Chapter 9: Tender Affection

As expected, Fu Juxing maintained his air of self-restraint and uprightness, helping her put on her pajamas.
"Don't catch a cold," he said.

Lin Wanbai just smiled, not bothering to respond. After leaving the bathroom, she sat at her vanity. Her nightly skincare routine was a grand undertaking, with every step essential and none to be skipped.

She pointed at the box of face masks. "Put a mask on me first."

Then she arranged the rest of the skincare products in order, explaining the sequence to him. When she finished, she tilted her head back, presenting her face to him, gave him a glance, and closed her eyes. "Go ahead."

Fu Juxing complied, applying the mask for her—a process that would take about fifteen minutes.

He stepped aside and sat down. "Have you ever thought about working outside the home?"

She kept her posture straight, doing neck and shoulder stretches. "Are you implying that I'm too idle?"

She paused and turned to look at him. The black mask made her skin appear even paler as she fixed her gaze on him. "That's a dangerous thing to say, you know."

A gentle smile played on his lips. "I'm only thinking of you."

Just then, Lin Wanbai's phone rang. She glanced at it—the caller was Liang Zhixia.

When she answered, the background was noisy.

"Xiaobai!" Zhixia shouted into the receiver, as if afraid she couldn't be heard.

"Go ahead," Lin Wanbai replied at equal volume.

"Coming to Hui'an tonight?" The noise faded a little, and Liang Zhixia's voice returned to normal, slightly breathless. "There are plenty of handsome guys here. Aren't you trying to turn over a new leaf? I heard about Ye Run's accident—those boys at Hui'an are ten thousand times better looking than him. So, are you coming?"

"I'm coming."

"I'll wait for you then. Call me when you get here."

After hanging up, Lin Wanbai tore off the mask at once and urged, "Hurry up, I need to go out."

She was excited, even a little giddy, and scampered into the bathroom to wash her face. When she saw that Fu Juxing hadn't followed, she poked her head out and frowned at him. "Come on, hurry up."

"Doesn't your hand hurt anymore?" he asked, unmoving.

"It does."

"And you still want to go out?"

"What else am I supposed to do? Stay home and it won't hurt? Maybe going out will distract me. Move it—if you won't help, I'll call Aunt Rong."

He still didn't budge, his gaze fixed on her. "You really have to go?"

"I really have to go," Lin Wanbai replied firmly. Of course she was going. Was she supposed to stay here and keep suffering in his presence?

An hour later, Lin Wanbai stepped out with a bare face, dressed in understated clothes, and arrived at Hui'an's entrance.

Liang Zhixia was waiting outside, dressed provocatively in hot pants and a low-cut top that showed off her figure. Lin Wanbai clicked her tongue at the sight.

Zhixia's face lit up when she saw Lin Wanbai get out of the car, but when she spotted Fu Juxing, her smile froze and she frowned.

"Why did you bring him? What are you doing?"

"He's my cover."

Liang Zhixia raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

Lin Wanbai was perfectly candid. "Let's go, ignore him. He can take care of himself."

But Fu Juxing didn't follow them inside. He stopped at the door. "I'll wait for you out here. Don't stay too long."

He had been raised never to frequent such establishments—especially not so openly, and certainly not a place like Hui'an. Now that his career was finally progressing, he couldn't risk throwing it all away.

"Suit yourself." Lin Wanbai waved at him and followed Liang Zhixia inside.

Fu Juxing called after them, "Zhixia, keep an eye on her."

Zhixia smiled and gave him an OK sign.

Once inside the elevator, Lin Wanbai's smile faded. Her palm still burned, and the pain radiated up to her head.

Zhixia clucked her tongue at her injury. "How did your grandfather end up hitting you? Hasn't he always doted on you?"

"Rules are rules. My grandfather isn't indulgent. I got a little reckless and he found out—of course I had to be disciplined. Besides, I'm married now. If word got out, it'd be embarrassing for him, too."

"Come on. Back when you were going after Fu Juxing, wasn't it your grandfather helping you? If that's not indulgence, what is? You're lucky—you have everything you want. What more could you ask for? Now look at Fu Juxing, all obedient and well-behaved thanks to you. Seeing him just now, I almost felt sorry for him."

Lin Wanbai shot her a sidelong glance. Zhixia immediately changed the subject. "But then I remember, he's only pretending under your tyranny, and I get mad all over again. Come on, let's find you a little wolf cub. Ye Run's out of the picture, but there are plenty of others waiting for you—one of them is bound to make you forget him completely."

Of all Lin Wanbai's childhood friends, she was closest to Zhixia—they shared everything, even the same pair of pants. Lin Wanbai burst out laughing, tugged at Zhixia's strap, and said, "I'll wait and see."

Inside, the deafening music made Lin Wanbai's heart pound uncomfortably.

They bypassed the dance floor and found a booth. Before long, the club manager brought over two young men—one delicate and handsome, the other strikingly flamboyant.

Lin Wanbai chose the delicate one, though she didn't seem particularly enthusiastic.