“Then I’ll leave everything to you once I finish washing up…”
Jiang Lai tilted her head back slightly, meeting Shen Ruxue’s smiling eyes.
Those eyes were always exceptionally gentle, and at this moment, they were filled entirely with her reflection, prompting Jiang Lai to reach out involuntarily.
The tips of her fingers brushed lightly across Shen Ruxue’s eyelashes, as if touching a fragile treasure.
“For now, even if I like you that much, I can’t—because I just can’t get past it in my heart…”
Jiang Lai’s voice carried a hint of soft, coquettish complaint, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help lifting slightly.
Shen Ruxue caught her mischievous hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it gently again, her voice low and tender.
“I don’t mind at all. Anyway, when it comes to you, I—”
As she spoke, she tightened her arms slightly, pulling Jiang Lai even closer.
Her chin rested against the top of Jiang Lai’s head, nuzzling gently.
“Go wash up now. I won’t keep clinging to you.”
Shen Ruxue also wanted to finish her morning work a little earlier, so she could focus on being with Jiang Lai.
Jiang Lai nodded, freed herself from Shen Ruxue’s embrace, and turned toward the bathroom.
When she reached the doorway, she couldn’t help glancing back, meeting Shen Ruxue’s gaze.
Although Shen Ruxue was trying hard to restrain herself, Jiang Lai could still see the reluctance and longing in her eyes.
Once inside the bathroom, Jiang Lai looked at herself in the mirror.
She turned on the faucet, splashed some cool water on her cheeks, and tried to calm herself down, but her heartbeat still raced uncontrollably.
In the bathroom, Shen Ruxue hadn’t prepared any toiletries for her, so yesterday and today she had been using the same products as Shen Ruxue.
Jiang Lai looked at the toothbrush Shen Ruxue used, and without any psychological burden, she directly put it into her mouth, finished brushing quickly, and simply tidied her hair.
Seeing her more refreshed reflection in the mirror, she turned around satisfied and left the bathroom.
In the living room, because Jiang Lai hadn’t closed the study door when she came out, she could faintly hear the sound of keyboard clacking even from there.
Jiang Lai walked over to the dining table and looked at the breakfast Shen Ruxue had prepared for her.
It was simple and not much in quantity—just enough to settle the stomach in the morning.
At least that was the case for Jiang Lai.
As she ate, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the study.
The intermittent clatter of the keyboard came in snatches.
Thinking about the red veins in Shen Ruxue’s eyes, she suddenly lost the appetite for a leisurely meal.
Finally, she downed the cup of milk in one go.
When she was clearing the dishes, Jiang Lai remembered the empty refrigerator she had seen yesterday.
Shen Ruxue was busy working in the study, and she felt too embarrassed to disturb her.
She couldn’t help with work, but at least she could take care of her meals.
She dried her hands, sat down on the living room sofa, opened a shopping app, and slid her fingers across the screen, carefully selecting ingredients, intending to cook a hearty meal for Shen Ruxue.
That way, she’d have the energy to go to the company.
When placing the order, Jiang Lai specifically added a note saying “Deliver as soon as possible” and confirmed the estimated delivery time with customer service, worried that she would ruin lunch preparations.
Putting down her phone, she got up and walked to the study door.
She didn’t go inside, just leaned against the doorframe and watched Shen Ruxue.
“A little later, what do you want to eat for lunch?”
Jiang Lai lowered her voice, afraid that speaking too loudly would disturb her.
Shen Ruxue looked up and saw her standing at the door.
Her eyes instantly softened, and she stopped what she was doing.
“Why are you standing at the door? Come here. Let me hold you, okay?”
Jiang Lai saw Shen Ruxue’s invitation and shuffled over in small steps.
When she was about an arm’s length away, Shen Ruxue reached out, firmly took her hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it.
“For lunch, anything you make, I’ll love. But don’t overwork yourself. If it’s too much trouble, we can order takeout.”
Jiang Lai immediately shook her head, her eyes sparkling.
“It’s no trouble at all! You focus on your work. Once the ingredients arrive, I’ll start cooking. Besides, while you’re working, there’s nothing else for me to do.”
Shen Ruxue looked at the light shimmering in Jiang Lai’s eyes, as if containing crushed starlight.
She couldn’t resist pulling her onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her waist, and resting her chin on top of Jiang Lai’s head, nuzzling gently.
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Be careful with your hands when cutting vegetables.”
“I know, I’m not a child, and it’s not my first time cooking.”
Jiang Lai leaned into her embrace, her fingertips lightly poking Shen Ruxue’s hand resting on the keyboard.
“You keep working. Don’t fall behind because of me. You still have to go to the company this afternoon.”
Shen Ruxue chuckled in response but didn’t let go immediately.
Instead, she hugged her for another two minutes before, under Jiang Lai’s urging, turning her attention back to the computer screen.
Jiang Lai didn’t disturb her any further.
She slipped quietly off her lap, tucked the stray strands of hair falling across Shen Ruxue’s forehead behind her ear, and tiptoed back to the living room.
There wasn’t much Jiang Lai could do to directly help Shen Ruxue.
Being able to simply cook a meal for her was already more than enough.
After lunch, the two returned to the bedroom.
Shen Ruxue opened the closet and casually took out an off-white silk blouse and black tailored trousers.
Although she was still young, her dressing style and overall demeanor were no different from her past self.
As for Jiang Lai, Shen Ruxue had also prepared a dress for her.
Jiang Lai looked at the soft fabric touching her fingertips, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
‘Ying Yu was one thing, but even Xiaoxue is preparing clothes like these for me? So cute…’
She had initially expected something more androgynous.
Looking at the cute dress in front of her, she hesitated internally.
‘Should I change in the room?’
Just as she was hesitating, she saw Shen Ruxue take off all her pajamas right in front of her.
Even under Jiang Lai’s gaze, she moved without any inhibition, changing into her suit with practiced efficiency.
The suit accentuated the sharp line of her shoulders.
She gathered her long hair and tied it back with a black ribbon, revealing her slender neck.
Gone was the homey laziness; replaced by the crisp efficiency of a professional.
Seeing this, Jiang Lai decided not to be fussy anymore.
She put on the dress directly.
After quickly adjusting it, Jiang Lai stood in front of Shen Ruxue, spinning lightly.
The hem of her skirt lifted slightly.
“How does this look? Is it too cute…”
Shen Ruxue walked over and helped her tie the ribbon at the collar into a small bow.
Her gaze was so tender it could melt.
“It has to be that cute. Our Jiang Jiang is the cutest.”
“Hmph… Alright!”
Ever since the two got together, Jiang Lai had always heard Shen Ruxue telling her she was “very cute.”
But back when she was still male, she had no idea what was so cute about her—it was a very vague concept.
Now, however, she was very clear about exactly what Shen Ruxue was complimenting.