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The evening breeze was strong but refreshing.
By the time Bo Ying arrived at He Jingxiu’s apartment complex, only half an hour had passed.
She glanced up at the residential compound before her, her eyebrows twitching slightly.
He Jingxiu’s neighborhood boasted an excellent location—just a ten-minute drive from the company. Naturally, the prices were exorbitant.
The management here was strict, but thanks to He Jingxiu’s prior notice, Bo Ying entered without much trouble.
Inside the elevator, she leaned against the wall, absentmindedly watching the numbers of the ascending floors. It was only now that she began to feel a sense of nervousness creeping in.
Why had she come?
Bo Ying couldn’t figure it out.
Suddenly, Zheng Jinyao’s expression flashed through her mind.
When Zheng Jinyao learned that Bo Ying had left the bar early to bring hangover tea to He Jingxiu, she stared at Bo Ying for a long moment, hesitating before muttering, “You’re no match for He Jingxiu.”
Bo Ying was speechless.
Zheng Jinyao looked at her and said, “You’re out having fun at the bar, and he’s drunk, playing the victim card with you. That’s some heavy manipulation!”
Frustrated, Zheng Jinyao added, “Just leave him be.”
“…”
Bo Ying couldn’t refute this. From the moment she received He Jingxiu’s address, she had felt a similar sense of unease.
But what if…
What if He Jingxiu really was drunk? If she didn’t go, it would seem heartless. After all, ever since their reunion, He Jingxiu’s care for her had already surpassed the boundaries of friendship.
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival.
Bo Ying stepped out and turned to the side.
He Jingxiu’s residence was part of a two-unit-per-floor design. The elevators weren’t shared with neighbors, ensuring privacy.
Just as Bo Ying was about to press the doorbell, the door opened.
She froze, lifting her gaze to see the man now standing in her line of sight.
He Jingxiu must have just showered. His hair was damp, sleek black strands hanging loosely over his forehead, soft and slightly disheveled, like Chi Xiaochi after being groomed. He wore casual loungewear, appearing softer and warmer than usual.
The two locked eyes.
In He Jingxiu’s hand was a towel. He lowered his gaze to look at Bo Ying.
After staring at her for a few seconds, he stepped aside, his voice low and steady. “Come in.”
“…”
Having reached the doorstep, declining now would feel overly pretentious.
Bo Ying hummed softly, following him inside.
Beside the shoe cabinet, He Jingxiu placed a pair of pink slippers in front of her.
Bo Ying glanced at them, her lips pressing together faintly.
Perhaps sensing her reaction, He Jingxiu added, “My mom used these. Do you mind?”
“…No, I don’t mind.”
After changing into the slippers, Bo Ying followed He Jingxiu past the entrance hall and into the living room.
He Jingxiu’s apartment was a spacious duplex, designed with a minimalist yet luxurious aesthetic. The color palette—black, white, gray, and brown—didn’t feel cold but instead created an illusion of warmth.
The living room was expansive, with a large TV embedded in the wall. On one side was an open bookshelf filled with various books, while the other side featured the kitchen and dining area. Upstairs, unsurprisingly, were likely the bedrooms.
Bo Ying had always known He Jingxiu had good taste, but she hadn’t expected his home decor to resonate with her so deeply.
She glanced around curiously, then turned her attention to the man emerging from the kitchen with a glass of water.
Noticing her gaze, He Jingxiu smiled faintly. “What?”
“Nothing.”
Bo Ying studied him closely. “Does your head still feel dizzy?”
He Jingxiu paused momentarily, handing her the water. His brows furrowed slightly as he replied, “A little.”
“I see,” Bo Ying murmured, raising an eyebrow. “But I’ve never made hangover tea before. I bought you medicine—will you take it?”
Hangover pills.
He Jingxiu nodded.
Bo Ying handed him the pills, urging him, “Take them now, so you won’t have a headache tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
On the coffee table in the living room sat a glass of water. He Jingxiu gestured for Bo Ying to sit down. He unwrapped the medicine she had brought and swallowed two pills.
He had indeed been drinking, and his head was slightly dizzy, but not to the point of needing someone to take care of him.
After taking the pills, He Jingxiu turned his attention back to the somewhat awkward figure sitting beside him.
