“Ow, that hurts.” Lin Cheng gazed at Xu Wanyue with teary eyes.
Xu Wanyue lowered her head. “Who told you to say weird things?”
“But it really hurts. You were so rough.”
“No way, I didn’t use that much force…”
“It still hurts like crazy. Don’t believe me? Try pinching yourself.”
The light in the room was quite dim, casting an air of subtle intimacy over the space—especially since they were alone together. Xu Wanyue patted the top of Lin Cheng’s head again. “No way. That’s super sensitive. Even when I shower, I don’t dare touch it.”
“Hmm? That sensitive?” Lin Cheng suddenly perked up, but the next second, Xu Wanyue’s hand slipped into his collar again. She pinched lightly without any real force, then raised her voice. “Go to sleep!”
“Okay, okay, sleeping.” Lin Cheng obediently closed his eyes, and only then did Xu Wanyue withdraw her hand.
Xu Wanyue’s embrace was so warm. Before long, Lin Cheng drifted off into a hazy slumber. Careful not to disturb him, she gently supported his shoulders and helped him lie back down properly on his side. Then she turned over, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on his sleeping face.
Yes, watching him like this would keep him from doing anything naughty again.
The next morning.
When Lin Cheng woke up, Xu Wanyue was no longer beside him. Still groggy, he threw on some clothes and shuffled into the living room. There he found her in the kitchen, apron tied around her waist, staring absentmindedly at the pot of water on the stove.
“I want twenty!” Lin Cheng declared proudly.
Xu Wanyue pulled a package of frozen dumplings from the fridge and dropped them into the boiling water as it bubbled away. She added cold water twice after it came to a boil, then mixed up a dipping sauce with chili, vinegar, and a dash of pepper oil.
After they finished the dumplings, Xu Wanyue went to the closet to grab her outfit for the day. When she emerged, she was wearing a white chiffon blouse tucked into a light blue denim miniskirt. Her slender legs were clad in white socks, paired with white sneakers, and she carried a canvas tote bag over one shoulder.
She looked full of energy, youthful and vibrant.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
At the hospital.
Lin Cheng met Xu Wanyue’s little sister.
As a member of the Alliance, Xu Wanyue enjoyed certain privileges. Her sister had a private room and a dedicated nurse looking after her. When they arrived, a shadow of sadness flickered in Xu Wanyue’s eyes.
She quickly turned her expectant gaze to Lin Cheng’s face.
Lin Cheng, meanwhile, was staring intently at the cocoon on the hospital bed.
Xu Wanyue’s sister was entirely wrapped from head to toe in white silk threads, cocooned tightly within. Lin Cheng studied it thoughtfully for several seconds before speaking. “Give me that half vial of Evolution Blood Litchi gave you last time.”
Xu Wanyue obediently fished the packaged half vial out of her canvas tote. Lin Cheng uncapped the test tube and poured it directly onto the “cocoon” on the bed. The Evolution Blood quickly seeped in.
The cocoon encasing her seemed to soften slightly.
“I see,” Lin Cheng said, understanding dawning.
“What?” Xu Wanyue looked up at him, her eyes brimming with hope.
“Your sister’s condition isn’t ability overload,” Lin Cheng explained, noting the worry and anticipation in her gaze. “Her awakened ability is just too powerful for her body to handle right now. So the ability cocooned her up in this shell to remodel her physique. Once her body’s fully adapted and ready to wield it, she’ll wake up on her own.”
“You’re… you’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“If things proceed normally… how long until she wakes up?”
“Ten years at the shortest, twenty at the longest? The Evolution Blood jump-starts the remodeling process, saving her all that time. But to wake her now, you’d need at least two more vials.”
Xu Wanyue slowly lowered her head, the light in her eyes fading once more.
Evolution Blood was incredibly rare. Even the Alliance only had three vials left in reserve. Earning one as a mission reward would be a huge boon—but where was she supposed to find another?
Suddenly, she looked up at Lin Cheng. “Why… does the Fruit Shop have Evolution Blood?”
“Well, we’ve collaborated with the retired Si Ming in the past.” Lin Cheng grinned at her. “We invested in Resplendent Pharmaceuticals, and Si Ming voluntarily gave us three vials. One went to Resplendent for research into drugs that could cure terminal illnesses and benefit humanity. The other two were gifts for us. We’ve still got one and a half left at the Fruit Shop.”
Xu Wanyue stared at Lin Cheng for a long moment before asking hesitantly, “If I want that last vial of Evolution Blood… what would I have to pay?”
“Finally, you get it—nothing in this world comes free.” Lin Cheng winked at her. “You want it?”
“Yes.”
“Really, really want it?”
“Yeah.” Xu Wanyue nodded. “My sister’s been in a coma for years now… I can’t bear to see her like this any longer.”
