Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Bold and Shameless Nan Shu regretted it the moment she asked. Sure enough, some things might leave you feeling regretful if you don't do them, but once you do... you realize it would've been better not to. She had just invited Xie Zeyan to live together?! Living together meant what? It meant breaking down physical distance, barging into each other's lives, and adjusting to each other's habits—their daily rhythms gradually becoming one. Especially when it was a man and a woman living together. And even more so when her intentions were far from innocent. This was too presumptuous toward Xie Zeyan. Nan Shu quickly replayed the scene in her mind. Her tone had probably sounded too eager. Xie Zeyan was so smart—her little scheme must have been completely exposed before him. Nan Shu secretly glanced up, then quickly lowered her head again. Sure enough, Xie Zeyan stood silently in place, his ink-black eyes fixed unwaveringly on her. Nan Shu had already imagined what that expression meant. He was probably thinking: Nan Shu, you've finally revealed yourself, haven't you? Well, this was it. Now her feelings were as obvious as Sima Zhao's intentions—known to all. Her secret crush had finally been ruined by her impatience to eat hot tofu. Nan Shu was filled with regret, unsure if there was any way to salvage the situation. She opened her mouth, ready to offer a feeble explanation as flimsy as paper, when suddenly a deep, magnetic voice reached her ears. "Can I move in tonight?" That voice tore a rift through the silent hospital room. Nan Shu froze, her mouth slightly agape for a long moment before she belatedly realized what had happened. Xie Zeyan had actually agreed to her roommate invitation. It seemed Xie Zeyan's landlord was really terrible, so much so that he was in a hurry to move tonight. Nan Shu pressed her lips together and said softly, "Sure, as long as it's convenient for you." "As for the specifics of living together," Xie Zeyan's fingertips tapped idly on the table, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, "shall we discuss it when we get home?" • When Liang Xubai returned to the hospital room carrying Huituichang, he brushed past Xie Zeyan, who was heading out. Xie Zeyan was walking quickly, and Liang Xubai felt a gust of wind sweep past his side. He couldn't help but glance at the man's retreating figure. The suit hugged his tall, upright frame impeccably. He seemed... rather pleased about something? When he turned back, Nan Shu had already walked up to him. She took Huituichang and smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescents. "Thank you, Brother Xubai. I'll treat you to a meal sometime." Liang Xubai handed Nan Shu Huituichang's check-up report and smiled. "Sure. My sister told me you're great at picking restaurants." Liang Xubai had rushed back to the hospital after taking a phone call. On her way to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine, Nan Shu thought for a moment, then opened her chat with Zong Yi. The contract hadn't explicitly stated whether she could share the place with someone else, but Zong Yi had been easygoing from the start—he'd even given her the illusion that she could do whatever she wanted with the apartment. Still, the apartment ultimately belonged to Zong Yi, so she had to inform him. Nan Shu: [Are you there?] Nan Shu: [Can I have someone live with me at Jingyuan Huating?] Zong Yi replied quickly: [Of course, no problem. You're living there alone—having a girl roommate would be safer too] Nan Shu's cheeks flushed slightly, her heart racing as an inexplicable guilt crept in: [What if it's a guy?] Zong Yi was lounging on the sofa in his office when he saw Nan Shu's message. He sat up straight immediately, his crossed leg dropping to the floor. Nan Shu was going to have a roommate? Did Xie Zeyan know about this? Although Xie Zeyan had said he was renting the place to Nan Shu because they were old classmates, the more Zong Yi thought about it, the more something felt off. Yesterday, when he saw Xie Zeyan driving off in that beat-up secondhand car he'd somehow scrounged up, Zong Yi had pumped Cheng Kai for some information—and sure enough, it confirmed his suspicions. Now Nan Shu wanted to live with someone else, and a man at that. Xie Zeyan was practically inviting a love rival into his own home. Zong Yi couldn't help but burst out laughing. Xie Zeyan, look at you now. But jokes aside, Zong Yi also had to protect his brother's love life. He replied to Nan Shu: [Living with someone of the opposite sex isn't really safe. Maybe you should think it over more carefully?] When Nan Shu saw Zong Yi's message, she deleted the [It's with Xie Zeyan] that she hadn't yet sent. Zong Yi's refusal was already quite tactful, and Nan Shu