Chapter 6 Are you still angry about the puppy causing trouble during cohabitation?
"Keep walking straight ahead, turn right at Building 6, continue walking forward, go into Building 10, and wait for me on the 3rd floor."
Cheng Guo carefully looked to the left and right, giving directions to Chen Zhui over the phone.
She was really afraid that paparazzi or other people would recognize him and fabricate a new romance story for him, so the two walked separately on their way back and carefully avoided walking side by side when entering the residential area.
“Don’t be nervous,” Shen Zhui, who was walking ahead, laughed, his voice relaxed and cheerful. “The paparazzi have taken the money and won’t be following me anymore. Besides, wearing a mask makes me less likely to be recognized.”
"Weren't you just recognized this afternoon?"
"I was in such a hurry to catch up with you that I forgot to wear it."
Shen Zhui answered very smoothly, as if it were an instinctive confession, just blurting it out without thinking.
Although she had just told him not to focus his energy on her, Cheng Guo was moved by the fact that someone who was worried about her tuition fees even though he wasn't well-off himself, and even wanted to take on the burden himself. When Shen Zhui asked if he could stay at her house, she hesitated for a moment and told him the truth about her home. Her house was a one-bedroom apartment, and he would have to sleep in the living room. The air conditioner in the living room was currently broken and wouldn't be fixed until the 4th at the earliest. She offered to take him to a hotel and cover his food, clothing, and accommodation expenses during that time.
“I’ve been followed by stalkers before,” Shen Zhui said reluctantly, then conceded, “Let’s go to your house first.”
This incident dominated the trending topics at the time, and Cheng Guo also saw it.
A sasaeng fan stalked Shen Zhui and managed to get his hotel room key. That day, Shen Zhui was filming a night scene. It got cold at night, and his assistant went back to the hotel to get his clothes. He bumped into the fan lying on Shen Zhui's bed.
And so, she took Chenzhui home.
Bring the steed home...
She wasn't really sure about it.
"I'm sorry." After a long silence, Chen Zhui apologized on the other end of the line.
"Hmm." Cheng Guo twitched her nose slightly, hung up the phone, and stood still, fanning her cheek with her hand to relieve the heat that had suddenly risen from his words.
The person in front also stopped and looked back. The distance was too far, and Cheng Guo could only vaguely make out his eyes, which slowly curved into a smile after surprise.
The hand that had been fanning her fell awkwardly to the floor. Cheng Guo strode forward, and the person in front of her immediately turned around and took two steps at a time, as if afraid that she would catch up.
Cheng Guo couldn't help but tilt her head and smile.
As the night breeze blew, the stuffiness of the daytime air lessened considerably. Children played and frolicked around them, and couples strolled hand in hand. Chen Zhui calmly walked through the crowd, even bending down to help a child who had accidentally bumped into him. He remained composed even when being watched, and surprisingly, he wasn't recognized at all.
Cheng Guo suddenly realized that today wasn't actually that bad.
To be fair, it was a very pleasant experience to be with Shen Zhui. He seemed cold, but he was actually very gentle and would never do anything to make things difficult for her.
If I had to describe Chenzhui in one word, it would be "obedient."
If we really want him to stay for a while, that would be fine.
When Cheng Guo got upstairs, Shen Zhui was standing outside the door of the middle apartment on the third floor, with a backpack slung over one shoulder, doing nothing but waiting for her to come back. This reminded Cheng Guo of Ruan Ning's Samoyed, Ye Bi. Every time Ruan Ning came back from walking it, it would run upstairs first and sit obediently at the door, its bright black eyes wide open, waiting for her to come back and open the door.
Thinking of this, Cheng Guo looked up at Shen Zhui. Shen Zhui seemed to be in a good mood. He had taken off his mask, and the ear loops were hanging from his index fingers, swinging back and forth. The corners of his lips curved upwards, and his cold and stern eyebrows softened.
His eyes are beautiful.
"Write down the password."