“For her, it’s just a long nap. She can’t sense the outside world.” Lin Cheng gazed at Xu Wanyue’s face. “That last vial’s with Litchi right now.”
Xu Wanyue’s lashes drooped, but gradually she lifted her head again. Biting her lip, she met his eyes. “But… you have a way to get it, right?”
Lin Cheng’s smile was downright wicked.
“If it were for me, sure, I’d have a way. But for you? Litchi would get jealous.”
“But… you have a way, right?” Xu Wanyue’s eyes bored into him.
“So, what are you willing to offer in return?” Lin Cheng took a step forward. Xu Wanyue instinctively stepped back. He advanced again, and after a few steps, he’d backed her into a corner against the wall. She pressed herself flat against it, looking up at him in bewilderment.
“What… what do you want?” Xu Wanyue’s voice held a hint of reluctance, as if she’d already guessed.
Lin Cheng said nothing, just looked at her face.
“I could give it to you, but thinking about how you mocked me for never dating anyone makes me mad.” He reached out and poked her soft, pale cheek.
“I… that wasn’t mocking! I… I’ve never dated either. Never dating isn’t embarrassing.” Xu Wanyue muttered softly.
“No excuses.” Lin Cheng winked again. “Date me?”
“Huh?!” Xu Wanyue’s eyes widened.
“What kind of deal is this?” She gazed at him wistfully. “Dating requires mutual feelings.”
“You can pretend to like me.”
“Do you like me?”
“I can… pretend to like you.”
“So childish.”
“Seven days.” Lin Cheng’s fingertip brushed her petal-soft pink lips. “Just date me for seven days, and I’ll get the Evolution Blood from Litchi for you.”
“Why seven days?”
“Seven hundred, then?”
“Seven days it is—deal!” Xu Wanyue answered decisively this time. But a moment later, she reached out and lightly grabbed Lin Cheng’s collar. “But… I have conditions too.”
“Name them. We can negotiate.”
“You can… kiss, but no tongue.” A pink flush crept into Xu Wanyue’s cheeks.
“Deal.”
“At night, we can sleep together, but… no naughty stuff.”
“Deal.”
Lin Cheng’s gaze held a playful glint throughout, like he was teasing an innocent maiden for the sheer fun of it. Xu Wanyue thought for a few seconds before adding her final condition. “You can touch… touch my feet, my legs, whatever, but you can’t make me… do anything naughty for you.”
Resentment flashed in Lin Cheng’s eyes.
He pinched her cheek. “I told you, I’m not a pervert!”
“Then… that’s a yes.” With her cheek gently squeezed, Xu Wanyue’s words came out muffled. Lin Cheng finally let go and extended his pinky finger. “Pinky promise.”
Xu Wanyue hooked her pinky with his. When their thumbs touched, their eyes locked.
One second. Two seconds. Three.
Xu Wanyue suddenly burst out laughing with a “pfft.”
“What’re you laughing at?” Lin Cheng asked, baffled.
“Nothing… just, you’re so fun.” Her smile finally subsided. “So, is our contract official now?”
“Yes. Now show me your sincerity, Miss Xu Wanyue.”
Lin Cheng withdrew his hand and looked at her expectantly. Xu Wanyue seemed to catch his drift. She stepped forward, leaned in slightly, rose on tiptoe, and brushed her lips lightly against his.
Her eyes shy, her lips curved in a smile. “Is this okay?”
“So perfunctory.”
“Then one more.” Xu Wanyue leaned in and pecked him lightly again.
“That’s more like it.” Lin Cheng was satisfied.
After leaving the hospital, Xu Wanyue quietly took Lin Cheng’s hand.
He froze for a second, then gently clasped hers in return. They walked side by side down the street, their shadows stretching long on the pavement.
“So… what do couples do every day?” Xu Wanyue asked softly.
“I’ve never dated, how should I know…”
“But isn’t it the boyfriend’s job to think of that?” She huffed lightly.
“Fair point. Let’s go home and cook, then.”
“Sure. You cook, or me?”
“You cook. I’ll do dishes.”
“Okay.” Xu Wanyue replied softly. They hailed a cab and slid into the back seat. Her head rested on his shoulder. “I get carsick.”
Lin Cheng shifted, letting her pillow her head on his lap instead. “Rest for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
“Mm.” Xu Wanyue closed her eyes obediently.
Lin Cheng gazed down at the sweetly sleeping girl in his lap.
Evolution Blood was priceless on the black market. Underground groups had once offered fifty million for half a vial from the Alliance—and been flatly rejected.
Hmm. One vial of Evolution Blood for seven days dating a bubbly, sweet airhead girlfriend with an amazing figure.
Not a bad trade at all.
