Chapter 4: Why Aren’t You Wearing Any Clothes?

Shen Chutang hadn’t contacted Lu Beiqin yet, but unexpectedly, he reached out to her first.

“Address.”

The man’s deep, cold voice came from the other end of the line. Shen Chutang hadn’t expected him to move in today.

“You’re coming over? I’ll send you the address.”

By the time Shen Chutang hurried over, Lu Beiqin was already waiting at the door. He had brought very little with him—just a single suitcase.

Lu Beiqin studied the house in front of him with a thoughtful gaze. It was a standalone villa, and in a city like the capital, where every inch of land was precious, he hadn’t expected Shen Chutang to own such a place here.

It seemed his investigation into her had been lacking.

Shen Chutang quickly unlocked the door. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to tidy up today. The rooms upstairs are all empty. You can pick whichever you like.”

Lu Beiqin’s cold eyes swept across the room, filled with the scent and traces of a young woman. His gaze paused on the coffee table, which was covered with magazines and even some snacks, while a pile of clothes was scattered on the sofa.

Following his line of sight, Shen Chutang hurriedly gathered up the magazines and tabloid mirror. “This is the common area. You can use it too.”

A few days ago, she’d opened some packages and just tossed the clothes onto the sofa, not having had time to put them away.

After saying this, Shen Chutang scooped up the clothes from the sofa and walked further inside. Unexpectedly, something small slipped out.

A pair of panties with a strawberry pattern.

Shen Chutang’s face turned bright red. She quickly snatched them up and dashed into her bedroom without looking back. “Make yourself at home—don’t stand on ceremony!”

Watching her flustered retreat, Lu Beiqin narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts unreadable.

Hiding in the bathroom, Shen Chutang waited until her cheeks no longer burned before finally opening the door and beginning to introduce the house to Lu Beiqin.

At the end, she scratched her head. “My parents want to meet you tomorrow night. My sister just returned from studying abroad, and they're throwing her a welcome party. If you have time, would you like to come along?”

Lu Beiqin had read through Shen Chutang’s background. She’d left the Shen family at the age of three and had grown up through hardship and discipline, unlike her sister, who had attended the best elite schools, gone abroad for her studies, and always enjoyed the finest things.

When Shen Chutang returned, she didn’t even have her own room. Still, she never complained about her fate, and even this time, getting their marriage certificate, the Shen family knew nothing.

Seeing the hope in her eyes, Lu Beiqin nodded. “Alright.”

Shen Chutang was visibly happy. “Great! I’ll send you the details then.”

The next morning, Shen Chutang woke up groggy and yawning. She opened her door only to be startled by the sight of a shirtless man standing in the living room. Alarmed, she grabbed the clothes rack beside her. “Who are you? How did you get in here?”

Lu Beiqin calmly took the rack from her hand and said lazily, “Next time, keep a baseball bat around—it’s more intimidating.”

Shen Chutang stared blankly at the man in front of her before remembering she had invited him to stay.

“S-sorry…”

She hadn’t expected that, of all the rooms, he’d chosen the one directly across from hers.

He wore only a towel around his waist, another towel draped casually over his head as he dried his damp hair. Water traced the sculpted lines of his muscles, streaming down and finally disappearing beneath the knot of his towel.

Shen Chutang’s face flushed instantly. “Why—why aren’t you wearing any clothes!”

Lu Beiqin lifted his eyes, giving her—red to her very neck—a single glance. Shen Chutang’s protest trailed off as she quickly averted her gaze, her innocence so genuine it was hard to imagine she was pretending.

Lu Beiqin lowered his gaze and, without another look, headed straight back to his room.

Scratching her head, Shen Chutang couldn’t help but think this man was a bit odd—like a silent mystery she couldn’t quite figure out.