"Where are you going?" Xu Lingwei's sister asked, arms crossed as she blocked his way.
He barely spared her a glance as he adjusted the strap of his bag. "Since when do you care? Don't you have your own stuff to do?"
"Well, Uncle told he's taking you to Yunxi Town." She leaned against the doorfra, her smirk growing.
Xu Lingwei internally cursed. Damn that loose-lipped uncle.
"Isn't that the place where you used to go for archery training? Why the sudden urge to go back?" she prodded, suspicion gleaming in her eyes.
Thinking quickly, he shrugged. "I was just... missing the place."
His sister arched a brow. "Oh? Missing the place or missing sothing else?"
He sighed, rubbing his temple. He really hated how accurate her guesses were.
"Think whatever you want," he muttered, brushing past her and heading outside. His uncle was already waiting on the bike, drumming his fingers on the handlebar impatiently.
"Let's go!" his uncle called, revving the engine.
Xu Lingwei climbed on, and they sped off toward Yunxi Town. The journey was long, winding through roads that cut between hills and clusters of shops. The fresh air carried the scent of street food, and the occasional blur of colorful market stalls zipped past them. His uncle, never one to drive safely, weaved through the lanes like he was in so underground race.
"Could you not get us killed before we even get there?" Xu Lingwei grumbled, gripping the back of the seat.
"You worry too much! I've been driving longer than you've been alive," his uncle boasted.
"Yeah? And yet I still feel like I should write my will."
His uncle only laughed, speeding up just to ss with him.
They were nearing the town when sothing—or rather, soone—caught Xu Lingwei's attention.
Hua Rong.
She was walking toward the entrance of a mall, completely unaware of his presence. His grip on his uncle's shoulder tightened.
"Stop! Right here!" he ordered.
The bike screeched as his uncle barely managed to avoid skidding. "What the hell? You trying to get us both thrown off?"
But Xu Lingwei wasn't listening. His eyes were locked on Hua Rong, watching as she disappeared through the mall doors. His plans shifted in an instant.
Forget the hill. This was the perfect opportunity.
"Change of plans," he announced, swinging a leg off the bike.
His uncle groaned. "What now?"
"We're going inside," Xu Lingwei said, his tone serious. "You'll wait near the entrance. When I co out—that's when you start acting."
His uncle gave him a flat look. "Are you seriously making do this now? Wasn't this whole thing supposed to be later?"
"We improvise when the perfect mont arrives," Xu Lingwei said, already moving toward the mall.
His uncle muttered sothing under his breath. "I can't believe I'm helping my nephew sche his way into a girl's heart."
Xu Lingwei smirked. "Think of it as a bonding experience."
"Yeah, sure. The kind of bonding that makes question why I was born into this family."
Ignoring his uncle's complaints, Xu Lingwei watched as Hua Rong walked toward the checkout counter inside. He needed sothing—anything—to buy so he had a reason to be there. He turned to his uncle quickly.
"Tell sothing I can buy. Fast."
His uncle, caught off guard, looked around in panic. His eyes landed on a shelf near the counter, and he blurted, "A pack of cigarettes!"
Xu Lingwei stared at him, completely unimpressed. "Seriously?"
"It's the closest thing to the counter! Just go!" his uncle hissed, shoving him forward.
Shaking his head in exasperation, Xu Lingwei sighed and strode into the mall, ready to execute his plan earlier than expected.
.....
Xu Lingwei sat near the table, arms crossed as he waited. What the hell was taking her so long? He had no idea what Hua Rong had been making in the kitchen for ages, but at this point, he was starting to wonder if she was secretly growing the ingredients herself.
Just then, his phone buzzed. A ssage from his uncle.
"Where are you?"
Xu Lingwei quickly typed back.
"In her house."
Barely a few seconds passed before his phone rang. As soon as he answered, his uncle's excited voice blasted through the speaker.
"It worked!"
Xu Lingwei smirked. "Yeah, it worked."
"Now make sure to steal her heart!" his uncle added dramatically.
Xu Lingwei rolled his eyes. His uncle was in his mid-thirties, still unmarried, and sohow more invested in his love life than his own.
