Chapter 153 Do You Have Any Stockings at Home?

Does Tang Zhichu not know that the "expert mode" is unreliable? Why go through with it?

The natural advantage of Douyin is one consideration, but it is not the goal of the capital market. For whom he built the Dragon Gate, therefore, goes without saying.

Jiang Lan did not want to overthink things and make life difficult for herself. Instead, it was better to enjoy the present moment; in these tedious days, having finally managed to steal a moment of leisure, why let it go to waste?

"I want to take a shower," Jiang Lan murmured.

They separated. Tang Zhichu checked the time; it was not yet two o'clock. He nodded and said, "I'll go find you some clothes. Take a shower, have a nap, and we'll cook after you wake up."

"Okay, but... but you need to find me something larger."

Tang Zhichu looked back at Jiang Lan and understood what she meant. Something too small would indeed be impractical; with her curves, it would likely feel constricting.

While Jiang Lan was showering, Tang Zhichu rummaged through the bedroom. He was dissatisfied with everything he found. Finally, he hardened his heart, grabbed his phone, and typed out a WeChat message.

"Aunt, do you have any stockings at home?"

"Why don't you just go die?"

"When my father passed away, his biggest wish was to see me find a girlfriend. But at that time, I was too withdrawn and insecure. Even when girls approached me, I didn't dare talk to them..."

Tang Zhichu began typing furiously. Before he could even finish the second message, a reply came from his aunt, Tang Huiwen.

"You're something else. There's a drawer on the left side of the walk-in closet. Open it and take a look. Tang Zhichu, if you don't give me a huge red envelope, I'll look down on you for the rest of my life!!!"

Tang Zhichu chuckled and went off to find the keys. His phone, left on the bed, began to vibrate incessantly.

"Who is it? Chen Siyang? Or that Lan girl?"

"Are you there?"

"????"

"Damn you, Tang Zhichu, you bastard, drop dead! If I ever talk to you again, I'll take your last name!"

...

The bathroom featured a wet-and-dry separation design. Tang Zhichu passed the clothes he had found through the crack in the door, then ran off without saying a word. Inside, Jiang Lan wondered, was this guy actually shy?

However, when she saw what had been handed to her, her face flushed red.

Twenty minutes later, a figure appeared at the bathroom door, looking somewhat bashful. Her skin was fair and beautiful, with a rosy glow, and her hair was wrapped in a towel. The white shirt was not too small, but it was still stretched tight across her chest; the buttons were strained, and upon closer inspection, one could see the gaps between them. Her legs were long and shapely; encased in stockings, their symmetrical roundness and fullness were like the most exquisite work of art in the world. The clash of black and white outlined lines and curves that no painter could ever capture.

Tang Zhichu stood up, and Jiang Lan took a step back. But Tang Zhichu didn't intend to do anything; he simply went to the cabinet under the sink and retrieved a hairdryer.

"Sister Lan, let me dry your hair."

"Hmm!"

In the bedroom, Jiang Lan lay across the bed. As she reclined, her curves seemed to spread out like water, and the buttons endured a tension they were never meant to bear.

Jiang Lan felt a bit shy and reached out to pull a blanket over herself. Tang Zhichu pulled up a small stool, sat beside her, plugged in the hairdryer, and began to dry her hair. The scent was faint, but as the air blew, it seemed to fill the room from every direction.

"How long are you staying this time?" Jiang Lan asked. From this angle, she could see Tang Zhichu’s nostrils and found it rather amusing.

"About half a month."

Jiang Lan’s eyes brightened, and she smiled. Her skin, fresh from the shower, felt like a baby’s—warm and smooth whenever it brushed against his cheek. Tang Zhichu was very focused, afraid that the hot air would make Jiang Lan uncomfortable, so he used his hand to shield her when drying the top of her head.

"Zhichu."

"Hmm."

"Zhichu."

"I'm here."

"Are you happy?"

"I am."

"Do I snore when I sleep?"

"No."

"Do I steal the covers?"

"Not at all."

"Am I fat?"

"Not even a little."

"Can I have double-skin milk pudding again?"

"I'll make it for you tonight, okay?"

"Mhm. Am I a bother?"

"You're not a bother."

"Are you tired?"

"I'm not tired."

...

They continued this rapid-fire Q&A until Jiang Lan’s breathing became rhythmic. Tang Zhichu thought she had fallen asleep, but when he tilted his head to look, he happened to meet those watery eyes. Once they locked eyes, neither could look away. Tang Zhichu switched off the hairdryer, set it aside, and leaned in close.

...

Around 4:30 PM, Tang Zhichu opened his eyes. He had only intended to nap for half an hour; what had they been doing for the remaining two hours? He turned his head. Jiang Lan was lying beside him, her face still flushed.

He felt something pressing against him, reached out, and fished a shirt button from behind his back. Even Tang Zhichu felt his face heat up. He slowly sat up and pulled the blanket up to cover the expanse of snowy skin. After getting out of bed, he stretched. This time he felt much better; his back didn't ache at all.

When Jiang Lan woke up, she caught the faint aroma of food. As certain scenes flashed through her mind, she covered her face with her hands. She still remembered how Tang Zhichu had climbed onto the bed. They had been kissing, then he had followed her downward, and naturally, she had followed him upward. She lifted the blanket to check and couldn't help but burst into a giggle. The shirt was ruined—all the buttons were gone—and the stockings were useless, leaving her as good as naked. Fortunately, there were clothes on the nightstand that Tang Zhichu must have placed there.

...

In the kitchen, Tang Zhichu was cooking. He took a photo and sent it to Zhou Yun, who had asked if he wanted to have dinner together that evening.

"I'm at my aunt's place."

"Got it. Did you give Sister Lan her gift?"

"Not yet."

"Still haven't seen her? Whatever, it's not like I'm the one who needs to thank her, so I won't worry about it. I've called the influencers I'm working with to the gym; Xu Lai is already so happy he’s forgotten to go home."

Tang Zhichu remembered that Xu Lai had sent him a message as well. He found their chat window.

Xu Lai: "Brother Tang, I get it now. You mean that after dealing with a whole forest, facing a single tree makes it easier to pursue, right?"

Tang Zhichu was left speechless. What on earth did he understand?

Zhu Yiyang had also sent a message: "Brother Tang, it's done. Xu Lai's team will arrive tomorrow. Should I arrange things, or will you?"

Tang Zhichu thought for a moment and replied: "You make the arrangements first. I’m going to find a filming location and ask someone to file the permits."

The movie Tang Zhichu had mentioned to Zhu Yiyang was known in his previous life as *Detour*—a survival film about a man buried alive in a mudslide for seventy-two hours. It was gripping from start to finish, and if filmed correctly, it would be packed with tension and suspense. He had to enter the film market, but how? He would start with the lowest profile possible—low budget—and then sell it to Tencent or Douyin. It was a risk-free entry. He would use capital to fund his own people.

Zhu Yiyang was stable for now, but he still needed to figure out how to fully bring Xu Lai into his fold.