Are You Allergic To Romance? - Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Dream Lover
“How could you say that…” Jing Yuan’s ears were beet red, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say the words “sugar daddy me.”
Xie Mianzhi stared at Jing Yuan’s reserved and controlled expression, knowing that if she continued to tease, she might make the other party cry.
“I was just joking, too,” Xie Mianzhi bit back a smile, then decisively shoved the two stacks of cash into the pocket of Jing Yuan’s small bear apron. She pointed at the juicer: “I want blueberry milk, the one you had. You promised me a cup, didn’t you?”
Jing Yuan looked at Xie Mianzhi’s grin and knew she had been played by this person yet again. What could she do? She couldn’t very well kick the other person out.
She couldn’t bear to.
The thought that someone could mock her repeatedly and get away with it.
Jing Yuan just wanted to sigh.
She didn’t know why she was so lenient with this ‘older sister.’ Since she couldn’t figure it out, she decided not to pursue it with the other party.
“There aren’t enough blueberries,” Jing Yuan said. Without 13 berries, it wouldn’t taste good enough.
She then tried to take the money out.
However, Xie Mianzhi was quick and held her down. “What, you think it’s too little?”
“It’s too much,” Jing Yuan didn’t want to accept such a large tip.
“You provided excellent service, you deserve it. I always give tips when I’m abroad,” Xie Mianzhi said with a smile, although she was always stingy, only giving the minimum amount because she was extremely picky and never felt anyone’s service in a high-end restaurant warranted a high tip from her.
But for the person in front of her, she actually wanted to give more.
Jing Yuan opened her mouth, unsure how to refuse Xie Mianzhi’s generous tip.
Did Xie Mianzhi give tips in such large stacks to everyone?
Jing Yuan imagined the other party shoving cash to a waiter in a restaurant and suddenly felt a little unhappy. She decided to accept it for now and return it later.
Xie Mianzhi saw that the other party no longer refused. That’s a good girl, she thought, and then pointed at the washed blueberries in the fruit bowl. “There are still some, right?”
“There aren’t thirteen berries,” Jing Yuan said.
Xie Mianzhi was confused. She looked at the blueberries in the bowl, counted them, and found nine. So, Jing Yuan-brand blueberry milk had to have exactly thirteen berries?
This person is quite stubborn about some things.
“So, I won’t get to drink it this time,” Xie Mianzhi shrugged, her tone full of regret.
Jing Yuan watched Xie Mianzhi. Even a simple movement like raising her arm made her sleep dress expose some parts that would make people blush, so she had to shift her gaze.
“You will,” she said.
“Will what?” Xie Mianzhi leaned against the counter, watching Jing Yuan take the food out of the oven. “Do you want help?”
“It’s hot. You don’t need to,” Jing Yuan politely declined, then whispered a reminder: “Your shoulder strap.”
She finally couldn’t help but speak up. After all, someone else would be arriving soon, and she didn’t want anyone else to see Xie Mianzhi dressed so sensually.
“Oh, this strap is falling a bit,” Xie Mianzhi looked down, pulled the strap up, and tightened her coat. “Then I’ll have to help you next time when I’m wearing more appropriate clothes.”
Next time?
Will there be a next time for them?
The moment Xie Mianzhi’s words fell, the same question arose in both their hearts, and their eyes suddenly met. Being stared at by Jing Yuan’s pure golden eyes, Xie Mianzhi had to look away by pretending to drink water. She was leaving today, so what was she even hoping for?
Jing Yuan saw the other party dismissed the idea, so she also let it go.
“I could actually sew your shoulder strap for you,” Jing Yuan said in an extremely low voice. She was still concerned about Xie Mianzhi’s dress. It was fine when she wore it in front of her, but others with ill intentions could easily tear it off from the top with just one hand.
Unfortunately, she regretted saying it as soon as she did.
The other party’s clothes were haute couture; she wouldn’t accept her touching it with a needle and thread. More importantly, since when was she so eager to do something unnecessary?
“Sew what? I didn’t hear you clearly,” Xie Mianzhi immediately walked over to Jing Yuan, asking again.
“Nothing,” Jing Yuan shook her head, unwilling to mention it again.
“You! You took my tip, and now you’re talking so softly you don’t even want to repeat yourself?”
Jing Yuan gave a cold side-glance, then took the sandwich out of the oven without answering the other party.
