Chapter 41: 041 Shop Closed for Renovations (Part 2) part 1
The Starbuy holographic world had age-rating settings. Adults over eighteen could engage with others in activities including but not limited to hugging, kissing, touching, and further intimate behaviors.
A bed was defined as a very private object. A guest wanting to touch the host’s bed was defaulted in Starbuy to be a prerequisite for wanting to engage in intimate behavior and required the host’s consent.
Thus… that led to the situation where Z could not sit on Zhu Ran’s bed without permission and had to seek Zhu Ran’s consent.
This was Zhu Ran’s first time entering a holographic residence and his first time inviting someone else into the house. Naturally, he didn’t know the interstellar software had so many tricks.
It wasn’t until Zhu Ran read the small print explanation below the prompt text and understood the cause and effect that he somewhat flusteredly clicked the consent button.
Zhu Ran cleared his throat and said to Z with a serious face: “I’ve consented. Get on the bed!”
The degree of realism in the holographic world wasn’t too high, but even so, Z discovered that the tips of Zhu Ran’s ears had flushed with a faint light red as he said this.
He looked quite shy.
Z didn’t say anything more. He obediently lay on the bed, letting Zhu Ran do as he pleased.
The unfamiliar room didn’t have any scent belonging to Zhu Ran, only the smell of clean air. This made Z, who was accustomed to Zhu Ran’s scent, a bit unadapted.
However, as Zhu Ran opened the holographic humidifier and dripped essential oil into it, the fragrance of lavender spread out, soon filling the room with a tranquil, lingering scent.
In this familiar fragrance, Z slowly relaxed.
Zhu Ran inhaled the scent of the lavender aromatherapy in the holographic world.
Compared to the scent in the real world, the aura of nature was a bit less, and the smell was also a bit fainter.
Zhu Ran took the opportunity to ask for an opinion: “What do you think of the smell of the essential oil aromatherapy in the holographic world?”
Z answered honestly: “It’s acceptable. Although there are subtle differences from the real world, they aren’t large.”
Zhu Ran lowered his eyes in thought.
The experience effects of the holographic world had limitations; Zhu Ran had already anticipated this.
For example, when experiencing essential oils in the holographic world, customers might not be able to enjoy the effect of the essential oils soothing the spiritual sea. However, if even the scent was affected… this made Zhu Ran a bit unsure about customer acceptance.
Sensing Zhu Ran’s concerns, Z comforted: “Don’t worry, Zhu Ran. It’s very good; everyone will like it.”
“Since my assistant has said so, I won’t dwell on it then.”
The holographic world was inherently unable to achieve perfection; after all, it was virtual.
In fact, the fragrance of natural plants was also slightly affected in the holographic world, yet so many people still loved it. Essential oils would surely gain everyone’s acceptance and recognition too.
Having thought it through, Zhu Ran’s brow smoothed: “Then I’ll turn on the recording device now and start filming the video.”
“Alright.”
Zhu Ran opened the built-in video recording software in the holographic world. A palm-sized, circular floating sphere appeared diagonally above Zhu Ran.
After adjusting the recording parameters via a semi-transparent floating panel, Zhu Ran began the video recording.
“Hello everyone, I am Zhu, the owner of the Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance shop. Today, I’ll be introducing you to aromatherapy and explaining how to perform an essential oil massage in coordination with aromatherapy.”
“First of all, aromatherapy is…”
Zhu Ran wasn’t stage-frightened at all, slowly recounting the details of aromatherapy to the camera.
He articulated clearly, with clear logic and a soft voice. In no time, he finished explaining aromatherapy and the effects of lavender essential oil.
“Pure lavender essential oil can be dripped into a small humidifier…”
“Now, I will demonstrate how to use the essential oil massage.”
“Take about five drops of massage essential oil with a dropper and place them in your palm. After preheating the oil with the warmth of your palm, use your finger pads to take some oil and massage the subject’s temples.”
