Midnight dinner together is also sweet, morning together is also sweet

Even late at night, Xue Jiuyue's voice message would receive a reply within a few seconds.

"Here I am."

"I'm hungry."

"What do you want to eat? Can I order takeout for you?"

"I want to go out to eat now, but I don't want to be alone."

"Then I'll take a taxi and come over to accompany you."

"I'll drive over to pick you up."

"I'll come downstairs to your house and tell you, it's settled, very soon."

Unlike her usual gentleness, her attitude was very firm, but this different kind of warmth made Xue Jiuyue so happy that she wanted to close her eyes and snuggle in it.

A 24-hour Korean restaurant.

The restaurant was packed late at night. Those who came here were more interested in satisfying their cravings than simply filling their stomachs, and more often than not, they were there for fun. In groups of three or four, they would clink glasses, chat in whispers, and let their emotions be imbued with the depth of the night.

The steam rising from the Korean hot pot blurred the vision and fogged the lights, covering the midnight with a white veil and presenting other people's fireworks through the roof to the unchanging starry sky.

Through this veil of mist, like the vast expanse of time, the invisible boundary between illusion and reality, Xue Jiuyue looked at the three crescent moons scattered on the back of Liu Che's hand, carefully comparing them with the three engraved marks in her heart. The uncanny resemblance made the night even more bewildering.

"Why don't you eat? Are you sleepy?" Liu Che's voice sounded, as soft as a serenade.

"Cook it for a while, there's no rush. Are you sleepy?"

"I'm not sleepy, I'm just worried you're hungry."

"It's okay, I'm just greedy. Thank you for staying with me."

"How do you know I'm not hungry? Thank you for staying with me."

"Okay, Xiao Ming, eat this piece of beef first."

"Yes, thank you."

"Tsk, do you need to be so polite?"

"Don't you need it?"

"Do you need it?"

"Then let me test the poison for Your Majesty first?" An inappropriate joke cut off the affectionate gaze. Perhaps it was because Liu Che couldn't see the extraordinary beauty behind the mist that he could be so indifferent.

"Oh, I haven't tried it out yet. How about giving me another piece?" Xue Jiuyue was completely amused by his "spitting" style.

So Xue Jiuyue also changed the channel, "Xiao Ming, do your family members know that you are so naughty?"

"Of course my family knows, it's fine as long as outsiders don't know."

The response was full of truth, and the subtext contained such sweetness that Xue Jiuyue was momentarily at a loss for words. "Come on, Xiao Ming, try another rice cake, and you will grow taller every year."

"Oh, okay, you eat too!"

"I want to eat ramen. It suddenly reminded me of the late-night diners in Japan that I'd seen in movies and TV shows. The ramen there smelled so good. But I'm afraid I won't be able to finish it and it will be a waste."

"Yeah, that's okay. I have a big appetite, and if it doesn't work out, I can just take it away. That way I can save some trouble tomorrow."

"Hehe, then I want it!"

After a while, a bowl of Korean ramen was served. But to Xue Jiuyue's surprise, it was just a bowl of cooked instant noodles.

"This, this is too perfunctory. It's just a bowl of instant noodles."

Hearing the disappointed tone, Liu Che smiled and recounted, "This is the capital of a northern province known for its noodle dishes. Outsiders assume it's like Blue State, where people start the day with a bowl of beef noodles. But in fact, the most popular breakfast item at local breakfast shops is instant noodles. A bowl of instant noodles can often come with dozens of toppings. It can be said that instant noodles have reached their peak there. Similarly, noodles in northern and southern China differ greatly. If we only talk about the noodles themselves, alkaline noodles are more common in the south, which most northerners are not accustomed to. However, this does not affect the diverse and diverse array of noodles enjoyed by both sides. Just like life, perhaps imperfections are part of its unique beauty. If you don't believe me, try it first without any subjective bias."

"You can say so much about a bowl of noodles. I admire you!" Having said that, after trying the noodles, they were indeed delicious. As Liu Che said, the unique taste of instant noodles added a lot of flavor to this bowl of noodles.

The surprise after the disappointment was particularly bright, "Xiao Ming, it tastes really good, do you want to try it?"

"OK!"

As he spoke, Liu Che handed over his bone plate.

Xue Jiuyue only realized when she was picking up some noodles for Liu Che that she had already touched the noodles. But at this moment... a sense of intimacy and familiarity suddenly came over her...

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find a designated driver that night, so I didn't drink. But the drunkenness in my heart was just as enchanting; the blush on my face was as red as an apricot that would make a peach blush.

