear even more vibrant. When she smiled, two dimples appeared, blending innocence with charm. Her cascading black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, making her look incredibly docile. Ji Han Zhuo’s eyes flickered slightly. He set down the newspaper, dismissed the servants, and then waved Jiang Xizhi over. “Come here.”
Jiang Xizhi understood his meaning and walked over to sit on his lap.
He had dismissed the servants just to make it easier for him to take liberties, hadn’t he?
Ji Han Zhuo wrapped an arm around her waist, playing with her delicate hands as he asked, “What would you like to eat?”
Jiang Xizhi knew she wouldn’t even have to lift a finger from now on. “Crystal shrimp dumplings and red bean porridge,” she replied.
Ji Han Zhuo served her the porridge and placed the shrimp dumplings on her plate, then began feeding her, taking turns between bites for himself and for her.
Jiang Xizhi was initially quite resistant, but since they had kissed so many times already, she no longer cared.
After finishing a bowl of porridge and a basket of shrimp dumplings, Jiang Xizhi was full and stopped Ji Han Zhuo from feeding her more.
Ji Han Zhuo put down the spoon and rubbed her stomach. “Already full? Did you not eat breakfast properly while I was away on business?”
Jiang Xizhi didn’t like his sudden touch but didn’t dare to resist, her voice somewhat low. “I did eat. You know everything I do, don’t you? I’m really full.”
While he was away on business, the butler reported her daily activities to him.