The convenience store was brightly lit, and Fang Qizhou stood with his arms crossed, staring straight at her.
The girl’s black hair was soaked through, soft strands falling over her shoulders. As she lowered her head to bite into the rice ball, her neck curved in a smooth arc, exposing the soft, pale skin beneath.
Zhu Fan hadn’t thought anything was wrong with what she’d just said, but Fang Qizhou’s gaze now made her sense something subtle in the atmosphere.
But heaven knows, she really just wanted to make Fang Qizhou feel a little better. Not so world-weary, and not so quick to do something dangerous and reckless when things got to him.
His life was her life too.
Zhu Fan set the half-eaten rice ball back on the table and took a bite of each of the other cooked foods.
Finally, her gaze landed on the instant noodles Fang Qizhou had taken a bite of earlier.
Her mouth was stuffed with too much food, cheeks puffed out as she pointed at the noodles and mumbled indistinctly, “Are you sure you want me to take a bite of this too?”
The other foods were all untouched. She didn’t understand why Fang Qizhou wanted her to taste everything, but this man never did things by the book anyway.
Zhu Fan wasn’t sure that if she actually ate the noodles, Fang Qizhou would still eat them.
She was already full.
If she touched that bowl of noodles and Fang Qizhou wouldn’t eat it, it would go to waste.
Fang Qizhou stared at the girl’s clear, limpid eyes and her puffed-out cheeks, his gaze darkening as a shadow crept across his brow.
“You dared to get in bed with me, but you don’t dare eat a bowl of noodles?”
The food caught in her throat, and Zhu Fan covered her mouth, coughing so hard tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
The girl’s eyes were glistening with moisture, even the tip of her nose flushed pink.
She looked utterly pitiful, like she’d been thoroughly bullied.
Fang Qizhou curled the corner of his mouth. “Miss Zhu really does have two faces—one in bed, one out of it.”
The light mockery in his tone made Zhu Fan realize that Fang Qizhou seemed even more upset now.
Her grandmother always said that when someone was unhappy or angry, you should stroke them the right way.
Zhu Fan paused for a moment, then picked up the noodles and took a sip of the broth.
She couldn’t eat anymore—her stomach was too full.
She quietly glanced up at Fang Qizhou and dropped a bombshell: “Then which face do you like?”
Fang Qizhou’s hand, reaching for the noodles, paused for half a second.
Zhu Fan read his expression and, with great tact, handed the bowl over to him.
Fang Qizhou raised an eyebrow, a scoff escaping his throat.
How could even his mocking laugh be so captivating?
Zhu Fan’s skin was usually thin. After she’d responded to Fang Qizhou, his sneer made her face burn hot.
When people feel a bit awkward, they can’t help but find something to do.
Like checking their phone or wiping the table.
During that time, Fang Qizhou polished off every single cooked food item she’d taken a bite of.
Zhu Fan couldn’t help but marvel—in all her life, even her grandmother had never eaten her leftovers.
And likewise, she’d never eaten anyone else’s leftovers either.
She didn’t know if it was because the convenience store was sealed and stuffy, but her clothes clung wetly to her skin, and she felt both hot and cold at once.
Zhu Fan rubbed her arms and sneezed several times in a row.
Noticing that someone in the store kept glancing at her, she looked down at her white T-shirt, which was soaked from the rain and clinging transparently to her skin.
Good thing she’d changed clothes before going out. If she’d worn a skirt, it would’ve been even worse.
Fang Qizhou followed her gaze, then released his grip on the plastic fork.
The man was tall with long legs, and even when he rose lazily, he carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Zhu Fan tilted her head up to look at Fang Qizhou, blank for a few seconds.
The cashier couldn’t control her gaze, sneaking furtive looks toward Zhu Fan’s corner.
From her angle, the man stood in front of the girl, and from behind, it looked like he was completely enveloping her in front of him.
Boyfriend energy overload!!
So freaking adorable.
Look at that unquestionable dominance and possessiveness.
The cashier quietly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo.
Zhu Fan tucked a stray strand of hair from her forehead and asked with clear eyes, “Are you getting more food?”
Fang Qizhou lowered his gaze, meeting her limpid eyes. “Let’s go.”
The man’s single syllable was cool and clipped.
Zhu Fan: “Huh?”
The girl’s voice was soft and drawling, thick with a stuffy nose.
Fang Qizhou was already striding toward the door.
Realizing Fang Qizhou was leaving the convenience store, Zhu Fan quickly stood up and trailed behind him step by step.
As they exited the store, the wind hit her and she sneezed again.
Watching Fang Qizhou stride ahead on those long legs with no intention of waiting for her, she hurried into a little jog to catch up.
Fang Qizhou’s black sports car was parked right outside the convenience store.
Even so, they both got drenched in the rain, climbing into the car soaking wet.
Zhu Fan had already given up caring—she couldn’t get any wetter anyway.
She’d just closed the car door when a jacket was tossed over her head.
Zhu Fan pulled the jacket off her head and didn’t stand on ceremony, slipping it on in a few quick motions and wrapping herself up snugly.
She turned to look at Fang Qizhou in the driver’s seat. “Thanks for the jacket.”
Almost the moment she finished speaking, the engine roared, drowning out her soft thanks.
The scent from the jacket—cool mint mixed with a hint of greenery—filled her nose, and she couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
It was a clean, pleasant smell.
A sudden brake jerked Zhu Fan’s body sharply forward.
The girl’s brow furrowed and quickly smoothed out, as if she didn’t care, but the hand unconsciously gripping her coat and her rigid posture betrayed her inner unease.
Fang Qizhou’s gaze withdrew from the rearview mirror, and his foot on the accelerator unconsciously lightened.
The next moment, the corners of his mouth turned cold.
Another sudden brake, and he saw the fear in the girl’s eyes, frowning slightly.
“Can you drive a little slower?”
Zhu Fan covered her lips, her face turning pale.
She felt like throwing up.
Fang Qizhou glanced at her without saying a word.
Zhu Fan felt the car speed gradually mellowing, and rubbed her stomach.
After getting out of the car, Zhu Fan and Fang Qizhou had no communication at all.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk to him.
She was too uncomfortable to speak.
Zhu Fan wrapped her coat tighter and followed Fang Qizhou into the elevator.
Other people also entered the elevator, and she instinctively leaned closer to Fang Qizhou.
The gaze of the man in sunglasses made Zhu Fan somewhat uncomfortable.
She gently tugged at Fang Qizhou’s hem.
Fang Qizhou lifted his eyes lazily, meeting the sunglasses man’s gaze.
The sunglasses man coughed, his gaze almost instantly retracting.
Fang Qizhou pressed the floor button with his cold, pale fingertips, and his long arm pulled the person beside him into his embrace.
Zhu Fan’s eyelashes fluttered.
The man’s body heat and crisp scent seeped into her nostrils from every angle.
She was about to struggle when she noticed Fang Qizhou lowering his eyelids to look at her.
The air in the elevator was silent, and Zhu Fan stiffly nestled in Fang Qizhou’s arms.
The sunglasses man got off the elevator before them.
Zhu Fan only felt the arm around her waist tight and burning.
“You’re squeezing me too hard.”
With that soft, warm voice, the elevator doors slowly opened.
The amber eyes on the girl’s porcelain-white face shimmered with a watery sheen, sparkling brightly.
Fang Qizhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he directly scooped the girl up in his arms.
Zhu Fan let out a startled cry, her arms instinctively wrapping around the man’s neck.
Fang Qizhou silently lifted the corners of his mouth. “Hold on tight.”
The waist in his palm seemed like it could snap with a single squeeze.