CHAPTER 34

Xiaoyuan knew that she wasn't very skilled at acting in love scenes. In "Zui Xiaoyao," Ling Yao was a lovesick character, and with her limited emotional experience, she could only make efforts from the desk, starting from her upbringing, personality, preferences, analyzing why she would like the male lead.

The frustrating part was that, like a book, the script involved love at first sight.

Love at first sight was the most troublesome. Although it all started with physical attraction, it was hard to portray convincingly. One couldn't portray a lecherous female rogue, could they?

She didn't even have any experiences of love at first sight herself—how annoying!

Xiaoyuan couldn't help but yawn, her eyes tired and dry.

Suddenly, she jolted, turning to the side, realizing Wei Zhuang had left without her noticing.

She stood up, stretched her neck to loosen her muscles, and tidied up the script. Stepping outside, she walked quietly on the sound-absorbing carpet. With so many bedrooms around, she had no idea where Wei Zhuang had gone.

Checking the time, it was midnight. The big boss must have worked hard all day and should be resting by now.

Xiaoyuan felt her guess was probably close to the mark, which suited her. She remembered the message Assistant Gao had sent her earlier about finding the first master bedroom. Not knowing which one it was, she pushed open a nearby door, finding a small living room. Opening another door, she discovered a bedroom with a walk-in closet filled with girls' clothes.

There were three silk nightgowns, several dresses, and matching outerwear, all in pastel colors and from well-known brands.

She admired the clothes for a while, thinking Assistant Gao had good taste. The outfits seemed perfect for a sweet, princess-like girl. She wondered if Assistant Gao misunderstood her style or if Wei Zhuang had previously had a "contracted partner" of that type.

A sudden image of Wang Ji in a pastel dress flashed through her mind, making her chuckle.

'Oh well, never mind.'

Opening another wardrobe, she found many current season clothes—shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and jeans. These were more like her style for everyday wear.

Assistant Gao had really put in the effort!

Xiaoyuan picked a gray-purple silk nightdress and placed it on the bed, took her private items, and headed towards the bathroom, undressing as she went.

The bathroom was very spacious, featuring both a bathtub and a shower. Xiaoyuan opened the glass cabinet and was taken aback by rows of high-end toiletries. With her eyes closed, she randomly picked a bottle.

Byredo's La Tulipe, a scent of tulip flowers. She sniffed it, a very spring-like fragrance, as if the morning dew lingered on the petals.

She stepped into the shower, the warm water enveloping her. Xiaoyuan tilted her face up, sighing contentedly.

The shower gel had a luxurious floral scent, fresh with a slightly sweet undertone, soothing both body and mind. After a while, she turned off the shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and stepped out to dry her hair.

Opening the cabinet under the sink revealed a complete set of skincare products, all high-end brands. Xiaoyuan washed her face, stepping out of the bathroom barefoot. Just as she changed into her nightdress, she realized something.

She looked at the bed. 

This two-meter bed was placed in the middle of the room, making it difficult to move. Her own bed needed to be against a wall. In the past, if the conditions were lacking while filming, she could still sleep with her own pillow.

It was half past midnight, and the drowsy Xiaoyuan was pondering if she could move the two-meter bed by herself.

"What's wrong?"

Under the light, Xiaoyuan could see Wei Zhuang wearing a silver-gray long-sleeved nightdress that reached her ankles, gracefully taking a few steps toward her.

It was the first time Xiaoyuan saw her in a dress that wasn't black. Perhaps because she had just bathed, there was a subtle, warm aura around her that contrasted with her usual cold and distant demeanor.

"Um... nothing," Xiaoyuan suddenly became reserved, "You haven't rested yet?"

Wei Zhuang didn't respond, only gazed at her.

Under Wei Zhuang's gaze, Xiaoyuan felt a bit uneasy and turned her face away.

The gray-purple nightdress complemented her fair skin beautifully, reaching just to her knees and revealing her delicate, pale calves. The silk fabric lightly hugged her curves, exuding both feminine charm and a youthful elegance. Having both qualities was rare and quite alluring.

Neither of them spoke, and there was a strange, unspeakable tranquility in the air.

Xiaoyuan instinctively sensed something but couldn't quite pinpoint it or discern the feeling.

"President..." She couldn't hold back in such an atmosphere, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Wei Zhuang stepped closer to her. Xiaoyuan stared blankly at the moving hem of the dress, and by the time she realized it, Wei Zhuang was already right in front of her.

Xiaoyuan took a breath and unconsciously stepped back.

Why was she suddenly feeling nervous? What could happen? They were both women...

She thought that, but her heart raced. As she stepped back, the silver-gray hem of the dress paused for a moment before Wei Zhuang took a step forward. Xiaoyuan retreated, and Wei Zhuang advanced. In just a few steps, Xiaoyuan's heels bumped against the wall.

With nowhere to retreat, Wei Zhuang was suddenly right in front of her.

They were too close—close enough to smell the lingering scent of her body wash, a hint of sandalwood, softened by a touch of sweet iris. It was a serene, elegant fragrance, and there was a slight warmth in the air, likely from Wei Zhuang's still-damp, wavy hair.

Xiaoyuan told herself not to be nervous, but her trembling eyelashes and slightly heavy breathing betrayed her anxiety. She remained silent, and so did Wei Zhuang. With her back against the wall, Xiaoyuan felt dwarfed by Wei Zhuang, who was half a head taller.

Was this a wall slam?

