Chapter 100: Taking the Initiative

He was dressed in white and black, highlighting his tall figure. His hands were tucked into his trouser pockets, his gaze slowly sweeping over her, tinged with amusement by the steam from the bathroom.

Shuangxu instinctively curled her legs, shielding her body.

“I’m taking a bath,” she said, her brows furrowed, her almond-shaped eyes filled with displeasure at his lack of boundaries.

He was oblivious, standing there and looking at her openly. “I can see that.”

“Close the door,” Shuangxu said, her voice tight.

He readily complied, closing the door behind him.

He strode in, his long legs carrying him forward, and began to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time. “Let’s wash together.”

Shuangxu stood up, holding onto the edge of the bathtub. “I’m done, you can wash yourself.”

Just as she was about to step out of the bathtub, He Tingzhou wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, his gaze lingering on her face, flushed with the heat of the water. “Are you clean already? You’re leaving.”

“Don’t be so overbearing,” she said, her voice laced with resistance. She was completely naked, while he was fully clothed. “What do you mean, overbearing?” He Tingzhou’s dictionary probably didn’t contain the words “shame” or “decency.” “Didn’t you ever bathe with your ex-boyfriend?”

“…” Shuangxu retorted, exasperated, “He wasn’t as… creative as you.”

“That’s boring,” He Tingzhou said. His shirt was made of smooth silk, and it quickly became damp from her water, clinging to his skin.

The heat, she wasn’t sure if it was from the water she brought out or his own body temperature, was intoxicating. He had been abstinent for a few days, and he couldn’t resist the temptation.

Sensing his change, Shuangxu didn’t dare struggle.

He Tingzhou shed his clothes and held her as he stepped back into the water.

The large bathtub could accommodate several people, but he insisted on placing her on his lap.

Shuangxu frowned and asked, “Why didn’t you explain in the office today?”

“How would you have me explain?” He Tingzhou asked. “Her nose is sharper than a dog’s.”

With such a remarkable sense of smell, there was indeed no perfect excuse that could fool her.

Seeing her worry, He Tingzhou leaned against the bathtub and said, “She won’t tell anyone. Are you relieved now?”

Not really. But she was the only one who was anxious about this, while He Tingzhou had never been afraid of being discovered.

He was He Tingzhou, fearless.

His lips landed on her cheek, and He Tingzhou kissed her slowly, sensing her resistance. He didn’t rush into anything, patiently coaxing her, “This time, you take the lead?”

Shuangxu had initially been uninterested, but after a moment’s thought, she raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck, her response more passionate than usual.

He Tingzhou paused, lifting his head, studying her with a questioning gaze. “So proactive today?”

“Don’t you like it?” Shuangxu asked.

The steam had dampened his eyelashes, making his eyes appear even deeper and darker. He Tingzhou seemed to see through her, and he chuckled softly. “What little scheme are you cooking up this time?”

He was a shrewd one, she was transparent in his eyes.

Shuangxu didn’t answer, pushing him back and leaning in to kiss him. He Tingzhou, naturally, wouldn’t refuse such a treat. He leaned back lazily, his hand resting on her waist, enjoying her initiative.

The steam in the bathroom quickly made them feel suffocated. He grasped her legs and pulled her closer.

Shuangxu pressed her back against the bathtub, her fingers tightly gripping the edge. He gently pried them open, one by one, and pulled them over to his shoulders.

And so, her little boat was completely adrift, floating on the water.

The heat in the bathroom intensified, and water splashed everywhere.

He Tingzhou had always been restrained in bed, only doing it once before letting her sleep. But today, Shuangxu’s initiative clearly pleased him.

He was in high spirits, changing positions twice in the bathtub, before carrying her back to the bedroom and continuing their entanglement on the bed.

Finally, Shuangxu whimpered as she lay on the pillow, tears streaming down her face. He Tingzhou cupped her delicate neck with his palm and kissed her wet cheek from behind.

His voice was low and husky, tinged with a playful laugh. “You cry so easily, Princess.”

In the end, she was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming nothing. The next morning, she woke up to find it was almost ten o’clock. Thankfully, it was the weekend.

Her bones felt like they had been dismantled and reassembled, but incorrectly. She was sore and tired. She lay on the duvet for a while, her stomach grumbling with hunger, before getting up to find something to eat.

He Tingzhou was gone, but he had left breakfast for her. She found something that didn’t need heating and ate it quickly.

While He Tingzhou was away, she brewed a latte with her coffee machine.

As she sat in the dining room eating, she noticed a rectangular Chinese-style box on the table. Inside was a folding fan.

The fan reminded her of Mu Yanshu, and she wondered what He Tingzhou meant by it. When she opened the fan, she saw five large characters written on the white paper:

“For Song Shuangxu.”

There was a seal in the lower right corner, with the inscription: He Tingzhou.

The writing was powerful and elegant, sharp and decisive, undoubtedly He Tingzhou’s own handwriting.

Shuangxu was speechless for half a minute. What a weirdo.

This paper fan wasn’t as expensive as the ivory fan from the Thirteen Lines of the Qing Dynasty, but the Prince’s calligraphy was unique in the world.

After that, He Tingzhou came over every day.

Shuangxu hoped he would get bored soon, so she was very proactive and cooperative every time. He Tingzhou enjoyed her “understanding” and became increasingly creative in bed.

Afterward, she had to tell him stories and lull him to sleep, making Shuangxu yawn constantly at work.

Mrs. Yue was feeling unwell, so Shuangxu took the time to visit her with Fu Yun. When they arrived at the Yue residence, Yue Meimei dragged her to play a cooking game.

A little dinosaur and a little crocodile, wearing chef hats, ran around on the screen. But soon, the kitchen was engulfed in flames due to Yue Zifeng’s clumsy operation.

Yue Meimei was like a fiery little ball, and she…

“You’re so dumb! Stop playing! I’m going to play with Sister Shuangxu!” She punched him a few times.

“What kind of stupid game is this?” Yue Zifeng was annoyed by her noise. “You love to cook, there’s a big kitchen in the house. Go, you two go cook me a four-course meal.”

“You’re just bad at it.” Shuangxu and Yue Meimei both looked down on him.

She played with them for a while, and when Yue Meimei went to get the flying chess, she felt a little sleepy and decided to take a nap. Unexpectedly, she fell asleep.

When Shen Yu came to pick them up at Yue’s house in the evening, she was still asleep.

“My sister has been working hard lately, she can even sleep on the carpet.” Yue Zifeng said, “She’s been sleeping for an afternoon.”

Yue Meimei was sent to play elsewhere, and the living room was quiet. Shuangxu was lying on the carpet, with a pillow under her head and a blanket over her.

Yue Zifeng was waiting for him to praise him for his care, but Shen Yu frowned: “You let her sleep on the floor?”

“What’s wrong with that? Yue Zizhao can sleep in the sand. Last time at the beach, I buried her, and she slept like a log.” Yue Zifeng said proudly.

Shen Yu said slowly: “You think she likes sleeping in the sand, she thinks you like eating sand.”

“…” Yue Zifeng suddenly woke up and ran to the kitchen, “My dinner!”