Chapter 109: Not a Girlfriend Yet

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Not a Girlfriend Yet

After spending some time explaining, Zhang Yun briefed her on Xu Jin and the others’ situations, mainly focusing on their combat achievements today. Whether Ouyang Mingruo actually believed him or was just doing him a favor, she agreed just like that.

"Then I’ll notify them Ming Tian to come over so you can interview them again. As for their compensation... it definitely can’t be based on what you’re paying me. Just pay them the market rate," Zhang Yun laid this out upfront so she wouldn’t think he was just afraid of dying and greedy for money, trying to put ghost employees on the payroll.

"Why? Aren’t these the ’disciples’ you highly recommended?" Ouyang Mingruo emphasized.

"Nonsense! The high price you’re paying me is because you’ve taken a fancy to me. It’s the kept-man premium for sacrificing my body! They’re just doing security work. How can that be the same?"

Ouyang Mingruo let out a PFFT and burst out laughing. "Is a certain someone’s body really worth that much? And are you that confident in your looks? You even dare to introduce bodyguards to me. Aren’t you afraid your disciples will steal your girl?"

"Steal my girl...? What are you talking about! Be serious, please. I’m warning you, don’t act like their master’s wife in front of them!" Zhang Yun said earnestly.

Ouyang Mingruo couldn’t help but laugh. "I hadn’t thought of that, but you just reminded me! Since I’m so beautiful, your disciples will definitely admire me. I have to let them know I’m their prospective master’s wife so they’ll maintain their respect!"

"..." Zhang Yun let out an exaggerated yawn. "Go to sleep, we’ll talk about it Ming Tian!"

"HEHE, can you even fall asleep? Don’t think about me!"

"..."

This proposal had been a spur-of-the-moment idea from Zhang Yun. Naturally, those people had nothing to do with Ouyang Chunqiu, and based on their obedience to him, they would protect Ouyang Mingruo diligently. On the other hand, it was also obvious that their incomes were limited. Without national fame, they couldn’t possibly make a living just by fighting in tournaments. They would probably just end up as coaches in martial arts schools or gyms, let alone someone like Fu Yudie. Zhang Yun did have the intention of helping out his disciples, but thinking about it calmly now, this wasn’t a standard bodyguard detail. Ouyang Mingruo would definitely face more danger! Sanda experts weren’t equivalent to professional bodyguards. To protect Mingruo properly, they might also find themselves in peril! The only thing Zhang Yun could do was help boost their strength. That would rely on the Mysterious Petals! He wondered if that one flower bud had bloomed yet...

Later on, Ouyang Mingruo slept very soundly. However, people in the countryside woke up early, and the soundproofing was rather poor. She was woken up by noises outside before six o’clock.

"You’re awake?"

"You don’t even need alarm clocks here. People just naturally get woken up," Ouyang Mingruo rubbed her eyes.

"HEHE, that’s because there are fewer roosters now. I remember when I was a kid, there were tons of roosters in the village. They would start crowing one after another before the sky even turned bright!"

"SIGH!"

Zhang Yun sat up and saw Ouyang Mingruo lying on her side under the air-conditioning blanket, squinting slightly at him. Although she looked a bit sleepy-eyed, this sluggish appearance made her look even more feminine and full of everyday charm!

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ouyang Mingruo smiled, feeling slightly shy.

Zhang Yun coughed dryly. "When you made your grand entrance last night in that luxury car and formal dress, you looked like a female lead stepping right out of a TV show to both everyone else and me—excellent, perfect, and unreal. But looking at you like this now, I feel a sense of closeness."

"HMPH, you’re just saying I look a mess and ugly when I sleep," Ouyang Mingruo curled her lips slightly. Right after saying this, she felt a bit embarrassed herself.

She wondered, "Why? Why am I subconsciously using such a spoiled tone? This isn’t my style at all!"

Mingruo quickly changed the subject. "You interrupted me. I almost forgot, I wanted you to go buy me a toothbrush, a towel, and other necessities."

"The stores aren’t open this early. How about you use mine first?"

