Adored by Him: My Blissful Days as the Girl Next Door-Chapter 407 - 406: Regret Midway

Zhang Xin said, "What do you mean by family? Only two people who are blood-related can be called family. Do married couples count? It’s just giving an official name to merely living together to fool ourselves."

Zhang Xin’s words seemed like a groundbreaking theory to Zhao Meimei, leaving her stunned. She listened intently to Zhang Xin analyzing what exactly love is between a man and a woman, why interest matters so much, how a woman can be charming, and why some women remain exquisite for a lifetime while others become neglected wives worn away by time.

At first, Zhao Meimei merely blushed while watching Zhang Xin make selections, but then she started joining in, actively flipping through and asking for Zhang Xin’s opinions.

That day, Zhang Xin told Zhao Meimei, "Only a woman who is informed and fun can better maintain a family; only by capturing a man’s gaze can you truly capture his heart. It’s pure nonsense to say you can capture a man’s heart by capturing his stomach. If a man stays with a woman just for food, he might as well hire two chefs instead."

In Zhao Meimei’s social circle, the most feminine and charming was Zhang Xin. Among women, there’s always a secret envy and competitive psychology; everyone hopes to be the most beautiful and attractive.

Though Zhao Meimei found Zhang Xin’s words a bit subversive to her understanding of relationships, she still decided to follow her without hesitation. Like any woman who sees herself as ordinary, if she’s not the best and most beautiful, she’ll want to imitate and learn from the person she considers the best.

That day, Zhang Xin helped Zhao Meimei pick out two sets of lingerie, one half-transparent black and one fully transparent fishnet.

Zhao Meimei, clutching the shopping bag, quickly stuffed it into her bag with a red face, as if she were carrying a timed bomb, feeling so nervous and embarrassed she could almost combust.

Seeing her like that, Zhang Xin jokingly teased, "Girl, it’s really not that serious. When you go home and close the door, it’s just you and Shi Yang. Even if you end up embarrassing yourself, only the two of you would know, and Shi Yang won’t laugh at you."

Zhao Meimei still couldn’t calm her nerves, feeling like the most rebellious thing she’d ever done was wearing those two sets of lingerie at home at night.

Zhang Xin advised her, "When you get home, wash the lingerie, use a hair dryer to dry it in a few minutes, and try it tonight. Trust me, it will definitely drive Shi Yang crazy for you."

Zhao Meimei was a bit anxious, "Really? Sis, isn’t this outfit a bit too much?"

Zhang Xin replied, "Too much? Being playful at home with your man is perfectly justified. The couple has done all sorts of intimate things. A woman being playful at home can indirectly stop a man from being playful outside, you know?"

By now, Zhao Meimei was mostly tuning out what Zhang Xin was saying, hearing it in one ear and out the other. A part of her was really looking forward to Shi Yang’s amazed expression when he sees her at night, and yet she was inexplicably a bit nervous, not sure why she felt jittery inside.

Zhao Meimei asked uneasily, "Sis, do you think my brother will really like me dressed like this?"

Zhang Xin confidently assured, "Don’t worry, he’ll definitely like it. You have to understand that men always have a double standard for their wives and for other people’s wives. They want their wife to be an enchanting temptress at home and a model of virtue outside."

Feeling uneasy, Zhao Meimei was reassured by Zhang Xin in a few words. They spent the afternoon shopping together, with Zhang Xin buying a set of loungewear each for her grandfather and Qu Chaozong. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

By the time Zhao Meimei got home, it was already four-thirty in the afternoon. She casually placed the gifts on the coffee table, took out the newly bought lingerie from her bag, washed them thoroughly, and dried them using a hairdryer, just as Zhang Xin had instructed.

After dealing with the lingerie, Zhao Meimei called Shi Yang first to confirm he wouldn’t be home for a while, then went to the bathroom to take a shower.

Zhao Meimei hesitated for a long time but eventually chose the half-transparent black lingerie; she just couldn’t get past the mental hurdle for the fully transparent one.

After dressing, Zhao Meimei stood in front of the mirror, and with just one look, her face turned red down to her ears.

It might as well be nothing, since what needs to be covered is exposed, and what’s covered is just two thin pieces of lace.

Even she found the look too impactful, easily imagining what Shi Yang’s reaction would be. Her previous anxiety eased a bit, and she didn’t put on her loungewear. Instead, she wrapped herself in a towel and began waiting in the living room.

Staring eagerly at the clock on the wall, Zhao Meimei had never felt time go by as slowly as today.

By the time Shi Yang returned, Zhao Meimei’s hair was nearly dry.

The front door unlocked with a click, making Zhao Meimei’s heart leap with both nervousness and anticipation as she stood up from the sofa and awkwardly called out, "Bro!"

Before coming home, Shi Yang had made a detour to the market at the entrance of the community, buying two pounds of chicken wings and a bottle of cola, planning to make cola chicken wings for Zhao Meimei.

As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Meimei standing in front of the sofa, just wrapped in a towel. Shi Yang frowned, "Did you take a shower?"

With a shy and timid nod, Zhao Meimei replied, "Mm, just finished."

Shi Yang casually placed his things on the floor, changing his shoes and saying, "After showering, you should go back to your room and put on clothes; don’t catch a cold."

It was the crux of the season shifting from warm to cold; the community heating had stopped, and the air conditioning unit was in the bedroom, so warm air couldn’t reach the living room.

Zhao Meimei hesitated and fidgeted in place.

Shi Yang picked up his things, stood up, and saw Zhao Meimei standing there with a face full of hesitation and inner conflict, staring at him.

Shi Yang raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised, "Meimei? What’s wrong?"

For a moment, Zhao Meimei felt even more embarrassed. The courage she’d built up evaporated instantly, and she regretted it all. The more she thought about the two pieces of lace she wore, the more she wanted to die from embarrassment.

Shi Yang pressed, "Meimei? Did something happen?"

Avoiding Shi Yang’s gaze, Zhao Meimei decided to go back to her room and change out of the lingerie. But as she turned to run to the bedroom, she was too flustered, tripping over her own feet and falling forward, hearing Shi Yang’s startled shout, "Meimei!"

Zhao Meimei barely managed to grab the back of the sofa with both hands, stopping herself from truly falling to the ground, but the forceful movement made the towel she had tucked around herself fall off.