Chapter 609 Procedures Completed a Week Ago
After hearing Zachary's response, Winona assumed he bought the house while on a business trip. "Why'd you buy a house? Wouldn't it be easier to rent a place or stay in a hotel?"
"It's convenient, and you don't have to clean up yourself."
Zachary replied, "It's more comfortable to stay in your own place. You don't have to worry about whether the sheets have been changed or what the previous guest might have done with the kettle."
Winona fell silent.
Alright, she couldn't understand the world of the wealthy.
She reclined her seat a bit and turned to look at the buildings lining the street, which were completely different from those back home. It was only 6:30, but it was already dark.
Zachary's house was in a bustling area, with a night market downstairs and military police on duty. Although it was noisy, it was very safe even if you came back late.
His driving was slow. At first, Winona thought it was because of the crowd, but after a while, she realized something was off. She had seen the same jewelry store at least three times.
Zachary was driving in circles around the area.
Winona looked at him, her confusion turning into shock. "Don't tell me you can't find the house you bought?"
Zachary didn't say anything, but the embarrassment on his face was enough to confirm her suspicion.
Winona fell silent.
This was hard to comment on.
Seeing her expression, Zachary pulled over. "Sorry, I need to make a call."
Zachary spoke in Aetherian, which Winona didn't understand, but she could guess his meaning from his body language.
A minute later, Zachary hung up and opened the car door. "We need to walk a bit."
The house was on the second floor. Zachary used a spare key to open the door and flipped the switch on the wall, lighting up the room.
The light decor, warm lighting, and furniture gave a cozy feeling. There was no musty smell of a long-unoccupied place, and it had a distinct local charm.
Zachary placed the key on the shoe cabinet. "I've had it cleaned, and the furniture is new. The sheets were just put on today. You can move in right away."
When they came up, Winona had instinctively checked the surroundings. It looked new, and the decor didn't seem like it was from years ago. "When did you buy it?"
Zachary opened his mouth to speak but stopped when he saw Winona's slightly raised eyebrows. The words stuck in his throat, and he swallowed them back. "The paperwork was completed a week ago."
Knowing Winona was coming for a competition, he had someone keep an eye out. Time was tight, so he could only buy a ready-to-move-in place.
Was she touched?
Yes.
But no matter how touched she was, it didn't change the fact that she thought he was foolishly spending money. She would be here for just over a month, and then return home after the competition. Even if she really liked the city, she would only come for occasional visits, staying for a few days. Wouldn't it be more convenient to stay in a hotel? It's close to the tourist spots and saves time.
But this was Zachary's thoughtful gesture. Even if she thought it was a bit silly, she couldn't show it too obviously, lest she hurt his feelings. "Thank you, I love it."
She said this while pretending to be excited, looking around. "Did you hire someone to decorate? It's my favorite style."
As she looked around, she mentally estimated the cost, but she wasn't familiar with Rosewood City's real estate prices and didn't know its value.
Given Zachary's lavish spending habits, it was probably a loss.
She wanted to ask how much he paid, but for her own well-being, she decided not to. She didn't want to be too shocked; she wanted to live a few more years.
As soon as Winona entered the room, Zachary hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Winona, can we stay here tonight?"
She shook her head. "My luggage is still at the hotel. I didn't bring any clothes to change into."
The weather was still chilly. She could endure a night without a shower or changing clothes, but not changing her underwear was unbearable.
Zachary fell silent.
He hadn't thought about the need for a change of clothes.
But such things were not obstacles for Zachary. He was only momentarily stunned. "The clothing store downstairs is still open. We have a dryer here. Let's go buy some clothes now, and you can shower while I dry them."
Hearing about shopping made Winona want to cover her head in pain. She broke free from Zachary's embrace and collapsed onto the bed, groaning. "I've been standing all day. My legs are numb. I just want to lie here. Please, have mercy and take me back."
Zachary knelt on the edge of the bed, his fingers gently combing through her messy hair. "It takes over forty minutes to get back to the hotel. It's better to sleep here."
"Shopping requires walking. Going back to the hotel just means going downstairs and upstairs. The rest of the time is spent in the car."
There was no sound behind her. Just as Winona thought she had convinced Zachary, a strong hand landed on her calf, squeezing gently.
The sensation of soreness and numbness spread from the spot he massaged to her entire body. Winona couldn't help but cry out, her eyes closing in pleasure.
Zachary's gaze darkened as he watched her. "Does that feel good?"
Though he had never given a massage, he used to get one weekly. Sitting at a desk for long periods made his neck and shoulders ache, often causing dizziness.
He had seen enough to learn some techniques.
His pressure was just right, and the spot he massaged was perfect. Winona's mind was filled with the desire for him to continue, forgetting all about leaving.
She nodded. "It feels good. My neck and back hurt too."
She helpfully pointed out the spots.
Zachary continued massaging her leg. Her muscles were tense from standing and walking too much. He slowly relaxed her muscles, and Winona felt a mix of pain, numbness, and pleasure. Each time he squeezed, she couldn't help but curl her toes. Sometimes, when it hurt, she squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position.
Watching her closed eyes, Zachary's heart stirred. His thoughts darkened, and he lowered his voice. "It's too thick."
Winona's mind was blank, following his lead. "What's too thick?"
Zachary withdrew his hand and rubbed his wrist. "Your clothes are too thick. It's tiring to massage."
Winona knew thick clothes made it hard to massage. The room's temperature had risen, so she used her waist to lift her upper body. "I'll take off my jacket."
Zachary leaned close to her ear, coaxing. "Let's go buy some clothes first. When we come back, I'll give you a massage. After that, you can shower and sleep without having to go back and forth."
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