Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Lu Nian was being attended to very comfortably, feeling utterly content. Her eyelids soon started fighting each other, and in a short while, she seemed to be sinking into a sweet darkness, becoming irretrievably lost in sleep.

However, before she could fall asleep, she was ruthlessly awakened.

It seemed to be a familiar voice, cold and deep, carrying an undertone of chilliness, "Get up and clean yourself."

She responded out of habit.

After her cheeks and hair were dried, she felt considerably more comfortable, feeling as if her alcohol-fogged mind had cleared somewhat.

Lu Nian struggled to semi-raise herself from the couch, her mind still in a daze, unable to grasp the current situation fully.

A small light was on in the living room, casting a dim yellow glow, while outside the drizzle had turned into a torrential downpour, accompanied by flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.

The dim lighting made it difficult to see clearly; the young man opposite her seemed to maintain a semi-squatting posture, obscured by the night, with the dim yellow light outlining his handsome silhouette, yet his expression remained indiscernible.

Her hair had been dried, but her body was still wet; the soaked outer garment clinging to her body was cold and heavy, causing her great discomfort.

Lu Nian laboriously removed her outer garment, fortunately, the long sweater she wore underneath remained dry.

The heating was on indoors, and shedding the wet clothing allowed the warmth to gradually return.

"Qin Si..." A bit more lucid now, she murmured. For the first time, she looked around at her surroundings, a completely unfamiliar setting. She was certain this was her first visit, an environment far removed from the hustle and bustle of the bar, engulfed in profound silence.

Rubbing her eyes, she queried, "Where is this?" It didn't seem like a hotel either.

After a long pause, Qin Si replied, "My home."

In truth, it wasn't fully furnished yet, only equipped with essential amenities. He hadn't planned to bring her here unless necessary. Yet, compared to the small attic from the past, it was a world apart, for the first time, a home entirely his own.

"Your home?" Absorbing the implications of his words, the girl's eyes widened, her voice emanating genuine delight, "You are so impressive!"

Despite being only slightly older than her, while she remained reliant on her family, a ne'er-do-well shut-in, he had already managed to establish a home of his own outside.

The young man lowered his eyelashes, avoiding further discussion on the topic, he tossed something onto her, commanding, "Get up."

It was a soft silk quilt, exuding a pleasant fragrance typical of new fabric.

Lu Nian wrapped herself in the quilt, asking confusedly, "Get up to go where?"

He responded succinctly, "To take you back."

Lu Nian shook her head, "I'm not going back."

The young man froze, seemingly unable to grasp her intention.

Lu Nian stated clearly, "I am not going back tonight."

"Both my father and Lu Yang are not around today," she said, "I've already arranged with Miao Miao to return home tomorrow noon; I won't be discovered."

After all, it was a time carefully chosen and a plan meticulously prepared by her.

Finally, it occurred to Lu Nian that she seemed to have overlooked one aspect: what if Qin Si did not agree to her staying over?

She inquired cautiously, "May I stay?"

She was utterly uncertain, considering Qin Si might genuinely not be willing to accommodate her.

Moreover... thinking of Bai Xi, an idea she didn't want to acknowledge emerged, perhaps fearing she might interrupt some plans of his.

After a prolonged silence, he uttered, "As you wish."

Lu Nian, clutching the quilt, finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, her tranquility didn't last long when her stomach suddenly growled audibly.

In this quiet environment, it sounded especially conspicuous.

Qin Si, "..."

Lu Nian rubbed her stomach, lamenting pitifully, "I am so hungry."

She said with a grievance, "To make my escape convincing, I lied about feeling unwell, and to be more believable, I skipped dinner."

It had been quite a while now, and feeling hungry was only natural.

He asked with a stoic expression, "And then you went to drink?"

Lu Nian, "..."

She grumbled inwardly, it was all because of you... getting involved in such affairs outside.

Alcohol had fortified her courage earlier, allowing her to confront him with such audacity. But now, sobering up, her bravado dissipated swiftly, resembling a deflated balloon.

Now, even the thought of the words Bai Xi had spoken made her face burn, let alone having the nerve to approach Qin Si with such inquiries.

Moreover, she had never been anyone significant to Qin Si, merely a childhood playmate at most. The money Qin Si owed had been repaid to her family; technically, they were square. What right did she have to meddle in his private life?

