Chapter 2: Aren't We Friends Too?

Pu Rou turned her face away, not daring to look at Sheng Kuang. She felt too embarrassed.

"You..." He was momentarily speechless too. "Keep going?"

In the bedroom, only her uneven breathing could be heard. Sheng Kuang pulled the thin blanket over her, and the next second, she grabbed his wrist bone.

"Don't stop. There's no reason to stop."

Near dawn, pale blue light rose in the sky. Through the sheer curtains, they could just barely make out the outlines of each other's bodies.

A flush spread across her whole body. Sheng Kuang saw it clearly. In this state, if she didn't catch her breath for a moment, it probably wouldn't feel good.

But Pu Rou happened to be the hands-on type. She bent her knee and rubbed against him.

Sheng Kuang took a deep breath, turned his head toward the nightstand, dug out protection, and handed it to her. "You do it."

Pu Rou braced herself and helped out. Impressive size, unfamiliar texture. Putting this thing on was like plugging a USB drive into a computer—the first time, you always get it backwards.

She fumbled around, a layer of fine sweat on her forehead, about to mess it up entirely.

The man's brows furrowed slightly. Helplessly, he took over.

...

Halfway through, Pu Rou felt like Sheng Kuang's probing gaze was about to pierce right through her.

He couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"

She played dumb. "What do you mean, what's going on?"

Pu Rou was a virgin.

Sheng Kuang didn't care about that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen her after hearing all the gossip floating around.

It was just that dating seven or eight boyfriends without ever going all the way—there had to be something fishy about it.

Right now, the beauty's eyes were wet, her fingers digging tight into his forearm. Clearly not the time to continue this topic.

Pu Rou: "Can you actually do it?"

Hearing that, Sheng Kuang paused, then his body resumed its earlier movements. "If it hurts, say so."

She gave an almost imperceptible "Mm."

By the time they finished, it was fully light out. The battlefield was an absolute disaster.

Pu Rou slumped over the edge of the bed, feeling half-dead. Exhausted, yet amazing—so amazing that by the end, her body had stopped functioning.

Maybe because they'd just experienced physical intimacy, she got a little bolder facing Sheng Kuang.

He urged her to go shower. Pu Rou pulled out the spoiled-daughter act she used at home. "Tired. Can't move. Wash me."

Her voice was soft and sweet. Sheng Kuang stood by the bed, thought for a moment, scooped her up, and carried her to the bathroom.

Pu Rou draped over the edge of the tub, half-asleep, and heard him say, "Don't come back so late from now on."

She'd always been full of energy, a night owl who slept during the day.

"Waiting for you alone in this big house is boring," Pu Rou said.

Water rippled in the tub. Sheng Kuang used a damp towel to gently wipe away the marks he'd left on her.

Pu Rou lifted her eyelids and lazily glanced at him.

Before getting their marriage certificate, she'd heard plenty of people describe this third son of the Sheng family as cold-tempered and impossible to read.

But after dealing with him a few times, Pu Rou felt he was actually an easygoing partner.

Their first meeting had been a blind date. Thinking the other party was the Third Young Master of the Sheng family, Pu Rou arrived at the agreed spot fifteen minutes early.

Turns out Sheng Kuang had arrived even earlier.

The date was at Zhenshi Shanfang in the western suburbs' mountains. Winter temperatures in the mountains were low, but the stove, the tea, and the roasted persimmon cakes were all steaming hot.

She was surprised and asked how he'd gotten there so early.

"Barring accidents, you're my future wife. It's only proper."

Pu Rou immediately figured Sheng Kuang was the type who fiercely protected his own people.

Who cared what outsiders thought? Why else would they be called outsiders?

Pu Rou was straightforward too. "I'm Pu Rou. You've probably seen my file. Satisfied?"

No acting aloof, no playing hard to get. She knew perfectly well that their circle had even stricter class barriers. The man's gaze fell on her. "Satisfied."

He said it softly.

