Chapter 39: 039 part 1
The pitch-black night sky reflected dots of starlight on the glass window. Inside the house, under the dim yellow lights, the air was filled with natural fragrance.
Zās golden hair was very conspicuous among the mass of green leaves, draped in a pale halo of light.
This appearance looked a bit like a long-haired yellow cat crouching among the flowersāa splash of yellow in a sea of blossoms.
It was a bit… cute.
He also felt a bit like…
Stop.
After just a few breaths, Zhu Ran pulled his drifting thoughts back and erased the equation “Z = Big Cat” from his mind.
However, Zhu Ranās gaze remained on Zās profile and didn’t pull away; there was a hint of partiality in his eyes.
Truly, he looked a lot like a big cat.
Z hadn’t received an answer from Zhu Ran, but he hadn’t missed the otherās focused gaze.
A small wave rippled in his heart.
He retracted his gaze and smelled the Red Rose he held in his hands.
The vivid, passionate color paired exceptionally well with Zās exquisite face. His brilliant golden hair added a unique atmosphere to his surroundings.
Noble and luxurious, yet without a hint of arrogant aggression.
Very charming.
Z opened his mouth and repeated, “So, are you still afraid of me now?”
At this moment, Z, holding the red rose and exuding a unique temperament, made Zhu Ranās heart skip a beat.
He had seen many versions of Zāstern, violent, silent, peaceful…
Yet none were like the present moment, causing Zhu Ranās thoughts to become so tangled.
The other was originally a fierce beast, yet after retracting his claws and teeth, he lay among the flowers, exposing his softest parts.
Zhu Ranās gaze was gentle, and he shook his head. “Iām not afraid of you.”
He walked over and crouched before Z, his soft emerald eyes looking straight at Z. His emotions were calm and gentle.
“The first time I saw you, it was because I didn’t know you, and because you always had a stern face and didn’t speak, so I thought you were difficult to get along with.”
“But after that, whether you were Officer Weier or now as my assistant, I never thought you were scary.”
Not only did he not think he was scary, but sometimes he even thought Z was like a big cat…
Even when his mania flared up, he was like a big cat that had lost control and was looking for something to rub against.
“And…”
As he spoke, Zhu Ran reached out and smoothed Zās side hair, which had become messy from packing, tucking a stray strand behind Zās ear.
Slender fingers brushed past Zās ear. After a moment, the tip of the ear hidden under the golden hair turned red.
Z just watched as Zhu Ran fussed with his hair, not showing any other reaction.
Zhu Ran smiled. “They say a manās hair can’t be touched, but even if I touch your hair now, you don’t get angry. How could I possibly still be afraid of you?”
Z suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Haven’t you already touched my hair? The kind where you rub and knead it as you please.”
Zhu Ran: “I was giving you aromatherapy.”
Performing aromatherapy required reaching into the hair to massage the scalp. This was clearly a very normal action, so why did it sound so strange coming from Zās mouth?
“Yes, performing aromatherapy.”
Z echoed his words. After packing the natural plant in his hand, he suddenly remembered something.
“Speaking of which… as an assistant, shouldn’t I also know how to perform aromatherapy?”
“Iāll give it a try for you tomorrow, how about it?”
Z spoke seemingly casually, but his peripheral vision was constantly observing Zhu Ranās expression.
Zhu Ran, who was passing a flower to Z, didn’t notice that Zās movements paused for a moment when he made the suggestion, appearing a bit unnatural.
Zhu Ran thought about how he had indeed been quite tired these past two days and wanted to relax. Since Z had volunteered to give him aromatherapy, he naturally agreed.
“Sure, let me see your skills tomorrow then!”
At this, Zās eyes crinkled slightly.
Outside the house, the stars were sparse; inside, the flowers were in bloom.
The whole house was warm and peaceful.
Zhu Ran eventually stayed to finish the packing work with Z. Because he was too tired, his head began to nod, and he immediately went to his room to sleep.
