On the phone screen, Lin Yan’s mortified face was reflected.
In twenty-eight years, this was the first time she’d caused such a huge disaster.
She thought about replying that it was a wrong number, but knowing Xing Yu’s pushy nature, he would definitely not let it go.
After thinking it over, she simply didn’t reply.
That night, no new messages appeared on her chat interface with Xing Yu.
She’d gotten used to her new home well enough—she slept straight through until noon the next day.
After washing up, she casually had a bowl of instant noodles and headed out to buy groceries.
It was New Year’s Eve today, so even if she was alone, she had to have a proper dinner.
By the time she finished shopping and returned to the neighborhood, over two hours had passed.
Walking into the building and about to call the elevator, Lin Yan froze.
There, standing at the elevator entrance, was a tall man with a handsome profile and flawless features—who else could it be but Xing Yu?
He was holding a bag of things, waiting for the elevator.
“Coach Xing.” Lin Yan walked up to him. “What are you doing here?”
Hearing her voice, Xing Yu’s gaze landed on her, and he asked in return, “And what are you doing here?”
“I rented a place in this building.”
Xing Yu narrowed his eyes, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips. “Friend, you’ve really gone to great lengths to get close to me.”
Lin Yan was baffled. “What nonsense are you talking about now?”
“You knew I live in Haiyu City, so you deliberately moved here. Right?”
It suddenly clicked for Lin Yan. “You live in Haiyu City too?”
Xing Yu: “Keep pretending.”
“…” Lin Yan found it unbelievable and pressed on. “You don’t actually live in this same building, do you?”
“Mm.”
“What unit?”
“18-1.”
“…”
Seeing that she didn’t respond, Xing Yu joked, “What? Don’t tell me you live right across from me?”
His jinx of a mouth had hit the mark.
She lived in 18-2, right across from him.
A cursed fate—an absolute cursed fate.
“Really living across from me?” Xing Yu stared at her.
Lin Yan pressed the elevator button again and explained flatly, “I didn’t know you lived here. This is all a coincidence. Believe it or not.”
The elevator doors opened, and Lin Yan stepped in. Xing Yu followed and pressed for the eighteenth floor.
“Friends should trust each other.” Xing Yu drawled lazily. “I believe you. Of course I do.”
“…”
When they reached the floor, Lin Yan quickly took out her keys and went home.
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
Looking through the peephole, it was Xing Yu.
She opened the door, somewhat impatient. “What is it?”
Xing Yu dangled the groceries in his hand in front of her. “The place hasn’t been lived in for a while, and I forgot to pay the gas bill, so I can’t cook. Mind if I borrow your kitchen?”
Lin Yan suspected he was doing this on purpose.
“Coach Xing, it’s New Year’s Eve. Why aren’t you at home with your grandmother? What are you doing coming back to the county town?”
Xing Yu said it with complete conviction: “I didn’t bring her a granddaughter-in-law this year, so she said I was an eyesore and told me to get lost. There’s nowhere to go in the town, so I had to roll back to the county.”
Lin Yan felt like Xing Yu was treating her like an idiot. “You think I’m that easy to fool?”
Xing Yu stepped forward, his gaze unwavering and locked directly onto her. “Friend, have you forgotten you still owe me something?”
Lin Yan’s conscience pricked her, and her gaze unconsciously drifted to the hickey on Xing Yu’s neck. She was instantly rendered speechless.
“This matter is actually quite easy to resolve.” Xing Yu’s brow furrowed slightly, his voice low and magnetic. “Either lend me your kitchen… or I’ll have no choice but to kiss you back—tit for tat.”
Lin Yan truly had no way to deal with him.
She kept a straight face, stepped aside, and her lips parted slightly. “Come in.”
The door closed, and Xing Yu walked straight into the kitchen with his groceries. He glanced at the vegetables Lin Yan had bought on the counter.
Potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce…
Sure enough, all vegetables. Not a single piece of meat.
He walked to the living room and headed straight toward Lin Yan, who was sitting on the sofa.
Seeing him take off his jacket, she stood up warily. “Why are you taking off your clothes?”
“To cook.” Xing Yu draped his jacket over the sofa. “What did you think I was going to do?”
Lin Yan shot him a cold, sidelong glare. “You never act serious. How am I supposed to know what you’re going to do?”
“Relax.” Xing Yu brought up the very thing he shouldn’t have, raising an eyebrow. “My libido may be strong, but I never act out of line.”
