CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: BAI YUEGUANG’S STAND-IN (19)

"Did you make all this?"

Jiang Lai nodded and continued bustling around the kitchen, preparing things. In the spacious fusion kitchen of Eastern and Western styles, she looked like a busy little bee, mumbling to herself with her hands never stopping.

Shen Liao stood quietly by the table, watching Jiang Lai, inhaling the faint aroma from the dining table. An inexplicable warmth filled his chest.

It had been so long since he had experienced such a lively and beautiful scene. Since his mother passed away after a long illness, he hadn’t paid any attention to such things.

For the first time, this empty villa gave him a sense of "home."

"Don’t just stand there, come on, change your clothes and let’s eat."

Jiang Lai didn’t seem to mind in the least that Shen Liao forgot about Valentine’s Day. After a brief moment of disappointment, she returned to her usual chatty and sunny self.

Biting her chopsticks, Jiang Lai extended her hand toward Shen Liao, complaining softly.

"I got my hand burned by the pot while cooking for you."

Shen Liao held her hand, lowering his head to take a careful look. Sure enough, there was a red mark, the size of a green bean, on her thumb, adding a fragile beauty to her already delicate fingers.

Something stirred within Shen Liao’s heart. Without much thought, he lowered his head and gently kissed Jiang Lai’s fingertips.

That scene made Jiang Lai’s face flush red.

She admitted she was slightly swayed by this handsome man.

Evidently, Shen Liao didn’t expect himself to make such a gesture either, but he was open about it. After realizing his feelings, he didn’t hold back and instructed the housekeeper to bring some ointment for the burn, personally applying it to her.

"Don’t cook next time."

"You haven’t even tasted it yet. Once you do, you might only want to eat my cooking."

Shen Liao gently rubbed her palm, feeling the smoothness and softness under his fingertips, and couldn’t help but sigh at how delicate and fragile this woman was.

"Alright, I’ll get you a gift to make up for it. Let’s eat first."

"Tsk..."

Jiang Lai withdrew her hand, took a couple of bites, and was full. Then she put down her chopsticks and watched Shen Liao eat.

The man looked good even eating, holding the bowl with a calm demeanor, chewing slowly. Noticing Jiang Lai’s gaze, he casually asked.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"You’re handsome."

"Hmm, I’ll let you take a good look later upstairs."

After saying this, he added another sentence.

"Eat more, so you won’t complain about being tired later."

"..."

Dirty old man.

Outside the kitchen, Zhou Min clearly observed the interaction between the two of them.

She was filled with surprise and confusion. Why did these two behave exactly like a couple deeply in love?

Wasn’t Jiang Lai just Shen Liao’s lover?

Why was Shen Liao so gentle and patient with her?

He even kissed her fingers!

This isn’t just a lover; they are clearly a couple!

Zhou Min was extremely upset. She worked so hard to improve herself to get closer to Shen Liao.

Clearly, she was also beautiful. Her family background was better than Jiang Lai’s. She was willing to be the woman behind Shen Liao. Why, why was it not her sitting opposite Shen Liao?

Heartbroken, she masochistically watched as Shen Liao carried Jiang Lai upstairs.

Jiang Lai, that shameless woman, deliberately acted like a seductress, claiming her hand hurt, then her foot, and ended up having Shen Liao carry her!

The man, tall and well-built, easily picked up Jiang Lai, even in his inconvenient shirt and suit pants, climbing the stairs without a hint of effort.

With her arms around Shen Liao’s shoulders, Jiang Lai’s gaze lightly swept past Zhou Min downstairs, a provocative smile on her lips.

Zhou Min’s heart trembled, nearly losing her footing.

She did it on purpose!

She was acting all this out just for her to see!

This shameless woman, why did she deserve Shen Liao’s kisses and embraces?!

Tearing her gaze away, Jiang Lai shook her head, finding it all pointless.

Afterwards, with Shen Liao holding her, there was no intention of leaving.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t know today was Valentine’s Day."

He started to feel soft-hearted again, seeing how indifferent Jiang Lai appeared, he cared all the more.

"It’s just Valentine’s Day. As long as you’re with me every day, every day is Valentine’s Day for me."

Feeling touched, Shen Liao couldn’t help but kiss her forehead.

"I heard you’ve signed with Light Sensing Technology."

"Yeah."

"The competition at Light Sensing Technology is tough. If you want to work, you can come to my office."

Hearing this, Jiang Lai’s face fell.

"Do you think my abilities are limited to just being your tea-serving secretary?"

"That’s not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?"

Jiang Lai sat up, looking at Shen Liao with a tense face.

"In the future, don’t interfere with my work. I still have a manuscript to finish. You should sleep first."

After saying this, Jiang Lai got up, put on her robe, and left the bedroom, her movements so swift and fluid, resembling someone who uses and discards.

Shen Liao was a bit displeased too. He didn’t understand why Jiang Lai was suddenly angry again.

But he was used to her little tantrums, thinking it was similar to previous times, and he could just coax her tomorrow.

It wasn’t until he saw Jiang Lai packing the next morning that Shen Liao realized something was off.

"Where are you going?"

"On a business trip."

"A business trip? Where to?"

Jiang Lai was folding clothes, not even raising her head.

"T City."

Shen Liao’s face tightened. Used to Jiang Lai’s dependence on him, he couldn’t accept her current attitude. Seeing she was really going, Shen Liao said displeased.

"Are you short on pocket money recently?"

Jiang Lai took a deep breath, looking at him helplessly.

"Shen Liao, you’re not my dad. I can’t always rely on your pocket money to live."

"Why not?"

"Because I don’t want to. I’m your girlfriend, not your kept woman."

Upon hearing the latter part of her statement, Shen Liao’s heart tightened, his breath halting for a moment.

Seeing him silent, Jiang Lai put down what she was holding, walked over, stood on tiptoe to hug him, and softly coaxed.

"I’ll be back in a week. When I make some money, I’ll buy you a better watch. Be good and wait for me at home, alright?"

Shen Liao frowned, feeling something odd, but soon he didn’t dwell on it. Because Jiang Lai, with her nonstop chatter, seemed to be tempting him.

"Okay, I’ll wait for your return."

After saying this, he sealed her lips, placing one hand on the back of her head, pulling her tightly against him.

Sure enough, parting this way felt more sincere.

After Jiang Lai left, the villa immediately felt empty.

Shen Liao had already gotten used to coming straight home every day after work and accustomed to washing up and going to bed immediately upon entering the door.

So when he lay in bed, sleepless and anxious, he finally began to reflect on his current state of mind.

It seemed he didn’t want Jiang Lai to leave him anymore.

On this side, Shen Liao simply went to work.

In T City, Jiang Lai, after finishing a day’s schedule, returned to the hotel, took a bath, and sent Shen Liao a bare-faced selfie.