CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: COAX HIM

——Recognize your current position.

He was reminding Sophia that they are now husband and wife.

"You eat first."

He walked into the bathroom.

Sophia bit her chopsticks, watching the reflection of his perfect V-shaped back in the bathroom mirror. Her face was burning as she quickly turned away and sat in front of the computer to start eating.

The taste was just as it always was, but it felt like chewing wax.

Zane finished his shower and came out at eleven o’clock.

With a dry towel draped over his shoulder for drying his hair, he lazily sat on the sofa and plugged in earphones, starting to review the files that Ethan had just delivered.

The expensive silk loungewear had three unbuttoned buttons, revealing a glimpse of smooth skin. His annoying sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing clear, defined veins.

His arms weren’t pale but somewhat yellow, the standard Asian tone.

Sophia thought about saying something to him, but he didn’t look at her even once. Maybe he was too focused on work, or perhaps he just didn’t want to engage.

Feeling helpless, she could only go to sleep first.

Fashion week usually lasts a week. After Tim’s invitation last night, he hinted at traveling together later. Zane didn’t refuse, but he didn’t agree either.

According to Ethan, the big boss probably wanted to see her attitude.

[The boss is angry, how to appease him?]

Sophia sent a message in the group chat [The Hidden 18 Male Models].

[Pounce on him.] Hugh.

Hugh, ever the strategist!

[I’m on my period, plus I don’t want to rush things.]

[Act cute, kiss him, men can’t resist women showing vulnerability.]

[Sister, don’t want to rush things? He’s a man, you’d suffocate him?] Kai.

[Sometimes I want to, sometimes not, what does that mean?] Sophia blushed as she sent this message.

[No love, ’do’ until you love.] Hugh always had shocking words.

...

At 3 AM, the alarm woke her; she had to get up and change.

Groggily getting out of bed, she didn’t notice if anyone else was around the bed.

In the bathroom.

"..."

The pants were dirty, but she only brought one set of pajamas.

No choice, she had to change into some panties first, get up extra early tomorrow to avoid him seeing, and have the staff take it to the laundry.

"So sleepy..."

She looked at her long legs wearing only panties, tugging on the pajamas, attempting to cover them. Mumbling to herself, she’ll set the alarm even earlier tomorrow.

Walking out of the bathroom and through the living room, her sleepy eyes met his pitch-black gaze.

Zane was still handling business, with scattered documents all over the sofa.

It’s 3 AM, is he an eagle? That he can stay awake without fearing sudden death?

His gaze fell on her slender legs, eyes under the glasses filled with desire.

Sophia couldn’t see the emotions in his eyes, as the glasses hid everything.

Yet, his slightly heaving chest showed restraint, the veins on his hands holding the documents bulged, and faintly a ’sizzling’ sound of paper being squeezed was audible.

Sophia immediately pulled her clothes down in front of herself.

"You’re not sleeping yet?"

"You go ahead." His voice was dark and hoarse.

He withdrew his gaze, looking at the screen in front of the computer: "Continue."

Sophia jumped in surprise; he was holding a cross-border conference call!

Unsure if her voice was heard, thankfully she was just a small employee and didn’t usually interact much with those executives.

She quickly ran back to the room and hid under the covers.

The next day, she got up early. Zane, who had a cross-border meeting last night, slept deeply and steadily.

Sophia took the chance before he woke up, quickly rummaging through the wardrobe to find clothes.

Entering the bathroom, she was stunned. The panties and pajamas that got dirty last night were washed clean and hung in the bathroom, with the ventilation fan on overnight; the pants were almost dry.

Sophia held her face, feeling her cheeks burning. She looked at herself in the mirror, flushed beyond recognition.

Zane washed her panties?

The pants weren’t too dirty, she didn’t plan to throw them away as she had just bought them days ago. Besides, it might be hard to find suitable ones here, throwing them away would be a waste.

But this was really embarrassing, such a big boss, his hands used to sign documents and count money, actually helped her wash underwear...

After changing clothes, she cautiously walked out and crawled back into the bed.

Picking up the phone, she saw the message Ethan sent last night.

[Madam, please, appease him, otherwise I’ll have to stay up again tonight.]

Appease him...

How? Selling her looks?

When he’s angry, he’s harder to press down than a pig during New Year!

Sophia tossed the phone aside, turned over, and wanted to sleep another half an hour. Her almond eyes caught a perfect face.

Such a delicate contour.

But even asleep, his sharp features and deep-set eyes were intimidating.

His breathing was even, carrying the scent of cilantro from last night and a slight mint toothpaste aroma.

Last night, he brushed his teeth in the bathroom for a long time...

Strange, she’s always disliked cilantro, couldn’t even stand the smell normally, why now does it feel not bad on him?

Sophia leaned in, her little nose twitching as she sniffed.

It actually felt okay...

"Zane." She called softly, he didn’t respond.

She mused inwardly: If he wakes up, how to appease? Last time she misspoke, kissed him in the car, and he wasn’t angry. If she kisses again this time, would he also not be angry?

She covered her face with her hands, burying her head in the blanket.

The adult method of apologizing is truly hard to figure out.

Can’t it be a candy, or...

"Flowers!"

Sophia suddenly released her hands. Sending flowers last time made him happy for quite a while according to Ethan!

Her flirtatious eyes curved up, she suppressed a giggle, and unexpectedly poked his nose.

"Little rascal!" She chuckled softly.

——

The fashion week show today was only attended by Sophia and Wyatt.

They were already seated, waiting for it to begin.

"Last night, Ethan’s team had a cross-border meeting, they didn’t sleep until after 3." Wyatt appeared sleep-deprived, yawning: "It made it hard for me to sleep too."

"Is that so." Sophia knew she was the culprit.

"Want to hear some gossip?"

Sophia didn’t want to hear it, what’s good about her own scandals.

But Wyatt leaned in and whispered, "Last night I heard during Ethan’s meeting that there was a woman’s voice in Mr. Sterling’s room, wow, and you wouldn’t believe, the voice was like Delilah Sawyer’s!"

"Haha——" She forced a smile.

"That woman was really something, urging Mr. Sterling to go to bed. How could such a virile man resist? The meeting ended within minutes!

Now he’s not even up today, I suspect he was exhausted last night, haha——"

This, it’s spread like this?

"Ethan didn’t come either. Has he hidden some woman, or——?" Sophia’s sharp eyes glanced below him, tossing the gossip back to him.

"Eh, kidding me, Ethan said the boss felt good and gave them a day off."

This, just in a good mood?

Sophia blushed; he should be in a good mood after he saw her long legs last night. If it weren’t for the dirty clothes, it might have looked like she was seducing him...

"What do you want to eat afterward? My treat! The boss isn’t here, let’s eat what we like." Wyatt casually leaned closer to her.

"No, I have a classmate to meet up with, another time." She urgently declined.

"Alright then."

He was a little disappointed, but spending so much time alone with her today did make him quite happy.