Early the next morning, while An Feng was still lazily drifting in and out of sleep, Jenny was already up and moving.
He wasn’t spared from her early-morning energy either; he sat up in bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and asked in a groggy, puzzled voice, “Why are you up so early?” “It’s already nine o’clock, and I still have a million things to do today,” Jenny said, rummaging naked through her closet and leaving An Feng with a highly distracting view of her elegant, sun-kissed back.
An Feng rolled out of bed, swept his scattered clothes off the floor from the night before, and pulled on his jeans.
Stepping up behind her, he couldn’t help but playfully swat her rear.
“Put some clothes on, please.
I can’t concentrate on waking up when you’re doing that.” Recalling the sheer intensity of the previous night, a classic saying flashed through his mind: There are no exhausted fields, only worn-out oxen.
Jenny spun around, wrapping her arms snugly around his neck and looking up to plant a sweet kiss on his lips.
“What, is my Superman ready to surrender already?” “I’m waving the white flag,” An Feng laughed, lifting her up in a brief, playful spin before turning to the closet to help her browse.
“Here, try this one.
I think it’ll look fantastic on you.” After handing her the outfit, he stretched.
“I’ll head out to the kitchen and see what I can whip up for breakfast.” “You are incredibly sweet,” Jenny beamed, sliding the dress over her head.
An Feng walked out shirtless, scanning the kitchen.
He grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge, sliced up some bread, and pulled out some ham.
Just as he was setting up the cutting board, the door to the guest room swung open.
He looked up, his eyes locking instantly with Cathy’s.
An Feng froze, a piece of bread clutched awkwardly in his hand.
“Oh!
Uh…
hi.
Good morning.” Cathy leaned against the doorframe, folding her arms with an amused, knowing smirk.
“Morning, Superman.
Any chance I can get in on that breakfast?
I’m absolutely exhausted today, and honestly, it’s entirely your fault for making so much noise last night.” Hearing her blunt accusation, An Feng felt a sudden, intense heat rush straight to his face.
Jenny walked out of the bedroom just in time to catch the tail end of the exchange.
Seeing Cathy, she asked in surprise, “Wait, I thought you were staying out late at that party?
When did you get back?” “The party was a total bore, so I snuck back in around two or three in the morning,” Cathy said, winking mischievously at Jenny.
“I heard you and Superman going at it, so I just quietly went to sleep.” Unlike the slightly embarrassed An Feng, Jenny laughed and traded playful banter with Cathy without a hint of shyness.
Still adjusting to the incredibly open nature of Western social dynamics, An Feng quickly finished prepping three plates of breakfast.
After a quick, lively meal, he and Jenny said goodbye to Cathy and headed out.
Jenny wanted to check out a local farmers’ market to pick up some fresh, seasonal fruit.
Following her navigation, An Feng drove them to a bustling neighborhood venue.
The massive parking lot was already packed to the brim.
After finally securing a spot, they walked over to a vibrant, low-rise market pavilion.
An Feng’s eyes widened at the sight—the narrow pedestrian street was teeming with people.
Colorful sunshades and tables lined the path, flanked on both sides by stalls overflowing with fresh heirloom tomatoes, vibrant berries, artisanal cheeses, and hot street food.
The sheer variety of fresh goods and mouth-watering snacks was dizzying.
As they wandered through the fruit, vegetable, and flower sections, An Feng felt a wave of nostalgia.
The lively, sensory-rich atmosphere felt remarkably like the open-air markets in his hometown back in China.
Jenny turned to him, her eyes bright.
“Fun, right?
Even if you don’t buy anything, just walking through here makes you feel so good.
Plus, everything is picked fresh and brought straight from the farms.
Sometimes the vendors will let you sample their specialties.
You could easily graze your way from one end of the street to the other and leave completely full.” An Feng smiled.
“Is that your secret weekend strategy?” Jenny gave him a sly, mischievous grin, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward a mountain of fresh peaches.
After grabbing a couple of iced coffees, they continued their search.
With the charity event only a day away, Jenny still hadn’t found a dress that met her high standards.
To save their feet from a repeat of yesterday’s grueling marathon, An Feng took the initiative and drove her straight to Beverly Hills, parking outside one of the most exclusive department stores in the area.
They drifted from one luxury designer boutique to another, with Jenny trying on a stunning array of high-end gowns.
While she fell in love with a couple of them, she looked at the price tags and sighed, noting they would decimate her savings.
An Feng knew that Americans were fiercely independent when it came to finances, typically preferring to split bills or pay their own way, even when dating.
Seeing how much her eyes lit up when she looked in the mirror, An Feng stepped in and insisted on buying the dress as a gift.
After a moment of hesitation, Jenny happily accepted, and they even picked out a few elegant, matching jewelry pieces to complete the look.
While the cashier was wrapping up the purchases, An Feng’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
He stepped aside to answer it.
It was Lei.
“Hey, Alex.
I just forwarded the dossiers for the personal assistant candidates to your email.
Take a look when you get a chance.” “Perfect.
Thanks, Lei.
I’ll review them this afternoon,” An Feng replied, hanging up.
He walked back over to Jenny, who was holding her sleek new garment bags and looking ready to explore the next block.
“Hey, I’m really sorry, but we might need to head back to the estate.
