IMH - 26

Cheng Xiaonan was, after all, once a poor student, possessing the common trait unique to most poor students—

Aside from academic performance, he was proficient in everything else fun, especially basketball and gaming.

Back then, playing basketball, his teammates always said Cheng Xiaonan had strong jumping ability. After graduation, he had no time for basketball, and there weren’t many other times he needed to use his jumping ability.

At this moment, hearing Yu Qian’s voice, Cheng Xiaonan didn’t care if his neck still hurt. He barely spent time thinking, reflexively jumping off the bed with a bewildered expression.

The thick, flat duvet moved. Yu Qian slowly sat up from under the covers, her hair disheveled, her expression sleepy.

She looked at Cheng Xiaonan with a “Why are you here?” look of confusion.

Actually, Cheng Xiaonan was more confused than Yu Qian.

Her half-awake, slightly-frowning expression was already captivating, and she was sitting on his bed.

A thick autumn/winter duvet was heavily piled on her, and the thin straps of her pajamas were pulled down, almost slipping off her shoulders.

The silk fabric, soft and thin, outlined the curve of her chest.

Cheng Xiaonan rubbed his neck, took a glance, then averted his gaze. He turned his head and coughed a few times before asking, “Why are you sleeping here?”

The bedroom window wasn’t closed. The blackout curtains billowed in, revealing a slit filled with morning light.

The light fell on half of Yu Qian’s face, making her squint. She got off the double bed, put on her slippers: “Because you slept on my side.”

Cheng Xiaonan wanted to apologize, but the person in his line of sight held onto the bedside, bent down to pick up her high heels, then grabbed her clothes and bag from the chair.

The curtains billowed up and down, and he uncontrollably looked again. The unique graceful curves of a woman appeared and disappeared in the flickering light.

“Sorry about yesterday, I didn’t mean to sleep with you...”

Cheng Xiaonan, stimulated by the sight, paused his sentence at a place that invited wild speculation. Seeing Yu Qian look back, he continued, “...I didn’t mean to sleep on your side.”

After sending her out of the room, Cheng Xiaonan leaned against the door and added, “Want to have breakfast with me?”

Yu Qian didn’t seem to mind. She didn’t look back, only waved her hand.

When she moved, the silk fabric on her body rippled like wind on water.

Cheng Xiaonan’s eyelids twitched. He felt like he was going crazy.

________________________________________

After seeing Yu Qian off, Cheng Xiaonan rubbed his neck and collapsed back into bed.

The after-effects of his cold were still present; he felt a bit sluggish.

He had intended to go back to sleep, but lying on the pillow, he realized that his nostrils were filled with Yu Qian’s scent, whether it was shower gel, shampoo, or perfume, he couldn’t tell.

The fragrance, in wisps, simply wouldn’t let him calm down.

Cheng Xiaonan let out a “tsk” and sat up, his sleepiness completely gone.

He picked up his phone, using the last bit of battery to text Yu Qian, making small talk.

He first said he didn’t know if his cold was contagious and told Yu Qian to remember to have the staff disinfect her room before staying there again.

After sending it, Cheng Xiaonan scrolled through his Moments, but his phone remained silent.

Yu Qian ignored him.

Cheng Xiaonan licked the tip of his tooth, then sent another message.

He said she didn’t close the bedroom window last night and could easily catch a cold. He had medicine for preventing colds and asked if Yu Qian needed any.

He ended with a question mark.

But after he sent the message, he checked his email for work documents, and his phone remained very quiet.

Cheng Xiaonan thought for a while, couldn’t think of anything to send, and was just feeling frustrated when his phone beeped—Yu Qian replied.

The reply was as simple as it could be:

[No.]

Yu Qian used to text him like this.

At that time, Cheng Xiaonan had even told her, “Jiejie, I really can’t text and chat with you. Just looking at your replies, so cold, I’d think you’re always ready to argue with me.”

Yu Qian sat in her sports car, seemingly deep in thought, and asked him, “Do I?”

It was better to chat in person, where he could see her expression.

Occasionally, he could also catch some amusement in her eyes.

Cheng Xiaonan’s phone battery was dead. He casually grabbed the charging cable and poked it into the phone.

Huh? Not compatible?

If the charger wasn’t his...

Then it must be Yu Qian’s?

Cheng Xiaonan was happy.

Finally finding a topic, he called Yu Qian.