couldn't insist—after all, the apartment belonged to Zong Yi. She apologized to him, let out a sigh, and switched to her chat with Xie Zeyan. • Xie Zeyan first stopped by a few of his apartments, packed two suitcases of belongings, and finally returned home. When he walked in, Miao Jingxian was absorbed in watching a drama on her tablet, completely oblivious to his presence. Xie Zeyan's room was on the second floor. Even though he'd been abroad all these years, the household helper kept it spotlessly clean on a regular basis. He walked to the desk and pulled open the drawer. Inside, neatly arranged, were a few photographs and a notebook with a brown cover. Xie Zeyan instinctively picked up the topmost photo. In the photo, the night was as dark as ink, dotted with stars. In the lower right corner, a girl sat on the ground, showing only a glimpse of her back. The silvery moonlight slanted down, draping the girl in a hazy veil of mist as it fell upon her. Just as he was lost in the sight, the phone on the table vibrated, and the top of the screen showed a message from Nan Shu. Nan Shu: [Sorry T-T] Nan Shu always included cute little emoticons in her messages, and Xie Zeyan naturally pictured her making those expressions. Xie Zeyan unconsciously tugged at the corner of his lips and replied: [What's wrong?] Nan Shu: [The shared apartment thing probably won't work out] Nan Shu: [What kind of place are you looking for? Let me find one for you, okay?] Nan Shu: [Really, really sorry T^T] Nan Shu sent three messages in a row, and with each one that appeared, Xie Zeyan's temple throbbed. What happened? It couldn't be that Liang Xubai had been whispering bad things about him, could it? Xie Zeyan was about to ask when Zong Yi suddenly called him with a voice call. Zong Yi's voice was as loud as a loudspeaker: "Holy crap, holy crap, Yan-ge, what are you doing right now?" Xie Zeyan rubbed his brow in annoyance and casually said, "Cleaning up the house." "An old flame rekindled and you're still cleaning the house? You really can sit still!" Zong Yi was already pacing anxiously in his office. "Do you know that Nan Shu is planning to share a place with someone else—and it's a man?" Xie Zeyan was about to answer when Zong Yi gave him no chance to speak. "But don't worry. When Nan Shu asked me earlier if she could share this place with someone else, I refused. How about that? Am I a loyal brother or what?" Zong Yi was bragging about his contribution. He knew Xie Zeyan was generous, and he'd already thought about what he'd extort from him. He'd ask for the newly released McLaren racing car—top-tier specs, just under four million dollars on the road. Pocket change for Xie Zeyan. After all, he'd done him a huge favor. Zong Yi was considering whether to hint subtly or just come out and say it when a gloomy voice came through the phone: "You... refused?" A chill ran down Zong Yi's spine. "Wh-what's wrong, Yan-ge?" At that moment, an utterly absurd thought suddenly popped into Zong Yi's mind. "Wait... don't tell me the person sharing with Nan Shu is you?" "Yes." Zong Yi was silent for a few seconds, then started clapping sarcastically. "Fine, fine. The feng shui of England really does wonders—turned you into a lovesick fool? You're leaving all those villas and apartments of yours empty to go share a place with Nan Shu?" Xie Zeyan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he let out a light scoff. "Who said I have a place to stay?" Zong Yi: "..." Another stretch of silence, and finally Zong Yi said, "Fine. I'll help you out, brother." Xie Zeyan waited about ten minutes, and sure enough, a message from Nan Shu came through. Nan Shu: [Zong Yi agreed after all! So we're still sharing the place?] Xie Zeyan: [Okay, I'll still move in tonight] After replying to Nan Shu, Xie Zeyan picked up the stack of things from the desk drawer and headed downstairs. As he passed the living room sofa, Miao Jingxian was still in the same position as before, absorbed in the drama playing on her tablet. "Mom." Hearing Xie Zeyan's voice, Miao Jingxian paused the show. "Ayan? Why are you back?" Miao Jingxian came from a scholarly family, with a gentle and elegant appearance, and her dress was always refined—but Xie Zeyan's features hadn't been inherited from his mother. Miao Jingxian always complained that facing the two father-and-son smug faces in the Xie household ruined her mood. Xie Zeyan sat down, glanced at the screen on Miao Jingxian's tablet, and his eyes flickered slightly as he answered, "Came back to look for some things from high school." With that, he tilted his chin and asked knowingly, "What are you watching?" Miao Jingxian said the name of a drama and held the tablet up in front of Xie Zeyan. "Help your mom look up what this young lady's name is—this one... ah, she acts so