"Boss, don't do that. Someone might see us," Wallace Shelley said shyly, sitting in Jiang Hai's lap. Yet despite her words, she didn't move away—not even half-heartedly.
Instead, she leaned forward even more, making it easier for Jiang Hai to play with her two unspeakable treasures.
"What are you afraid of? If someone sees, I'll just take her too. Besides, who here hasn't already seen?" Jiang Hai replied with a calm smile, his hands never stopping.
"Really? I never thought that after leaving the organization, I'd escape the tiger's den only to land in the wolf's den. How did I end up with such a strong boss like you?" Wallace Shelley teased with a sultry look, rolling her eyes, though she didn't resist. Instead, she pulled her clothes back into place, her expression equal parts coy and indulgent.
One had to admit, Wallace Shelley was truly something special. She was a woman who knew exactly how to please Jiang Hai.
The others around him focused more on enjoying life and completing the tasks Jiang Hai gave them. Of course, they also tried to please him, but they had their boundaries. Wallace Shelley, on the other hand, was different. She seemed to exist solely to satisfy Jiang Hai's desires. Whenever he wanted, she offered herself freely, without hesitation.
Just like today—she had simply walked over, seen Jiang Hai's gaze on her, and thrown herself into his arms.
She would give him anything he wanted. Among all the women, she was the first to be completely conquered by Jiang Hai—front, back, above, it didn't matter where or when. Whenever he needed her, she was there. And even during nights when Jiang Hai was with only one woman, Wallace Shelley often found ways to contribute, adding to his enjoyment.
Unlike Pra Walton, who preferred mutual affection where Jiang Hai was more like an accessory, Wallace Shelley knew how to create sparks. At the beginning of a "battle," visuals were often important—especially with two women together—and she wasn't shy about making things exciting. Her boldness added an edge the others didn't have, and naturally, Jiang Hai grew fond of her.
She also had the looks to match her daring. Among Jiang Hai's bodyguards, she was easily the most stunning, aside from Azarina and Galina. And when it came to her figure, she might very well surpass them all.
Since being with Jiang Hai, her body seemed to grow even more alluring. Her curves had filled out, her softness and firmness defying gravity, and though she wasn't pregnant, she carried a faint milky fragrance. Jiang Hai loved playing with her, and she knew it—often saying things just because she knew he enjoyed hearing them. She was, without a doubt, an extraordinary woman in his eyes.
The summer heat had been oppressive lately, but the season had finally shifted. Winthrop, much like northern China, cooled rapidly after the Beginning of Autumn. By mid-September, the days hovered around twenty-one or twenty-two degrees Celsius—just right for long sleeves—while the nights dipped to sixteen, cool enough that no air conditioning was needed. Sometimes, they even had to close the windows to keep out the chill.
So, even as their play grew heated, the weather kept them comfortable.
But just then, the door to Jiang Hai's villa opened, and Qi Jie and Qi Ya walked in.
Seeing the scene inside, they gave Jiang Hai and Wallace Shelley a cold glance. Wallace's true talent was not just in pleasing Jiang Hai but also in keeping on good terms with everyone in the villa. If Jiang Hai was the undisputed master of the house, then the most popular woman had once been Afra—but now it was Wallace Shelley.
She cared for everyone, helped whenever needed, and joined in when things got intimate, so over time, the women had grown used to her antics with Jiang Hai. Their initial embarrassment had long since faded.
"Alright, if you two want to play, take it upstairs. Marianne and Darlene will be back soon," Qi Jie said, patting Jiang Hai on the shoulder as she walked by. Jiang Hai chuckled at her words, while Wallace stood up, smoothing her clothes.
As mentioned before, the women in Jiang Hai's villa usually dressed lightly. With the exception of Darlene, Marianne, and the newcomer Taraga, most wore minimal, casual outfits—shorts, thin tops, and sometimes nothing more than a gauze jacket in the summer. Pants were rare. Because of this, Jiang Hai's employees always called before visiting the villa, just to avoid awkward situations.
Still, no one came looking for Jiang Hai without reason. He wasn't the type to laze around; every morning, he checked on the stables, cowshed, docks, and winery. Most discussions happened during those walks.
"By the way, the vegetable garden's nearly finished," Jiang Hai said casually, sitting up a little straighter, trying to mask the lingering fire in his body as he looked at Qi Jie and Qi Ya.
It was harvest season. Though Jiang Hai had built greenhouses, many of the vegetables were ready for storage, and the rice was nearly ripe. Qi Jie and the others had been busy, though the work was light enough that Jiang Hai didn't need to step in, unlike during rice planting.
He had already arranged to borrow harvesting equipment from a nearby wheat and rice farm. In the U.S., wheat was far more common than rice—Americans preferred bread and oats. Rice consumption was minimal, though Boston's large Asian population kept some demand alive. Importing rice from Asia was usually cheaper and easier than growing it locally.
When Jiang Hai had first started cultivating rice, he'd struggled to find even a rice transplanter, eventually borrowing one from a family in Winthrop. Harvesting was still a challenge, but he believed the quality of his crop would more than make up for the trouble.
"Well, the garden doesn't have much left," Qi Jie said with a grin. "Sister Feng wanted to try making sauerkraut, but after calling her mother for instructions, she gave up. By the way, look at this."
The frail girl who had once come to Jiang Hai for treatment had blossomed over time. Though her illness had been cured, her snowy-white hair and slightly cooler body temperature still made her Jiang Hai's favorite companion to sleep beside.
Jiang Hai smiled at her, then lowered his eyes to the object she was handing him.
At the sight, his expression froze. He recognized it immediately.
"Where did you get this?" he asked sharply, pointing at the small item.
"You'll have to ask Xiao Huang. It found it and carried it back in its mouth. I just snatched it away. I never expected it to be this." Qi Ya spoke seriously. As a chef, her greatest joys were Jiang Hai and discovering good ingredients.
Yes—this was a fine ingredient, one of the most prized in Western cuisine. Rarely used in Chinese cooking, but still well-known. Qi Ya wasn't overly excited, but Jiang Hai was.
Because to him, this wasn't just an ingredient—it was money.
The thing in question was a truffle.
(To be continued.)