Chapter Seven

  He pulled out his arm from his pocket and asked faintly, "How did you end up here?"

  Have you eaten?

  Two people habitually ask irrelevant questions and give irrelevant answers.

  Si Luo Chen shook his head and looked at the thing in the other person's hand: "Bought for me?"

  "Shall we go to my place for dinner on the way?" The invited person hasn't reacted yet, but she's already a bit shy.

  For some reason, Si Luo Chen particularly liked seeing Xiang Qian Tong's unnatural side, because it was really rare to see. From high school to university, her confidence in people and things, her disdain for everyone, the normally cold woman, was uniquely shy only when it came to herself.

  All expressions were collected in her eyes, with a faint smile on her face.

  Nodded, which was taken as consent.

  Two people walked side by side, and New York's midnight streets were bustling with activity.

  No words all the way.

  Xiang Qiong's home was not far from the clinic, just two streets away. It was a delicate single apartment building. Swipe card to enter, take the elevator upstairs, Xiang Qiong took out the key to open the door and invited Si Lu Chen in: "The room is a bit small, make yourself at home."

  She casually opened the shoe cabinet and took out a pair of slippers for Si Luochen to change into.

  Looking around the place where Qian Tong lives, the layout is simple and elegant, with two rooms and one living room. The decoration looks very new, with one bedroom and one study room. As always, she likes cleanliness, and the house is very tidy. The apartment is quite high up, so I believe the lighting must be great too. The large floor-to-ceiling windows make the living room a comfortable and elegant place to bask in the sun.

  "What would you like to drink?" Qian Tong asked as she opened the refrigerator.

  "Do you have milk?"

  Qian Tong pouted: "You still like milk so much." She said, taking out a cup of milk from the refrigerator, and added: "Do you want it heated?"

  "Whatever." He said naturally, sitting on the sofa and carefully looking at each decoration and arrangement.

  Xiang Qiong put the milk in the microwave for a few turns and handed over the warm milk. Si Luo Chen's slender and beautiful fingers grasped the glass, the pure white milk complemented her skin, as if she was bathed in milk. After a while, she also heated up the takeout and smiled: "Is it true that people who often drink milk have good skin?"

  Si Luo Chen took a sip of milk, and a faint smile played on his lips as he raised his eyes to look at Xiang Qian Tong, who was leaning against the kitchen counter. He asked softly, "Are you interested?"

  She winked at Qian Tong without saying a word.

  The microwave beeped, and the rice was hot. Hurriedly walked over to take it out and handed it to Si Luo Chen: "Eat it while it's hot."

  Si Luo Chen stared at the cha siu fan, looking at it for a long time before picking up his chopsticks to quietly start eating. In the process of savoring each bite, he would occasionally glance at Xiang Qian Tong who was staring at him, and the collision of their gazes always made Xiang Qian Tong feel at a loss, with a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, slowly finishing her meal.

  Just as the other party finally finished eating takeout, he took out a paper towel box from behind Qian Tong, pulled out a paper towel and handed it to Si Lu Chen.

  Took over the tissue: "Thank you." Wiped her mouth with a napkin.

  "It's very late..." Qian Tong said in a soft voice.

  Si Luo Chen heard the sound and raised his eyes, expressionless, just about to make a move but was stopped by Xiang Qian Tong. Their eyes met, and Xiang Qian Tong blinked at her before continuing: "Why don't we stay here today?" in a consultative tone.

  Si Lu Chen sat there silently, expressionlessly staring at Xiang Qian Tong.

  "I don't know what she's thinking, but Qian Tong immediately explained: 'Don't get me wrong, I know you're still living in school right now. The security situation in the US is not as good as at home, and there are more blacks in the suburbs... especially... especially since... you're so... so beautiful... it's very dangerous.'" Her voice got smaller and smaller towards the end.

  "What's wrong?" an uncomprehending inquiry.

  To Qian Tong: "......"

  "Am I pretty?" The voice was faint as she glanced at Qian Tong, picked up the water placed aside and took a light sip, completely ignoring the point.

  To Qian Tong: "......"

  Si Luo Chen put down the cup with an innocent face and said lightly, "Will I be a trouble to you? And...I didn't bring any spare clothes."

  Upon hearing this, Xiang Qian Tong immediately changed the subject and said: "Oh, it won't be a bother. I have new clothes here that you can change into, your build is similar to mine so my clothes should fit you, as long as you don't mind."

  Si Luo Chen shook his head and gestured that it didn't matter. He carefully looked at Xiang Qian Tong, nodded meaningfully without saying a word.

  To Qian Tong: "......"

  The living room fell silent once again.

  Xiang Qian Tong let out a slightly awkward cough, changing the subject, saying: "You can watch TV for a bit, some American dramas are pretty good. I'll go take a bath first, then you can go after me, okay?"

  Si Luo Chen nodded and watched as Qian Tong walked into the room. Before long, the sound of a shower came out.

  Staring at the door, Si Luo Chen's expressionless face turned away as she picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. Her slender fingers grasped the remote control, constantly pressing the channel button, as if no channel could capture her attention. Those popular American dramas that many people were crazy about seemed like infomercials to her, extremely boring.

  In the bathroom, Qian Tong took off her clothes and stood barefoot. She raised her hands to untie the hair tie that bound her long hair, which fell down to her waist. Turning on the faucet, she closed her eyes, tilted her head slightly upwards, and let the water from the showerhead fall gently onto her delicate face, neck, chest, and straight, slender legs, flowing all the way down.

  When the surroundings were all misty, she raised her hand and wiped her cheek, and her black eyes filled with water vapor slowly opened.

  Qian Tong, what kind of person will you like in the future, huh?

  If possible, I'd rather not have someone I like.

  Why?

  I am afraid.

  At that time, they could still get along normally, until after the student union dinner party, she got a bit drunk. Si Luochen supported her all the way back to the dormitory, and really couldn't walk anymore, wanting to blow some cold wind to sober up. Si Luochen kept his arms around her, afraid that if she softened her feet, she would fall down.

  A drunk person's mouth is always spouting nonsense, and after saying so much, the only thing that can be remembered is: "I don't need pity, I don't need your hypocritical companionship!"

  Then there was no reaction, only remembering her warm embrace and her faintly fragrant body was very enchanting.

  Two people stood still on the grass, their heads heavily falling into Si Lu Chen's arms, a bit unconscious, but heard a faint voice in their ears: "Qian Tong, will you like me?" Paused for a moment: "I like you, but you'll never know."

  These words didn't seem to be said for her own ears, but rather her mind was clear, yet she couldn't respond in any way. Her forehead was pressed against a cool and soft pair of lips, as if being comforted.

  "I will always be with you."

  Although he saw Si Luo Chen again on the second day, still with his usual expression, he had already been at a loss for what to do.

  Opening her eyes, the sigh was drowned out by the sound of the shower, and her mind was a jumbled mess, thinking about all sorts of things.

  It's unknown how long it took to finish the bath, wrapped in a coffee-colored bathrobe, with blow-dried hair scattered about, wearing slippers and walking out of the thick fog.

  And then found a new set of underwear, toothbrush and a set of pajamas from the drawer. After everything was ready, she went back to the living room and saw Si Luo Chen sitting quietly on the sofa, staring intently at the TV.

  "Alright, Luo Chen, you can go take a bath now."

  Si Lu Chen heard the sound and turned his head, looking at her with deep eyes staring at her, looking a bit cold towards Qian Tong.

  She nodded slightly with a soft "uh-huh" after a while, then got up and walked into the bathroom.

  Qian Tong stood there in a daze, feeling very uncomfortable.