After a One-Night Stand with a Seductive Bad Woman - Chapter 7

Lu Jia’s ears flushed under the woman’s almost brazen gaze.

 

Despite the cool air conditioning, Lu Jia averted her eyes. “That won’t be necessary.”

 

She had the money; she could afford it.

 

Sheng Shubai sighed, half-genuine, half-teasing. “Alright, tenant sister.”

 

At Lu Jia’s request, they found a standard rental agreement template online and filled it out.

 

Seeing Lu Jia frown at the electronic document, Sheng Shubai generously offered, “If there are any additional clauses you’d like to add, feel free to speak up.”

 

Lu Jia paused. “Article 10 states, ‘Rent may be converted to any form of payment upon mutual agreement.’ What does that mean?”

 

Sheng Shubai had added this clause, and Lu Jia couldn’t shake the feeling that it meant the same thing as her earlier remark.

 

Sheng Shubai rested her chin in her hand, twirling a black pen between her fingers before letting it come to a leisurely stop.

 

The woman smiled. “For example, if I come over for a meal you’ve cooked, could part of the rent be waived as a thank you?”

 

Lu Jia found the logic sound, but the example was ill-chosen. She couldn’t cook.

 

It was a skill she’d never managed to acquire. As a child, when she’d caught fish and shrimp with her family by the Forest Farm, the soups she made were always either too salty or too bland. Even when roasting free-range chickens on wooden skewers, she was the only one who ever burned them.

 

Besides, Sheng Shubai had mentioned she didn’t usually live here, making it unlikely she’d come just to freeload a meal.

 

Still, Lu Jia nodded. “Thank you. I understand.”

 

Lu Jia’s luggage was minimal, so Sheng Shubai drove her to the hotel to retrieve her suitcase.

 

She would need to buy daily necessities herself.

 

Sheng Shubai sent Lu Jia the addresses of several nearby supermarkets, leaving her to arrange things as she pleased before driving off.

 

Lu Jia spent the entire afternoon settling into her new apartment.

 

As evening approached, Lu Jia stood by the elevator, several large bags of daily necessities in hand. The floor display jumped from the basement to the ground floor.

 

The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a familiar woman standing inside with two large suitcases beside her.

 

“Professor Sheng?”

 

The rustling of shopping bags and suitcases filled the air as Lu Jia stepped aside. She noticed the illuminated floor button indicated their floor.

 

Sheng Shubai raised an eyebrow. “What a coincidence! Just back from shopping?”

 

Lu Jia hummed in agreement and asked, “Miss Sheng, what brings you here?”

 

Tapping her knuckles against the suitcase handle, Sheng Shubai smiled warmly. “The university apartment is being renovated. I’ll be staying here temporarily—right across from you, in the opposite unit.”

 

Lu Jia thought it was quite a coincidence.

 

Having a familiar face living across the hall meant they could look out for each other.

 

But when she saw her new landlord and neighbor struggling to push her heavy suitcases out of the elevator and over the threshold, Lu Jia couldn’t stand by. She stepped forward to help lift one of the cases.

 

One suitcase was filled with cosmetics and skincare products, while the other contained only jewelry.

 

Learning that both twenty-six-inch suitcases were packed with such fragile items, Lu Jia, who had initially offered to carry them into the bedroom, immediately set the case down and carefully wheeled it over to the wall, leaning it securely against it.

 

Sheng Shubai, who had been texting with her head down, looked up as Lu Jia emerged from the bedroom. Leaning against the dining room sideboard, she smiled warmly and said, “Thank you for your help, Little Sister Lu.”

 

Lu Jia waved her hand dismissively. “It was nothing.”

 

Still, she found it odd. Sheng Shubai usually had considerable strength, so why was she struggling to move the suitcases today?

 

The moment Lu Jia voiced her question, Sheng Shubai’s gaze slid over, her eyes carrying a knowing glint.

 

“It’s not that I couldn’t lift them,” Sheng Shubai replied seriously. “I had a fever a few days ago and still haven’t fully recovered my strength.”

 

“I see,” Lu Jia said, nodding in understanding. “Is there anything else you need help with? I’m happy to assist.”

 

Sheng Shubai said the moving company would handle the rest, and she had personally brought these two boxes containing more valuable items.

 

“Oh, by the way,” Sheng Shubai asked, “someone will be coming to collect the printmaking and woodblock prints from your studio later. When would be a good time?”

