Although this was merely a marriage of convenience, during this period she had to fulfill her duties as Mrs. Shen, lest the man hear any rumors and, in a fit of anger, strike her dead. The cost would outweigh the gain... An Ruo pretended to sniff herself—how come she didn’t smell any man’s scent? She furrowed her brows slightly. "There have been a lot of meetings lately. Maybe someone’s perfume rubbed off on me." It was perfectly normal for the female employees at the company, who were always fragrant, to leave a trace of scent on her after occasional contact, right?
As An Ruo descended the stairs, she happened to run into Butler Xu, who was holding a bowl of steaming soup with an eager expression. "Young Madam, I’ve noticed you’ve been leaving early and coming back late for work, and then you still have to take care of the young master when you get home. Your body must be worn out. I specially asked the kitchen to make you some soup—drink it while it’s hot."
Marrying Shen Xiaoxing hadn’t been her choice initially, but ever since she stepped into this villa, the good food had made her gain several pounds! Butler Xu thoughtfully brought her a small bowl to ladle the soup. "Your work is important, Young Madam, but you must also take good care of yourself." An Ruo glanced at him, then at the lotus root and pork rib soup in the bowl. The cook’s skill was unmatched—just the aroma alone made her mouth water, stirring up the greedy cravings in her stomach.
"Is there something you need my help with?" She didn’t accept favors without reason. Butler Xu was usually kind to her, but it was only out of respect for Shen Xiaoxing. This sudden flattery was clearly suspicious!
"There is indeed something I’d like to ask of you, Young Madam." An Ruo sneered inwardly. She knew it.
"The young master has a bad temper. We servants want to care for him, but we’re afraid of saying the wrong thing." Butler Xu let out a heavy sigh. "The young master suffered a severe trauma in his childhood, which shaped his cold and withdrawn personality. The second branch of the family is determined to drive him out of the Shen household, and he has no one close to confide in. His life has been very difficult." "..." "But now it’s different. He has you as his wife. I can tell he doesn’t dislike you and actually cares quite a bit about your matters. So I hope that in the days to come, if he makes you angry, you’ll be patient with him. The young master isn’t bad at heart—he’s just too lonely and keeps everything bottled up inside."
If the world held no malice, who would choose to wrap themselves in layers of armor? An Ruo understood what he meant. She didn’t say anything, but her gaze fell on the pork rib soup in the bowl. After a moment of silence, she complied with Butler Xu’s wishes and drank it.
Regarding Shen Xiaoxing’s position in the Shen family, she had already pieced it together from outside rumors and the way the second branch had treated them. This man had little influence in the Shen household and struggled to survive step by step. No wonder he was so gloomy and kept everyone at arm’s length.
Lost in thought, An Ruo drank her soup, not noticing the calculating expression on Butler Xu’s face as he stood by, quietly watching her finish it.
That evening, while helping the man bathe, An Ruo suddenly felt a wave of heat coursing through her body, as if tiny insects were crawling through her blood, gnawing at her. Shen Xiaoxing, wearing a blindfold, noticed her strange behavior—her face flushed an unnatural red, her breathing heavy as she tugged at her clothes... He frowned slightly. "What’s wrong with you?"
Under the light, the girl’s delicate face was rosy, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead and nose. Her soft lips parted slightly, and to him, it looked like a silent invitation. Especially now, as she clumsily pulled at her collar, revealing the sharp lines of her collarbone... Shen Xiaoxing squeezed his eyes shut tightly, only to remember he was still wearing the blindfold. He wished he had switched to a regular one earlier, so he wouldn’t have to watch her seduce him like this.
An Ruo’s breathing grew heavier, her voice hoarse. "I’m fine..." Her natural voice carried a commanding tone, but now it was low and husky, even more alluring. Every word seemed to tug at his heartstrings.
She tried to stand up, but as soon as she took a step, her foot slipped on the wet floor, and she tumbled into the bathtub, accidentally swallowing a mouthful of water. Her rational mind screamed—this was Shen Xiaoxing’s bathwater!!! Choking violently, she flailed her arms, trying to grab the edge of the tub, but her movements only elicited muffled groans from the man. Her hand suddenly brushed against something hard...
Shen Xiaoxing seized her small hand abruptly, his voice cold and husky. "Don’t touch!" She was drenched, her light-colored clothes clinging to her body as if she were naked. Half-lying on top of him, she squirmed restlessly. Shen Xiaoxing gritted his teeth. This was the most lethal temptation for him!
Her unusual behavior today made it obvious to him that she had been drugged. But as for the antidote... if he gave in to her wishes, wouldn’t that be taking advantage of her? This kind of thing required mutual consent. She wasn’t in her right mind now, and if she woke up to find she had lost her virginity, he would never be able to explain himself!
An Ruo struggled to get up, but accidentally stepped on the man’s leg, causing her to fall back onto him. Her soft lips pressed against his thin ones... Shen Xiaoxing’s mind went blank. An Ruo’s eyelashes fluttered, and in her dazed state, she felt the man was like a piece of ice that could dispel the heat burning inside her. Being close to him felt good, and her small arms wrapped around his neck, refusing to let go.
If this continued, something was bound to happen! Shen Xiaoxing pulled her hands away, but the bathtub was too slippery, and the girl’s body lost balance. He instinctively reached out to catch her, while his other hand removed the blindfold. There was one last option. But as he looked into her clear, innocent eyes, he suddenly couldn’t bear to hurt her.
In the end, for her sake and to ensure she wouldn’t regret it when she woke up, he resolutely raised his hand and struck the back of her neck.