Her voice trembled, full of apprehension, like a lamb awaiting judgment.
She was terrified that Jiang Xun would utter those two words again: "It's tacky."
The hall was deathly silent.
Jiang Xun finally stood up.
He walked, step by step, to the canvas.
He looked down from above.
He gazed at the woman lying there, and at the so-called "masterpiece."
Mu Qingxue's heart was about to leap out of her throat.
"The painting… isn't very good."
Jiang Xun spoke, his voice languid, like a cat's claw scratching at one's heart.
Mu Qingxue's body trembled violently, and the color drained completely from her face.
It was over.
Still not good enough.
She had gone to such lengths, and he was still not satisfied?
Just as she was consumed by despair, feeling as if the world was collapsing, Jiang Xun crouched down.
He extended a finger and lightly touched a bit of red "paint" on the painting.
A rich, unmistakable scent of strawberry, mixed with the cloying sweetness of chocolate, wafted over.
Then, he put that finger into his mouth.
He licked it.
"Damn, it's still chocolate sauce, that's something."
"However…"
A wicked smile, rotten to the core, curved on Jiang Xun's lips.
"The paint is good though, strawberry flavored, quite sweet."
Mu Qingxue was completely stunned.
"You…"
"I said," Jiang Xun's face suddenly moved closer, his warm breath like an electric current on her face, "I need to properly 'inspect the goods'."
"What I'm inspecting isn't just dead assets."
"It's also whether you, yourself, are 'a feast for the eyes'."
"Hehe, after all that acting, we're finally getting to the main event. This guy wants to see what score this top-tier rich young lady's 'user experience report' can get."
Before his words finished, he scooped up the colorful Mu Qingxue from the canvas, embracing her at the waist.
"Ah!"
Mu Qingxue gasped, instinctively clinging tightly to his neck.
This was her first time having such contact with a man in her life; her brain instantly crashed, a complete blank, and her entire body went limp.
"Sir… it's dirty…"
"It's fine, I don't mind."
Jiang Xun carried her and strode towards the huge infinity pool.
"Splash!"
Water splashed everywhere.
He held her as they both sank into the water.
The cool pool water instantly enveloped them both, and also sobered Mu Qingxue's muddled mind for a moment.
"Sir, I… I can wash myself…"
She was so embarrassed she nearly fainted.
"Wash what?"
Jiang Xun whispered in her ear, his voice carrying an enchanting, magical power.
"Such good 'paint,' it would be a waste to wash it off."
He lowered his head and kissed her collarbone, which was stained with blue "paint."
A sweet taste of blueberry chocolate jam spread wantonly in his mouth.
Mu Qingxue's body instantly softened into a puddle of spring water, unable to utter another word of refusal.
"Hmm, this flavor is also good, a bit more tart than the strawberry, with more layers of taste."
She felt like a small boat swaying in a storm, and Jiang Xun was the only harbor where she could dock.
She completely gave up resisting, allowing him to "inspect her goods."
In the villa, the huge infinity pool rippled.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Xun actually felt a trace of powerlessness.
"Tsk, this 18-year-old bachelor is tasting such delicious food for the first time, he can't help but want a few more bites."
With a thought, the system panel appeared in his mind.
"Reputation Shop. Stamina Recovery Potion (Small). Redeem."
A warm current instantly exploded from his dantian, surging through his limbs and bones, sweeping away his fatigue, replaced by an even more surging energy.
"Good heavens, the experience of a paying player is truly different."
And so, the ripples in the pool lasted for a very, very long time.
From day to night.
The poolside lights automatically turned on, illuminating the water surface with shimmering light.
Dozens of scattered paint bottles lay with their openings wide, the chocolate fruit pulp inside almost gone.
The large white paper, used as a "canvas," had a corner lifted by the evening breeze; the painting on it, having touched water, became even more blurred, and even more… profound… The night deepened.
Jiang Xun carried Mu Qingxue, who was too exhausted to even move a finger, out of the pool and walked directly into the master bedroom.
He gently placed her on the large bed, big enough for seven or eight people, and pulled the covers over her.
Mu Qingxue had completely transformed by now.
The sharp, capable, and ice-cold CEO with a powerful aura was gone.
In her place was a small woman with a flushed face, hazy eyes, and an aura of languor.
She looked at Jiang Xun, her eyes filled with an unyielding tenderness and dependence.
"Ding! Detected that the host has completed a deep link with the heroine 'Mu Qingxue', favorability +20! Current favorability: 80 (Intimate)!"
"Ding! Family Reputation +1000!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host! Due to a significant increase in favorability with the heroine, new function unlocked: Partner Status Details!"
A series of notification sounds rang in Jiang Xun's mind.
He opened the panel and glanced at it.
"Family Panel"
"Member: Mu Qingxue"
"Favorability: 80 (Intimate)"
"Health Status: Excellent (Mild fatigue, recommend using Stamina Recovery Potion)"
In the "Reputation Shop," the icon for Stamina Recovery Potion (Small) was sparkling.
"This system is quite smart," Jiang Xun muttered to himself, then closed the panel.
"Sir…"
Mu Qingxue on the bed called him in a voice like a mosquito's buzz.
"Hmm?"
"I… can I call you by your name from now on?" she asked cautiously, as if afraid of breaking some rule.
"Whatever you want."
Jiang Xun was in a great mood now and couldn't be bothered to keep up the pretense.
"Jiang Xun…"
She murmured his name, a satisfied and happy silly smile appearing on her face.
Then, as if remembering something, she struggled to sit up.
"Oh, right, the Male Care Association… I need to submit a 'Marital Harmony Report,' this time's KPI…!"
Jiang Xun: "…"
"Damn! This can be a KPI too?"
He felt his understanding of this world was once again being brutally challenged… The next morning.
Jiang Xun woke up from the enormous bed, feeling refreshed and invigorated, every pore in his body radiating comfort.
The moment he opened his eyes, he met a pair of sparkling eyes.
Mu Qingxue had already woken up, and he didn't know how long she had been watching him, lying on her side, gazing at him infatuatedly.
The adoration and satisfaction in her eyes were so thick they almost overflowed.
"Sir, you're awake."
Seeing Jiang Xun open his eyes, she immediately sat up straight, a charming blush appearing on her face, and respectfully picked up a glass of water from the nightstand.
"The water temperature is 37.5 degrees Celsius, just right."
Jiang Xun lazily sat up, took the glass of water, and took a sip, enjoying this imperial-level service that catered to his every need.
"Damn, this is too corrupt, too decadent."
Jiang Xun criticized himself internally.
"Another glass."
At the breakfast table, the spread was as lavish as a five-star hotel buffet.
Mu Qingxue, however, barely touched her chopsticks; she pulled out a tablet, her expression as serious as if she were about to deliver a billion-dollar project report.
"Sir, regarding last night's 'inspection,' I have already compiled a detailed report."
Jiang Xun almost spat out his milk.
"A report?"
"Yes."