well. Has she been in any other dramas?" On the tablet was a period drama that had premiered half a month ago. In the frame, a girl in a dark blue-green silk dress had bright eyes and white teeth, her soft pink lips slightly upturned. Lively and spirited, clever and mischievous. Even from just the few seconds of footage Miao Jingxian had playing, one could tell the girl's command of her lines was very solid. Xie Zeyan withdrew his gaze, the corners of his mouth lifting. "You like this girl?" Miao Jingxian smiled, the fondness in her eyes barely concealed. "She's so sweet and pretty—she suits my taste perfectly. If only I had a daughter like her." When she was pregnant with Xie Zeyan, Miao Jingxian and Xie Chengchuan had prayed every day for a daughter, but instead they got a wild boy. Later, when Xie Zeyan's cousin Miao Jiayue was born, Miao Jingxian and Xie Chengchuan doted on her like their own daughter, which made up for their regret at not having one. Hearing his mother's words, Xie Zeyan's smile deepened. "A daughter might not be possible, but I can work on getting her to agree to be your daughter-in-law." Miao Jingxian had no idea what had gotten into Xie Zeyan today, and she shot him a glare. "What are you dreaming about in broad daylight?" "Just you wait and see," Xie Zeyan said, the corners of his handsome peach-blossom eyes tilting upward. "I'm leaving." Miao Jingxian grabbed hold of him. "You rascal, you haven't even told me what this young lady's name is." Xie Zeyan sent Miao Jingxian the names of a few dramas, then pocketed his phone, his voice laced with a mischievous chuckle. "Nan Shu." • Time ticked by, minute after minute, and the tension in Nan Shu's heart gradually mounted. Inviting Xie Zeyan to be her roommate had been an impulse driven by many factors. Now, just thinking about the two of them living under the same roof tonight, she couldn't help but start to feel nervous. That nervousness lasted until evening, when she picked up Huituichang and got into Xie Zeyan's car, riding back together to Jingyuan Huating. This was her first time sharing a place with someone else, and she had no experience with it—let alone when that someone was the boy she'd had a secret crush on for all three years of high school. What should she be mindful of? Leaning back against the car seat and pondering for a moment, Nan Shu thought of her reader fan group. Before, when she'd had things she couldn't decide on, everyone in the group had actively offered her advice. The group had a few hundred members, all of them her gold and diamond fans. Besides chatting about her comics, they also talked about all sorts of everyday things. Nan Shu hadn't been in for several days, and there were already several hundred unread messages. Nan Shu lightly pressed her lips together and typed out a line. Surnamed Nan, Not Called Gua: [Sisters, can I ask you all a question! What should I pay attention to when sharing a place with someone?] Lina Beier: [Never shared a place before, do any other sisters know~ So jealous of Teacher Nangua's roommate, if I could share a place with Teacher Nangua, I'd definitely dig into the draft folder to see what good stuff is in there] Cherry Xiaoxinzi: [Depends on whether it's a guy or a girl, good-looking or not. Different people obviously call for different strategies.] As for Xie Zeyan... the answer was pretty obvious. Surnamed Nan, Not Called Gua: [A guy~ very good-looking] That one line sent all the lurking readers in the group exploding into activity. In the blink of an eye, dozens of messages popped up on the screen—shocked ones, gossipy ones, and those seizing the chance to stir up trouble with terrible ideas. Brother Open the Door, I'm Your Sister-in-Law: [After Sharing a Place with the Arrogant School Heartthrob has already given you the answer, Teacher Nangua. Just follow the plot, and your roommate will handle the rest on his own.] After Sharing a Place with the Arrogant School Heartthrob was the comic Nan Shu was currently serializing. The story was mainly about the female lead who, by accident, ends up sharing a place with the school heartthrob male lead she'd had a crush on for ages. Living under the same roof easily breeds little moments of ambiguity, and after the female lead "accidentally" breaks the roommate rules once, the male and female leads kick off a shameless, steamy daily life. Going by that level of explicitness... Nan Shu's mind involuntarily conjured up some images. If Xie Zeyan could read minds like the male lead in that novel, and read the images in her head right now, he'd probably grab his suitcase and walk out on the spot. "If you're free tomorrow evening, would you mind accompanying me to buy some daily necessities?" Xie Zeyan's voice sounded from beside her ear, and Nan Shu jolted with a start, guiltily