Cheng Guo stepped forward, pressed the keypad, and moved aside. A heat source approached, and a shadow quickly fell over her head. There was a faint fruity scent in her breath. Cheng Guo remembered that the shower gel that Chen Zhui endorsed had the same scent as the one she used.
To let him see clearly, she slowed down her movements, tapped the digital screen a few times with her fingertips, and with a click, the door unlocked.
"Did you remember?"
There was no response as expected.
Cheng Guo looked up and saw Chen Zhui staring at her without moving. The smile in his eyes slowly faded. "Did you move in today?"
"right."
Her password was her check-in date.
His breathing became rough, and Shen Zhui nodded without saying anything more.
"Come in."
Cheng Guo opened the door and led the person in, turned on the light, and when she put her bag on the shoe cabinet, it bumped into the fish tank on top. The water rippled and a water plant swayed gently, shimmering under the soft light.
The balcony window was open, and the room was still hot, but it wasn't as cool as outside. Cheng Guo bent down to change into slippers. Ruan Ning had left in a hurry this morning, and her usual men's slippers were lying casually outside. Cheng Guo put them in the shoe cabinet, went to the balcony to close the window, and asked Chen Zhui, "Do you have any slippers in your bag?"
A muffled "No" came from behind.
"Then come in barefoot, the floor is clean."
After closing the windows, Cheng Guo turned on the air conditioner. When she returned, Shen Zhui was still standing at the door, seemingly looking around her house.
Cheng Guo suddenly became a little reserved, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she seemed to be on edge.
Her house is a bit messy.
Yesterday, she and Ruan Ning stayed up late watching a movie on the carpet in front of the sofa. Each of them had a cushion and a blanket. There were snacks on the folding table next to them, but now they were all piled up messily. The projector screen wasn't raised, the remote control was lying to one side, one of her nightgowns was on the sofa, and a panda plush toy was stuck in the corner with its butt and round, short tail facing outwards...
The only thing that could be described as tidy was the dining table.
The two of them overslept today and didn't have time for breakfast.
There was an added bonus at the dinner table: Ruan Ning bought a few roses and put them in a vase, where they bloomed beautifully, vying for attention.
Shen Zhui turned his gaze away from the balcony, his lips trembled, his jaw tightened, and he looked dissatisfied.
It's better that he doesn't live here.
With her heart at ease, Cheng Guo glanced at her watch, walked towards him, and said, "I'll see you off—"
Am I sleeping here?
Shen Zhui brushed past her shoulder as he entered.
Cheng Guo's shoulder went numb for a moment. She turned around, and Chen Zhui tossed his bag aside and bent down to tidy up the carpet and sofa.
The boy had broad shoulders and long legs. When he bent over, the hem of his T-shirt was stretched up, revealing a section of his lean and strong waist. As he stood up with the blanket, the hem of his shirt was covered again.
Cheng Guo blinked and quickly followed, "Let me do it."
“Together,” Chen Zhui deftly folded the blanket. “I’ll take care of the routine cleaning afterwards. I can’t just eat and stay for free.”
“…Okay.” The atmosphere was inexplicably heavy, and Cheng Guo first put away her nightgown.
It was a tank top with extremely thin straps and silky fabric, hardly suitable for him to handle. "It's not usually this messy," she explained to herself, quietly glancing at Chen Zhui.
He still had a tense expression and lowered eyes, revealing little about his thoughts.
"Do you have any spare clothes in your backpack?" Cheng Guo asked again.
The response was still a muffled "No".
"I don't have time to buy it today, can you wear that one for now?" Cheng Guo pointed to the balcony.
There was a men's blue T-shirt hanging there, which had just been put up over the weekend, and the tag was still on.
Shen Zhui glanced over, tossed the folded blanket onto the sofa with a dull thud, then looked down at her with a half-smile, "Do you have underwear too?"
Cheng Guo was stunned. She did have this, but she had never posted it. Before she could speak, Chen Zhui turned his head away.
