"It's okay," Chen Cheng said, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, comforting her. "You'll get used to it over time."

"I'm just afraid that once you get used to it, you won't be able to go back."

Qiao Xichen blushed and lifted her chin. "Why would I want to go back?"

"I just like powerful things."

As soon as she said this, Chen Cheng chuckled. "Qiao Xichen, you have such a dirty mind."

"Hmph~" Qiao Xichen let out a delicate huff and narrowed her eyes smugly. "I surf the internet every day too, you know."

The smile on Chen Cheng's face grew even wider. "You must be tired today. How about I give you a massage?"

Qiao Xichen asked suspiciously, "You know how to give massages?"

Chen Cheng tilted his chin up. "I'm an old master at this, alright?"

"If you have any pain or soreness, I guarantee you'll feel completely relaxed and comfortable all over after I'm done."

Qiao Xichen arched an eyebrow, still skeptical. "Is it really that magical?"

"Effective in just one session?"

Without another word, Chen Cheng carried Qiao Xichen into a guest bedroom.

He was going to give her a proper demonstration of what it meant to have the holy hands of massage.

Qiao Xichen wrapped her arms around Chen Cheng's neck. "My shoulders, neck, and waist are all a bit uncomfortable. Can you really massage them?"

Chen Cheng gave her a playful roll of his eyes. "Still doubting me? You'll know once you try."

Qiao Xichen arched an eyebrow. "Your transitions are way too drastic."

"One moment you're a freelancer, and now you're an old TCM doctor."

Chen Cheng smiled as he placed her on the dressing stool in the walk-in closet. "Find yourself a bathrobe."

"I'll go run the water for you. Take a bath first to let your skin relax; the massage will be more effective that way."

Qiao Xichen nodded, then narrowed her eyes as she watched Chen Cheng's retreating back. "You even have women's bathrobes here?"

"I figured you'd be coming over often in the future, so I had my assistant buy them for you."

"Everything in the wardrobe is yours."

"Huh?" Qiao Xichen's mouth hung open in surprise.

Chen Cheng turned on the bathtub faucet to let the hot water run.

He looked back and said, "What's with the 'huh'? Just open it and see for yourself."

Qiao Xichen stood up and looked at the dazzling array of clothes, pants, skirts, and coats in the glass cabinets. She arched an eyebrow and asked:

"You even have an assistant?"

Chen Cheng spread his hands. "With my status, isn't it normal to have an assistant?"

Qiao Xichen was instantly amused by his cocky attitude. She tilted her chin up and asked, "And what exactly is your status?"

Chen Cheng simply smiled and didn't say a word.

'Little girl, trying to bait me.'

"Go look at your clothes."

"Hmph~" Qiao Xichen let out a soft huff and rolled her eyes at him. "So mysterious."

Opening the cabinet, Qiao Xichen was suddenly dazed.

Summer, autumn, and winter—there were complete sets for each season, with seven outfits for each.

This would be more than enough for Qiao Xichen to wear for the next few months.

"Are you sure these were bought for me, and not for yourself?"

Qiao Xichen held up a grey pleated skirt against herself.

She looked at Chen Cheng with a beaming smile.

Chen Cheng took a look; if that little skirt were paired with the white shirt Qiao Xichen was wearing, wouldn't that be the legendary JK look?

'That girl Ming Zhen really understands my heart.'

Chen Cheng's lips curled up slightly. "It's not like I'm the one wearing them."

"Men..." Qiao Xichen let out a soft chuckle.

After saying that, Qiao Xichen looked through a few more sets of clothes.

The more she looked, the more shocked she became. They were all big brands.

Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Prada...

Qiao Xichen walked up to Chen Cheng somewhat timidly and asked, "We've only known each other for less than five days, and you bought me so many clothes?"

Chen Cheng's smile was brilliant as he stared into her eyes and reached out to put his arm around her waist. "Qiao Xichen, haven't you heard a certain saying?"

"For some people, one look feels like ten thousand years."

Qiao Xichen's lips instantly curved into a crescent moon, her face blooming like a flower.

She raised her arms to wrap them around Chen Cheng's neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him.

After a long French kiss, Qiao Xichen suggested with a blush, "I see the bathtub is quite large. How about we soak together?"

Chen Cheng arched an eyebrow. "That's not very... good, is it?"

Hmm? Qiao Xichen immediately raised her chin and scrutinized Chen Cheng. "Hmph~ Don't play hard to get~ Don't play hard to get~"

"If you miss this chance, you won't get another."

Chen Cheng looked at her face, which was full of desire, smiled, and gently patted her. "It's only past nine; the night is still long."

"Don't be in a hurry."

"Who's in a hurry?" Having her thoughts exposed, Qiao Xichen was suddenly a bit embarrassed and denied it with a proud look.

"I'm not in a hurry at all."

Chen Cheng chuckled. "You undress first. I'll go open a bottle of red wine."

Hearing this, the flush on Qiao Xichen's face deepened, and she nodded gently.

Chen Cheng smiled and turned to leave the bathroom.

Qiao Xichen happily ran to the wardrobe and began taking off her clothes.

Chen Cheng opened the red wine and lit some incense.

The two soaked in the bathtub for over half an hour, finishing the bottle of red wine before coming out of the bathroom.

Chen Cheng pointed to the bed. "Lie face down. I'll give you a proper massage."

Qiao Xichen, wearing a white lace camisole nightgown, nodded with a blush.

She hadn't actually expected that he was really going to give her a therapeutic massage.

Once she was lying down, Chen Cheng began his routine.

"Relax, don't be nervous."

"Deep breaths~"

Chen Cheng's hands were very steady, and his pressure was perfectly controlled, increasing gradually...

"Ah..."

Qiao Xichen let out a groan of pain. "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts~~~"

Chen Cheng frowned. "You need to reduce the time you spend working at a desk."

"Otherwise, even if I massage this old back of yours every day, I won't be able to save it."

"The disc is already protruding."

Qiao Xichen let out a breath. Once the pain eased slightly, she asked in disbelief, "I already have a lumbar disc herniation?"

Chen Cheng gave a wry smile. "What did you think?"

"Let's see if you still dare to be a workaholic every day."

Qiao Xichen pouted. "You think I want to? It's just that I have no choice."

"What do you usually do when you're not at work?" Chen Cheng lightened the pressure and continued the massage, asking casually.

Qiao Xichen thought for a moment. "Hmm... sleep."

"I don't get enough sleep during the week, so I spend the weekends catching up. And that's only if I don't have to work overtime."

Chen Cheng clicked his tongue. "You're so tormented by work that you've lost all desire for the world."

As he spoke, Chen Cheng thought for a moment, unable to resist his urge to be a mentor.

"Qiao Xichen, do you know?"

"A person must fall madly in love with something to sustain their vitality."

"It's best to have three types of hobbies."

"The first is a physical hobby—hiking, running, or going to the gym."

"Because exercise is the only thing where you get back exactly what you put in."

"Through exercise, you can also increase your vitality and energy."

"The second is a manual hobby—painting, knitting, or cooking."

"These kinds of hobbies can enhance your focus, allowing you to pour your whole heart and soul into one thing, and you'll feel a sense of achievement once it's finished."

"The third is a spiritual hobby—reading, listening to music, or writing—which can enrich your inner world."

"Only when these things come together can they form a vibrant, more vivid and lively version of you."

"You must cherish the desires that still remain within you—the places you want to go, the things you want to eat, the possessions you want to own, and the people you want to see."

"Because you never know which day, quite suddenly, you might find that you don't want anything anymore."