Jingxia Rose

Chapter 207 [Irresistible Sweetness 006] He's a Little Difficult to Deal With
"Okay, then I'll just do whatever I feel like." Shu Tang readily agreed, then remembered something, "Oh, but I don't have any materials. How about this, you buy them for me, and I won't charge you for your labor. Consider it... payment for taking me in and providing me with food and lodging during this time, how about that?"

Painting reliefs naturally incurs the highest labor costs.

Because it's time-consuming, labor-intensive, and mentally taxing.

Xiao Guxing joked, "Then wouldn't I be the one who profits?"

"Not necessarily," Shu Tang replied casually. Hearing his puzzled "hmm," she smiled and said, "I'm not easy to please, especially when it comes to food. I'm not casual about it at all. There are so many places where I need to spend money. I might need to get my passport renewed later, so I'll need you to run errands for me and be my driver."

“Look, when you think about it this way, you haven’t made much money. After all, your labor costs shouldn’t be cheap either. You might even lose money.” Shu Tang drawled out the last syllable. “However, if you feel like you’re losing money, I can make you some desserts.”

"I don't like it..."

"I know, but I made it seriously. You don't have to be so disrespectful as to not even try it, do you?"

The dessert hasn't even been made yet, and they're already trying to force us to buy it.

Xiao Guxing sighed and glanced at her legs. "Are your legs alright?"

Shu Tang thought about it carefully, "There should be a problem, but it's not a big one. It will take you several days to get these things back. My leg is much better after I applied the medicine yesterday. I can go for another treatment tomorrow. By the time the materials arrive, it should be painless again."

Xiao Guxing didn't try to persuade him further, and nodded, "Okay, then when you have time, make a list of what you need, and I'll buy it for you."

"Ok."

"You keep drawing, I'll go cook."

"I want to eat cola chicken wings..." Shu Tang put down her pen. "Why don't I help you? It'll be faster if two people make it."

"You haven't finished this painting yet, have you?"

"Not even close."

"It's okay, I can manage. You can't stand for long anyway, so keep drawing."

"Ok."

Shu Tang only had to color the last few petals of the last flower in her painting. She focused intently on the painting again, and after about ten minutes, the painting was finished.

She got some paint on her hands and clothes, but she was used to it.

Sometimes, after spending a whole day in the studio, she would get covered in paint, and many of her clothes looked like they were disposable.

Wearing an apron doesn't really help.

But she got used to it.

Before the painting was dry, Shu Tang moved the easel aside, bent down to tidy up the paint palette, and then carried a bunch of things to the bathroom to wash and scrub.

I washed it for more than ten minutes before coming out and finding a place to air dry it.

When he turned to look at the kitchen, Xiao Guxing was wearing an apron, underneath which was a turtleneck sweater and trousers, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and an expensive watch on his left wrist.

Holding the pot handle in one hand and the spatula in the other, he tossed it a couple of times under her watchful gaze, causing a layer of flame to ignite inside the pot, which then went out after a few seconds.

Shu Tang almost cried out "Wow!"

As she watched Xiao Guxing skillfully cook two dishes, she felt that Xiao Guxing had a particularly strong sense of being a husband.

The seed that sprouted in my heart has grown even taller.

Apart from the noodles she ate yesterday morning, this was the first time she had truly tasted his cooking.

Xiao Guxing prepared a total of three dishes and a soup.

One of the dishes she specifically requested was cola chicken wings.

Shu Tang is very good at providing emotional value. She ate with great relish, praising the food after every bite for the first three or four minutes.

Even someone as mature, steady, gentle, and refined as Xiao Guxing found it hard to resist her praise.

For the first time, I truly understood what it meant to be 'embarrassed'.

"Eat your food and don't talk."

"oh oh."

She listened to his advice and, after being reminded, obediently ate her meal, showing off two bowls of rice without any hesitation or coyness.

After wiping her mouth, she said sincerely, "What I just said wasn't just polite talk; it was all from the bottom of my heart. Your cooking is really delicious. Thank you, and thank you for your hard work."

"As long as you like to eat it, that's fine." Xiao Guxing laughed. "Don't let yourself get thinner when you go back to China. People might say I've mistreated you."

Shu Tang said seriously, "No, that won't happen. I can take good care of myself."

Xiao Guxing chuckled again, shook his head slightly, and slowly picked up some food to eat.

Shu Tang knew it wasn't good to disturb others' meals, so after she finished eating, she didn't leave the table. She watched him finish eating and offered to help him when he got up to clear the table.

