Chapter 57: 057 Buying a House part 1
Only heaven knew how angry Z had been when he heard Zhu Ran had given Mu Qingzhou a treatment. He had been so furious his spiritual fluctuation values had spiked past the safety limit.
If it hadn’t been for Zhu Ran’s lack of rejection when he’d treated Z’s collar injuries later, Z couldn’t imagine what he might have done to the youth that day.
If Zhu Ran gave someone else a treatment while he was away… just thinking about Zhu Ran touching someone else, speaking to them in that gentle tone, or being so close to them—Z couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t do something beyond the bounds of reason.
Like… locking Zhu Ran away by his side so he could never go anywhere else.
Beneath his calm expression, a thick tide of emotion was spreading like madness, tearing through the abyss where a few blades of grass had only just begun to grow.
The hand Z had on Zhu Ran’s waist only had to apply a bit more force to pin the youth against him, making it impossible for him to move.
And yet… Z ultimately suppressed the madness and the extreme possessiveness in his heart.
He kept his eyes lowered, his gaze fixed on Zhu Ran’s face as he waited with immense patience for an answer, without a single hint of a rush.
On his waist, Z’s hand was like a cat’s paw, scratching and kneading, making Zhu Ran feel itchy.
That obvious yet cautious teasing, paired with the depth of Z’s gaze, quickly caused a wave of heat to wash over Zhu Ran’s body.
It felt like sand warmed by the sun brushing against his skin—hot, with a faint, trembling sensation.
The itch wasn’t just where Z was touching him; the strange feeling spread up his spine, making his legs feel weak for a moment.
Zhu Ran couldn’t think straight for several seconds.
After a moment, he finally moved Z’s hand away from his waist.
He couldn’t think if the man kept doing that.
Z had just asked him… not to give anyone else a treatment?
Zhu Ran was surprised by the request, but then it clicked. Z was jealous.
Zhu Ran imagined Z taking off his shirt in front of someone else, letting their hands touch his head, his hair, and his back…
Just the thought of it brought Zhu Ran a sense of indefinable irritation.
He didn’t want anyone else to see Z’s body, and he certainly didn’t want anyone else to touch him.
So…
Zhu Ran’s beautiful green eyes lowered, his long eyelashes casting shadows under the light.
He was possessive of Z.
A big cat had accidentally wandered into his lush garden, and the moment that cat set foot on his green territory, that greenery claimed the cat as its own. No one else was allowed to look.
This was the first time Zhu Ran realized his own sense of exclusivity could be so strong.
Zhu Ran looked up, his emerald eyes clear. “Alright.”
Z, who had been waiting for the verdict, froze for a second when he heard the blunt answer.
Zhu Ran repeated, “I said, alright.”
“But as a fair exchange, you aren’t allowed to let anyone else massage you either. Not Xiuna, not a doctor, and not anyone in your family. Deal?”
Zhu Ran sounded perfectly calm as he made the demand, but Z noticed the youth was speaking faster than usual.
Zhu Ran was nervous.
Z let out a sudden, soft laugh, though he didn’t call him out on it.
He nodded. “Naturally.”
Having received a positive response, the uncontrollable emotions in Z’s heart were easily soothed once more.
It was as if that wild, aggressive possessiveness had never existed. His surface was calm, flowing with Zhu Ran’s unique fragrance.
In some ways, Z was actually quite easy to please.
The fact that Zhu Ran had agreed to this… did it mean the youth liked him even more than he had imagined?
Z couldn’t resist leaning down to press another kiss to the top of Zhu Ran’s head.
Zhu Ran allowed the gesture.
It wasn’t until Z’s optical computer began to vibrate incessantly that he reluctantly withdrew.
“I’ll see you on Jialan Star.”
The spatial portal opened. Z picked up his suitcase and stepped inside; his silhouette vanished amidst the ripples of space.
Once Z was gone, Zhu Ran sat down on the bed Z had slept in.
He hugged the soft pillow Z had used, resting his chin on it.
