Chapter 11: An Apparent Acquaintance

Thanks to the brother-in-law's kind reminder, neither of them skipped classes. However, they returned home before most of their classmates were dismissed. To use a trendy term, this was more like "cutting class" rather than "skipping class." After all, how could a scholar be accused of escaping? The wisdom of Confucius had been fully realized.

"Hey, girl, after attending classes all morning and now doing such strenuous physical work, my waist feels sore, and I'm about to collapse. Can I take a break?"

"No way! I'm not done yet! Hurry up!"

"Ugh!" Xiang Ri sighed in frustration, speeding up as a series of rapid slapping sounds filled the room.

"Can you hit the right spot? A little to the left. Higher. No, too far, now a bit to the right. Put more strength into it, you lazy thing!"

"Can we change positions? This is so exhausting for me!"

"Don't disturb me while I'm reading! As long as I'm comfortable, your discomfort is none of my concern!"

"That's too heartless! You're enjoying yourself while I suffer?"

"Heh, didn't you boast about your extraordinary skills? I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself. Haha, who would have thought you had such talents? Truly impressive... By the way, judging by your proficiency, have you practiced on many others?"

"Of course! You're the 3,569th one."

"Go to hell! You can't even lie convincingly!"

"How can it be considered lying if I had prepared a draft?"

Chuchu lay comfortably on the bed, her chin resting on a soft pillow, a romance novel spread out in front of her within arm's reach.

Xiang Ri squatted awkwardly by the bed, his expression one of agony. His index and middle fingers tapped rhythmically on Chuchu's shoulders. One wrong move, and he had lost the game. It was all because the girl was dressed so seductively at home that he couldn't resist trying to take advantage. Before launching his scheme, he casually mentioned his expertise in massage, and Chuchu had eagerly taken the bait, asking him to show off his skills.

It was Xiang Ri's first time in Chuchu's bedroom, and he was beyond thrilled... But Chuchu didn't seem to appreciate his enthusiasm. She had draped a large towel over her back, smiling smugly as she said, "Begin!"

And that's when Xiang Ri realized he had made a bad deal. This girl was downright ruthless, threatening to burn his arm if he so much as touched her precious bed, forbidding him from glancing around, disturbing her reading, or doing anything else... At first, Xiang Ri thought about leaving, but then he discovered a reason that kept him there.

His hands moved unconsciously, while his eyes were glued to Chuchu's hips. A towel, after all, was no blanket and could only cover her upper body. Chuchu didn't seem to notice and continued to immerse herself in her book, occasionally kicking her legs in excitement whenever she reached a climactic part of the story. The already short skirt failed to conceal her from Xiang Ri's sharp gaze.

White! Xiang Ri confirmed in his mind. And not just any white, but a small size that could barely cover her rounded, perky hips. Each time her skirt lifted, he caught a glimpse of smooth, fair skin.

"Girl, your skin is really fair!" Xiang Ri swallowed hard.

"Did that need saying? Don't I know that myself?" Chuchu turned around and caught him staring at her indecent parts. Immediately, she pouted, "You pervert! What are you looking at? I'll gouge your eyes out!"

"Hey, hey, hey, girl, I've been massaging you for so long. Even if I haven't earned any credit, I've at least put in the effort! It's just a glance; it won't hurt you!"

"No looking!" Chuchu pulled the towel down a bit, covering the view beneath her skirt, while crossing her long, snow-white legs.

"You win! I'm done with this!" Xiang Ri growled, getting up to leave.

"Stop!" Chuchu shrieked.

"What now? Want me to stay? I'll tell you this: if you strip down right now... I won't be going anywhere."

"Idiot! Why don't you go die? Your head is filled with filth. I'm asking if you'd accompany me out later this afternoon?"

"Out? Isn't it nice to stay home? Why go to a hotel, waste money, and it's unhygienic. Don't tell me you prefer to—" Before Xiang Ri could finish, Chuchu hurled her book at him.

"I'm asking you to go clothes shopping with me. Where's your mind wandering off to? You disgusting man, I hate you! No matter what, you're coming with me!"

"What does shopping for clothes have to do with me? You're not buying them for me, so I'm not going!" Xiang Ri pouted. What did she take him for, a porter?

"I am buying them for you! Have you forgotten? We're going to my place tomorrow, and you can't dress like a slob. Your tacky clothes irritate me."

"I'll go if you let me take advantage of you."

"..."