The video hadn’t fully captured her appearance. The black princess dress Bo Ying wore was short, with a cutout design at the waist that accentuated her slender figure, revealing a small patch of fair skin.
Bo Ying’s skin was pale, and her figure was excellent—she could pull off anything, let alone such a short dress.
She was like a mischievous elf of the night, always bringing surprises.
The living room was quiet, save for the lingering scent of alcohol wafting between them. It wasn’t unpleasant; on closer inspection, it even carried a faint sweetness.
An ambiguous atmosphere began to form, growing stronger with each passing second.
In addition to the smell of alcohol, Bo Ying also carried a hint of perfume, while He Jingxiu bore the fresh scent of shampoo and body wash from his recent shower.
The combination of these distinct scents wasn’t jarring—it was actually quite pleasant, almost intoxicating.
Bo Ying sat on the plush sofa, holding her cup, under the scrutiny of the person beside her.
He Jingxiu’s gaze lingered for too long, making her slightly uncomfortable.
Bo Ying took a sip of water and fidgeted, placing a cushion on her lap.
Noticing her movement, He Jingxiu raised his eyes slightly, breaking the silence. “Was the bar fun?”
For some reason, Bo Ying couldn’t shake the feeling that He Jingxiu was setting a trap for her.
She thought for a few seconds before replying cautiously, “It was alright.”
He Jingxiu: “Which bar?”
Bo Ying: “…Why?”
Leaning casually against the back of his chair, He Jingxiu tilted his head to look at the round chandelier hanging from the ceiling. He replied calmly, “Maybe I’ll check it out next time.”
Bo Ying choked on her words, glaring at him indignantly. “Is President He afraid of not having bars to visit?”
Seeing her flustered expression, He Jingxiu’s lips curved slightly upward. “Hmm.”
Now it was Bo Ying’s turn to be speechless.
Knowing he shouldn’t tease her too much, He Jingxiu asked gently, “Are you feeling dizzy?”
“It’s tolerable.” Bo Ying knew her tolerance for alcohol wasn’t great, so she hadn’t drunk much.
He Jingxiu hummed in acknowledgment, rising to head toward the kitchen. “There’s no hangover tea, but how about some lemon tea?”
Bo Ying nodded. “Sure.”
To Bo Ying’s surprise, He Jingxiu’s kitchen was well-stocked.
She peeked inside and was astonished to find the refrigerator packed with food.
“Do you cook often?”
He Jingxiu turned to look at her. “The housekeeper cooks.”
Bo Ying: “….”
She had forgotten—He Jingxiu always had a housekeeper to take care of him.
Seeing her slightly stunned expression, He Jingxiu’s lips curved faintly. “Are you hungry?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Bo Ying’s stomach growled loudly.
Awkwardness spread through the kitchen.
Bo Ying touched her stomach awkwardly, explaining, “I didn’t eat much tonight.”
They had gone to her favorite restaurant earlier, but considering they were heading to the bar afterward, both had restrained themselves from eating too much.
More importantly, because of the dress she was wearing—its cinched waist meant eating too much would reveal her belly.
He Jingxiu’s gaze fell on her abdomen, his deep pupils resting there.
Unable to bear his intense stare, Bo Ying shifted uncomfortably, looking away. “I’ve delivered the medicine—I should get going.”
He Jingxiu was taken aback. Without asking if she wanted to eat something, he simply said, “Noodles or wonton?”
“…”
Bo Ying hesitated, unsure, before asking tentatively, “Can you make either?”
“The wontons are pre-made,” He Jingxiu explained. “Simple noodles I can handle.”
Hearing this, Bo Ying was genuinely surprised. Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Then I’ll have noodles.”
She didn’t want the pre-made option; she wanted to see He Jingxiu cook.
He Jingxiu knew exactly what she was up to, but he couldn’t refuse.
“Beef noodles or tomato egg noodles?”
“Beef noodles.”
She adored beef noodles, the kind she could eat every day without tiring of them.
As He Jingxiu prepared the noodles, Bo Ying stood by the doorway watching.
She noticed that his cooking technique wasn’t clumsy at all—he handled everything quite skillfully.
His long, elegant fingers cutting the meat looked even more refined.
Bo Ying’s gaze lingered on his hands for a long while before slowly moving upward. From her current angle, most of his face was bathed in warm orange light, accentuating his sharp, deep features. His usually aloof and composed demeanor was fully revealed, yet there was something unexpectedly boyish about him in his casual attire—a slight mismatch with his age.