“I won’t wear it,” he said coldly, his voice taut like a string. He picked up a cushion from the carpet and neatly arranged it aside, adding, “It’s hideous.”
"..."
Is her taste really that bad?
Cheng Guo also lost her temper, lowered her head and tidied up the place without saying a word.
Amidst the rustling sounds, Chen Zhui suddenly muttered something, his voice still stiff, "Buy me a new one."
Cheng Guo ignored him. She had used a cushion for a while and it was a bit dirty, so she took it to the bathroom and put it in the washing machine. There were footsteps following behind her, stopping at the door.
Chen Zhui peered at the semi-transparent glass door. "How are we going to take a shower?"
"Why take a shower?" Cheng Guo returned to her room after setting the laundry program. "You can stay smelly as long as you don't. Just pay me back for the sofa when you leave."
Footsteps followed her again, all the way to her room door. Chen Zhui's voice softened considerably, but seemed to carry a hint of laughter, "I'll just wrap myself in a towel after I shower, and wash my clothes so I can wear them again tomorrow."
Cheng Guo was carrying out an empty suitcase when he heard his words and was stunned. In his mind, he automatically pictured Cheng Guo wrapped in a towel after taking a shower.
"You're not going to make me use the leftover bath towels, are you?" Shen Zhui asked, leaning against the door, without looking around at her bedroom furnishings.
He was really tall; when he stood by the door, he looked like a tall pine tree, and he could easily touch the door frame with a slight raise of his hand.
"……Won't."
Cheng Guo cut off the thoughts in her mind.
We have new towels, and she used the new bath towel once yesterday, so it's practically new by now.
She'll use Ruan Ning's for now, and buy two new ones tomorrow.
Cheng Guo handed the suitcase to Chen Zhui, saying, "Put your things inside first."
She only has a wardrobe in the bedroom, so it's impossible for Shen Zhui to put his things in there.
His gaze fell lightly on her wardrobe. Shen Zhui took the suitcase and packed the few items from his backpack inside.
We've finally settled him in, but looking at the sofa where he sleeps and his things packed in a suitcase that he can just grab and go, I still feel a lack of belonging and a sense of pity.
Seeing him remain silent only made him look even more pitiful.
Cheng Guo felt a little uneasy, and the anger she had felt earlier dissipated without her realizing it.
"Go take a shower," Shen Zhui said, placing his suitcase in a corner where it wouldn't get in the way. "I'll go out and come back when you're done."
After saying that, he walked out the door.
Feeling sticky and sweaty, Cheng Guo was indeed uncomfortable and didn't stand on ceremony with him anymore.
"Then come back in ten minutes."
Cheng Guo rushed out just ten minutes before Chen Zhui returned. She washed her underwear and hung it on the balcony, while throwing the other dirty clothes into the laundry basket.
The living room and bedroom of this house are each connected to a balcony. The landlord opened them up during the renovation. Cheng Guo put a desk on the bedroom side, where he usually reads and works, while the living room side is used to hang clothes to dry.
Shen Zhui wanted to sleep in the living room, so Cheng Guo brought a clothes hanger and hung his underwear on the bedroom side.
The only inconvenience is that there's suddenly a man in the house.
After she finished drying her hair, there was still no movement at the door.
Cheng Guo opened the balcony window and glanced downstairs. The children and young couples who had been playing had all gone home. Shen Zhui wasn't downstairs, so she took out her phone and dialed his number. As the dial tone sounded for the call to be connected, she heard a muffled ringtone from outside the door.
She was startled, then pressed her hand on the doorknob and pushed it open. Shen Zhui was looking down and hanging up the phone, his forehead covered in sweat, and his pale arms were covered with several mosquito bites of varying sizes.
It was clearly badly stung.
"Why didn't you come in sooner since you're back?" Cheng Guo invited him in.
Shen Zhui glanced at her.
Cheng Guo wore a set of plain-colored pajamas, with sleeves reaching her wrists. Her legs were long and straight, and her freshly styled hair fell softly over her shoulders, revealing a face as bright as the moon, with red lips, black eyes, and straight collarbones.