"I’m rolling my eyes at you right now. Figure it out yourself," Mingruo scoffed. "They’re from your village, can’t you just ask them to open the door? The workers are already up, so the store owners must be up too."

"Alright. I don’t want to run multiple errands, so let me ask clearly first—do you need to buy anything else? Like sanitary napkins or something?"

"Screw you!" Ouyang Mingruo grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

"HAHA!" Zhang Yun caught the pillow and took a sniff.

"What are you doing! EW... you pervert." She wondered if he was sniffing her scent. A strange feeling welled up in Mingruo’s heart, though her face and words displayed utter disgust. She immediately thought of another issue. Since they had kept things simple last night and hadn’t changed into a new pillowcase, duvet cover, or bedsheets, hadn’t she been enveloped in Zhang Yun’s scent the entire time? Didn’t that mean she was covered in his scent right now?

"HAHA, I was just smelling to see if you drooled on the pillow. If there’s drool, I’d have to change the pillowcase." Zhang Yun laughed and tossed the pillow back onto the bed.

"Get out!"

"What do you want for breakfast? We usually cook our own meals, but there are also places selling breakfast for the kids hurrying to school."

"I want to eat Xiuxun’s..."

Oh? Zhang Yun widened his eyes. He only mentioned Xiuxun’s name once and she remembered it?

"...eggs."

Once Mingruo finished her sentence, Zhang Yun was left speechless again. "Watch how you say that. What do you mean ’Xiuxun’s eggs’? If someone heard that, they’d think you were cursing."

"I mean the fermented rice wine with eggs from last night. Didn’t you say it was from someone named Xiuxun?" Ouyang Mingruo herself wasn’t even sure why she brought this up. In truth, she wasn’t picky about the flavors or varieties of breakfast; her main focus was on the nutritional structure of the meal.

Zhang Yun refused outright. "No way. It’s wine brewed by someone else’s family. They just gave us a little to taste, and you ate it all. How could I have the nerve to ask for more!"

"Can’t you just ask for it for my sake?" Ouyang Mingruo deliberately started acting cute again. "You could buy it, too."

"Cut it out! You’ll eat whatever I make." Zhang Yun hurriedly left the room. A man’s physical state when he first wakes up in the morning really wasn’t suited for lingering around a beautiful woman...

Taking advantage of the time while washing up, he entered the Peach Blossom Spring Space. The fruit from the previous flower hadn’t grown noticeably larger yet. However, the other buds that had emerged were already beginning to bloom! Although they weren’t in full bloom, there was no problem with plucking off some Mysterious Petals.

Zhang Yun then took another look at the rice and vegetables he had planted earlier. After a night of frantic upward growth, they hadn’t continued expanding indefinitely. He only picked a few a day to feed the fish and couldn’t consume that much. Those fruits just kept growing without withering or aging. Meanwhile, in the spots left empty after picking, new fruits would sprout. Going off memory, Zhang Yun plucked one of the tomatoes from the first batch that had grown. Having grown for a few extra days, its nutritional value would definitely be several times richer. It was more than sincere enough for entertaining a guest, though he wondered if the texture would be lacking in tenderness. Since Ouyang Mingruo was waiting to get up and wash, and Zhang Yun was afraid of scaring his dad if he came back, he didn’t bring the tomato out.

"So early. Going to water the vegetables?"

He hadn’t walked far outside before he ran into Xiuxun coming out carrying a water bucket.

"Yeah. Where are you heading so early?" Xiuxun asked casually. She had naturally heard the commotion from last night. Since Zhang Fu had gone to guard the fish pond, there was no need for Zhang Yun to wake up early to feed the fish.

"Going to the store to buy some things."

"Buying toiletries for your girlfriend?" Xiuxun guessed instantly.

"Mm." Zhang Yun felt a bit embarrassed. Just as he gave a hum of agreement, he immediately clarified, "She’s actually not my girlfriend."

"She slept in the same room as you, and she’s still not your girlfriend?" Xiuxun muttered softly. When Zhang Yun looked over at her, she hurriedly averted her gaze and quickened her pace.