Sweet Gardenia - Chapter 3

All of Lu Zhi’s words rushed to the tip of her tongue, then got stuck.

Really? These things come in sizes?

It was all Li Siyi’s fault.  That day at the supermarket, passing by rows of shelves, those damn condoms were on sale. Li Siyi had urged her to try some on her behalf, and she had stubbornly dragged her away, only for Li Siyi to pull her back and say with a serious face, “You need to learn to protect yourself, understand?” To get it over with, she had casually grabbed two boxes.

At the time, she had planned to take them out when Li Siyi wasn’t paying attention, but she forgot. Later, when she was cleaning out her bag at home, she discovered the two boxes she had blindly grabbed lying quietly at the bottom. She had casually stuffed them into a drawer.

And then, naturally, she forgot about it again.

Who would have thought they would resurface today?

Right now, at this very moment, in the man’s hand.

She knew that buying an S-size in this situation was an insult to a man’s dignity.

She had to clear herself of this danger as quickly as possible.

So, Lu Zhi immediately blurted out in a panic, “No, these weren’t bought for you.”

“…”

That didn’t sound right either. She decided to tell the truth: “It’s like this, I have a friend…”

Fu Yanshang raised an eyebrow slightly, studying her intently.

It sounded so made up, but he probably wouldn’t get the reference, right? Lu Zhi continued, “She, that friend, insisted I buy them. To humor her, I just grabbed two boxes randomly. I meant to sneak them out later but forgot.”

He didn’t say anything, just stood up, the hem of his shirt falling naturally and brushing against the fabric of his trousers.

Lu Zhi hurriedly tilted her head down to read his expression. “Do you believe me?”

Fu Yanshang: “Do you want me to believe you or not?”

…?

Lu Zhi clarified, “This is the truth. You should believe me.”

“Fine, consider it believed,” he replied smoothly, tossing the items into the trash. “If I need them, I’ll buy them myself. No need to worry about it.”

I really wasn’t worried or even thinking about it…

Just as she was about to say more, he effortlessly changed the subject: “What was it you wanted to tell me? Edit the message and send it to me. I’ll forward it to my secretary to handle.”

Her attention was instantly diverted, her eyes lighting up. “Can it definitely be done?”

“Probably,” he glanced at her, unbuttoning his shirt to prepare for a shower, pretending to think for a moment. “At the very least, I probably wouldn’t buy an S-size.”

Lu Zhi: ???

–

The sound of running water began. Tonight was a cautious night.

They hadn’t slept together yet.

They had gotten their marriage certificate in December. The bedroom here was still having its curtains installed, and not long after, she had gone abroad for a trip, staying away for three months. In the meantime, she heard that Fu Yanshang had moved in at the end of January under the old man’s urging. By the time she returned in March, he had gone abroad.

Tonight… what should she do?

He had thrown the condoms away, so he probably wasn’t planning on doing anything tonight, right? But could these things be delivered by takeout? And pretty quickly at that?

If… but… She lifted her arm and sniffed. The body wash she used tonight was quite fragrant, and she had used the scrub too. No, stop, stop.

Lu Zhi stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting from condoms to asteroids hitting Earth. The moment the bathroom door opened, she instinctively closed her eyes, immediately lay flat, playing dead, peacefully departed.

Fu Yanshang draped the towel over his head, casually rubbing his hair, and got straight to the point.

“Dead people usually don’t keep their backs that straight.”

“……”

Why was he taking a second shower?

But she was still diligently playing dead, just in case Fu Yanshang wasn’t actually talking to her. Finally, as all the noise gradually faded and he approached the bedside table, she abruptly opened her eyes.

The bedside lamp was on, and in the darkness, her eyes shone like a pair of black searchlights. Fu Yanshang paused and asked, “Do you need me to sleep in the next room?”

Well… that wasn’t really necessary.

“…No need,” she said, shifting back slightly. “Which side do you usually sleep on?”

“Either is fine. I’ll take this side,” he replied.

Being a man sure had its perks, even drying his hair was quick. He lifted a corner of the bedsheet and sat down, opening his laptop to handle some work. With an extra person in the bed now, she found it hard to fall asleep quickly. After lying there for a while, she opened her eyes again and saw him working with practiced ease. Who knew how many documents and reports he had gone through? The small touchscreen in his hands was as nimble as a mouse, the screen’s light casting a soft glow on his fingertips, blending with the warm bedside lamp to form a small, gentle arc.

She never liked using touchscreens, mice were just more convenient.

Lu Zhi’s mind wandered for a moment, and she let out a yawn.

His fingers continued gliding across the screen without pause. Only after more than ten seconds did he ask, “Still not asleep?”

She gave a dry, awkward chuckle, unsure of what to say. The next moment, he finished his work, closed the laptop, placed it by the pillow, and slipped under the covers.