Pu Rou's brain was a bit scrambled. One moment she heard the birdsong of Zhenshi Shanfang, the next the faint splashing in the bathroom. Her consciousness blurred, and amid extreme exhaustion, she fell asleep.

When she woke again, it was already afternoon, roused by her phone ringing. Lin Zhouzhou was calling her relentlessly.

"Big sis, you're still not up? Jiang Ling's birthday is tonight, and I haven't picked out a gift yet."

"I haven't prepared one either."

The moment Pu Rou opened her mouth, her voice was hoarse like she'd swallowed a handful of sand.

She startled herself first. On the other end, Lin Zhouzhou sounded suspicious. "What happened to your voice?"

What else could have happened? Last night, Pu Rou had planned to stay reserved, biting back her sounds. But her wonderful husband thought she wasn't satisfied, so after finishing once, he went again.

She didn't know which of them was unnaturally gifted, but anyway, Pu Rou's scalp went numb with pleasure. By the second half, she turned into a fountain, lost her mind, started babbling nonsense—all things unfit for polite company.

Her face flushed. She cleared her throat. "Caught a bit of a chill last night."

Lin Zhouzhou: "That's what you get for wearing so little yesterday."

Pu Rou rolled over under the covers. Her whole body ached. Gritting her teeth, she climbed up to wash.

The phone on speaker crackled. "What should we get her? If I buy something expensive, my heart will literally ache. If I buy something cheap, she'll roast me for it."

Brushing her teeth, Pu Rou mumbled indistinctly, "Perfume. Can't go wrong."

Lin Zhouzhou agreed. "Sure. Anyway, Miss Jiang gets tons of gifts for her birthday. She probably won't notice we've sent perfume six years in a row."

The two shared a sly laugh over the phone.

After washing up, Pu Rou went downstairs to find food.

Sheng Kuang came out of the kitchen, walking straight into her as she barreled in with her head down. Pu Rou's vision went black, her nose stinging with sour pain.

"Why... aren't you at the company?"

Only after asking did she remember Sheng Kuang had been on a business trip abroad for two weeks. Even a workhorse needs rest... A bit awkward, she asked, "Have you eaten? I can cook noodles."

Sheng Kuang tilted his chin up—a gesture directing her attention.

She looked back. On the dining table were several stir-fried dishes, meat and vegetables balanced, two bowls of rice already served.

"I'm not used to having outsiders in the house. The auntie leaves after cooking the three meals and cleaning up."

Was he telling her his living habits? Pu Rou nodded. "Okay, noted. Do you have any requirements for your wife? I haven't heard your thoughts yet."

She followed him toward the dining table. "Even though this marriage is just to deal with your grandfather, we did genuinely get married."

Actually, right before getting the certificate, Sheng Kuang had revealed the truth to her. For the family business to be handed over to him, the hard requirement was that he settle down first.

If the two of them couldn't get along later, the compensation for Pu Rou written in the agreement was generous enough that she couldn't complain.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a guaranteed profit.

As long as life could go on peacefully like this, staying out of each other's way, that was fine. If their personalities clicked and they could build some feelings, even better.

Pu Rou held an optimistic attitude toward this marriage and was very willing to put effort into it.

Sheng Kuang sat across the table, studying her without leaving a trace.

Pale skin, a cascade of smooth black hair draped over her shoulders. After last night, her whole person radiated the healthy glow of someone thoroughly watered and nourished.

He had no interest in love or family, but he considered himself a man of contractual spirit, and marriage counted as one.

His understanding of women was also quite one-sided. His new wife was beautiful, and they matched well in bed. As for personality... so far, it seemed decent enough.

Sheng Kuang didn't have high expectations. His tone was flat. "Passing grade is fine."

Pu Rou sipped her coffee, wanting only to reply: Yes, boss.

What the hell. That tone was practically pulling up his pants and pretending not to know her—completely different from the way he'd fiercely drawn everything out of her in bed last night.