The night had advanced deeply.

Lu Nian had resolved to bear the hunger, preparing to spend the night on the sofa.

However, the young man rose to his feet, and shortly after, lights flickered on.

It seemed to be the kitchen...

Lu Nian perked up, shuffling in her slippers hurriedly to investigate.

Indeed, it was the kitchen.

The young man had rolled up the sleeves of his black sweater, grasping a knife, revealing a stretch of slender and pristine wrist, the bones distinctly outlined.

In the domestic setting of the kitchen, his typically aloof and cold demeanor seemed to be softened, making him appear even more refined and attractive. She leaned against the door frame, watching him unblinkingly, "Are you preparing a meal for me?"

The young man didn't lift his gaze, "I'm hungry too."

Lu Nian, "…Oh."

Although she had long suspected that there seemed to be nothing Qin Si couldn't do,

witnessing him in the kitchen still felt somewhat magical.

Upon reflection, it was quite normal for him to know how to cook, given that he had been living independently for a long time. Without learning to take care of himself, survival would have been impossible.

Observing his adept movements, she asked curiously, "Do you usually cook for Ming Ge, Huang Ge, and Xiao Qu Ge as well?"

Qin Si, "…" He remained silent; this was the first time he was preparing food for someone else.

Usually, the group at Ming Ge's place would cook for themselves if they wanted to eat, or they would order takeout. He had never cooked for them before, and didn't plan to start now.

But considering the late hour and Lu Nian's recent bout of drinking on an empty stomach, he didn't intend to prepare anything elaborate.

A few minutes later, Lu Nian finally recognized the dish taking shape, "Is this...are you making noodles?"

"That's all I know how to make," the young man said with indifference, "If you don't want it, never mind."

Lu Nian, "..." Of course, she would eat it. It would be foolish to pass up a meal, why wouldn't she eat?

Thinking about it, she seemed to have come to celebrate Qin Si's birthday, but she hadn't brought any gifts. Instead, she found herself being taken care of by the birthday person.

However, on second thought, this was Qin Si after all. Did she really need to stand on ceremony with him?

Seduced by the enticing aroma of the food, Lu Nian felt her stomach growling incessantly. Soon, she gave into reality in a peaceful and natural progression, easing into the comfort that the moment brought.

The bowl of noodles exuded a rich fragrance, complemented by delicious pan-fried eggs on top. Perfectly cooked, both the flavor and presentation were impeccable. Lu Nian relished every bite, eventually savoring the last sip of the soup reluctantly, a warmth blossoming from her stomach and spreading to every corner of her body, bringing sheer delight.

He had prepared only one bowl.

By the time Lu Nian returned from a quick wash-up post-meal, Qin Si had already tidied up the dinnerware.

Lu Nian murmured, "I don't feel like sleeping yet..." Whether it was due to her earlier nap or the recent meal, she felt anything but tired at the moment.

"As you wish," he replied.

"Could we leave the living room light on?" Lu Nian asked, adding, "I'm afraid..." She had been afraid of the dark since childhood.

Qin Si, "...Mhm."

"Qin Si, what were you doing out today?" she probed further.

He responded succinctly, "Working."

Suddenly, Lu Nian felt a bit apologetic. Going out to work must have been tiring, and here she was, keeping him awake and obliging him to cater to her needs, even preparing a meal for her at this late hour.

"You should go rest," Lu Nian decided on her own, "I'll be fine. I'll go to sleep when I feel sleepy."

Qin Si, "…"

"I'm not sleepy," he declared, "I still have some materials to go through."

Seeing him actually take out a book and settle down, Lu Nian breathed a sigh of relief, her sense of guilt alleviated.

While he was absorbed in his book, Lu Nian lay on the couch, engrossed with her phone.

She was dressed in a loose white sweater, the posture revealing a subtle curve of her collarbone, a gentle dip enhancing her well-proportioned and fair complexion, each inch of her skin resembling flawless porcelain.

Her delicate, snow-white ankles were visible, with cotton slippers hanging precariously on her feet, seemingly ready to slip off at any moment.

The heat building uncontrollably behind her ears, he tried not to look or ponder upon it, forcibly suppressing the flurry of disorganized thoughts that threatened to surface.

All he wanted was to focus his attention on the book.

