Sweet Gardenia - Chapter 5

The night was tranquil, amplifying every sound to an infinite degree.

In her dazed state, her sudden sinking into the waterbed caused thick waves within the mattress to surge continuously, lifting her up and letting her fall back down.

Her only knowledge of waterbeds came from a movie she had watched in college, where a one-minute scene depicted the protagonist’s experience. Beyond that…

She had never imagined that one day she would be lying on one herself.

She turned to look at Fu Yanshang, but the thick water beneath her made it impossible to control her movements. As soon as she shifted, the water buoyed her toward the center. With nothing solid to hold onto, she had no leverage.

Their bodies collided uncontrollably, only to be separated again by the waves. Her head spun, and her face flushed inexplicably. Even though nothing had happened, the relentless sloshing of water in the quiet night stirred a sense of shame. She reached out, trying to grip the bedsheet, but as soon as she propped herself up, she sank back down.

Splash…

…How could anyone sleep like this?

Then again, perhaps Grandpa hadn’t intended for them to use this room for sleeping in the first place. 🙂

Now, feigning composure, she felt like a lifeless fish being tossed about, too embarrassed to even glance at his face.

A minute later, the ripples in the mattress finally subsided. But then, for some reason, the turbulence started again, and she was lifted and lowered once more.

Opening her eyes, she saw the mirror; closing them, she heard the water.

Unable to resist, she turned to look at him, only to find he was no longer beside her. Squinting, Lu Zhi spotted a figure standing in the room, pulling a cushion from the sofa and spreading it on the floor.

She had an idea of what was happening and cautiously rolled over to his side. “Um… are you planning to… sleep… on the floor…?” Her voice rose and fell with the undulations of the mattress, wavering and trembling.

Fu Yanshang paused for a moment. “Come down and talk.”

“…Oh.”

She tumbled off the bed, landing squarely on the soft cushion. It didn’t hurt much. The next moment, someone cradled her head and slipped a pillow beneath it.

Immediately after, a breeze swept past her. The small space was just enough for two pillows.

“It’s a bit cramped here,” his voice cut through the night, “but it’s more comfortable than sleeping up there.”

Without thinking, she blurted out, “Maybe that thing wasn’t meant for sleeping anyway.”

“…”

His hand, which had been propping up his head, remained in place as he looked at her with amusement. “If not for sleeping, what else could it be for?”

He was teasing her on purpose.

She replied, “Fighting.”

“…”

The spot he had chosen was the narrow gap between the bed and the wall, just wide enough for the two of them to lie flat. There was no extra space at all.  If they lay side by side, their arms and legs would inevitably touch unless they turned on their sides.

Right above them was the bedside table. Her curiosity stirred, itching to open the drawer and see what other surprises lay inside. But the thought of what she might find, and how it might shatter her expectations, made her hesitate. After some deliberation, she held back.

She couldn’t possibly look with him right there. That would be too awkward.

She turned over to face the bed frame, lying still for a while. Unable to fall asleep, she shifted back to her original position, searching for a more comfortable posture.

As a result, she forgot that the space here was too small and that she should have shifted inward when turning over. The moment she rolled, a sudden warmth enveloped her face, and the man’s steady breath settled over her, warm, carrying a faint scent of pine, like snow melting on a mountain.

Startled, she looked up and met his slightly lowered eyes, open just enough to reveal distinct, individual lashes.

She hesitated for a moment, feeling as though she hadn’t moved, yet somehow being drawn forward.
Otherwise, how could the distance between them be closing so steadily?

Lu Zhi slowly leaned back, trying to create some space between them, but no matter how much she retreated, the gap didn’t widen. Her head gently bumped against the headboard behind her with a soft thud.

The darkness amplified the tension. The man reached out, cushioning the space between her head and the headboard. Though it was meant to create separation, the gesture only brought them closer. Her breath hitched.

Nose to nose, his palm warm against the back of her head, Lu Zhi heard him ask, “Can I kiss you?”

Who… asks something like that?

Her already blank mind went completely empty. Rarely at a loss for words, she stammered after a moment, “Wh-whatever.”

“What does ‘whatever’ mean?” He tilted his head, already so close yet maintaining that maddening distance, neither touching nor pulling away. “Is that a yes or a no?”

Time seemed to warp, speeding up and slowing down at once. The rustling of leaves outside the window grew faint. Lu Zhi blinked, and as the word “yes” began to form on her lips, he cupped her chin, tilting her face up to meet his kiss. His breath drew nearer, carrying the fresh minty scent of recently brushed teeth, like a mountain rain shower at dawn. His lips captured hers, delicate yet insistent, stealing her breath. When his hand pressed gently against the back of her head, her lower lip was drawn deeper into the space between his teeth, allowing him to suck and nibble.