Xiao Guxing glanced at her actions but didn't say anything to stop her.

Now that the meal was finished, Shu Tang couldn't control her appetite any longer and asked, "How often do you go back to China?"

“Unpredictable.” Xiao Guxing replied patiently, “There’s a branch office in China. I’ll go back when there’s work to do, and I’ll also go back for holidays like Chinese New Year.”

"So you go back quite a few times a year," Shu Tang muttered, then asked, "Do you stay long each time you go back to China?"

"Not necessarily, but going back for holidays like Chinese New Year will take at least a week."

His wife gets a little grumpy if he doesn't spend enough time with her.

Not easy to appease.

"So you've basically settled down in Moscow and only go back occasionally?"

Xiao Guxing shook his head, "Not necessarily. I have companies and houses in both Moscow and China. I don't say I have to settle down somewhere."

"Oh, so that means I can stay wherever I want." Shu Tang said with satisfaction. "That's great."

"Why are you asking this?"

"Just curious," Shu Tang said with interest. "Are you usually busy? Do you travel a lot for work? Where do you usually go on business trips?"

"I can be busy at times, and I often travel for work, mostly to Europe."

"Then you must have been to many places. That's great. You've met different people, seen different scenery, and learned different customs. You must have gained a lot."

"Well, I guess so." Xiao Guxing turned to look at her. "Where have you been?"

“I spent six years in Paris, during which time I also visited Switzerland, the Vatican, Croatia, Washington and Los Angeles in the United States, as well as Busan. I also went to Arab countries, mostly for research and sightseeing.”

"You've been to quite a few places."

"Hehe, so my mom often says that my legs are always on the road, and the money I earn is always just a formality in my phone balance, to prove that it existed, and then it's spent."

Shu Tang chuckled. She loved freedom and enjoyed the journey.

Her life should be colorful, lively, and bustling like this.

She has a restless nature and can't stop moving around.

She needs a broader perspective to enrich herself.

She is the best version of herself.

Her mother always says she has many minor flaws, and is spoiled and fussy, etc., but she says that her shortcomings and strengths are what make her who she is today, so no matter what she is like, she is satisfied with herself. Including herself in any situation.

Xiao Guxing inexplicably saw the growth potential of wild grass in this young lady from a highly educated and wealthy family.

It makes no sense, yet it is resilient and faces the sun.

There is also a kind that is as beautiful, rich, proud, and unique as the celadon peony and chrysanthemum she just painted.

After putting the bowls in the dishwasher, Xiao Guxing left the kitchen and saw that the tall chair stand in front of the French window, which used to hold potted plants but was now idle, was used to dry her paintbrushes and paint palette.

The still-wet painting sat quietly to the side.

"I see a game console on that shelf. Do you know how to play?" Shu Tang sat back down on the carpet, feeling a little bored, and casually pointed to the game controllers placed next to the bookshelf behind her.

"A friend gave it to me, I've played with it a few times." Xiao Guxing looked at her. "You want to play with it?"

"Just killing time, sitting around is boring."

"it is good."

Xiao Guxing got up to get it, turned it on, connected it to the TV, and handed her one of the controllers two minutes later.

There are 12 games in total, each with 49 to 81 levels, and the difficulty levels vary.

Four games have been played, with the highest player reaching only level eight.

It seems they haven't played much.

The text was all in Russian, which Shu Tang couldn't understand very well. She randomly selected a game, clicked on a battle mode, and raised an eyebrow at Xiao Guxing, "Want to have a match?"

Xiao Guxing had originally planned to go upstairs to the study to look at some documents, but seeing her eager expression, he nodded in agreement, "Okay."

It's still early, I can play a few rounds with her.

Shu Tang seemed quite skilled at it, so he casually asked, "Do you play games usually?"

“Yes, I have seven or eight of these game consoles at home. I’ve only finished the one my second brother gave me during Chinese New Year. I’ve completed all the others.” Shu Tang proudly raised her chin. “I also play mobile games and online games. So don’t underestimate me and go easy on me. I won’t hold back.”

"I don't play this game much," Xiao Guxing said with a smile, giving a heads-up.

"It's okay, let's give it a try first."

"Let's begin."

As it turned out, the girl was indeed very skilled and quick-witted. Xiao Guxing's reaction was not slow either, but his skill level was not as high as hers, and he lost unsurprisingly.

Shu Tang raised an eyebrow. "If you don't know how to play, then who cleared the levels in this game?"

"friend."

"Male or female?" she asked tentatively.

Xiao Guxing chuckled and said, "Of course it's a man."

