The Aloof CEO’s Hidden Temptation - Chapter 10

After hanging up the phone, the thunder outside the window grew even more deafening.

As Fu Chaoying turned to go into the bedroom to change her clothes, Ye Jiayuan’s words still echoed in her mind. “I’m single, there’s nothing inconvenient about it.”

A simple sentence, yet it carried so much room for interpretation.

Two single women staying in the same room, was it merely an older sister’s concern for a younger sister? Or… was there a deeper meaning?

After tidying up her belongings, Fu Chaoying opened the door only to be surprised by a woman standing outside. Was Ye Jiayuan here to pick her up?

Fu Chaoying’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up, only to realize it was a stranger. The woman smiled and nodded at her. “Hello, I am Ms. Ye’s housekeeper. She asked me to come and collect you.”

Fu Chaoying gave a slight nod. “Thank you for the trouble.”

How could Ye Jiayuan come to pick her up in person? Fu Chaoying couldn’t help but mock her own wishful thinking.

The housekeeper led her to a private elevator and brought her to Ye Jiayuan’s door, ringing the bell for her.

As the door slowly swung open, a faint, elegant scent of magnolia wafted toward her.

Fu Chaoying held her breath. Looking up, she saw Ye Jiayuan wrapped in a bath towel. Droplets of water still clung to her porcelain skin, trailing slowly from her neck toward… the curves of her chest. She had clearly just finished a shower.

“Please, come in,” Ye Jiayuan said in her cool, clear voice. Fu Chaoying discreetly shifted her gaze and asked softly, “Sister Yuan… am I disturbing you?”

Fu Chaoying wondered if she had interrupted Ye Jiayuan’s shower earlier during the phone call. Could she really answer the phone while bathing?

“No.” Ye Jiayuan’s gaze swept over the small teddy bear in Chaoying’s arms, a nearly imperceptible smile flickering in her eyes. She stepped aside to give her enough space to enter.

Looking at the spacious living room, Fu Chaoying turned and asked, “Sister Yuan… do you always live in a hotel?”

Hearing the nickname, a hint of hidden meaning flashed in Ye Jiayuan’s eyes as she softly replied, “Yes.”

There was a strange sense of loneliness or loss in her calm tone, but it was quickly masked by a faint smile.

Ye Jiayuan pointed to the room on the right. “You can stay in that one. I’m going to dry my hair.”

Fu Chaoying pushed the door open only to find the room empty, devoid of any signs of daily life.

As she looked down at the large bed, a knock sounded at the door.

“The bedding was changed yesterday. If you mind, I can have someone change it again now,” Ye Jiayuan’s voice came from outside.

Fu Chaoying turned to open the door, met with the sight of Ye Jiayuan with wet hair draped over her shoulders. Even her collarbones were damp, and her semi-exposed state radiated an alluring beauty.

Fu Chaoying quickly looked away, smiling into her eyes. “I don’t mind. I should thank you for taking me in, Sister Yuan.”

“You’re welcome.” Ye Jiayuan turned away again, her steps leaving behind a faint trail of fragrance.

Fu Chaoying took a deep breath, went into the room, and changed into a nightgown.

Coming out for a drink of water, she was startled by the sound of a phone ringing.

It wasn’t hers.

Fu Chaoying quickly found the phone on a side table. The caller ID read “Liu Xin”, likely Ye Jiayuan’s assistant, Special Assistant Liu?

Holding the phone, Fu Chaoying knocked gently on Ye Jiayuan’s bedroom door.

After several knocks, Ye Jiayuan appeared behind the door. Fu Chaoying handed her the phone. “Your call.”

Ye Jiayuan’s eyes glanced over the nightgown before she thanked her and took the phone.

Fu Chaoying returned to the sofa to drink her water, but she couldn’t help but wonder, why was Ye Jiayuan able to take a call while showering, but didn’t keep her phone with her while drying her hair?

She likely wouldn’t find an answer to that question, as she wasn’t going to ask.

A few minutes later, the door opened again. Seeing her sitting alone in the living room, Ye Jiayuan looked out at the lightning and thunder and asked softly, “Are you still scared?”

Fu Chaoying nodded pitifully.

Ye Jiayuan walked to her side, watching the water cup in her hand. “Do you want some milk?”

