Power and Wealth

Inside the room.

"Said what?"

"Uh, yeah, I felt something."

"What did you feel?"

"Cough, I just realized I took advantage of you."

"That's about right. At least you know, you little brat."

Dong Xuebing smiled and served beside, dragging the ashtray.

Zhang Longjuan, wrapped in a towel, leaned against the bedhead, smoking. She exhaled smoke from her red lips with a sense of sensuality. She didn't give Dong Xuebing a good look, and it seemed like she might be genuinely upset. Her usual cheerful demeanor was absent, and there was an awkward feeling. Nevertheless, even in this state, Sister Zhang's hot figure exuded a sense of sensuality, which enveloped Dong Xuebing.

Deep cleavage.

Taut buttocks.

Droplets of water on her skin.

Dong Xuebing couldn't help but look at her a few more times. Perhaps it was because he had just been with Sister Zhang, but now, he felt she was charming and captivating no matter how he looked at her. He wanted to pounce on her and devour her, but Dong Xuebing lacked the courage, especially at a tlike this. He could only obediently accompany her and think about how to smooth things over with Sister Zhang so that he could feel at ease.

"Do you want swater?"

"Black tea."

"Okay, here's the water."

"I'll make you a late-night snack since you're hungry."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Anything will do, just hurry up."

"Got it. You wait a moment, and I'll be right back."

Dong Xuebing quietly closed the door and went to the kitchen. After rummaging around, he finally found a sausage, sliced it, fried an egg, and brought sbread slices into the room. "There isn't much left, so make do with this."

Zhang Longjuan waved her hand.

Dong Xuebing then lifted it to her on the bed.

Zhang Longjuan didn't get up. She just leaned on the bed and ate.

After tossing and turning for a whole hour, Dong Xuebing finally saw Zhang Longjuan squinting while smoking and watching TV. She didn't ask Dong Xuebing to do anything else.

Dong Xuebing said, "Then you rest."

Zhang Longjuan flicked the cigarette ash and continued watching TV without saying a word.

Dong Xuebing closed the door and left the room, sighing with relief. He walked into the yard and looked back, then under the moonlight, he began to tidy up. He filled the wooden tub with water, brought things into the east room, swept the floor, and washed the dishes that Zhang Longjuan had just used. Finally, he picked up the clothes that Zhang Longjuan had taken off in the yard earlier. The shirt was fine and quite clean, but her bra and panties were dirty. Dong Xuebing felt a bit guilty towards Sister Zhang, so he decided to wash them for her.

However, when Dong Xuebing opened the washing machine lid, he was speechless to find that it was packed full of clothes, almost overflowing.

There were only three sets of underwear.

Two pairs of pants, one top.

There were countless tangled stockings and black silk stockings mixed in.

Dong Xuebing reached in and couldn't help but slap his forehead. He thought, "You must be lazy. From coming to Beijing until now, you haven't washed your clothes, have you?" Shaking his head, Dong Xuebing moved a chair over, took out all the clothes, sorted them individually, threw a few into the washing machine, turned it on, and let it run. The rest of the stockings and other clothes needed hand-washing, so Dong Xuebing rolled up his sleeves and washed them carefully, busying himself.

As tpassed, it grew later and later.

By the tDong Xuebing finished washing this pile of clothes, it was almost eleven o'clock.

He walked into the courtyard and hung the clothes one by one on the hemp rope beside the Chinese toon tree. He glanced at the bedroom in the north wing, where the light was still on. It seemed like Sister Zhang hadn't slept yet, but Dong Xuebing was feeling a bit tired. This day had worn him out. Since getting off the plane, he hadn't had a moment of rest. He absentmindedly grabbed a clean towel to wipe the water stains from his hands, then pushed the door to the north room.

"Sister Zhang, you're still not sleeping?" Dong Xuebing peeked in and saw Zhang Longjuan still watching TV. The room was filled with smoke, so he opened the door wider.

Zhang Longjuan didn't even look at him. "Hmm."

Dong Xuebing boasted, "Um, I washed the clothes you just took off, and there were also quite a few in the washing machine. They're all washed now."

Zhang Longjuan remained indifferent. "Hmm."

"Then you should rest early. It's late." Dong Xuebing yawned tiredly. "If you're fine, I'll sleep in the west room."

Zhang Longjuan glanced at him. "Turn off the TV."

"Okay." Dong Xuebing turned off the TV and the light, leaving only a bedside lamp on. "Goodnight, Sister Zhang."

Just as Dong Xuebing was about to leave, Zhang Longjuan called him back. "What's the rush? Didn't see that your sister's bed isn't even made, and the pillow needs fluffing."

She covered herself with the blanket.

She smoothed out her pillow.

Dong Xuebing had been at Sister Zhang's beck and call since the evening, feeling like he was being bossed around. He was getting impatient, especially when Sister Zhang continued to assign tasks before bedtime. Dong Xuebing finally felt a bit petty and couldn't be bothered anymore.

