SM Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Silent Agreement

“Just in case, always prepared.”…

Having gotten up and tidied herself, it was soon lunchtime. As Tan Zhi Xu drove, she sat beside him replying to messages, thanking those who sent birthday wishes.

After they finished eating, Tan Zhi Xu looked up and asked, “Where are you going this afternoon? The studio?”

Zhu Shihao wiped her mouth, a hesitant look on her face. “I don’t know, um… I don’t really want to go.”

He raised an eyebrow, stood up, picked up her bag, and turned to say, “Let’s go, then.”

“Okay.” Without a second thought, she followed him.

It wasn’t until she was sitting in the car, after passing three or four traffic lights, that she asked, “Where are we going?”

Tan Zhi Xu glanced at her upon hearing this. The road wasn’t very busy at this time. He was relaxed, yet focused on driving. Without looking at her again, he answered lazily, “I had someone appraise a price. Now, I’m taking you to be assessed.”

Every time, it takes so long for her to remember. Why even ask?

Zhu Shihao’s eyes curved into crescents, and she replied good-naturedly, “Really? How much can I be sold for?”

Without turning his head, he scoffed, “You can’t be sold for any amount.”

Zhu Shihao, no amount of money can replace you.

She chuckled softly.

“You’re on vacation today.” The corners of his mouth also lifted into a faint smile.

The one being arranged showed no displeasure, but rather asked curiously, “Then where are you taking me?”

“I’m not on vacation, so you’re keeping me company.” He said it very naturally.

Zhu Shihao opened her mouth, a bit surprised.

As they approached a red light, the car slowly came to a stop. Tan Zhi Xu turned to look at her. “Not happy about it?”

“No.” She shook her head, just a little surprised. “I thought you were going to take me out to have fun.”

Who knew this guy would drag her along to work.

Tan Zhi Xu pinched her cheek. “I’ll find some time to take you out to sea.”

Nodding, she was certainly happy with that.

“I’ll order you some cream puffs and milk tea this afternoon.” He continued.

Zhu Shihao raised her arm and pressed her palm against his forehead. “Stop trying to coax me like a kid.”

He didn’t dodge, letting her press on his forehead and mess up his hair. His tone had a playful smile. “I’m not coax you like a kid, but I still can.”

She had heard this kind of thing countless times from him since childhood, evolving at every stage. But ever since their relationship had changed, it sounded increasingly strange.

Catching a glimpse of the changing traffic light, Zhu Shihao withdrew her hand. “The light’s green.”

The black car, with its streamlined design, greeted the warm summer breeze. The air conditioning inside was more than adequate. Both of them were in a good mood.

“Not going to ask about your gift?” He asked casually.

“What’s there to ask? It’s not like you’d ever shortchange me. If you didn’t have anything, even if you just gave me a piece of cloth, it would be fine.” She answered just as casually.

However, Zhu Shihao did think this. Compared to a gift, what she wanted most was for Tan Zhi Xu to spend her birthday with her.

Besides, he never stinted on her birthday gifts, year after year. Always more, never less.

Even if he just gave her a strand of hair, she would only regret that it was too short to braid into a lover’s knot.

Several low laughs wafted into her ears. She subconsciously turned her head. That low, deep voice was so alluring. It wasn’t just her ears; she felt an itch in her heart, as if soft feathers were brushing against it.

Tan Zhi Xu’s lips curved into a smile. “How could I ever forget?”

He nodded towards the glove compartment. “In there. Get it yourself.”

Zhu Shihao followed his direction and leaned over to open it.

The shopping bag was very conspicuous. Halfway through taking it out, she saw the recognizable logo. She thought to herself, “The price alone, even without seeing what’s inside, shows enough sincerity.”

As she opened it, she commented, “You’re really willing to spend.”

Tan Zhi Xu was unconcerned. “If I’m going to be stingy with you, I might as well not spend the money at all.”

As for his parents, they had far more money than he did.

Zhu Shihao saw what was inside: another necklace, the brilliance of the diamonds dazzling. There was also a box without a logo underneath. Opening it, she saw a jade bracelet, the green color so vibrant it made her heart soar.

She didn’t know much about jade, but she could tell it was beautiful. And she knew Tan Zhi Xu wouldn’t give her something ordinary.

Sighing, she said with a bit of helplessness, “Zhi Xu, don’t keep giving me such extravagant gifts. I’m almost afraid to accept them.”

Tan Zhi Xu scoffed, unimpressed. “Why are you afraid to accept them? When I only had fifteen yuan, you still dared to ask for a thirteen-yuan candied hawthorn. Why are you afraid now?”

Zhu Shihao was speechless.

You know that was thirteen yuan, right?

This is a bit more than that.

“But…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted.

“Think about what day it is today, and then decide if you want to make me unhappy.”

Zhu Shihao was speechless.

Today is my birthday. Thank you.

She mentally complained, but didn’t say it out loud, simply returning the box and placing it back in the bag.

“Zhu Shihao, I want to see you wear these things, not put them on display.” He reminded her softly, but with an underlying warning.

“I know, I know.” She said helplessly, unable to deny the happiness of being cherished.

Remembering what he had just said, Zhu Shihao teased, “Why do you still remember that candied hawthorn? That was so long ago.”

It was almost twenty years ago.

Tan Zhi Xu chuckled softly, his tone both casual and meaningful. “How could I forget? I was the one who got beaten up, while someone got so scared they cried and ran home to mommy.”

