Capítulo 74: Friends with Benefits

Before summoning the courage to say those words, Charlize had contemplated the potential reactions from Christian:

He might become angry, a reaction most girls consider normal. Many men reacted this way when she approached them.

He might appear sullen, lost in thought. Charlize had witnessed the menacing aura hidden behind his brooding countenance during the filming of "Wrong Turn". If given a choice, she preferred to avoid that scenario.

He could stay calm and indifferent, seemingly unbothered. At times, Charlize felt as if Christian might not reciprocate her feelings. Past experiences had shown that her advances were seen as unwelcome, leaving her questioning whether her actions were disrespectful.

He may exude a sense of nostalgia, silently begging for himself. Although it was inconceivable that Christian would beseech her, this was Charlize's greatest fear. It would make her feel like she was toying with his emotions, even if her heart brimmed with reluctance.

He might even be joyful and carefree. If he had truly been a playboy, as the assistant director Richard suggested, then his request amounted to shirking all responsibility, aligning with his desires. The girl couldn't fathom that the man before her was a seasoned seducer.

But, at least the idea of him conjuring a ghost, taking possession of her body, and commanding it for various services seemed utterly implausible...

Yet, was it genuinely beyond the realm of possibility?

Nonetheless, she had never anticipated that the other party would respond so candidly, so straightforwardly.

Christian looked at Charlize with an aggressive look.

"Should we be loyal to each other? I mean physically."

"You..."

Charlize's face turned red all of a sudden.

For an instant, Charlize's mind raced, and she even felt an urge to slap the individual opposite her.

However, she refrained from any action.

Firstly, she knew the other party would undoubtedly block her, based on her previous two experiences.

Secondly, she was at a loss about how to address this crass yet direct question.

Truth be told, Charlize didn't desire separation from Christian. Unconsciously, her past experiences had instilled a fear of becoming too intimate. But if they didn't remain physically faithful, what separated uttering those words from declaring a breakup?

And if she consented to this request...

Charlize felt it was nearly tantamount to defining their relationship, which she dreaded the most.

"Straightforwardness is quite the challenge"

Observing Christian's assertive gaze, Charlize was momentarily flustered. Suddenly, she comprehended the other party's intentions.

Christian recognized that she had a psychological barrier but didn't want to wait passively for Charlize to overcome it. He aimed to stand firm, claim the best position, and pounce at the earliest opportunity.

"I'll agree to it!"

Charlize thought as if she was conceding, yet her heart lightened suddenly.

"If you don't mind."

A sly smile played on the girl's lips, and her words were enough to startle even the most conservative individuals.

"When we have physical needs, we can seek assistance from each other, and under the right conditions, the other party cannot easily refuse."

Isn't this Friends with Benefits?

Christian almost blurted out instantly.

He had to admit that once a decision to be forthright was made, sometimes women could be more candid than men. He had merely dropped a hint, but the girl had swiftly picked up on it.

"Alright, then"

Why would he refuse!?

While this outcome wasn't exactly what he had hoped for, it was still better than returning to their previous state or parting ways altogether.

"Give me a woman, nah, give me a fulcrum, I can lift the earth" Didn't Archimedes say something like that?

At least, there were options to explore now.

Christian was lost in thought, but he suddenly realized that the girl had more to say.

"However, except for that time, I hope that we will maintain our previous level of intimacy, and there won't be any excessively intimate actions. And"

Charlize raised her finger and outlined three conditions.

"First, when we satisfy each other's needs, we can't be seen by other people."

"Of course" Christian agreed, "I have no interest in putting on a show for others."

"Second, we can't be in bed"

"What!? Why not!?" Christian protested.

"Because the bed symbolizes home," Charlize explained.

Christian's expression became quite awkward.

"I like home, but I'm afraid of feeling too much at home."

"Well, anyway, it happened on the carpet twice before," Christian chuckled at himself and reluctantly accepted the condition. He knew, from a certain perspective, that this condition was to his advantage. However, it left a peculiar taste in his mouth—benefiting but feeling like a loss.

Charlize then presented her third condition: "Third, no kissing!"

What kind of strange condition was this!?

This time, Christian understood Charlize's perspective. In the Western world, physical intimacy didn't necessarily have to be emotional, but kissing represented love. It might seem peculiar to those from the East, but they had their cultural nuances. It was like a Victorian British woman who could show her cleavage without any hesitation but was extremely shy about revealing her feet and calves to others.

'Damn it' Christian thought, having seen ghosts, but when he saw Charlize's mischievous eyes, he suddenly smiled.

Is this girl finally letting go of her psychological burdens? She's still afraid, undoubtedly, but it's at least a promising start to be playful due to his previous straightforwardness.

"I promise, Sally" Christian nodded amidst the complexity in the girl's eyes.

"So, as a friend, can I invite you to watch a movie I rented the other day?"

"What movie?"

Although it still felt a bit off, Charlize asked out of habit.

"Groundhog Day"

"Ah! I've heard of it, but unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to watch it."

The girl appeared somewhat interested, "Should we watch it when we get back?"

"Only if you're not sleepy. But before that—"

Christian suddenly tapped Charlize's forehead with a finger.

"What are you doing?" Charlize asked, clutching her forehead.

"Alexis, please take a break," Christian said, his gaze fixed on her like a predator. Charlize suddenly sensed that something was amiss.

"So, Sally, I recall you mentioned that if there's a need and the conditions are right, you can't easily refuse, right?"

"You think..."

"Just an invitation," Christian said seriously, "And besides, while you said we can't kiss on the lips, you never said we can't kiss anywhere else, right?"

The corners of Christian's mouth twitched, "I remember during the "Wrong Turn" demo, you were quite dissatisfied with Erica's performance on the car hood. So, should you give it a try yourself now?"

Charlize's face turned red in an instant. She bit her lip tightly, but there was an unmistakable eagerness in her eyes. After a long pause, she took the initiative to open the car door and step out...