She could feel how charming she was at that moment, so she pulled out her phone, wanting to condense this moment, this scene, and herself into a vivid gift, to keep for later, to please her future self at any time. Before she could act, she heard Liu Che's question.

"Why do you want to take a picture? I won't eat for now."

"Xiao Ming, how do you know everything? Can't you really see?"

"real."

Liu Che's voice remained gentle, but Xue Jiuyue regretted her rash words. She quickly said, "Really?"

"real!"

"That's good! Actually, there's a secret I've always wanted to tell you."

"Yeah, I'm listening."

"I look, um..." Xue Jiuyue also felt shy at this moment. "I look, how should I put it? Out of 100, I would give myself a score of 60."

Generally, I give myself a higher rating for my appearance, and there's scientific evidence to support this: the eyes automatically enhance my beauty when looking at me. So the subtext of my statement was that my looks weren't up to par. "A lie without a lie," Xue Jiuyue thought to herself with amusement.

Liu Che remained calm upon hearing this, but his gentle smile widened slightly, "Beauty has long been in my heart."

The voice was not loud, but low, more like a soliloquy.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Xue Jiuyue didn't grasp the exact words, "What?"

"Beauty is actually in the heart." Liu Che subtracted a word without leaving a trace, and the answer became a familiar reasoning.

The night breeze brought a refreshing coolness that could let go of any thoughts and emotions. Xue Jiuyue rode the wind, chirping and jumping around Liu Che like a swallow.

"Aren't you sleepy yet?"

"Well, are you sleepy? Why don't you go back?"

"I'm not sleepy at all. I'll have tea in the evening. Thank you for accompanying me." Liu Che always makes people feel like spring breeze.

"Then shall I take you somewhere?"

"As you say."

The "moments of time" at night are silent like a thinker, hidden in the darkness, sorting out the accumulation of the day. Suddenly turning on the light, the familiar environment brought a hint of surprise, but was quickly squeezed out by the light.

"There's no one around right now. I'll take you around the cafe a few times so you'll be familiar with it when you come to see me next time."

As soon as he stepped onto the shoulder of the road, his amazing memory revealed his direction. He had been speculating about Xue Jiuyue's purpose until the answer was revealed. Liu Che was so moved that his smile turned solemn.

"Thanks!"

"Do you need to be so polite?"

A soft smile replaced the answer.

Xue Jiuyue patiently took Liu Che, walking, talking, and laughing over and over again, as if a clock would never stop.

"Aren't you sleepy yet?" Liu Che always cares about her.

"A little bit, how about..." Although her thoughts were very pure, Xue Jiuyue blushed when she really said it, "How about sleeping here? There are a few sofas that can be put down and used as sofa beds."

"I'm not sleepy at all. You go to sleep, I'll sit with you, and when you fall asleep I'll listen to some music or something."

"No, then I won't sleep."

"Be good and sleep. I'm always the one awake when I hypnotize you, right? Anyway, I have nothing to do tomorrow so I can catch up on my sleep."

"I asked you to come out. I felt bad for keeping you awake. And I was afraid it would affect your business trip the day after tomorrow."

"I drank too much tea and couldn't sleep by myself, so I just sat there. My business trip isn't until the day after tomorrow, not tomorrow. If you don't want me to, I'll go back."

Liu Che explained the reason and added a "threat" before he persuaded Xue Jiuyue to lie down.

Not long after lying down, Xue Jiuyue called out softly, "Xiao Ming?"

"Um?"

"You really can't sleep?"

"I really can't sleep." Liu Che's voice was indeed as gentle as before, without any sign of fatigue.

Xue Jiuyue lay on the sofa and looked at Liu Che who was sitting on the sofa not far away. Suddenly, she said mischievously: "Haha, then tell me a bedtime story?"

"Okay! Let me tell you a little Zen story.

Zen Master Juechu traveled all over the monasteries and one day came to the place where the Fifth Patriarch Fayan was.

Fayan asked him: "Shakyamuni and Maitreya are both his servants. Tell me who this 'he' is."

Juechu thought for a moment and replied, "It's Zhang San with a beard and Li Si with a black face."

Fayan was very satisfied with his answer.

The next day, Fayan asked him the same question again.

Juechu said: "I already answered you yesterday."

Fayan asked, "What did you say?"

Juechu said: "I answer the bearded Zhang San and the black-faced Li Si."

Fayan said: "This answer is wrong."

Jue Chu was puzzled: "Then why did you say yesterday that my answer was correct?"

