Zhou Muyang was surprised. “Delivery is really fast today.”
The food had been ordered at the start of a game. One match lasted thirteen minutes.
A delivery arriving in thirteen minutes was something he had never experienced before.
He clicked to start the game. While matchmaking, he walked to the door and opened it. “It’s here.”
As the door opened, a wave of heat rushed in.
“Just leave the delivery at the door and—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Zhu Heqing stood outside, backlit by the light.
He wasn’t wearing a suit today. Instead, he wore a loose black drop-shoulder short-sleeved shirt on top, paired with wide-leg trousers in the same color. It was a clean, refreshing outfit—youthful yet elegant.
Zhou Muyang swallowed his words, a trace of awkwardness appearing on his face.
Zhu Heqing hadn’t expected it to be Zhou Muyang who opened the door either. He paused slightly, then the corners of his refined face lifted into a polite smile as he greeted him.
“I’ve heard Fufu mention you before. Zhou Muyang. Nice to meet you.”
Although Zhou Muyang studied sports, he also had some interest in psychology. When he had no classes or training, he often attended psychology lectures.
Even though Zhu Heqing was smiling, there wasn’t much warmth in his eyes. Instead, there was a faint, concealed scrutiny.
“This year during the New Year dinner,” Zhu Heqing said lightly, “Aunt Zhang mentioned you. She said you’re seven years older than Huanhuan, and that you’ve spoiled her into a child.”
Zhou Muyang laughed casually. “From the looks of it, you seem quite mature and reliable.”
“After all,” Zhu Heqing replied without much change in expression, “having a few more years of experience makes one more mature.”
“That way, when Fufu encounters problems she can’t solve at her age, I can use my experience to help her.”
Zhou Muyang said with a half-smile, “Keeping someone in a greenhouse isn’t a good thing. Without experiencing storms, one can never truly grow up.”
“She doesn’t need to experience storms,” Zhu Heqing said calmly.
Zhou Muyang raised his brows, about to refute—but then realized that Zhu Heqing really did have the capital to say that.
As long as Yu Huan didn’t break up with him, he could ensure she would never face the harshness of society in her life.
“Zhou Muyang, are you a pig?” Yu Huan’s voice came from inside. “Why is it taking so long to get a delivery? And you’re not even in the game—the countdown is already over, we’ve been waiting another minute.”
Neither of them had spoken loudly. Yu Huan was fully focused on her game and hadn’t noticed who Zhou Muyang was talking to.
When Zhu Heqing appeared in front of her, she still didn’t immediately react.
She glanced at the person following behind Zhou Muyang and didn’t pay much attention.
Then something felt off. She looked up again.
Her dark, bright eyes lifted, as if holding a pool of clear water. Her eyes were already large and round, and when she was surprised, they looked even bigger.
She blinked. “Zhu Heqing!”
She hadn’t seen him for several days. Even though they video-called every day, it still wasn’t the same as seeing him in person.
Seeing him suddenly in front of her, she threw her phone aside and jumped straight into his arms.
Zhu Heqing caught her smoothly with one arm while still holding a thermos of soup in the other.
He praised her softly. “Good job. You’re back to your pre-illness weight.”
Yu Huan wrapped her arms around his neck. He smelled like her perfume—recently her favorite bitter peach scent, sweet and slightly rich.
His appearance was already refined and gentle, and the fragrance suited him without feeling out of place.
Yu Huan asked, “Why did you come all of a sudden?”
“To give you a surprise.”
He sat down on the sofa with her still in his arms. “You said yesterday you wanted pork rib and corn soup. I made it for the first time, so I don’t know if it tastes good. Can you help me try it?”
Yu Huan happily used him as a seat cushion. The room was air-conditioned and cool, so even sitting on his lap didn’t feel hot.
She pointed her pale finger. “Zhou Muyang, go get bowls.”
“Am I your dog? You tell me to go and I go?” Zhou Muyang retorted, glancing between them with irritation.
Yu Huan frowned. She didn’t understand why he suddenly got angry. “What’s wrong with you now? Still in puberty?”
Crossing his arms, Zhou Muyang smiled faintly as if remembering something.
“Yeah. Being young has that downside. Puberty does relapse sometimes.”
“Unbelievable,” Yu Huan muttered.
Since he wouldn’t go, she turned to Zhu Heqing instead. “Then you go get the bowls for me.”
“Don’t,” Zhou Muyang cut in again. “Your boyfriend rarely comes here. He doesn’t even know where things are. In the end, I’ll still have to tell him.”
“No need,” Zhu Heqing said.
He placed the thermos on the coffee table and stood up directly. The arm holding Yu Huan tightened slightly, veins faintly visible against his pale skin—strikingly attractive.
“Fufu can just tell me directly.”
“……”
Zhou Muyang watched coldly as Zhu Heqing carried Yu Huan into the kitchen.
He thought to himself that Yu Huan was a heartless little thing who forgot friends the moment she saw someone attractive.
By any measure of closeness, he had grown up with her, served her like a horse and ox. Their relationship should have been closer—if she wanted to date someone, she should at least have discussed it with him first.
But no.
He had just finished military training and came all the way from their university to Qing University to find her—and found out she was already dating someone.
The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.
It felt like the cabbage he had raised since childhood had been taken by a pig.
Even looking at Zhu Heqing, everything about him suddenly seemed irritating.
In the kitchen, Yu Huan sat on Zhu Heqing’s arm, instructing him to get three bowls.
She looked down at him from above, her gaze slowly traveling from his forehead, to his thick eyelashes, to his high nose bridge, and finally to his lips.
As she looked, a thought emerged—she wanted to kiss him.
She lifted a finger and gently hooked his chin, tilting his face upward.
He obediently raised his head, meeting her eyes.
Yu Huan wrapped one arm around his neck and leaned down, pressing her soft lips against his.
For a moment, Zhu Heqing’s breathing faltered. He suppressed the instinct to take control, giving her full initiative instead.
She tentatively extended the tip of her tongue, lightly touching his lips.
Soft. Cool. Like cotton.
Her movements were slow and careful, like a child discovering a new toy.
“Older Brother, your heart is beating so fast.”
Her leg happened to be pressed against his chest. Through the thin fabric, his heartbeat was fast and powerful—one beat after another, heavier and more urgent each time.
Zhu Heqing could not withstand her teasing. Redness spread along his neck, even the corners of his eyes gradually tinting with a faint, alluring flush.
His voice turned low and tangled, desire impossible to conceal.
“Baby……”