 

Lu Jia shrugged. “Any time works.”

 

That afternoon, while making a list of things to buy, Lu Jia took a special stroll through the studio. She carefully admired the paintings on the walls and the woodblock prints stacked on the shelves, though she refrained from touching them.

 

Every painting bore the same signature: Sheng.

 

The most recent signature was dated ten years ago, and the handwriting closely resembled Sheng Shubai’s signature on their contract, though the current script was more mature and sharp.

 

Yet back in M City, when Lu Jia had asked if Sheng Shubai knew about printmaking, she had replied, “I’ve heard of it,” with an expression that… held an indescribable strangeness.

 

Lu Jia had no interest in prying into others’ private affairs and decided not to ask.

 

She hadn’t touched the carving tools or inks, instead storing them in a storage box and placing it in a cabinet. Now that she remembered them, she asked Sheng Shubai how to handle them.

 

The woman replied casually, “Just leave them there. You can use them if you want. It would be best to use them up completely; no need to return them to me.”

 

Lu Jia opened the calculator on her phone. “Then should we factor their market value into the rent?”

 

Sheng Shubai couldn’t help but laugh in genuine exasperation.

 

“Lu Jia,” she called out, using Lu Jia’s full name, and couldn’t resist reaching out to tap the girl’s head. “Are you made of wood?”

 

Lu Jia tilted her head slightly at the tap, then straightened up and replied earnestly, “My zodiac sign is the sheep, but the fortune-teller did say my five elements are lacking wood.”

 

“They were wrong. You’re clearly overflowing with it.”

 

Sheng Shubai cradled the hot water, the warmth from the ceramic cup easing her tension. “I’m renting you this place, but that doesn’t mean our relationship is purely transactional. We can have other kinds of relationships too.”

 

Lu Jia nodded. “I understand. Like teacher and student?”

 

Seeing Sheng Shubai’s expression darken slightly, she added in a small voice, “…and neighbors?”

 

Sheng Shubai rubbed her temples and sighed. “Close enough.”

 

She couldn’t think of a more accurate term at the moment. She couldn’t exactly call it a… former. fvck. buddy relationship, could she?

 

“Anyway, even though that clause is in the rental agreement, don’t take it too seriously. It’s unlikely to ever come up.”

 

She had only added it to tease the girl, see her reaction, and give herself an excuse to occasionally reduce her rent.

 

The woman calmly lowered her head and took a sip of hot water. Her brow furrowed slightly as she thought, As expected, it tastes better cold.

 

Lu Jia, however, assumed she had angered her. She straightened her posture and waited quietly for Sheng Shubai’s next words, but instead received an invitation.

 

“Want to go out for dinner tonight? Let’s celebrate both of us moving.” Sensing Lu Jia might bring up rent, Sheng Shubai quickly added, “My treat.”

 

Soon after, the moving company arrived with their belongings and took away the printmaking supplies from the studio.

 

After a quick tidy-up, Sheng Shubai knocked on the opposite door. “Lu Jia, ready to go?”

 

They were headed to a nearby restaurant specializing in light, refreshing cuisine.

 

Sheng Shubai had initially considered Hunan cuisine, wanting Lu Jia to experience C City’s signature flavors after her simple high-speed train meal.

 

Lu Jia waved her hands frantically. “I… I can’t handle spicy food.”

 

She was the type who couldn’t tolerate even a hint of spice. After eating it, her lips would swell, and she’d end up in a miserable mess of tears and snot.

 

The level of spiciness in M City was manageable. But during a family trip, she had been persuaded to try a famous hotpot broth from another region. One bite sent a searing pain through her head, and even after rinsing a slice of fatty beef three times in cold water, it still brought tears to her eyes.

 

Sheng Shubai wasn’t from C City either. Having lived there for over a decade, he was equally comfortable with spicy and mild food, so he readily agreed to Lu Jia’s preference.

 

The dishes were abundant and delicious.

 

Midway through the meal, Lu Jia’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Rong Yi:

 

“The art exhibition’s opening ceremony is tomorrow at 9 AM. Meet me at the academy building around 8:30 AM, and we’ll go together with Meng Xi.”

 

Shi Mengxi was a year ahead of Lu Jia, and like her, was pursuing a professional master’s degree.

 

Rong Yi currently supervised only these two students. A few days earlier, she had created a group chat for the three of them, where Shi Mengxi was particularly active.

