Imperial Seal No. 1 is a new residential development launched at the beginning of the year, located on Academy Road in the East Third Ring, adjacent to the EP Royal CBD. The developers were quite extravagant, excavating an artificial lake and planting a grove in this prime area. This has resulted in a very pleasant living environment that feels like a peaceful retreat in the bustling city, though the price is accordingly high.
Upon entering, Stella saw that her luggage had already been delivered. Eight boxes were neatly stacked in the foyer, four of which were filled with her books.
The apartment was a nearly 200-square-meter flat with three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. One of the bedrooms had been converted into a study. The decor was very simple, featuring black, white, and gray tones, very much in line with Leo Starr's style. All the living essentials were in place, but the fridge was empty, containing nothing but mineral water and alcohol.
After ordering some fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and eggs via an app, Stella began unpacking. She first took out her books, then stood at the study door for a minute without entering, thinking it best to avoid Leo's work documents.
Luckily, there was also a bookshelf in the living room. She arranged the books by color, gradually filling half of the TV wall, then stood back with her hands on her hips to admire her work, feeling very accomplished.
During this time, she signed for the groceries, and the kitchen now had chicken soup simmering. She glanced at the remaining boxes and decided to take a break before continuing.
The sunset was perfect through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She sat cross-legged, gazing out at the entire EP University campus. The distance from there to here felt both short and long. She was here now, but who knew what the future held.
A soft sound came from the foyer, and she turned to see Leo Starr. They both froze for a moment.
Stella, somewhat awkwardly, said, "You're… home?"
Leo replied, "Yes."
Suddenly having someone else in their lives, they both needed time to adjust, which was normal. When her phone alarm rang, she turned it off and headed to the kitchen. "Just in time, the chicken soup is ready. You haven't eaten yet, right?"
Leo responded and entered the apartment, his first glance falling on the starkly contrasting TV wall—half filled with plain black wooden shelves, the other half with a rainbow of books.
The smell of food wafted from the kitchen as he watched Stella's busy figure. The phrase "living atmosphere" consciously formed in his mind for the first time, and surprisingly, it felt nice.
Over in the kitchen, Stella, busy cooking, hadn't noticed the passage of time and unconsciously shouted, "Wash your hands and come eat!"
As soon as she said it, she shivered. Oh no, that tone… it sounded too domineering. She'd never seen anyone use an imperative with Leo Starr since they met. Would he be unhappy?
Turning back cautiously, she saw that Leo had already sat at the dining table, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, indicating he'd just washed his hands.
He took the bowl and chopsticks from her and asked, "Do you like chicken soup?"
"Ah? Yes," she answered absentmindedly, still a bit flustered, then quickly added, "It's good for the stomach." Just as she finished speaking, a bowl of bright red chili sauce was placed on the table.
"…"
Leo's lips curved up, and he pointed at the sauce with his chopsticks. "Good for the stomach?"
Stella gritted her teeth. "I don't eat this. My aunt made it for you to try."
He smoothly moved the chili sauce to his side. "Thank you."
She replied through clenched teeth, "You're welcome."
The chicken soup was perfectly cooked, and Leo, after tasting it, sincerely praised it. "It's very good."
"Then have more." Stella, still a bit absent-minded, kept her eyes glued to the chili sauce. Chicken without chili sauce had no soul!
Leo saw her forlorn face and couldn't help but laugh. He pushed the chili sauce back towards her. "Your stomach isn't well. Don't eat too much."
Stella's eyes instantly brightened. "Okay!"
Biting into the tender chicken dipped in fragrant chili sauce, Stella looked utterly content, her big eyes narrowing into crescent moons, her cheeks bulging like a squirrel's.
Seeing this, Leo's heart softened, and he reached out.
His warm thumb brushed against the corner of her mouth, wiping it clean. Stella, staring at Leo's smiling eyes under the warm light, suddenly froze.
Leo was wiping her… mouth?
Realizing what he was doing, Leo also froze for a moment. He naturally retracted his hand, wiped the soup off his fingers with a tissue, and looked at her. "Why aren't you eating?"
