I've found you.
"Then I'll come find you."
The New Year's conversation ended with Mo Wen's last sentence.
After that, Wen Zhuyao had a vague sense of anticipation; she…
I look forward to the day when I will be questioned.
However, the person who arrived earlier than Mo Wen was Chi Nuo.
"New year, new look! After so long, the weather is amazing today. How about we go for our first outing of the new year?"
The meme king, the bouncy pig, makes his appearance.
Chi Nuo jumped around: "I've decided on the route this time, and there will absolutely be no repeat of the previous situation."
Chi Nuo rolled around, asking, "Please?"
Upon receiving the message, Wen Zhuyao didn't reply immediately but instead checked the weather.
The weather was indeed just as she had said, neither too hot nor too cold.
It's getting colder.
Wen Zhuyao replied, "Okay, when?"
"I'll get dressed and come find you now!" Chi Nuo hurriedly sent the message, switched screens, and replied with an "OK." She then got up and started putting on her clothes.
Upon receiving the message, Wen Zhuyao also got up to change her clothes.
She didn't see anything wrong with this spontaneous trip, after all, Chi Nuo was just like that, and she was used to it.
At the same familiar time, there was a knock on the door. Wen Zhuyao had just finished dressing, grabbed her phone and gloves, and went to open the door.
Chi Nuo was fully armed outside the door. Although the temperature had dropped, she still had everything she needed to wear.
"Let's go, let's go. I'm in charge this time. I've already chosen a restaurant. Let's just go eat." Chi Nuo saw her come out, took her arm, and pulled her away.
Wen Zhuyao felt the situation was too rushed and asked, "How do we get there? Should we walk or..."
"Take a taxi. We'll leave as soon as we've chosen a car." Chi Nuo had anticipated her words, and not only that, but there were other predictions as well.
What followed was a question-and-answer session.
Wen Zhuyao: "In terms of time..."
"Eight minutes by car, won't get carsick, and there are reservations for meals, so there's no waiting." Chi Nuo gave three answers, each accompanied by a different one.
Wen Zhuyao: "What happened next..."
"We'll leave after we finish eating. It's just one meal, and there are no other plans." Chi Nuo said decisively, cutting off her own impulsive ideas.
I'm determined to eat, but I won't go to shopping malls, shops, or buy anything extra.
Wen Zhuyao was speechless. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Chi Nuo shoved her into the car.
"Don't worry, there won't be any problems at all," Chi Nuo assured, patting her chest with utmost seriousness.
Seeing her like this, Wen Zhuyao had no choice but to say, "Okay."
...
The truth is, as soon as Wen Zhuyao got out of the car and followed Chi Nuo to the store entrance, she clutched her stomach and looked pained: "My stomach suddenly hurts, you go inside and wait for me."
"The location is A12. The meal will be served as usual. I'll come find you when I'm ready," Chi Nuo explained, her voice carrying further and further away.
Wen Zhuyao watched her retreating figure, unable to push open the shop door. The shop assistant standing near the front desk turned around to greet her upon hearing the sound.
"Hello, are you the only one here?"
Wen Zhuyao shook her head and said, "It's pre-ordered, A12."
"Okay, this way please."
The waiter seemed to recall something for a moment, then turned and led her to her seat, asking, "Would you like your food served now?"
"Okay, let's go now." Wen Zhuyao's routine felt so familiar.
Until a familiar person came into her view.
Mo Wen sat quietly in seat A12, looking at the scenery outside the window, with a cup of hot cocoa beside him.
He was dressed casually, as Wen Zhuyao observed, and his hands and nose were red from the cold.
"Everyone's here. The food should be served in about ten minutes." After bringing everyone over, the clerk turned to give instructions about the food.
Mo Wen turned his gaze away upon hearing the sound, fixing it on the table. From this perspective, he could see Wen Zhuyao's hand resting beside her, wearing a white rabbit glove.
Black coat, white pants.
There was also a brown shoe, and he watched it start to move, then from bottom to top, he saw her face.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Wen Zhuyao sat down opposite him and they looked at the two-person dining table together.
It's as if all the answers just appeared out of nowhere.
"You made the appointment with Chi Nuo, and you made the appointment before, right?" Wen Zhuyao didn't use a definite tone, but rather an uncertain one.
Mo Wen didn't try to deny it, and said bluntly, "It was my arrangement. Ever since she came back, I've been asking her to take you out to relax. Even if I hadn't said anything, she would have done it anyway."
“I know, but you said it, so she did even more.” Wen Zhuyao was familiar with her childhood playmates, even though the time they spent together couldn’t really be described as childhood compared to others.
But she was already very familiar with everything she needed to know and understand.
Normally, one more trip out in winter is enough; everything else will come to you.
Mo Wen knew he couldn't hide it from her, so he explained, "But this time it was an accident. I got it by taking her hostage because of my guilt. I was the one who was reckless."
"I didn't feel that way. On the contrary, I was a little surprised when you suddenly appeared in front of me."
"The moment I saw you, I realized that I really missed you, a longing for you that I didn't even realize was enveloping me." Wen Zhuyao stared at him, not missing any of his expressions.
Watching his eyes go from downcast to bewildered to surprised, and then to a complex gaze filled with emotion.
Wen Zhuyao seemed to have taken the lead. After thinking for a moment, she said, "If you want to ask me out, I will come out."
This conversation has dragged on for too long; she has no reason to refuse an answer.
"I want to surprise you. Even if there's no way to refuse this time, I want to do something different." Mo Wen suddenly returned to the beginning, considering and being careful.
"I'm afraid you'll..."
