Сhаpter 21: ‘Саn’t Кiss Yоu Аnyway’
Insidе thе elevаtor, the sрасе wаs rеlativеlу sраcious, уet the two of thеm nаturallу stооd сlоse tоgеthеr, their clоthеs brushing agаinst each оther with а faint rustle.
Hе Yu Zhou сasuаllу glancеd down and notiсеd thе bаg she was саrrуing in hеr hand. Hе reаched оut with his right hand and tоok it from hеr.
“Don’t say уоu dоn’t neеd it,” hе preemрted hеr. “Whеn someоne is serving уou, just еnjоу it.”
“Is yоur throat bеtter now?” hе аskеd abruptly.
From the sound of her vоiсe, nothing seemеd unusuаl.
“It’s better,” Yin En Yu nоddеd. “The preserved plums were delicious.”
He Yu Zhou wasn’t surprised at all. “Of course, I know.”
He had bought several types of preserved plums. The box he gave her was the one he had tasted and thought she would like, so he slipped it into the bag.
“Give me one,” he extended his hand toward her.
“It’s in my bag, you can take it yourself.” When she left home, for some reason, she had put that box of preserved plums into her bag.
He Yu Zhou skillfully unzipped the bag he was holding, picked up the box of preserved plums on top, and tossed one into his mouth.
Just as he was about to put the box back, his eyes were suddenly drawn to an item inside the bag, and his hand paused.
Then, he hooked out a rose gold watch with his index finger.
The watch face was surrounded by a circle of dazzling diamonds, a couple’s edition matching the one on his wrist.
Hers, however, looked even more luxurious, with the strap and watch face about half the size of his, delicate and beautiful.
He Yu Zhou smiled playfully and looked at her. “You didn’t lose the watch? You still have it?”
Yin En Yu was also stunned for a few seconds when she saw the watch.
This bag was the one she had carried during her solo concert after returning to the country. Before going on stage, she had temporarily taken off the watch and placed it in the bag, forgetting to take it out ever since.
Yin En Yu answered him with the words he had said to her in the corridor of the Grand Theater that night: “Didn’t you say it was bought with real money? It would be a shame to lose it.”
This couple’s watch was a limited edition. If she had really lost it, she would never have been able to buy the exact same one again.
He Yu Zhou chuckled, feeling inexplicably pleased to discover that she still kept the items he had given her.
“Then wear it. Keeping it in the bag is such a waste,” he turned sideways. “Give me your hand.”
Since she had taken it off, he didn’t mind helping her put it on again.
Yin En Yu hesitated for a moment, then extended the hand hanging by her side toward him.
Back then, he had also personally put it on for her.
He Yu Zhou lifted her wrist, measuring it with two fingers. Her wrist was still as slender as before, leaving a significant gap between his fingers.
He didn’t dare to use much force.
Once the watch was fastened, He Yu Zhou carefully adjusted the position of the watch face for her.
Entering the office, He Yu Zhou casually placed her bag on the sofa. “Have you had breakfast?”
Yin En Yu: “Yes.”
Although she hadn’t eaten much at home, she had a piece of cake at Wan Tang’s café.
“But I haven’t,” He Yu Zhou said.
This morning, he hadn’t been in the mood for breakfast at all. If she hadn’t come to see him now, he probably wouldn’t have remembered to eat.
Yin En Yu was taken aback. Wasn’t it almost time for lunch now?
He was full of advice for her, yet when it came to himself, he didn’t seem to care.
“Then go eat now?”
He Yu Zhou took off his suit jacket and sat down beside her, looking relaxed. “Buy it for me.”
Yin En Yu opened her phone. “What do you want to eat?”He had treated her to meals and brought her medicine, so it was only natural for her to order him breakfast in return.
He Yuzhou rested one hand on the back of the sofa, leaning closer to her side. His breath lingered around her. “Don’t you know my preferences?”
“Or have you, the great pianist, forgotten everything about me after two years apart?”
Yin Enyu raised her eyelashes. His words sounded strangely provocative, almost like a subtle jab.
“Then I’ll order for you. You can have it as lunch.”
Soon, Yin Enyu had placed the order for him, waiting only for the delivery.
He Yuzhou stayed seated beside her, in no hurry to leave for work.
Yin Enyu asked him again, “Why did you call me in the middle of the night?”
It couldn’t have been for no reason at all.
He Yuzhou didn’t want to elaborate and brushed it off. “It’s nothing now.”
He already regretted calling her after drinking.
Yin Enyu could tell he was lying. “Fine, don’t tell me then.”
She turned her head away, gazing at the gleaming floor-to-ceiling window, refusing to engage with him further.
He Yuzhou chuckled helplessly, his expression full of affection. There was no trace of the gentle, dignified pianist others saw in her now.
Instead, she was like a proud little princess, the kind who needed to be coddled and pampered.
And yet, he was completely taken by her.
“Are you throwing a tantrum now?” He Yuzhou twirled the ends of her hair between his fingers, catching the sweet, fruity floral scent lingering in her strands.
Her hair was so smooth it barely stayed in his grasp.
Yin Enyu wouldn’t let him touch her and swatted his hand away. “No.”
He Yuzhou couldn’t muster even a hint of annoyance. “Alright, my dear, I’ll tell you.”
Ignoring someone until she got the answer she wanted—he wondered where she picked up that habit.
Seeing him relent, Yin Enyu slowly turned her head back, fixing her gaze on him as she waited for him to continue.
He Yuzhou thought for a moment before speaking casually, “Calling you really was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I had a few drinks with Cheng Ziyan and the others last night.”
“My head was throbbing and foggy…”
He just wanted to call her, to act pitiful and miserable in front of her, to see if she would care.
Yin Enyu widened her eyes as if she had heard something unbelievable. “You drank?”
And enough to give you a headache? How much did you have?
She pressed further, “Didn’t you rarely drink before?”
Since when did he develop a drinking habit?
He Yuzhou curled his lips into a playful, roguish smile, his tone straightforward and unrestrained. “Now I can’t kiss you anymore.”
She was allergic to alcohol, and severely so. That was why he had quit drinking when they were together.
Yin Enyu was stunned by his sudden remark.
“I’m talking about something serious here.” She lightly kicked him with the tip of her shoe.
He Yuzhou shifted his leather shoe, hooking his toe around her foot. The fabric of his suit brushed against her smooth, exposed calf with his movement—a bold, flirtatious provocation.
“I’m talking about something serious too.”
Yin Enyu had initially wanted to show concern, but seeing he still had the energy to tease her, she figured he must be fine.
She withdrew her right foot, putting some distance between herself and the man beside her, and said irritably, “Then drink more. Serves you right for the headache.”
She made it clear in advance, “If you call me drunk, I won’t bother with you.”He Yu Zhou patted his pants, still looking as unprincipled as ever. “You’re quite heartless. Aren’t you afraid someone might take advantage of me?”
Yin En Yu: “…”
Wasn’t their dynamic reversed?
Besides, who could possibly take advantage of him? If such a person really existed, she was almost curious enough to go meet them herself.
Yin En Yu shrugged indifferently. “So what if they take advantage of you? It’s not me anyway.”
He Yu Zhou deliberately twisted her meaning, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips. “Haven’t you taken advantage of me plenty already?”
Yin En Yu looked at him with utter exasperation. “Is there something wrong with your comprehension?”
What she meant was: it wasn’t her being taken advantage of. Not that she wasn’t the one taking advantage of him.
He Yu Zhou played dumb. “Wasn’t that what you meant?”
“…”
Yin En Yu no longer wanted to speak to him.