I have some urgent business files I need to review.” Jenny immediately smiled, wrapping her arm securely around his.
“No worries at all.
I’ll head back with you.” “I’d be honored,” An Feng said.
He led her to the parking lot, loaded her shopping bags into the trunk, and opened the passenger door for her with theatrical, VIP-style flair.
Jenny was wearing her oversized designer sunglasses and a chic, wide-brimmed straw hat.
Her effortless, high-fashion look immediately caught the attention of a couple of freelance photographers staking out the street.
The rapid-fire click of camera shutters echoed across the pavement.
“Oh my gosh!” Jenny gasped as she slid into the leather seat, her mouth curving into a surprised smile.
“Did they just take my picture?” An Feng started the engine, pulling out of the spot with a smirk.
“What do you think?
I’d say you’re about to make the local style blogs.
How does it feel, Miss Kelso, our rising Hollywood star?” “Incredibly exciting!” Jenny laughed.
“Though I wish I’d posed a bit better.” “Well, you’d better start practicing.
You’ll have to get used to the flashing lights,” An Feng teased.
He backed the car up, intentionally revving the Ferrari’s powerful engine a few times.
The roar of the exhaust caused the paparazzi to redouble their efforts, desperately snapping photos while trying to figure out who the mystery beauty in the passenger seat of the supercar was.
After a smooth, fast two-hour drive back to San Luis Obispo, they wound up the sweeping, private mountain road.
Jenny stared in awe at An Feng’s sprawling hilltop villa, her jaw dropping slightly.
“I’ve seen plenty of massive estates in Beverly Hills,” she said, looking around in envy, “but seeing this…
I realize the people who truly know how to live are hidden away out here.” An Feng smiled.
“My place can’t compete with the history and prestige of Beverly Hills.
The homes owned by the A-listers there are worth far more than mine.
I just happen to have over three hundred acres of land attached to this place, which skews the scale.
But in terms of peace and quiet?
You’re absolutely right.” He parked the car, walked around to open her door, and made a playful gesture welcoming her inside.
Jenny stepped into the grand, sunlit living room, looking up at the high ceilings.
“It’s absolutely breathtaking.” Before she could take another step, Pipi and Eggy came bounding over, noses twitching as they eagerly investigated the new guest.
“Hi there!” Jenny knelt down, happily letting the two energetic retrievers lick her hands.
An Feng checked their food bowls and saw they were clean.
It looked like Old John had taken excellent care of them while he was away.
As he set their bags down in the hallway, he heard a delighted shout echo from the backyard.
“Honey!
Your pool is absolutely incredible!” An Feng unbuttoned his collar, sliding open the massive glass doors.
Jenny was walking barefoot along the shallow steps of the infinity pool, the cool, crystal-clear water lapping gently at her ankles.
She took a few splashing steps before running back onto the warm stone deck.
An Feng caught her as she bounced toward him, laughing.
“If you like it that much, why don’t you dive in?” “But I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” she pouted playfully, casting a mock-glare in his direction.
“It’s your fault for making us rush back so quickly.” “My fault?” An Feng laughed, thoroughly amused.
“Well, to be fair, you could always return to nature.
It’s just the two of us up here anyway.” “No way!” she laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and shaking her head.
“Come on, I want to see,” An Feng teased, gently pressing his forehead against hers.
“Nope!” “Please?” An Feng drew out the word.
“Fine…
just this once,” Jenny whispered, giving him a quick kiss before slipping back into the house.
A moment later, she emerged.
Her slender, perfectly toned silhouette glided toward the edge of the pool without a trace of hesitation.
Throwing him a sultry, captivating glance over her shoulder, she slowly walked down the stone steps into the shimmering water.
An Feng sat back on a lounge chair under the shaded patio, opening his laptop to check his email.
Sure enough, the list of candidates from Lei was waiting in his inbox.
According to his criteria, he needed to hire a sharp, versatile professional—someone with an exceptional grasp of finance and tax law, but who also possessed the leadership skills to handle long-term business decisions.
In short, he was looking for a highly competent corporate proxy.
He began scrolling through the resumes.
He needed an all-rounder who could manage complex wealth structures while executing strategic decisions.
He carefully narrowed the list down, focusing on their corporate track records rather than worrying about salary expectations; for the right talent, he was more than willing to pay top dollar.
Finding one candidate whose credentials looked exceptionally promising, he dialed the number and scheduled an interview for noon the following day.
Standing by the edge of the pool, An Feng was just about to dial the second candidate when a sudden, massive splash ruptured the quiet afternoon.
Before he could react, Jenny burst from the water, grabbed him firmly by the waistband of his jeans, and pulled.
An Feng barely had enough time to toss his smartphone safely onto the dry lounge chair before he lost his balance, tumbling headfirst into the pool with a resounding splash.
Jenny’s bright, triumphant laughter echoed across the water.
An Feng emerged, shaking the water from his hair and wiping his face.
“Hey!
That was a cheap shot!” Jenny swam backward, splashing him playfully.
“You convinced me to take all my clothes off, only to leave me in the water while you stared at a computer screen for an hour!
Do you call that fun?” “Alright, alright, that’s entirely on me,” An Feng smiled.
He swam over, pulling her sleek, wet body into his arms.
He knew that when it came to a playful argument like this, explanations were completely useless—a deep, passionate kiss was far more effective than a thousand words.