He smelled a familiar sweet and sour fruity scent on his body.
"I was afraid it would be inconvenient for you."
He lowered his head restrainedly and closed the door. Cheng Guo had just finished showering. Her slippers were probably being drained and were standing to the side without her wearing them. She was barefoot on the light wood floor. Her nails were neatly trimmed, her toes were slender, and her ankles were so thin that two fingers could easily pinch them.
He rubbed his fingertips against the base of his thumb, then looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing: "Don't go out, there are too many mosquitoes outside."
Cheng Guo pulled out a new set of toothbrush and toothpaste, then grabbed a bath towel. After smelling it to make sure there was no odor, she felt relieved. She went to the kitchen, washed a bowl of grapes, and then took it to her desk on the balcony.
Even after starting work, she maintained the habit of studying every day. In the eyes of others, she was a high achiever, intelligent, and quick-witted girl. Only she knew that she was just an ordinary person, and her achievements were the result of time and hard work.
The glass door provided poor sound insulation, and the rushing shower noise disturbed Cheng Guo's eardrums. She rubbed her ears, finished the grapes in her bowl, and hadn't even turned to the next page of the book in her hand. Cheng Guo simply closed her laptop and went back to her room.
Five minutes ago, Ruan Ning sent a video, which Cheng Guo didn't pay attention to, but now that she's opened it, she can't take her eyes off it.
A group of Samoyeds, only a few months old, huddled together, their eyes like black grapes, tilting their heads and sticking out their pink little tongues towards the camera.
They are fluffy and round and cute.
Cheng Guo's heart melted. Just as she was about to watch it again, Ruan Ning pushed a business card over and then a video request popped up. Cheng Guo quickly answered.
Yesterday marked the start of summer vacation, and today Ruan Ning's school efficiently took the teachers into the mountains for team building, followed by a study session on the new teaching materials. In the background, Ruan Ning is in a hotel, wearing a face mask and comfortably leaning back on the sofa. "Add this person on your friend's WeChat."
"Are you selling dogs?"
"You should talk to him first. He's a returnee from overseas, and his conditions are excellent." Ruan Ning rattled off a series of introductions. Cheng Guo grabbed a cushion and hugged it, leaning comfortably against the headboard, yawning as she listened. "Aren't you going to ask me about my blind date tonight before introducing me to him?"
"Do you even need to ask? Your asset statement is all fake. It would be a miracle if you could succeed. You should ask your aunt how you got past her."
Given Cheng Guo's looks and qualifications, the fact that she failed in several blind dates and always managed to "blame" the men on them will eventually make Yu Muying realize this.
"Didn't pass."
"Huh?" Ruan Ning ripped off her face mask. "Tell me in detail!"
To elaborate would involve Shen Zhui, and Cheng Guo didn't want to tell Ruan Ning about Shen Zhui staying at their house, otherwise she would be interrogated again. After thinking about it, she removed Shen Zhui from the conversation and told Ruan Ning the whole story concisely.
"It's good that she noticed. It gives Auntie a buffer period. Otherwise, she would be furious if she knew you weren't planning to take the doctoral entrance exam this year. This is a stage victory for you, worth celebrating! Let's talk about dogs."
Ruan Ning praised her dog-loving friend again, "This guy is really reliable. He has a lot of respect for the medical profession. And you're too busy with work to keep a dog, but he is. Think about it, if you date him, you won't have to keep a dog yourself and you can pet a dog every day."
"Why do you make it sound like I went there for the dog?"
"Isn't it because dogs are more attractive to you than men!" Ruan Ning sighed. "Have you ever thought about why your aunt keeps arranging blind dates for you? You don't lack suitors; there's a long line of doctors chasing after you."
Cheng Guo pursed her lips and remained silent.
