After leaning in to say this, she pulled back, her face slightly flushed, and focused on driving.
A sweet fragrance lingered by Chen Yuan’s cheek. It was a pleasant scent.
It seemed like all girls smelled nice. Sometimes he’d walk past a random girl on the street and catch an obvious whiff of perfume, but Jiangg Yao’s scent was clearly different.
If he had to describe it, Chen Yuan thought it was a fresh, somewhat creamy scent, like the fragrance of an unripe papaya.
The car fell silent, filled only by the hum of the engine.
Neither of them spoke.
Chen Yuan didn’t speak because he didn’t know what to say. The words "I’m willing to be my little young master’s puppy" seemed to be echoing in his ears. Forget the person who said it—just hearing the words made him feel a little embarrassed.
But for some reason, the title "little young master" made his heart flutter. It was not only incredibly intimate, but it also made him feel like he was being put on a pedestal.
It was much more refined and subtle than simple pet names like "sweetie" or "baby."
Jiangg Yao didn’t speak because she was mortified, her heart pounding in her chest! ’I really need to work on my shamelessness.’ She’d always been good at talking a big game, but when it came down to it, she found it terribly embarrassing.
After all, their relationship hadn’t been serious for very long.
If she could get used to saying things like that anytime and anywhere, it probably wouldn’t be so awkward in the future.
’Huh? Is that something you can just say whenever?’
Jiangg Yao imagined them out shopping together, her secretly leaning in to whisper all sorts of suggestive things in Chen Yuan’s ear. She had to admit... just the thought of it was thrilling.
’I’m not being prim and proper at all,’ Jiangg Yao thought to herself. ’Have I been too forward with Chen Yuan lately?’
But she couldn’t help it.
When she saw the person she’d been missing, she would get carried away, her head swimming with overwhelming emotions. And after every impulsive move, she’d feel mortified.
’It seems like in most relationships, the girl is supposed to be the passive one, right?’
’So how did I end up being the one doing all the chasing?’
Slightly annoyed with herself, Jiangg Yao resolved to be more reserved. She turned her head, catching a glimpse of Chen Yuan’s expression in her peripheral vision. He was leaning against the window, a somewhat lonely look on his face as he watched the scenery recede outside.
"It’s the weekend, and we’re moving you into your new place. These are happy things. Why do you look so down?"
And just like that, she was unconsciously taking the lead again.
"Mm... I guess I’m a little unhappy."
"Why?"
"I’d never lived in a dorm before; I’d always lived at home. Landa University was my first time in a dorm room. On the first day of school, I thought my roommates were too noisy and the environment was strange. I wasn’t used to it at all," Chen Yuan said softly. "I couldn’t get to sleep until the early hours of the morning that first day. But now that I’m used to my rowdy roommates, it’s suddenly going to be all quiet."
"I see. You’re going to miss them."
"Yeah."
Jiangg Yao pressed her lips together. Seeing Chen Yuan unhappy made her spirits fall, too. She took the initiative and reached out to hold his hand.
"It’s... it’s okay! I’ll keep you company. And I’m really noisy!"
She nodded emphatically as she spoke.
She looked completely serious.
Chen Yuan looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh.
’Is being noisy supposed to be a praiseworthy quality?’
Unexpectedly, seeing him smile made Jiangg Yao’s lips curve into a happy smile of her own.
She suddenly realized that cheering up her boyfriend was an incredibly fulfilling task!
"By the way, have you had lunch yet?"
"No."
"Should we find a place to eat then?" Chen Yuan asked.
"Let’s not," Jiangg Yao said. She wanted to have more time alone with him. She didn’t actually like going out much; she could manage a walk outside if someone was with her the entire time, but even yesterday when she went out, she just stayed in and lazed around at Wan’s place. "Why don’t we have hot pot? I’ll just make a quick turn and grab some ingredients and a soup base to go."
"Sounds good!"