switching off her phone in a flash. The car had already driven into the neighborhood at some point, with plane tree branches crisscrossing to cast patches of dappled shade. Xie Zeyan parked smoothly, then turned his face toward the girl in the passenger seat. "I'm not very familiar with the area around here." Nan Shu touched her burning earlobe again and agreed. Xie Zeyan didn't have much luggage—just two suitcases in total—and he carried them all up in one trip. When they came in, Nan Shu rummaged through the shoe cabinet for ages and only found a pair of disposable slippers, as thin as a sheet of paper. She'd rushed to bring him home in a fluster without preparing anything in advance, and she did feel pretty sorry about it. "I don't have any men's slippers at home. Just make do with these for today, and I'll go buy you some tomorrow, okay?" Xie Zeyan didn't mind at all, and instead asked, "You don't usually invite friends over to hang out?" The topic jumped a bit fast, and Nan Shu was caught off guard. "Liang Jiayi comes over often." Xie Zeyan glanced around the place. The apartment had been decorated in a cool, minimalist style, with gray, black, and white as the main tones. But since Nan Shu had moved in, she'd placed lots of green plants around the house, and the sofa was dotted with throw pillows in different colors. It didn't seem like much had changed, yet somehow everything felt different. Nan Shu first led him to the guest bedroom, which happened to be directly across the hall from her master bedroom. "Would this room work for you? Or if you think it's too small, I can swap with you—you take the master bedroom." The master bedroom Nan Shu currently occupied came with a balcony and a bathroom, and it was both spacious and bright. Xie Zeyan wheeled his suitcase into the guest bedroom. Though no one had lived in it, Nan Shu had kept it clean and had even put on fresh sheets, so it was ready to use that very night. "I'm not used to anything too big. This one's just right," Xie Zeyan said. After giving Xie Zeyan a full tour of the place, he started unpacking while Nan Shu returned to her room, sat cross-legged on the small sofa, and reopened her reader group. She'd vanished mid-conversation earlier, and now the group was at 99+ messages again. Nan Shu had to scroll up for a good half minute. [Hahahaha why did Teacher Nangua go quiet] [She must have been scared off by the sisters] [Let me make a bold guess—is Teacher Pumpkin's roommate the crush you mentioned before?] ... Of course, there were also plenty of readers seriously answering the question. Humanity Defeats Potato: [Teacher Pumpkin, let me share something dramatic with you. Back when I was interning, I shared an apartment with a guy, and we barely exchanged a few words. Then guess what happened one morning?] "Humanity Defeats Potato" knew how to keep people hanging, and Nan Shu was intrigued. Many below were pressing for more: [And then? And then?] Humanity Defeats Potato: [So one morning, I was sleeping soundly in my room when suddenly a girl started pounding on my door. I opened it before I could even see who she was, and out of nowhere, I got slapped—accused of ruining her relationship with her boyfriend. That slap woke me right up.] Humanity Defeats Potato: [Though honestly, it was partly my fault. I was just looking for a cheap place to move into without asking if the guy had a girlfriend, whether he was in a situation, or if he minded us sharing the apartment. So Teacher Pumpkin, you definitely need to ask about all this—ideally also whether there are any ex-girlfriends or anything.] Nan Shu sucked in a sharp breath. The text seemed to carry the sensation of pain—just reading it made her right cheek sting. But then she reconsidered. Right. Since reuniting with Xie Zeyan, she'd overlooked this question. Xie Zeyan had been studying abroad all these years and must have met plenty of excellent girls. He must have had a girlfriend, right? Nan Shu suddenly recalled something from the student council outing during the second semester of freshman year. That day, everyone sat around a bonfire, and someone suggested playing Truth or Dare. A male classmate, entrusted by someone else, mustered his courage to ask Xie Zeyan: "Xie Zeyan, what standards do you have for your ideal type?" Xie Zeyan's gaze drifted casually to the opposite side. "Whoever I like." The moment those words left his mouth, everyone started hooting and hollering. In that bittersweet high school period, "the school heartthrob's ideal girl" was undoubtedly the hot topic of discussion. Someone pressed further, asking what kind of girl he liked. Zong Yi also nudged Xie Zeyan with his elbow and said, "Brother Yan, they're asking what your standards are—you didn't really answer." The bonfire flames flickered, the