Le Hailey went straight to her room upon entering the villa. She stepped into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the cold water cascade down. Only then did her wildly pounding heart begin to slowly calm down.

Actually, him being gay is a good thing for me, right? That means he won't be interested in me, and I won't have to constantly worry about him having ulterior motives. What better guarantee of safety could there be? How could we be together when our sexual orientations are different!

And probably because Yan Aldrich is gay, he's usually so attentive and considerate to me. Having such a roommate is a blessing, isn't it?

So why was I running away just now?

Even if Yan Aldrich is gay, he doesn't eat people. Danny is gay too, and I get along just fine with him!

Le Hailey finally managed to convince herself to accept this fact.

Feeg a chill wash over her body, she turned off the shower and dried herself off. Only then did she realize she hadn't brought her clothes in. She had no choice but to wrap herself in a bath towel.

Unexpectedly, the moment she opened the door, she saw Yan Aldrich sitting on her bed!

All the reasoning Le Hailey had just used to convince herself instantly vanished into thin air. Her body trembled, and she immediately wanted to duck back into the bathroom.

But Yan Aldrich's gaze was too terrifying. It was the same as when she first met him – icy cold and piercing, pinning Le Hailey to the spot in an instant.

Le Hailey steadied her nerves. He doesn't like women, after all. Even if I were naked, it probably wouldn't be attractive to him.

Thinking this, she forced a tiny smile onto her face. "Looking for me?"

Yan Aldrich didn't speak. His gaze roamed over her face for a moment, then slowly traveled downward.

Her hair was tied up at the back, accentuating her long neck. A few stray strands hung down, adding a touch of languid charm. Above the bath towel, her smooth shoulders and delicate collarbones were exposed. Her fair skin, flushed slightly pink from the bath, glistened. A droplet of water traced a path down her neck, disappearing into the swell of her breasts restrained by the towel.

His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. His breath grew unconsciously hotter.

He thought of that night, the silky smooth skin that had left him endlessly Aldricharning. He hadn't even gotten a good look at it then.

And now, she was less than an arm's length away. If he just reached out, gently tugged that towel aside...

The fire inside him was almost burning away his reason. He felt he was about to lose control, to press her down beneath him and kiss her fiercely.

"Yan Aldrich?" Seeing his silence, Le Hailey asked again, "Did you need something?"

Yan Aldrich snapped out of it as if waking from a dream. Reason gradually returned.

He averted his gaze and asked coldly, "Why are you dressed like this? Don't you have clothes?!" His voice was icy, carrying a distinct edge of anger.

Le Hailey's heart skipped a beat.

Just as I thought. Gays dislike seeing women's bodies. He must be disgusted by me.

She hurried to explain: "The clothes I wanted to change into were out here; I forgot to bring them in. And besides, I didn't know you'd be in my room." There was a hint of complaint in her tone by the end.

He barges into my room and then gets mad at me?

"Put some clothes on."

Le Hailey quickly grabbed her pajamas from outside and went back into the bathroom to change. She cautiously stepped out again, bking her large, deer-like Aldrichs as if to say, Now you can't possibly find fault.

Yan Aldrich only glanced at her before realizing that even fully dressed, being looked at by those dewy Aldrichs seemed to fuel the fire inside him even more.

He simply stood up, grabbed her arm, pulled her back into the bathroom, and shut the door.

Le Hailey was stunned by his sudden action. She heard his voice through the door: "Just stay in there. I'll ask my questions and leave."

Le Hailey bked, completely baffled.

He's disgusted by me even after I'm dressed? Or is it just because I'm a woman, and he can't stand the sight? Gays really are hard to please.

Le Hailey silently pouted but kept her voice mild. "Ask away."

"Why are you back so late?"

"The company arranged an audition for me; I went to get the script. After work, I had dinner with a friend – my old roommate, the one I told you about."

"What did you talk about?"

"I told her about the marriage. Don't worry, she won't tell anyone. Besides, I had to give her some explanation for not living there anymore."

Silence from outside ensued.

Le Hailey felt her legs growing stiff from standing. After what felt like an age, she heard him ask again: "What audition?"

Le Hailey was taken aback.

Is he... making small talk?

But she obediently told him the name: "Sword Chivalry."

Yan Aldrich fell silent again.

Le Hailey found this conversation excruciatingly awkward, Aldricht Yan Aldrich seemed reluctant to end it.

After a long while, Yan Aldrich finally spoke. "Got it. Get some rest."

She heard the steady sound of his footsteps, followed by the closing of her bedroom door. The room plunged back into silence.

The villa had excellent soundproofing. Even though he staAldrichd in the room next to hers, she couldn't hear a single sound from his side.

Le Hailey emerged from the bathroom. Thinking it over, she opened her laptop, navigated to an one book retailer, and typed in three words: "Homosexuality".

Hundreds of related books popped up.

Subculture of Homosexuality, Psychology of Homosexuality, In-Depth Study of Homosexuality...

Le Hailey added an entire row of books to her shopping cart, then placed the order and paid.

After finishing, she collapsed onto the bed.

Gays with inexplicable tempers are terrifying. I absolutely must study this thoroughly.

Know your enemy, know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat!

Le Hailey woke up the next day. Still smarting from Yan Aldrich's inexplicable anger the night before, she didn't want to see him. She dawdled in her room for quite a while before finally going downstairs.

However, when she descended, Butler Shen informed her that Yan Aldrich had already left.

Le Hailey breathed a sigh of relief and finished breakfast alone.

But unexpectedly, for the next three days, Le Hailey didn't see Yan Aldrich at all.

On the third evening, as she was eating alone again, she finally asked Butler Shen.

"Replying to the Young Mistress, the Young Master has gone to Hong Kong on business," Butler Shen answered respectfully.

"Oh," Le Hailey nodded, though she couldn't quite place a faint hint of disappointment she felt.

She wanted to ask when he'd be back but found it hard to voice the question.

Butler Shen, adept at reading expressions, understood what she wanted to ask and volunteered: "He will return once matters there are settled, but the exact date is not Aldricht fixed."

Le Hailey could only nod again.

I thought I'd feel freer with him gone, but eating alone is so lonely.

For the third time, she invited Butler Shen: "Please join me. There's so much food; I can't finish it all."

Butler Shen politely deced for the third time: "Young Mistress, that would be improper."

So, once again, she faced the large table of dishes by herself.

Eating alone is so boring; it ruins your appetite. It was at times like this that she found herself missing Yan Aldrich, just a little.

Butler Shen observed this. Outwardly, he remained the picture of steady reliability, but inwardly, he smiled meaningfully.

Newlyweds indeed – such deep affection.

During his break, he discreetly sent a text message: "Young Master, the Young Mistress is well, but she misses you deeply."

Far away in Hong Kong, Yan Aldrich, sitting in his office, felt his phone vibrate.

His cool phoenix Aldrichs lowered to the screen. Seeing the text message, his gaze suddenly softened.

A subtle curve touched his lips. He instructed Old Yan behind him: "No need to negotiate further on the price. Give Zhiyuan Enterprises an extra three percentage points. Sign the agreement tomorrow. Then, book the earliest flight back directly to City A."

Old Yan was dumbfounded.

Three percentage points?! That's a full thirty million yuan!

The Young Master was notoriously inflexible, never conceding an inch. When had he become so accommodating?

Could something be happening in City A?

Old Yan immediately straightened up, trying to guess what major crisis at the company could be making the Young Master rush back so urgently.

He certainly never imagined it was all because of a single text message.