The girl’s instep was fair and bony, the skin thin enough that faint blue veins could be seen beneath.
Her toenails were round, with a pale pink luster.
Completely different from his.
Xie Dingyuan’s fingers, hanging at his sides and pressed against the seam of his trousers, twitched unconsciously. His Adam’s apple rolled up and down chaotically.
“What are you looking at?”
He jolted back to his senses, withdrawing his gaze as if burned.
“N–Nothing…”
“My feet look that good to you?”
The man stammered in a low murmur: “They… they look good.”
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched, and she brushed past him straight into the room.
Xie Dingyuan closed the door and followed behind, a flash of frustration crossing his eyes.
D*mn this mouth of his…
When Jiang Fuyue reached the dining room, she found a bowl of instant noodles on the table. The fork was still clean, meaning it hadn’t been eaten yet.
Xie Dingyuan offered a dry explanation: “Aunt Liu isn’t here, no one to cook…”
Jiang Fuyue set the bag down, taking out the lunchbox inside.
The man’s eyes lit up. “That’s for me?”
“Who else?” she replied, opening the lunchbox. Inside, tiered compartments stacked together, each layer holding different dishes. The bottom one was rice.
“Got chopsticks?”
“Yes. I’ll get them.”
He turned toward the kitchen.
Soon he returned with two pairs of chopsticks, handing one to Jiang Fuyue. “You should eat some too.”
Jiang Fuyue accepted them but set them aside, hardly touching the food, watching instead as he ate.
“How’s the taste?”
Xie Dingyuan nodded. “…Delicious.”
“My brother made it.”
His movements froze. No wonder…
Food cooked by a brother-in-law just hits different!
After eating, Xie Dingyuan went to wash the lunchbox in the kitchen. When he came back, he brought out a plate of apples, each piece cut evenly, every toothpick stuck in at the exact same height.
The two of them sat on the sofa, watching… the news.
Onscreen was coverage of the latest updates on the epidemic in F Continent. Eight countries had already decided to purchase the first-stage vaccine developed by the Huaxia expert team.
The aerial footage cut to what looked like a military camp.
Jiang Fuyue asked: “Where’s that?”
Xie Dingyuan glanced at her in surprise. Out of all the footage, she happened to ask about this one…
Fortunately, there wasn’t anything that couldn’t be said.
“Suweitan military base.”
“Your lab is built there, isn’t it?”
His voice sank, his eyes dimming with gloom. “…How do you know that?”
He could tell her it was Suweitan.
But he wasn’t supposed to reveal the lab was located there.
He hadn’t expected her to figure it out herself.
“Last time in Tunijilia, I overheard the airport staff say the flight came from Suweitan, and you were on it…”
The answer was obvious.
Speaking of that incident, Jiang Fuyue suddenly recalled a question she had never asked: “How did you find me that time?”
There were so many passengers in quarantine, yet after entering the single-person isolation zone, the very first one Xie Dingyuan went to see was her.
That couldn’t have been mere coincidence.
“Your name was on the fever list.”
“Didn’t you… hug me then?”
“…”
Jiang Fuyue nudged him with her elbow. “Answer.”
“…Mm.”
Not only had he hugged her, he’d even kissed her.
“Professor Xie, you’re blushing.”
His jaw tightened, his expression serious. “Because it’s too hot indoors.”
Hot?
Jiang Fuyue glanced at the AC unit quietly exhaling cold air. She didn’t expose him.
…
Night deepened. The clock’s hands pointed to nine.
Jiang Fuyue said, “It’s about time.” She rose, picked up the lunchbox bag. “I’m heading back.”
Xie Dingyuan held her back, feeling the time had passed too quickly.
“Then… will you come again tomorrow?”
Jiang Fuyue blinked. “Do you want me to?”
“Yes!” He answered without hesitation.
“Alright.” She agreed just as decisively.
…
The next morning, Jiang Fuyue went over again.
Without knocking, she opened the lock with her fingerprint.
After changing shoes in the entryway, she noticed the living room was empty.
She sat on the sofa for ten minutes, then sent him a message. Just as she hit send, a ding-dong sounded—
His phone was lying not far away.
At least that meant he was home.
Thinking it over, Jiang Fuyue went upstairs. Sure enough, sounds came from the master bedroom.
It was the shower running.
Uh…
Xie Dingyuan was bathing.
She was about to back out quietly when the bathroom door suddenly opened from inside.