As the sheet brushed against his collar, there was a faint rustling sound.

He said, “I threw it away. You don’t need to be so nervous.”

If he hadn’t said anything, it might have been fine, but his words made the atmosphere shift into something ambiguous again.

“I’m not nervous. Maybe I’m just not used to it yet. And I don’t know if I’m a restless sleeper. If I kick you in the middle of the night…” she asked, “What about you? How’s your sleeping posture?”

“I’ve never slept with anyone before, so I don’t know.”

“……”

She fell silent for a moment, then decided to probe further. “So, what are your thoughts right now?”

“About what?” he said. “Sex?”

Did he have to be so blunt…?

But having studied abroad for eight years, it made sense that he’d be more open about these things…

She tugged at the blanket and hummed in agreement.

“Let things take their course. If you’re not willing, I won’t force you. So don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“Fake.”

“?”

He chuckled, and Lu Zhi realized that laugh was his way of saying her question was unnecessary.

She pouted and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll have a say in it.”

“In what?”

“About how your sleeping posture really is.”

–

With another person beside her, and having to constantly remind herself not to roll over to his side, her sleep quality was far from ideal. She drifted in and out of consciousness all night, and every time she rolled toward the middle, she’d cautiously shift back to her safe spot.

It wasn’t until around five in the morning, when Fu Yanshang got up and left, that she finally managed to fall into a deep sleep.

Her eyes closed comfortably, and when she opened them again, it was already afternoon.

She hurriedly got ready and headed to the studio. Everyone was busy at their workstations, looking up to greet her when she arrived. She smiled politely and gestured for them to continue.

Though the studio only had a little over ten people, they were highly efficient. It wasn’t the kind of place that would fall apart if a few people were absent.

Li Siyi, who had just woken up from her nap, looked at her with a teasing grin. “Why are you up so late? What time did you sleep last night?”

“Twelve o’clock,” Lu Zhi said. “Relax, nothing happened. I’m just not used to it.”

Li Siyi snorted, pressed the coffee machine, and poured herself a latte. “How boring. I thought after your little reunion last night, you’d at least make it to third base.”

“Not even first base, let alone third. You really have quite the imagination.” Lu Zhi believed in going with the flow and following her heart in such matters. “Let’s get to work.”

Li Siyi gasped. “Did you sort out the expo situation?!”

“I edited the requirements and sent them to him last night. His secretary added me on WeChat around nine this morning. So efficient.” Lu Zhi glanced at her phone. “He said it’s fine, but the logo placement is on a mobile flower cart. He told us to secure it properly, or else it might accidentally get pushed around the venue.”

“A mobile flower cart? That’s perfect! We can scope out where Xu Jing and that shady company are set up and position ourselves right across from them. Let’s fight it out. Winner takes all. If they think they can monopolize the traffic, they’re dreaming.”

Suddenly inspired, Lu Zhi said, “Why not go with a floral theme this time? Buy some fresh flowers for decoration, and get some single stems too. It’ll tie in nicely with our greenhouse side quest and create a great interactive experience.”

“Then we can give a rose to every player who signed up for the open beta.”

“Sounds good,” Li Siyi agreed. “But remember, the greenhouse storyline and dialogue were written by our dear ‘Sister Jing.’ So cringey I was grinding my teeth under the covers at night, practically tearing the sheets.”

Lu Zhi: ?

Now that she mentioned it, Lu Zhi recalled. “If we’re using it, we’ll definitely have to revise it. But we only have a few days left. Hiring a new writer now would be tough.  They wouldn’t get up to speed quickly, especially with character backgrounds and all.”

Li Siyi suggested, “You write it. Didn’t you write the promo video script? The players loved it.”

Well, that was true…

“But it’s been ages since I’ve written romance,” Lu Zhi said. “And I’m really slow at it.  I have to polish it over and over, unless I’m super inspired. The last time I had a burst of inspiration was in a dream where I was in a relationship.”

Li Siyi pointed a finger emphatically. “Then go find Fu Yanshang, ask him out on a date, go sightseeing, enjoy some nature. Won’t inspiration strike immediately?”

Going out was indeed a great way to find inspiration. She’d come up with the game’s tagline while traveling.

Lu Zhi wondered, “But would he even have time to go out?”

“Of course he would! Ask him what clubs he’s in, when they usually have events, and pick that time. My family might not be as wealthy as yours, but we’re in the restaurant business.  I know how these rich folks play. They’ve got all kinds of wild hobbies.”

Lu Zhi hesitated. “You don’t think he’d tie me up and… you know, play some weird games, do you?”

“If he does, then go for it,” Li Siyi mused. “After you experience it, come back and design a ‘bondage play’ card. It’ll be a hit.  You know how much us otome game players love that stuff. You’ll make a fortune.”

