51 STEALING MY WARMTH

Hu Lei looked at the couch options in the furniture emporium and felt confused and overwhelmed. She had been excited about shopping for her new apartment, but now, she felt that this plan had been a little impulsive. What if she chose something rashly and it just didn't work for her later?

Beside her, Zhong Feng felt equally confused because he had never done this type of thing in the past. Though he had an apartment and a villa, he had not been directly involved in handling the matters of household furniture and appliances. In fact, he had been completely uninvolved in the interior design of his apartment.

However, seeing the muddled and panicking look on Hu Lei's face, he decided to become the voice of experience. Otherwise, she might keep postponing her moving day. He could not bear for her not to delay this matter for longer, and it was not purely for selfish reasons.

He felt that he could not be at peace if she lived all alone in an empty family house in a neighbourhood where she did not fit in. In a place where every home was filled with large families, she had to feel like an island. He could not help speculating the reason there was no one in that old manor and her life.

But none of the unknown reason mattered to him. Even if she had no one, he wanted to make sure that she never felt lonely and alone.

"Are you afraid?" he broke the silence while petting her head as she stood before a sectional leather sofa with a tilted head.

She looked at him looking down at her and her cheeks puffed in annoyance at being treated like a child by the tall man. He stood over a foot above her, and the height difference was especially prominent because she was in low-heeled ankle boots.

"Why would I be afraid?" She paused for a moment after the retort. "It's just that I don't know the correct criteria for choosing the right furniture."

Zhong Feng thought for a moment.

"Don't think about it logically. It is all about personal preference. If you feel comfortable, then it is the right choice." The abstract advice seemed at odds with his normal mathematical self.

However, in spite of the odd source, Hu Lei felt that the words made sense. She would be spending a lot of time in her new place, so comfort had to be the priority. With that, she sat down on the black leather sofa to test it out, she immediately scrunched up her nose.

"Not the right one?" her companion smiled at her expression.

"It feels too cold. It's stealing my warmth."

They moved on to the other options, and Hu Lei tested out almost every couch she could find. At one point, she found a fabric option that was comfortable and warm. However, she could not bring herself to pick it because of its light colour. If she had that in her house, she would be too worried about staining it to relax.

"What are you looking for today?" one of the salespeople approached them.

Hu Lei had rejected the guidance offered by the shop when they had first entered, but now, she could see the benefits of consulting an expert.

"I want something warm, durable and reclining." After testing out so many pieces of furniture, she already understood her likes. Unfortunately, her preferences did not seem to come in a single sofa.

The beautiful saleslady was looking at the man standing a step behind the talking midget. Her disappointment was palpable when the impressive man did not speak but instead stared coldly at her. She smiled awkwardly and looked at Hu Lei.

"You might like our new suede option. It has not yet been placed on display, but it should fit your criteria. Please follow me." She said.

Hu Lei turned her smiling eyes to Zhong Feng, and his face softened as he looked back. The young saleslady looked at them with some annoyance and bitterness as they flirted silently. She realised that it was not her turn for spring.

In this high-end shopping mall, it was not uncommon for salespeople to capture dates through their daily work interactions. Truthfully, she had been eyeing the man since the two had come in. She was not opposed to something casual with this type of impressive man even though he was otherwise engaged. However, seeing him up close, she knew that he was attached to the midget.

The short excursion into the storage room bore fruit. Hu Lei loved a brown suede couch and decided to purchase it right away. Regrettably, she did not find a suitable bed or desk, so they would need to look around a little more. After paying and making arrangements for delivery, she and Zhong Feng left. The saleslady who had been eyeing the small woman unpleasantly, smiled at them professionally as they left, no doubt because of her sizable commission.

After leaving the emporium, Hu Lei felt that the shopping trip could be fun after all. Since they were at a large mall, they found another furniture shop shortly after leaving the first one. Feeling like an experienced shopper, Hu Lei dived right in.

She rolled on different beds, attracting disgusted looks from the staff and other shoppers. These glares were met by the cold pressure of an evil emperor who was still following behind her. The people who wished to speak ill about the girl behaving indecently could only look away, unwilling to provoke this dragon among men.

After much deliberation, Hu Lei picked the perfect bed and an acceptable work desk and chair. She left the shop feeling quite satisfied with herself. It was just as she thought. Regular life in Supreme was the best. She would take the shallow life in this judgemental city over constantly fighting for survival in uncharted territories.

"Should I have bought more beds and furniture for the other rooms?" She thought suddenly and turned to Zhong Feng with a questioning look.

"Do you intend to invite people to spend nights in your apartment?" His sharp eyes seemed to penetrate through her soul.

"Who knows? I am quite popular." She responded with a cheeky smile and rushed off ahead.

Zhong Feng's face darkened at the implication of her words. She seemed to love playing with him, not knowing that she could get burned. However, even as his mind was clouded with jealousy at the thought of other people spending time in her apartment, he felt some joy at seeing her teasing and lively. Huh? Where had she gone? He seemed to realise that he could no longer see her. He could have sworn that he had never taken her eyes off her.