Stella came back to her senses, wanting to shake her head but also wanting to continue chewing. In her panic, she bit her tongue hard and, with a muffled groan, rushed to the bathroom.
Leo followed, hearing the continuous sound of running water inside. He knocked on the door. "Stella, what's wrong?"
After a while, the water stopped, and the door opened. Stella's face was wet, her bun barely holding together, her eyes red.
Leo frowned. "Is your stomach hurting again?"
Stella shook her head and struggled to speak. "I bit my tongue."
"…"
Stella had bitten a large chunk of her tongue. Leo helped her rinse her mouth and apply medication. They sat back at the dining table, but now spicy food was out of the question. Stella looked very disheartened.
Leo couldn't help but laugh, earning a fierce glare from her. She was so focused on the chili sauce that she didn't notice how much more relaxed she was with Leo.
Due to her injury, Stella's combat effectiveness wasn't as usual today. However, Leo's appetite seemed larger than she remembered, and together they finished the pot of chicken soup.
After satisfying their hunger, it was time to consider the aftermath. Stella put down her spoon and solemnly suggested, "I think we can divide the chores. For example, I cooked dinner today, so you can wash the dishes."
"That makes sense," Leo wiped his hands. "But starting tomorrow, a housekeeper will come every day to clean, so we don't need to wash the dishes."
"…" Almost forgot Leo was a rich man. "I see."
Leo stood up. "What are you planning to do next?"
Stella tilted her head. "Maybe… unpack."
Was he going to help her?
Leo nodded and said plainly, "I have a video conference to attend. Try to keep it down."
"… Okay."
After closing the study door, Stella slapped her forehead, killing off any notion of "newlywed couple bonding." She then tiptoed to the master bedroom.
The bedroom was large, with a floor-to-ceiling window like the one in the living room, which Stella liked. She deliberately avoided looking at the imposing bed in the center and headed straight for the walk-in closet.
Four sets of wardrobes lined the walls. She opened one to check the space and was amazed by the organization inside.
"Wow, as expected of Mr. Starr."
All the suits were arranged by color, from dark to light, as were the shirts. Casual clothes, loungewear, and sleepwear were all neatly organized. Leo occupied half or less of each wardrobe, leaving the rest presumably for her.
Feeling a sense of responsibility, Stella declared, "I must organize my clothes just as neatly!" But the task seemed daunting. Having exhausted herself today, she decided to rest and tackle it tomorrow.
She took out a few changes of clothes from the boxes, took a shower, tidied up the bathroom, changed into her pajamas, and went to sit by the window with a book she hadn't finished.
When Leo emerged from his study, he first went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Finding no one in the living room, he turned to the bedroom.
The faint scent of her shower gel lingered in the air. His little wife, in a soft yellow cotton pajama set, was curled up in a chair, as relaxed as the cat on her pajamas.
He approached, lifting a strand of her damp hair to gently rub. "Why isn't your hair dry?"
"The hair dryer is noisy," Stella said, absorbed in her book, glancing back at him briefly before letting him play with her hair. "I usually don't use it because the dorm has a power limit, and using a hair dryer trips the circuit."
Leo paused, then went to the bathroom, retrieved the hair dryer, plugged it in, and handed it to her. "Dry it before bed, or you'll get a headache."
"Are you done with work?" She asked, seeing him nod before switching on the dryer.
Blow-drying her hair was tiring. Her arms and neck were sore before her hair was barely dry. Shortly after she finished, Leo came out of the bathroom.
He was also in pajamas, the smooth fabric clinging to his body, showing off the muscles of his shoulders, back, and firm waist.
Stella's ears burned. She quickly turned away, holding up her book to hide her face.
Leo leaned against the headboard, replying to a few emails. When he looked up, Stella was still curled up in the chair reading, showing no signs of going to bed.
He checked the time: 11 PM.
Mr. Starr, for once, pondered the lifestyle and health habits of contemporary college students but chose not to say anything.
After reading his finance magazine for another thirty minutes, he looked up again to find Stella in the same position, completely motionless.
Leo had no choice but to call out to her, "It's late. Come to bed."