Chapter 244: Intimate Days, Blooming Twice

"Then you go next door."

Gong Ruxue walked to the bedroom doorway and turned on the light.

"No, I'm right here."

"……"

How could Gong Ruxue not understand Xu Yuexin's meaning?

Hearing Xu Yuexin's words, her heartbeat immediately quickened, and she dared not meet Xu Yuexin's gaze again.

Gong Ruxue, feeling nervous, walked to the wardrobe and prepared to take out clothes for a shower.

At that moment, Xu Yuexin got up from the bed first.

"I'll wash first; help me take the clothes out."

Xu Yuexin gestured toward the suitcase outside the bedroom.

When he got up earlier, Gong Ruxue fell into extreme nervousness, her whole body stiff and motionless.

After Xu Yuexin gave the order, she snapped out of it, quickly agreed, and ran outside to fetch the clothes for him.

At that point, Xu Yuexin had already entered the bathroom, turned on the shower, and waited for hot water.

When he finished washing and came out of the bathroom, Gong Ruxue had already placed the clothes on the stool by the bathroom door, folded neatly.

Xu Yuexin dried his head with a towel, put on underwear and a sweat shirt, and returned to the bedroom.

At that moment, Gong Ruxue was holding her change of clothes in her hands, sitting on the bedside and looking out the window.

"Go wash."

Xu Yuexin sat beside Gong Ruxue and said.

"Did you wash so quickly?"

"Then not."

"That means you didn't take the shower seriously."

"Huh? No, I didn't."

Xu Yuexin felt a bit puzzled.

He usually takes ten or so minutes for a shower; although it can't compare to those who wash for an hour, it's not careless.

How does that become 'not serious'?

"It's just not serious; wash again."

Gong Ruxue stared at him earnestly, then mustered courage and said, "Otherwise, you sleep in the next‑door bedroom tonight."

"Then… okay."

"I'll wash seriously again."

Xu Yuexin immediately caught on, sprang up from the bedside rail, and said.

If I wash again, I can share a bed with her.

What else is there to think about.

Xu Yuexin jogged to the bathroom, quickly took off his clothes, turned on the faucet, and began washing again.

He had already washed himself clean the first time, but considering Gong Ruxue's request, he scrubbed under the faucet for another half hour.

He couldn't wash any more; further washing would make his skin wrinkle.

When Xu Yuexin emerged from the bathroom, he thought that staying in there so long made him feel a bit stuffy.

"I washed for half an hour."

Back in the bedroom, Xu Yuexin waved his arm before Gong Ruxue and said, "My skin's almost a layer peeled off."

"You go wash quickly."

"Wait for me a moment."

Gong Ruxue stood up, shyly replied, deliberately avoiding Xu Yuexin's gaze.

Xu Yuexin leaned against the bed, waiting with anticipation.

After a short while, the sound of splashing water came from the bathroom as Gong Ruxue entered the shower.

Xu Yuexin kept waiting, and after more than ten minutes the bathroom water was still flowing.

He didn't find it odd; given the pace Gong Ruxue had urged him, a half‑hour shower seemed normal.

Xu Yuexin remained patient until an hour later.

"Why aren't you done yet?"

"Did you get gas poisoning?"

Seeing Gong Ruxue still not emerge, Xu Yuexin grew a bit worried, walked to the bathroom doorway, and checked the situation.

"Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue."

"Hey, what's wrong?"

From behind the door came Gong Ruxue's vague reply.

Alright, it seems she really loves showering.

Xu Yuexin mused, then turned back to the bedroom.

Another ten minutes passed before the bathroom fell silent, followed by the sound of a hair dryer.

Finally, Gong Ruxue, wearing a purple silk Bathrobe, returned to the bedroom with a flushed face.

As soon as she entered, she flipped the switch off.

"Turn the light on."

Xu Yuexin said.

"Why turn on a light when sleeping?"

In the darkness, Gong Ruxue, her face flushed, sat at the bedside, yet lingered before lying down.

"Who said it's time to sleep now?"

Xu Yuexin sprang up from the bed in a leaping motion, embraced Gong Ruxue from behind, and kissed her snowy neck and face.

"I... I said it."

Gong Ruxue's cheek warmed from the kiss; she tried to push Xu Yuexin's hand away, but he deftly slipped it under her Bathrobe.

"Um…"

Immediately after, Gong Ruxue's cherry‑red lips let out a muffled moan.

Her whole body went limp, and she collapsed onto the bed.

…

The next morning, it wasn't sunrise that woke Xu Yuexin, but Gong Ruxue's humming.

"Don't… I'm really tired."

"How about tomorrow…"

Xu Yuexin opened his eyes and saw Gong Ruxue murmuring in her sleep, her delicate plump cherry‑red lips gently moving.

