As soon as Lin Tiao finished speaking, only the sound of the television remained in the room. At that moment, a commercial break played, and the sweet, soft voice of the spokesperson echoed throughout the space.
Dusk had settled in, and at some point, the sky outside was covered by the glow of the evening light, with a broad spread of brilliance spilling through the narrow window.
The room was split into two scenes.
Jiang Yan sat in the shadows, looking relaxed, one long leg slightly bent, his pale, slender fingers casually resting on his waist, the other hand still holding the TV remote.
He seemed lost in thought, his handsome face showing little expression, his curled lashes casting a beautiful arc, leaving a faint shadow under his eyes.
From her distance, Lin Tiao couldn’t make out the expression in his eyes.
It seemed like time had passed for a while before Lin Tiao saw him open his arms, his slightly pursed lips moving, his voice low and hoarse, “Come here.”
“Hm?”
Come here for what?
A hug?
I was just joking, did you take it seriously?
Bro, you’re being way too accommodating.
Lin Tiao stared at him for a few seconds, and once she was sure he wasn’t joking, she took a shallow breath, her curled palms gradually breaking out in a light sweat.
She looked into the young man’s eyes. At that moment, he leaned forward slightly, his entire figure exposed in the light.
That pair of glassy eyes wasn’t as lazy or carefree as usual; now, they were dark and calm, like a tranquil sea hiding a torrent within.
To hug or not to hug?
Forget it—consider it a random act of kindness.
Lin Tiao hesitated no longer, moved the pillow on her lap aside, got up, and walked over to him, bending down slightly, getting closer and closer to him with each step.
“Alright, I’m a kind person after all. I’ll hug you,” she said in a warm tone.
As the words left her mouth, her arms wrapped around him.
Warm and soft.
Jiang Yan’s body stiffened, his head resting against her slender shoulder, the familiar fruity scent filling his nose.
His fingers by his side twitched slightly, but just as he was about to respond, his phone on the table rang without warning.
Jiang Yan’s ringtone was the default loud and sharp tone, like a blade cutting through the intimate moment.
He closed his eyes briefly, suppressing the annoyance in his heart. The embrace in front of him withdrew, and the warmth gradually faded.
He released his clenched hand, leaned over, picked up the phone from the table, and answered, his voice indifferent, “Hello.”
Far on the other end, Xu Yichuan shivered, completely unaware that he’d just interrupted something, “Yan, did you and sis leave the hospital? We’re all waiting for you two to eat.”
The voice on the receiver came through clearly, and Lin Tiao remembered the dinner gathering scheduled for the evening.
Jiang Yan rubbed his neck, his gaze landing on Lin Tiao, as if seeking her opinion. Seeing her shake her head, he looked away, replying coldly, “Not coming. Got something else to do.”
Before Xu Yichuan could respond, he hung up and turned off the ringer, tossing the phone aside.
The TV was still playing, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the room turned indescribably strange.
Lin Tiao had already thought of what to say after the hug.
I, Lin Tiao, am a kind person. Hugging you was just to comfort you. I have no ulterior motives whatsoever.
Who knew the phone would ring less than ten seconds into the hug?
Of all times, it just had to ring right then.
The response she’d prepared was cut off, leaving her in silence as she propped her head on her hand, watching the TV.
Jiang Yan was behind her at an angle, leaning against the sofa, his gaze falling on her.
To be honest, he hadn’t expected her to actually come over and hug him; he’d even prepared to have a pillow thrown at his face.
Who would have thought the next second, the girl stood up, walked over, and hugged him.
That familiar scent, unique to her, completely enveloped him.
For a moment, Jiang Yan was too stunned to react, his mind blank, unsure where he was or what he was doing.
The girl’s embrace was soft yet frail, her grip light and barely there.
But strangely, he felt a sense of groundedness rising from within.
It was as though he’d been drifting alone for so long, and suddenly, someone reached out a hand to pull him back.
Bit by bit, they drew him out of the mirage and back into reality, reminding him that he still existed in this world.
And that was all.
In early autumn, it was completely dark by six or seven. Lin Tiao and Jiang Yan quietly watched two episodes of a drama.
Only one floor lamp was on, casting a dim glow.
