Daddy! Come Home for Dinner!

"Do you need to put some ointment on your feet?" Zhao Dingli asked again.

"Huh?" Li Xiaoyun was taken aback and then looked down.

Her feet were bare, and even her slippers exposed her toes.

Seeing Zhao Dingli’s gaze fall, Li Xiaoyun instinctively curled her toes.

Worried that Zhao Dingli might find her feet unattractive.

Also, because she had to wear high heels for work.

It didn’t matter how high the heels were, even three or four centimeters was acceptable.

Just don’t wear anything too casual like canvas shoes, as it doesn’t look professional.

But leather shoes are ultimately not as comfortable as sneakers.

The narrow toe of high heels pinches the feet and toes.

After wearing them all day, the bones of the toes and the sides of her feet would inevitably turn red.

Even now, they were still red.

Li Xiaoyun thought it wasn’t very attractive this way.

But as she was curling her toes, Zhao Dingli suddenly bent down and held her ankle.

Li Xiaoyun was startled, feeling the warmth of Zhao Dingli’s palm on her ankle, like a slight electric current.

It tingled, traveling from her ankle upwards.

While Li Xiaoyun was still in shock, Zhao Dingli had already lifted both her feet and placed them on his lap.

He even removed her slippers.

Because her skin was fair, the red marks caused by the shoes were more pronounced and bright.

Li Xiaoyun curled her toes, anxiously wanting to take her feet back.

But Zhao Dingli clasped both her ankles with one hand.

His large, warm hand felt like a firm shackle.

Burning her, cuffing her, making her unable to move.

Zhao Dingli thought Li Xiaoyun’s ankles were incredibly slim.

He could wrap one hand around them, with his fingers overlapping his thumb.

Her feet were slender and fair, and considering her height, her shoe size was quite small.

Zhao Dingli now somewhat understood why there was a saying about delicate jade feet.

Indeed, they were beautiful.

"Do you have to wear high heels to work?" Zhao Dingli asked with a frown.

"Our company has regulations. They didn’t say high heels are mandatory, but you can’t wear slippers, cloth shoes, or sneakers—regardless of gender—to maintain a professional image." Li Xiaoyun also thought these rules were somewhat unnecessary.

But to make a living, you have to compromise at times.

"It’s not a big deal." Li Xiaoyun struggled a bit, "It’s fine."

She wanted to take her feet back.

However, Zhao Dingli’s fingers directly pinched the reddened sides of her feet, frowning and seriously saying, "Do you need a band-aid or something?"

"It’s fine, really. I’ve gotten used to it for a long time, so it doesn’t hurt," Li Xiaoyun said.

Zhao Dingli measured roughly with his hand and found that Li Xiaoyun’s feet were about as long as his hand, from palm to fingertip.

He could hold them up with just one hand.

It reminded Zhao Dingli of the legend of Zhao Feiyan, who could dance on a palm.

Seeing that there was indeed no problem, it would have been an overreaction to apply ointment, so he finally let go.

He even felt a little reluctant in his heart.

"Thank you for today." Li Xiaoyun looked at the shirt she was wearing and said, "I... in that case, I won’t bother you any longer."

"I’ll see you off." Zhao Dingli stood up.

The reason he agreed so quickly was that he suddenly realized he hadn’t had the chance to see what Li Xiaoyun’s home was like.

Zhao Dingli glanced at the time and calculated silently in his mind.

By the time they reached Li Xiaoyun’s place, it would probably be around dinner time.

At that point, he couldn’t be sent away when it was time for dinner, could he?

Then, having a meal at Li Xiaoyun’s place would be just right.

"I’ll go change," Li Xiaoyun said.

Zhao Dingli nodded and smiled slightly, "Sure, but take your time, no need to rush."

Li Xiaoyun didn’t expect Zhao Dingli to notice.

She gave a small, awkward smile and quickly returned to Zhao Dingli’s room.

Because she had been rolling up her sleeves to apply the ointment.

Although her arms had the scent of ointment, it hadn’t transferred to the shirt.

When taking it off, Li Xiaoyun was particularly careful.

Even though the ointment had long been absorbed by her skin, she still avoided getting it on the shirt.

Luckily, Zhao Dingli’s shirt sleeves were quite roomy for her.

So she didn’t touch them at all.

Li Xiaoyun laid the shirt neatly on the bed before putting on her own clothes and coming out.

"I’m ready," Li Xiaoyun said.

Zhao Dingli looked at himself and said, "Wait a moment, I’ll change my jacket."

He wore a suit to work, but since it wasn’t work time now, he didn’t want to wear it.

He went to the wardrobe to pick a comfortable, light jacket to put on.

As soon as he stepped out of the dressing room, directly opposite was his bedroom.

Zhao Dingli thought for a second and then returned to the bedroom.

He saw the shirt Li Xiaoyun had worn earlier was neatly spread on the bed.

Because she was afraid of wrinkles, she hadn’t folded it.

He remembered that when Zhao Dingli had taken it out of the closet, it was hanging on a hanger.

So now it was spread out.

Zhao Dingli picked up the shirt, unable to resist bringing it to his nose to take a few subtle whiffs.

Although Li Xiaoyun had tried hard to prevent her arms from touching the shirt, the strong ointment smell had still clung a bit.

But not much, and around the collar, there was also the faint floral fragrance of Li Xiaoyun’s perfume, like magnolias.

It suited the workplace very well, not too showy, subtle and elegant, noticeable but not overwhelming.

Very fitting for Li Xiaoyun.

Zhao Dingli smiled lightly, then put the shirt down.

Mainly because he feared the scent would dissipate by the time they returned.

Zhao Dingli returned to the living room, where Li Xiaoyun was waiting.

"Let’s go," Zhao Dingli said.

Li Xiaoyun went to the entrance to change her shoes.

Although she hadn’t touched them, the slippers were neatly placed at the doorway.

Zhao Dingli glanced over and found the sight pleasing.

His slippers next to Li Xiaoyun’s, looking very homely and intimate.

Both having changed shoes, they headed out.

Zhao Dingli drove Li Xiaoyun back home again.

Having been there twice, Zhao Dingli was very familiar with the route.

The car stopped in front of Li Xiaoyun’s building once more.

When Li Xiaoyun got out, Zhao Dingli followed suit.

Li Xiaoyun thought about how she’d already visited Zhao Dingli’s place as a guest.

Wouldn’t it be impolite not to invite Zhao Dingli in now?

Besides, her phone was a gift from Zhao Dingli.

Li Xiaoyun felt conflicted internally, just as Zhao Dingli raised his wrist to check the time.

She glanced at the time herself; it was almost six o’clock.

Li Xiaoyun reciprocated and said, "It’s this time already. Why don’t I invite you for dinner?"

Thinking about the phone gifted by Zhao Dingli, Li Xiaoyun felt a lot of pressure.

Always thinking of returning something to him.

A meal or two couldn’t offset the cost of the phone.

She’d only find more opportunities in the future.

Normally, given her personality, she wouldn’t proactively suggest treating Zhao Dingli to a meal.

But having been to Zhao Dingli’s place, there was no need to avoid it anymore.