...As expected, his self-control crumbled spectacularly.

She insisted on striking up a conversation, even leaning in to observe his quick notetaking, exclaiming, "How can you write so quickly!"

The young man's fingers, distinctly articulated, held the pen with a fluid grace, his writing flowing like water, a visual delight to behold.

Resting her cheek on her hand, she watched for a while before murmuring, "Are you just scribbling randomly?"

The young man shifted away without lifting his gaze, responding coolly, "Only if you are foolish."

"Well, I am foolish then," Lu Nian admitted candidly, "Not everyone can be as smart as you are, after all."

She knows herself well. It's not that she hasn't put in the effort, and the Lu family certainly provided her with the best teachers. The issue is, everyone has their own unique talents and interests. Despite her diligence, there is a limit to what she can achieve academically.

Unexpectedly finding the conversation steering towards him, Qin Si fell silent.

"Can I come over to visit occasionally in the future?"

Without a reply from him, Lu Nian continued speaking on her own accord.

"The atmosphere at my home is too suffocating," Lu Nian confided, "Apart from the occasional visits to the Zhao's, my days at home are truly unbearable."

She leaned in to peek at the book he was reading, her proximity allowing her jet-black hair to fall beside her fair cheeks, lending her an innocent and winsome appearance.

Hearing that name, the warmth that had risen to his cheeks gradually receded bit by bit.

His mind wandered to the rumors circulating at school, recalling the flippant gestures of that person that day, and the obvious familiarity in his affectionate gestures towards her.

While at the Zhao residence, would she respond to that person, named Zhao Yayuan, in the same manner, or perhaps even more intimately...

Just the mere imagination of such scenarios was enough to fuel a frenzy of jealousy within him.

The young man presented a clean and sharp profile, a face defined with clear contours, unseen for what felt like a lengthy time.

The Qin Si of eighteen years, whom she had missed dearly.

As she tilted her head to observe him, for some inexplicable reason, she found herself longing to get even closer.

During the time she was inebriated, had he held her in his arms...

The young man, however, withdrew slightly, an unreadable emotion concealed within his beautiful phoenix eyes, he queried, "Do you behave this way with everyone?"

Lu Nian was taken aback, "What?"

Regret soon filled him, and with lips tightly pressed together, he chose to remain silent, leaving her almost convinced that she had misheard.

"Qin Si, where are you considering going for university?" she brought up another topic.

After a long pause, he finally uttered, "I don't know."

Lu Nian responded, "Hmm..." She had anticipated this reluctance to share.

"I might go abroad," she said, her head tilted thoughtfully.

After all, when it came to these matters, she had no room for resistance and could only adhere to the directives of Lu Zhihong.

Qin Si did not respond.

Regardless of her destination, he probably wouldn't be interested, she presumed.

After a lengthy period of sporadic conversation, a hint of fatigue finally began to seep into Lu Nian.

Lu Nian asked, “So, Qin Si, where should I sleep tonight? Can I use your guest room... or perhaps the couch?” Her voice trailed off towards the end, adding this option with a sense of grievance.

The young man rose to his feet in silence, and Lu Nian followed him as he led her to the doorway of a bedroom.

In a rather unusual manner, he seemed to hesitate.

Eventually, it was Lu Nian who opened the door, asking, "Should I sleep here?"

She had anticipated that the room might not have been prepared.

To her surprise, not only was there a bed in the bedroom, but it had already been neatly arranged.

The clean quilt and bed sheets were all in a beige hue, immaculately tidy, even enveloped in a matching quilt cover.

The color scheme even bore a resemblance to her own bedroom—a soft and elegant hue favored by many young girls.

Lu Nian, "…"

She couldn't help but wonder why there was a room like this in Qin Si's house.

Initially, she wouldn't have given it much thought, but at this moment, the thought of Bai Xi surfaced, saddening her greatly.

However, she didn't want to have another argument with Qin Si, so she had to restrain her wilful emotions, which suddenly made everything seem bland.

“Can you wake me up tomorrow?” she asked.

The young man's ears were already burning. Avoiding her gaze, he replied somewhat flustered, "Set an alarm for yourself."

...And just like that, her wild imaginations were starkly exposed before the object of her fantasies.

It left him feeling utterly embarrassed, unable to bear staying another moment.