Chapter 45: New Essential Oil Products part 1
The newly renovated Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance received a wave of unanimous praise without surprise.
Unlike before, when the name Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance only circulated in forums and specific niche circles, its garden-like natural decor caused it to suddenly go viral overnight on the Star-Map APP, where female users made up a large proportion of the demographic.
Many users, upon entering the “Latest Discoveries” interface of the Star-Map APP, were greeted by images as naturally beautiful as a museum.
Everyone initially thought a new botanical garden had opened—only to look closer and realize it was actually a Star-Purchase online shop.
[Visiting the Star-Purchase shop Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance with my besties; this decor is just too beautiful!]
[This shop smells so good and the decor is very dreamlike. Highly recommend everyone come for a stroll.]
[I originally only wanted to check in and take a photo, but I ended up taking a nap in the experience room on the second floor of Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance.]
[The only natural plant shop on the entire network! You’ll regret it if you don’t go.]
[Bought a Moonstone succulent; it’s so cute~]
……
In just half a day, the trending section of the entire Star-Map APP was dominated by photos of Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance.
In the photos, young women were dressed beautifully, posing with blooming plants; they couldn’t have looked more complementary.
By virtue of a decoration style completely different from the typical Interstellar aesthetic, Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance officially entered the sight of more female users and gained the favor of a vast female audience.
Zheng Chengcheng, a junior in college, leaned against her chair back with a hint of boredom: “No classes this morning. What are you guys planning to do?”
her roommate replied: “There’s an online shop on Star-Purchase with a very special decor. They say it’s easy on the eyes and smells wonderful. Want to go together later?”
Zheng Chengcheng was dismissive: “How special can an online shop be? But since we don’t have class anyway, I’ll accompany you for five minutes!”
How long could one spend in an online shop? Five minutes was plenty!
With that, Zheng Chengcheng and her roommate logged into Star-Purchase and arrived at No. 19 Central Street.
This was Zheng Chengcheng’s first time visiting the famous high-end luxury street.
She thought the atmosphere of the street would be rather cold and aloof, but the bustling crowds and the rising and falling sounds of conversation were no different from any other street on Star-Purchase.
“This District 19 feels quite approachable too.”
Thinking this, Zheng Chengcheng and her roommate entered Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance, which had the most foot traffic on the street.
The moment they stepped inside, the rich, natural scent and the beautiful ecological garden at the entrance made Zheng Chengcheng’s eyes suddenly light up.
Heavens! This fragrance, this scenery, these natural plants…
She couldn’t have dreamed of such an enchanting sight.
And such a wonderful place, which she might only see in textbooks, was actually just a Star-Purchase online shop?
She wasn’t dreaming, was she!
Zheng Chengcheng’s eyes widened as she fully immersed herself in the natural atmosphere created by the shop.
She looked here and there, not missing a single photo opportunity, lingering so long she forgot about returning home.
As for what she had said before about “spending five minutes and coming right out”—just act like she never said it!
What five minutes? Fifty minutes weren’t enough!
She decided to stay in Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance for the entire morning and go nowhere else.
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains into the dim room, pulling back a corner of the quiet peace.
A warm scent of sunshine rose in the room, mixing with the lingering fragrance, making it so comfortable one didn’t want to get out of bed.
The brightening indoor light made Zhu Ran frown, and he let out a slight sound of dissatisfaction.
Zhu Ran usually set his room to “Night Mode” when sleeping.
This meant that no matter how bright it was outside, the inside remained pitch black, allowing Zhu Ran to sleep comfortably until noon every day.
However… the currently obvious brightening of the room made the deep-sleeping Zhu Ran somewhat disgruntled.
Zhu Ran wanted to pull the quilt over his head to block the light, but the quilt that should have been soft and light wouldn’t budge no matter how he pulled.
Zhu Ran pulled several times without success, so he helplessly opened his emerald-colored eyes.
Because he had just woken up, his gaze was unfocused and misty, covered with a shallow layer of water vapor, looking somewhat bewildered.
In his daze, Zhu Ran grabbed the “quilt” in his hand again.
It was warm, and a little hard.
Wait.
Was a quilt… this hard?
Zhu Ran’s thoughts paused for a moment.
In the next instant, he heard someone speaking behind his ear, the voice deep and magnetic: “Awake?”
A warm breath brushed against the back of his neck, and Zhu Ran’s body stiffened.
This voice… seemed to be Z?
Z was lying behind him?
Then the quilt he was just grabbing was…
Zhu Ran looked down and saw a powerful, fair arm draped across his waist.
What he had been grabbing wasn’t a quilt at all, but Z’s arm.
Zhu Ran’s sleepiness vanished instantly.
?
I slept with Z for a whole night?
His consciousness returned, and Zhu Ran recalled what happened last night.