boy's profile bathed in orange light. He leaned back lazily, long legs stretched out, and simply repeated: "Whoever I like." At the time, Nan Shu, like everyone else, hadn't understood what Xie Zeyan meant, instinctively assuming he just didn't want to answer the question. It wasn't until college that she stumbled upon a line while reading. "When principles meet the one who makes your heart race, they are broken without exception." She thought back to that night by the bonfire years ago and suddenly understood Xie Zeyan's answer. There were no standards at all. As long as the person he liked stood there, she was the standard. Back then, Nan Shu had begun to envy the girl Xie Zeyan liked. Even though she didn't know who she was—or whether such a person even existed yet—she couldn't help but envy her. She wondered whether, over all these years, Xie Zeyan had already met that person. So when she discussed their rules of engagement with him tonight, she'd need to ask upfront. Other readers had shared plenty of precautions, and Nan Shu noted them all down. She sent a red envelope in the group chat. Surnamed Nan, Not Melon: [Got it, all received!] "Knock, knock, knock." A knock sounded at the door. Nan Shu put down her phone, trotted over to the door, and cracked it open just enough to peek half her head out. Xie Zeyan's gaze met the girl's bright, deer-like almond eyes. "I'll make a simple dinner in a bit—what would you like to eat?" Nan Shu hadn't expected Xie Zeyan to know how to cook. But then she thought—times had changed. Given Xie Zeyan's current situation, he definitely couldn't afford a housekeeper, so it made sense he'd learned to cook himself. Nan Shu really wanted Xie Zeyan's cooking, but she was about to start filming. "My manager told me to watch my diet during this period. Just prepare yours." "Alright." After he left, Nan Shu grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom attached to her room. When she came out of her shower, she could hear the range hood humming in the kitchen. Nan Shu walked into the living room, where the medicine and probiotics from the hospital sat on the table. A rich aroma drifted from the kitchen into the living room. Nan Shu instinctively swallowed, her stomach already growling with hunger. After giving Huituichang his medicine and dog food, Nan Shu walked over to the fridge and rummaged around, only to find a few unappetizing leaves of vegetables. She couldn't help but glance toward the kitchen. The man had changed into a black shirt at some point, sleeves rolled up to his wrists, revealing forearms brimming with strength—faint muscle contours and veins visible. Nan Shu's appetite was stirred by the increasingly tantalizing aroma. What was Xie Zeyan making? It smelled this good. She pulled open the kitchen door, curiosity and intrigue in her eyes as oil crackled and splattered in the pan. Hearing the movement behind him, the man turned around. The girl's face still carried the rosy flush left by the bathroom's steam. Nan Shu added, "...I'll just take a look." Xie Zeyan lowered his gaze, his eyes returning to the sizzling chicken wings in the pan, but he couldn't help letting out a soft chuckle from his throat. There wasn't much food at home, so Xie Zeyan only made a simple meal—two dishes and a soup: stir-fried cabbage with tofu puffs, pan-fried chicken wings, and West Lake beef soup. As he came out carrying the plates, Xie Zeyan asked, "Want to try?" Nan Shu's stomach chose that exact moment to growl again, and she unconsciously followed behind Xie Zeyan to the dining area. Anyway, one extra meal won't make me fat. Nan Shu consoled herself. She sat down across from Xie Zeyan. The chicken wings were fried to a golden crisp, the starchy coating crackling with each bite. Nan Shu took a bite, and the aroma filled her mouth. Water droplets clung to her half-damp hair, and the misty layer in her apricot-colored eyes didn't seem to have fully cleared yet. Nan Shu looked up at the man before her—his chopsticks hadn't moved, and the chicken wing in his bowl sat there, motionless, teasingly tempting. Their gazes met again. Nan Shu was scalded by that look and averted her eyes. She picked up another wing and asked Xie Zeyan, "Why aren't you eating?" The man's dark eyes held back certain emotions with restraint. He made up a lie. "It's too hot." The dishes Xie Zeyan had made all looked quite appealing. Nan Shu had expected they wouldn't be bad, but she hadn't imagined the taste would far exceed her expectations. After finishing her second bowl of beef soup, she praised him sincerely, "You seem to be amazing at everything you do." Xie Zeyan was silent for a moment, then asked Nan Shu, "Do you still think so now?" He chuckled lightly. "Especially seeing me like this." "It doesn't change anything," Nan Shu