Lu Chen sat quietly, enjoying the sensation of Liu Jie's soft hands massaging his feet. He had never imagined a moment like this, considering that Liu Jie had always seemed so unattainable to him.
Liu Jie looked up with concern and asked, "Lu Chen, how do you feel now? Is it any better? If it's still not good, we should go to the school clinic to get it checked out."
Lu Chen shook his head and chuckled softly. "With you personally applying the medicine, I already feel a lot better. The pain has lessened considerably."
Liu Jie rolled her eyes at him and said, "Smooth talker. Serves you right if it hurts."
Lu Chem slowly reached out, and as a few strands of Liu Jie's hair fell across her forehead, she seemed to know what he was about to do. But instead of avoiding his touch, she quietly continued to massage the bruise on his foot.
A delicate fragrance filled the air, and her silky hair in his hand felt like the finest silk. Gently, he tucked it behind her ear, catching a clear glimpse of her snow-white neck and the tiny, pristine earlobe adorned with a small piercing. In all his memories, Lu Chen had never seen her wear any earrings.
Almost unconsciously, his fingers lightly brushed her earlobe. Liu Jie's body trembled slightly, her cheeks flushing a rosy red. She shot him a glare, quickly setting his foot down before rushing into the bathroom to wash her hands. She stayed there for quite a while before emerging.
When she returned, the blush on her face had vanished, replaced by her usual calm expression. Sitting down beside him, she cast a sidelong glance at Lu Chen and asked casually, "Lu Chen, why do you smell so nice?"
Lu Chen paused, then quickly responded, "Oh, you mean the fragrance on me? It's a long story. I haven't eaten yet. Could you make me something? We can talk while we eat."
Liu Jie glanced at the time and realized it was almost noon. She gave him a playful glare. "Today, I'll cook for you myself. Consider yourself lucky to taste my cooking."
Lu Chen grinned. "Too bad my foot's injured, or I'd have cooked for you instead. But since you're the one cooking today, I'll make something for you next time."
Liu Jie tossed the TV remote to Lu Chen. "You can watch TV if you're bored. I'll go make lunch."
Lu Chen settled onto the sofa, watching TV and listening to the sounds of cooking coming from the kitchen. He murmured to himself, "It feels so nice to have a home."
Just then, Liu Jie poked her head out of the kitchen. Seeing her, Lu Chen chuckled, "What are you sneaking around for?"
Liu Jie blushed, looking every bit the picture of a homemaker with an apron tied around her. She gave him another playful glare. "I'm just checking to see if you're behaving yourself," she said, glancing towards her bedroom, as if to make sure he hadn't sneaked in while she was busy in the kitchen.
Following her gaze, Lu Chen noticed the slightly ajar door and felt a surge of curiosity. "Relax and focus on your cooking," he teased. "You wouldn't want to burn anything and ruin your reputation."
As Liu Jie disappeared back into the kitchen, Lu Chen's thoughts drifted away from the TV. His mind was now focused on her slightly open bedroom door. He was sure that no one but Liu Jie herself had ever set foot in that room. It was just a hunch, but Lu Chen trusted his instincts.
He stole a glance towards the kitchen, listening intently. The faint sound of Liu Jie singing softly reached his ears, suggesting she was still occupied with cooking.
With a faint smile on his lips, Lu Chen quietly made his way towards Liu Jie's bedroom. Standing before the door, he peeked into the kitchen one last time and, seeing no sign of her, breathed a sigh of relief.
As he stepped into the room, Liu Jie's unique fragrance enveloped him. The room was simple and pure, dominated by shades of white. A bed was positioned near the window, with a dressing table at the head, a desk, two chairs, and a delicate wardrobe. The minimalistic arrangement exuded a sense of elegance.
The quilt on the bed was neatly folded, and on it lay the white towel Liu Jie had wrapped around herself earlier. Lu Chen moved to the bed and sat down lightly, savoring the softness beneath him. As he placed the towel aside, something small and yellow slipped out.
Looking closer, Lu Chen's eyes widened in surprise. It was a delicate, small pair of light yellow cotton panties with lace trim, lying innocently on the pristine bedspread. Instantly, his mind conjured images of Liu Jie's jade-like body wearing them.
A rush of blood surged to his head, and Lu Chen quickly tried to dispel the thoughts. Just imagining it was enough to make him lose his composure. Almost without thinking, he picked up the small cotton panties. They were smooth and soft, like touching Liu Jie's skin.
Just then, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by Liu Jie's slightly anxious voice. "Lu Chen, where did you go?"
Startled, Lu Chen quickly replied, "I'm here."
It was only after he had spoken that he realized he was still holding Liu Jie's underwear. If she saw him like this, it would be beyond awkward! In a panic, he stuffed the panties into his pocket just as Liu Jie pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing Lu Chen sitting on her bed, her face instantly turned bright red. "Y-you… How could you come in here?"
By now, Lu Chen had calmed down a bit. He met her gaze and said defiantly, "Why shouldn't I come in? The door wasn't locked. Or do you have something in here you don't want anyone to see?" As he spoke, he deliberately looked around the room.
Hearing this, Liu Jie shot him a fierce glare. "Go ahead… look all you want."
Lu Chen chuckled. "Since the lady of the house has given her permission, I won't be shy."
With that, Lu Chen stood up and began to limp towards Liu Jie's wardrobe. Her eyes darted towards the bed, noticing that her towel had been moved. Panic gripped her as she wondered if he had seen the panties she had just changed out of. Seeing him approach her wardrobe, she quickly stepped in front of him. "W-what are you doing?"
Liu Jie couldn't possibly let him open the wardrobe. Her intimate clothing was hanging inside—how embarrassing would it be if he saw that!
Seeing the embarrassment in her eyes, a smile played on Lu Jie's lips. "Nothing much. Didn't you say I could look around? I just thought the wardrobe looked nice. But don't worry, I'm not really interested in what's inside."