Ausse's body had undergone a remarkable transformation. After just three days, her injuries had faded significantly, leaving her feeling perfectly capable of taking on the day's tasks, from cooking to cleaning. However, her limited wardrobe remained a stark reminder of her recent past. She possessed only the dress Jades had provided during her hospital stay, along with a simple shirt and a pair of short pants that were already hers.
Jades, by nature, was a man of elusive presence. He often returned home late, or sometimes, not at all. His home life was mostly confined to Saturdays and Sundays. On all other days, Ausse found herself in solitary rhythm, her hours marked by quiet waiting.
One particular Saturday dawned like any other. Ausse, true to her ingrained habit, was awake by 4 AM. Her day began with a meticulous cleaning ritual: wiping down every surface, changing bedsheets, and mopping the floors until they gleamed. Next, she turned her attention to the kitchen, preparing food, before moving on to the laundry, washing both her and Jades' clothes. What she didn't realize was that this Saturday held a significant difference from her usual routine. Jades, contrary to her expectation, was home.
In the midst of her kitchen duties, a small disaster struck. The food she was preparing for breakfast accidentally burned. "Oh my god! The food got all burnt!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with dismay. A frantic check of the refrigerator yielded little comfort; there was nothing left to cook, save for a single egg and a bottle of milk. Resourcefully, she boiled the egg and served it with the milk. As she ate, a moment of clumsiness led to a spill, milk cascading onto her dress. This was the only outfit she had available, apart from the one already in the washing machine. The dress was so sheer that the milk made it completely transparent.
Needing to dry her clothes quickly, Ausse set off in search of a hairdryer. As she entered the lobby, her steps faltered. There, sprawled casually on the sofa, was Jades. His hair was damp, wrapped in a towel, and his bare abdomen, clearly defined with abs, was fully exposed. Ausse's face instantly burned crimson. Covering her face with both hands, she scurried past him, snatched the hairdryer, and practically bolted out of the room. Jades, meanwhile, looked utterly perplexed by her sudden, flustered exit.
"Why is he here?" she silently questioned, her thoughts racing. "And why is he half-naked? I thought he'd be out today too!" These thoughts swirled in her mind as she quickly dried her clothes. Once done, she returned to her chores, still feeling a little flustered by the unexpected encounter.
Later that morning, Jades approached her. "Haven't you cooked food?" he inquired, his voice calm.
Ausse's mind immediately replayed the morning's kitchen mishap. "Oh! About that," she stammered, a fresh wave of embarrassment washing over her, "I made the food, but it burned. Now there's nothing left to cook."
Jades simply tilted his head slightly. Then, in a tone that was both coolly detached and surprisingly caring, he said, "Get ready."
"For what?" Ausse asked, her eyebrows raised in confusion.
"For lunch outside," he replied, his gaze unwavering.
Ausse's heart sank with a familiar pang of self-consciousness. She had absolutely nothing suitable to wear for an outing, especially to a restaurant. The thought of asking Jades for new clothes felt unthinkable; he had already extended so much help to her. She looked away, unable to meet his eyes, feeling the weight of her limited circumstances.
Jades remained standing, observing her hesitation. "What happened?" he asked again, his voice now tinged with a hint of impatience, though still in his usual, composed manner.
Still unable to meet his gaze, and deeply embarrassed, she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, "I don't have anything good to wear."
He looked at her for a long moment, then simply stated, "Just wear what you have."
She nodded, a silent agreement, and went to change into the dress she had just dried. Moments later, Jades led her to his car. She settled into the passenger seat beside him, her glances cautious, oscillating between him and her simple, freshly laundered dress.
The car suddenly glided to a stop in front of a breathtakingly beautiful clothing shop. Ausse gasped, her eyes widening in a mixture of shock and confusion. She had never, in her entire life, set foot in a place so elegant, so grand. They both entered the shop.
A saleslady, impeccably dressed and radiating warmth, immediately greeted them. "What a beautiful lady!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. "Congratulations, you finally found a good partner." Ausse's cheeks burned a deep crimson. "No, it's nothing..." she mumbled, trying to correct the misunderstanding. But Jades smoothly interrupted, his voice calm and almost amused, "Ma'am, please show our lady some nice dresses of her choice." He seemed utterly unbothered by the saleslady's assumption, even slightly lazy to correct it.
Ausse found herself trying on a dizzying array of dresses. Each one, surprisingly, seemed to suit her perfectly, enhancing her features in ways she hadn't known possible. Yet, with each beautiful dress, a knot of unease tightened in her stomach. These were undeniably expensive. "Jades," she pleaded softly, her voice barely audible, "You don't actually have to do that for me." But he seemed to ignore her completely, proceeding to purchase all the dresses she had tried on.
Overwhelmed but grateful, Ausse chose one of her new dresses to wear immediately: a stunning, soft pink, lightweight gown that flowed around her like a dream. It made her feel graceful and ethereal, like a bird with captivating feathers. When she reappeared, Jades' reaction was immediate and profound. He was visibly shocked, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and admiration, a subtle, satisfied smirk slowly spreading across his face.
With the shopping complete, they continued their journey, heading to one of the most exquisite restaurants in the entire city for dinner. It was a day filled with unexpected turns, quiet acts of generosity, and a glimpse into a world Ausse had never imagined.