said, setting down her chopsticks. After a moment of thought, she continued, "Do you know what everyone used to call you behind your back in high school?" "Hm?" Xie Zeyan raised an eyebrow. "God Xie." Nan Shu said, "People called you that not because of your family background, but because you're genuinely outstanding." Xie Zeyan was a legendary figure at No. 1 High School. In his freshman year, he'd joined the national team and won an IMO gold medal. In his sophomore year, he'd received an early admission offer from a top-tier university. Compared to many rich kids who coasted through life without applying themselves, the teachers at No. 1 High School all said Xie Zeyan was a breath of fresh air. Nan Shu smiled, her eyes sparkling as if they held stars. "So, whether your family went bankrupt or not, it doesn't change the fact that we all think you're an incredibly impressive person." • When Xie Zeyan came out of the kitchen, Nan Shu was already sitting on the sofa waiting for him. Her back was straight, her hands folded in front of her—a posture of someone ready to lay down ground rules. Xie Zeyan was inexplicably reminded of how Nan Shu looked during math class in high school. The same way—well-behaved, quiet. Sometimes when she was thinking through a problem, she'd twirl strands of hair around her fingers. She'd furrow her brows when she didn't understand, and when she did, she'd point at the blackboard and explain it to her deskmate. Xie Zeyan sat down beside her, his hand resting casually on his leg. Since they were going to discuss the co-renting arrangement, Nan Shu didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. First and foremost was the matter that "Humanity's Defeat Potato" had brought up. "Do you have a girlfriend?" Nan Shu asked directly. Xie Zeyan leaned back against the sofa, lifting his eyes to look at her with an unhurried air. His voice carried a hint of amusement, as if he hadn't quite registered the question. "Hm?" Although the question did carry a slightly "personal agenda" flavor, Nan Shu still explained without batting an eye. "It's like this—if you have a girlfriend, or an ex-girlfriend, I'm worried she might mind us co-renting, so I need to ask beforehand." "No," Xie Zeyan answered. Then, worried the answer wasn't clear enough, he added, "No girlfriend, and no ex-girlfriend either." He caught the barely concealed look of disbelief on the girl's face and raised an eyebrow. "Don't believe me?" This answer did catch Nan Shu off guard. While she was still stunned, she heard Xie Zeyan ask, "What about you?" "Do you have a boyfriend? Would he mind us co-renting?" Nan Shu shook her head. "No." A flicker passed through Xie Zeyan's eyes. He didn't say anything, but the corner of his lips curved up slightly. So that Liang Xubai was just a friend with no title after all. Once the girlfriend question was settled, Nan Shu's body relaxed, and she unconsciously shifted a little closer to Xie Zeyan. "Next is the rent issue. The annual rent for this apartment is..." Nan Shu paused. No matter how many times she mentioned the rent for Jingyuan Huating, she always found it quite absurd. "Eight thousand." As she'd expected, Xie Zeyan raised his eyebrows upon hearing it, as if seeing something novel. "Eight thousand?" "Yes. Huituichang and I each have a room, and you'll take the guest bedroom, with the bathroom outside for your use. That way..." Nan Shu had originally wanted to simply divide eight thousand by three, but she realized it didn't divide evenly. As she was thinking about how to round down the odd amount, she heard Xie Zeyan say, "Let's split the rent in half." Nan Shu shook her head and chose a relatively more balanced option. "Splitting it in half isn't fair to you. How about I pay five thousand and you pay three?" Xie Zeyan let out a laugh. "Where's the unfairness?" "Huituichang and I occupy two rooms, and my master bedroom has a balcony and a bathroom—it's much bigger than your guest room." "Is that so?" Xie Zeyan slowed his speech. "I actually think that guest room is better." "Great value for the price," he remarked. "But..." Nan Shu still felt it wasn't right. Anyone with eyes could tell her master bedroom was clearly better. "How about this," Xie Zeyan said, pondering for a moment before coming up with an idea. "We'll still split it evenly—four thousand each. If you feel bad about it," A hint of amusement laced his voice, "I'll walk your dog for free from now on, which just happens to offset that thousand. How about that?" Nan Shu was a bit confused by the "one thousand" and "four thousand" in his words, and didn't notice anything off at the time. She nodded in agreement. "Alright then!" Xie Zeyan curved his lips. "Good. Anything else?" Nan Shu recalled what she'd seen in the group chat. Although she absolutely trusted