I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Shu Zi almost immediately kicked off her high heels, which had been binding her feet for so long, and stepped barefoot onto the cool, smooth marble floor. She then stepped onto the soft carpet and let out a long, comfortable sigh.

"Ah—I'm finally back—"

She stretched lazily without any regard for her image, and her champagne-colored dress rode up with the movement, perfectly outlining her slender and supple waistline and long neck.

Gu Yan placed the car keys and the thank-you gift on the entryway cabinet, turned to look at her, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before quickly shifting away:

"If you're tired, get some rest."

"Okay." Shu Zi waved her hand, picked up her skirt which was in the way, and walked barefoot to her room.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she suddenly stopped, placed her hand on the wooden handrail, and turned to look at him.

Gu Yan was still standing in the warm light of the entryway, his head slightly lowered, intently unbuttoning the slightly tight cufflink on his left wrist.

The light fell from above, casting soft shadows around his deep-set eyes and high nose, making him appear less aloof and more approachable.

"Hello,"

Shu Zi rested her hand on the stair railing, turned slightly to the side, tilted her head to look at him, her eyes reflecting the light and revealing a hint of cunning, her tone rising: "President Gu."

Gu Yan paused in unbuttoning his shirt, then looked up at her.

Her image was clearly reflected in those usually calm eyes.

"Good performance tonight...keep it up."

After she finished speaking, without waiting for his reaction, she quickly turned around, lifted her skirt, and ran upstairs, disappearing around the corner of the stairs in the blink of an eye.

A few seconds later, the sound of her room door closing and locking crisply came from upstairs.

She shut out the warm light from downstairs, and the gaze he might cast at her that made her heart race.

The soft sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet villa.

Gu Yan stood in the entryway, still in the same position, and stood quietly for several seconds.

My gaze fell on the empty stairwell, where no one was to be seen.

A moment later, he looked down at the half-undone cufflink on his left wrist, its cold light gleaming.

The quiet air seemed to still carry her faint fragrance, as well as her slightly proud and smiling comment from just now.

A few seconds later, he raised his hand again and continued the action he hadn't finished, slowly unbuttoning the cufflink.

His fingertips moved steadily, but the corners of his lips slowly turned up.

This little cat seems to be falling apart on its own.

In the room, Shu Zi leaned against the cold door, raising her hands to cover her slightly burning cheeks and ears.

This is insane...

What utter nonsense was she spouting?!

What "good performance"? What "keep it up"...

This sounds a lot like... a teacher praising a student for making progress? Or a leader affirming the work of a subordinate?

No, no, the point is, why did she say that?! Doesn't that indirectly admit he's pretty good?!

This is only the first day!

Has he become that attractive to her?

Shu Zi wailed silently in her heart, then collapsed onto the soft bed, burying her burning face in the pillow.

The silky fabric of the dress rubbed against the bedsheets, making a soft rustling sound.

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore.

What's said is said, and there's no going back.

Let's just consider it... let's just consider it the examiner's objective evaluation of the candidate's progress at this stage!

Yes, that's it!

Objective! Calm! Professional!

She rolled over, lay flat on the bed, stared at the ceiling, and her mind uncontrollably replayed the events of the evening.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

No, the more I think about it, the hotter my face gets!

Shu Zi raised her hand and covered her eyes with her arm, "I don't want to think about it anymore!"

Shuzi! Forget about it!

But the corners of his mouth seemed to have their own ideas, uncontrollably turning upwards, and he couldn't suppress them no matter what.

She sat bolt upright in bed. It must be too hot! The room must be too hot!

She decided to take a shower, then turn off the lights and go to sleep.

We will all have a better tomorrow!

So she slept straight through until noon the next day.

I was eventually woken up by hunger.

Shu Zi reluctantly opened her eyes only after her stomach gave a clear and distinct protest.

I checked my phone and it was almost 12:30.

She slowly got up, washed up, and then went downstairs.

It was quiet downstairs; Gu Yan had probably gone to the company.

She stepped barefoot onto the carpet, slowly slipped on her slippers, and decided to go to the kitchen to find something to eat to soothe her severely protesting stomach.

As I passed by the restaurant, my gaze inadvertently swept over the central island counter.

She stopped in her tracks.

On the island counter, there was a white insulated lunchbox with a note next to it.

Shu Zi blinked and walked over.

The note bore Gu Yan's neat and clean handwriting: "Microwave for three minutes."

Shu Zi opened the lid of the insulated lunchbox, which was full of her favorite foods.

She carried the insulated lunchbox, walked to the microwave, and obediently set it for three minutes.

"bite--"

The lunchbox was steaming hot when it was taken out, and the aroma of rice and shrimp instantly filled the air.

Shuzi carried it to the island counter, pulled out a high chair, sat down, and took a spoonful.

Chew, chew, chew, chew!

Delicious! I bet Gu Yan made it; he controlled the heat perfectly, and it's exactly the flavor she likes.

She ate slowly and deliberately, bite by bite.

Halfway through her meal, she suddenly remembered something, put down her spoon, picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and found the pinned profile picture.

She first took a picture of the lunchbox, then tapped the screen a few times with her fingertip, deleted it, and then tapped it again.

After hesitating for a long time, I finally sent out a message:

"Delicious, satisfying, extra points!"

After sending the message, she placed her phone screen-down on the table, picked up her spoon again, and couldn't help but smile.

Almost the next second after she sent the message, her phone vibrated.

She picked it up and looked at it.

A certain Mr. Gu, a scoundrel:

"Um."

"I will try my best again, examiner."

Upon seeing the words "Examiner," Shu Zi's ears instantly turned red.

She tapped the screen with her fingertip, a hint of capricious coquettishness in her voice, and typed:

"I want fish congee for dinner, the kind with lots and lots of cilantro!"

This time, a reply came about half a minute later.

A certain Mr. Gu, a despicable person: "Okay."

Shu Zi was satisfied, put down her phone, and focused on finishing the rest of her meal.

After finishing her meal, she washed the lunchbox and put it in the drainer.

I went upstairs to change into a comfortable beige loungewear set, and then sprawled on the single sofa in the room for a while, scrolling through my phone.

In the "plastic besties" trio's small group chat, Fang Ran was passionately venting about the outrageous things that happened at last night's banquet.

Qiao Yueke then posted a string of "hahahahahaha" to show her support.

Shu Zi casually replied with an emoji that said "Don't talk, just pretend to be an expert," and then left the group chat.