“Mmm... okay... let’s sleep.”
You Man had no idea how visibly nervous she looked at that moment.
The room was so quiet that even the sound of their breathing seemed to echo between them.
Zhou Yi walked to the bed and removed the towel wrapped around his body, revealing black boxer briefs underneath.
You Man’s face flushed the moment she saw his toned muscles and perfectly defined eight-pack abs.
As for how Zhou Yi had acquired such a physique—well, that was all thanks to the system.
With his combat skills maxed out, his body had undergone a transformation.
Not only had his height shot up to 189 cm, but he’d also gained a sculpted frame with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and those coveted eight-pack abs—the kind of top-tier masculine build women adored, especially when dressed in a suit.
You Man’s cheeks burned as she took in the sight of his bare upper body.
She only dared to look at his torso—glancing any lower felt like a crime.
Blushing, she averted her gaze and mumbled, “You’re so fit, Zhou Yi. It’s hard to tell when you’re dressed.”
Noticing how she kept stealing glances at his abs—wanting to look but too shy—Zhou Yi pulled her closer and placed her hand directly on his stomach.
“If you want to look, just look, Sister Man. No need to be shy.”
The moment her fingers touched his abs, it was like an electric shock.
The sensation... so firm...
She lifted her eyes to meet his, catching the mischievous smirk on Zhou Yi’s face.
Wasn’t this just blatant seduction?
What woman could resist such a test?
You Man swallowed hard and tried to pull her hand back—if she kept touching him like this, things would escalate.
Her gaze flickered downward, eyes widening slightly as the flush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
Zhou Yi leaned in, his voice teasing. “Sister Man, where are you looking?”
Startled, she jerked her eyes away, flustered and unsure where to focus. “N-nowhere. Are you okay? Did I hurt you just now, Zhou Yi?”
Zhou Yi flopped onto the bed, leaning against the headboard with a pitiful expression. “It hurts a little. What should we do, Sister?”
The heat in his gaze made her heart race.
Her entire body felt strange—her face was burning, her limbs weak.
You Man wasn’t naive; she knew exactly what he was scheming.
She leaned over, resting against Zhou Yi’s chest.
He inhaled deeply at her neck and sighed. “You smell so good, Sister. We use the same body wash, but you’re so much sweeter. And your skin—so soft, so smooth, like silken tofu.”
Pleased by his words, she poked his forehead. “That’s just in your head. Should I turn off the light?”
Zhou Yi shook his head. “No. I want to keep looking at you.”
You Man smiled and traced her finger along his jaw, down to his chest, circling slowly.
She licked her lips, the moisture making them glisten.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she cast a lazy, sidelong glance at Zhou Yi—her crimson-tinged eyes as alluring as a fox’s.
Her beauty, usually restrained, now radiated an intoxicating charm.
The way she looked at him was pure temptation, every glance dripping with desire.
With a playful tilt of her head, she swept her hair to one side and murmured in a voice like honey, “Then what should we do, Zhou Yi?”
Zhou Yi twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, grinning roguishly. “Just rub it for me, Sister.”
You Man laughed.
What she did next made Zhou Yi suck in a sharp breath.
This was way too damn intense...
Sweat beaded on his forehead as one hand gripped her delicate ankle, the other sliding up the smooth, pale curve of her thigh...
The night was still long...
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating You Man’s peaceful sleeping face.
The glare woke her.
She fumbled for her phone on the pillow and checked the time.
7 a.m.? She usually woke up much earlier.
She must have slept through her alarm—exhaustion had knocked her out.
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, wincing at the soreness that made it hard to straighten her back.
“Ouch...”
She massaged her waist as the blanket slipped from her shoulders, revealing a trail of bruises along her neck and chest.
A testament to last night’s intensity.
A high-collared shirt was a must today—no way she could let these marks show.
Her cheeks still flushed, she tucked her hair behind her ears, her natural beauty needing no embellishment.
An arm curled around her from behind.
“Good morning, Sister.”
Zhou Yi nuzzled against her shoulder, his voice warm and affectionate.
You Man patted his head tenderly. “Time to get up, or you’ll be late.”
Zhou Yi yawned, drowsy. “Don’t wanna. I’d rather stay with you.”
She kissed his cheek, smiling. “If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?”
“Wow, quoting love poetry first thing in the morning?”
“Mhm. Don’t you like it?”
“I do.”
“Good. I’ll get up first and call you when breakfast is ready. Sleep a little longer.”
Zhou Yi caught her wrist, pulling her back before rolling her beneath him. Gently brushing her hair aside, he said,
“After how tired you must be, don’t bother cooking. Let’s eat out—somewhere nice.”
“And take the next few days off work. Go check out storefronts downtown—get the new shop set up sooner. Hire more staff so you don’t have to overwork. Old Hai can help too.”
You Man smiled softly. “Alright, whatever you say. Two employees should be enough, with Old Hai around.”
“It’s your call. Your shop, your rules.”
“No, it’s your money. I’m just working for you—pay me a salary, Zhou Yi.”
“Then we’ll split ownership 50-50. No arguing.”
Zhou Yi was adamant. Touched, You Man could only accept, tucking his kindness deep into her heart.
After a pause, her smile faded. “Zhou Yi... there’s something I need to say.”
“Go ahead.”
“Even after last night... we can’t be together.”
Zhou Yi frowned. “Why? Don’t you like me?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
Her laugh was bittersweet.
Her feelings for him ran far deeper than he realized.
In the days he’d been gone, he was all she could think about.
But she knew there was no future for them.
She was 30. He was so much younger—how could she ever face the world with him?
Her insecurities had taken root alongside her love for him, buried deep where no one could see.