Chapter 81: Han Jiayi’s Domination

The next morning, when Bai Renzong awoke, he suddenly realized he had fallen asleep first!

“Oh, this bad habit… As soon as I start thinking about something, I immediately doze off!” Bai Renzong knocked himself lightly on the head. He looked up at Han Jiayi across from him and was momentarily stunned.

The girl was sleeping soundly, mouth slightly open, arms crossed tightly around her plush bear, her head tilted, soft hair fluffy like an agitated cat.

It was the first time Bai Renzong had woken up to find Han Jiayi still asleep, an unexpected occurrence for him.

Han Jiayi dressed conservatively—in knee-length shorts and a loose mid-sleeve T-shirt, leaving no possibility for any mishap.

Yet even so, she looked impossibly cute.

“Tsk, this girl… truly the same inside and out,” Bai Renzong mused with a smile, then yawned, his mind still a little hazy. He considered sleeping a bit longer, but just then, Han Jiayi suddenly woke.

“Mm…” Han Jiayi stretched with her eyes tightly shut, revealing the graceful curve of her waist. She slowly sat up, opening just one eye, groggily straightened her clothes, and glanced around.

When her gaze met Bai Renzong’s, they locked eyes. After a moment of silence, Han Jiayi startled, hugging her bear and scooting back. “Wh-what are you doing?! Staring at me like that!”

“Oh, I promised to watch over you until you fell asleep last night, but ended up dozing off myself, so I’m making up for it now,” Bai Renzong explained.

“You remember that, huh…” Han Jiayi shot him an annoyed look, then sat up, smoothing her hair.

“As it turns out, even without me watching, you sleep just fine,” Bai Renzong said with another yawn.

“That’s because…” Han Jiayi hesitated. She couldn’t very well admit, “Because your snoring made me feel safe.” Nor could she acknowledge she’d sleep well even if Bai Renzong wasn’t there, since that would leave her without an excuse next time she was frightened.

So, after some thought, she replied, “That’s because, at least you were still there…”

Her cheeks flushed: how aggravating, this man always asking questions impossible to answer!

Not waiting for Bai Renzong’s response, Han Jiayi stood and changed the subject. “Alright, I’m heading out to the market now! You can go upstairs and sleep!”

“Mm… I think I’ve had enough sleep,” Bai Renzong said, rubbing his eyes.

“Then come with me,” Han Jiayi replied, excited. “That way I can buy more!”

“…Alright,” Bai Renzong agreed after a moment’s thought.

He was a bit curious, after all: he had no idea how Han Jiayi spent her mornings while he slept. He couldn’t picture her shopping at a market, so he might as well see it for himself.

It was still early, and the episode from the Lan Tile House was still in post-production. A stroll with Han Jiayi seemed like a good idea.

After tidying up and washing, Bai Renzong went outside with Han Jiayi.

He couldn’t remember the last time he got up at seven. Ever since resigning, he’d simply slept until he awoke naturally. The thought of returning to an office was unthinkable.

Still, enjoying breakfast out after so long felt nice.

Breakfast culture was a highlight of Beichang City. On their way, they passed an array of options: hot dry noodles, noodles with soybean paste, soup noodles, fried dough sticks, soy milk—a dazzling variety. Walking and eating among the crowd was a world apart from breakfast at home, full of life and bustle.

Bai Renzong ordered a bowl of beef noodles and bought a fried dough stick to soak in it. The crispy outside and soft inside absorbed the savory broth, bursting with flavor in each bite, blending with the aroma of the dough—a perfect match.

Han Jiayi, meanwhile, bought a pan-fried bun and a cup of soy milk, eating as she walked.

At that moment, blending with the crowd, they looked like an ordinary young couple.

Bai Renzong knew the life of a content creator was a long journey: walking down the street, not a single fan recognized them…

“With your sensitive palate, I thought you’d be picky about everything you eat,” Han Jiayi teased as she watched him eat noodles.

“No matter how sharp your taste, if you’re hungry, everything tastes good,” Bai Renzong frowned. “Conquering the world with a single tongue is only for anime. You have to learn to distinguish… If you’re always that particular, it’s exhausting.”

“When you roast me, there’s no distinction between occasions!” Han Jiayi grumbled, pinching his arm.

“…My bad,” Bai Renzong rubbed the spot.

“Hmph…” Han Jiayi glared at him, then arrived at the entrance of a fresh food market called “Fresh & Tasty.” Hands on her hips, she grinned, “Here we are, first stop!”

“First stop?” Bai Renzong raised his eyebrows, but Han Jiayi merely beckoned him with a finger and charged into the crowd like a lead cavalryman.

Once inside, Han Jiayi was like a wild horse let loose, darting about everywhere.

Clearly, she was well-used to navigating such places. Her eye for quality was sharp, and she bargained fiercely, unconcerned whether the vendors could handle it.

“Why are these spare ribs twenty-eight? Twenty-two!” “This pork belly is nice, good ratio of fat to lean, but nineteen a pound is too much—sixteen is reasonable.” “This cabbage looks good, I’ll take it.” Han Jiayi was a bundle of energy haggling with the vendors, her vigor infectious even to Bai Renzong.

Yet after a circuit through the market, Han Jiayi hadn’t bought much—Bai Renzong could carry it all in one hand.

He couldn’t help but wonder: Was there really any need for him to help? Did she just want his company?

But then Han Jiayi pointed ahead. “Let’s go, next one!”

That day, Bai Renzong learned the meaning of being at Han Jiayi’s mercy.

He had no idea there were seven fresh food markets within a kilometer radius!

Was this the power of a prime downtown location?

Each market offered daily specials, and Han Jiayi targeted those deals.

They made a full loop around the district, visiting every market. Not only were both Bai Renzong’s hands full, but Han Jiayi also carried several bags herself.

“Haha, a great harvest,” Han Jiayi said with a blissful smile. “Having help means I can buy so much more.”

This girl really knew how to live, despite earning tens of thousands a month… Bai Renzong mused.

He finally understood where Han Jiayi sourced her ingredients for recipes each day, and she had obviously mapped out the route long ago.

She wasn’t chasing bargains—she was savoring the act of shopping itself.

“You should come shop with me every morning,” Han Jiayi said, sneaking a glance at Bai Renzong.

“No way, if I had to get up this early every day, I couldn’t do it,” Bai Renzong rejected instantly.

Straightforward! Pig! Han Jiayi turned away, cursing him fiercely in her heart, gritting her teeth.

But Bai Renzong quickly added, “But once every three days should be doable. You don’t need to buy this much every day, do you? The two of us can’t eat that much.”

“Every three days…” Han Jiayi looked at the groceries in their hands, a bit reluctant, but said, “Alright then…”

(Thanks to Xiaoyao Lefeng for the monthly ticket, thanks to bbfa for two monthly tickets)