Dongcheng District, hailed as the city's premier shopping area, naturally had no shortage of large malls. Coming from a wealthy family, Chuchu had refined taste, exclusively entering international fashion boutiques.

"Girl, stop messing with me. It's just clothes; we don't need to visit so many stores!" Xiang Ri helplessly watched as the beauty before him continued enthusiastically window-shopping. He began to suspect whether she was really helping him choose clothes or just enjoying a shopping spree.

"Hmph, you have no sense of style. I'm picking out the best clothes for you, got it?" Chuchu shot him a look before resuming her search.

"Ah, I found it! This is the one!" Chuchu exclaimed excitedly, "Xiang Ri, come here."

"Yeah, yeah." Xiang Ri sighed. He had lost count of how many times this had happened. Hopefully, this was the last time. He quickly caught up with her and entered the store. This girl really did have a knack for picking places.

Several attractive waitresses were in the shop, and upon seeing new customers arrive, one of them greeted them with a warm smile. 

"Is there anything I can assist you with? We have some new summer arrivals, both for men and women." 

"Could you show me?" Chuchu's eyes sparkled with excitement. 

"Of course, please follow me this way!" The waitress gestured with a smile. 

Chuchu eagerly followed behind, seemingly forgetting all about a certain jerk. 

"Miss, this dress would suit you perfectly. You'll surely turn many heads, especially the gentleman behind you." The waitress seized the moment as Chuchu gazed at a blue-grey slip dress, offering just the right encouragement. 

"Really? I'll give it a try then." Chuchu's face blossomed into a smile as she cast a sideways glance at the man, before lightly stepping into the fitting room. 

"Sir, your girlfriend is quite stunning!" Though Xiang Ri's attire left much to be desired, even below average in comparison to most, the waitress upheld her professional courtesy, not wanting to make him feel left out. 

"She's alright, though not quite as pretty as you." Xiang Ri, growing increasingly displeased with the young woman, allowed his opinion of her to sour even further. 

"Oh, sir, you're quite the joker!" The waitress maintained her smile. 

"Do you have anything for me? Pick out a few outfits—shirts, pants, everything." Xiang Ri glanced at the fitting room, noting that Chuchu hadn't yet emerged. If she had forgotten, he would take the initiative. 

"What style do you prefer, sir?" the waitress asked politely. 

"Anything casual, as long as it's not too formal." 

"Very well, I'll select some casual wear for you. I'm sure you'll like it," she suggested. 

"Sounds good." 

"Alright, please wait a moment, I'll be right back." Since they were in the women's section, the waitress needed to walk over to the men's department. 

"Xiang Kui, where is she?" Chuchu emerged from the fitting room and, noticing the waitress was absent, asked in confusion. 

"She's picking out clothes for me," Xiang Ri replied, feeling his breath catch as he took in the sight of her. The waitress clearly had impeccable taste. The blue-grey slip dress seemed tailor-made for Chuchu, perfectly accentuating her tall, slender frame. Her exposed legs, pale and smooth, only enhanced her fresh, charming appeal. 

"Oh. Do you think it looks good?" Chuchu twirled on the spot, eagerly awaiting his opinion. 

"It's stunning, absolutely beautiful!" Xiang Ri didn't hold back his praise, gently pulling her towards the mirror. 

"Really?" Overjoyed, Chuchu failed to notice the mischievous glint in his eyes, fixating instead on her reflection, growing more satisfied by the moment. 

"Of course! Chuchu was already beautiful, but in this outfit, you look like a heavenly goddess—no mere mortal could compare!" Xiang Ri's hand slid from her shoulder down to her shapely curves, lingering there. 

"Thank you… Hey! Where do you think you're putting your hand?" Chuchu, finally catching on to his intentions, playfully scolded him. 

"Oh, this dress is just so slippery. I meant to keep my hand on your shoulder, but somehow it slipped..." 

"Liar! You think you can fool me? Fine, but since you've taken advantage of me, you owe me a favor. Next time I ask for help, you can't refuse!" Chuchu glared at him, clearly planning to use this moment as leverage for future demands. 

Before Xiang Ri could respond, a delighted voice interrupted from nearby, "Chuchu, is that really you? I almost didn't recognize you!" 

"Ah, Xiaozhi, is it really you? We haven't seen each other in years!" Chuchu beamed with excitement as she greeted the newcomer. 

Xiang Ri turned around and saw a couple standing behind them—the man was dashing and the woman alluring. They looked oddly familiar to him.