Chapter 22 [VIP]
"Stop the action and answer the first question."
Han Shu was still holding the doorknob, about to leave the room, when he heard the devil's whisper.
She put her foot down again after lifting it, and said, "Ask."
Wen Zhiyu slowly descended the stairs, his beige loungewear still hanging loosely on his shoulders, making him appear lazy and thin. He strolled leisurely to the guest room door, his eyes lowered, staring intently at the floor, remaining silent for a long time.
Han Shu looked down and only saw his feet, which were tanned in two shades. "What do you want to ask?"
Wen Zhiyu remained silent. After a tense silence of several tens of seconds, he suddenly smiled and chuckled softly.
Han Shu: ?
What the heck?
Wen Zhiyu shifted his gaze upwards and slowly asked, "Did you step forward with your left foot or your right foot first?"
"...Huh?" Han Shu's mouth dropped open.
"Be serious."
"this--"
"This is the first question, and it's very important." Wen Zhiyu's face was serious, and his tone became serious. "Think carefully before you answer."
Landlords collect rent, tenants cooperate. Even if it's outrageous or incomprehensible, you still have to cooperate.
After careful consideration, Han Shu raised his left leg, "Left—"
The sound and movement came to an abrupt halt.
Something feels off.
No, no, it shouldn't be the left leg.
So she raised her right leg again, "Right—"
The sound and movement stopped abruptly again.
Why does it still feel a little awkward?
It doesn't seem to be the right leg either?
Han Shu stared straight ahead, his eyes vacant and completely still.
Left or right? Left or right? Left or right!
That memory, like hair that can't be put back into a follicle, has completely faded away from her. She has lost her memory, is confused, and stands a step inside the door, unsure of how to leave the house.
"You didn't see me coming down the stairs—" Han Shu caught the smile in the man's eyes, though it vanished the instant their eyes met, she was certain she wasn't seeing things. He really was smiling.
Wen Zhiyu shook his head, "I didn't see it."
Han Shu squinted, a sense of unease creeping in. "Are you deliberately trying to mess with me?"
"How could that be?" Wen Zhiyu said seriously. "Thinking back carefully, the answer is very important to me."
After saying that, he pretended to be deep in thought, put his hands in his pockets, and walked towards the restaurant. But before he could even turn around, his cheekbones were already popping out of shape.
"You did this on purpose!!!"
With a roar, the man's figure quickly disappeared around the corner. She took a step to chase after him, but suddenly didn't know whether to step with her left or right foot.
Han Shu: ...
This is toxic. This problem is toxic.
To banish this mind-corrupting problem from his mind, Han Shuli jumped out of the door and jogged to the restaurant.
Wen Zhiyu was already seated comfortably at the dining table, with his pre-made breakfast for the wealthy laid out in front of him.
hateful!
She raised her thumb and forefinger as a gun, her fingernail as the barrel, and carefully aimed at that hateful back of the head with one eye.
One step, two steps. With the professionalism of a killer, she approached silently, simultaneously imagining herself frantically pulling the trigger. After a few moments of this stream-of-consciousness reaction, she was about to stop, satisfied—
Wen Zhiyu turned around.
The index fingernail precisely pressed against the man's brow.
Wen Zhiyu: ...
Han Shu: ...
"How many shots were fired?" Wen Zhiyu's eyes darted around as he asked sarcastically.
"..." Han Shu quickly covered his right hand with his left hand and ran away.
It was another simple sandwich and fruit combination. Han Shu simply picked up the bread with his hands and took a big bite.
With her appetite satisfied, her mood improved. She glanced at the man opposite her and noticed that he seemed to be in a good mood as well. Although the bruises under his eyes were still noticeable, there was no annoyance or fatigue in his eyes, and the corners of his lips remained slightly upturned.
"Did you write it smoothly?" she asked.
Wen Zhiyu glanced at her, "It didn't go well, I didn't write it."
Han Shu blinked. "Didn't you write it?"
"Um."
That's really like bringing up the very thing you don't want to talk about. Han Shu pursed his lips awkwardly and muttered, "You seemed to be in a good mood, so I thought you were bursting with inspiration."
Wen Zhiyu paused in his hand as he picked cherry tomatoes, then placed his fork perpendicular to the edge of the plate. "I'm... in a good mood?"
Han Shu was bewildered. "You've been all smiles today, and you even have the leisure to joke with me. Isn't that right?"
Feeling good?
Smiling?
Is there?
Wen Zhiyu closed his eyes, and memories flashed back.
Qin Jianling had to leave in a hurry because of work, and last night she kept asking me all sorts of questions, and kept bringing up the seven-day period, "Tell me honestly, do you not want her to leave?"
Wen Zhiyu was speechless. "I only relaxed the requirements a little because I saw that she was homeless."
"Will a little bit become a little bit? Or will it become a lot? Will I agree to rent it to someone for a long term?"
"..."
Qin Jianling warned, "If a married woman rents a place long-term, be careful her husband might come knocking on your door!"
"..."
Wen Zhiyu hung up the phone with a snap.
Then what?
Then he put on his glasses, turned on his computer, typed one word and deleted one word, typed ten words and deleted ten words, and it was blank.
Then, he had the same dream again, and woke up in a cold sweat.
Logically speaking, he should be in a terrible mood and thinking, so why is he smiling?
Wen Zhiyu suddenly opened his eyes, his hands trembling as he reached up from his jawline to his mouth—the corners of his mouth really were slightly upturned! He continued trembling as he reached up—why were his cheekbones so prominent today?