Lin Yan: “…”
Xing Yu turned and headed toward the kitchen, but after a few steps, he looked back. “Any dietary restrictions?”
“You’re planning to eat here too?”
“Borrowing your kitchen, eating the food I cook—we’re even.”
“…” Lin Yan said, “No scallions.”
“Got it.”
For the next hour, Xing Yu was busy in the kitchen.
The aroma drifted from the kitchen into the living room, and Lin Yan couldn’t resist walking over.
She leaned against the kitchen doorway with her arms crossed, watching Xing Yu’s busy back.
He actually looked pretty decent when he cooked.
“Peeking at me.” Xing Yu flipped the pan without turning around.
So narcissistic.
Did this guy have eyes on the back of his head?
She hadn’t made a sound—how did he know someone was behind him?
As she grumbled inwardly, Xing Yu’s lazy voice followed. “Friend, are you cursing me in your head again?”
“…” Amazing. He could read minds too.
When Lin Yan saw the table full of dishes that looked and smelled delicious, she couldn’t believe for a moment that they came from the hands of a rough guy like Xing Yu.
Four meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and a soup.
For two people, it was quite a feast.
She picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and took a bite. It tasted pretty good.
“How is it?” Xing Yu sat across from her. “Good?”
“It’s alright.”
Xing Yu ladled her a bowl of soup. “Alright… I guess it’s not bad, so eat more.”
Halfway through the meal, Xing Yu made casual conversation. “Any plans after the New Year?”
“Work.”
“Found a job already?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
Lin Yan paused with her chopsticks mid-air and answered vaguely, “Around here.”
“That’s good.”
Just then, Lin Yan’s WeChat buzzed—it was a video call from Song Yanzheng.
Lin Yan hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up her phone and walked to the balcony to answer.
[Yanyan, Happy New Year!]
[Happy New Year.]
[What did you have for dinner tonight? How’s it feel spending the New Year back home?]
“A-Yan, who’s that?” Xing Yu’s voice abruptly cut into their conversation.
She knew Xing Yu was doing it on purpose.
Hearing his voice, Song Yanzheng’s smile froze on the video. “Yanyan, you’re with Xing Yu?”
Lin Yan told the truth. “Yeah.”
Song Yanzheng was silent for a moment, his brows gradually knitting together.
[Yanyan, you’re not already living with Xing Yu, are you?]
Xing Yu’s voice rang out again. “A-Yan, the food’s getting cold. Come eat.”
Through the video, Lin Yan could tell Song Yanzheng was at his fiancée’s house.
Honestly, as a man about to get married, Song Yanzheng contacting her so often showed a real lack of boundaries.
She wasn’t the type to drag things out. Since she’d decided to let go, she’d be decisive about it.
[Yanzheng-ge, A-Yu and I are having our New Year’s Eve dinner. I’ll talk to you later.]
Ending the video, Lin Yan stood on the balcony absentmindedly for a while.
When she turned around, Xing Yu was behind her—she didn’t know when he’d gotten there.
“A-Yu?” Xing Yu’s smile rippled as he slowly closed in on her. “Say that again?”
She was backed against the balcony, unable to move. “If you’re full, go home.”
Xing Yu reached out, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace, his words carrying a double meaning. “Not full. Starving…”
Lin Yan pressed her index finger against his chest, her face guarded. “Let go.”
“Say it one more time. Then I’ll let go.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
As their eyes locked in a standoff, a sudden boom sounded in the sky.
Colorful fireworks burst and cascaded wildly across the night.
Dazzling, radiant, breathtakingly beautiful.
Lin Yan’s gaze was drawn away, staring blankly at the brilliant fireworks, while Xing Yu kept his eyes fixed on her face.
The fireworks faded, and a low, gentle voice reached her ear.
“Lin Yan, Happy New Year.”
Lin Yan was briefly stunned. When she turned her gaze to Xing Yu, he had already released his hold.
Only after tidying everything up did Xing Yu leave her place.
Back home, Xing Yu received a call from his grandfather.
“A-Yu, you’re not coming home for the New Year again! Are you really planning to stay in that countryside forever? It’s been so long—your father is getting old. Stop holding a grudge against him.”
Xing Yu said nothing.
The old man sighed and continued.
“I usually can’t be bothered with you, but next month when Yingxue and Yanzheng get married, you must come back. As the eldest son of the Xing family and Yingxue’s older brother, you have to be there!”
“Mm.” Xing Yu’s voice was low and deep. “I’ll be there.”