Having sat still for too long, Lin Tiao felt her body stiffen all over. She stretched, realizing she was a bit hungry, and glanced at Jiang Yan beside her. “Hungry?”
“Mm,” Jiang Yan looked out at the darkened sky, got up, and said, “Let’s go downstairs for something to eat.”
Lin Tiao put on her shoes and followed him down the stairs.
The lobby was livelier than during the day. Guan Che was sitting at the bar with a young man, casually chatting.
Seeing the two come down, he chuckled, “Hungry? I ordered Haidilao; let’s eat together.”
Lin Tiao hadn’t felt that hungry, but her eyes lit up at the mention of Haidilao. Before Jiang Yan could ask, she responded eagerly, “Yes!”
Guan Che’s smile widened as he checked his phone, then looked up at them. “It’s a few hundred meters away. You two can wait in the back for now.”
Jiang Yan led Lin Tiao to the small lounge where they’d had breakfast earlier. A few cigarette packs lay on the small table, with only one lighter.
He walked over, gathered the cigarettes and lighter, placing them in a nearby drawer. Then he went to the small kitchen, took a yogurt from the fridge, and handed it to her. “Here, for now.”
Lin Tiao accepted it, her fingers touching the cold packaging, causing her to shiver slightly.
Jiang Yan noticed her reaction, his gaze drifting over her short sleeves, his eyes darkening as he stood up and walked out.
Unaware of where he was going, Lin Tiao only felt her hunger gnawing at her. She finished the yogurt in a few sips.
The cold drink made her feel even colder.
She rubbed her arms, looking around the cozy lounge. The space was narrow but neatly arranged, filled with things yet orderly and charmingly cozy—almost like a paradise compared to the average internet café.
The room was filled with various items, but nothing was out of place. It looked well-arranged and cozy, not particularly tidy, but compared to an average internet café, it was practically paradise.
After a short while, Jiang Yan came back from outside, holding a black jacket. He handed it to her, “Put this on.”
Lin Tiao was indeed feeling a bit chilly, so she didn’t refuse. She took the jacket and put it on. It carried a cool, minty scent—a familiar fragrance.
The jacket was big, typical of men’s wear, and when she put it on, the hem almost reached her thighs. Her arms were wrapped in wide sleeves.
The sleeves were too long.
Lin Tiao simply rolled them up, exposing a part of her fair arms, but the sleeves were still loose and slipped down after a few minutes. After several attempts, she gave up and let the sleeves bunch up at her wrists, casually asking, “Does the owner of this place usually not hang around here?”
She’d been here twice, but hadn’t seen him yet.
“He’s here,” Jiang Yan replied lazily, looking laid-back, as if he’d completely recovered.
Suddenly, he reached out toward her.
Instinctively, Lin Tiao moved to dodge, but his hand kept reaching forward until he gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer.
In the soft light, the young man lowered his head, his slender fingers carefully folding the sleeves up, bit by bit.
For some reason, Lin Tiao felt her cheeks warming, and her eyes wandered to avoid his gaze. “So why haven’t I ever seen him?”
Jiang Yan finished rolling up the sleeve on her right arm and moved on to her left. His eyes were downcast, but after he finished, he looked up, meeting her gaze with a faint smile. “You see me every day, so how could you say you haven’t seen him?”
“…”
Oh, come on.
I thought you were just a diligent student working part-time.
Turns out you’re actually a low-key owner of the place.
Jiang Yan let go of her arm and leaned back a bit.
He settled against the back of the chair, lifting the front legs off the ground, adopting a relaxed posture as he explained, “The previous owner needed money urgently at the time.”
“I happened to have the money then.”
“So, I decided to buy it.”
He spoke as casually as if he’d just bought groceries at the market, but even someone as unfamiliar with the real estate scene as Lin Tiao knew how valuable properties like this one in the alleys of this city were.
Not to mention a whole three-story building.
On top of that, aside from the city’s prestigious No. 10 High School, there were other schools nearby. This small alley alone was enough to be considered prime school district real estate.
And he’d just bought it without a second thought?
This guy wasn’t just a small-time owner; he was a rich kid with money to burn, and clearly, a steady income flow.
“…”
Lin Tiao felt oddly defeated. Just that afternoon, she had joked with someone’s driver, calling Jiang Yan a delusional rich guy who thought he was the wealthiest person around.