"Yeah, and you make sure to handle my mother!" Xu Lingwei shot back.
His uncle laughed. "Don't worry! Leave my sister to !"
Xu Lingwei chuckled. "I really love you, man."
But just as the words left his mouth, a shadow fell over him. He looked up—Hua Rong was standing right there, holding a bowl in her hands.
Shit.
Her face was unreadable, but the slight tilt of her head, the way her lips pressed into a thin line—it all scread misinterpretation.
She placed the bowl on the table with a forced calmness. "You can continue your love confession. I'll co back later," she said flatly, already turning away.
Panic shot through him. He imdiately grabbed her wrist. "That was my uncle!" he blurted out. "I wasn't talking to a girl—definitely not."
She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Xu Lingwei quickly turned back to his phone. "I'll call you later," he muttered into the speaker before hanging up.
Hua Rong let out a small huff. "You didn't need to explain it to ," she said, pulling her hand away and sitting down across from him.
He watched as she lifted her chopsticks and took a bite. "Mushroom tofu stir-fry?" he noted, picking up his own chopsticks.
"You expected anything else?" she replied dryly.
He took a bite, nodding in approval. "Not bad."
She leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing playfully. "So... you love your uncle so much that you don't mind him leaving you stranded in an unfamiliar place?"
Xu Lingwei swallowed his food, setting his chopsticks down. "It's... sothing else. Sothing you wouldn't understand."
Hua Rong tilted her head as if studying him. Then, out of nowhere, she chuckled.
"I think I can never understand you, Xu Lingwei," she mused, shaking her head before continuing to eat.
Xu Lingwei couldn't quite understand why she had said that. "I think I can never understand you."
There was sothing about the way she had said it—almost like there was more to it. But he didn't push for an answer. Instead, he simply continued eating, occasionally stealing glances at her.
Once they were done, Hua Rong collected the bowls and carried them into the kitchen. The soft sound of running water filled the quiet space as she rinsed them. Droplets trickled off the edges, splashing against the sink. Her thoughts drifted, but before she could lose herself completely—
A low voice brushed against her ear.
"Why did you say you can never understand ?"
Hua Rong's hands faltered. Her body tensed as she turned—only to find Xu Lingwei dangerously close.
Her breath hitched. When had he moved?
His eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unreadable. The small smirk tugging at his lips sent an uneasy flutter through her chest.
"Why?" he asked again, voice lower this ti, teasing yet demanding.
She tried to respond, but her words caught in her throat. "Th-that's—"
Before she could finish, his hand slid behind her neck. The touch was light, deliberate—just enough to make her hyper-aware of how little space remained between them.
His other hand trailed lazily along her arm, his fingers brushing against her skin like a whisper
Her pulse stuttered. Too close.
His lips hovered near her ear as he murmured, "I don't think you were lying to Tang Moyu."
Then, with a smirk curling at his lips, he added, "I really do take advantage of you."A shiver ran down her spine. She told herself to push him away—slap him, shove him, anything!
But her body betrayed her.
For a second, she didn't want to move.
And then—her wet fingers slipped against the counter. The sudden movent jolted her back to her senses.
Her eyes widened.
With a burst of strength, she shoved him away, taking a large step back.
"Fine!" she snapped, her face burning. "I did say it to her!"
Xu Lingwei just grinned, completely unfazed by her outburst.
Hua Rong crossed her arms, glaring at him. "But that doesn't an you get to ss with over it!"
He tilted his head, pretending to think. "Hmm... but it's fun."
Fun?!
She groaned in frustration before suddenly grabbing his wrist and dragging him toward the door.
"Hey—what are you doing?" Xu Lingwei asked, raising an amused brow as she pulled him outside.
"You—" she huffed, shoving him toward a simple wooden bed just outside the house. "Stay here!"
Xu Lingwei looked down at the bare wooden fra, then back at her. "Seriously?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she slamd the door shut.
Then, pressing her back against it, she slid down until she was sitting on the floor.
Her heart was still racing.
She exhaled shakily, running a hand over her face.
Staying with him... is really dangerous.
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