Chapter 208: Daily Torment (1/1)
In the evening, in the bathroom.
“…Really?”
On the other side of the Communication Device, Hua Jianglian’s little face was bursting with indescribable joy and excitement, her eyes practically sparkling:
“You’re going to meet the big boss behind Fusa Pavilion, the head of Floating Splendor Commerce?!”
“That’s amazing! Can you negotiate with them to get a discount when I buy manga and merch next time?!”
Sang Zhe fell silent for a moment, his mouth twitching.
“…I mean, sect leader, your employee is risking life and limb going into the dragon’s den; can you not think about your manga for a second and show some concern for their safety?”
Hua Jianglian thought about it, and it made sense.
“Don’t worry. If you get hurt, I will definitely come knocking for an explanation and seek revenge for you!”
“No wonder you’re my great sect leader!” Sang Zhe looked grateful.
“You should at least get them to compensate you with a Fusa Pavilion membership card!”
Sang Zhe: “…”
He suddenly felt a bit wronged that his personal safety was only worth a membership card in the eyes of his own boss.
“How about….” Seeing Sang Zhe’s unhappy expression, Hua Jianglian tentatively asked, “…I also ask for one for you?”
“…No thanks.”
After chatting aimlessly for a while, Sang Zhe hung up the Communication Device and leaned by the pool with a deep sigh.
Recently, his beloved bath time was getting squeezed.
Since some day, Hua Jianglian had suddenly become obsessed with video chatting herself.
Every evening on the dot, she would do so endlessly.
She wasn’t even talking about work; it was just casual chitchat, discussing her favorite manga and novel updates, sharing her moods and daily life.
As if trying to make up for the time she wasn’t around.
Because of the frequency, Sang Zhe had to sacrifice his precious bath time to keep her company.
He hadn’t expected the sect leader to be so clingy… Sang Zhe sighed silently.
When did this start?
Sang Zhe couldn’t recall.
After Gu Yingmian returned to Sword Flower Palace, she also occasionally video called herself.
Though the frequency wasn’t as outrageous as Hua Jianglian’s, sometimes three to five days, sometimes once a week.
But with time, it added up.
Often, a conversation would stretch over an hour or two, sometimes even all night long.
It seemed like there was always something to share, and by the end, he would be exhausted yet still find it hard to hang up.
Almost every time, it would be Sang Zhe watching her fall asleep on the other side at Sword Flower Palace, only then not ending the Communication Device, turning off the screen and placing it beside his pillow before sleeping.
Calculating it carefully, Sang Zhe realized his personal time was becoming less and less.
This world didn’t have parking lots yet.
“Sigh. Men…” Leaning against the pool, Sang Zhe sighed tiredly.
Suddenly, the door behind him creaked softly.
A moment later, a familiar figure, Zhang Xiaoying, lifted the bath towel and slowly walked into the pool, sitting beside Sang Zhe.
“Worried about the upcoming banquet?” Zhang Xiaoying’s voice was gentle as she began wiping his arms.
“Partly,” Sang Zhe said with a hint of helplessness. “Since coming to the branch office, I’ve realized just how busy being a leader can be.”
“Previously, as a minor interrogator at the Demon Cultivators Punishment Department, I just clocked in and out daily, nine to five. It was tiring, but at least it had a routine.”
“Now it’s different. The branch office is a mess, and every tiny detail from the Punishment Department comes to bother me. My subordinates don’t dare work without asking me first.”
“Sometimes, I can’t even get a nap without being disturbed three or four times. It’s a nightmare.”
“Not to mention, it’s not just the Punishment Department anymore.” Sang Zhe said, exhausted. “Now, for every little thing at the branch office, Yubing needs to consult with me. I feel like I’m being drained dry.”
Zhang Xiaoying quietly listened.
Continuing to wipe his body with careful attention.
“If you’re too tired, husband, taking some time off to rest would be good.”
She spoke softly, “Let’s find some time to invite Qi Yan along, and we can go to Sword Flower Palace to hang out with Gu Yingmian.”
Sang Zhe imagined the scene of three women by his side under a big blanket, and he felt his heart move.
But the next moment, he shook his head bitterly: “Let me get through this first.”
“I just don’t know if the head of Floating Splendor Commerce is here with good intentions. I have to be careful… If I don’t build a good relationship, I’ll be the scapegoat for the company.”
Zhang Xiaoying suddenly looked up, her beautiful eyes blinking as she studied Sang Zhe’s profile.
Sang Zhe felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze, his face heating up: “What’s wrong? Do I have a pimple on my face?”
Zhang Xiaoying didn’t reply.
The next moment, her delicate hand gently rubbed Sang Zhe’s furrowed brows.
“Gosh, husband, you worry too much.”
She said softly, “With Aunt Yu with you, even if things get tough, you can still manage.”
“Even if you end up with an enemy, that’s just how it is. Life’s not always smooth sailing, occasional setbacks are common.”
“Husband, you try too hard to make everything perfect. You don’t have to tire yourself out like this.”
“My husband is a man not afraid of anything! Even if things aren’t ideal, you remain the mightiest hero in my heart.”
As Sang Zhe listened to Xiaoying’s sweet murmurs and felt her soft, soothing touch on his skin.
Suddenly feeling warm and soft-hearted, he buried his face in Xiaoying’s embrace, wrapping his arms around her soft waist.
Xiaoying let out a shy gasp, her face instantly flushing.
“H-Husband?”
“Life’s so tiring… I can’t recharge without you hugging me, my little wife.” Enjoying the face wash, half of Sang Zhe’s face was buried in the water, his words bubbling up.
Though shy, Zhang Xiaoying still lovingly embraced his head and gently stroked it:
“Alright… if you misbehave here, people will hear us.”
“Eh~ but my little wife is just too cute, I can’t wait!”
“Be good, husband; finish your bath first…”
The bath was filled with tender warmth, whispers soft as silk.
——
——
Meanwhile, outside the bath.
Si Jingzhu, with a bath towel around her neck, stared thoughtfully at the bathroom door.
“Have they finished in there yet?”
“I’ve been knocking for ages with no response; Sang Zhe must have finished and gone out, right?”
“Then I’m going in.”
After saying that, she slowly pushed open the bathroom door.
The new home’s bathtub was a huge hot spring area; just walking from the door to the bathtub was quite a distance.
Si Jingzhu hummed a little tune, swaying as she walked in.
Halfway through, she suddenly started to hear muffled sounds coming from the bathtub.
Her steps froze.
When she stealthily approached the bathtub, she found Sang Zhe and Xiaoying still entangled in each other’s warmth.
Si Jingzhu’s face turned beet red from watching, yet she couldn’t resist widening her eyes.
“Th-This is too outrageous.”
“No wonder they took so long and didn’t respond to the knock.”
“How annoying, next time I need to make Sang Zhe put up a ‘Occupied’ sign at the bathtub door!”
But for Si Jingzhu, who was flushed and heart racing at that moment.
That was a problem for another day.
(I know I should be releasing extra chapters to meet the month’s word count or I won’t finish in time.)
(B-but FF16 is just too fun, waah….)
(Eh, Clive is so handsome, eh, my husband is going to spray water all over the supermarket…)
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