Giving Z a massage…
Z, in a state of blurred consciousness, had pulled him into the quilt…
And then… he slept until dawn.
Z’s powerful arm was still across his waist, and the body heat coming from behind—belonging to another person—made Zhu Ran feel entirely uneasy.
Zhu Ran abruptly sat up, simultaneously lifting Z’s hand off him and setting it aside.
“I was too tired last night. I originally only wanted to nap for a bit, but who knew I’d sleep until morning.”
Zhu Ran spoke a bit quickly, his voice somewhat flustered. He clearly hadn’t expected to wake up to this result.
Z also sat up, the quilt sliding off his body to reveal his beautifully muscled upper torso.
Because he had slept comfortably, Z’s skin was tinged with a faint pink, and his heterochromatic eyes held an indescribable emotion due to satisfaction.
After watching Zhu Ran for a moment, he lowered his head slightly.
His messy golden hair and his current posture on the bed stripped Z of his innate dominance, making him look very domestic and submissive instead.
“Although the massage was too comfortable and my consciousness was a bit unclear afterward, and then…”
“I was the one who pulled you. I’m sorry.”
Z’s tone was low and humble, looking like he was in a state of “I was wrong, punish me as you like.”
Seeing Z like this, Zhu Ran couldn’t say much more.
Last night, if he had wanted to, he could have used the vines to bind Z and escape; he had tacitly allowed Z to hold him for a while.
It was just that the “while” lasted quite a long time.
Currently, with Z’s upper body bare and that submissive expression, compared to Zhu Ran wearing pajamas with a calm face…
There was a strange sense of visual impact, as if Z was the one being bullied by Zhu Ran.
Zhu Ran shifted his gaze away from Z.
He stood up, his tone calm: “You don’t need to apologize for this. I slept quite comfortably last night too.”
“I’m going to shower now.”
Zhu Ran had just taken a step when he was caught by the hem of his clothes by Z.
Zhu Ran turned around and saw Z—who was a size larger than him—slightly tilting his head, looking at Zhu Ran with those clear, heterochromatic eyes.
“Don’t be mad at me.”
Being gazed at by those excessively beautiful eyes, the other’s expression was pure and touching.
Zhu Ran’s heart skipped a beat: “I’m not angry. Don’t overthink it.”
“That’s good, then.”
Z let go of the corner of Zhu Ran’s clothes.
Zhu Ran then went to his own room to wash up, though his walking speed was faster than usual.
After Zhu Ran left, Z remained sitting on the bed. His aura shifted from calm and weak to fiery and complex, carrying a faint trace of sweetness and desire.
The suppressed desires of the entire night poured out in an instant, and a dangerous aura that wanted to consume everything gradually leaked out.
They chased Zhu Ran’s scent, and then… inch by inch, they captured it, encircled it, and devoured it.
His fair skin gradually flushed pink from the heat.
Z’s breathing became ragged.
He pulled the quilt up, wrapping his entire body inside.
His skin pressed against the quilt without any barrier, their scents blending.
He rubbed against it slightly, allowing his skin to fully touch the fabric, absorbing the temperature and scent that still lingered on the sheets… Zhu Ran’s scent.
Fragrant and soft, it made him want to occupy it completely.
If only… he could sleep while holding him every day.
Z lowered his head, burying his golden, fluffy head into the quilt.
His face was full of intoxication and lack of satisfaction.
The rushing water splashed onto Zhu Ran’s body, the hot wash gradually rinsing away the scent of Z from him.
He took out a towel to dry himself and changed into a hoodie and jeans.
Zhu Ran leaned against his bed and logged into the Star-Purchase backend to browse the daily data, but though his eyes were on the data, he didn’t take in a single word.
Although Zhu Ran and Z had simply slept in the same bed and nothing had happened.
However… being held by Z’s powerful arm for a whole night, even after a shower, the scorching aura of the other person seemed to remain on the skin of Zhu Ran’s waist.
It felt a bit hot.
Z is so handsome, those heterochromatic eyes are a bit like a big cat’s, his physique is good too…
Well… it’s not a big deal just sleeping together…
If anything, he was the one who got the better end of the deal.
After all, he was wearing clothes, while Z’s upper body was bare…
Recalling Z’s skin flushing pink from the heat and his muscles trembling during the massage, a wave of heat gradually rose to the back of Zhu Ran’s neck.
“Work, work. Don’t think about anything else.”
Admonishing himself thus, Zhu Ran set aside his thoughts and checked the Star-Purchase backend data.
[Daily Report for Shop ‘Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance’ for January 15th:]
[Daily Traffic (Cumulative)]: 40,179 people [Product Turnover]: 3,090,000 Starcoins [Other Turnover]: 305,400 Starcoins
[Store items are sold out…]
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