Xu Yuexin was amused.

"No, tomorrow still has its own tomorrow."

"You really are…"

In her dream, Gong Ruxue heard his words and echoed them.

Seeing this, Xu Yuexin couldn't help laughing, and gently poked Gong Ruxue's slender waist.

"Huh?"

Gong Ruxue emerged from her sleep talk, groggily opening her eyes.

It was then she realized something was off.

"Did you just talk to me?"

Gong Ruxue looked at Xu Yuexin, confused, searching the lingering dream memories in her mind, trying to piece together the whole conversation.

"No."

Xu Yuexin, stifling his laugh, recounted the earlier dialogue to Gong Ruxue, adding a little embellishment.

As expected, Gong Ruxue immediately buried her face under the pillow.

"Don't make up stories."

Gong Ruxue, hidden under the pillow, whispered shyly, "How could I possibly say such a thing."

"You really said it."

Xu Yuexin lightly stroked the curve beneath Gong Ruxue's thin nightdress and said, "If you don't believe me, recall it yourself."

"Stop messing around."

After speaking, Gong Ruxue tried to push Xu Yuexin's big hand away.

Xu Yuexin, of course, wouldn't let go, and the two continued their playful teasing.

In the back‑and‑forth, Gong Ruxue's glossy hair was slightly tousled by him; a few strands of jet‑black hair fell over her chest's broad, smooth, pale skin, making anyone who saw it swoon.

At that moment, Gong Ruxue noticed Xu Yuexin's gaze fixed on her chest, and she quickly got up.

"Let's have breakfast quickly, I'm hungry."

"Alright."

Xu Yuexin rolled his Adam's apple and rose with Gong Ruxue.

The two had just returned, and there was nothing to eat in the house, so they had to go out.

Gong Ruxue stood at the sink, combing her hair and wiping her face, when Xu Yuexin embraced her from behind.

Gong Ruxue felt Xu Yuexin's heated restlessness behind her, and her heartbeat quickened instantly.

"You… weren't you going to eat with me?"

"First, I'll eat you."

Xu Yuexin bluntly said, "First, I'll eat you," and then, with a big hand, untied the strap of Gong Ruxue's Bathrobe…

…

When they finally finished, still stuck together like glue, and left the house, it was almost 11 o'clock. It was more a lunch than a breakfast.

They first ate a bowl of fried sauce noodles on the street to fill their bellies, then went to a roast duck shop for another meal.

After lunch, Gong Ruxue's spirit and stamina only slightly recovered.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuexin was energetic throughout, showing no sign of the fatigue from the night before.

Gong Ruxue was also puzzled about how he maintained such abundant energy.

"Don't you want to rest?"

On the way home after eating, Gong Ruxue finally couldn't help but ask.

"No."

Xu Yuexin replied briskly, "When do you plan to start looking for a job?"

"Tomorrow."

Gong Ruxue answered without hesitation, "One must have something to do, can't stay idle forever."

"Well said, here's my family's phone number."

Xu Yuexin pulled a small notebook from his pocket, wrote a line of numbers on it, and said, "If you need me to deliver it, just call."

"Mm, I'll trouble you then."

Gong Ruxue, without politeness, took the notebook and said.

At the moment, some units still aren't served by bus; without Xu Yuexin driving her, she really couldn't get there alone.

After returning to Gong Ruxue's home, Xu Yuexin packed up the luggage and took a car back to Guogongfu.

A few days later, he received a call from Gong Ruxue at Guogongfu.

"Hello, is this A Xin?"

"Hmm, is there an interview opportunity?"

"Yes, a Drama Troupe wants to interview me today at 2 p. m.; the location is Shijing Shan. Could you conveniently drive me there?"

"Sure, I'll leave at twelve to pick you up."

"Okay, okay, thanks…"

Amid Gong Ruxue's words of thanks, Xu Yuexin hung up the phone.

A little after eleven in the morning, he arrived at Gong Ruxue's doorstep in a Mercedes and picked her up for the interview.

"How did this interview opportunity come about?"

After Gong Ruxue got into the car, Xu Yuexin asked.

"I called the numbers in the phone book one by one."

"After the call connected, I asked whether they were hiring; I wanted to interview."

"In the end, I actually got a response from one firm."

"It's the Drama Troupe of the city's First Heavy Industry Plant; I had heard that their benefits and salaries are top‑notch in the city."

"Then, I wish you success in the interview."

Seeing Gong Ruxue's slightly excited expression, Xu Yuexin smiled faintly and nodded.

These days, heavy industry plants are generally huge, easily employing tens of thousands.

Accordingly, internal departments of such plants enjoy very good compensation.

