Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 274, Section 272: A Single Glance Reveals Inner Thoughts
"Which identity do you find more enjoyable to sleep in?"

As soon as she finished speaking, even Shen Yunrong herself was taken aback by the overly direct and even vulgar wording.

The blush that had just begun to fade from her cheeks surged back again.

She subconsciously pursed her lips and looked at Zhou Mingyuan.

The man was clearly surprised that she would suddenly ask such a question.

He didn't answer immediately, but met her gaze, which slowly swept over her composed brows and eyes, her trembling eyelashes, and her graceful curves.

The silence that lasted a few seconds felt like an eternity.

Finally, Zhou Mingyuan reached out his hand.

Instead of a hug, he gently brushed his fingertips across Shen Yunrong's burning cheeks.

"Rongrong, about your question..."

He paused, seemingly searching for the right words.

Why define yourself?

"I enjoyed it."

The man lowered his voice and slowed his speech, each word striking Shen Yunrong's heart.

"It is Rongrong, who is in my arms right now, a vibrant and fragrant woman who can be shy and also bite."

"As for whether you're wearing a civil servant's hat or a Jieyou Media employee badge..."

Zhou Mingyuan leaned slightly closer to Shen Yunrong, his breath brushing against her earlobe.

"Those are just clothes, but I prefer you without clothes."

That sounds a bit flippant.

Yet, it inexplicably defused the near-sharp confrontation that had occurred just seconds before.

In his previous life, as a popular lawyer, Zhou Mingyuan had attended countless court hearings, faced numerous biased judges, and encountered countless embarrassing and even fatal questions in the live broadcast room.

Behind fame lies more than just walking on thin ice.

He certainly had an extremely exaggerated reaction.

It's the same this time.

The man skillfully deflected a weighty question about identity, value, and choice, transforming it into an ambiguous answer about physical attraction and immediate desire.

".Um."

Shen Yunrong lowered her eyes and didn't ask any further questions. She simply nodded slightly, accepting what wasn't really an answer.

Zhou Mingyuan seemed to see through her thoughts and did not continue to dwell on the topic.

"Okay, stop thinking about that. Pack the gifts away so you don't lose them later."

He straightened up, resuming his previous lazy posture.

"Like it?"

"like."

Shen Yunrong blinked and added, "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful."

"Hahahaha"

Zhou Mingyuan couldn't help but laugh.

He took a big gulp of sparkling water and steered the conversation back to a relaxed atmosphere.

Am I the only one who's truly invested in this?

This is actually another kind of test.

The man, with a hint of playful anticipation, fixed his gaze on Shen Yunrong, waiting for her response.

"Uh, actually, I've already prepared your Christmas present."

Shen Yunrong stammered.

"Let me see it?"

Zhou Mingyuan looked extremely surprised.

Of course, he was indeed somewhat surprised.

Compared to Zhong Yujun, who would always prepare a gift for him, and Du Jianuo, who was a bit absent-minded and didn't manage her time well, he didn't have high expectations for this older sister who was physically close to him but whose relationship was still developing.

"."

Shen Yunrong opened her mouth, feeling a dryness in her throat.

Her cheeks flushed, and for a moment she didn't know whether she should take it out or not.

"But compared to your gift, mine isn't very valuable."

Buying a gift for Zhou Mingyuan is a task that can cause anxiety and insomnia.

Because he lacks nothing.

Expensive luxury goods?

To be honest, even if she saved up her salary for one or two months, she still couldn't afford it.

He drives a luxury car worth millions, wears a watch on his wrist, and is the founder of an MCN company. Online, it's said that brands of electronic products that boys like, such as mice and keyboards, will even proactively send him the latest models for trial.

Anything that can be easily measured in money loses its meaning as a "gift" to him.

It's at most a routine supply.

He can buy whatever he wants with just a few clicks.

Even if mountains of things he doesn't want are piled up, they still won't catch his eye.

What gift can I give that doesn't seem stingy or perfunctory, yet truly reflects his preferences, and even...
How can I make him remember?

This anxiety had been tormenting Shen Yunrong for the past few days.

She even secretly searched online for "what gifts to give to men".

The answers received were varied and diverse.

From childish handmade baking to hot air balloon trips that require a specific relationship, none of these apply.

Some highly-rated answers even suggested offering oneself up.

Damn it, I've already been completely taken advantage of, haven't I?

