“What are you looking at?”
The TV was on, but Xu Wanyue was staring at her phone. Lin Cheng leaned in close, resting his chin on her shoulder. He saw the photos she was scrolling through—a set of glamour shots. In them, a girl wore a moon-white gauze dress and stood by a fountain, a stemless rose delicately caught between her lips.
“Glamour shots from a friend. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
The girl’s outfit wasn’t revealing at all, so Xu Wanyue had no qualms about showing the photos to Lin Cheng. He glanced up at her profile, studying it thoughtfully. “You’ve got a better figure.”
“Oh, come on. Her boobs are bigger than mine.”
“But you’re taller, with longer legs. You win!”
Xu Wanyue burst out laughing at that. “How much do you think a shoot like this costs?”
“If you like it, I’ll shoot you. Whatever style you want.”
“Mm, maybe I shouldn’t trouble you…”
“No way.” Lin Cheng reached out and poked her cheek. “Taking photos isn’t any trouble. But if you let some other guy shoot you, I’ll get mad.”
“I wasn’t even thinking about that.”
“Then let me do it?”
Since Lin Cheng was resting on her shoulder, his breath brushed her neck. Xu Wanyue turned to look at him and murmured softly, “If it’s not too much trouble for you… then sure.”
“And what’s my reward?” Lin Cheng winked at her.
Xu Wanyue seemed to catch his drift. She leaned in and brushed her lips lightly against his. “Like this?”
“Mm, one more kiss.”
Xu Wanyue obediently closed her eyes. Lin Cheng leaned closer and touched his lips to hers.
Satisfied now, Lin Cheng slid down her body. This time, he didn’t lie on her soft belly. Instead, he boldly pillowed his head on her snowy-white thighs. Xu Wanyue didn’t mind at all. She turned off the light and waited until he was drowsy before lifting him up, adjusting his position, and then gently cradling him as she closed her eyes.
She’d always had the habit of sleeping with a stuffed animal in her arms anyway.
The next day.
Lin Cheng ate breakfast at Xu Wanyue’s house, then stood up with his bouquet of roses. “I’ll shoot your photos tomorrow. Heading home now?”
“Mhm.” Xu Wanyue nodded obediently and stepped close to hug him lightly. She pecked his lips. “Be safe on the road.”
Lin Cheng leaned in for a kiss of his own. Xu Wanyue had already closed her eyes in anticipation.
Back home.
The house was still empty, everything unchanged. It looked like she hadn’t come by last night. Lin Cheng set the roses on the table and rummaged for an old wine bottle to hold them. He tried several before trimming the stems and fitting them all in. The Black Cat lounged on the sofa, watching him lazily the whole time.
Roses would wither eventually, but until then, every extra second they lasted was worth it.
Once the roses were arranged, Lin Cheng didn’t know what else to do. He flopped onto the bed. His room’s curtains were always drawn, so he lay there in the dimness without turning on a light or pulling up the covers, just staring at the ceiling for a long while.
Black Cat slipped into the room at some point and leaped onto the bed, curling up on his arm.
Lin Cheng had picked up this cat three years ago.
After lying there a while longer, he sat up and started scouting scenic spots for photos—somewhere beautiful and secluded. In the end, he settled on Peach Blossom Cove in the city outskirts, an abandoned tourist area next to a small village.
He sent the address to Xu Wanyue and told her to pick out whatever clothes she liked. He’d pick her up downstairs from her place in the morning on his motorcycle. She replied with a cat emoji, then after a bit sent pictures of two hanfu outfits—one purple, one light blue—and asked which looked better. Lin Cheng hesitated before picking the light blue one.
Xu Wanyue sent back a smiling cat face.
He played some games until drowsiness hit again, then lay down with Black Cat in his arms and closed his eyes.
He woke to an itchy sensation on his cheek.
Lin Cheng opened his eyes slowly and grabbed whatever was tickling him. It was fluffy—he thought it was the cat’s tail at first, but it turned out to be a cat teaser wand. He blinked fully awake. A woman in a lake-green camisole and tight white denim shorts knelt on the bed, waving the wand. Her red hair cascaded over her shoulder, partially veiling her slender collarbone.
“Dreaming, huh,” Lin Cheng muttered, closing his eyes to go back to sleep.
But the teaser wand kept poking at his cheek. He had to open his eyes again and sit up, facing the woman before him.
Her name was Jiang Lingxue.
Two years ago, Lin Cheng kept two pets at home: this Black Cat, and Jiang Lingxue.
“Why are you here?” Lin Cheng could only ask.
“I came looking for you last night, but you dodged me. Figured you’d come home during the day, so I stopped by.”
Jiang Lingxue had the code to his electronic lock—a code he hadn’t changed since moving out. So she knew.
