Toys

Shen Shu woke up in Niko's bed the following day, and her eyes opened wide.

Shit!

His bed was so comfortable that it lured her to sleep, and she did not even notice until it was too late. She got out of bed and went back to her room. She quickly got ready because she was almost late.

Shen Shu knew Niko had already gone to the office, so she first stopped by to get breakfast.

When she made her way to my office, Shen Shu saw Niko speaking to someone from the finance department. Niko wrapped up his conversation, and he noticed her. Whether Niko's upset she hijacked his bed, he does not show it. He looks away and goes back to his office, shutting the door behind him.

Ugh!

Shen Shu went to her office, and she found the stuff she ordered in boxes on the floor. She smiled, knowing she could use the distraction.

…

Shen Shu spent the whole week redecorating her office, collaborating with Ye Huan, and working on different projects. Every day was the same.

Niko ignored her unless she asked him a question or initiated the conversation. Shen Shu hoped for something between them to change, but nothing happened, as to be expected. She knew it was pointless.

She called her parents to see how they were doing, and it looked like they were in paradise and not planning to come back home soon.

Shen Shu sighed as she looked up at her ceiling.

Her phone vibrates beside her, and she sees a message from Ting: Let's hang out tonight! <3

Shen Shu chuckled as she typed back: Will be ready in 20.

Ting is one of those friends that are not a good influence on her, but Shen Shu loved her anyway. She was sweet and daring to her but mean to everyone else. She's confident Ting works for a gang, but she does not tell her.

Shen Shu puts on heavy makeup and wears something provocative. She headed downstairs, where Niko was in the kitchen, drinking some water.

Niko takes her in and freezes.

Finally.

Niko is so nonchalant. Shen Shu was confident he did not know how to wear other facial expressions. He slowly struts toward her, and her heart begins to pound. "Where are you going?" he says, low.

"I'm going out with my friend Ting!" She told him. He looked her up and down, and she saw something unrecognizable in his grey eyes. "You should wear a jacket," he prods. "It's cold outside."

"I don't want to cover my outfit," Shen Shu says as she makes her way to leave. She then felt Niko take her arm and spin her face him. Shen Shu put her hands on his chest to steady herself so she did not fall, and she was suddenly breathless.

He then dresses her in a jacket and bundles her with a hat, scarf, and mittens. Shen Shu stared at him, and his eyes met hers. She does not know what he's thinking. She never does. She doesn't understand why Niko acts like he cares about her one moment and acts like she was nothing the next.

"Thank you," she said to him, and he took a step back from her.

Shen Shu turned to leave the apartment, and she found Ting outside the apartment complex, having a smoke. "Good thing you came bundled up. It's cold out tonight," she says. Shen Shu sees the fog come out of her mouth at how cold it is, but her cheeks stay warm.

"I am always prepared!" Shen Shu lied, and then she headed inside her parked car. Ting discards her cigarette and makes her way around the driver's seat. "It's your birthday soon," she says. "I want to get you something."

Shen Shu chuckled. Every gift she received from Ting had been bizarre, but she still cherished them.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," she says with a wide smile.

They arrive at a store in a quiet area. Once inside, Shen Shu's eyes gape as she realizes they were inside a sex shop. What the fuck???

"Ting! We shouldn't be here!" Shen Shu tells her.

Ting walks past her. "Shu. Do you not have any toys at home?"

She tried not to look down, as she said, "No."

Ting chuckled. "Now is the time. You will thank me one day," she says as she goes through the aisle of vibrators. She scans the shelves as Shen Shu tries not to make eye contact with anyone else in the shop. This was so embarrassing for her. She does not see how Ting is casual about it.

Ting picks up a pink bullet vibrator for her, and they make their way to the counter. Shen Shu ignored all the other stuff on display, as it was too much for her eyes. She was sure her eyes would bulge out of her sockets if she looked at anything else. The guy at the counter says, "We recently got new drinks if you want to buy them."

"What is it?" Shen Shu asked.

"That stuff will get you in the mood," Ting laughs.

"Oh, do they come in different flavours?"

"Yes," the man says. She looked through them, and she picked the black cherry one.

"Are you sure you want one?" Ting asks, her expression confused.

This drink will help with her alone time right?

"Yes," she told her.

She shrugs. "Okay, then."

The man then scans their items, leaving the sex shop with the stuff in her bag. Ting takes Shen Shu to get their nails done at the salon as they talk.

"How are things going on with Shen Chi? The last time I saw him, you gave him a beating," she chuckled.

Shen Shu smiled. "He's still the same. Reserved. He does what he wants and speaks to those he finds worthy of his time."

"You know what I think?" Ting says. "I think your brother needs to get laid. One good fuck, and he won't be this broody, I-don't-need-anybody person. Trust me."

Shen Shu tried not to think about Niko sleeping with women. "Maybe," she told her.

Ting pouts. "I'm sorry that he's like this," she tells me. "Older brothers can be cruel sometimes."

She sighed.