In mid-November, Qing Hang received an email from abroad inviting him to give an academic presentation.

Although Cheng Wanyue couldn’t understand the content of the email, she still leaned on the desk, studying it for a while.

Participating in an international academic conference would not only enhance his life experience but would also allow him to interact face-to-face with those impressive doctors.

The conference was scheduled for early next year. Cheng Wanyue supported Qing Hang’s attendance—he would continue to grow even more accomplished.

Qing Hang sat behind her, slowly explaining what each word meant. Her attention wandered, as she repeatedly praised him for being so impressive.

Meiqiu also crouched beside the mouse, its round eyes staring unblinkingly at the computer screen.

That afternoon, Cheng Wanyue had taken it outside. Fresh from a bath, its fur was white and clean. Whenever she touched it, it would gently lift its paw.

At first, it would scratch people, but now it wouldn’t hurt her, no matter how she teased it.

Qing Hang remembered that Yan Ci’s family once had an orange cat. She had been bitten once and had to get rabies shots at the hospital. She didn’t blame the cat—she placed all the blame on Yan Ci. It was also because of this incident that she forgot about the love letter that never received a response to.

Eight years ago, their last conversation had been in the alleyway near the school. The boy wearing jersey number 6 bore some resemblance to Yan Ci back then.

She had often done unconventional things since childhood. After drinking, Cheng Guo’an could talk for hours. Through Cheng Guo’an’s memories, Qing Hang had learned about much of her past that he hadn’t been part of.

Among all the people and things she had liked, he was the most ordinary.

When she said he would become more and more impressive, the light in her eyes was brighter than the crescent moon outside the window.

Qing Hang wondered if she would also come to like him more and more.

“Let’s go to the mall and buy a few suits?” Cheng Wanyue suddenly stood up, pulling him toward the door. “Shoes and ties too.”

Qing Hang only had time to grab the keys from the table. “It’s still more than three months away.”

“Better to prepare in advance so we won’t be rushing around later. Besides, some need to be custom-made, which takes time. Rarely, you work overtime today and finish work on schedule. Every day, you’re either at the hospital or home—you’re practically molding. Let’s go out for a walk.”

He was busy, with work occupying most of his energy.

In the mornings when he left, she wasn’t awake yet; when he returned at night, she was already asleep.

After getting out of the car, Qing Hang switched hands, holding hers, placing her on the inside of the sidewalk. “Do you feel stifled living with me? Are you bored?”

“Not at all,” Cheng Wanyue smiled. “I’m not a child who needs someone to accompany me twenty-four hours a day.”

A milk tea shop on the street had a long queue, mostly young students. Qing Hang asked her, “Are you thirsty? Want to buy a cup of milk tea first?”

“Let’s not. I’ve already gained weight.” she wasn’t the type who could easily stay slim. “The weather’s getting cold. I’m craving some plum blossom cake.”

“The pastry from Nanjing?”

“Yes, the kind sold at street stalls. The ones made elsewhere don’t have the same taste. I like the red bean filling. When it’s freshly made, it’s especially hot. The first time I ate it, my mouth got blistered, and Cheng Yanqing teased me for days.”

Qing Hang thought about his few days of annual leave. He could accompany her back to Nanjing around the New Year.

The Cheng family had never divided their household. Her second uncle and aunt’s home was also her home. Compared to Beijing, she preferred Nanjing.

While Cheng Wanyue was in the restroom, Qing Hang called Cheng Yuzhou to ask if plum blossom cakes could be express-delivered to Beijing. Cheng Yuzhou immediately knew that Cheng Wanyue was craving them. He said that in cold weather, they could be shipped, but the taste would be significantly different. Cheng Wanyue was picky about food and wouldn’t enjoy it, so sending it would be a waste of effort.

Qing Hang looked up to see Cheng Wanyue walking toward him, answering a call as she walked.

Having graduated just half a year ago, she was still familiar with senior year life. “Neither attending classes, nor taking exams, nor preparing for graduate school—yes, that is indeed quite leisurely.”

“Extremely leisurely. You can repay that meal you owe me today. Or I can treat you instead.”

“I want hot pot today and won’t change my plans for you, unless you’re willing to accept it.”

Even ten hot pot meals couldn’t compare to Chi Yue’s performance fee.