"Where's the mirror?" Zhang Longjuan reached out.

"You can get it yourself," Dong Xuebing said.

"Oh, in a hurry now?" Zhang Longjuan chuckled.

"I've already apologized. I didn't mean to, but look at how you're bossingaround," Dong Xuebing snapped. "I'm done serving you."

Zhang Longjuan glanced at him. "Throwing a tantrum, are we?"

"I haven't thrown a tantrum all day. I've never been bossed around like this before," Dong Xuebing retorted.

"Heh, I'd like to hear that. I've let you take advantage of me, so how will you servenow?" Zhang Longjuan teased.

Dong Xuebing grumbled, "I've served you so much already. Whenever you ask for water, I bring it to you, even hot water freshly boiled. I light your cigarettes when you ask, and I even washed that pile of clothes in the washing machine. Isn't that enough? Even my mother never madeserve her like this. You keep givingorders, but I just got off the plane today. I've been busy with you for six or seven hours this afternoon. I've been busy all day, with few minutes to rest. Now I'm telling you to rest, and you're still being picky and won't letsleep."

Zhang Longjuan's expression wasn't as indifferent as before. She smiled and looked at him. "Oh, you're outraged now?"

Dong Xuebing wasn't angry with her; he liked her too much to be angry. He was venting a bit, but his face remained stern. "I won't get the mirror for you."

"Fine, if you're going to be angry, I'll go to sleep. I'm exhausted." Zhang Longjuan yawned deeply, then rolled over and faced the inside, leaving Dong Xuebing with her back. Then, a white arm reached out from under the blanket, clicked the switch, and the bedside lamp went out.

The room fell into darkness.

Inside, only the moonlight drifted gently.

Dong Xuebing stood in the room, feeling speechless. His anger was fake, and he hoped Sister Zhang would comfort him a bit or maybe soften up. But instead, she didn't say anything and went straight to sleep, not giving him any face. Dong Xuebing didn't know whether to leave or stay. If he left abruptly, their relationship might bectense. After all, Dong Xuebing was somewhat at fault and didn't truly want to get angry with Sister Zhang. But if he stayed, he would have to continue serving her with a smile, and Dong Xuebing felt like he couldn't swallow his pride.

Should he go or stay?

Should he sleep or not?

Dong Xuebing was torn. He was already exhausted, and now dealing with Sister Zhang's ambiguous attitude only added to his confusion.

Annoyed.

Extremely annoyed.

When a person gets annoyed, their temper naturally worsens.

That's how Dong Xuebing felt at the moment. Unfortunately, Sister Zhang's actions were just adding fuel to the fire. Behind Zhang Longjuan's serene silhouette as she lay on the bed, suddenly, a light from her phone lit up. Zhang Longjuan's hand moved across the touchscreen, whether she was browsing Weibo or something else, occasionally laughing. The light from her phone flickered in the room, making Dong Xuebing even more frustrated.

You sure know how to enjoy yourself.

Oh, so I'm the one suffering?

For a moment, Dong Xuebing's stubbornness surged up. With a grunt, he unbuttoned his shirt and started removing his clothes.

One by one, three by three, five by five, until he took off his pants, too.

Dong Xuebing tossed all the clothes onto the armchair, glanced at the bed, then strode over. He took off his shoes, stepped onto the bed, bypassed Zhang Longjuan sleeping outside, and went straight to the innermost part of the bed, next to the wall. He lifted the double bedsheet and slipped inside.

Zhang Longjuan: "......"

The bed was warm, almost entirely with Sister Zhang's warmth, and a mature woman's fragrance was lingering in the air, a bit alluring.

Comfortable.

Dong Xuebing felt good, and his heart finally settled.

"Huh, what's this?" Zhang Longjuan looked at him with wide-open eyes. She stopped playing with her phone, and the light from the screen shone directly on Dong Xuebing's face.

With closed eyes, Dong Xuebing grumbled, "What else could it be? Sleeping."

A burst of air rushed toward him as Sister Zhang spoke again, every word hitting Dong Xuebing's face, "You don't even feel a bit guilty. Ha, sneaking into my bed. Are you trying to mess with me?"

Rolling his eyes, Dong Xuebing replied, "This is my bed."

Zhang Longjuan chuckled, "You're not polite."

"Why should I be polite to you? We've already... crossed that line. I don't need to be formal with you," Dong Xuebing said, realizing that being polite wouldn't solve the current situation. He opted for a different approach. "I'm drained, Sister Zhang. Let's not talk about it tonight. Whether you sleep or not, it's up to you. I'm going to sleep first."

The light from the phone went out, too.

Sister Zhang's sensual voice sounded in the dark, "Still trying to play dumb with me? Ha, your sister knows how to play dumb even before you were born. Go on, sleep in the west room."

"Goodnight," Dong Xuebing ignored her and lay in her bed, feeling completely at ease.