Xie Zeyan's character and everything about him, there were still some things that needed to be clarified. "For privacy—without the other person's permission, we can't enter each other's bedrooms without authorization." "Of course." Nan Shu added a few more points, going into detail from chore division to lifestyle habits, listing everything clearly. Xie Zeyan agreed to each one. Nan Shu picked up the cup on the table and took a gulp of water. "That's about it for me. Do you have any other requirements?" Xie Zeyan sat up a little straighter, rubbing his thumb against the base of his index finger. "I don't have many requirements—just one. No bringing members of the opposite sex home." Nan Shu didn't think much of it. She didn't have a boyfriend, nor did she have any male close friends, so naturally she wouldn't be bringing any men home. She agreed almost readily, and Xie Zeyan hummed in acknowledgment, looking to be in a good mood. Nan Shu figured it was because their mutual agreement had gone so smoothly. It wasn't until she was back in her room that Nan Shu was still replaying the points they'd discussed. Wait a second. Something occurred to Nan Shu, and she opened the chat interface with Xie Zeyan. Nan Shu: [Did you miscalculate?] Xie Zeyan: [Where?] Nan Shu: [You're splitting the rent evenly with me and walking my dog for free—doesn't that mean I'm getting the better deal on both ends?] Xie Zeyan: [Is that so?] Xie Zeyan: [Maybe I did miscalculate] Xie Zeyan: [But what's been agreed upon stays] At this point, Nan Shu didn't feel right arguing with Xie Zeyan over that thousand yuan. Nan Shu: [Alright then~ But if you ever need my help with anything, don't hesitate to ask] Nan Shu: [I can't just take advantage of you like this] Xie Zeyan: [Okay] When she exited WeChat, Nan Shu saw a text message from China Construction Bank—the final payment from the last advertisement had come through. She transferred twenty thousand yuan to her grandmother's account, then opened the banking app to check her own balance. Now that she'd rented a cheap apartment and Xie Zeyan was splitting the rent with her every month, she could save a lot of money—one step closer to her home-buying plan. Her grandmother was still awake. Nan Shu saw a video call request pop up at the top of the screen. "Nannan, why did you transfer so much money to me? Do you have enough for yourself?" "I have plenty, Grandma. Don't worry." Nan Shu chatted with her grandmother for a while, and her grandfather also squeezed into the frame, grumbling, "You say you miss us, but you only come home twice a month!" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I promise I'll come back this week." They talked a bit more, and when the elderly couple was ready to rest, Nan Shu hung up. She lit an aromatherapy candle and lay down on the bed. Before long, she faintly heard the sound of water running from the bathroom next door. She'd gone from being friends with Xie Zeyan to being roommates—how was she supposed to interact with him now? Accompanied by the dripping sound of water, Nan Shu pondered this question as she drifted off to sleep. ... Hot water trickled slowly down his spine. Xie Zeyan slowly opened his eyes, and everything he saw bore traces of her. The bottles and jars lined up on the shelf, the snow-white soft towel, and a single strand of brown hair on the tiles that you'd only notice if you looked closely. He squeezed a pump of the body wash from the shelf—it was the scent he smelled on her most often, fresh and delicate. She really was back. Back then, she'd transferred schools in a hurry, and her social media accounts had always been blank. He didn't know if she'd changed her contact information, nor did he know why she'd transferred or where she'd gone. He was even afraid—afraid she'd stop using that WeChat account, and the only channel he had to follow her life would cease to exist. It wasn't until his freshman year that he saw that long-silent WeChat suddenly post a moment—she was sharing about her first month of college life. That was when he learned she'd gotten into the film academy, one step closer to her acting dream. He didn't dare reach out to her, because the way he'd gotten her contact information wasn't exactly above board. All these years, he'd been like a rat lurking in the shadows, silently watching her life from afar. He thought that was enough, which was why he'd later put on the pinky ring. But fate had given him another chance. • The next day, the weather was clear. Nan Shu had never slept so soundly and woken up feeling so refreshed. The apartment was empty—Xie Zeyan must have gone to work. He'd refilled Huituichang's dog food, and the leash had been neatly rolled up and placed on the shelf by the entryway. Clearly, he'd already taken the dog out this morning. In