But as it turned out?
He wasn’t delusional; he really was loaded.
Emotionally drained, Lin Tiao didn’t feel like talking anymore.
At that moment, Guan Che walked in with a delivery person from Haidilao, saying, “Alright, time to set up and eat.”
With a few quick arrangements, the small table was soon filled with dishes. A pot of bubbling broth sat in the center, releasing a fragrant aroma.
Tears almost sprang to Lin Tiao’s eyes; she was really starving.
The three of them sat around the small square table. Guan Che called out to the bar area outside, “Xiao Wei, you really aren’t joining us?”
A voice called back, “No, I already ate, you guys go ahead. I’ll watch the store.”
“Alright,” Guan Che said as he broke his chopsticks. “Let’s dig in.”
The small lounge quickly became filled with steam and the strong aroma of the hot pot broth. After a while, feeling a bit too warm, Lin Tiao took off her jacket.
Before they started, Jiang Yan had given her a few cans of ice-cold cola. Sipping the cola between bites, she soon felt full.
The two guys kept eating and chatting, so she slowed down to keep pace with them.
Jiang Yan and Guan Che didn’t eat much; mostly, they were drinking beer while occasionally picking at the food.
They’d gone through at least seven or eight cans each, yet had eaten less than her.
Perhaps because of her presence, their conversation mostly centered around recent events at the internet café. Generally, Guan Che spoke three sentences, and Jiang Yan would respond with one.
About halfway through the meal, Jiang Yan’s phone flashed on the table. He glanced at it, picked it up, and went outside to answer.
Setting down her chopsticks, Lin Tiao watched him as he left.
Guan Che, seated across from her, waited until Jiang Yan was outside. He then put down his beer, cleared his throat, and asked, “What happened when you two went out today?”
“We ran into Jiang Yan’s mother at the hospital,” Lin Tiao said honestly. She sensed that Guan Che, unlike Xu Yichuan and the others, seemed to understand Jiang Yan better. He was more mature and might know how to comfort or help him.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Guan Che’s face darkened, and he said coldly, “Oh? She still has the nerve to come back.”
“…”
That sounded serious.
Was it alright for him, a younger person, to talk about an elder like this?
Realizing his tone was off, Guan Che composed himself and changed the subject, picking up a can of beer and offering it to her. “Want some?”
“I don’t drink.”
Lin Tiao had a low tolerance and got drunk easily, so she usually avoided alcohol when she was out.
“Alright then.” He let it go and picked up some meat from the pot.
They chatted here and there, but Jiang Yan still hadn’t come back from his phone call.
Watching Guan Che drink alone, she eventually picked up a can of beer from the table, opened it, and held it up to him. “Let’s drink a little. It’s a small celebration since it’s our second time having a meal together.”
Finding her amusing, Guan Che didn’t refuse. He raised his beer and clinked it with hers, casually asking, “So, how did you and Jiang Yan meet?”
Taking a sip of the slightly bitter beer, Lin Tiao paused before answering, “Class reshuffling. We ended up in the same class.”
After a moment, Lin Tiao remembered something and said, "Actually, it was at the end of last semester when we ended up in the same exam room."
Guan Che asked, "What do you think of him?"
"He's nice," Lin Tiao replied, taking a small sip of her beer, her thoughts slowed by the alcohol. "But why are you asking?"
"Just curious," Guan Che said, lowering his eyes. "After all this time, I haven’t seen him treat any other girl so well."
Lin Tiao, feeling a bit tipsy, still caught the key point in his words. "Him being nice to me? I think you need an eye exam."
Guan Che laughed, glancing across from him. "You're not already drunk after so little, are you?"
If she was, Jiang Yan would probably have his hide.
"I'm not drunk, just a little dizzy," Lin Tiao gestured, "I think I might need an eye exam. I’m seeing double."
Guan Che was about to say something when he spotted Jiang Yan approaching, holding his phone. He immediately thought he might meet his end tomorrow.
Jiang Yan had just finished a heated phone call with Yu Fengyan and was already in a bad mood. Walking in, he found his little deskmate clutching a beer can, visibly drunk.
His expression darkened as he kicked Guan Che’s chair with a growl, "Who the hell told you to give her alcohol?"
