Fu Jue laid the photo down in her hand: "This photo was specially taken by a photographer because my mom thought it was beautiful. If you don't like it, we'll put it away."

"No! I'm not that stingy, but Auntie has great taste, he really is handsome!"

Tao Zhizhi set up the photo frame, rubbed his face with her hand, her eyes darting back and forth between the photo and the man, and then nodded in satisfaction.

After lingering for a while, she remembered her business, turned to look at the bookshelves on the ceiling opposite her, and asked in surprise, "Wow, have you really read so many books?"

Fu Jue nodded proudly: "I wouldn't say 100%, but it's definitely 70% or 80%."

As he spoke, he took out books on business management from the bookshelf. The two of them then piled them together. Tao Zhizhi frowned, saying incredulously:

Do I really need to learn so much?

"Why don't you take the postgraduate entrance exam while you're at it?"

Tao Zhizhi forced a smile, raised her hand and slapped the pile of books loudly, laughing it off: "Haha, you overestimate me. I wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing."

She was an average student since childhood, but she was never particularly bright. Her parents didn't have high expectations for her grades, so after graduating from university, her first thought was to find a job rather than take the postgraduate entrance exam. She felt that she wasn't cut out for studying.

Fu Jue, who had been a top student since childhood, didn't understand, but he didn't force it. However, after he started tutoring Tao Zhizhi, he soon stopped having that thought.

Fu Jue carried the books to residence number nine. As evening approached, Tao Zhizhi took out a copy of "Principles of Economics" and started reading. It seemed that she was really not suited for studying; she began to feel sleepy as long passages of text came into view.

When Fu Jue came out after showering, he saw that the book had already slipped off her lap, and Tao Zhizhi was fast asleep on the sofa. Looking closer, he saw only ten pages. He reluctantly picked up the book, casually placed it on the coffee table, and then lifted it up around her waist. Tao Zhizhi suddenly woke up.

"Huh? I actually fell asleep?!"

He gently placed her on the bed and chuckled softly:

"Huh—you're awake?"

"Hehe, it must be because I'm too tired today!"

He pinched Tao Zhizhi's mischievous little face and patted her gently with his big hand: "Go take a bath!"

Tao Zhizhi covered her buttocks shyly, gave him a reproachful look, puffed out her cheeks to express her dissatisfaction with his behavior, and muttered to herself:

"Being drunk is one thing, but to do it when I'm sober—don't I have any shame?! Hmph."

Just as she came out of the bathroom, she suddenly remembered that Lan Xin had given her a gift before she left. She nudged Fu Jue and asked in confusion, "Fu Fu, where did you put the gift that Xiao Xin gave me?"

When the topic of gifts came up, Fu Jue glanced up and gestured towards the dressing room, stopping her typing on the keyboard: "There's a pink gift box in the dressing room."

She rubbed her hands together, eagerly taking it to the bedside. Trusting Lan Xin, she didn't hide from Fu Jue and started unpacking it. The gift box burst open the moment the ribbon came undone, and Tao Zhizhi only glanced at what was inside.

With lightning speed, she pressed her body against the box and covered it, a blush spreading rapidly from her neck to the tips of her ears. She hurriedly tried to close the box, which had been wide open in an instant, and dared not look at Fu Jue beside her.

Seeing that she was folded up like a red shrimp, Fu Jue's attention lingered on her, and he reached out to help her up, puzzled.

"stomachache?"

Tao Zhizhi, as if facing a formidable enemy, forced a cold smile and stopped his outstretched hand, speaking rapidly, "No, I'm just too excited!"

The more she looked, the more something seemed amiss. She quickly gathered her clothes with her other hand, then stood up with her back to Fu Jue. However, she didn't manage to grab everything, and a piece fell to the ground. Fu Jue caught it out of the corner of his eye, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Won't Zhizhi share with me?"

He picked up the fabric with his long, slender fingers and teased, "It looks pretty good. Why don't you try it on, Zhizhi? Don't let her good intentions go to waste."

Tao Zhizhi snatched the fabric from his hand in shame and anger, ran into the dressing room, carefully unfolded the gift, and remembered Lan Xin's teasing not long ago. She changed into it as if possessed. Fortunately, it was just a shirt and pleated skirt, but it was a little small and tight.

The small piece of fabric was moved to the front of the full-length mirror. The woman in the mirror had long, seaweed-like hair that was casually draped behind her. Her charming peach blossom eyes were surprisingly innocent and lovely. Although the clothes were small, they perfectly outlined her proud figure. Tao Zhizhi blushed and muttered:

"Why did you send me such a gift?!"

A husky, magnetic voice broke her thoughts, and her eyes revealed undisguised admiration: "Very beautiful."

"ah!"

Tao Zhizhi heard the sound and saw him leaning against the door frame of the dressing room. The heat almost made her dizzy, and she tripped over her own feet and fell backward.

Fu Jue strode forward and expertly stopped her from falling. Tao Zhizhi, startled, grabbed his arm and tore off half of his bathrobe. The two embraced tightly. Tao Zhizhi, just recovering from her shock, shyly questioned him:

"How did you get in here!"

"Heh—you've been in here for too long. I came in as soon as I saw you hadn't closed the door."

"I didn't mean to scare you."

Fu Jue's hand, which was originally meant to ease her fear, gradually took on a different meaning. He couldn't help but kiss her lips to exchange breaths, and in the heat of the moment, Fu Jue didn't forget to ask, "Is it alright?"

Tao Zhizhi wiped the sweat from his forehead, said nothing, and silently approved of his actions.

It had started raining heavily outside the window sometime earlier. Lan Xin got up to close the window, shivering a few times as she rubbed her nose and muttered:

"It's going to get colder after this rain, so I'll have to wear more layers tomorrow!"

After speaking, he covered himself with a blanket and fell into a deep sleep.

As dawn broke and the heavy rain subsided, the flowers in courtyard number nine, which had not yet been tended by a gardener, were soaked by the rain and sank into the mud, becoming nutrients for their blooming next year.

"hiss!"

The midday sun was already high in the sky. Tao Zhizhi slowly woke up, turned around, and felt a sharp pain, so she cried out in pain:

"You stinky Fu Fu, the room allocation is absolutely urgent!"

Fu Jue carried breakfast into the room just in time to hear her angry outburst, and immediately slid down to his knees: "I was wrong."

Tao Zhizhi glared at him irritably, covered her head to indicate that she didn't want to pay attention. Although Fu Jue's careful comforting and gentle words eased her anger somewhat, she still expressed her unforgiving attitude.

Having gained an advantage, he dared not feign innocence and diligently served his young emperor until he was satisfied.

"Consort Fu, show me the situation at the shop this morning!"

Because the surveillance cameras in the three stores can record remotely, she has now become a true hands-off manager, adding a kitchen helper robot to each store. She only goes to the stores occasionally when she remembers to, to show off her skills to the diners!

Fu Jue obediently pulled up the surveillance video and the situation report he had prepared that morning. Tao Zhizhi was furious: [Where does he get so much energy from!]

After quickly glancing through the list, Tao Zhizhi didn't see anything unusual and nodded in relief. Fu Jue had recently begged her to bind his personal account, so she was going to spend his money to vent her anger!

Suddenly noticing the product on the page, she widened her eyes, nudged Fu Jue, and showed it to him: "Go buy it right now!"

Fu Jue held Tao Zhizhi and gently massaged her waist: "No need to buy, I've had my tubal ligation."

Tao Zhizhi stared at him in surprise and disbelief: "Fu Fu, you can't lie about this!"