The phone rang for a long time before she answered: “Is something wrong?”

Cheng Xiaonan smiled: “The charger by my bed is yours, right?”

“Probably.”

“Then shall I bring it over to you?”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end before she said, “Mm.”

After hanging up, Cheng Xiaonan suddenly coughed continuously, his chest aching. After recovering for a while, he picked up the charging cable and left with a wide smile on his face.

________________________________________

It was still three light knocks, but Yu Qian took a while to open the door.

The strong winds these past few days had caused a significant drop in temperature, and the hotel corridor was steeped in dry chill.

But when Yu Qian opened the door, a warm, humid air greeted him from inside.

Yu Qian was wearing a bathrobe, her hair completely wet, pushed back from her face, revealing her smooth forehead.

Water vapor clung to her long eyelashes. She took the charging cable: “Thank you.”

After Yu Qian closed the door, Cheng Xiaonan let out a long sigh of relief.

Sister is amazing; she dares to open the door wearing a bathrobe with nothing underneath.

He wouldn’t need to go back to sleep.

Indeed, he didn’t need to. Closing his eyes, all he saw was the image of water droplets sliding down skin.

Even with the shower temperature turned to the coldest setting, he still felt hot.

In college, a room full of guys insisted on watching videos in the dorm. The volume was so loud, yet he sat on his bed, playing games and watching basketball as usual, not feeling any distracted thoughts.

Some idiot even yelled at him: “Brother Nan, it’s that loud and you can still watch basketball? Are you perhaps... not capable?”

Today, he really didn’t have that self-control.

He was defeated.

Yu Qian took the charger back, plugged in her phone, and returned to the bathroom to continue her shower.

When she finished her shower and came out, there were two missed calls on her phone.

Sun Yue and Han Chu.

She first called Sun Yue back. The assistant girl’s tone was very happy, saying she was back from her business trip today and had brought local specialties for Yu Qian from the neighboring province.

Crispy twists and pastries.

After chatting with Sun Yue, Yu Qian called Han Chu back.

Han Chu’s tone was still the same, giving off a gentle, good-natured feeling: “Qianqian, you mentioned last time that your company is around ‘Wutongli.’ Coincidentally, our school has an event here, which will be ending soon. If you’re not busy today, would you like to have lunch together?”

Whether talking to Sun Yue or Han Chu, Yu Qian was a bit distracted while holding her phone.

She hadn’t even been listening to what Han Chu was saying.

She was in a good mood.

But why was she in a good mood?

Yu Qian frowned, not yet delving into her emotions, when she first heard Han Chu’s smiling voice: “Qianqian? Why are you zoning out even on the phone? Are you too tired lately?”

“No, what did you just say?”

“I said I’m here in ‘Wutongli.’ On the way here, I saw your company building; it’s not far. I wanted to ask if you’d like to have lunch together.”

Not really.

She was on leave today. If she didn’t find something to do outside right now, Yu Qian felt that if Cheng Xiaonan knocked on her door again later asking if she wanted to eat together or something, she might agree.

“Han Chu, where are you?”

Han Chu’s gentle laughter came through: “Send me your location. I’m driving, I can pick you up.”

“Mm.”

As Yu Qian waited for Han Chu in the hotel lobby, her phone vibrated repeatedly.

She thought it was Cheng Xiaonan, but when she took out her phone to look, she found it was Peter.

Peter and Angu had attended two haute couture fashion shows abroad, both designed by young newcomers. Peter said he suddenly felt a surge of fighting spirit, feeling that he should prove his old skills were still sharp, and had been designing clothes these past few days.

He finished the designs and sent them all to Yu Qian to see.

Yu Qian looked for a while, then took a screenshot for Peter, circling one set.

Peter quickly called back, his tone very excited: “What great synergy! When I designed this set, I also thought you’d like it. Once I’ve refined the details and made a sample, I’ll come back to China and let you wear it first.”

He spoke excitedly on the phone, but Yu Qian’s reaction was quite subdued.

After a few sentences, Peter suddenly asked, “What’s wrong, Yu Qian? Something on your mind?”

Yu Qian frowned: “Peter, do you think it’s possible for someone to fall in love twice with the same...”

Peter’s studio was on the first floor. Someone passed by the window and exchanged a few greetings with him.

He didn’t hear clearly what Yu Qian said and asked, “Yu Qian, what did you just say?”

Yu Qian lowered her gaze: “Never mind.”