The man stepped out, bare-chested, droplets still trailing from his chest up to his neck.
Their eyes met. Both froze.
“You’re here.”
“You were… showering?”
Awkwardness tinged with a trace of something more.
Jiang Fuyue turned away. “Put on clothes first. I’ll wait in the living room.”
“Jiang Fuyue…”
“?”
“Stay here and wait.”
“Are you insane?”
“What are you thinking? Just stand with your back to me. You won’t peek anyway.” At the last words, he even sounded a little regretful.
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched. “Who says I wouldn’t peek? Don’t you know lechers aren’t divided by gender?”
“Oh? Then turn around. I’ll let you see everything.”
“!” …Was this something a professor should say?!
“Why aren’t you turning?”
“…” Forget it. Better not provoke him.
After the rustling of fabric, Xie Dingyuan said: “Alright, turn back.”
Jiang Fuyue looked over. The man now wore a full set of black sleepwear, which made his tall frame look even more imposing and handsome.
Still, the fleeting glimpse from before replayed in her mind.
She knew beneath that black cloth were even, sculpted lines.
Veins distinct.
Skin pale, but neither weak nor effeminate—rather carrying a warm, jade-like quality.
A large hand waved before her eyes. Jiang Fuyue startled back to herself. Xie Dingyuan was already standing right in front of her.
A crisp pine scent drifted to her nose. The man smiled faintly. “What were you thinking?”
“Nothing.” She denied outright.
“I know. You were thinking about me.”
Jiang Fuyue gave a small snort. “…Childish.”
She turned to leave.
Xie Dingyuan followed her all the way to the living room downstairs. “You were thinking about me.”
“You’re annoying…”
“And you were picturing me without clothes.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
Sensing he’d pushed enough, he stopped teasing.
“Your hair’s like that?”
He touched his head. “What about it?”
“You’re not going to dry it?”
“…No need, right?” Back in Suweitan, he’d cut his hair short like the soldiers for convenience.
“It dries fast.”
“You think this is still F Continent?”
“…”
“Where’s the hair dryer? Do you have one?”
“…Yes.”
“Bring it.”
“Oh.” He obediently went to fetch it. When he returned, he handed it straight to her.
Jiang Fuyue: “?” I told you to dry your hair, why are you giving it to me?
He just held it out, not moving, eyes pitiful.
In the end, Jiang Fuyue gave in, taking it from him. She patted his back. “Turn around, sit.”
The man broke into a smile and sat down, his posture stiff and upright.
She tested the temperature—second setting was too hot, first was just right.
His hair was naturally coarse, and with the buzz cut it felt prickly to the touch.
Jiang Fuyue had to go slowly, her fingers occasionally brushing his scalp.
Each time, his body went rigid, muscles tightening.
“Why are you twitching? Relax.”
“…Oh.” He didn’t want to, but couldn’t help it.
“Tomorrow I’m going to the lab. Want to come?”
“You mean at Hanqing’s side?”
“Mm.”
“If you’re going to work, what would I do?”
“Exam’s are over. Don’t you plan to visit Old Bai and the others?”
Her eyes softened slightly. It had been a while indeed. “Wouldn’t I be bothering their work?”
“They just wrapped up a project last week. They’re free.”
“Alright, then I’ll go too.” She happened to have a few aerodynamics questions she wanted to ask Ding Yu.
…
“Done.” Jiang Fuyue switched off the dryer and unplugged it.
“So fast?” The man’s eyes were full of regret.
Her tone was matter-of-fact: “Your hair’s short. Doesn’t take long.”
Xie Dingyuan secretly contemplated the possibility of growing it out.
Jiang Fuyue stayed until noon, then got ready to head home and cook. That was the convenience of having a boyfriend next door—she could come and go as she pleased.
Her younger brother had been picked up early by Wu Qian for an event, so today she had to fend for herself.
Xie Dingyuan said, “Why not cook here?”
Jiang Fuyue gave him a suspicious look.
He coughed. “Pots and pans are all here. Aunt Liu usually uses them. The fridge has wontons and dipping sauce already made. I can help too.”
“Alright.”
Everything was already prepared. Drop the wontons in boiling water, scoop them up, dip them—simple.
While she boiled water, Xie Dingyuan washed the vegetables.
He rolled up his sleeves, revealing well-shaped forearms.
Every leaf was rinsed over and over, perfectly clean, then stacked in neat order beside him.
