After these past few days of interacting with Xing Yu, Lin Yan knew in her heart that although Xing Yu could be frivolous at times, he wasn’t a bad person.
However, having him pester her all day wasn’t a solution either.
Lin Yan met his gaze. “Coach Xing, you don’t seem like the type to meddle in other people’s affairs.”
“How so?”
“Running into me multiple times and offering me rides, showing up out of nowhere to help me out of a jam.” Lin Yan’s expression was indifferent. “Coach Xing, are you like this with everyone?”
Xing Yu: “You’ve figured it out—I’m not one to meddle in others’ business.”
Lin Yan saw through him clearly. “So, you’re being serious?”
As their eyes locked, Xing Yu’s gaze flickered with shifting light. After a moment, he leaned closer. “Is that not allowed?”
Xing Yu’s pupils were like a violently howling tornado, seemingly pulling her in with unstoppable force.
Lin Yan broke eye contact and laid things out with him.
“You’ve seen it yourself—my family of origin is a complete mess, I’m cold and boring by nature, and coming to these blind dates is only out of pressure from my family. If you really have that intention, give up now while you still can.”
Xing Yu took a slow sip of his drink, his unhurried tone making it hard to tell if he was serious.
“I’m someone who’s drawn to the unusual. Refined, exquisite things don’t attract me—it’s precisely those imperfect things, the ones with a bit of an edge, that I find interesting.”
Lin Yan couldn’t quite handle him. She stopped talking and drank on her own.
After who knows how long, a low, gentle voice reached her ears.
“Does your face still hurt?”
Lin Yan’s cool, composed expression remained completely unruffled. “Minor issue.”
But Xing Yu’s gaze lingered on her profile, refusing to look away.
“Coach Xing, are you staring at me because you think I’m pitiful?”
“Not at all.” Xing Yu said. “On the contrary, I think you can handle things.”
“Lean on a mountain when there’s one; carry it alone when there isn’t.” Lin Yan looked straight ahead, her gaze distant and clear. “Isn’t the most basic skill of an adult learning to pull yourself through?”
“Well said. Cheers.”
…
For the next hour, Lin Yan and Xing Yu chatted and drank in a desultory manner.
Until the moon disappeared, dark clouds gathered, and a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. Only then did Lin Yan tilt her head back and shout at the sky: “Rain… rain… if you’ve got the guts, rain down some money instead!”
Xing Yu paused, only then realizing that Lin Yan was already drunk.
He took the beer can—still a third full—from Lin Yan’s hand and supported her by the shoulder. “You’re drunk. I’ll take you home.”
Lin Yan hugged her knees and tucked her head into her down jacket. “I… don’t have a home.”
The rain grew heavier. Xing Yu raised his hand to shield her head. “Alright, come home with me then.”
Lin Yan suddenly sat up straight, both hands guarding her chest. “You… you shameless… stinking man… stay away from me…”
“Fine!” Xing Yu stood and scooped her into his arms. “Then come find this stinking man to settle the score tomorrow when you’re sober.”
Back at home, the old lady was astonished to see Xing Yu carrying a woman inside.
“A Yu, who is this?”
The old lady leaned in for a look, and her face crinkled into a smile full of wrinkles. “I was just saying you’d finally bloomed—so it’s that girl from the Zhou family.”
Xing Yu didn’t explain. “Grandma, she got soaked. Can you help her change her clothes?”
The old lady waved a hand and yawned. “The girl you brought back yourself—you change her yourself. I’m sleepy, off to bed.”
Xing Yu had no choice. He carried Lin Yan to his own room.
He set her down on the bed and hesitated for a long moment before removing her down jacket.
However, after taking off the jacket, he discovered that underneath, Lin Yan was only wearing a fitted white knit top.
Damn. No bra.
Xing Yu’s Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed. He averted his gaze from her chest, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette, placing it between his lips.
After calming himself down, he returned to the bedside and helped her out of her wet jeans.
Thankfully, she was wearing leggings underneath.
After tucking her into the blankets, he looked down at her, his eyes brimming with complicated emotions.
After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and lightly touched the fading handprint on her cheek, then traced his finger to the mole at the corner of her eye.
“Lin Yan… do you… still remember me?”
As his words fell, Lin Yan, who had been sound asleep, groggily opened her eyes.
Their gazes met, and Xing Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
In her haze, Lin Yan struggled to focus, seemingly making out the man before her.
She suddenly reached out and hooked her arm around Xing Yu’s neck.
Caught completely off guard, he was pulled down onto her by the force. In the brief moment of disorientation, a cold, soft pressure descended on his lips.
A flicker of astonishment passed through his dark eyes.
Xing Yu’s heart pounded. His body went rigid, and he dared not move.
Then, drifting into his ear came three words that made his blood run cold.
“Yan… Zheng… ge…”
Xing Yu froze for a few seconds. Frowning at her reddened eyes, he spoke hoarsely: “Lin Yan, look clearly at who I am.”
“Yan Zheng ge…”
He tucked the blanket back around her.
A helpless, bitter smile tugged at his lips. “You fool. You like him that much?”
…
When Lin Yan woke up, it was already the next morning.
She looked at the unfamiliar room, fragments of disjointed images surfacing in her mind.
Her nerves jolted. She quickly threw off the covers and got out of bed.
Just then, she ran right into Xing Yu, who was opening the door and walking in.
“Friend, awake?”
“Where is this? How did I get here?”
Xing Yu stood before her: “You got drunk last night and insisted on following me home.”
“…” She had no recollection of it: “Where are my clothes?”
Xing Yu pointed to the chair nearby.
Lin Yan was about to go grab her clothes when Xing Yu reached out and stopped her.
“Tsk, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Lin Yan looked up: “Did what on purpose?”
“Getting drunk on purpose, making me bring you home on purpose.” Xing Yu’s gaze dropped, sweeping over her chest before he continued.
“Not wearing a bra on purpose, deliberately… trying to seduce me?”
Lin Yan exploded, only then suddenly remembering the bra situation.
She had a habit of not wearing a bra in winter—it was cold, troublesome, and uncomfortable. As long as her coat was thick enough, it couldn’t be seen anyway.
Embarrassed and flustered, she shielded her chest with her hands and told the truth: “I don’t wear one in winter.”
“So you admit you were trying to seduce me?”
Lin Yan said coolly: “If the Great Wall were built with your face, Meng Jiangnu wouldn’t have been able to cry it down even if she tried.”
With that, Lin Yan quickly pulled on her clothes and pants.
Just as she was about to leave, Xing Yu stopped her again.
“Friend, you owe me an explanation.”
“What explanation?”
Xing Yu tilted his head, revealing the bruise on his neck.
“Friend, take a look at your handiwork. I’ve been pure and innocent for thirty-one years—how am I supposed to find a wife now?”