“Aren’t you supposed to be busy lately?”
“The movie wrapped, promo’s done. Nothing major on the schedule.” Jiang Lingxue’s reply was nonchalant.
Lin Cheng’s gaze swept over her from head to toe.
“Have you gained weight?” he asked.
“A little? Not sure. Maybe a second growth spurt.” She glanced down at herself.
Her figure was slim and perfectly proportioned, like a model’s. Her breasts weren’t overly full but just right—shapely and balanced. Her skin was impossibly fair, smooth as milk, her body a study in whites and soft pinks.
“Feels like it,” Lin Cheng said offhandedly.
“Then I have. No big deal.” Jiang Lingxue climbed onto the bed and crossed her long legs, eyeing Lin Cheng under the covers. “Who was the girl you were drinking with last time?”
“Lu Xiaoxiao.”
“And where were you last night?”
“Xu Wanyue’s place.”
“Not bad.” The corner of Jiang Lingxue’s mouth curved up, but the angle made it look more like a smirk.
“The roses in the living room look nice,” she said.
“Someone gave them to me. Couldn’t bear to toss them, so I’m keeping them a few days.”
“Nice.” Jiang Lingxue nodded.
“How’ve you been?” She turned to gaze out the window. The sky had turned overcast again—late spring weather was so fickle. It was the classic opener for old friends reuniting.
“Pretty good. Eating, drinking, sleeping, gaming, flirting with girls as needed. You?”
“Same. Being a celeb isn’t all that fun. If this movie flops, I’m done.”
“And if it makes money?”
“I’ll do one more to pay you back.”
“No need… I don’t really need the cash anyway.”
“I know, but owing you isn’t great.”
They locked eyes for a moment, then fell silent. Jiang Lingxue picked up the cat teaser and dangled it. The Black Cat chased it across the bed. Lin Cheng leaned back, watching lazily.
“Wanna nap,” she said.
“Go ahead.”
Jiang Lingxue lay down, pillowing her head on his thigh, and closed her eyes. She always slept peacefully. Lin Cheng muted his phone and watched videos. Sure enough, she was out quickly. About an hour later, she stirred, sat up, and stretched, revealing the delicate line of her waist.
“Wanna do it?” she asked suddenly.
Lin Cheng hesitated, then shook his head.
…Flirting with other girls while dating would be cheating.
“Alright, I’ll head out then?”
“Sure.”
Lin Cheng watched her slide off the bed. A second or two later, he spoke. “It’s kinda chilly outside. Grab a jacket?”
“Brought one.” Jiang Lingxue replied flatly, slipping on the denim jacket draped over the chair. Only then did Lin Cheng notice it. He nodded. “Okay. Drive safe.”
“Mhm.” Jiang Lingxue nodded.
With the small talk over, she headed for the door. Lin Cheng said nothing—didn’t know what to say. He watched her figure vanish through the doorway. She closed his bedroom door softly behind her.
Lin Cheng slowly lowered his head and sat in silence for a long time.
She really wasn’t that hot-tempered little girl from before anymore.
Jiang Lingxue gently shut the front door of Lin Cheng’s house and leaned against it. She fished a cigarette from her denim jacket pocket and lit it, bringing it to her lips.
Counting on her fingers, it had been half a year since they’d last seen each other. That time, they’d argued in this very house until they were exhausted, then done something more interesting until they had no energy left for words, just curling up together to sleep.
It was hard to say whose fault it was.
The year Jiang Lingxue first met Lin Cheng, she was only eighteen, working the front counter at a bubble tea shop. That guy would show up every afternoon at six for a tea—and to bring her a rose.
She’d always toss those roses straight in the trash. From childhood on, she’d gotten tons of roses, fended off tons of guys drawn to her pretty face. She never gave them the time of day.
He kept it up for a whole month, but it only moved him.
On payday, she went for hot pot alone. Midway through, loneliness hit her hard. Then suddenly, there he was across from her, asking if she minded company.
He later swore it was pure coincidence, but Jiang Lingxue figured he was a stalker.
They ate hot pot together. Lin Cheng paid ahead of time. She shot him a sidelong glance and finally spoke her first real words to him.
And just like that, their inexplicable story began.
“You got money?”
“…A little.”
“Perfect. I want a bag. Buy it for me?”
“Sure.”
The exchange was blunt and straightforward. She stood and headed to the mall, Lin Cheng trailing behind to carry her purchases. She got a bag, shoes, new clothes, necklaces, jewelry—piles of it all. It added up to over a hundred grand, but he swiped his card without batting an eye.
“Let’s go,” she said coolly.
“Where to?” Lin Cheng scratched his head.
“Your place.” Jiang Lingxue’s voice was icy.