the shoe cabinet, two pairs of Xie Zeyan's black leather shoes sat next to her white ones. A new razor of his had appeared on the bathroom counter, and his shirt from yesterday was hanging out to dry on the balcony. He had only moved in for one night, but her home was already beginning to fill with his things. She and Xie Zeyan were really living together now. Nan Shu flopped onto the sofa in bliss, grabbed a soft pumpkin pillow beside her, and pressed it over her face, rolling back and forth twice. This feeling was strange. Ever since that reunion while walking the dog, their interactions had become far more frequent than in high school. Back then, initiating a single sentence with Xie Zeyan, in her eyes, was as difficult as the last derivative problem on a math exam. If her sixteen-year-old self knew that her twenty-five-year-old self would end up sharing a roof with Xie Zeyan, she probably would have found it unbelievable too. She couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips again. Nan Shu, oh Nan Shu, you're so lucky. ... Yesterday, Xie Zeyan said they should go to the supermarket together. Nan Shu didn't know when he got off work, and she was too embarrassed to text and ask. If she asked, it would reveal how much she was looking forward to it—she might even give away her feelings to Xie Zeyan. But by seven in the evening, Xie Zeyan still hadn't sent a message. Just as Nan Shu was hesitating over whether to ask, Xie Zeyan texted that he was downstairs. Nan Shu changed into a mint-green T-shirt and hurried downstairs. Xie Zeyan turned the steering wheel, the car made a U-turn, and after about ten minutes, they arrived at the supermarket closest to Jingyuan Huating. The two pushed a cart together. Xie Zeyan didn't buy much—mostly just daily necessities. Nan Shu, on the other hand, couldn't resist grabbing snacks she liked from the shelves. She picked up a box of cookies, glanced at the price, then held it up in front of Xie Zeyan. "Guess how much it costs?" "Fifty?" "Two hundred and fifty!" Nan Shu looked around, and seeing no store clerk nearby, she couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, "I think it's treating me like an idiot." Xie Zeyan chuckled and took it from her hand. "If you like it, buy it." "Too expensive." Nan Shu put it back. "I'm saving up to buy a house. I need to cut costs where I can." "Aren't you satisfied with this apartment now?" She was satisfied, yes. "But I can't live here forever. I want to buy a place of my own and bring my grandparents over." Her parents had divorced when she was young, and she had boarded with relatives during high school. Having a home of her own had always been her obsession. Yesterday, Xie Zeyan had been forced to wear those flimsy slippers all evening. After buying the daily necessities, Nan Shu led him straight to the slipper section. The supermarket had many promotions, and the slipper area was running a couple-slippers event. The shelves were lined with all kinds of matching slippers, and the pink hearts and kissing cartoon figures on the sign made one's heart flutter. "What's your shoe size?" Nan Shu glanced at the size marked on the sole. Xie Zeyan gave her a number, and Nan Shu picked up a pair of sandals. Just as she was about to grab a pair of thick cotton slippers next to them, her hand suddenly froze mid-air. "What's wrong?" Nan Shu withdrew her hand and spoke slowly, "I was just thinking—will you still be living at Jingyuan Huating in the winter?" After all, she knew that Xie Zeyan was only down on his luck temporarily, and sharing the apartment with her was a last resort. He couldn't possibly stay in a rental with her forever, right? Xie Zeyan was silent for a moment too, then he answered firmly, "I will." Just as he was about to reach for the cotton slippers, someone called out to him from behind. "Xie Zeyan?" A man pushing a shopping cart stopped behind the two of them. Both turned around at the sound. The man was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, with a case of soda in his cart. After confirming that the person in front of him was indeed Xie Zeyan, the man said excitedly, "God Xie, it really is you! Long time no see—do you not remember me? I'm Guo Jun." Then Guo Jun noticed Nan Shu standing beside Xie Zeyan, both of their hands resting on the same cart. He widened his eyes in disbelief. "Whoa, damn, Nan Shu, you're here too?" Nan Shu didn't have much of an impression of this vaguely familiar face, but a blurry memory told her that this person was indeed a classmate from their freshman year of high school. Guo Jun looked at the well-matched pair with the expression of someone who'd just witnessed a real couple, and said, "Awesome. You two finally got together." Nan Shu blinked in confusion. Wait. What did he mean by "finally"??