Wei Zhuang didn't actually slam her against the wall, her hands were relaxed at her sides.

What was she trying to do?

Gathering her courage, Xiaoyuan lifted her head, and their eyes met.

Wei Zhuang's dark eyes were fixed on her, clear and deep, as if they could reflect her own image. At first glance, she thought she was seeing herself, but upon closer inspection, it was still Wei Zhuang's face.

Her eyes were hard to decipher, possessing an inexplicable allure that could draw people in, as if pulling them into her embrace.

Xiaoyuan suddenly shook, feeling a soft touch on her shoulder. She took a deep breath, and the delicate collarbones on her neck trembled.

Wei Zhuang leaned down, her body slightly tilting toward Xiaoyuan, bringing her face close to Xiaoyuan's neck, her gentle breath brushing against her skin.

Xiaoyuan felt herself stiffen.

She had had a boyfriend during her university days, and whenever they became intimate, if he touched her neck, Xiaoyuan would reflexively push him away. Her neck, including the skin at the back and along her jawline, was especially sensitive to tickling, any touch would elicit an instinctive recoil.

Now, Wei Zhuang wasn't doing anything overt, she was simply resting against Xiaoyuan's neck, as if inhaling her scent. But Xiaoyuan was beginning to feel overwhelmed, she turned her head slightly, feeling goosebumps rising on her skin.

She quietly shrank back, and Wei Zhuang let out a barely audible hum. Xiaoyuan immediately froze like a puppet, not daring to move as Wei Zhuang's fragrance filled the air around them.

Her hair seemed to cling to her shoulders and back, falling into the nape of her neck, soft and ticklish, like the delicate tendrils of a dandelion.

Xiaoyuan felt like crying.

"President Wei..." She finally found her voice and called out softly.

"You've appeared in front of me many times..." Wei Zhuang finally spoke. Perhaps it was the closeness or Xiaoyuan's heightened sensitivity, but for a moment, she felt like this sounded like a line from a movie—one she needed to remember.

"..." Xiaoyuan couldn't think of how to respond to this line. It was part of Wei Zhuang's script, and she didn't know how to participate. Her thoughts were once again disrupted by Wei Zhuang's next movement.

With her clothes between them, Wei Zhuang traced her waist, slowly and gently moving her hand along the line of her rib lines, lightly brushing over the soft curves. Her movements were slow, with many pauses that didn't feel overly sexual, more like an appreciative exploration, a gentle caress like a breeze.

The touch shouldn't leave any marks, yet the warmth from her fingertips felt like a spark igniting the air around them. Xiaoyuan's breathing became increasingly labored, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, gradually spreading.

Instinctively, she tried to shrink back, unable to retreat into the wall, her neck growing hot. She finally found her hands and pushed forward awkwardly, her fingers brushing against the slender shoulder blades wrapped in soft fabric.

Wei Zhuang's movements abruptly stopped, she took a step back, the pressure suddenly relieved, and the scent that belonged to her in the air dissipated slightly, allowing Xiaoyuan to breathe again. But her mind was still a bit foggy, not quite grasping what had just happened.

There were no signs or hints, no transitional movements or words, it felt both slow and fast. Her mind was a jumbled mess, and she could only stare blankly at Wei Zhuang.

Wei Zhuang's dark eyes flickered, gazing at her for two seconds before saying softly, "Take a rest."

Before Xiaoyuan could respond, she turned and walked away.

For a few seconds, Xiaoyuan's eyes followed her footsteps, and it wasn't until the silver-gray hem disappeared at the door that she finally breathed a sigh of relief and regained her senses.

Her legs felt a bit weak, so she simply squatted down.

Was this the "obligation" that she, as the party of the second part in the contract, had to fulfill?

So, when she pushed Wei Zhuang away just now, it could also be considered that she wasn't "forcing" her, right?

She wasn't an inexperienced little girl, she had a boyfriend before, been through intimate moments, the process usually involved sweet words to set the mood, then kissing, and gradually finding the right feelings, right?

Xiaoyuan began to bite her thumb. It had been years since her only experience, which hadn't even been pleasurable, and she barely remembered the process.

In any case, it didn't follow that script.

Was it different between women?

Xiaoyuan felt a bit regretful in hindsight. If she had known when shooting the web series "I Love You!" that she should have looked into LGBT information more closely, maybe it would have come in handy just now!

She uncomfortably touched her face and neck. What had just happened to her?

The feeling of being enveloped by Wei Zhuang's aura didn't seem too bad either...

Xiaoyuan covered her face with both hands, shook her head. There was too much information to process, her mind was overloaded.

In any case, she was now the only one in the room. It was late at night, and she didn't feel like moving the bed anymore. So, she simply climbed into bed.

On the nightstand, there was an iPad that could control the temperature, lighting, and curtains. She fiddled with it, adjusting everything to her comfort level, then covered herself with the blanket and tried to sleep.

The bed was very comfortable for her back, but it was still an unfamiliar and overly large bed. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, so she sat up. The bed felt too empty, the environment too unfamiliar, making her feel a bit uneasy.

The soothing light dimmed, the pillow carried a faint lavender scent, and the room temperature was just right, yet she still couldn't sleep.

After thinking for a moment, she got out of bed and moved the blanket and pillow onto the floor. Leaning against the bed, she lay down on the carpet, using one pillow to rest her head and hugging the other. She wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and finally felt like it wasn't so empty anymore.

Only then did she feel safe, and gradually, sleepiness washed over her. Eventually, she fell asleep.

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