Fu Chaoying shook her head. “No.”

By now, Ye Jiayuan’s hair was dry, her dark, silky strands falling over her shoulders. Combined with her loose pajamas, she looked more grounded and approachable.

This was the first time they had been alone in such a private, domestic setting.

However, Ye Jiayuan didn’t sit down next to her. She stood by the sofa, lost in thought.

Fu Chaoying’s eyes shifted as she tilted her head. “I’m okay. You can go rest first, Sister Yuan.”

Ye Jiayuan looked into her eyes and shook her head. “If you’re still scared… do you want to sleep in my room?”

Fu Chaoying blinked, catching a different meaning hidden within those gentle eyes.

“Only if it’s convenient for you,” Ye Jiayuan added.

Fu Chaoying stood up. “Then I’ll go get my pillow.”

In her haste, she suddenly lost her balance. Just as she was about to fall, she was caught by a warm, strong hand.

The next second, she fell into Ye Jiayuan’s embrace, instantly enveloped by the rich scent of magnolia.

The two found themselves staring into each other’s eyes unexpectedly. Fu Chaoying felt her heart rate skyrocket, her body trembling slightly.

There were many emotions in Ye Jiayuan’s eyes, emotions she couldn’t quite decipher, yet was drawn to.

“Careful,” Ye Jiayuan’s deep voice whispered in her ear before steadying her.

Fu Chaoying lightly squeezed her wrist. “Thank you, Sister Yuan.”

She then discreetly let go.

Ye Jiayuan watched her back, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

When Fu Chaoying walked into Ye Jiayuan’s room with her pillow, she was also holding the brown teddy bear.

Ye Jiayuan noticed it again. “You still kept it.”

Fu Chaoying nodded. “I usually take it with me whenever I go out.”

A profound look flashed in Ye Jiayuan’s eyes, but she said nothing.

Ye Jiayuan’s room was arranged in an orderly fashion, she clearly stayed here long-term.

Given Ye Jiayuan’s financial status, she could easily own multiple properties in Old Singapore… Why live in a hotel? Fu Chaoying couldn’t understand it.

The bed in the master bedroom was very large. Fu Chaoying placed her pillow on one side, intentionally leaving a large distance in the middle.

Even sharing a bed felt no different from sleeping in separate ones.

Fu Chaoying placed the teddy bear between their pillows. Seeing Ye Jiayuan pull out an air-conditioning quilt, she suddenly heard her ask, “Do you want me to call someone to change the bedding?”

Fu Chaoying shook her head. “No need.”

Then, a soft voice said, “Turning off the lights then.”

Though they had separate quilts and pillows, Fu Chaoying was covered by bedding Ye Jiayuan had used. The familiar magnolia scent surrounded her as if she were nestled in her arms, just as intimate as the moment she had fallen into her embrace earlier.

Outside, the rain poured and thunder rolled; inside, the bedding was soft and the fragrance was warm.

Her heart suddenly found peace. Listening to the sound of the other woman’s shallow breathing, Fu Chaoying drifted off to sleep.

In her dreams, she vaguely heard the vibration of a phone, followed by the rustle of someone getting out of bed and the soft sound of a closing door.

Ye Jiayuan was woken by the vibration and immediately hung up.

By the faint light, she gazed at Fu Chaoying’s peaceful sleeping face, her eyes lingering on the brown teddy bear held tightly in her arms.

She couldn’t help but reach out to lightly stroke her cheek, but she withdrew her hand firmly after only two seconds.

After a long while, the phone vibrated again. Ye Jiayuan had no choice but to get up and close the door behind her.

The moment she answered, the sound from the receiver was chaotic. The wind and rain were so loud they nearly drowned out the voice on the other end.

Ye Jiayuan’s voice was calm. “I’m sorry, I can’t come over.”

“Why?” the person on the other side shouted hysterically.

Ye Jiayuan was silent for a few seconds before saying deeply, “Because I have someone important to stay with.”

Her tone was calm, yet resolute.

Hanging up the phone, Ye Jiayuan turned back into the bedroom and lay down gently.

A sudden crack of thunder sounded. Ye Jiayuan instinctively turned her head to the right, only to be suddenly embraced by a warm, soft body as the other person rolled over.

She heard the person in her arms murmur softly:

“Sister… don’t leave.”