“I didn’t realize you were so petty. Consider the tip lost,” Xie Mianzhi looked at the golden, enticing, baked sandwich, restraining her pre-breakfast hunger. She just wanted Jing Yuan to explain herself clearly.
Petty?
Jing Yuan didn’t want to be unfairly labeled by the Miss Xie who was eating and staying at her house. She had no choice but to respond: “I was going to say, if you need it, I can help you sew the shoulder strap so it doesn’t keep falling.”
“…You know how to sew?” Xie Mianzhi’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Mmm.”
The tea coasters, the patterns on the cushion covers, and the small persimmons in the courtyard at home were all things she had sewn. Needlework helped her stay calm and suppress her wild nature.
Xie Mianzhi couldn’t believe it. Are there still young people who know how to sew nowadays? Without thinking, she grabbed Jing Yuan’s hand and examined it closely.
Jing Yuan was completely flustered by the other party’s sudden action.
“You can pretend I didn’t say anything,” Jing Yuan awkwardly withdrew her hand, turning to slice something to calm her mind.
“No, I just didn’t expect you to know how to do this. I was surprised and just wanted to see what kind of skillful hands you have. Besides, your hands are so beautiful.”
Jing Yuan listened, suppressing a small surge of delight inside, maintaining a cool face to show that Xie Mianzhi’s flattery was useless.
“Then why do you want to help me sew the shoulder strap? Little Savior.”
Xie Mianzhi wasn’t concerned about whether her clothes fit well. This one was just a transitional piece her assistant brought along. The design was worthy of the high price, but the fact that it kept falling was a drawback. She could just throw it away and not wear it if it was too much trouble.
She was just very curious why Jing Yuan wanted to sew it for her.
Jing Yuan was silent for a few seconds, then emphasized: “Because it’s not safe for you to wear it like that.”
Jing Yuan explained that an elderly neighbor, Grandma Shen from the small shop, would be arriving soon with blueberries. Originally, she intended to go fetch them herself since the ground was wet after the rain, but Grandma Shen insisted on delivering them and stopping by to see her. So, she didn’t want Xie Mianzhi to be dressed that way.
“I see. So, you’re worried about your Older Sister,” Xie Mianzhi smiled meaningfully.
Jing Yuan didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to answer such a strange question. It felt like her thoughts were being seen through.
This person is so shy. Her ear tips must be boiling water right now.
Xie Mianzhi decided not to make things difficult for her and simply said: “Then I’ll take it off for you to sew, let’s see how good your stitching skills are.”
“Okay,” Jing Yuan nodded immediately. She would sew Miss Xie Mianzhi’s shoulder strap right away and make sure it wouldn’t fall again. “Do you want to take it off now?”
Little Jing Yuan is that enthusiastic about sewing?
Xie Mianzhi smiled, raised an eyebrow, and lowered her voice: “Here?”
She then deliberately opened her coat, her hands moving as if to lift her sleep dress hem.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I mean you can choose to change first. Someone will be here soon,” Jing Yuan immediately waved her hands in explanation, dispelling Xie Mianzhi’s thought of taking off her clothes in front of her.
Just teasing you.
Xie Mianzhi laughed inwardly for a moment, casually dropping her hands. However, she heard Jing Yuan mention that “someone will be here soon.”
“Who?” Who would come to see Jing Yuan at this hour?
Right when she was about to eat breakfast.
Xie Mianzhi asked, raising an eyebrow, seeing Jing Yuan slicing multiple servings of sandwiches. These probably weren’t all for her alone.
“Grandma Shen from the small shop,” Jing Yuan didn’t look up, so she didn’t notice the subtle hint of hostility on Xie Mianzhi’s face when she asked.
“Grandma Shen?”
“She lives nearby and grows fruits. She’s bringing me some blueberries,” Jing Yuan arranged the sliced sandwiches, then untied her apron and washed her hands, preparing to get a set of loungewear for Xie Mianzhi.
Xie Mianzhi said “Oh.” She felt a strange sense of relief when Jing Yuan mentioned the visitor wasn’t a peer.
“Because you’re going to make me blueberry milk,” Xie Mianzhi continued, naturally showing she understood.
Jing Yuan pursed her lips. There weren’t enough blueberries at home, but she was indeed going to make a cup for Miss Xie, so she honestly nodded.
“Does she personally bring you blueberries every time?” Xie Mianzhi pressed on. She wanted to know the background of the incoming person.
