“If I were that woman from before, I definitely wouldn’t want to leave.”
“Why?” Lin Cheng sat on the sofa, with Xu Wanyue right beside him. She was keeping him company as they watched the Kamen Rider Faiz theater edition together.
“Because your cooking is so delicious. If I could eat it every day, I’d never want to leave.” Xu Wanyue’s answer was refreshingly straightforward. At that moment, she was sprawled out on Lin Cheng’s sofa, too stuffed from eating to muster much energy.
“You’d get used to it. Once you do, it becomes expected, and there’s nothing left to miss,” Lin Cheng replied flatly.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“Yes, you would.”
Xu Wanyue seemed about to say more, but she caught the faintly cool expression on Lin Cheng’s face and decided against it. Rain was still pattering outside. Suddenly, she murmured softly, “You’re such a strange guy.”
“Hm?”
“Yesterday, when you stood in front of me, you looked so intimidating… But normally, you seem like a total soft puppy—gentle, sweet, and easygoing. That contrast is just so fun.”
“Fun?”
“It means you’re the type girls really go for. They all want a boyfriend who’s tender and caring most of the time but turns all dominant and cool when they need him. It makes them feel so safe.”
“So, do you like me?” Lin Cheng followed her lead and asked. But Xu Wanyue suddenly fell silent.
One second. Three seconds. Five seconds.
Lin Cheng turned to look at Xu Wanyue’s face and realized her cheeks were flushed red, her eyes panicked and uneasy. He stared straight at her for several long seconds before she finally stammered out a response. “What kind of question is that…?”
“Oh, just asking casually.”
“Mm… I’m not really into guys younger than me, but you are pretty likable to girls.”
“So, do you like me or not?” Lin Cheng was getting interested now.
Xu Wanyue actually seemed to mull it over seriously. Three seconds later, she shot back at him. “Does this count as a confession?”
Lin Cheng thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Nah.”
“Mm… You’re super likable, but I don’t like you that way.”
“That hurts.” Lin Cheng felt an inexplicable critical hit to his heart.
“Aw, come on, it’s just me. There must be tons of great girls out there who’d love you.” Xu Wanyue reached out on her own and gently ruffled Lin Cheng’s hair, as if consoling an injured child.
Lin Cheng felt another inexplicable blow deep in his chest.
“My heart hurts so much.”
“Huh?”
“Can you give me a hug to make me feel better?”
“Why? It’s not like you confessed and got rejected.” Though Xu Wanyue said that, she stood up anyway and opened her arms to him. Lin Cheng froze for a second, then rose to his feet and let her pull him into a gentle embrace.
Xu Wanyue’s hands lightly clasped behind his back, her chin resting on his shoulder. That familiar fragrance wrapped around his nose once more. He could hear her heartbeat—or maybe it was his own. It was so weird… Why did this silly woman always manage to fluster him in the most unexpected ways?
“There, there. Hugging you now—no more sadness.”
Her voice was soft and gentle.
“Can you kiss me too, then?”
“No way, you’re being so naughty.” Xu Wanyue let out a light huff.
Lin Cheng slowly reached out and hugged her back just as gently. Compared to kissing, he preferred hugs. There was something inexplicably reassuring about them.
Huddling together for warmth was humanity’s greatest virtue.
A dozen seconds later, Xu Wanyue slipped out of Lin Cheng’s arms. She looked into his eyes. “How about you cook another meal tonight?”
“In your dreams.” Lin Cheng flopped back onto the sofa. “I’m totally burned out.”
“Aw… But your cooking really is that good. Do one more performance for me.”
“Nah.”
“Didn’t you used to cook for that woman every day?”
“Feeding her good stuff unlocked new positions. Can you do that?”
Xu Wanyue’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She shot him a resentful glance. “That’s so cringy.”
Lin Cheng dragged himself off the sofa and back to his computer to play some games. Xu Wanyue followed him into the room and flopped onto the bed to scroll through short videos. She had already fully mastered all the energy nodes in her body—she’d tested it yesterday, and every physical metric was at least three times better than before.
…Though it didn’t seem to make much practical difference for her.
Lin Cheng played a couple of rounds. Rain was still falling outside, and rainy days were perfect for a nap. He glanced at Xu Wanyue. “Get up. I’m taking a nap.”
Xu Wanyue scooted to the other side of the bed, patted the space, and placed a body pillow right in the middle.
“Go ahead and sleep.”
“…”
Lin Cheng lay down and yanked Xu Wanyue’s blanket over himself. He wasn’t used to sleeping without one. But Xu Wanyue wasn’t used to that either, so she tugged some back from him.
This girl always let out these weird little laughs while scrolling videos, but since Lin Cheng had said he was sleeping, she toned it down. The room was dimly lit, rain whispering against the window. Suddenly, Lin Cheng wasn’t sleepy anymore. This scene felt strangely familiar.
It was like nothing had changed—and yet like everything had.
