After Flirting with the God-Tier Beautiful Tycoon - Chapter 44

After Shen Xiaojiang finished speaking, she blinked at Chen Yi, looking just like an obedient little puppy.

Chen Yi felt a heat rise in her throat, suddenly finding herself at a loss for words.

Clearly, she was the one who usually fanned the flames, so why was she the one being flirted with now?

Chen Yi curled her lips with a touch of “tsundere” pride and tilted her chin up slightly. “Little one, are you inviting me to your room?”

Shen Xiaojiang saw right through Chen Yi’s thoughts.

She let out a soft chuckle. “Well, what else, Auntie? Why are you so cute?”

Embarrassed, Chen Yi feigned anger. “How am I cute?”

“Oh, you’re cute everywhere.” Shen Xiaojiang squinted her eyes, smiling with an air of harmless innocence.

Chen Yi truly lost all her temper, her eyes softening in surrender.

Since there wasn’t much time left before dinner, Chen Yi shook her head. “Let’s talk about it after we eat.”

Shen Xiaojiang felt as if she had been rejected on the spot. She had already prepared herself to lead Chen Yi to her room, so she spoke with a hint of disappointment: “What, you don’t want to right now? You don’t crave it?”

Chen Yi froze for a second.

Seeing Chen Yi’s expression, Shen Xiaojiang realized her words were ambiguous.

She shut her mouth immediately, but the expression on Chen Yi’s face underwent a sort of chemical reaction.

“You… don’t misunderstand, I didn’t mean that.” Shen Xiaojiang had no idea she was only making things worse by trying to explain.

Chen Yi shrugged her shoulders, moved the hand that was propping up her cheek, and brought her chin very close to Shen Xiaojiang. “Hey, little one, you’re quite dangerous.”

Shen Xiaojiang: “…”

Shen Xiaojiang: “I told you, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Chen Yi bit her lip and arched a willow-leaf eyebrow. “Which ‘like that’ do you mean?”

Shen Xiaojiang pulled her neck back. “Nothing… no meaning at all.”

Chen Yi slowly lifted Shen Xiaojiang’s chin with her index finger, her eyes curving into a bright, beautiful smile, though she didn’t move any closer.

Then, she leaned back against the sofa, her lips parting naturally to reveal a sliver of her snow-white teeth.

“As soon as ‘the bedroom’ is mentioned, you start letting your imagination run wild. It’s not the first time; I understand.” Chen Yi tilted her head and lowered her gaze toward the cat shaped pillow. A lazy, scattered smile spilled from the corners of her eyes and lips, seeping into Shen Xiaojiang’s heart. It was so sweet, so very sweet.

Soon, dinner was served.

Shen’s parents brought various dishes into the dining room.

Chen Yi stood up and glanced at Shen Xiaojiang. “What are you dazed for? Get up.”

Shen Xiaojiang gave an “Oh.”

Just as she was about to stand, Chen Yi’s slender wrist swept in front of her.

Before Shen Xiaojiang could react, her chin was cradled and lifted by a cool palm.

Chen Yi applied a bit of pressure, forcing Shen Xiaojiang to look up.

“Hmm?”

Chen Yi didn’t answer. She stood before her, looking down with a smile.

Shen Xiaojiang was crouching; Chen Yi was standing.

Shen Xiaojiang looked up, Chen Yi looked down.

It felt very much like a master looking at their own puppy.

The imagery was instantaneous.

Chen Yi cradled Shen Xiaojiang’s chin in her palm, her fingertips stroking Shen Xiaojiang’s cheek one rub at a time.

After time seemed to pause for a few seconds, she spoke in a low, husky voice, using only her lips to mouth the words: “You may rise.”

Shen Xiaojiang: “…”

“Auntie, is there anything else we need to get? We’ll help.” Chen Yi withdrew her hand and looked toward the dining table.

Shen Xiaojiang opened her mouth, let out a laugh, and then watched Chen Yi’s elegant figure walk away, shaking her head with a mix of happiness and helplessness.

She is… so childish too.

“No need, no need! You sit, you sit.” Seeing Chen Yi about to step into the kitchen, Shen Lanxin hurried to usher her out and gestured for her to take a seat.

The table was square, perfectly fitting one person on each side.

Chen Yi was pushed to one side of the table.

As luck would have it, Shen Xiaojiang meandered over.

Chen Yi didn’t look at her, sitting obediently in the seat Shen Lanxin had arranged.

Shen Lanxin was about to tell Shen Xiaojiang to get the bowls and chopsticks, but the words caught in her throat. “Nannan, sit down quickly and eat with your classmate.”

Looking at Shen Lanxin, who was frantically signaling with her eyes, and then at Chen Yi, who had just teased her, Shen Xiaojiang pouted. “I’d better go help.”

“This child!” Shen Lanxin gave Chen Yi a polite smile, then turned and ducked back into the kitchen.

Shen Xiaojiang wasn’t actually there to work; instead, she opened the fridge and pulled out Shen Lanxin’s “aged rice wine.”

“What are you doing with my rice wine?” Shen Lanxin chased after her with empty bowls and chopsticks.