“She doesn’t want you to talk to the doctor, but she also wants to help you choose, so you can date and work things out first, so you don’t end up like her…” Ruan Ning shifted her position, “Anyway, I feel like your aunt doesn’t want you to get married right away, so you can find someone with good conditions to date yourself.”
The bedroom window leading to the balcony wasn't closed properly, and some faint noises could be heard coming in. Cheng Guo pricked up her ears and heard faint footsteps.
Chenzhui has finished his bath.
Worried that he might make a bigger commotion and be overheard by Ruan Ning, Cheng Guo chatted with her for a few more minutes before quickly hanging up the phone.
When she opened the door, there was no one on the balcony. The rumbling of the washing machine burst in, interspersed with a sharp crash, as if something had fallen and broken on the ground.
"What's wrong?"
Cheng Guo pushed open the door and turned into the living room. The bathroom door was directly opposite. Cheng Guo immediately saw Chen Zhui with a bath towel wrapped around his waist. He had just taken a shower, and his hair was still wet, with water droplets rolling down his hair to his bare chest.
A few blue fragments lay on the floor tiles. Shen Zhui bent down to pick them up, his back muscles taut like a bow ready to be released, a remarkably beautiful sight.
Cheng Guo had no time to appreciate it. Those shards were her mouthwash cup, the cup she had painstakingly prepared and loved. She had placed it next to Ruan Ning's pink one when she took a shower. How could it have fallen?
Shen Zhui casually tossed the large pieces of debris into the trash can, then picked up his toothbrush and threw it in as well. Only then did he turn around and, upon seeing her, put on an apologetic expression.
Cheng Guo strode over in a rage, her gaze sweeping across the sink countertop. The pink mouthwash cup had been pushed to the side, and right next to it was the yellow mouthwash cup meant for Chen Zhui.
Why did you knock my cup off the table when there's so much space on it?!
Shen Zhui glanced at the trash can in surprise, then looked down at Cheng Guo, "Yours?"
"I haven't brushed my teeth yet!"
Amidst the whirring of the washing machine, Chen Zhui frowned and placed his mouthwash cup on the empty spot on the other side of the sink, muttering under his breath, "I didn't know that was just yours."
"What?" Cheng Guo didn't hear clearly.
"Don't be angry. My wound was hurting just now, and I couldn't hold the cup properly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Zhui suddenly leaned closer. Cheng Guo felt a tightness around her waist, her body leaned forward, and her cheek bumped into Chen Zhui's bare chest.
She was picked up by Shen Zhui.
His strong, powerful heartbeat was right next to her ear, and his damp scent enveloped her without warning. Cheng Guo's mind went blank, and in a panic, she hugged his waist.
His waist was damp, slippery, and cool.
She couldn't help but hug him tighter.
Chen Zhui's movements seemed to pause slightly, and then she felt solid ground beneath her feet again.
Shen Zhui released her waist, lowered his head, and said in a close voice, "Don't come in barefoot, there are still crumbs on the ground."
Cheng Guo quickly released her grip on his waist, took a step back to calm her racing heart, looked down at his bare feet, and turned to put on her shoes. "You come out too, I'll handle this."
Her wrist was grabbed and her cheek was rubbed. Cheng Guo frowned, her eyes almost blazing with anger. She looked up and Chen Zhui showed her his fingertips. "Water droplets."
The water droplets on his body.
Cheng Guo felt a surge of anger in her chest. "Then I can wipe it myself."
She grabbed a mop and caught a glimpse of him standing there obediently, as if he'd done something wrong and been punished. She couldn't help but ask about his condition; "What happened to your wound?"
"The waterproof dressing wasn't applied properly, and water got into the wound."
Cheng Guo then noticed his abdomen.
The dressing, which should have remained dry, was now completely soaked by the bathwater, with a gaping hole at the edge, revealing the wound inside from the side.
It needs to be replaced with a new one.
"Dr. Cheng," Shen Zhui called to her in a gentler tone, "Are you still angry?"
What are you doing?
"If you're not angry anymore, can you help me change my dressing?"
A note from the author:
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