The next day, a gentle breeze stirred the pale window curtains as warm sunlight streamed in, illuminating the room. On the cream-colored bed lay a beautiful girl, who pouted adorably in her sleep and turned over with a less-than-graceful posture. Groggily, she reached out a hand to touch the spot beside her, finding it empty—the man who had been there was gone.
An Ruo slowly opened her eyes and realized the man was missing. Just then, the sound of trickling water came from the bathroom... She froze for a moment. Could this man, with his unsteady legs, actually shower on his own?
An Ruo stretched lazily. The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and she walked over to knock on the door. "Um... Mr. Shen, are you in there?"
What kind of question was that? In their room, if it wasn't her, of course it was him!
She lowered her hand and was about to leave when the bathroom door suddenly swung open. The man was wrapped in a dark bathrobe, the belt loosely tied. He lifted his cold, clear eyes and caught her turning around, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Need to use the bathroom?"
"No," she shook her head, frowning slightly. "Why are you showering alone? It's dangerous." Her tone carried a hint of reproach. What if he lost his footing and fell? And with his leg trouble, how did he manage to shower?
"If I don't shower alone, does Mrs. Shen want to take a bath with me?" He deliberately raised an eyebrow. "Your husband could reluctantly take the loss."
"..." Who was really losing out here was anyone's guess! He was cold and aloof in public, but turned into a hungry wolf in private, insatiable in bed—who knew who was really losing!
The man suddenly pulled her into his arms, gently pinching her small nose with his fingers. "Thinking bad things about me in your head, aren't you?"
An Ruo said awkwardly, "...No." Did he have X-ray vision? Every time she thought something, he seemed to see right through her. Or was she just too easy to read?
"Did I hear you call me Mr. Shen just now?" He bit her ear as punishment. "Does Mrs. Shen want me to give you a lesson in bed this morning?"
"..." An Ruo immediately stiffened. "No need."
"Then how should you address me? Say it once for me to hear."
"Shen Xiaoxing..."
The man gave her a light slap on the butt—not hard, but enough as punishment. "Do you really want me to teach you a lesson?"
An Ruo bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then said weakly, "Husband..."
"Louder, I didn't hear you."
"Husband!"
The man's handsome brows lifted slightly, and he kissed her cheek with satisfaction. "Not bad, you're teachable."
"..."
"Go wash up and get dressed. Today, I'm taking you to broaden your horizons."
An Ruo was curious. "What for?"
"I'm going to negotiate a contract, and Mrs. Shen needs to accompany me."
"You're going to talk business; I can't really help if I tag along..."
He cupped her face and said affectionately, "I want Mrs. Shen to keep me company." His gaze was intense, his cold eyes turning into a sea of fire, as if trying to melt her. She found it a bit overwhelming.
"Alright... I'll go wash up."
The girl quickly jumped down and scurried into the bathroom. The man chuckled softly behind her, reminding her, "Be careful, the floor's slippery."
By the time An Ruo finished washing up and came out, the man had already changed clothes. He was in a black suit, stylishly putting on a watch, his handsome face turning to her with a roguish smile. "Stunned by your husband's handsomeness?"
An Ruo's mouth twitched imperceptibly. How had she never noticed before that this man was so narcissistic?
"Go change, wear something nice. After the contract is signed, I'll take you for a stroll."
"Okay."
An Ruo walked lightly to the wardrobe and picked out a purple dress that just covered below her knees. While the man was on the phone, she slipped into the bathroom to change. When she came out again, there were a few more people in the room. Servants had set breakfast on the table, and two fashionably dressed women stood there, smiling as they greeted her.
"Hello, Mrs. Shen," they said in perfect English.
"Hello," she replied with a polite smile, then turned a questioning look to the man, raising an eyebrow as if to ask what was going on.
The man set down his coffee cup, his posture relaxed and lazy. "My wife is so beautiful, wearing a pretty little dress—of course, she needs a hairstyle and some makeup to be even more perfect." He gestured, and the two blonde, blue-eyed women invited An Ruo to sit at the vanity in English. They divided the work clearly: one did her hair, the other applied delicate makeup.
An Ruo sat stiffly, not daring to move, letting them fuss over her. They worked quickly, transforming her into a stunning beauty in just half an hour. When she turned around, Shen Xiaoxing paused mid-sip of his coffee.
An Ruo had a great foundation—her skin was tender and fair, like凝脂, so heavy makeup wasn't needed. They only applied light makeup, but the result amazed everyone. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with bright eyes and white teeth. The purple dress suited her perfectly, and every smile and movement carried an air of noble elegance.
The man was clearly satisfied and waved for them to leave. When the door closed, he picked up a pair of shiny high heels from beside him, wheeled his chair over to the girl, and while An Ruo was still stunned, he took her smooth, fair foot, slowly slipped on the heels, and fastened the straps.
"The princess has her dress, so of course the knight brings the glass slippers." He gently patted her foot, his face full of adoration.
An Ruo stared at his handsome face, hearing such affectionate words, her heart racing like a deer in headlights. Her lightly blushed cheeks turned red all the way to her ears.
"Hungry?" The man took her hand and led her to the table. "Eat while it's hot."
An Ruo was starving, but worried about ruining her makeup with messy eating, which would clash with her refined, elegant appearance. So she ate slowly, taking small bites, trying to stay ladylike. The man noticed and chuckled softly. "No need to be so deliberate. I don't mind."
He had seen her in all states, and he accepted her however she was. Besides, he wanted to slowly discover more sides of her.
...
The man leaned back against the velvet-gold-inlaid sofa, his expression cold and noble. A faint smile tugged at his lips, his deep eyes like a bottomless pool, drawing in naive girls like moths to a flame. Beside him sat a woman of equally stunning beauty, her slightly red lips pursed, each glance enough to quicken pulses!
The man rested one hand on the gambling table, the silver ring on his ring finger casting a noble glow. Piles of chips sat beside him, and he lifted his thin lips in a wicked smile, his cold, handsome face stunning those across from him. Behind him stood Han Chong in a sharp black suit.
"Mr. Shen, you've only just arrived and already swallowed up my company's resources, now forcing me to sign a partnership. Isn't that a bit too much?" Mr. Ende took a drag from his cigar, snorting in pure German.
The man curled his lips, his tone arrogant. "Mr. Ende, you're overstating it. I'm only advising you to cooperate. Besides, your company's development prospects in recent years have been disappointing—like a banyan tree hollowed out by termites, solid on the surface but rotten inside." He smiled wickedly, switching to fluent German. "I'm helping your company. I hope Mr. Ende will consider it carefully."
Mr. Ende's face shifted. "It seems Mr. Shen is truly pushing me to the edge."
"Being able to cooperate is also a stroke of luck." The man raised an eyebrow, and with a clatter, he pushed all his chips onto the poker table. He had won again. Shen Xiaoxing pressed his hand arrogantly on the table's edge, his cold eyes narrowing. "Mr. Ende should seize this luck, or it will only lead to irreparable consequences."
[Our wife-obsessed male lead has a bit of a yandere, stubborn personality—dark, scheming, and a little princess. But don't worry, his tenderness is only for the female lead; he's a devoted husband through and through. I beg the male lead to act like a human, but no, he doesn't want to!]