The Reluctant Unveiling
The villa's decor wasn't extravagant at all—in fact, it could even be called a bit spartan. Duan Lin seemed to prefer that raw, natural vibe, so even the grand living room was dominated by solid wood furniture. But those pieces cost a fortune. Chu Fei, with his background as an interior designer, knew the market well enough; they were crafted from the finest virgin timber, handmade without a trace of modern industrial taint. That alone made them priceless. And cheap junk? No way it would ever catch Duan Lin's eye.
After wandering around in utter boredom, Chu Fei finally drifted over to Duan Lin's side and watched her arrange flowers. He knew zilch about it, so he couldn't grasp why anyone would waste so much time fiddling with the damn things...
As he zoned out, Duan Lin suddenly turned her head and shot him a glance—her first words to him.
"Stay away from me!"
Alright, if Xie Qin hadn't drilled it into him a thousand times over, Chu Fei would've slapped the bitch right then and there. He hated when women—especially women—looked at him like that. One Li Ran was bad enough; now this Duan Lin? Did she think he was still the old Chu Fei?
But he'd burned one of Xie Qin's favors just to stick around here, so he swallowed his rage and backed off a few steps. Duan Lin ignored him after that, turning back to her flowers. Just as Chu Fei figured she'd kill the whole afternoon like this, the doorbell rang again from the corner of the living room, followed by the villa's female security guard questioning the visitor.
Turned out, a wealthy lady had an appointment with Duan Lin for afternoon therapy and maintenance. The guard quickly escorted her into the living room—but her driver, a man, got shut out at the gate. No males allowed inside.
Spotting Chu Fei standing there as she entered, the thirty-something lady looked pretty surprised. She gave him a thorough once-over but didn't say a word.
This highlighted the differences: when Xie Qin had shown up, Duan Lin had barely acknowledged her but still brewed a cup of tea. This lady? Just an empty cup on the table.
Finally, Duan Lin turned her head, set her flower stems aside with a gentle touch, and gave a slight nod. "Upstairs."
Massage therapy?
Seeing Duan Lin lead the lady upstairs, Chu Fei immediately followed. He wasn't here for a vacation, after all. Sure, she couldn't stand him—what did it matter? In fifteen days, who'd even remember who?
By then, you'll be begging me to come back, and I still won't set foot in this dump!
But Duan Lin didn't take the lady into one of the upstairs rooms. Instead, she headed to the second-floor outdoor terrace—a stunning spot overflowing with vibrant flowers, alive with birdsong and fragrance. A custom glass canopy overhead blocked harmful UV rays while letting in the sun's gentle warmth. At the center sat a massage bed draped in a plush blanket, leagues beyond anything at Chu Fei's place—totally different class.
Chu Fei trailed silently behind. As they reached the bed, he leaned casually against the side, ready to watch the show...
Duan Lin shook out the blanket with a flick of her wrist. "Take off your clothes and lie down."
"Okay... Master Duan, why's he here too?"
"Ignore him. Strip and get on the bed."
Duan Lin didn't even turn around. She strode to the side, hauled out a massive case packed with bottles and jars, grabbed a few, mixed them swiftly, and started brewing what looked like medicine.
Chu Fei couldn't care less about that. He just smirked at the lady staring at him in shock, giving her a knowing nod.
After a long hesitation, she finally began peeling off her clothes and lay on the bed. But with Chu Fei right there, she kept her underwear on. Duan Lin didn't mind; once the potion was ready, she dipped a brush and started painting it on. The bra-covered spots? Untouched. She didn't give a damn. Finally, the lady spoke up. "Master Duan, what about the areas the underwear covers?"
"I only do one coat. Can't reach? Tough luck."
The answer was no surprise. By now, even Chu Fei had to admire her. With that attitude, how the hell did she thrive in high society? Her ancestors' graves must be smoking with good fortune...
"Well then..." The lady wavered a bit longer, then unhooked her bra. But when it came to the panties, her hands shook badly. It took ages before she gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and slid them off.