"I haven’t had it in forever! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. This is such a happy weekend, I could cry!" Jiangg Yao gripped the steering wheel happily. As for her sister, she was now the furthest thing from her mind.
...
Carrying a suitcase, one large bag, and two small ones, the two of them finally arrived at Fengting District.
They reached the front door.
Chen Yuan pushed the door open, and Jiangg Yao, who was behind him, used all her strength to lift the suitcase and carry it inside.
"Where should I put the suitcase?"
"Just wheel it into the bedroom."
Bringing a chill in with them from outside, they stepped into the house and felt their bodies instantly relax in the warmth.
They changed into slippers.
Chen Yuan took his laptop, toiletries, a few desk ornaments, and a ridiculously thick comforter out of his bag.
The sheer weight of the comforter was probably comparable to the weight of a mother’s love. Lanjing wasn’t nearly as cold as the north, but Mrs. Chen, operating under the obsessive belief that it was better to suffocate than to freeze, had forced him to take it.
Watching the busy Chen Yuan.
Jiangg Yao’s first instinct was to flop onto the sofa. That’s what she usually did, since her sister always handled everything, leaving her to simply play dumb, act cute, and be useless.
But!
On second thought, she decided she couldn’t act like that in Chen Yuan’s home.
’I should show off the qualities of a good wife and loving mother,’ Jiangg Yao thought. ’Ideally, I’ll make Chen Yuan think he’d be a fool not to marry a woman as good as me.’
A woman of action, she immediately cleared her throat and said softly, "Let me help you hang up your clothes."
Jiangg Yao rolled up her sleeves slightly and shot the large suitcase a disdainful look, preparing to use it to display her gentle, graceful side.
She grabbed the zipper, her fair wrist tensing as she gave it a mighty pull!
SNAP—THUD!
With a muffled thud, the zipper gave way. Jiangg Yao’s hand suddenly met no resistance, and she fell backward onto the floor, her butt instantly aching with a pins-and-needles sensation.
"Hiss..."
"Are you okay?" Chen Yuan was startled. He quickly put down what he was holding and helped her up.
"I’m... I’m fine! My foot just slipped."
Jiangg Yao waved a dismissive hand, trying to act casual. She bit her lip as she got to her feet, staring daggers at the large suitcase.
’You’ve got to be kidding me!’
’I can’t even handle one stupid suitcase!’
"Let me do it. You go sit for a bit."
"No need. Trust me, I’m a pro at housework."
Jiangg Yao said to Chen Yuan as she unbuttoned her overcoat.
But when she took off her coat, Chen Yuan was dumbstruck.
He never expected that underneath her heavy coat, Jiangg Yao was only wearing a very thin, white blouse. Below that was a short, pleated skirt paired with pure black, over-the-knee socks. The effect—a blend of youthful innocence and raw appeal—was overwhelming.
Her long, fair legs were exposed to the air, and the over-the-knee socks only accentuated their slender, delicate lines.
This was a little trick for meeting a boyfriend that Jiangg Yao had specifically looked up online.
It was no exaggeration to say that she looked as stunning in this outfit as Jiangg Ning had the first time Chen Yuan saw her on the lecture podium.
A completely different aura.
But the exact same face.
Jiangg Yao was so focused on appearing graceful that she’d completely forgotten her original plan: to "accidentally" let her clothes slip off her shoulder later in the living room and say shyly, "Hey, why are you staring at me...?"
She rolled up her blouse sleeves, planted one foot on the suitcase, and grabbed the zipper with her other hand.
"This suitcase! Just how much... is stuffed in here! Ahh—"
Jiangg Yao’s face was flushed red and her knuckles were turning white. Chen Yuan didn’t have time to stop her, just as he was about to cry out—
The next second!
Jiangg Yao lost all her leverage. Clutching the broken half of the zipper tab in her hand, she tumbled backward!
One of her little leather shoes flew off her foot and went soaring through the air!
THUD—
Jiangg Yao landed with both feet pointing toward the sky, but only one of her soft, smooth feet still had a shoe on it.