It felt as if an immense mountain had settled upon his face, pressing down with an unbearable weight. Yasushi, enveloped in a dreamlike haze, fought to reclaim his consciousness, his struggle lasting for but a fleeting moment before his eyes fluttered open.
What greeted him was a pervasive darkness, soft and yielding against his face, accompanied by a delicate, pleasant fragrance that hinted at familiarity.
Yet, within this enveloping darkness, there was a subtle glow, a faint suggestion of light that teased the edges of his vision. As Yasushi's mind slowly shed the remnants of sleep, the reality of his situation began to crystallize.
The source of the weight pressing upon him became clear — it was Jingliu, her body draped over his, her soft warmth a tangible presence. More precisely, it was her breasts that had found their resting place upon him. He felt an instinctive urge to extricate himself, to push her away gently, yet he was caught in a dilemma. The last thing he wanted was to disturb her slumber.
In an attempt to resolve his predicament without causing a ruckus, Yasushi began to pat her back softly, his movements cautious and deliberate.
His intention was to rouse her gently, hoping she might shift in her sleep and relieve him from his predicament. Seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity, until finally, he sensed a change. Jingliu stirred, her body responding to his gentle prompting. He heard her voice, muffled and tinged with the remnants of sleep.
"Mmm... five more minutes," she murmured, her words a sleepy protest against the intrusion of wakefulness.
Yasushi sighed deeply, the weight of the day's responsibilities pressing down on him even as he lay there. "No... we have a lot to do today, so we have to get up," he murmured, his voice a gentle nudge towards wakefulness.
Yet, before his words could fully penetrate the veil of Jingliu's slumber, she shifted abruptly, and with a surprising force, her head collided with his nose. A sharp, unexpected pain shot through him, eliciting an involuntary groan as he instinctively brought his hand to his face, rubbing his nose in an attempt to soothe the discomfort.
Blinking away the tears that sprang to his eyes from the sudden impact, Yasushi turned his gaze back to Jingliu. She had finally awakened, her eyes wide and bleary, a hint of confusion clouding her features. A small trail of drool clung to the corner of her mouth, adding a touch of absurdity to the situation. He watched as her disorientation gave way to awareness, her expression slowly shifting from confusion to a sleepy acknowledgment of his presence.
With a quick, almost reflexive check, Yasushi ensured that his nose wasn't bleeding. Relieved to find no blood, he returned his attention to Jingliu, who was now fully conscious and staring back at him. "Morning... let's get up?" he suggested gently, his tone coaxing her towards the inevitable start of their day. Jingliu, still groggy, nodded in agreement and began to extricate herself from their entangled position.
As she rose, however, her balance faltered. She wavered unsteadily before gravity took hold, pulling her back down onto Yasushi with an unexpected thud. Her elbow found its mark in his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and eliciting another pained groan. His patience, already tested, wore thin as he managed to gasp out, "Are you trying to kill me...?"
"Sorry..." Jingliu mumbled, her voice a quiet murmur tinged with embarrassment. The blush that crept across her cheeks was a testament to her awkwardness, and she quickly disentangled herself from Yasushi, crawling away with a haste born of mortification.
Once she reached the floor, she stood up, brushing herself off in a flurry of nervous energy. "I'll go get changed. We can have Yinhaie drive us there," she added, her words rushed as she made a beeline for the door, eager to escape the lingering awkwardness of the moment. With that, she slipped out of his room, leaving Yasushi to his own devices.
Yasushi watched her go, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. He glanced down at his injured hand, the faint ache a reminder of the events with Mizahara. Deciding that it was best to move on with the day, he rose from the bed and began his routine. The familiar actions of washing and dressing provided a sense of normalcy, each step a small anchor in the flow of time. It didn't take him long to prepare himself for the day's events, his anticipation for the new chapter that awaited them spurring him into action.
Yasushi ate his breakfast alone, savoring each bite in quiet contemplation. The solitude of the moment offered him a brief respite, a chance to gather his thoughts before the day truly began.