The pillow still held Z’s scent—the light lavender mixed with Z’s own aura. It was like a lavender field after a rainstorm, where the delicate floral notes merged with the fresh air.
It was a scent Zhu Ran loved.
Zhu Ran instinctively picked up his optical computer, wanting to send Z a black cat emoji.
He had become so used to chatting with Z lately that he’d developed a habit of messaging him for no reason at all.
But even as his finger hovered over the emoji, he pulled his hand back.
Wouldn’t sending an emoji the second the man left be a bit too… well… clingy?
With that thought, he deleted the draft.
However, just as he was about to close the app, he saw a message from Z.
[Z: Heterochromia cat question mark.JPG]
[Z: Starcom says you’re typing. Do you need something?]
Zhu Ran hadn’t expected to be caught red-handed. But did this mean Z also had their chat window open?
Zhu Ran came up with a random excuse: [Send me the real estate info.]
[Z: Did I not send it to you?]
Z sent the spreadsheet to Zhu Ran.
There was a tacit understanding between them that Zhu Ran would be moving to Jialan Star.
[Z: About to take off. If you run into trouble, find me, Xiuna, or Leon. Don’t let yourself be mistreated.]
[Well-behaved heterochromatic cat winking.JPG]
[Zhu Ran: Black cat goodbye.JPG]
Staring at the cat emoji Z had sent, Zhu Ran didn’t even notice the smile on his own face.
“Z will need about half a month to handle his family matters. I can use that time to get settled on Jialan Star, look into opening a physical shop, and find time to finish the original host’s business.”
“Based on Z’s appearance and status, he clearly isn’t short on money. If we really end up together, I wonder if earning ten million a day will be enough to provide for him…”
Zhu Ran calculated his future expenses and sighed. Romance seemed like an expensive endeavor.
He would have to work hard.
The next day, Zhu Ran used the shop’s account to upload photos of the Camellia, Eucalyptus, and Sunflowers, teasing the next restock.
At the same time, he sent the photos to Yan You, asking for help designing an eco-zone themed around these three plants.
The moment Yan You received the photos, his eyes were glued to the new natural plants. “These are so unique and beautiful! The pink blossoms are so delicate, the yellow flowers are so bright, and that green plant has such a distinct aura!”
Ever since his livestreamed painting session, Yan You’s fame had skyrocketed. He was flooded with commission requests.
Furthermore, because he was the one who had initiated the collaboration with Zhuying Anxiang, he held a special status in the art world. Even though he had no background, everyone treated him with great respect.
All of this change had started from the midnight he’d passed the Zhuying Anxiang shop.
Yan You was deeply grateful to Zhu Ran.
Yan You invited him, “Would you like a coffee? I’ve resigned from the midnight cafe, but the owner said I’m always welcome to bring friends by.”
“Next time! I have an appointment to look at houses soon.”
“You’re moving?”
Zhu Ran nodded. “Yes. To Jialan Star. Come visit once I’m settled.”
Yan You accepted the invitation.
“Alright, I won’t keep you then. I’ll have the design to you by tomorrow. Goodbye.”
After saying goodbye to Yan You, Zhu Ran contacted a real estate agent to look at houses in the virtual world.
With the help of interstellar technology, people could use holographic scanning to record real-life houses and recreate them in the virtual world. This allowed people separated by light-years to tour houses without ever leaving their homes—an incredibly efficient system.
Zhu Ran first told his requirements to the AI assistant: a villa on Jialan Star, with a garden, in a quiet neighborhood. He also gave the AI the names of the few properties Z had recommended.
The AI assistant forwarded the request to the sales director, Fang Lan. When Fang Lan saw the requirements, she scoffed. “Wants to see villas on Jialan Star? And even listed high-end communities. Let me see who this is.”
“Location registered as… Planet Aispu, D-grade? What kind of money could someone from a backwater planet like that have! They’re probably just here for a laugh.”
Dismissive, Fang Lan handed the lead off. “Ni Xia, you take this client. Use it for practice.”
“Yes, Director.”
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