The night outside was cool, and the air conditioner hummed steadily, releasing a comfortable chill. Yet, a thin layer of sweat formed on her back. During brief pauses in the kiss, Fu Yanshang would give her a moment to catch her breath, only to tease her upper lip with the tip of his tongue when she thought it was over. The sensation sent unexpected shivers through her. With each shift in the intensity of the kiss, her body swayed forward and back, brushing against the mattress behind her. The water-filled cushion swayed with a soft, seductive sound, mingling with the wet sounds of their lips meeting, heightening her senses. Her fingers clenched the edge of her clothes so tightly they ached, as she naively experienced it all.

The curtains swayed gently in the breeze, the thin gauze brushing against her ankle, where a pale green gardenia was tattooed. It tickled. Everything did.

–

She couldn’t remember when or how she fell asleep. In her dreams, she was beside a volcano, feeling wave after wave of heat wash over her skin, an unrelenting restlessness she couldn’t suppress.

When she woke, the clothes on her back felt as if they had been soaked in sweat and dried multiple times, clinging to her skin with an odd texture. She decided to take a shower.

As she shifted slightly, she realized he was likely lying on his side too, her back now pressed snugly against his chest. A faint rustling sound came from behind, and she froze instantly.  She must have woken him.

Lu Zhi held her breath, not daring to move again. But stillness is relative, motion absolute. Slowly, inevitably, she began to feel something pressing against her back.

Wait.

Wait.

This couldn’t be morning…

During the two seconds she froze, the person behind her had already tactfully pulled away, retreated, and gotten up to wash in the bathroom.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Sitting up and unlocking her phone, she dazedly realized the screen wasn’t her home page but her notes app.

It turned out that in her half-asleep state last night, she had mustered the willpower to jot down detailed impressions of the kiss, gathering all sorts of experience for her dating game.

So dedicated, she was genuinely moved.

She spent a moment skimming through the rambling notes she’d written half-consciously, whatever came to mind, when she suddenly heard footsteps nearby. Dazedly lifting her head, she blurted out, “You’re done? That fast?”

“How long does washing up take?” Fu Yanshang glanced at her. “What did you think I was doing?”

“…”

She distractedly rubbed her nose and quickly dashed into the bathroom to escape.

She shouldn’t have thought that way.  She’d assumed he needed to take care of some… physical urges.

Breakfast was served buffet-style on the first floor, so after showering, they headed down.

She took a small bowl of noodles and half a buttered sandwich.

The resort had a lovely atmosphere. Outside the dining area were lush, dewy green bamboo groves, while inside, there were wicker swing chairs, some fixed in place, others gently swaying.

Holding her sandwich in one hand, she used the other to lightly rock the swing. In contrast to her restlessness, Fu Yanshang was far more composed, keeping his chair steady as he quietly scooped up wontons across from her, the spoon softly clinking against the bowl’s edge.

The old man had come with them and was out for a stroll. Spotting them from afar, he hurried over to greet them, his face beaming with satisfaction at this scenic gem. “How did you sleep last night?”

Fu Yanshang kept his head down, focused. “Terribly.”

Fu Cheng chuckled warmly. “That’s good to hear.”

Lu Zhi: “…”

Fu Yanshang ate slowly, with a kind of deliberate, refined elegance. He finally looked up and said unhurriedly, “I slept on the floor.”

He knew exactly what Fu Cheng didn’t want to hear.

Sure enough, Fu Cheng snapped a bamboo stick in two, glaring furiously. “Where?!”

“You didn’t even check if that bed was fit for sleeping.”

Fu Cheng opened his mouth, hesitated, and said nothing. “…”

“Forget it, forget it. Go soak in the hot springs.  Don’t hang around in front of me,” he waved a hand, preferring not to see them. “I can’t expect you to be good at anything!”

Lu Zhi stood to say goodbye. Recalling the events of last night, she touched her neck and thought to herself, maybe he’s not as clueless as you think…

It wasn’t until they had walked quite a distance that she learned the resort was actually owned by Fu Cheng himself.

No wonder he’d picked such an absurd room.

Since it wasn’t ideal to soak right after eating, they strolled around the resort instead. Occasionally, they passed couples or families with children. The clouds in the countryside were beautiful, the sky a clear blue.  This place made her feel relaxed and free.