Lu Zhi: “…”

–

After work, Lu Zhi was still pondering how to casually, and without getting rejected, propose going out with Fu Yanshang.

She definitely couldn’t say it was for inspiration. What reason would work better?

She walked to her usual parking spot, about to look for her car, when suddenly, the vehicle in front of her let out a short honk, startling her.

The driver’s side window rolled down. Fu Yanshang had probably just finished a call and was taking off the Bluetooth earpiece hooked over his ear.

She hesitated for a moment before approaching. “…Why are you here?”

“Boss Fu asked me to pick you up and take you to the ancestral home for dinner,” he said casually. “Do you have any plans later?”

“Boss Fu” was how he referred to Fu Cheng. She had heard him use the term several times at the dinner table.

Lu Zhi shook her head and got into the car, then, as if remembering something, answered again, “No plans, I’m free.” She added, “Very free.”

Fu Yanshang glanced at her, unsure what she was trying to say.

She racked her brain to steer the conversation. “Why isn’t Uncle Zong driving today?”

“He’s celebrating his wedding anniversary with his wife,” he replied. “It’s a Fu family tradition.  Valentine’s Day and wedding anniversaries are holidays.”

So humane?

She cleared her throat and asked, “Do you usually take holidays too?” Then added, “I mean, do you always work and not really like going out to have fun?”

“Lu Zhi,” he said, enunciating her name with precision, “I work to live, not live to work.”

“…”

She let out a polite, dry laugh to ease the tension, then looked out the window, wondering how to further hint at her intentions.

If he had recreational activities too, then things would be much easier.

The car was waiting at a red light. Under a straight camphor tree, a couple was flirting.

Scenes like this were common near university dorms. She had been regretting not observing more back then, at least it would have given her some experience for dating games. Unexpectedly, an opportunity had presented itself today.

She subtly rolled the window down a little, and the couple’s intermittent conversation drifted in. The man wrapped his arm around his girlfriend’s waist, whispered something in her ear, and she laughed, leaning into his embrace. Then she looked up and said, “A reward,” stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him. The man took the lead, their arms entwined as they pressed tightly against each other, kissing with fervor.

Lu Zhi lowered her head and shared the experience with Li Siyi: There are two people kissing outside.

Li Siyi replied instantly: Let me see.

They’re kissing so loudly.. How do they do that?

Driven by a spirit of curiosity and practicality, she looked up to continue her observation when a voice suddenly drifted into her ears.

Fu Yanshang asked leisurely, “Enjoying the view?”

She thought for a moment and answered honestly, “It’s not bad.”

“…”

But soon, she lost the chance to study further. The light turned green, and the car turned right.

She bid a reluctant farewell to that fleeting experience and moved on to her next attempt at gathering insights.

Lu Zhi started with some background: “I just remembered, I was actually planning to go back and rest today. I didn’t sleep well last night, but I still came with you to play the part of a loving newlywed. Don’t you think someone this dedicated deserves a little reward? It’s not too much to ask… right?”

As she spoke, the car had already entered the ancestral home’s grounds. Fu Yanshang casually found a parking spot, then turned to ask her, “Such as?”

When his face was expressionless, he exuded an aura that made others hesitant to act out of line, very much like the sickly, domineering prince in novels who would crush you with a single word if you displeased him.

Although Lu Zhi had a rebellious streak, that didn’t mean she wasn’t the least bit afraid of him. The gap in age and life experience made it impossible for her to behave with natural, unguarded ease in front of this man.

Fu Yanshang lightly tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and repeated, “A reward.. such as?”

Her heart tightened even more. When she skipped piano lessons as a child, Zhuang Yun would often lecture her with this exact tone. She clenched her palm, the lingering effects of her long adolescence still rooted in her body, tugging at her heart with a conditioned, sluggish reflex. Suddenly, she felt deeply wronged. “I haven’t even said anything yet. Can you not be so harsh?”

Fu Yanshang frowned slightly, not quite understanding.

“I’m not being harsh,” he said after a moment. “You’re afraid of me.”

“Since you’re afraid of me, why did you choose me back then?”

Because you were a virgin.

Fu Yanshang fooled around so much, just one glance at him made me feel like my eyes would catch something.

Suddenly, she didn’t want to continue the conversation. She turned to open the car door. “I forgot what reward I wanted. Let’s just go eat.”

The car door suddenly locked with a click.

Startled, she turned back just as he leaned in closer. She had never been in such a situation before.  Her mind went completely blank, freezing up. All she could see was his face drawing infinitely near, sharp and strikingly handsome.

He asked, as if genuinely puzzled, “What kind of reward is so hard to say that you’ve been building up to it for so long?”

The next second, he closed the distance. She only felt a softness against her lips, a faint sound as their lips met. When he pulled back a few centimeters, he asked:

“This?”