Guan Che, nearly unseated by the sudden kick, said defensively, "I didn’t give her the beer. She wanted it herself."
He wasn't lying; Lin Tiao had mentioned she shouldn’t drink, and he hadn’t forced her. But, honestly, he hadn’t tried to stop her either. He didn’t expect her tolerance to be this low; she hadn’t even finished one beer, and she looked like she’d had strong liquor.
Jiang Yan was speechless.
Lin Tiao was clearly drunk, her face flushed and her expression a little dazed, barely reacting to their argument. She just felt a bit dizzy, like the room was spinning.
The next second, she suddenly felt weightless. Her heart skipped, and before she knew it, the scene around her had changed.
Jiang Yan had originally planned to send her home after they finished eating, but seeing her so drunk now, probably unable to even remember where home was, he had no choice but to carry her to a room to rest.
As soon as he set her on the sofa, however, the girl acted like she’d had a dose of energy, kicking off her shoes and jumping on the sofa, singing and dancing around.
Jiang Yan felt a headache coming on.
Feeling guilty, Guan Che brought a cup of honey water from downstairs. Entering the room, he found Lin Tiao in full drunken mode. Jiang Yan stood nearby, expressionless, watching him. Guan Che forced a smile, set the water on the table, and quickly made his exit.
Who would’ve thought?
She usually seemed so reserved, but drunk, she was like this—it was clear she’d been bottling up a lot.
Jiang Yan was at a complete loss with the drunk Lin Tiao. Whether he kept a stern face or tried coaxing her, nothing worked. She was completely unyielding.
For a moment, Jiang Yan genuinely wanted to scold her, but as he regained his composure, he felt like scolding Guan Che even more.
"Lin Tiao," he said with a hint of exasperation, grabbing her wrist and handing her the honey water gently. "Stop bouncing around, drink some water, and sleep for a bit. I’ll take you home."
"Who are you?" Lin Tiao’s eyes were bright, and in her drunken state, they seemed even brighter. "You look a lot like my deskmate."
She muttered to herself, her tone tinged with a sigh. "But you can’t be my deskmate. He’s too pitiful."
"…"
"And he has so many secrets," she continued, her words without logic, saying whatever came to mind. "And lots of money."
"…"
After bouncing around, she sat cross-legged on the sofa, her eyes dazed. "Where am I? Why am I here?"
"At an internet café," Jiang Yan explained patiently, his temple throbbing. "You came here for hotpot and got drunk."
"Nonsense. I wouldn’t go to an internet café; I’m a good student." Her thoughts jumped, and with a hint of grievance, she murmured, "I want to go home."
"I don’t want to stay at Teacher Yang’s house." Her eyes reddened slightly, and her voice softened. "I miss my mom and dad."
Jiang Yan didn’t know her past, but hearing her say this gave him a vague idea. Seeing the usually carefree girl looking so sad stirred something indescribable within him.
He squatted down in front of her, his voice low and soothing. "Okay, I’ll take you home. We won’t stay at Teacher Yang’s, alright?"
His voice was gentle and calm, with a coaxing tone. "Be good, drink the water, and I’ll take you home."
Lin Tiao looked down and saw her small reflection in his eyes. His eyes were deep, like a whirlpool, drawing her in bit by bit.
For once, she obediently took the water he offered and sipped it slowly.
Seeing her start to drink the honey water, Jiang Yan let out a sigh of relief. When she finished, he took the empty cup and set it on the table behind him.
He stood up and looked around the sofa for his phone, planning to call Meng Xin to ask for Lin Tiao’s address.
He’d left his phone on the sofa, but after Lin Tiao’s jumping, it was nowhere to be found.
After searching for a while, Jiang Yan spotted Lin Tiao’s phone on the table and reached for it.
Although drunk, Lin Tiao had a strong sense of attachment to familiar things. Seeing him reach for her phone, she felt a surge of protectiveness and tried to snatch it back.
Jiang Yan hadn’t expected her to react like that. Just as he picked up her phone, he turned and asked, "What’s the password?"
Before he could finish speaking, she launched herself at him.
Afraid she might fall, he instinctively moved to catch her, but he didn’t expect her to jump from the sofa, landing headfirst against his nose with a dull thud.
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