I copied and pasted the night before last, the night before last, and the night before last, but why was I in a terrible mood the night before last, the night before last, and the night before last?
Wen Zhiyu lowered his hand, trembling.
Across from it, the mushroom-headed creature opened its mouth wide, chugging as it chewed, its cheeks puffing out like a little squirrel munching on a chestnut.
Controlled variable method.
The day before, three more cats came into his house.
The day before yesterday, his house was missing one person, two geckos, and three cats.
The day before yesterday, he learned that there would soon be one less person in his family.
And today, today—
Wen Zhiyu stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Han Shu. Ultimately, she was the only variable in his otherwise unchanging life.
Could it be—
Wen Zhiyu pushed aside the bowls and plates in front of him, slumped onto the table with a thud, buried his face in his arms, and then remained still.
Han Shu: ?
What's gotten into him this time?
I don't care, I'm too lazy to care.
Han Shu finished her milk, wiped her mouth with a tissue, tidied up the dishes, and prepared to take them to the kitchen to wash. However, the person opposite her still didn't move.
She stood up halfway, sat down, then stood up halfway again, and sat down again.
Shouldn't we do something about it?
She tapped on the table. "Hey! What's wrong?"
Wen Zhiyu first shook his head in his armpit, then said sullenly, "Annoying."
Han Shu thought to himself that even Lin Daiyu wasn't this sentimental, but out of gratitude for being a dependent, he patiently asked again, "What's bothering you?"
Wen Zhiyu answered every question, saying, "Thank you."
Han Shu: ...?
She scratched her head. "Then—should I leave? Leaving you to continue worrying all by yourself?"
Wen Zhiyu sat bolt upright, his bangs flying wildly from the recent commotion, adding a touch of foolishness to his handsome face. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Seven days from now, what are your plans?"
Han Shu picked up a stray hair and played with it between his fingers. "I'm going to interview for a volunteer position. If I pass, I'll move there."
"Want to volunteer and learn to surf at the same time?"
"yes."
"What if it doesn't pass?"
"I don't know yet."
How long do you plan to stay on Hainan Island?
"I don't know either," Han Shu said, puzzled. "Why are you asking?"
Wen Zhiyu's Adam's apple bobbed again. "I have a suggestion. Listen to it first, then make a decision. You can refuse."
Han Shu was even more confused. "You tell me."
Wen Zhiyu took a deep breath, rested his elbows on the table, and crossed his hands. "Long-term rental, or answer the questions to offset the rent."
Han Shu's eyes widened. "Long-term rental? It's not that it can't exceed seven days—"
"Listen to me first." Wen Zhiyu raised his hand to stop him. "I'll take you to and from Houhai to save you transportation costs, on the condition that the time is extended and you answer questions at any time except when you're sleeping."
Han Shu frowned and thought for a while. He felt he was at a disadvantage no matter how he thought about it, so he tentatively asked, "Does that mean I have to play games with you in my free time?"
“Not mandatory.” Wen Zhiyu paused. “Of course, it’s better to play when you’re in a good mood, have free time, and don’t have anything else you want to do.”
"Hiss!" Han Shu pinched his chin, thinking hard but still puzzled. "Free accommodation and free transportation, what are you after?"
"I'm after your brains." Wen Zhiyu raised an eyebrow and coughed lightly. "And also—I'm in a good mood, all smiles."
Han Shu frowned in confusion, "...Huh?"
Wen Zhiyu asked, "What do you think?"
"I think..."
The conditions were excellent, it was free, and there was even a chauffeur service—there was nothing wrong with it. So why did he suddenly change his mind?
Han Shu couldn't understand it.
Hearing the cracking sound of Wen Zhiyu's thumb squeezing his index finger joint, he asked, "How is that?"
Han Shu replied truthfully, "I think it's fine. But—"
"Smack!"
Wen Zhiyu slammed his hand on the table. "It's settled then!"
But she wanted to think about it some more.
Han Shu: ...
Wen Zhiyu's previously tightly furrowed brows relaxed. "All other conditions remain the same, except for the length of stay, which is still in accordance with the check-in manual."
"but--"
"I'm picking up the car today, and I'll drive you around from now on."
—But isn't it too troublesome to travel back and forth by motorcycle every day?
Han Shu: ...
"Is this—"
Wen Zhiyu nodded vigorously, "Then that's settled."
"..."
Han Shu was speechless.
Is it really necessary to make such a big fuss? It feels like we've signed some kind of indenture to become slaves.
She was puzzled by Wen Zhiyu's sudden idea, but she didn't reject the proposal. However, not rejecting it was just a prerequisite; there were too many issues to consider if she wanted to stay there permanently.
As for Mr. Landlord Problem—he is indeed strange, but strangely endearing.
Instantly, Han Shu got goosebumps.
What is she thinking? Cute? Cute my foot!
She shook her head, about to continue the discussion before making a decision, when she noticed Wen Zhiyu's previously relaxed expression turn into a frown. "What's wrong with you now? Changing your mind?"
“There’s one more important condition.” Wen Zhiyu pointed to Han Shu’s phone, which was lying to the side. “I need you to make a phone call in front of me.”
Han Shu couldn't follow his train of thought and looked completely bewildered. "Huh? Who should I call?"
“It’s your freedom to agree to live here, and no one can interfere. But as a married person, if you live under the same roof with someone of the opposite sex for a long time, your spouse still has the right to know,” Wen Zhiyu said seriously. “So you need to explain the specific situation to your husband in front of me. I want to protect my innocent reputation.”
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