Shen Yunrong looked at the composed man in front of her, hesitant to speak.

Even the beauty membership card I just received feels like a silent pressure right now.

What kind of equitable return gift would she offer that wouldn't seem too disproportionate?

"It's alright, the thought is what counts."

Zhou Mingyuan shrugged his shoulders and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"It's the thought that counts."

Shen Yunrong leaned against the headboard cushion, her gaze unfocused, and murmured a sentence repeatedly as she looked out the window at the night view of Jiangcheng.

Neon lights flash and cars flow like a river; this bustling metropolis is never short of surprises built on material wealth.

What Zhou Mingyuan casually expressed was actually the same sentiment she had long ago considered.

In terms of monetary value, she cannot compare to him.

Whatever she can give, he can definitely buy something better and more expensive.

Then, all that remains is the sentiment, the unique sentiment.

But how can one put their feelings into concrete form?

grateful?

Thank you for your guidance at work and for taking care of me in my personal life?
That wouldn't be called gratitude; it would be mixed with too many things that are difficult to clarify.

Thinking back to what had just happened, Shen Yunrong's cheeks flushed slightly again.

The body's memory is so vivid.

The impact of the flowing water, the coolness of the glass, the strength of his hands, and the entanglement of his lips and tongue.
A tingling, numbing sensation crept up my spine.

She knew that she had changed a long time ago.

The initial feelings of offense, indignation, and fear of being coerced have, without me noticing, quietly transformed into something else entirely.

His assertiveness, his contrast, and his unyielding nature peeled away the layers of hard shell she had built around herself, which she had concealed as respectable, proper, and composed.

Revealing an unfamiliar softness and longing within.

Under Zhou Mingyuan's guidance, she began to respond awkwardly and shyly.

They even started to enjoy it.

Enjoy the tenderness of skin-to-skin contact, the feeling of complete surrender and loss of control, and the freedom and excitement of breaking all rules.

This is a dangerous signal, yet it carries an intoxicating allure.

She seems to be gradually being won over.

It wasn't that they succumbed to his wealth or status, but rather they were captivated by the powerful, confident, and unbridled vitality he represented.

And what he brought with him.
A completely new experience about the body, desire, and intimacy.

After much thought, Shen Yunrong decided to tell him about her changes through a Christmas gift. Of course, she couldn't use words; words were too direct and too embarrassing.

She needed a more subtle, more profound way of understanding that only they could both comprehend.

How about we send this?

Recalling Zhou Mingyuan secretly flipping through books in his bedroom, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

I gave him a book.

It's not a commercial masterpiece or a self-help book, but a book that metaphorically explores this change, discussing intimate desires, liberation, and dedication.

It should be like a key, gently opening the door to the secret realm of her heart, allowing him to glimpse everything that is happening there.

See clearly the quiet yet turbulent revolution within the heart.

However, putting this idea into practice is quite difficult.

Many books are either too academic and difficult, or they focus on superficial techniques, or they present extreme viewpoints.

What she needs are works that are both intellectually profound and aesthetically pleasing, capable of accurately addressing those hidden themes.

It should be an elegant hint, a tacit agreement.

"Okay, wait a minute."

We're going to give it away anyway!

do not care!
Shen Yunrong took a deep breath, not even daring to look the other person in the eye, got up and walked to her tote bag, took out a rectangular object simply wrapped in dark brown kraft paper, without even a ribbon tied on it.

It looks ordinary and unremarkable.

Holding the gift, she walked back to Zhou Mingyuan, her cheeks burning as if she had handed in a failing exam paper.

"Let me see"

Zhou Mingyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled as he looked at the simple brown paper package in her hand.

It must be said that when it comes to a sense of ritual, the older sister takes a pragmatic approach.

If it were a female college student, she would definitely wrap it up beautifully.

He accepted the light gift, his fingers flying as he unwrapped the kraft paper.

The two books were exposed, and under the warm yellow light of the hotel room, they presented a unique texture.

"Inner Experience, Phenomenology of Perception."

Zhou Mingyuan glanced at the cover, ran his fingers over the texture of the cover, flipped through the pages, felt the texture and thickness of the paper, and couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you"

He was only halfway through his sentence when Shen Yunrong's heart jumped into her throat.

She could almost imagine what the man was thinking at that moment.

That's it?

Feeling like you're being perfunctory?

It's even a little funny?