He was in a good mood today and didn’t care what they ate. “Even if you invite me for a bowl of instant noodles, I’d still come.”

“Wait a moment,” Cheng Wanyue held the phone away from her ear and asked Qing Hang, “Chi Yue wants me to return the favor. Should we add him to our plans?”

Qing Hang’s face showed little emotion. “It’s up to you.”

Only then did Cheng Wanyue say to Chi Yue, “Come then. I’ll send you the location.”

On a weekday, the restaurant wasn’t very crowded. After getting a table, Cheng Wanyue and Qing Hang ordered first.

The broth was boiling, steam rising. She suddenly realized she hadn’t brought a hair tie. Just as she was about to ask a server for one, Qing Hang took one out of his pocket. While she was leisurely adding more dishes, Qing Hang sat beside her and helped tie her hair.

She ordered two servings of lamb rolls that she didn’t particularly like.

Qing Hang asked, “Are you that familiar with Chi Yue? You even know what he eats.”

“He just sent it to me,” Cheng Wanyue pointed at her phone, which showed her WeChat conversation with Chi Yue.

The only time Qing Hang had ever invaded her privacy was when he opened and read the love letter she had written to Yan Ci without her knowledge. During the period when he tutored her, he went in and out of her room almost daily, but never once looked at anything he shouldn’t have.

When she was asleep, he could carry her from the bed, and she wouldn’t wake up.

Her phone was right there on the table. If he had the intention, he would have had countless opportunities to secretly check her WeChat and other social media apps.

Just like now, he could simply look down and see the content of her conversation with Chi Yue, but he didn’t.

When Chi Yue walked in, there was a moment of surprise when his gaze met Qing Hang’s, indicating he hadn’t known Cheng Wanyue was with Qing Hang. Yet his greeting appeared natural.

They had people they knew in common, and as they talked, the conversation entered a realm somewhat unfamiliar to Qing Hang.

Cheng Wanyue suddenly remembered something and turned her head to speak to Qing Hang. In her carelessness, the meatball she had just picked up fell back into the pot. Qing Hang pulled her back, but the splashing hot oil scalded the back of Chi Yue’s hand, turning it red.

She quickly took Chi Yue to rinse his hands under cold water. Chi Yue reassured her it was nothing, but when he picked up his chopsticks again, he winced.

It was her responsibility, so naturally she wouldn’t ignore it. She began picking up food for Chi Yue.

Qing Hang thought that Chi Yue’s tactics for deceiving women weren’t particularly sophisticated.

Perhaps he, Qing Hang, could do better.

“You haven’t eaten much. The shrimp paste is cooked; have some more,” Qing Hang scooped the floating shrimp paste into her bowl. “I’ll pick food for him.”

Chi Yue lowered his rolled-up sleeve. “No need. I can manage myself.”

“A hot oil burn is indeed quite painful.”

“It’s tolerable. I can bear it.”

“Don’t be so polite. You’re Wanyue’s friend, which makes you my friend,” Qing Hang said, more attentively than Cheng Wanyue. “Burns can easily get infected. It’s best to eat mild foods.”

Chi Yue lost his appetite.

“It’s my fault, my fault,” Cheng Wanyue said, quite remorseful. “Qing Hang, does this level of burn need hospital treatment?”

Qing Hang said, “Buying a burn cream should be sufficient, but he seems quite sensitive to pain. It might be more reassuring to have a doctor check it.”

Cheng Wanyue saw that the back of Chi Yue’s hand was still red and was also concerned about blisters forming. “You’re a grown man. Can you handle it yourself? Or maybe have your roommate or a friend accompany you?”

Her tone of voice and the look in her eyes made Chi Yue feel as though she saw him as a younger brother. “You caused the burn. Aren’t you going to take responsibility?”

“It wasn’t intentional,” Cheng Wanyue explained. “The nurse will apply medication for you. Even if I went, I couldn’t help.”

Chi Yue didn’t persist. “Taking responsibility is enough, after all, this won’t heal in just a day or two.”

Qing Hang wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Chi Yue. “Contact me directly if there’s any issue.”

Chi Yue chuckled softly. “Contact you?”

Qing Hang repeated, “Contact me. Anytime.”