Shen Xiaojiang was quick, pouring some into a glass. “Try it, it’s rice wine my mom brewed herself.”

Looking at the milky white liquid, Chen Yi gave a dazed response.

She took the glass, holding it in her hand, looking at it and smelling it repeatedly.

She had never had rice wine before it was quite a novelty.

Worried the taste might not be good, Shen Lanxin glared at Shen Xiaojiang with a mix of amusement and annoyance, giving her a light swat on the back.

“How is it?” Shen Xiaojiang looked at Chen Yi expectantly.

“Hmm, it smells good.” Chen Yi nodded politely.

“Taste it.”

The tone… felt a bit like she was getting revenge for what had happened earlier.

Chen Yi glanced at Shen Xiaojiang. Unable to say anything, she picked up the glass and obediently took a small sip.

A light, sweet taste filled her mouth smooth and delicate, easily rivaling any fruit wine available on the market.

Chen Yi took another sip. “It’s delicious.”

Shen Lanxin, having finished setting the table, beamed with joy, her heart feeling sweeter than honey. “Really?”

Chen Yi nodded.

Shen Lanxin was overjoyed.

Shen Xiaojiang didn’t look at Shen Lanxin instead, she stared directly at the corner of Chen Yi’s mouth.

Sensing a strange gaze, Chen Yi proactively darted out her small tongue and licked away the glistening drop from the corner of her lip.

Shen Xiaojiang smirked. While Shen Lanxin’s back was turned, she mimicked Chen Yi by mouthing the words: “Don’t mention it.”

Chen Yi burst out laughing.

Shen Xiaojiang is such a childish woman.

“Here it comes, kids! The fish head soup is here!” Shen’s father shouted as he rushed out excitedly.

“Nannan, the heat mat.”

“Coming,” Shen Xiaojiang pulled a grass-green heat mat and placed it in the center of the table. “Dad, be careful.”

The Ru-ware white stoneware pot had orchid patterns on the rim and black scorch marks at the bottom clearly an old, well-used item.

The moment the lid was opened, Shen Lanxin tossed in a handful of chopped spring onions.

Instantly, the entire house was filled with the fragrance of fish soup.

The last time Shen Xiaojiang had fish head soup was during the Lunar New Year. The family had been wearing winter clothes, their faces free of sweat, holding bowls of hot rice that didn’t feel too hot to the touch.

Before going to university, having a taste of this was the most common thing in the world.

But people in Nancheng didn’t really drink fish head soup, and because of her heavy schoolwork and part time jobs, Shen Xiaojiang rarely went home.

So, she rarely got to drink it.

It had been a long time.

The taste of home.

“Then, I’m digging in,” she said, taking a large mouthful of rice.

Chen Yi looked at Shen Xiaojiang and followed suit, eating small bites of rice.

Rice is a carbohydrate; for the sake of her figure, she rarely ate it.

“Child, eat more vegetables.” Shen Lanxin pushed the dishes toward Chen Yi.

The moment she heard the word “child,” the chopsticks in Chen Yi’s hand trembled slightly.

It had been a long time since anyone had called her a child.

She swallowed the rice in her mouth and nodded obediently.

Shen Xiaojiang went to the kitchen and came back with a clean bowl and a white porcelain spoon with a strawberry pattern.

She handed the bowl and spoon to Chen Yi and asked softly, “Do you want some soup?”

Chen Yi reached out to take it. “You really do love strawberries.”

Shen Xiaojiang arched an eyebrow with a mischievous smile and playfully pulled her hand back.

“I’ll scoop it for you,” she said, her face full of smiles. “Do you eat wild mushrooms?”

Chen Yi nodded.

“I remember you don’t like cilantro, right? What about green onions? Do you want me to skim them out for you?” Shen Xiaojiang’s tone was casual, like she was talking to an old friend of many years.

Chen Yi felt a warmth in her heart, but felt a bit embarrassed, quickly letting out an “Mm.”

Watching Chen Yi’s flickering gaze, Shen Xiaojiang couldn’t have been happier.

She liked the original Chen Yi, and she liked this version of Chen Yi too.

Chen Yi was simply Chen Yi alluring no matter what.

Shen Xiaojiang carefully placed the soup bowl in front of Chen Yi, thinking to herself: If I want Auntie to have more of a “human” touch, I need to protect and nourish her with the love of the mundane world.

Shen Xiaojiang’s gaze followed along.

Chen Yi picked up the bowl.

Chen Yi brought the milky white soup to her lips.

Chen Yi swallowed the fish soup, her slender, enchanting throat bobbing up and down.

Shen Xiaojiang smiled.

A smile from the bottom of her heart.

It was as if she were watching the stray cats she had briefly raised when she was little.

Seeing them full made Shen Xiaojiang feel happy even happier than if she were full herself.

“How is it?” she asked.

Chen Yi nodded, an unintentional smile touching the corners of her mouth. “It’s good.”

“As long as it’s good. I’m not a great cook, so I put all my effort into studying how to simmer soup,” Shen Lanxin said with confidence. “It seems my recent studies have been quite effective.”