When he finished, he made his way to the front hall entrance, where he stood waiting for Jingliu. The minutes slipped by, each one marked by the quiet ticking of a nearby clock. Twenty minutes had passed when she finally appeared, her expression tinged with a hint of displeasure. Yet, she chose not to voice her irritation, deeming it too trivial to mention.
"Yinhaie is bringing the car around to the front gate. Let's wait there," Jingliu said, her voice calm but firm. Yasushi nodded, and they moved towards the front gate, their footsteps echoing softly in the stillness.
The silence between them was palpable, a mutual understanding that conversation was unnecessary. They walked slowly, each lost in their own thoughts, the quiet morning air wrapping around them like a shroud.
By the time they reached the front gate, Yinhaie was already there, the car idling patiently. Without a word, they climbed into the back seats, the doors closing with a soft thud. Yinhaie pulled away from the gate with a practiced ease, the car gliding smoothly onto the road.
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Yasushi's mouth hung open in astonishment as the car came to a stop in front of the vast, almost absurdly grandiose mansion. The sheer scale of the house overwhelmed him, rendering him momentarily speechless. His mind swirled with a flurry of thoughts and opinions, but he found himself unable to articulate any of them, too stunned by the imposing sight before him.
"This is your new home," Yinhaie explained, her tone matter-of-fact as she stepped out of the car. "As I mentioned before, it boasts numerous rooms and various amenities added by the previous owners before the sale. I believe it should be more than suitable for the three of us, along with any additional staff."
Standing beside Yasushi, Yinhaie pulled out an oval-shaped device from her pocket. "Lord Yasushi, this is the electronic key for the house. There is an app specifically designed for managing this home, and I have sent you the link in our messages. Make sure to download it. I've done the same for Lady Jingliu," she continued, her voice steady and efficient.
Yasushi nodded, taking the device from her, still processing the enormity of their new residence. Yinhaie gave him a reassuring smile before turning to leave. "I will head off now to finalize a few more details and will join you shortly. Lunch is ready and waiting in the main dining area. When you're ready, please go there and retrieve the food from the fridge."
With those final words, Yinhaie departed, leaving Yasushi and Jingliu alone to face the grandeur of their new abode. The gated community fell silent in her absence, adding an air of solitude to the already overwhelming experience.
Jingliu, unable to contain her excitement, tugged on Yasushi's arm. "Let's go and explore it," she urged, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm as she pulled him along the lengthy driveway. The path stretched out before them, seeming almost interminable, rivaling the length of the one at Jingliu's home. Yasushi remained silent, allowing the weight of reality to settle in as they walked. Each step brought them closer to their destination, the vastness of the property slowly sinking in.
After an eight-minute walk, they finally stood before the grand front door. Jingliu, eager and determined, retrieved her electronic keycard and swiftly opened the door, ushering Yasushi inside.
As they stepped into the entrance hallway, Yasushi felt a sense of awe wash over him. The space was even more magnificent than he had imagined. Large marble statues of two of Japan's legendary figures stood sentinel, their presence commanding respect.
Above them, a grand chandelier sparkled with an almost ethereal glow, casting intricate patterns of light on the marble floor below. The wooden staircase in front of them curved gracefully to the second floor, a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail that had gone into the home's design.
To their left and right, four doorways beckoned, each with signs above indicating the rooms beyond. The possibilities seemed endless, and Yasushi felt a mix of excitement and trepidation at the thought of exploring the vast space.
Jingliu, equally overwhelmed but eager to begin, turned to Yasushi with a question. "Which way? Or should we check the first dining room first to make sure we know where to go?"
Yasushi considered her suggestion, nodding thoughtfully. "Let's start with the dining room," he agreed. "It might be good to get our bearings and see what's prepared for lunch."
With that decision made, they headed towards the designated dining room, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble floor as they embarked on the first of many explorations in their new home.