Fayan said: "What was right yesterday is wrong today!"

Juechu then had a great enlightenment right then and there."

Liu Che's story is over, but there is no answer.

Xue Jiuyue yawned and said in a tired voice, "I can't figure it out. Why don't you stop thinking about it? You can just tell me the answer someday."

"You are indeed intelligent. It's right that you don't think about it. May I tell you another relaxing story to help you fall asleep?" After telling a story with profound meaning, Liu Che wanted to continue.

"You should take a break too. I'm going to sleep."

"good evening."

"good evening."

The lights went out. The silent darkness quickly swallowed up all the light, embracing everything under its embrace, as if it contained everything, as if it were empty.

Less than two minutes later, Xue Jiuyue's voice sounded again, "Xiao Ming?"

"I am here."

"Thank you."

"Do you need to be so polite?"

There were no more answers, nor were there any needed to be. Xue Jiuyue, resting her head on the darkness of the night, draped in a sense of security she had never felt before, fell asleep with happiness still lingering on her lips. Her breathing was even and gentle, a melodious melody to Liu Che's ears. He relaxed, leaning against a corner of the dark night, enjoying it, completely intoxicated...

The morning sun arrived a little early, not leaving Xue Jiuyue much time to linger in bed. But a sufficient amount of deep sleep still healed the fatigue that spanned a thousand years yesterday.

"Good morning."

Liu Che was still sitting where he had sat yesterday, his voice gentle and mellow.

"Good morning! Did you get no sleep all night?"

"Asleep! Just woke up."

Looking at Liu Che's still neatly dressed body, Xue Jiuyue felt very guilty, "I'm sorry, I made sure you didn't get enough rest."

"Do you need to be so polite?"

The same question turned the sweetness of last night into a smile of tacit understanding, which was sweet in both of their hearts.

"Actually, I have a way to relax. I can get a similar rest effect without sleeping." Liu Che added warmly.

"Really? Then why don't you teach me?"

"You don't sleep well to begin with. If I teach you this, you'll sleep even less!"

"Okay!" Xue Jiuyue was skeptical but didn't hesitate any longer. "Then you should rest well today! But I'll take you to breakfast first! What do you want to eat?"

"As you say!"

"No, it's up to you to decide."

"Well, if it's my opinion, a croissant, a latte, and even better, an omelette."

"Hate it! How do you know I like to eat these for breakfast?" Xue Jiuyue was not sure whether she had mentioned her fixed breakfast combination to Liu Che.

"I like it too! If you don't have fried eggs, hot spring eggs are also fine, and I like to add more white pepper." Liu Che's words and smile made Xue Jiuyue difficult to distinguish between the true and the false.

"Aren't you here for tea?"

"I didn't say I don't drink coffee! And I know that coffee and tea can make you twice as awake, like last night!"

…

When Ke Yike arrived at Inch by Inch of Time, he seemed to catch a glimpse of Xue Jiuyue's driving away. His suspicious eyes also noticed clues in the room.

I can't figure it out.

There are thousands of problems, but there is only one person to seek help from outside the field.

"Ying'er?"

Tiantian's voice is always as gentle as water.

"What's wrong?"

"Sister Yue seemed to have spent the night in the store last night."

"Well, it seems so. But what does it matter?"

"How can it not be related?" He blurted out his thoughts before realizing that something was wrong. He then tried to make amends, "What if something happened? Shouldn't we show some concern and help?"

"What you said does make some sense." Zhou Ying analyzed slowly, "But there could be many reasons for staying overnight at the store. There might be a power outage at home, the air conditioner is broken, or they're suffering from insomnia and want a change of scenery..."

"Why don't you check the surveillance footage to confirm whether Sister Yue stayed here overnight. It's not appropriate for me to check."

"Only Sister Yue has the authority. And what surveillance footage are you checking? Wait until Sister Yue comes and ask her about it, and you'll know."

Zhou Ying's words always comforted the anxious Ke Yike.

When Xue Jiuyue returned to the cafe, the sunlight was still soft. As she walked out from the lush green of the street flower beds, the joy on her face was more eye-catching than her pink skirt.

"Ahem..." As soon as I sat down, I heard Ke Yike coming over to greet me, "Sister Yue, can I prepare something to eat for you?"

"I've already had breakfast, so I'll just have something to eat with you guys at noon."

"Okay!" After agreeing, Ke Yike did not leave. He mustered up his courage and asked in a low voice, "Sister Yue, was there anyone in our store last night?"