Upon reaching the plant entrance, Xu Yuexin stopped the Mercedes, and Gong Ruxue got out and entered the factory gate.

It was autumn now, and the temperature was very pleasant.

Xu Yuexin leaned in the car without turning on the Air Conditioning, and didn't feel cold or hot.

He waited outside for almost an hour until Gong Ruxue finally emerged.

"How did the interview go?"

After Gong Ruxue got back into the car, Xu Yuexin asked her.

"Passed."

Gong Ruxue said happily, "They told me to go home and bring the documents the day after tomorrow to complete the paperwork."

"I suggest you first finish the procedures that don't require any documents."

Xu Yuexin said calmly, "Otherwise, within two days any number of situations could arise."

"Hmm? What he means is…"

Gong Ruxue was stunned at first, then immediately understood Xu Yuexin's meaning.

Indeed, these days finding a job isn't easy; many Educated Youth returning from the countryside and recent high school graduates are all waiting for openings.

Just as Xu Yuexin said, even within a short two‑day span, things can change.

"Your reminder is spot on; I'll go back right away."

Gong Ruxue hurriedly opened the car door, stepped out, turned her head and said, "Please wait for me a little longer."

"Go quickly."

Xu Yuexin nodded at Gong Ruxue and then waited in place for her for a while.

"I've completed all the onboarding procedures I can handle."

"The remaining ones require bringing the household registration book and such to process."

After getting back into the car, Gong Ruxue said to Xu Yuexin with a sigh of relief.

Even with the onboarding process only halfway done, it would be very difficult for anyone to replace her in this position.

"What salary did you negotiate with them?"

"At Associate Professor level, it's 150 yuan per month."

Upon hearing this, Gong Ruxue said happily, "They also promised to give me priority when evaluating titles later, aiming to promote me to Associate Professor within three years."

"Well, that's really good then."

Xu Yuexin slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and said.

He knew that the biggest issue that had troubled Gong Ruxue before was the support problem.

Now he could finally see the dawn of a solution.

These days, literary workers place great importance on titles, as they symbolize honor and achievement.

Someone like Xu Yuexin, whose sole focus is making money, truly is an oddity.

…

Two days later, Xu Yuexin took Gong Ruxue to complete the remaining onboarding procedures.

The procedures went smoothly, and from now on Gong Ruxue became an employee of the Heavy Industry Plant Drama Troupe.

"Your script helped me a lot."

On the way home, Gong Ruxue said gratefully, "From the Drama Troupe director to the plant's publicity department leaders, everyone who saw it praised it."

"How did you come up with such a script?"

"Life insights, plus distilled personal reflections."

Xu Yuexin was vague, yet his expression was extremely profound as he said.

Based on his experience, this kind of tone generally works well on women.

"Hmm... I can tell, your observation of life is strong."

Sure enough, after listening, Gong Ruxue immediately believed his line and nodded admiringly.

After returning to the house that Xu Yuexin bought for Gong Ruxue, she took 80 yuan from her pocket and handed it to Xu Yuexin.

"What is this for?"

Xu Yuexin saw the stack of bills in Gong Ruxue's hand and couldn't react.

"Rent. I've owed you several months of rent."

Gong Ruxue said seriously, "I can't keep staying in your house for free forever."

"Hehe, who said you were staying for free?"

Xu Yuexin pressed Gong Ruxue's hand, showed a malicious smile, and said, "Didn't you already pay rent before?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

Gong Ruxue felt embarrassed by his words, insisted on shoving the money into Xu Yuexin's hand, "Money is money, feelings are feelings."

"Since there's feeling, how could I take your money?"

Xu Yuexin said with a tender expression.

Gong Ruxue felt a stir in her heart upon seeing Xu Yuexin's demeanor.

Could it be that he truly has feelings for her, not just a fleeting desire? Gong Ruxue thought seriously.

But soon, Xu Yuexin's words shattered her pleasant thoughts.

"If you're really embarrassed to keep staying, it's fine; just pay me rent a few more times in the future."

"Hmm, once a week works, once a day is even better."

Xu Yuexin, earnest, stared into Gong Ruxue's eyes and said.

Is... is that reasonable? Gong Ruxue, who had still held a good impression of Xu Yuexin, glared at him in annoyance upon hearing that.

"Stop being out of tune."

"I'll go do the laundry, you stay alone."

After speaking, Gong Ruxue pretended to be angry, walked out of the bedroom, and went to the balcony to start the washing machine.

Xu Yuexin watched Gong Ruxue's graceful back as she left, finding it rather interesting.

Great, she's got character.

He likes girls like that.

Soon, the balcony resonated with the rumbling of the washing machine.

Xu Yuexin guessed Gong Ruxue had finished and was free, so he walked toward the balcony.

(End of chapter)