Wrinkling her nose, she mumbled, “It was for whom?”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for Tan Zhi Xu sitting next to her to hear. He remembered how she had clutched the candied hawthorn all the way home, before finally deciding to eat it, only to have it fall to the ground. Yet, Zhu Shihao didn’t even turn back, crying and shouting for help from her mom.

The usual indifference on his face faded, his gaze softened, and a smile crept onto his lips.

“Yes, it was for me.”

Zhu Shihao tilted her chin up slightly. “It’s good that you know. People should have a conscience.”

After being proud for two seconds, she burst out laughing.

She had been beaten up because of Tan Zhi Xu, and had cried and shouted and caught a cold, feeling sad to the point of uncontrollable hiccups. But Tan Zhi Xu’s beating, in the end, was for her, simply because she had been looking at someone else’s candied hawthorn with an envious swallow.

Suddenly, she wanted to snuggle into Tan Zhi Xu’s arms and have him hold her, and even kiss him.

This desire came in an instant, but it was unusually strong.

Zhu Shihao felt she didn’t want to hide it so much anymore, but if she said it out loud, what she wanted wasn’t responsibility.

Arriving at the company, the two walked side by side.

Although it was lunchtime, A Dong and the others were around and greeted them. Compared to Zhu Shihao’s gentle and polite “Hello,” Tan Zhi Xu, who only nodded and looked straight ahead, seemed much more aloof.

Fortunately, everyone was used to it.

They just glanced furtively at Tan Zhi Xu carrying the delicate white purse and shopping bag as he opened the office door and let Zhu Shihao enter first.

As soon as the door closed, someone whispered, “Oh my god, that brand, I wouldn’t even dare to dream about it.”

“It’s for Miss Zhu, right?”

“It should be. It can’t be that Mr. Tan is using it himself, right?”

A Dong coughed twice, interrupting them. “Pay attention, pay attention.”

If they said anything they shouldn’t have about Sister Shihao, their Brother Tan would definitely get angry. He had heard plenty of stories since he was a junior.

The square office was spacious, and Tan Zhi Xu’s aversion to displaying objects made it seem a bit empty. Every time she came, Zhu Shihao felt the minimalist style was a bit too minimal. She hadn’t expected it to be different this time.

“Huh? When did you buy this?” Zhu Shihao, who loved soft things, walked straight towards the lounge chair without a second thought.

Tan Zhi Xu put the things casually on the desk, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned his collar. “I just moved it in a couple of days ago. How is it?”

The chair swayed gently, its curved design making her feel as if she was lying in an eggshell. It suited her perfectly.

“It’s comfortable. Don’t you dislike this kind of overly soft sofa?”

Tan Zhi Xu took some water and pressed the switch, glancing at her. “Yeah, so who likes it?”

Even if she was slow to react, she should have realized by now. Zhu Shihao sat up straight, leaning forward to look at him, her face beaming with a smile. “I like it. You got it for me?”

He smiled dryly at her deliberate question. “Who else would be lying in my office?”

It was a question, but the tone already answered it.

Zhu Shihao laid back down, closing her eyes comfortably, without saying anything else.

Footsteps gradually approached, stopping beside her.

Just as she opened her eyes, everything turned dark. What met her first was the tip of his nose, and then, the same soft and warm lips covering hers.

He bent over, bowing his back, his tall, strong frame completely blocking the view on that side. Her vision was filled only with him.

This posture was as if he was bowing to her, but his kiss was as domineering as that of a lofty monarch, holding her lips, hooking her tongue, refusing to let her retreat, even more refusing her refusal.

Just when this intense kiss threatened to steal all her breath, she raised her hand to push against his chest, and only then did the man, having received the hint, let her go reluctantly.

Tan Zhi Xu looked down at her, his eyes traveling down, resting on her red, moist lips, the feeling of being ravaged so intense. As the one who caused it, he couldn’t admire it enough.

He always wished he could kiss her at any moment, always hold her in his arms, and always embed himself inside her.

“Again?”

“Okay.”

Zhu Shihao’s clear eyes sparkled with spring light, the ripples so gentle and alluring, so shallow, but enough to drown him in them.

No, enough to drown everyone.

But he wouldn’t allow it.

Tan Zhi Xu reached out, his thumb stroking the corner of her eye, and then kissed it again, the tide in his heart only growing fiercer. He kissed her fervently and passionately.

Zhu Shihao’s eyes could only have him, having him alone was enough.

After a kiss that went on and on, Tan Zhi Xu looked at her, a smile on his lips. “Do you want to?”

Zhu Shihao paused before reacting, looked up at him for a moment before gently nodding, her voice soft as well.

“Yes.”

He laughed, one hand running through the back of her neck, the other hooking her leg, picking her up, walking to the wall, using his shoulder to push open the door to the rest area, carrying her inside.

“Be good, Shihao, lock the door.”

Her face flushed red, but she still reached out to do as he asked.

With her clothes stripped bare, she was still a little shy, wanting to cover herself, but was stopped, wanting to look away, but he held her chin and turned her back.

“Look at me, Shihao look at me.”

Later, she heard his voice, with a thick smile.

“See, wasn’t the stuff in the office useful?”

Tan Zhi Xu lowered his waist, listening to her soft moans, his eyes locked on her, his large hands not idle.

“Shihao, what’s this called? What did I say, hmm?”

He took her into the fierce waves, not forgetting to tease her.

Forcing her already barely conscious mind to recall it haphazardly, until finally, in his repeated tossing, she found the answer.

“Just…just in case, always prepared.”

Tan Zhi Xu laughed, bowing his head to kiss her, and leaning over to suckle at her cherry breasts, his words a little unclear.

“So clever, good girl Shihao.”