“I usually go buy them. Sometimes she comes over and helps me feed Golden Bean and Yuan Bao,” Jing Yuan explained, finding the dark blue loungewear set she mentioned before and handing it to the other party. “Why don’t you change into this?”
Xie Mianzhi saw how much the little Jing Yuan wanted to sew for her, so she reluctantly took the clothes. She had an ultra-soft, beautiful sleep dress, but she had to wear this unfashionable loungewear.
It didn’t fit her aesthetic.
But what could she do in the house of such an old-fashioned homeowner?
Never mind. Let’s see how Jing Yuan’s skills are.
“Well then, you have to sew it perfectly for me, okay? If you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to make you wear it, and you’ll have to show me,” Xie Mianzhi slowly handed the sleep dress she had taken off in the next room to Jing Yuan, adding a slight threat.
Jing Yuan took out the complete sewing kit and sat by the window, ready to start her work. She imagined the shy scene of putting the unsafe sleep dress on herself. No. She would be too embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely sew it perfectly for you,” Jing Yuan promised confidently.
“Alright, I’m looking forward to it.”
…
Jing Yuan sat quietly by the windowsill, utilizing the soft indoor lamp and the sunlight streaming through the half-open window. She was very seriously sewing the dress, stitch by stitch.
Xie Mianzhi walked over with her water cup, secretly observing the person from behind the curtain.
Jing Yuan’s skin was very fair. Wearing a white turtleneck shirt made her look even purer and more refined, with a sense of unreality and innocence.
As pure as a little white lily.
Xie Mianzhi chuckled softly. She didn’t know why such a strange and sacred vocabulary came to mind. Even though Jing Yuan was younger than her, Xie Mianzhi felt a sense of peace and tranquility looking at her.
Looking at this person, Xie Mianzhi felt her mind calm. Jing Yuan seemed to possess this kind of magic.
Perhaps the gaze fixed on her was too long and unrestrained. Jing Yuan had to look up after finishing a section, meeting Xie Mianzhi’s eyes.
“Hmm?” Is something the matter?
Caught peeking, Xie Mianzhi immediately looked away, blinking rapidly a few times. Since when did she get so flustered when stared at by another woman?
Her flinching looked so petty.
Xie Mianzhi silently chastised herself, deliberately clearing her throat twice, and said: “I didn’t expect you to look so professional. I thought your hands would shake with a needle and thread.”
“My hands are very steady,” Jing Yuan honestly stated. She was quite talented at this.
Xie Mianzhi then looked at Jing Yuan’s hands. They were skillfully holding the small needle and thread, diligently working. Her fingers were long and slender, so beautiful that holding a needle and thread felt like a waste of such talent.
“Is that so? That’s genuinely good,” Xie Mianzhi cleared her throat again, then asked curiously: “What are you going to embroider on it?”
She crouched slightly in front of Jing Yuan, wanting to observe the other party’s movements closely.
Jing Yuan wanted to remind her that there was a chair nearby, but Xie Mianzhi was stubborn and insisted on crouching in front of her to watch her sew.
“What do you like?” Jing Yuan asked. Originally, she was just going to sew a hidden stitch to keep Xie Mianzhi’s strap from falling, but seeing Xie Mianzhi’s incredibly expectant gaze, it seemed she wanted her to embroider something on it.
So, she asked to follow her wish.
Something like a small flower, probably?
“Mmm, let me think. What do I like?” Xie Mianzhi was stumped by Jing Yuan’s question.
She didn’t know what she liked. Money? Power? Various things that were valuable to her? That was too realistic.
Subconsciously, she didn’t want to tell the person in front of her those things.
Xie Mianzhi glanced around, trying to find something she could like. When she looked down, she happened to notice the loungewear she was wearing: a cute little whale embroidered on the blue fabric.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Jing Yuan must have embroidered this too.
“I like this,” Xie Mianzhi said softly, pointing to the embroidered little whale on her chest as she spoke.
Jing Yuan followed the direction of the other party’s finger, a little surprised by Xie Mianzhi’s preference.
“What, is it strange that I like a little whale?” Xie Mianzhi looked at Jing Yuan’s questioning eyes, scoffed softly, and deliberately raised her voice to mask her discomfort.
Jing Yuan didn’t notice Xie Mianzhi’s abnormality because her heart was suddenly pounding.
Likes a little whale…
Her childhood nickname was “Little Whale.”
Although she knew Xie Mianzhi wasn’t talking about her, hearing the undisguised declaration of affection made her heart inexplicably tremble violently.