“…Massage until the oil is completely absorbed, then take more with your fingers, reach into the other person’s hair, and massage from the forehead toward the back of the head…”
Zhu Ran toyed with Z’s hair as usual, moving the stray hairs on his forehead and cheeks to the back.
Afterward, he coordinated with his explanation while reaching his fingers into Z’s brown hair.
Being so close to Zhu Ran, Z was still unable to smell the fragrance unique to him; his nose was filled only with the scent of the virtual lavender essential oil.
The holographic world didn’t reflect a person’s body scent.
Only… even without the smell of the vanilla sugar unique to Zhu Ran, Z’s heart still raced because of Zhu Ran’s touch and his extremely close proximity.
The soothing tone, the faint lavender scent, and the other’s soft fingers weaving back and forth through his temples and hair…
Zhu Ran had clearly performed these actions on Z several times already in daily life. The tactile sensation was clearly somewhat weakened in the holographic world. Z clearly couldn’t smell any fragrance belonging to Zhu Ran at this moment.
Yet, along with Zhu Ran’s gentle massage, that tactile sensation—as if scratching through a thin layer of film—provoked a whole-body itchiness.
He was a bit hot, a bit unable to restrain himself, a bit… losing control.
Z’s hand under the blanket clenched tightly. On the side of his neck hidden by his collar, blue meridians bulged prominently.
He didn’t understand why he would become like this in the holographic world.
“…Everyone can follow along the subject’s earlobe and massage to the side of their neck. This can help them soothe neck pressure.”
Zhu Ran’s soft hand moved from Z’s ear toward the back, his fingertips applying slight pressure.
When he pressed a certain meridian, Z felt an aching, swelling pain.
Crisp and tingly, it stirred a different kind of sensation.
Z’s spine trembled slightly.
Z didn’t know how he persevered until the end of the massage. The moment the live broadcast ended, Z suddenly snapped his eyes open.
His deep blue eyes held a thick, concentrated emotion—like a rainstorm, like a wild gale, like the ferocity of a wild beast, as if wanting to devour everything.
He stared at Zhu Ran with focus, seemingly enduring something, yet in the next moment, he turned his face away.
His hair fell, his eyelashes flickered, casting shadows upon his skin.
The hand at his side clenched tightly once more.
While massaging, Zhu Ran had sensed that Z seemed even more nervous than in the real world; his whole body was tense.
And Z’s current posture with his head lowered made it look as if he were physically uncomfortable.
Zhu Ran asked with concern: “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I haven’t been in the holographic world for too long; I’m just a bit unadapted.”
Z’s voice was a bit hoarse.
“I’d like to be alone for a bit.”
He lowered his eyes and slightly tilted his head, revealing a section of fair neck skin.
However, the veins on it were slightly bulging, exuding a sense of powerful sexiness.
Zhu Ran was initially a bit worried, but seeing Z’s insistence, he followed the other’s wishes and left the room.
“Then I’ll head out first. You rest for a bit. Call me if you need anything.”
After Zhu Ran left, Zephyr bent over, burying himself entirely in the blanket.
The blanket only held a faint scent of lavender, without a single trace of Zhu Ran’s scent.
Yet, he still became unable to control himself.
A certain place was very spirited.
Zephyr’s heart beat very fast, and his body temperature also gradually rose. His crimson-tinged skin stained him with a layer of desire.
He suddenly looked up, a storm brewing in his sea-blue eyes. The back of his hand was full of veins, and his palm was also covered in a layer of thin sweat.
[Notification: Your heart rate is too high. It is recommended to log off and rest.]
An electronic warning sound rang in Zephyr’s ear.
However, Zephyr ignored it entirely.
He raised his hand, covering his own face, and then suddenly chuckled softly.
Zephyr suddenly understood one thing. It turned out that even if Zhu Ran didn’t have that heart-stirring special fragrance, he would still have different thoughts about him.
So… the conclusion was obvious, wasn’t it?
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