Chapter 440 - 245: This Night’s Tight Embrace with Jiang Yixia

Chapter 440: Chapter 245: This Night’s Tight Embrace with Jiang Yixia

Lu Fan sat across from her, looking at her expectantly. "How is it?"

"It’s alright," Jiang Yixia said quietly, her head lowered.

Lu Fan started to laugh. "Then I’ll cook for you more often in the future."

Jiang Yixia’s hands paused for a moment. Then, she looked up at him and said flatly, "No need. I can cook for myself."

"Then I’ll cook for you when you don’t feel like it," Lu Fan replied with a smile, not minding her rejection.

Jiang Yixia didn’t respond and continued to eat her breakfast.

The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.

After a few more bites, Lu Fan suddenly asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Jiang Yixia froze for a second, her face flushing. "It was alright."

"I slept great. The sofa was hard, but knowing I was close to you put my mind at ease," Lu Fan said with a nod and a smile.

Jiang Yixia’s face flushed again. She gave him a shy glare. "Even food won’t shut you up."

Lu Fan just smiled and lowered his head to continue eating.

After breakfast, Jiang Yixia cleared the dishes, and Lu Fan helped her. She glanced at him but didn’t say anything.

Once everything was clean, Jiang Yixia changed her clothes, ready to go open the shop. Lu Fan followed behind her, saying, "I’ll walk you there."

"No, it’s fine. I’ll go by myself," Jiang Yixia stammered.

’It was as if she still hadn’t quite adjusted to what happened last night.’

Lu Fan replied with a smile, "I’m free anyway, and it’s on my way."

Jiang Yixia glanced at him and finally agreed.

Lu Fan followed, and the two of them went downstairs, one behind the other.

The morning breeze was cool and crisp, feeling pleasant against their faces.

People were doing their morning exercises in the residential complex—old men practicing tai chi, old women walking their dogs.

They walked side-by-side down the street, neither of them speaking.

Lu Fan’s hand hung at his side, and hers hung at her side.

One step, a touch.

Another step, a touch again.

She didn’t pull away, and he didn’t draw back.

After they arrived at the flower shop, Jiang Yixia unlocked the door and flipped the light switch.

The fluorescent light flickered twice, then came on.

The fragrance of the flowers in the shop rushed out to greet them—lilies, roses, and carnations all mixed together, a sweetness that was almost cloying.

Jiang Yixia went behind the counter and started to organize yesterday’s ledgers.

Lu Fan stood at the entrance, looking at the flowers in the shop, not knowing where to start.

Seeing that he wanted to help, Jiang Yixia prompted him, "You can start by moving these flowers to the entrance."

Jiang Yixia pointed to the buckets of lilies in the corner. "Be careful when you move them. Don’t damage the petals."

"Okay." Lu Fan rolled up his sleeves and went over to move the flowers.

The lilies were heavy. The buckets were filled with water, making them a bit difficult for him to lift, but he didn’t say anything.

He moved them one bucket at a time to the entrance, arranging them just as she had asked.

The sleeves of his sweater got wet and clung to his arms, but he paid it no mind.

Inside the shop, Jiang Yixia was tidying the counter, sorting through the flowers that hadn’t sold the day before—throwing out what needed to be tossed and re-wrapping what could be salvaged.

She was very meticulous, checking every single stem to see if the petals had wilted or the leaves had turned yellow.

After Lu Fan finished moving the flowers, he stood at the entrance and watched her.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Lu Fan asked.

Jiang Yixia thought for a moment, then gestured. "Can you help me change the water for those buckets of roses? The water is in the utility room in the back. The buckets are too heavy, so just carry them one at a time."

"Okay." He went into the utility room in the back, filled the buckets with water, and carried them out one by one.

As he was passing the roses, he was accidentally pricked by a thorn, and a bead of blood welled up on his finger.

He glanced at it, thought nothing of it, and continued carrying the buckets.

Jiang Yixia walked over, saw his hand, and frowned. "Did you get pricked?"

He popped his finger into his mouth and sucked on it. "It’s nothing."

"Let me see." She pulled his hand over to take a look.

There was a small cut on his finger, but it had already stopped bleeding.

Jiang Yixia let go of his hand, turned to the counter to get a bandage, tore it open, and placed it on his finger.

"Thanks," Lu Fan said with a light chuckle.

"You’re so clumsy." Jiang Yixia glanced at him, a hint of concern in her eyes, before turning back to continue arranging the flowers.

But as she lowered her head, she couldn’t help but sneak a little smile.