<h4>Chapter 81: Chapter 80: The Perplexed Lin Qianru</h4>


    "You’re just a pervert,"


    Lin Qianru bit her red lips, whispering a soft curse.


    "Hehe, what’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before, no big deal. Besides, I’ve already seen your treasure naked, now I’m just seeing it dressed, so it’s really nothing," Lu Tianxing chuckled at Lin Qianru with a mischievous smile.


    Hearing this, Lin Qianru’s beautiful eyes shimmered and her pretty face almost seemed to drip with water. Her heart was pounding madly. It was at that moment she realized she was no match for Lu Tianxing; even if she acted shameless, she couldn’t outdo Lu Tianxing, the master of hooligans.


    "You... You lecher, I... I can’t be bothered to talk to you. I’m going to take a bath. I’ve been busy all day and feel ufortable all over. If you’re tired, go to sleep; if you want to watch TV, just turn it on yourself. I’m going to get your bedding and pillow now,"


    Lin Qianru red at Lu Tianxing with feigned annoyance, eager to retreat to her own room next door.


    Her bathroom was located in the main hall; since she lived alone and it was a temporary residence, she didn’t fuss much about the location, so the bathroom was on the left side of the hall.


    And since Lu Tianxing’s back was to the bathroom, Lin Qianru didn’t feel the need to be discreet. After all, Lu Tianxing had seen everything there was to see, so she confidently returned to her room, first giving Lu Tianxing a pillow and aforter, then went back to her room to grab a change of clothes, and headed straight into the bathroom.


    Lu Tianxing tidied up the sofa, casually ced the pillow beside it, couldn’t be bothered to take off his clothes, and simplyy down on the sofa, preparing to sleep.


    Before long, Lu Tianxing felt that having sharp senses wasn’t always a blessing. As time passed, the sound of bathing came from the bathroom, inevitably leading to wild thoughts.


    In the middle of the night, with a man outside and a woman bathing inside, it clearly was the prelude to a "hehehe" scenario; a post-bath friendly match would make for a perfect evening.


    Of course, Lu Tianxing merely dared to imagine it. If he dared to barge into the bathroom to engage in much-enjoyed antics, Lin Qianru might not reject him, but from then on, their rtionship would likely drop to an all-time low, turning them into strangers without any further interaction.


    Undeniably, he indeed liked beauties, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed obtaining them by force. Everything was more appealing and fulfilling when mutual desire was involved.


    Taking a deep breath and constantly shifting his focus, Lu Tianxing managed to somewhat cool the mes in his heart, smiling wryly at how much Lin Qianru really trusted him.


    An hourter, the bathroom door quietly opened, and a small head peeked out, stealthily ncing towards the sofa. When she heard the faint sound of breathing, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Qianru, wrapped in a bath towel, tiptoed to her room and shut the door.


    In the bedroom, Lin Qianru tossed aside the sole white towel on her body and flung it away. The soft lighting shone on her skin, making herplexion glow like white jade with a faint luminescence.


    Seeing her reflection in the mirror, the corners of Lin Qianru’s mouth curved slightly upward, revealing a smile of satisfaction, evidently pleased with her figure.


    "Ugh, Lin Qianru, you’re too lewd, actually fancying your own body."


    "Cut it out, it’s obvious you’re trying to seduce the man outside, too bad he’s asleep."


    "You’re talking nonsense. What’s so good about men? Women can hold up half the sky just the same. All men are tarred with the same brush."


    Lin Qianru muttered a few words, took out a cute rabbit sleep robe from the wardrobe to put on, and sat in front of theputer, absentmindedly scrolling through friends’ posts, reading some gossip, asionally casting nces towards the door, terrified that Lu Tianxing would barge in.


    After all, Lu Tianxing had once busted through a cabin door with a single punch, let alone a mere wooden one, which was practically no different from being made of paper.


    This was the first time in history she’d brought a man home, and she didn’t understand why she’d let Lu Tianxing stay at her ce. It was a spur of the moment decision—could it really be as Lu Tianxing said, that because she had given him her first time, she couldn’t stop thinking about him? Or was it because years had passed, seeing friends pair up while she, sessful in her business, sat alone in an empty, echoing room, feeling overwhelming loneliness, and wanted a man to apany her?


    "No, that can’t be it, no. How could I be afraid of being alone? After so many years, what’s the big deal? And this man is married. How could I possibly desire someone else’s husband? I pitied him, all alone, going home. If something happened, how could I exin to his wife? Yes, that must be it."


    Right now, Lin Qianru felt her heart was in turmoil. It was sote, and she should’ve been worn out from the recent busyness and ready to sleep, but she felt not the slightest bit drowsy, her mind filled with Lu Tianxing’s image.


    "Lin Qianru, stop letting your thoughts wander. He’s married. There’s no chance for you. Are you really hoping he’d divorce his wife and marry you? Aren’t you usually the one who despises such people? Stop wandering thoughts. Sleep, just sleep."


    Lin Qianru shook her head hard, after tossing her phone aside, she flopped onto the bed, covering her head with the nket.


    But lying in bed, Lin Qianru felt she couldn’t sleep at all, just sensing waves of anxiety. She’d never before shared a room with a man. Though a door divided them, it seemed utterly pointless to her.


    "He should be asleep by now. He wouldn’t suddenly burst in, would he?"


    Though Lin Qianruy in bed, her ears were pricked up high, ever alert to every move in the living room, getting so frightened by the slightest sound that she dared not even breathe heavily, tense and anxious.


    Although Lin Qianru dominated the business world and secured notable sess, that was strictly professional. Coupled with her mother’s experiences, she’d always kept a respectful distance from any man, not to mention love affairs. To this day, Lin Qianru’s romantic life was a nk te, she knew nothing.


    Yet, just a year ago, when she was at her most broken and desperate, Lu Tianxing had forcefully entered her life, leaving an almost indelible mark on her heart.


    This shadow, rather than fading with Lu Tianxing’s absence, had taken root inside her, waiting for the right moment to sprout. And that moment hade with her reunion with Lu Tianxing—the shadow had begun to grow, with no way to drive it out anymore, merely awaiting the day it would grow into a towering tree.