“Oh, Ms. Shen, give you an inch and you take a mile,” Shen Xiaojiang teased as she ate a piece of steamed pork with rice flour. “My Aunt…cough, my classmate is here for the first time, she’s just being polite. You actually took her seriously.”

“Shen Xiaojiang, why are you so cheeky? Really…” Shen Lanxin scratched her head, thought for a long time, and then glared at Shen’s father. “You’re exactly like your dad.”

“What did I do? I didn’t even provoke you. And I didn’t tell them that your ‘diligent study’ was actually just tossing a handful of green onions into the fish soup, that’s all.” Shen’s father pushed up his glasses.

“Xiaojiang’s dad, you… you’re sleeping in the study tonight.” Shen Lanxin wasn’t truly angry.

Everyone suddenly burst into laughter.

Looking at Shen Xiaojiang’s profile, a shadow of gloom couldn’t help but flicker in the depths of Chen Yi’s eyes.

This atmosphere was so cozy, so warm, so harmonious.

This was the life she had always yearned for, but could someone like her truly fit into an atmosphere like this?

Shen Xiaojiang’s parents seemed like very traditional people. Would they accept two girls being together?

If they found out about Chen Yi’s line of work, would they, like her own toxic relatives, despise her?

Although they hadn’t shared many meals, Shen Xiaojiang had already grown accustomed to serving food to Chen Yi.

Perhaps it was simply instinct.

Before long, a small mountain of food had piled up in Chen Yi’s bowl.

She whispered, “Enough, it’s too much.”

Shen Xiaojiang looked at her bowl and smiled. “Then I’ll just ‘store’ the rest in my bowl for you for now.”

Chen Yi bit her lip, lowered her head to eat, and then, beneath the table, nudged Shen Xiaojiang’s knee with her own.

Startled, the chicken wing on Shen Xiaojiang’s chopsticks dropped onto the table with a thud.

Chen Yi lowered her head with feigned composure, acting as if nothing had happened.

Shen Xiaojiang shot her a look.

Soon, the “childish ghost’s” counter-attack began.

Shen Xiaojiang nudged Chen Yi back.

“Ah!” Caught off guard, Chen Yi dropped her food as well.

“Hmm?” Shen Lanxin immediately asked with concern, “What’s wrong, child? Is it too hot, or was there a small stone in the rice?”

It was neither.

Chen Yi forced a smile. “Auntie, I just accidentally bit my tongue. It’s nothing.”

“Oh, oh, that’s good then. Eat slowly. I’m watching, I won’t let Shen Xiaojiang snatch food from you.” Naturally, Shen Lanxin had no idea what kind of little games her daughter was playing under the table.

After taking a bite of vegetables, Chen Yi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and used her peripheral vision to warn Shen Xiaojiang: You’d better watch out.

Shen Xiaojiang was unfazed. She stuck her tongue out and smiled like a child.

Despite her “don’t blame me” expression, it was impossible to find her annoying.

Shen Xiaojiang knew that, given Chen Yi’s personality, she wouldn’t feel right without retaliating.

She waited obediently for the “punishment,” but it was slow to arrive.

Just as Shen Xiaojiang thought Chen Yi had given up on revenge, something of moderate softness suddenly brushed against her ankle.

She froze for a second, looking up to stare intently at Chen Yi.

The other woman was eating quietly, her movements natural and fluid.

If not for Chen Yi’s “half-smile, half-not” expression, Shen Xiaojiang would have thought she was hallucinating.

Toes brushed against Shen Xiaojiang’s ankle like a feather, slowly pushing her pant leg upward.

Chen Yi wasn’t wearing socks. The cool touch of her toes felt like a half-melted ice cube, teasing Shen Xiaojiang’s skin and provocative to her sensitive nerves.

Shen Xiaojiang ate intermittently, stopping and starting.

She was no veteran of the flirtation scene, how could she withstand such stimulation?

Looking up again, Chen Yi was watching her.

With Mom and Dad focused on their food, Chen Yi grew bolder. She bit one end of her chopsticks and squinted her eyes, exuding an indescribable, sultry charm.

From head to toe, she was recklessly tempting her.

Shen Xiaojiang gulped and looked directly into Chen Yi’s eyes.

With a smile hidden in the corners of her eyes, Chen Yi extended her pink tongue to curl around the tip of the chopstick. A second later, the chopstick was slowly slid into her mouth.

It was incredibly erotic.

Simultaneously, her toes continued their playful mischief.

This is too much, Shen Xiaojiang thought.

Seizing the moment while Chen Yi blinked, she reached under the table and grabbed that exquisite, jade-like foot.

Immediately after, she looked up with a smirk at the stunned Chen Yi.

Chen Yi panicked. She was ticklish, the soles of her feet were her most sensitive spot.

She abandoned her seductive facade and gave a tiny shake of her head, signaling Shen Xiaojiang to “stop.”

Shen Xiaojiang blinked with an innocent expression, pretending not to understand as she pressed her fingers against the sole of Chen Yi’s foot.

The soft texture was very different from Shen Xiaojiang’s own.

During her three years of high school, Shen Xiaojiang had been the main attacker on the school volleyball team. Long term training had left her with thick calluses on her soles, they weren’t unsightly, but you could feel them with your hand.