Сhарtеr 2: You Pеrfоrmеd Vеrу Well
The раyment рage disрlауеd а сonsрiсuоus 29.99.
Хie Zongхun’s lips twitched slightly. Не lowеrеd his gаzе tо loоk аt thе persоn in his аrms. What hаd she just said?
Was it а bit toо expеnsive?
Wеn Yaо rеally wаs quite poоr. It hаd оnlу been hаlf а mоnth sinсe the sеmestеr started, аnd military trаining took uр the entire hаlf-mоnth, filling hеr mornings аnd еvenings with drills.
She had nо time fоr рart-time jоbs, usually еating аt thе disсountеd food windоws and skipрing dinnеr whеnever possible.
The fried сhiсken she orderеd wаs the same kind hеr rоommate Xu Chao had ordered last time, sharing a generous portion with her.
It was delicious—one of the few tasty things in her memory.
Wen Yao tilted her chin up, meeting Xie Zongxun’s sweeping gaze. A sudden chill ran down the back of her neck.
She might have been a little too greedy.
Wen Yao whispered, “Then… can I change to something else?”
Xie Zongxun let out a soft sigh, his tone indifferent. “Just eat this?”
Hearing his flat tone, Wen Yao felt hopeful and nodded, her eyes wide open.
Xie Zongxun gave a faint “mm,” tapping on his phone a few more times before turning off the screen and tossing it aside.
He half-spread his arms, looking lazy and somewhat tired. “Come sleep in my arms.”
Wen Yao obediently leaned over, and Xie Zongxun wrapped an arm around her.
Just in that short moment earlier, he had slept deeply, with unexpectedly good quality sleep.
Her scent was pleasant—light and sweet, as if it had some sleep-inducing effect.
Xie Zongxun closed his eyes, then realized she used the same brand of shower gel as him.
He had never thought this shower gel was anything special before.
Xie Zongxun remained silent with his eyes closed, but Wen Yao couldn’t possibly fall asleep.
Not knowing what else to do, she closed her eyes and began reciting “Memorial to the Emperor” in her mind.
When she first studied this text, she had cried uncontrollably, and since then, she had grown quite fond of it.
Whenever she had nothing to do, she would recite it, until it eventually became a way for her to relieve stress.
Wen Yao was truly sentimental. Sometimes she found herself strange—how could reciting a text make her cry?
But emotions were hard to suppress, and this time, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
The person beside her lifted his eyelids, his deep eyes fixed directly on Wen Yao.
Xie Zongxun wasn’t particularly concerned about Wen Yao’s emotions.
He was only attracted to her physically, but he had never considered getting emotionally involved with anyone.
Maintaining relationships through mutual benefit was what he excelled at. He helped her solve her grandmother’s hospitalization and surgery expenses and her younger sister’s schooling issues.
She satisfied his physical needs.
Beyond that, he didn’t care much, so he should have immediately pushed the person in his arms away.
He could just wait for her to come whenever he called next time.
But for now, he restrained himself and asked her.
“Why are you crying? Does it hurt?”
Wen Yao wiped her tears but didn’t speak. She felt that, given the nature of their relationship, she didn’t owe him an explanation.
But then again, Xie Zongxun was someone whose outward appearance didn’t match his true self. She was afraid that if he got angry, she would be the one to suffer.
So she spoke up softly, explaining, “No, you… you performed very well just now.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, both of them froze.
She had intended to casually flatter him, but it ended up sounding like she was praising him for serving her.
Xie Zongxun furrowed his brows, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Wen Yao panicked instantly. Just then, the housekeeper knocked on the door.
“Young Master, the delivery is at the door.”
Wen Yao immediately rolled over and climbed out of bed. Xie Zongxun frowned, his arm still holding the lingering warmth of her body.
Wen Yao came back in carrying a bag—a heavy takeout bag. She felt a little puzzled.She remembered this shop’s portions weren’t that large.
To avoid contact with Xie Zongxun, she went directly past him to the table by the bed.
The view outside the window was beautiful, the glow of the setting sun just enveloping Wen Yao, adding a touch of softness to her.
Xie Zongxun rubbed his temples as he sat up, leaning back. Who allowed her to eat such greasy food in his room?
Wen Yao finished unwrapping the packaging and happened to glance back, meeting Xie Zongxun’s gaze.
From her angle looking at him, the orange-yellow light hitting his face was somewhat dazzling, so Wen Yao didn’t notice Xie Zongxun’s irritation.
But from Xie Zongxun’s perspective looking at Wen Yao, she was backlit, her hair translucent and tinged with a faint halo, the marks he had left on her chest clearly visible.
The expression on her face was delightfully joyful, her lips full and slightly upturned, her eyes also shimmering with happiness.
Wen Yao’s voice was somewhat chirpy: “Xie Zongxun, can I eat all of these?”
It wasn’t false to say she wasn’t happy; Xie Zongxun had practically ordered every item on the shop’s menu.
Including their famous and most expensive drink.
Wen Yao was the type of girl who loved sweet beverages.
Xie Zongxun met her gaze, paused for a couple of seconds, then softly hummed in acknowledgment.
Wen Yao turned around, swallowing a few times despite herself before quietly sitting down to eat.
“Wen Yao.”
Xie Zongxun called her name.
Wen Yao finally reacted, turning back to give him an apologetic smile: “Um, what would you like to eat? I’ll get it for you.”
Xie Zongxun took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and said: “Next time in bed, smile like you just did.”
Then continued: “The smile you have now is fine too.”
Wen Yao bit her lip, turned away, and ignored him.
At that moment, a message popped up on Xie Zongxun’s phone.
Xie Zhengwen: 【Have you met that child, Yaoyao?】
Xie Zongxun: 【Yes.】
Xie Zhengwen: 【You didn’t scare her, did you? I already said Mom and Dad have something urgent and will schedule the dinner in a few days, but you insisted on meeting her for us, and didn’t even tell the girl in advance.】
Xie Zongxun: 【It’s fine, we had a good chat.】
Xie Zhengwen: 【The poor girl, her parents passed away in a car accident years ago. She only has a grandmother and a younger sister at home, but Yaoyao is very capable.】
【She attends the same school as you, so look after her more in the future. Take her out for meals or something when you have time.】
Xie Zongxun: 【Yes, we’re eating now.】
Xie Zhengwen: 【Eating what?】
It was the first time Xie Zongxun had patiently chatted this much with his father. He lifted his gaze again to look at Wen Yao by the window.
She was eating unhurriedly, her head swaying slightly, probably quite happy with the meal.
So easily satisfied.
Xie Zongxun curved the corners of his lips: “Wen Yao, is it good?”
Hearing her name, Wen Yao instinctively straightened her back.
Her name, when spoken by him, never seemed quite proper.
Earlier in bed, aside from panting, he hadn’t spoken much.
The few words he did say were calling her name.
She couldn’t quite bear hearing her own name now; couldn’t he stop saying it in that faint tone?
Her ears felt so itchy.
Wen Yao politely smiled, still not turning around, “It’s very good.”
Xie Zongxun’s gaze returned to his phone.
Replied 【Eating fried chicken】.
Xie Zhengwen: 【Can’t you take her to eat something better?】
Xie Zongxun: 【Next time.】
Xie Zhengwen directly transferred money to Xie Zongxun’s card.
Hmm, his action-oriented nature probably came from his father.
Xie Zongxun took a set of clothes from the wardrobe, changed into them, then opened the door and went out.Wen Yao’s chewing came to an abrupt halt.
She panicked a little.
Why did he leave? She didn’t even have any clothes.