Zhou was exhausted from the journey, and Ying Qian guessed that Chen Wenzhi had only eaten lunch and rushed back, without knowing why he had returned.

For her? Really?

The news she learned in the afternoon about her deceased senior sister had a significant impact on her, causing her considerable suspicion. Her mind was still filled with confusion.

When Chen Wenzhi appeared before him and righteously accused him, "You actually doubt me?...Don't you even have the most basic trust between friends?"

All the problems were solved, and it seemed that tears were a waste.

Without considering the force, Ying Qian clenched her fist and punched him on the shoulder. The sound of the impact was clearly audible, and even the motion-activated lights in the corridor turned on because of the noise.

"Ouch..." His brows furrowed immediately, and he clutched his left shoulder with his right hand, accusingly saying, "Ying Qian, are you trying to murder me? You hit me so hard... It hurts so much..."

"I'm sorry." That was all.

She showed no remorse, her face displaying an expression that seemed to say, "Come back if you dare."

Chen Wenzhi tilted his head, pursed his lips, probably considering whether or not to retaliate.

"Gurgle gurgle"

Before he could even make a move, his stomach started growling with hunger. So he dragged Ying Qian through the door with one hand and pulled his suitcase with the other. As soon as they entered, Ying Qian still had that same irritating look on her face: "You haven't eaten, have you?"

"If you can't tell, fine, but can't you even tell by listening?"

Chen Wenzhi, used to this, bent down to change his shoes and noticed that his slippers had been moved. "Did someone come over this afternoon?"

"Yes." Ying Qian didn't hide anything, "Shen Yun came to chat with me."

As she spoke, she went to the kitchen to prepare noodles, opened the newly bought instant noodles cup, and then went to boil water, saying bitterly, "I haven't had dinner yet either, and I'm hungry."

After putting down his luggage, Chen Wenzhi went to the kitchen and saw her busy figure. He asked in confusion, "Don't you have any instant noodles at home? You can make do with two packs."

He looked at the faint light from the stove and realized that the lights were off, leaving the room in complete darkness. Because he wasn't used to it, he turned on the lights in the kitchen and living room.

Ying Qian licked her lips and busied herself with preparing the soup base: "A cup of instant noodles costs four or five yuan. Buying one cup of noodles can last for several days, so every little bit helps."

"Saving money?" he asked, puzzled.

He was very curious about Ying Qian's answer.

"Of course, I'll buy those expensive things that have a sense of ritual."

Sure enough, the answer was quite peculiar, and Chen Wenzhi hadn't expected her to say that.

He knew that Meng Beiyan hadn't contacted her for several days, so she couldn't live a life of being waited on hand and foot anymore; saving money was a good idea.

He turned out of the kitchen and saw the mooncake gift box lying quietly on the dining table. He understood why she had said that. He smiled and gently stroked the matte-textured gift box. This was the essence of ritual...

He clicked his tongue in surprise, and after a long pause, asked, "Do you want to eat mooncakes tonight?"

"Of course, otherwise why would I just leave it at home?"

Once the water boiled, Ying Qian started adding noodles. The steaming water gradually calmed down after the noodles were added, and after the noodles softened, it soon boiled again.

She closed the lid, wiped her hands with a cloth, and sat down opposite Chen Wenzhi.

He was looking at the box of mooncakes when he saw her arrive. "I brought mooncakes too."

"Um?"

"My grandmother made it by hand," he said casually.

"Huh?" Ying Qian's mouth dropped open. "Your grandma can make mooncakes?"

Chen Wenzhi didn't say much. A faint smile appeared on his handsome face as he gazed into her eyes and said succinctly, "We bought the wrong mold. We have no choice but to continue."

Ying Qian chuckled, exclaiming, "Your whole family has quite a talent for comedy!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Wenzhi curled his lip and was the first to stand up and object, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm not joking, my persona is that of a cool and aloof male god, okay?"

“The key is that once you get to know someone, you can’t maintain that persona anymore.” Ying Qian tilted her head thoughtfully. “It’s like noodles that soften immediately when they’re put into boiling water.”

Chen Wenzhi was speechless, holding his forehead and waiting for his face to be ready. His depressed expression and actions perfectly matched that of a melancholy handsome man.

Ying Qian: "Is he trying to look cool?"

Chen Wenzhi: "No..."

Ying Qian turned her face away: "I don't believe you. It must be to maintain your persona! Although it's already shattered in my eyes long ago."

*

"Hey—Chen Wenzhi! Have you lost your mind? You even lost your keys! Are you really my son?!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was deafening.

Ying Qian silently covered her ears, while Chen Wenzhi frantically turned down the volume.

After finishing his free dinner, Chen Wenzhi was about to go home when he realized his keys weren't in his pocket. He then remembered that he had changed his pants while accompanying his grandmother to the fields that morning.

The pants with the key should be hanging out to dry under the eaves right now...

He fell silent, nestled in the soft sofa, listening to his elderly mother's deafening scolding. After she finished yelling, her tone softened considerably: "Then you can live with Xiaoqian."

Ying Qian had just teased, "How can a man who can solve math problems forget his keys? Hahahaha..." He froze instantly upon hearing this.

"……ah?"

Before Zhao Yaya could hear her questioning words, the phone was abruptly cut off.

The two looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Then I'll go tidy up the guest room..." She completely accepted this fact; she couldn't very well send him to stay in a hotel!

For a moment, Ying Qian considered leaving Chen Wenzhi with Shen Chang, since they were two grown men, but then she worried about Shen Yun, and what about Ren Yi?

As she was thinking, she came across a photo of Ren Yi embracing his parents; they were on vacation at the beach.

He also has a handful of friends, all of whom are housed with people.

It seems that only her house has a vacancy, and enough for one person to move in.

It's almost eight o'clock.

After taking a shower, Ying Qian leaned against the birchwood door frame, staring in disbelief at the spotless guest room and Chen Wenzhi, who was covered in a thin layer of sweat after his shower...

His Adam's apple bobbed dryly a few times, and his cheeks flushed an unnatural red.

"Can we turn on the air conditioning? It's so stuffy tonight!"

"Whatever you want." Seeing that he had tidied up the place quite well, Ying Qian felt relieved and went back to the master bedroom.

He tossed and turned in bed and sent Chen Wenzhi a message: Remember to settle the electricity bill.

It's not that she's become stingy, it's that she's genuinely poor...

Speaking of which, how has Meng Beiyan been lately? He's probably still busy with his case, probably incredibly busy... Maybe he already has a girlfriend!

A whole host of ideas were swirling in her mind.

These thoughts gradually disappeared as drowsiness crept in.

They tacitly forgot their promise to admire the moon together tonight!

However, the weather didn't cooperate. The whole house fell silent, and the moon didn't come out. Fortunately, the weather forecast showed that tomorrow would be a good day, so the moon-viewing activity was moved to tomorrow!

As for why I didn't eat the mooncake?

Because there was such a large gift box on the table, but it only contained four mooncakes.

Ying Qian complained, "This is such a rip-off!"

Chen Wenzhi rested his chin on his hand and remained silent.