Chapter 18: The Troubles of Getting Bigger

Lin Xiaoxiao instinctively tried to pull away, but Zhou Ting’s commanding voice stopped her.
“Don’t move…”

Resigned, she suppressed her fear, letting him hold her from behind.

“D-don’t… I can’t wash dishes like this, and Zhou Yang’s in his room…”

Hearing her indignant tone, Zhou Ting’s eyes flickered. Thinking of the roses on the table, he said, “You wash, I hold. No conflict.”

“That kid’s glued to his games. He won’t come out.”

Lin Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at his nonchalant words, her heart still racing.

But she was helpless. Turning, she said seriously, “Then promise it’s just holding—no doing anything worse.”

Zhou Ting raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. “Worse things? Like what?”

She froze, images flashing in her mind, her face flushing as she turned away.
“H-how would I know…”

He smirked at her shy reaction, blowing lightly on her ear, making her tremble slightly but bearably.

She tried to ignore him, focusing on the unwashed dishes.

But as her hand touched a plate, her body jolted, and she turned back, exasperated. “You promised not to—”

His hands, still around her waist, slid upward, and he smiled faintly.
“I didn’t promise anything, Xiaoxiao. Relax.”

Powerless, she tried to break free, but his strength forced her onto her tiptoes…

She managed to finish the dishes, but when Zhou Ting let go, she slumped to the floor.

Feeling his lingering presence on her legs, she wiped them with a tissue before standing to take out the trash.

Zhou Ting tossed her the roses.
“Take these too. They’re not fresh anymore.”

She paused, took a deep breath, and, with rare boldness, faced him.

He raised an eyebrow. “What? Got a problem?”

Her courage faltered, but she explained, “The flowers were from the flower shop owner…”

She quickly recounted her afternoon with Zhou Yang, surprised when Zhou Ting just said, “Oh.”

Seeing her stunned look, he smirked.
“I knew you wouldn’t dare look for other men behind my back. I figured as much.”

Lin Xiaoxiao huffed inwardly, then hesitated with the flowers. “So, these?”

“Keep them if you want.”

Relieved, she brightened. It was her first time receiving flowers, even if just as thanks, and she cherished them.

She went to take out the trash.

Zhou Ting watched the flowers, his eyes softening, then grabbed a beer from the fridge and stepped onto the balcony. Soon, he saw her figure below.

Under the dim lights, her silhouette was dreamy, stirring his heart…

*

The following days didn’t change much for Zhou Ting. Lin Xiaoxiao was just a spice in his life, someone to “play” with when bored.

But once accustomed, he entertained the thought of keeping her forever.

For Lin Xiaoxiao, though, life had turned upside down. She used to worry about food and shelter in the dorm.

Now, those worries were gone, but she wanted to escape this life of constant fear.

Fear of her female identity being exposed, of Zhou Ting doing worse things, of her role as a mistress being discovered…

The annoying system didn’t help, issuing weird tasks like cross-dressing or acting frail, with useless rewards!

Worse, her chest was growing. In just half a month, her binder could barely hide it. If this continued, her secret would be out!

That afternoon, in the school library, her phone buzzed.

It was Zhou Ting, with two words: “Come out.”

She sighed, exasperated.

Scrolling through their chat, it was all threats during intimate moments or curt messages.

She sent a question mark back.

“I’m at the school gate. Come out.”

Stunned, she realized she couldn’t keep reading. Packing quickly, she headed to the gate.

“Why are you here?” she asked, sitting cautiously in a nearby café after checking for familiar faces.

Zhou Ting sipped his coffee, eyeing the increasingly mature woman, pleased.

She might not have noticed, but he saw it—the raw jade he was shaping into a refined woman…

“Taking you for a drive.”

She blinked, confused. “A drive? Why?”

He didn’t explain, just pulled her up.
“Come with me.”

Her strength was no match for his, but before being dragged off, she grabbed her untouched coffee and took a big gulp.

She regretted it instantly—bitter coffee, ugh!

Zhou Ting chuckled at her expression, then leaned down, kissing her vibrant lips.

“Mmph…”

Her body stiffened. After a few seconds, she pushed him away, blushing. “P-people are watching…”

He just laughed, pulling her out of the café.

At a spot away from the gate, he opened the passenger door, gesturing for her to get in.

Left with no choice, she complied, unaware that someone nearby had photographed it all—their café meeting, the kiss…