 

Out of the ten messages exchanged, including greetings, seven were from her.

 

Sheng Shubai, sitting across from Lu Jia, picked up the teapot and refilled his wheat tea, then poured half a cup for Lu Jia as well. “What’s wrong? You’re looking so serious even while eating.”

 

Lu Jia snapped out of her thoughts. “Sorry, I was replying to my mentor.”

 

“Oh, it’s that person again,” Sheng Shubai clicked his tongue. “Messaging students this late? Talk about exploitation.”

 

“Seriously, have you considered transferring to my program? Not only would I never bother you at night, I wouldn’t even contact you during the day unless it was absolutely necessary.”

 

After all, she sometimes slept from four in the morning until the afternoon, unable to message her students during that time.

 

Lu Jia pursed her lips. “Professor Sheng, I don’t currently plan to switch to watercolor.”

 

Sheng Shubai glanced at her sideways. “Lu Jia, let’s discuss this. Could you use a different title when we’re alone?”

 

Since they first met, this child had been calling her “Professor Sheng,” making her feel like she’d spent the entire day at school.

 

Even though she wasn’t working, she felt exhausted and miserable.

 

“…Then, Miss Sheng?” Lu Jia hesitated, recalling her earlier way of addressing Sheng Shubai.

 

Sheng Shubai couldn’t resist opening her phone’s front camera to examine her reflection, then pointed at herself, her tone puzzled. “Lu Jia, does my face really make it so impossible for you to call me ‘Sister’?”

 

Not at all.

 

Lu Jia replied with proper decorum, “You’re very beautiful and look very young.”

 

It was just that she couldn’t bring herself to say the word.

 

Seeing the girl struggle for so long without uttering “Sister,” Sheng Shubai ground her teeth, deciding to let her off the hook for now.

 

She certainly knew how to say it in bed.

 

Sheng Shubai really wanted to record it one day and play it on loop in Lu Jia’s ear for an hour.

 

It was 8:15 AM.

 

Lu Jia arrived early at the Academy of Fine Arts’ academic building and found a student-like girl already waiting in the lobby.

 

Having seen Shi Mengxi’s photos on social media, Lu Jia recognized her by her profile. She approached and greeted her, “Shi… Senior Sister, hello. I’m Lu Jia.”

 

I hope she doesn’t think I’m a stutterer, Lu Jia thought.

 

Shi Mengxi was about the same height as her. When she looked up, her face lit up with a radiant smile. “So you’re the Junior Sister! You’re even more beautiful in person. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have bothered squeezing into that crowded music festival yesterday. I would have waited for you in the mentor’s office.”

 

Lu Jia had only intended to shake hands, but Shi Mengxi misinterpreted it as a sign of female intimacy.

 

Shi Mengxi firmly grasped Lu Jia’s hand and launched into a lively conversation, ranging from Director Rong’s usual kindness to students to the vibrant atmosphere of the music festival the previous day.

 

Her words flowed like a torrent, but her warm gaze and genuine enthusiasm made it impossible to feel annoyed.

 

The only problem was… when would she let go of Lu Jia’s hand?

 

Lu Jia tried to wriggle free a few times, but Shi Mengxi’s grip remained firm. Every part of her felt awkward and uncomfortable.

 

“Oh, by the way, do you know how to drive?” Shi Mengxi asked, suddenly remembering something.

 

Lu Jia nodded, then shook her head. “I got my driver’s license in my freshman year, but I haven’t touched a steering wheel in years.”

 

Shi Mengxi leaned closer, grinning mischievously and winking. “I’ll let you in on a secret: Director Rong has failed her driving test over ten times! We usually take turns driving for her.”

 

Remembering Director Rong’s aloof and highly intelligent demeanor, Lu Jia couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Just as she was about to say something, the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor echoed from behind them.

 

Rong Yi cleared her throat, having appeared behind them unnoticed. Her expression was perfectly composed. “Mengxi, Xiao Lu, let’s go.”

 

The two women immediately straightened up. “Yes, Director Rong.”

 

Rong Yi glanced at Shi Mengxi, who hadn’t yet managed to suppress the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Did you review the literature after returning from the music festival yesterday?” she asked mildly.

 

Shi Mengxi lowered her head guiltily.

 

Rong Yi tossed her the car keys. “Remember to submit your short essay on time.”

 

Lu Jia pressed her lips together.

 

So this is what “being gentle” looks like.