Shu Tang made two "oh" sounds, and the corners of her lips curled up. "Want to play another round?"

"Row."

The two started a new game. This time, Shu Tang slowed down and even seemed to be letting him win, but Xiao Guxing still lost to her due to a mistake.

This gave Shu Tang an opportunity. "How about... I teach you? This is actually quite simple, simpler than mobile games and online games."

Xiao Guxing glanced at the time. "Next time. I have some things to take care of right now. You can play by yourself for now."

He did have two emails to receive later, but Shu Tang thought he was deliberately making excuses, so she didn't say anything, just smiled and nodded, "Okay, then you go ahead and get busy. I'll take on these challenges."

Shu Tang watched him go upstairs, then paused for a few seconds before picking up her phone from the table and opening a group chat with her friends.

I sent a sighing emoji: He's a bit difficult to deal with! So frustrating.

There's only a five-hour time difference between China and Moscow, and a friend of hers happened to be there: "What's wrong? Weren't you so confident yesterday? You've already given up today?"
Shu Tang: It's not that I was frustrated, it's just my immediate feeling.

Best friend Li Shu: What do you mean?
Shu Tang: Exactly! He's so kind and easy to talk to. He's gentle, gentlemanly, and polite to people, and respectful and considerate in everything he does. But it's precisely this lack of sharp edges that makes him the most unbreakable.

Because there's nowhere to attack.

Shu Tang: My method of slowly boiling a frog would take forever to boil him. Besides... once my leg is healed, and once I find or replace my passport, I'll have to go back.

Li Shu: So, are you planning to force yourself on me, or give up?
Shu Tang: I don't want to. Forcing myself on him probably won't work; it would only backfire.

Li Shu: We were so engrossed in our conversation yesterday that I forgot to ask him, he probably doesn't have a girlfriend, right?
Shu Tang's eyes widened when she saw this line: "Huh? Girlfriend? I didn't ask. I don't think he has one. If he had a girlfriend, he wouldn't let me stay at his house. Besides, my family wouldn't mention anything about me and him. I didn't see any women's items in his house either."

Li Shu: That's true. Does he have a "white moonlight" or something like that?
Shu Tang sent a gloomy emoji: I didn't ask, I don't know. It's not good to ask these things directly.

Li Shu: Don't be a coward, go for it bravely.

Shu Tang: I'm not backing down. Whether it's good or bad, I'm going to give it a try. He agreed to let me paint a relief for him. The wall on the second floor, I'll paint it slowly and make it a bit more complicated, that should buy me some time, right?

Li Shu: Of course! You haven't quite figured out how to explore Moscow yet, have him show you around when he has time. How can that not be considered a date?

Shu Tang: It still has to be you.

After chatting, Shu Tang happily passed through several levels, and became increasingly engrossed in the game.

Especially when she got to level 17, she tried twice but failed, which fueled her determination. She struggled with that level six times before finally passing it.

As you progress, each level becomes increasingly difficult.

It will take at least two or three tries to pass the level.

Xiao Guxing finished his work and it was already past ten o'clock. He was about to go back to his room to take a shower when he heard the sound of a game console coming from downstairs.

It's been three hours, and she's still calling?
He walked down, and Shu Tang had already passed level 28. There was a wall that she just couldn't jump over no matter what. Shu Tang was so angry that she ground her back teeth and said with great determination, "I don't believe it! If I can't jump over it today, I'm not a Shu!"

Xiao Guxing came down just in time to hear this, and couldn't help but laugh.

Shu Tang turned around when she heard the laughter and was stunned when she saw Xiao Guxing.

He was still wearing the same black turtleneck sweater and black trousers he wore at dinner. He had taken off his watch, and there was another difference: he was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses with a chain on them.

It inexplicably added a touch of refinement to his scholarly demeanor.

Yes, that's the kind of feeling you get from a seemingly refined scoundrel.

"Your glasses..."

"Nearsighted." Xiao Guxing understood.

Shu Tang's mind cleared instantly. What she actually wanted to say was, "Could you weld your glasses onto your nose? They look really good."

Beauty is misleading!
Fortunately, he interrupted quickly.

Shu Tang smiled and said, "I'm also a little nearsighted, so I usually wear contact lenses."

Xiao Guxing nodded and walked over. "How many levels are there?"

"28."

"Not planning to rest? It's past ten o'clock."

Shu Tang was still determined to win the game over, saying, "It's still early, around 10 o'clock. I slept during the day. I'll play after I finish this level."

The two chapters have been combined into one. Don't wait until midnight recently, my typing speed has dropped drastically.