"That's interesting, Rongrong."

After a long pause, Zhou Mingyuan finally spoke, his expression full of profound meaning.

"is it?"

Shen Yunrong answered softly, feeling slightly relieved.

Although his answer was somewhat casual, at least he didn't immediately dismiss it.

interesting.

What's interesting about it?
What's the point of giving away books?
I've read both of those books.

Zhou Mingyuan flicked the colorful stitching on the spine of the book with his finger: "It's really interesting."

"You've seen it?!"

Shen Yunrong stood frozen in place, forcing herself to meet his gaze, her neck instantly turning bright red.

"You've read such obscure books?"

She was so surprised she almost cracked her voice.

It's important to understand that admitting your secret thoughts to someone's face is a completely different thing from having someone else read it and discover it secretly afterward.

At this moment, Shen Yunrong wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground right then and there.

"Georges Bataille's 'Inner Experience' argues that by engaging in some kind of transgressive behavior, one can break through the boundaries of reason and self and reach a state of sovereignty."

Zhou Mingyuan looked up, picked up one of the books, and said with a smile.

Georges Bataille was one of the pioneers of French post-structuralism and postmodern thought, and had a great influence on Foucault, Derrida, and others.

The reason he read it was because there were too many complicated and difficult-to-resolve marriage and family disputes in later generations.

As a frontline lawyer, thinking is only one aspect; one must also engage in extensive learning and reading to fundamentally improve one's professional competence and abilities.

It's not hard to see that this book is essentially Shen Yunrong's inner thoughts.

The book explores the paradox and connection between bodily pleasure, power dynamics in intimate relationships, and self-sacrifice and individual liberation from philosophical, psychological, and sociological perspectives.

Reading it is like embarking on an intellectual adventure.

"As for 'The Phenomenology of Perception,' that's a divine book."

Zhou Mingyuan paused for a few seconds, then picked up another book.

Ponty's essential reading, the most profound and systematic exposition of the "body" in the history of philosophy.

He proposed the concept of the "body subject," arguing that our consciousness, knowledge, and experience of the world are achieved first and foremost through a living, sentient body.

It fundamentally destroys the dualism that the body is a container for the soul.

The book argues that the body is not a vessel for sin, but rather a means of perceiving the world and experiencing pleasure.

True intimacy is not about possession and control, but about mutual exploration and dedication.

In this kind of dedication, individuals can gain unprecedented freedom and liberation.

It challenges conventional notions of power and explores how the strong and the weak subtly transform in the flow of desires.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

Shen Yunrong simply covered her cheeks, unable to express herself clearly, and couldn't help but let out a soft moan of extreme embarrassment.

"I remember this book explored subversion, pleasure, and liberation."

These words struck Shen Yunrong's heart like tiny hammers.

Yes, this perfectly reflects her inner experience.

What Zhou Mingyuan brought her was a delightful upheaval concerning her mind and body, and her cognition.

But you can't say it to their faces!

"Stop talking."

Every word she uttered seemed to interpret her emotional journey during this period.

Her cheeks flushed and her heart pounded, not from shame, but from a deep sense of excitement and resonance at being understood.

The book provides precise explanations and theoretical support for her chaotic, embarrassing experiences and feelings.

Can he understand it?
He will definitely be able to understand it.

Shen Yunrong was almost certain.

With Zhou Mingyuan's keen insight and knowledge, he would surely be able to understand everything she wanted to express through these words.

Her struggle, her transformation, her surrender, and her eventual determination to embrace this subversive pleasure.

This gift is no longer an object, but an invitation, a declaration, and a revelation of the soul.

How could you have seen it?

How could you have read that?!
Okay.

Looking at her embarrassed yet trying-to-explain expression, Zhou Mingyuan suddenly smiled and a clear smile appeared on his lips.

"This gift."

He picked up the two books and weighed them in his hand.

"I like it very much."

Shen Yunrong could hardly believe her ears.

I gave him two books he had already read, and he actually liked them?
Is this really not just a polite formality?
"real or fake?"

She couldn't help but compose herself and speak again, her eyes gleaming with uncertainty.

"real."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded, placed the two books on the coffee table, and said earnestly.

"It's much more interesting than receiving the same old gifts from men."

He looked at Shen Yunrong and couldn't help but tease her, "What gift?"

"Can anything compare to the interesting inner thoughts of Rongrong?"

(End of this chapter)