The next morning, sunlight filtered through the thin layers of clouds, scattering across the earth.
Accompanied by the sound of rushing water from the bathroom, Xiao Xia walked to the window and reached out to slowly pull open the heavy curtains.
In an instant, a dazzling and blinding light flooded into the room like a tide, and the darkness that had shrouded the entire house vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye, like dispelled gloom.
After squinting for a moment to adjust to the intense light, she turned toward the bed and began to meticulously tidy up the messy sheets and duvet covers.
Having finished tidying the bedding, she walked briskly to the refrigerator in the living room.
She opened the door and took out a carton of milk and a bag of bread.
Although Jiang Cheng didn't come over often, she spent her free time online learning how to cook various foods he might enjoy.
All so that one day, when Jiang Cheng visited, he could eat something she had prepared.
Soon, Jiang Cheng walked out of the room.
His gaze swept casually around the room before finally settling on the busy figure in the open kitchen in the center of the living room.
At this moment, Xiao Xia was wearing a black apron around her waist. She was slightly bent over, her head lowered in deep concentration as she carefully and evenly squeezed salad dressing onto a square slice of bread with the crusts removed.
Jiang Cheng spoke up in surprise, asking, "Breakfast??"
Hearing his voice, Xiao Xia looked up.
In her line of sight, she saw Jiang Cheng wearing only a loose and somewhat casual bathrobe.
He looked somewhat languid and unrestrained.
Originally, Xiao Xia instinctively wanted to remind him to put on another layer of clothing to avoid catching a cold.
However, when her gaze fell upon the heater running in the room, the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.
Usually, when Jiang Cheng wasn't around, she couldn't bear to turn on the underfloor heating for the whole house.
Even though she didn't have to worry about the monthly utility bills or property management fees.
But years of habit had still led her to develop a tendency to endure unnecessary hardships.
As Xiao Xia's thoughts drifted, her gaze inadvertently fell inside Jiang Cheng's loose bathrobe.
Through the slightly open collar, she could faintly see the looming lines of his abdominal muscles.
Even though she had seen it several times before, Xiao Xia's eyes still filled with bashfulness.
"It's almost ready, just wait a moment."
Seeing her cautious manner, a trace of affection couldn't help but well up in Jiang Cheng's heart.
He stepped forward, walked behind her, and reached out his hands to gently wrap them around her slender and soft waist.
However, just as Jiang Cheng was about to explore further...
...a crisp and pleasant WeChat notification sound suddenly came from the pocket of his bathrobe.
This sudden noise caused Jiang Cheng's movements to freeze instantly.
Seeing that it was Chen Xueer calling, Jiang Cheng said to Xiao Xia, "Wait a moment, it's a call from the company."
Hearing this, Xiao Xia immediately nodded obediently.
After letting go of Xiao Xia, Jiang Cheng quickly pressed the answer button, and the video feed connected.
Chen Xueer's beautiful and moving face appeared on the phone screen.
Through the screen, it was clear that Chen Xueer was in her office at the company, with documents, a computer, and other office supplies on her desk.
At that moment, Chen Xueer had been leaning her pretty face close to the phone for the video call.
But the moment she saw Jiang Cheng, she looked as if she had been struck by lightning, her face suddenly turning bright red.
She instinctively covered her eyes with her hands and said coquettishly,
"Ah, Chairman Jiang, why aren't you wearing any clothes so early in the morning??"
Hearing Chen Xueer's charming words, Xiao Xia's expression changed slightly.
Her eyelids blinked rapidly and involuntarily.
Fortunately, she quickly adjusted her emotions, keeping her expression calm and composed.
Xiao Xia was very tactful; before they had even broken the barrier between them, Jiang Cheng had made things very clear to her.
He could give her anything except exclusivity.
And she herself knew what she wanted most.
Even if she wasn't the only woman by Jiang Cheng's side, she was still grateful.
After all, because of Jiang Cheng, she had largely escaped the shackles of her family of origin.
Seeing Chen Xueer's bashfulness, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
He originally wanted to say, "It's not like you haven't seen it before."
But seeing Xiao Xia's innocent face, he forced himself to change it to: "It's early morning, who wears clothes??"
Hearing Jiang Cheng's words, the corner of Chen Xueer's mouth twitched. "Who wears clothes?? Are you saying that me wearing clothes right now is actually what's abnormal??"
Jiang Cheng nodded solemnly without blushing or his heart skipping a beat. "Mm, it has to be you; you're so perceptive. How about...?"
Before he could finish, Chen Xueer caught the underlying meaning in his words. Flustered and annoyed, she gave Jiang Cheng a coquettish glare. "Pah! Your scheming is so loud that even Linger next to me can hear it."
Sure enough, after Chen Xueer finished speaking, a pleasant, giggling sound was heard.
Then, Zhao Linger's face leaned into view.
She looked at Jiang Cheng on the screen, clicking her tongue.
Unlike Chen Xueer's bashfulness, Zhao Linger covered her mouth and made an exaggerated expression.
"Oh my god, Chairman Jiang, I didn't realize you were so well-built! Wow, I suddenly feel like that saying Sister Lin always has on her lips actually makes some sense."
Seeing Zhao Linger cover her mouth and swallow, Chen Xueer suddenly remembered the scene where Jiang Cheng had pinned her tightly against the wall.
At the thought of this, a faint blush rose to Chen Xueer's originally fair cheeks.
Even her small, cute ears turned slightly red, like ripe apples.
To prevent anyone else from noticing her abnormality...
...Chen Xueer hurriedly reached out in her fluster to tuck a few strands of hair behind her ear, just enough to cover her reddened ears.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to regain her composure, turned to Zhao Linger, and asked with feigned calmness, "Linger, show some restraint. What did Sister Lin say??"
Zhao Linger hearing this, first gave a mischievous smile.
Then she blinked and imitated Sister Lin's tone of voice.
"It's the posts she's always sharing in the group chat: 'When girls get tired at work, they should look at muscular guys like this. That way, their mood improves, they have more energy for work, society will progress, and the country's development will get better and better...'"