The air carried the scent of greenery after rain. She took a deep breath in, then slowly exhaled, feeling as if her mind had been briefly cleared.  It was incredibly relieving.

But her breath lasted a bit too long, perhaps sounding like a sigh. After a moment, Fu Yanshang paused and said, “He’s just like that. Don’t take it to heart.”

She was taken aback for a second before realizing he was referring to his grandfather’s room choice. Shaking her head, she replied, “It’s fine, really. I get it. He just wants us to get along better… It’s normal.”

They were married after all, so it was only natural. Even if he had really asked her to fulfill her wifely duties last night, as long as the atmosphere was normal, she figured she wouldn’t have refused. More importantly, she had never liked anyone growing up. When she later decided on an arranged marriage, she thought it would be better to choose someone suitable for the moment rather than wait for a person she might or might not meet in the future, someone who could let her live more freely and unrestrained.

To her, Fu Yanshang was agreeable; she didn’t dislike him.

On a branch, a long-tailed tit rested among the green leaves, gently swaying its black-and-white tail.

He said, “What’s normal and what one is willing to do are two different things.”

She really admired his mindset.  He didn’t treat her as an accessory. Even though he was seven years older, he still respected her. She didn’t know how to put it, but she felt this was precious, especially for a man of his status and power.

She kicked the gravel under her feet, then smiled and looked up, saying, “Well then, I hope we can cooperate happily.”

“Cooperate?”

“Isn’t that what it is?” she said. “An arranged marriage is just another form of cooperation.”

“I give you what you need, and you give me what I want. That’s how it lasts. Your career will benefit from it, and my family’s business will thrive, giving me a certain degree of confidence and support. It’s mutually beneficial.”

As they approached the private hot spring entrance, he casually asked, “So, what do you need from me?”

She thought for a moment, recalling how her mother often admonished her to “be obedient”, like an invisible rope tying her to her elders’ expectations. One could still be loved, but only by being “obedient.”

So she tilted her head and said lightly, “Freedom, just like now.”

–

Their private hot spring was reserved for VIPs. Nestled in a valley were four or five hot spring pools, each filled with different types of water. She chose the milk bath, while Fu Yanshang entered the relatively clear pool, its surface covered with a layer of deep blue petals, like an inverted starry sky.

He took off his outer robe and stepped directly into the water, making her seem hesitant and reserved in comparison. She didn’t like wearing a swimsuit in the hot spring, so she had wrapped herself in a strapless towel. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped into the water still wrapped in it.

She leaned against the edge of the pool, playing on her phone. The warm steam from the water fogged up her face. She thought he would be working at this time, but to her surprise, he hadn’t even brought his phone. Instead, he leaned back against the edge, enjoying the moment, his neck tilted upward, the prominence of his Adam’s apple particularly noticeable.

The layer of petals shattered as he entered the water, restoring the pool to its crystal-clear state. Lu Zhi could clearly see the contours of the muscles below his collarbone, which surprised her. The lighting had been too dim that night, and she hadn’t realized he had more than just abs.

“Lu Zhi,” he called her name just then. “Enjoying the view?”

“…”

Do you have eyes on the back of your neck?

Her fingers swiped rapidly across the screen, though she wasn’t actually reading anything. “It’s passable.”

“…”

She asked, “Do you work out regularly?”

She couldn’t fathom where he found the time.

“Three to four times a week,” he said. “Otherwise, my body wouldn’t be able to handle the intense workload and frequent flights.”

For someone his age, he’s in pretty good shape.

She silently grumbled to herself and didn’t say anything more. Instead, she started a game to ease the tension.  Otherwise, she really wouldn’t know what to do.

As soon as the game started, she lost three matches in a row, surrendering at the six-minute mark. The more she played, the more determined she became to turn things around, to the point where she nearly stood up from the hot spring pool in frustration. Finally, in the next match, she was paired with competent teammates and secured a victory as the MVP.

When she turned around, a man was standing beside her.

Startled, she realized just how small the private pool was.  They were almost face to face. When had he arrived?

She turned to check the surroundings and noticed wet footprints next to every pool. It seemed he had enjoyed each one before ending up at hers.

It was then that she realized her towel had mysteriously vanished. She was now soaking in the pool wearing only her underwear. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have been a problem…

But now that Fu Yanshang was here, she couldn’t just lounge around so openly. She reached into the water, trying to find her missing “cover-up.”

