The man leaped in, having already removed his human-skin mask outside. Standing together, if not for their different clothes, it would be hard to tell who was Shen Xiaoxing.
Footsteps in the dressing room grew closer. Han Chong instinctively ducked into the nearest bathroom, while Shen Xiaoxing, now changed, sat down in the wheelchair.
An Ru came out and noticed nothing amiss. "Don't you like rice cakes?"
"Rice cakes?" Shen Xiaoxing couldn't picture what that food looked like and just wanted to brush her off vaguely. "I like them."
"I like them too, so I bought a few skewers of grilled rice cakes and some barbecue. Since I didn't know what you'd prefer, I got two of each."
Barbecue?
No wonder the room smelled so strong when he came in.
"Try some squid."
A cheap, pungent seasoning smell hit him. Shen Xiaoxing had to suppress his discomfort and cooperate, opening his mouth to eat it.
"How is it? Good?"
Shen Xiaoxing found it salty and spicy with a strange taste, not exactly bad, but he'd hardly ever eaten this kind of thing and wasn't used to it. He choked, coughing heavily.
"Are you okay?" An Ru gently patted his back. "I'll get you a glass of water."
There was water in the bedroom, but Shen Xiaoxing wanted to use that as an excuse to send her away. "I want tea. Go downstairs and brew a pot."
The man had been as good-tempered as when he first came in, without sudden outbursts or mood swings.
An Ru obediently went downstairs to make tea.
"Come out."
Shen Xiaoxing got up, walked to the small coffee table, and poured two glasses of water to rinse his mouth.
This girl likes heavy flavors?
Han Chong had already removed his human-skin mask in the bathroom. With the man's permission, he straightened his clothes and came out.
"What are you standing there for? Get out!" Shen Xiaoxing drank a glass of water awkwardly, finally easing the spicy taste in his mouth.
Han Chong had barely left when An Ru entered with a tea tray.
"Master Shen, your tea is ready."
The man sat with an indifferent expression, nodding slightly.
"It's the right temperature. Want some?"
"Yeah."
With his permission, An Ru poured a cup and handed it to him.
She hesitated, unsure whether to place it in his hand, when the man's thin lips parted. "Feed me."
Those two words carried weight, with a hint of dominance.
Afraid he'd get upset and turn cold again, An Ru quickly lifted the cup to his lips. The man's gaze was vacant as he opened his mouth, holding the rim, slowly cooperating as she helped him drink.
His Adam's apple moved subtly with each swallow...
An Ru's eyes inadvertently slid over his prominent throat. A rush of heat flooded her mind—images of her lips pressed against his neck that morning—and suddenly the fingertips holding the cup felt scorching.
Shen Xiaoxing caught her dazed expression from the corner of his eye. "What are you thinking?"
"N-nothing." An Ru set the cup down. "Master Shen, I see you don't like these. Next time I come back, I'll buy other snacks."
It was her oversight. Of course a wealthy young master like him wouldn't be used to street food—they considered it junk.
The man's eyelashes flickered. He hadn't expected her to notice his displeasure.
His voice softened. "How was your first day at work?"
An Ru tossed the leftover skewers into the trash. "Great. My colleagues get along well, and the work environment is excellent."
The man didn't ask further. She wiped the oil stains off the table and lit a light incense in the bedroom to mask the greasy barbecue smell.
---
At a jewelry store on East Street, An Qing sat in the VIP lounge, chin lifted arrogantly, basking in the praise of her friends.
She raised her hand, showing off the new diamond bracelet on her wrist for them to admire.
"Wow, this bracelet is gorgeous! It matches your outfit perfectly!"
"Beautiful things belong with beautiful people, and our An Qing is that beauty."
An Qing ate it up, pleased. "You're all so sweet. I'm a member here. Go pick out a necklace you like—it's on me."
The women excitedly rushed to choose their favorite pieces.
Just then, a stylish young woman entered the store. The staff treated her with utmost respect, and the high-profile scene immediately caught An Qing's attention.
The woman was decked out in designer labels, scanning them haughtily behind her sunglasses.
An Qing rolled her eyes. "Oh, it's just some washed-up influencer."
"Still better than a nobody who couldn't even make it as an influencer." The woman didn't bother with her and turned to the staff. "Is my order ready?"
The staff bowed and scraped. "It's been prepared for you, Miss Chen. Please have a seat."
An Qing watched the fawning staff serve the woman black tea reserved for VIP clients, then looked down at her own tea—a world of difference.
"Hey!" She slammed her cup on the table. "Why does she get such good treatment? I'm a VIP here too!"
"I'm sorry, Miss An. Miss Chen is our store's top-tier client and also the girlfriend of our second young master."