Zephyr, on the other hand, waited until 3:00 AM for the Starbuy delivery person and handed over all the items in the house.
Of course, when meeting the delivery person, Zephyr used a disguise device to appear as the brown-haired, blue-eyed Officer Weier.
The delivery man, Zhao Weiwei, who was sporting a toothy grin, had his smile instantly stiffen upon seeing the cold and silent Zephyr.
Zhao Weiwei clearly remembered the owner of this address was someone with a very comfortable aura. How did they suddenly become such a fierce-looking, tall young man?
He tremblingly scanned and recorded each pot of natural plants into the space portal and left Zhu Ranās house as if escaping. He didn’t even say his usual “Please give me a five-star rating”; he didn’t want to stay for a single second longer.
It wasn’t until he entered the space portal that Zhao Weiwei realized his back was soaked with cold sweat.
“Who was that? I thought I was going to die. Truly terrifying.”
Zephyrās expression darkened slightly after seeing off the delivery man.
He remembered that when he was a delivery man, Zhu Ran had given him several three-star ratings, while he seemed to give all the other delivery people five stars.
At the time, the Zephyr who received a three-star rating only felt a bit surprised and felt that Zhu Ranās personality might not be as soft as it appearedāthat he had “edges.”
Now, as Zephyr recalled being given three stars by Zhu Ran, he felt a bit dissatisfied.
Just now, even that delivery man could get five stars?
The night faded, and the dawn light grew.
The sun had just risen above the horizon, slowly illuminating a corner of the sky. The air was slightly cool, carrying a hint of morning dew.
At this hour, many people were still in their dreams, but Su Yu had already finished washing up and eating breakfast.
She was sitting in her study, reading various obscure professional reports.
With a ding, the exclusive Starbuy notification sound rang.
[The item ‘Red Rose’ you purchased from the shop ‘Zhuās Lingering Fragrance’ has arrived at the space storage station. Please collect it in time.]
Su Yu put down her work and immediately took out the Red Rose she had finally managed to buy yesterday from the space storage station.
Accompanied by a ripple in space, a vivid plant appeared before her eyes.
The plant in her hands had small thorns on its strong stems, and the dark green leaves had a certain thickness, looking very high-quality.
The stem curved slightly at the top, and full red flowers bloomed upon it. The petals were soft and overlapping, radiating a rich fragrance.
“So beautiful! The red isn’t gaudy at all.”
Su Yu fell completely in love with the Red Rose at first sight. Whether it was its thorny stems, its delicate petals, or its bold, unapologetic color, it struck directly at Su Yuās heart.
Unlike the excessive exaggeration of synthetic plants, the appearance of the Red Rose was just rightābold without being overbearing.
“And its scent smells so good.”
Su Yu couldn’t help but take two deep breaths, filling her sense of smell with this unique plant scent.
“Itās rich but not cloying; this scent is just too charming!”
“Synthetic plants can’t compare to it at all.”
The promotional video had only shown the appearance of the Red Rose and couldn’t display its rich fragrance.
Now, holding the real thing, Su Yu was occupied both visually and olfactorily by this excessively beautiful natural plant, and she couldn’t help but become intoxicated.
“I love it so much.”
Su Yu wore a brilliant smile.
She then took a photo while holding the Red Rose. After thinking for a long time, she finally posted the photo to her friend circle.
If it were before, Su Yu would never have posted a photo of herself smiling with her teeth showing while holding such a vibrant object to a friend circle where acquaintances could see.
After all, in the eyes of others, her personality “shouldn’t” be so bold.
However, the moment she held the Red Rose, a long-suppressed desire suddenly erupted and broke through the soil, just like this fiery rose.
It had grown with difficulty from a narrow crevice, eventually becoming lush with leaves and passionate flowers, stirring a pool of calm water.
Finally, like intense sparks, it bloomed grandly and brilliantly.
Su Yu thought, Why do I have to become the Su Yu that others imagine?
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