He rolled over to face Xu Wanyue, who was still glued to her phone. She froze, set it aside, and met his gaze.
They stared at each other for four or five seconds before Xu Wanyue suddenly burst out laughing.
“What’re you laughing at?” Lin Cheng asked, puzzled.
“Your eyes are so cute.”
“Cute?”
“Like… a kid who wants to be spoiled?” Xu Wanyue settled on a fitting description. She reached out and gently pinched his cheek. “Alright, time for your nap. Big sis will keep you company.”
“No can do. Big sis has to give me a kiss first.”
“You’re so naughty.”
“Fine, I’m naughty.” Lin Cheng closed his eyes. But after a while, he felt a warm touch on his forehead—fleeting, then gone. When he opened his eyes, Xu Wanyue had scooted back, her gaze darting away evasively.
He didn’t say a word, just kept staring at her.
Xu Wanyue said nothing either. She picked up her phone and went back to her videos, acting like nothing had happened.
Lin Cheng closed his eyes again. Xu Wanyue peeked at him through the gap under her phone.
…So naughty.
She grumbled to herself in her heart.
When Lin Cheng woke, a downpour was raging outside the window.
The weather forecast said it’d be rainy for the next few days.
Xu Wanyue was no longer beside him. Lin Cheng sat up in bed. From the kitchen, he could hear her humming softly. She’d tied on an apron again. He walked to the kitchen doorway and saw her slender black-silk-clad calves peeking out beneath it—5D silk, nearly transparent.
Black silk pantyhose didn’t really go with a qipao. It might look fine in photos, but in real life, it came off a bit odd.
Xu Wanyue heard his footsteps and turned with a smile. “It’ll be ready soon. Go wash up and wait for dinner.”
“Got it.” Lin Cheng agreed and took a seat at the table.
He always felt a bit dazed for a moment after waking from a nap. The sky outside was overcast. Lin Cheng wasn’t a big fan of rainy days—one of his old acquaintances had left him on a rainy day like this.
Xu Wanyue had guessed right, actually. Over all those years, Lin Cheng had never seriously dated anyone. Back then, he’d been too young to understand love, and there hadn’t been any real opportunities.
Later, he’d taken off his mask and tangled with the former lady of the house for over a year, but in the end, they hadn’t fallen for each other. Lin Cheng suddenly recalled the day she’d dragged her suitcase out the door, eyes red as she cursed him.
“The only difference between us is that you keep lying to yourself. You spout all these sweet, gentle words and think you can save me… But you’re the one even more disillusioned with the world than I am.”
Some sleepless nights, Lin Cheng would toss and turn, wondering: For two lonely people, was brief companionship a reward or a punishment?
“What’re you thinking about? Dinner’s ready.”
“Oh.” Lin Cheng picked up his chopsticks and dug in heartily. Once he was full, he’d forget his worries. He grabbed an ice-cold cola from the fridge—the can still beaded with condensation. Stuffed, he leaned back in his chair and said offhandedly, “This qipao doesn’t really match the black silk. Looks kinda weird.”
“You picked it out yourself yesterday.”
“But it’s weird with the qipao.”
“I don’t have any other clothes.” Xu Wanyue looked up at him innocently. “You’re so demanding.”
“No, I mean… I’m really not a pervert.” Lin Cheng tried to make his expression more convincing. “You can wear whatever.”
“I know that.”
Xu Wanyue’s reply was so innocent, her tone not perfunctory at all but utterly matter-of-fact. Now it was Lin Cheng’s turn to pause.
“I know you’re not some pervert or anything. I just saw girls wearing it in short videos, and it looked cute on them. But on me, it feels off.”
“It looks fine in videos, sure…”
“I don’t get this stuff. My fashion sense comes from short videos.” Xu Wanyue stuck out her tongue. “But the qipao’s pretty nice, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I had it custom-made recently. Cost me nearly a thousand bucks. Broke my heart.”
“Didn’t I just give you a million?”
“I transferred it to my uncle. Now my aunt won’t nag him nonstop anymore. She even video-called me recently, all smiles, saying she’d introduce me to some guys.”
“Did you say yes?”
“Of course I just brushed her off. I’m only twenty-one. No way I’m ready for blind dates and marriage.”
“Dating might be nice, though.”
“Mm, I bet it’d feel weird. I’ve been on my own for so many years. Suddenly having someone barge into my life? Just thinking about it makes me anxious.”
“I agree.”
Xu Wanyue suddenly kicked off her slippers and lifted her long legs. She was sitting in the chair next to Lin Cheng, so her calves naturally draped across his lap. He froze, meeting her eyes. There was an inexplicable tenderness in Xu Wanyue’s gaze.
“I won’t come cook for you tomorrow, okay? So… how about indulging your little fetish one more time?”
Lin Cheng stared at her deadpan. “Didn’t you just say you believe I’m not a pervert?”
Xu Wanyue stifled a giggle.