And it was precisely this contrast that made him impossible to ignore, drawing her attention involuntarily.
Suddenly, He Jingxiu glanced at her.
Bo Ying paused, blinking her big eyes as she struggled to find something to say. “Do you cook often when the housekeeper isn’t around?”
“Rarely.”
He Jingxiu replied, “I don’t have that much time.”
His time wasn’t wasted on such “trivial matters.”
Bo Ying hummed softly, surprised. “But your technique is very polished.”
At this, He Jingxiu gave her a meaningful look, speaking evenly. “If I were making something else, you wouldn’t say that.”
Bo Ying chuckled, her lips curving slightly into a bright smile. “So you’re saying you only know how to cook noodles?”
“Hmm.”
“Well, thank goodness you didn’t give me a third option. Aren’t you worried I might’ve wanted rice?”
He Jingxiu glanced at her, confident. “You wouldn’t.”
He knew her.
Bo Ying faltered, leaning against the wall deep in thought… and realized he was right.
With beef noodles as an option, she would inevitably choose noodles.
He Jingxiu worked quickly, finishing two bowls of noodles in no time.
In addition to the beef, he added vegetables and fried two eggs. From the looks of it, the bowl of noodles was worth thirty yuan.
Long before it was served, Bo Ying’s stomach had been growling repeatedly.
Now that it was on the table, she barely managed to say something to He Jingxiu before eagerly diving in.
Before He Jingxiu could warn her, “Be careful—it’s hot,” Bo Ying let out a cry.
“Hot, hot, hot…”
He Jingxiu had just come out of the kitchen with a glass of water when he heard her, chuckling despite himself. “Blow on it before you eat.”
Bo Ying, unable to speak due to the burn, snatched the glass from his hand and gulped down half of it.
Watching her lively expression, He Jingxiu’s previously low mood improved significantly.
Without restraint, he reached out and pinched her chubby cheeks lightly. “Why rush? No one’s competing with you.”
Bo Ying was on the verge of tears, her lips red from the burn, tears welling up in her eyes—she was truly scorched.
“I’m hungry.”
Her voice lacked confidence as she spoke.
He Jingxiu was momentarily speechless.
Bo Ying touched her still-burning lips, looking up at him. “Are my lips swollen?”
He Jingxiu paused, his pupils focusing on her reddened lips. Bo Ying’s lips were beautifully shaped—plump and luscious, like freshly picked cherries, glistening with moisture. They were tempting.
He stared, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously.
Sensing He Jingxiu’s reaction, Bo Ying’s eyes darted around uncomfortably. She quickly averted her gaze, lowering her head. “I’ll go check in the bathroom.”
As she spoke, she quickened her steps toward the other side.
After taking two steps, she stopped, looking at He Jingxiu with a hint of委屈 (a mix of frustration and helplessness). “Where’s the bathroom?”
He Jingxiu’s lips curved into a smile as he pointed. “Go straight ahead, next to the study.”
“Oh!” Bo Ying acknowledged, disappearing from his view in a flash.
After spending a minute in the bathroom, Bo Ying emerged again.
Returning to the dining table, she found something placed there.
“Ice.”
He Jingxiu looked at her. “If it feels uncomfortable, apply it later.”
Bo Ying nodded, pressing the ice against her lips. Though cold, it felt soothing.
After this little commotion, the beef noodles had cooled down enough.
Bo Ying resumed eating, finally tasting the true flavor of the beef noodles. They were better than she had imagined, even reminiscent of the beef noodle shop near her high school.
“How does it taste?”
Bo Ying’s eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically. “Delicious!”
He Jingxiu’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Eat more.”
“Mm!”
At this hour, she didn’t worry about whether eating more would make her stomach noticeable—her cravings had to be satisfied.
After finishing their late-night snack, it was indeed getting late.
Bo Ying told He Jingxiu she wanted to leave, and he responded, “Wait for me to change clothes.”
“Ah?”
Bo Ying froze, catching herself mid-sentence. “No need, I—”
Before she could finish, He Jingxiu interrupted her firmly.
Standing directly opposite her, he looked down at her. “Bo Ying, do you think I’d let you go home alone in the middle of the night?”
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