Chapter 81 – Couple’s Room, Taking the Initiative

After rinsing off the last of the shower gel, Xu Jiaojiao’s body felt smooth and slick. The bathroom was filled with steam as she searched around, finally realizing she hadn’t brought any clothes. “Honey, I forgot my clothes. Can you hand them to me?”

Xie Zhi slowly walked over with the dress and saw a hand stretch out from behind the frosted glass door. He silently handed the clothes over without saying a word.

Xu Jiaojiao quickly put on the dress. Her legs shifted uncomfortably as she realized she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. She pulled at the corners of her mouth—she seriously suspected this was intentional on Xie Zhi’s part.

So, she decided not to care anymore and strutted out casually, leaning against the doorframe with a lazy arm, her voice silky smooth: “Honey, go shower. I’ll wait for you on the bed.”

She walked over and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Seeing his flushed face and slightly widened eyes, she found him especially adorable. “You’re really quite pure.”

“How can you say that? Jiaojiao, I only have you.”

“I know, so be good and go take a shower.”

Xie Zhi’s hands naturally encircled her waist, gently caressing it. It was soft and carried a floral scent mixed with her unique fragrance, intoxicating and slightly arousing. His voice grew husky, “Jiaojiao, I really like you.”

He leaned in and kissed her hard, hungrily exploring her mouth. His strength was outrageous, his abs rock hard and very uncomfortable to lean against.

The girl was nearly brought to tears by how intense it was. But this delicate and vulnerable look only aroused more affection and passion in Xie Zhi. Ignoring her struggling, he poured all his burning desire into the kiss.

Xu Jiaojiao felt like she couldn’t breathe—she was about to pass out. Thankfully, he finally let go, and she gasped for fresh air, pounding on him angrily.

“You don’t care about how I feel at all. I don’t want to talk to you.”

Xie Zhi’s dark eyes flickered, full of intense desire and aggression. He looked like a wolf ready to pounce. One hand pinned both of her wrists, and with the other, he flipped her hair back.

His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, making him appear both ruggedly handsome and a bit sensual in a mature way.

He pressed her arms above her head and kissed her hard again, muffling her startled yelp.

Her dress was tugged off, and between kisses, he whispered in a seductive voice, “Go shower, you didn’t shower yet.”

Xie Zhi, still kissing her, firmly held her as she straddled his lap. Slowly, he walked her toward the bathroom.

When they finally separated, both their faces were flushed—especially Xu Jiaojiao, who was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling like a worn-out bellows.

“Jiaojiao, I love you.”

………

They had fooled around well into the night. Xu Jiaojiao didn’t wake up until noon the next day. As soon as she moved her wrist, a sharp pain shot through her waist—he had been like a starving wolf, completely ravenous.

She pounded the blanket angrily. Xie Zhi, standing by the window, saw her pout and winced slightly, his deep voice husky and sexy: “Jiaojiao, why don’t you eat something? It’s my fault.”

Her gaze was fierce, though it lacked real threat. Then she stormed into the bathroom. Right then, there was a knock at the door—it was the food he had ordered earlier.

He laid out the dishes on the table: three dishes and a soup, a good variety but moderate portions, with a glass of milk.

The clothes they wore last night had already been washed by Xie Zhi and were drying by the window under the scorching sun.

Xu Jiaojiao came out in the same clothes from yesterday, still massaging her aching waist. She angrily tossed the nightgown in his face, pouting. “This is all your fault!”

Xie Zhi caught it with a grin. The gown still carried her body heat and the sweet scent from a night’s wear filled his nose.

Unable to resist, he rubbed it a little in his hands, then buried his face in it and took a deep, intoxicated breath.

Seeing him do this, Xu Jiaojiao was startled and stammered, “Y-you’re a pervert, aren’t you?”

“Baby, come eat. You must be starving.”

After finishing their meal and packing the new nightwear, they checked out. The sun outside was intense, scorching. Xie Zhi quickly opened the shop and found a large, well-wrapped item outside the door. He couldn’t tell what it was.

He turned on the lights and all the fans. With everything going, the room quickly cooled down, and Xu Jiaojiao sighed in relief. “Good thing we’re not in Chongqing.”

Otherwise, the temperatures would be the same in the sun or shade—pure torture.

A little while later, the chubby boss arrived and helped Xie Zhi carry in the package and some similarly styled lights. Once unwrapped, it was a white freestanding swing chair, woven from layers of rope in a net pattern, extremely girly and cute. They placed it by another window.

The boss nodded in satisfaction. “How is it? Doesn’t it match your sketch? And the lamp—this Western-style lamp came from outside the city. Only I sell these.”

“Your stuff really is good. I like every piece,” Xu Jiaojiao praised.

The chubby boss started replacing the lights. The new one was a cluster of small round bulbs forming a chandelier. A second green tassel-style lamp was placed by the counter.

The counter had been custom-made earlier, painted vintage-style, matching the overall aesthetic. She covered it with floral fabric to complete the look.

Xie Zhi put up the new curtains while the boss helped place decorative items like vases. Xu Jiaojiao arranged the floral fabric over the counter.

Once everything was done, the room had a cozy retro-chic vibe. The warm yellow lighting cast a gentle glow on her face, making her look like a piece of art in a beautiful home.

One wall had a row of shelves but no clothes yet. All three windows had new curtains, and with the café-style tables and swing, all that was missing was a small couch.

“Boss, do you have a three-seater couch? Just a plain long one—I’ll cover it with fabric.”

“I’ve got one. I’ll bring it this afternoon. But you’ll need to give me at least twenty yuan for it. The frame’s solid wood. With the swing and all the other bits and pieces, I won’t ask for much—sixty total.”

Xu Jiaojiao told Xie Zhi to pay him, adding two extra yuan as a thank-you. The man had helped a lot and personally delivered everything. Plus, she really loved the items.

The boss left happily with the money, leaving the couple sitting on the swing, looking around.

She had always dreamed of owning her own clothing boutique, but in her past life, she had no money, and renting a space was expensive. Just making ends meet was hard enough.

She never thought she’d realize that dream in this book—and everything matched her taste.

Nose tingling with emotion, Xu Jiaojiao buried herself in Xie Zhi’s chest and rubbed against him with a soft sniffle. “Honey, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t have this shop.”