Her hand caught onto something, and she tugged hard, only to realize it felt off. The next moment, a firm grip closed around her wrist. Fu Yanshang’s voice cut through the silence: “That’s the drawstring of my pants.”

“…”

“Sorry,” she instantly let go, “My hand slipped. Go back to sleep.”

She turned to search the other side, her arm stirring deep ripples in the water. The undulating waves brushed lightly against his chest, like feathers teasing his skin.

Fu Yanshang finally opened his eyes. “What exactly are you doing?”

Before she could answer, she noticed through the milky water that the pool wasn’t as opaque as she’d thought.  The surface was nearly translucent.

Realizing she was almost standing, she blurted out, “Don’t open your eyes!”

He closed them again.

Most of his intimidating aura came from his gaze. With his eyes shut, that unapproachable air dissipated, and even his Adam’s apple looked flushed from the steam, as if someone had bitten it. Just as Lu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, convincing herself he probably hadn’t seen anything.

He politely reminded her, “You should have told me you weren’t wearing anything. I wouldn’t have come over.”

Lu Zhi: “…”

Lu Zhi: “……”

–

In the end, the hot spring outing concluded with Fu Yanshang leaving first while she lingered inside, sending Li Siyi eight mortified voice messages lamenting her social disaster.

The only consolation was that they finally changed rooms.

This room was much more normal.  A standard tourist suite with a landscape painting by Fu Cheng himself hanging on the wall, accompanied by a calligraphy piece that read, “Stay calm.  If I die of anger, who would be pleased?”

Staring at the “Stay calm” inscription, she comforted herself: It’s fine. I saw him once, he saw me once. We’re even.

Still, it was a little awkward.

This time, Fu Yanshang took a bit longer in the shower. She immediately lay down, put her phone away, and resolved to fall asleep as quickly as possible to avoid any post-embarrassment encounters.

But her body clock wasn’t so easily manipulated. Though her phone was off, her hands were still restless. She fumbled around on the pillow, then pulled open the bedside drawer to explore. The first compartment held the usual items, remote controls and tissues. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Reassured, she calmly opened the second compartment. Something cold and gleaming caught her eye. Curious, she picked it up and realized it was… a pair of handcuffs.

She sat on the bed in complete silence for a full minute, just about to put it away at lightning speed, when it suddenly occurred to her that gamers would probably like this, handcuff play and all. So she decided to immerse herself in the experience, planning to use it on the male lead later. After all, Li Siyi was right.  Players really did enjoy slightly risqué illustrations on their cards.

The key was lying nearby. Letting her guard down, she clicked one side of the handcuffs onto her wrist, lifted it, and shook it to examine it.

It felt novel and quite interesting.

Lu Zhi, the method actress, nodded in satisfaction. Just as she heard the sound of the shower stopping, she hurriedly picked up the key to unlock it…

Perfect. The key and the handcuffs didn’t match.

Who in the world was so inconsiderate? If they weren’t a set, why put them together??

Now, how was she supposed to get them off??

She struggled for over a minute, working up a sweat. The hairdryer in the bathroom had stopped, and Fu Yanshang had already dried his hair. There was no way she could let him see this. With a surge of resolve, Lu Zhi pulled the covers over herself.

It’s fine, she thought. At worst, I’ll just sleep like this tonight and figure out how to unlock them early tomorrow morning.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong. Holding her breath, her heart racing, she sensed him opening his laptop to work as usual. An hour later, he lay down to sleep. Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief, shifted her position, and eased the stiffness in her shoulders and neck.

The handcuffs under the covers clinked with a crisp sound.

She clearly felt the person beside her pause. Unless he was deaf, there was no way he hadn’t heard it.

But just as Fu Yanshang was about to pull back the covers to check, she immediately stopped him: “Don’t look.”

“…”

Lu Zhi said, “If your wife does something like this, she must have her reasons.”

…

In the darkness, the figure remained still for a long time. Perhaps recalling the incident at the hot spring, he ultimately didn’t pull back the covers and lay back down to sleep.

Lu Zhi let out a long, relieved sigh and peacefully closed her eyes.

The chaotic day had finally come to an end. She set an alarm for 6:30 a.m. and quickly drifted off to sleep, only to dream of herself feeling around inside a mystery box, reaching left and right, trying to figure out what was inside…

Then, at 1:30 a.m., she suddenly felt her wrist lighten, as if something was being lifted.

She jolted awake instantly, only to see Fu Yanshang in the dim backlight, holding the empty handcuff in one hand while bracing himself on the bed with the other, his gaze fixed on her other wrist, the one still firmly locked in the handcuffs.