Part 3
After completing the daily stimulation work and stimulating all the natural plants pre-ordered by customers, Zhu Ran lay motionless on a reclining chair on the balcony, basking in the sun.
[Operator Xiao Zhang: The data for Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance in this promotion was too good! It not only refreshed the sales record for new shops but also brought many new users to the Starbuy app…]
[Xiao Zhang: I’ve already submitted the exclusive shop contract to headquarters for approval. Once it’s approved…]
Zhu Ran was drowsy while looking at the messages Xiao Zhang sent him on the optical computer.
The dark red vine used its tendrils to form a sunshade to block the sunlight from Zhu Ran’s face, letting him sleep more comfortably.
Slight footsteps approached from a distance.
When the vine saw Z coming, it first instinctively bristled, ready to attack him.
But in the next moment, the vine submissively lowered its tendrils, not making any resistance.
It couldn’t beat this human QAQ.
Z’s gaze fell on the person on the reclining chair who had already closed their eyes.
Z had seen all of Zhu Ran’s hard work these past few days. Although he was worried about him, out of respect for Zhu Ran’s will, he hadn’t stopped him from continuously stimulating plants. On the contrary, he had given Zhu Ran a mental power recovery potion exclusively provided by the military.
Zhu Ran once said that being with natural plants made him feel happy.
So, Z would not break this peaceful happiness.
After staring at Zhu Ran for a moment, Z brought a towel, an aromatherapy machine, and essential oils to the balcony.
Zhu Ran was dazed from the sun. Feeling someone arrive, he struggled to open his eyes. After seeing it was Z, he closed his eyes again with total peace of mind.
“Is something wrong?”
Zhu Ran’s voice was a bit soft, carrying a sense of laziness. The ending was drawn out, sounding a bit like he was acting spoiled.
This was the first time Z had heard Zhu Ran speak to him in such a voice; it was a bit… provocative.
Z moved a stool to sit to the side and turned on the aromatherapy machine after adding essential oil.
“I promised yesterday that I would give you aromatherapy.”
Along with the mist, the fresh scent of lavender diffused, filling the balcony that had become quite empty after the shipping.
The sun was warm, and with the help of the heat, the scent of the aromatherapy became even warmer. There was a fragrant sense of happiness.
“…Mm…”
Hearing Z’s question, Zhu Ran hummed softly and let Z do as he pleased.
Basking in the sun, he only wanted to have a good rest right now.
Having received permission, Z first carefully observed Zhu Ran’s appearance.
His cheeks were small and without much flesh, his nose was high, and his eyes were exquisite and soft.
There wasn’t a single blemish on his fair skin; he was like a piece of warm, soft jade without any sharp edges.
Zhu Ran’s lips were red, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
Zhu Ran’s lip shape was the kind where both the corners and the peaks were very distinct. Therefore, as long as he wasn’t angry, he looked as if he was always smiling to others, making him appear very approachable.
Z stared at Zhu Ran’s face for nearly three minutes before coming to his senses.
This was the first time he had the opportunity to observe Zhu Ran so closely while being conscious, and it was also the first time he had seen such a defenseless Zhu Ran; he had accidentally forgotten the time.
His undisguised gaze eventually fell on Zhu Ran’s slightly parted lips. The breath exhaled from between his teeth carried Zhu Ran’s unique scent.
They mixed in the air, intertwined with the scent of the plants, and gradually clung to Z.
It smelled… very good.
Z restrained his instinct to lean closer to Zhu Ran.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he pretended to be calm as he took out the lavender massage oil. Learning from Zhu Ran, he first rubbed and heated the oil in his palms, causing the aromatic factors to awaken.
The scent of lavender instantly dispersed that unique sweetness and also cleared Z’s mind from his lack of self-control.
He touched Zhu Ran’s temples with his large fingers dipped in essential oil.
Zhu Ran probably felt himself being touched, and his alertness made him snap his eyes open instantly.
His green eyes were bright and full of vigilance, even carrying a hint of hostility.
The vine wall covering one window also changed along with Zhu Ran’s aura, spreading its tendrils and pointing sharp tips at Z.
The shadow of the vine was projected onto the ground by the sunlight, looking as fierce as a cage, confining the two within it.
The gentle aura became sharp.
But in the next moment, once Zhu Ran saw it was Z preparing to massage his temples, he retracted all his thorns.
He closed his eyes again, like a delicate and soft green plant, waiting for Z to touch his petals and leaves.
“Sorry, you can continue.”
The menacing vines retracted their attack posture and hung down one by one, turning into harmless decorations.
They swayed slightly and were very soft.
Z’s voice was deep. “Mm.”
The good mood from being able to touch Zhu Ran at a close distance was swept away by the other’s vigilant gaze just now.
Zhu Ran instinctively guarded against him.
This realization made him not very happy.
Z settled his thoughts and placed his fingers dipped in lavender oil on Zhu Ran’s temples again.
The pads of Z’s fingers weren’t as rounded and soft as Zhu Ran’s; they had a thin layer of calluses.
However, the slight roughness of the skin was neutralized under the moisture of the essential oil, and Zhu Ran didn’t feel any discomfort.
The essential oil was pushed around on both sides of Zhu Ran’s temples. Before long, it made that patch of skin moist and shimmering with light.
Perhaps out of fear of hurting Zhu Ran, the pressure from Z’s hands was very light, as if he were treating something fragile.
Rather than a massage, his actions at this moment were more like a caress.
“It’s a bit itchy…”
Zhu Ran couldn’t hold back, a light laughter in his voice.
“You can press a bit harder.”
“Okay.”
Z tried to increase the pressure.
He carefully observed Zhu Ran’s reaction. Once Zhu Ran showed a relaxed expression, Z used that amount of pressure to massage Zhu Ran’s temples.
“Mmm…”
“Comfortable…”
“The right side can be a bit harder…”
The aromatic factors of lavender gradually permeated the skin along with the massage. The fragrance enveloped Zhu Ran completely and also made his spiritual sea peaceful and calm.
Zhu Ran, who could provide some feedback at the beginning, became drowsy again under Z’s massage.
Basking in the warm sun and immersed in the elegant fragrance, Zhu Ran was soon only able to make one or two vocalizations. Later, he fell asleep with his mouth slightly open.
Z felt Zhu Ran’s breath become even more peaceful and knew the other had fallen asleep.
However, he didn’t withdraw his hands from Zhu Ran’s hair but continued to massage his head.
Zhu Ran’s black hair brushed against Z’s palms, the backs of his hands, and his wrists. Along with Z’s massage movements, it left a soft sensation on his skin.
After pressing lightly twice more, Z withdrew one hand. Zhu Ran’s temperature and scent lingered on his fingertips.
He smelled his finger, and his beautiful heterochromatic eyes flickered slightly.
His scent and Zhu Ran’s scent were interacting; he liked it very much.
With his desire satisfied, Z’s emotions instantly calmed down, yet in the next moment, they became greedy and bottomless because he wanted more.
A big cat that had touched its favorite thing couldn’t hold back the possessiveness in its heart and wanted to take the beauty before it as its own.
A dangerous aura gradually leaked out. Z lowered his eyes, playing with the ends of Zhu Ran’s hair with one hand.
The black hair swayed between his fingers, but Z wasn’t satisfied with this. He also wanted to touch the cheek of the currently defenseless Zhu Ran, to let the other’s skin be dyed with more of his own scent.
However… all his uncontrolled emotions were brought to a close by Zhu Ran’s weary voice.
Zhu Ran opened his mouth and said softly, “Stop it.”
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