Chapter Eleven: Drink up, work harder—I’m thirsty!

The next day was gloomy and rainy.

When Gu Yao woke up in the morning, the rain had just started outside.

By the afternoon, not only had it not stopped, but it was also growing heavier.

Since she couldn’t go out today, Gu Yao spent her time browsing products and watching videos related to the same industry on various apps.

Both in the morning and afternoon, she received calls from Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an was currently in South City, where the baking ingredient industry thrived—there were more than a dozen factories just within the city.

Today, Chen Ping’an visited one he had contacted before. While inspecting the production workshop, he made a video call to Gu Yao to let her see the situation.

By evening, Gu Yao left her small study and entered the kitchen to prepare dinner.

She hadn’t exercised much all day and didn’t feel very hungry.

She glanced at the ingredients in the fridge and finally decided to make a soup.

Half a carrot, one yam, and an ear of corn.

She stir-fried the carrot in hot oil, then added boiling water, followed by the corn and yam, a bit of salt, and light soy sauce, letting it simmer for half an hour.

Carrot, yam, and corn soup—just right for a rainy day.

She set a timer, left the soup in the kitchen, and sat down on the living room sofa.

The balcony window was slightly ajar, and the rain outside was now falling even heavier, the pattering sound more pronounced.

Gu Yao was scrolling through messages on her phone when she suddenly heard a knock at the door.

Her finger paused on the screen as she looked toward the door, wondering who it might be.

Just as she was about to get up, her phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen and saw a message:

Lu Zheng: Open the door.

She immediately straightened up and looked toward the door again.

After a breath, she rose and went to open it.

Outside stood Lu Zheng.

The fabric on his shoulder was slightly damp, clinging to his skin and revealing the contours of his muscles. His neatly trimmed hair was dripping wet, giving him a somewhat disheveled look, yet it did not diminish his sharp aura.

In his hands, he carried a white foam box.

Seeing him like this, Gu Yao frowned slightly, puzzled.

“Why are you here? Didn’t you bring an umbrella?”

Lu Zheng didn’t answer her question but raised the box to her, indicating:

“Fresh fruit just picked from the farm. Grandma asked me to bring some to you.”

Gu Yao followed his gesture, but Lu Zheng had already stepped inside. She quickly stepped aside, watching him place the box on the floor by the door.

Realizing this, she closed the door behind him.

“Thank you, but there was no need to go out of your way to bring me anything.”

Lu Zheng turned back with a half-smile, looking at her:

“Then tell Grandma next time.”

Gu Yao fell silent, feeling awkward about mentioning such a small matter to Mrs. Lu.

After entering the room, Lu Zheng showed no intention of leaving.

He surveyed the living room as he walked toward the balcony.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered; just standing there made the spacious room feel suddenly cramped to Gu Yao.

She took a couple of steps forward and felt the small living room filled with the man’s cool, distant aura.

Watching his back, she noticed the water stains extended beyond his shoulders.

Today, Lu Zheng wore a white shirt, now soaked, revealing the skin beneath and the clear contours of his muscles.

If it weren’t for who he was, Gu Yao might have found the sight of that physique rather captivating.

After taking in the small living room, Lu Zheng turned around and sat down on the sofa without hesitation, then looked up at Gu Yao:

“Have you eaten?”

Gu Yao was taken aback but sat down beside him.

“No.”

Lu Zheng studied her for three seconds, catching a faint, fresh fragrance in the air. Seeing she didn’t bring it up, he asked:

“What did you make?”

Gu Yao wasn’t reluctant to share her soup, but she was still a bit surprised by how naturally Lu Zheng acted like he owned the place.

So she answered:

“Soup. Do you want some?”

Looking at the woman across from him in a white camisole nightdress, his gaze lingered on her pale collarbone, and suddenly his mouth felt dry.

“Yes, make more. I’m thirsty!”

Gu Yao furrowed her brows. Though the words sounded perfectly normal, she couldn’t help but sense a hint of teasing beneath them.

She gave Lu Zheng a long, puzzled look and then nodded:

“Wait a moment.”

With that, she got up and went into the bathroom, retrieving a clean towel.

Coming out, she handed it to Lu Zheng:

“Use this to dry your hair and clothes.”

Standing just a step away, the woman’s white, delicate arm stretched out before him. Her slender waist swayed gently under his gaze, accompanied by a faint scent of jasmine.

His thirst worsened.

He raised his hand to take the towel but couldn’t tear his eyes away from her retreating figure until she disappeared into the kitchen doorway.

He draped the towel over his head and rubbed vigorously.

Then he paused.

The towel smelled just like the woman.

After wiping his hair, the jasmine scent seemed even stronger, lingering at his nostrils.

Uncontrollably, the image of her slender waist, flat abdomen, and the subtly rounded curve beneath her skirt resurfaced.

The clinking of bowls and spoons came from the kitchen. Lu Zheng sat on the sofa, his breathing quickened for a moment.

Just before Gu Yao reappeared, he suddenly stood and went to the bathroom.

Gu Yao placed two bowls of soup on the dining table.

She glanced curiously at the closed bathroom door, blinked, and withdrew her gaze.

Lu Zheng stayed in the bathroom for quite a while before coming out.

Gu Yao noticed the fabric on his shoulder was less damp.

She wondered if Lu Zheng had some kind of obsession, unable to tolerate even a small water stain, practically drying it off completely!

When Lu Zheng sat at the table, Gu Yao had already finished her soup.

She was nibbling on the last piece of corn in her bowl. The juice dripped from her fingers down to the tips.

Her other hand reached for the tissue box on the table, but before she could touch it, a hand moved faster, pulling out a tissue and handing it to her.

She was stunned, staring at Lu Zheng for two seconds.

Then, without a word, she took the tissue and lowered her eyes to wipe her fingers.

Gu Yao quickly finished her meal.

Lu Zheng ate one bowl and then served himself another.

Outside, the rain fell harder. Standing by the window, Gu Yao looked out and saw the road outside the complex already flooded.

Her brows furrowed even deeper.

It was too dangerous to head out in this weather. How would Lu Zheng get home?

She was lost in thought when footsteps sounded behind her. Turning around, she almost bumped into Lu Zheng.

But the man seemed not to notice her and instead looked past her head toward the street outside:

“Looks like I can’t go back!”