Back then, Cheng Wanyue had been tricked into an alley by Number 6, and Qing Hang had followed with a brick in hand. If he had hit Number 6 with that brick, it wouldn’t just have affected his early admission—his entire future might have been ruined.

Such incidents weren’t unheard of at school. Two years prior, there was a boy with excellent grades who injured a classmate before the college entrance exam. He was detained for a year, and when he came out to repeat his studies, people gossiped about him wherever he went. The criminal record stayed in his file, impossible to erase for his entire life.

Qing Hang was the most studious person around Cheng Wanyue. Cheng Guo’an had supported him financially for so many years without expecting anything in return, precisely because of his good character and ambition. For children from poor families, education was the only shortcut, and the college entrance exam was one of the few fair competitions in life.

He never caused trouble. Cheng Wanyue had stood up for him countless times, verbally chiding him for having no backbone and not knowing how to defend himself when bullied, but she had never truly pushed him into the center of conflict.

Until today, Qing Hang had always believed that Cheng Wanyue had once liked Number 6. “I didn’t know…”

Cheng Wanyue snorted, “Who told you to leave without saying a word?”

If she hadn’t been home that day, he and Grandpa might have boarded the train without her knowing.

“And about Chi Yue—you remember when I was harassed? That person was a fugitive. Chi Yue spent two days sorting it out and even got a fever. Did you expect me to repay kindness with resentment? I already scolded him for answering my call. But one thing is one thing—he did help a lot, and thanks are still due. That day I called you, but you didn’t answer because you were busy. I was already planning to go home. Were you angry that I went to his rehearsal room? Or that he answered my call?”

Qing Hang: “Both.”

He was wearing black clothes, and Meiqiu’s fur was all over him. Cheng Wanyue had just cleaned his sleeve when she spotted a few more strands on his shoulder. She leaned closer and blew them away.

“Alright, I’ll reflect on this. In the future, if there’s something you don’t like or that makes you unhappy, just say it directly. I may not change, but I’ll consider it. Whatever you want to do or want to have, just say it. If you make me happy, I might listen to you when I’m in a good mood.”

Qing Hang brought out an insulated food container he had been hiding behind his back and opened the lid. “Zhou Yu said you like Master Zuo’s shop at the entrance of Tongjia Lane the most. One is purple sweet potato, one is red bean paste.”

“Master Zuo is truly exceptional. I’ll eat it in a bit,” Cheng Wanyue hadn’t washed her hands yet, so she just sniffed it. “Your sudden resignation—it really won’t have any impact?”

Qing Hang nodded. “I’ve handed over all the patients, paid the compensation, and communicated about the contract issues.”

“Why are you two squatting at the door?” A sudden voice came from outside, startling Cheng Wanyue.

Qing Hang was blocking the door. As Cheng Wanyue hurried to make way, Meiqiu was still lying on the ground. Qing Hang held the food container, she carried the cat, and they both stood up at the same time, bumping their heads.

“Slow down, you’re so reckless. Qing Hang, you’re here.”

“Uncle.”

“Sit anywhere, treat this as your own home, don’t be polite.”

Since the night of Cheng Yuzhou and Zhou Yu’s wedding, they had already considered Qing Hang one of their own.

Cheng Wanyue followed her uncle upstairs and spoke after entering the room. “Uncle, Qing Hang has come to work in Nanjing. Could you put in a word with his superiors? He doesn’t need special treatment, just make sure he’s not ostracized.”

Her uncle replied, “A talented person like Qing Hang would be sought after anywhere. How could he possibly be ostracized?”

Cheng Wanyue followed him to the desk. “He’s not very good at office politics, and some people can be quite devious. Helping him is helping me.”

“I understand. When I take you for your check-up after the New Year, I’ll meet with the head of his department.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Cheng Wanyue went downstairs to wash her hands, ready to eat the plum blossom cakes. Qing Hang asked her what she had gone upstairs for, and she gave a casual, vague answer.

Zhou Yu and Cheng Yuzhou came down one after the other. They moved from the second floor to the first, then from the living room to the kitchen. Qing Hang couldn’t tell what was happening, but Cheng Wanyue understood clearly.

Cheng Yuzhou wanted Zhou Yu to take a leave of absence, but Zhou Yu disagreed.

Qing Hang asked in a low voice, “Why does she need a leave?”

“A’Yu is pregnant. Cheng Yuzhou doesn’t want her rushing around like before.” Cheng Wanyue broke off half a plum blossom cake and fed it to Qing Hang. “Fighting is fun to watch when it’s other people doing it.”

“…They’re not fighting, are they?”

“This is how they are. Cheng Yanqing and Huo Zhi once broke a door during an argument, but A’Yu and Cheng Yuzhou argue without even blushing.”

“Can I stay here tonight?”

“You can… I mean, no… Well, your suitcase is so big, it’s too much trouble to move back and forth. It might get colder tomorrow. If you want to stay, then stay. After all, Cheng Yanqing’s room is empty.”

A delivery person knocked on the door, bringing several large boxes of express packages.

Cheng Wanyue opened them and found that Qing Hang had packed and sent even her summer clothes. From small items like lipstick and jewelry to large ones like dolls and models, nothing was left behind.

After dinner, Qing Hang carried the delivery boxes upstairs. She was too lazy to organize them, so Qing Hang naturally stayed in her room until Cheng Yuzhou called him downstairs for a late-night snack.

Cheng Yuzhou didn’t drink, but his father enjoyed it, so Qing Hang accompanied him for a few glasses.

Cheng Yuzhou returned to his room to be with his wife, and Qing Hang also took the opportunity to leave the table. His assigned room was on the left, but as he reached the top of the stairs, without thinking, he walked past it and knocked on Cheng Wanyue’s door three times.

There was no response inside; the door was locked. He turned around and climbed across from the balcony.

Cheng Wanyue was rummaging through boxes looking for Qing Hang’s thick clothes when the balcony door opened from outside. Cold air rushed in, making her turn around. He was wearing only a thin pajama top, with just one slipper—the other must have fallen downstairs. The room was warm, and as soon as he entered, his glasses fogged up.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to sleep with you.”

“Are you crazy? Uncle is still downstairs…”

“Just sleeping,” Qing Hang waited until his hands warmed up before approaching her. The boxes were in disarray from her searching, leaving him no place to step. He simply picked her up and carried her to the bed. “All these days, you didn’t miss me at all? Hmm? Princess Rapunzel, didn’t you miss me?”

Cheng Wanyue removed his glasses and tossed them onto the table. “Arguments should look like arguments.”

“I won’t argue with you anymore,” he said, embracing her from behind. “I’ll try to be more open-minded, try not to interfere with you, try to be less jealous. Wanyue, you go love the world, and I’ll love you.”

He was too tired and fell asleep without even turning off the light.

Cheng Wanyue’s hair was trapped under him, but fortunately, the position wasn’t uncomfortable. The bedside lamp was on the other side, its light not glaring, so she could sleep too.

She woke up first in the morning and rushed downstairs to retrieve the slipper. At the stairs, she ran into Cheng Yuzhou face-to-face. Seeing the slipper she was hiding behind her back, he guessed that Qing Hang was in her room. He didn’t say anything—Qing Hang was a doctor himself and wouldn’t do anything that would require her to take medicine.

The slipper had been outside all night and was a bit damp.

Cheng Wanyue placed it near the air conditioner to dry in the warm air, then lifted the blanket and climbed back into bed. She slid her ice-cold hands and feet directly into Qing Hang’s clothes. In truth, he had already awakened when she turned over.