Wen Zhuyao thought he was going to talk about something that had already been said in the comments, so she interrupted: "I know, I saw your comment."
The topic suddenly shifted, from arranging a meeting to explain things, to actually discussing the matter.
“That was the incomplete version. The complete version, I…” Mo Wen was a little surprised. He wanted to tell her about his reflections, but the words he wanted to say turned into a jumbled mess.
Wen Zhuyao waited quietly for him to speak, and time seemed to stand still.
"I... I just thought I was in the wrong place..." Mo Wen tried to speak, but his words started to "beep beep beep" as he tried to organize them.
Wen Zhuyao knew what he wanted to say and continued the conversation: "We are constantly getting to know each other and constantly adjusting to the most comfortable way of getting along."
"Whether it's an old problem or a new one."
"None of this should affect our relationship. We should focus on resolving the issues, everything."
Finally, Wen Zhuyao tried to lighten the mood: "You workaholic aren't as good at organizing your thoughts as I am. Have you been slacking off lately?"
"You're doing this on purpose." Mo Wen was all too familiar with this tone.
Wen Zhuyao nodded frankly, admitting it: "Yes, it was intentional. Does this mean our story ends here?"
"It should be, but we're missing an answer." Mo Wen wanted a more precise one, not a vague one.
Wen Zhuyao thought for a moment, looked left and right, and suddenly looked at him and said, "Do you want to stay with me? I miss you."
"It should be my turn to say it."
Mo Wen reached out and took her hand, which was resting on the table. He felt her warmth and paused for two seconds before continuing to act as if nothing had happened, saying, "How about... how about being with the new me, a relationship where we never mention breaking up again?"
He looked at her face and saw the smile on her lips. At some point, Mo Wen prayed that she wouldn't laugh.
“Okay, but I prefer people with warm hands, so they can warm my hands.” Wen Zhuyao wouldn’t pass up this opportunity.
The truth is, at best, they were ridiculed.
Mo Wen agreed, and smiled, "How about I go buy some hand warmers and carry them with me?"
"Warming and stomach-nourishing soup".
The staff arrived at just the right time, pushing a food cart next to their seats and placing a dish on it.
"It warms you up and makes you feel better after drinking it. It's especially suitable for this gentleman. May I ask if our store is not warm enough? You've been here for half an hour, and your nose and hands still haven't warmed up."
The shop assistant's concern was the final straw that broke Mo Wen's back.
"No need, I just have sensitive skin, temperature doesn't bother me." Mo Wen smiled politely and brushed it off without even looking at Wen Zhuyao.
Wen Zhuyao forced a polite smile and listened as the waiter continued to introduce the remaining dishes.
Until all lessons are completed.
She pushed the cutlery over and asked, "Would you like to warm it up, if you have sensitive skin?"
"Since you've said so, I'll listen to you and warm myself up." Mo Wen casually took the cutlery and nonchalantly ladled out the soup as the first thing he did.
He drank it as soon as it was served, and then Mo Wen felt his tongue get burned.
To avoid appearing suspicious, he offered no explanation.
Wen Zhuyao watched him keep the spoon to his lips, then ladled herself a bowl, touched her lips to it, and silently poured him a cup of tea.
"I'm fine."
Mo Wen, who had only drunk half of his tea, said, "I'm really fine."
"I believe you. How about we eat first? It'll be our first meal together now, which will be very memorable." Wen Zhuyao seemed to have gained a newfound cheerfulness, and she couldn't stop talking.
It felt like we were back in the days of gaming, where we'd pick on those embarrassing little incidents to tease each other and strengthen our bond.
Mo Wen became serious and ignored her: "Eat your food, don't talk."
"Why? We've made up. We can talk while we eat. Don't you like that?" Wen Zhuyao tilted her head, refusing to eat or add any food, just talking.
Mo Wen sighed inwardly, but didn't show it on his face. As he added food to her plate, he said, "I know, let's talk after we finish eating, okay?"
He was met with silence.
Wen Zhuyao kept her head tilted, just staring at him without saying a word.
They stared at each other intently, and then, for no apparent reason, they started laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Wen Zhuyao's smile hadn't faded yet, and she looked at the other person hoping for a reason.
Mo asked the same question: "What are you laughing at? I only laughed because I saw you laughing."
"No way, I only laughed because I saw you laugh." Wen Zhuyao denied it, insisting that she could never be the first to laugh.
Mo Wen wanted to say something, but looking at her, he couldn't help but laugh.
There is no reason.
Wen Zhuyao looked at him and laughed, and she wanted to laugh too. The two of them kept laughing, and the unchanging atmosphere was completely changed by their laughter.
After the meal, the two seemed to have erased the strangeness of the past two months.
They walked hand in hand on the sidewalk, Wen Zhuyao gently resting her head on Mo Wen's shoulder, savoring this hard-won moment.
"By the way, was the reason you came up with for Chi Nuo?" Wen Zhuyao thought back for a moment and realized that Chi Nuo's acting at the time was very realistic.
Mo Wen asked in return, "We discussed it, and she left because she needed to buy something."
"Before this, I bought her some junk food coupons as payment for this..." Mo Wen said, then silently took out his phone and found that all the coupons had been used up.
Wen Zhuyao leaned closer to take a look and saw pizza, hamburgers, and milk tea.
...
"I was too indulgent. I should have known better than to overeat in winter." Chi Nuo had already returned home and was curled up in bed with brown sugar water beside her.
Standing before her was Chi's mother, who was glaring at her menacingly: "Junk food shouldn't be eaten."
"Okay, okay..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
