In the living room, Mu Qiu set aside her earlier worries, happily grabbing his arm to share the news she had just received.
"The editor invited to attend the author et-up on Friday. Many excellent authors will be there to exchange writing experiences. Do you think I can go? Will participating in such an event at this ti cause any trouble?"
"It won’t."
Cheng Zhirang patiently explained, "You don’t need to worry about our relationship affecting your life. You can keep living the way you always have, without needing to make any changes or sacrifices."
"But what if it does cause trouble?"
"That’s sothing I should handle. I’ll take care of it."
"So I can go then?"
"Of course you can," he replied gently, holding her face and planting a kiss at the corner of her lips, "If anyone should feel like they’re causing trouble, it’s because of my career affecting your interests."
Mu Qiu stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, tilting her head up to kiss him.
"I really like you."
...
With the move to the new ho happening tomorrow, Mu Qiu and Cheng Zhirang stuck together until after dinner, excitedly packing up the last of their things.
Cheng Zhirang leaned against the doorfra watching her, his unstyled hair giving him a softer, more gentle appearance.
Mu Qiu packed all the skincare products from the vanity into a bag, leaving only what she would need for tonight and tomorrow morning.
Only a few clothes remained in the wardrobe; a single nightgown was left hanging.
Sothing’s not right.
Mu Qiu paused, sitting at the foot of the bed, and looked towards the doorway: "That dress...?"
Cheng Zhirang spoke softly, "Take it with you, you look beautiful in it."
"Why do you make it sound like taking it ans we’ll never see it again," Mu Qiu said with a smile, pinching the leg of a plush long-legged monkey hanging on her bag, "Can you co pick up on Friday? And bring this dress?"
Cheng Zhirang looked at her intently.
After a mont, he nodded in agreent.
Having packed everything, Mu Qiu left with empty hands; everything was in Cheng Zhirang’s hands. She turned around at the door for one last look at the place where she had lived for nearly half a month.
"I really like this spacious flat. Don’t you have a lot of those smart gadgets from the show? This place is perfect for them."
Cheng Zhirang replied warmly, "Sure, I’ll leave so of those gadgets here. If you find it fun, you can always co back. The fingerprint lock records you, and you have the key too, so co back any ti."
"Alright."
"On Friday... can I pick you up and take you to Half Mountain?"
It sounded a bit like a boy asking a girl to a sit-down at a bubble tea shop after school.
Mu Qiu suddenly felt a bit shy, like a teenager on a date, reaching out to hook his hand and sway it, saying, "Sure."
Cheng Zhirang laughed and kissed her cheek.
The two donned masks and took the elevator down to the underground parking garage, Cheng Zhirang quickly driving away from the Yishan Villa District, rging into traffic heading towards the suburbs.
The car interior was quietly serene.
In fact, having their relationship suddenly exposed had its advantages—walking together, sitting in his passenger seat, they no longer needed to worry about being photographed.
Since it was already public, it was fair and square.
Mu Qiu clutched the forest green plush long-legged monkey, its long legs being flipped up and down by her fingers.
Cheng Zhirang glanced at her while steering the wheel.
"You seem to really like that plush toy."
"I really do. It was a gift from my first reader."
"Your first reader?"
"Yes," Mu Qiu pushed on the plush monkey’s belly, recalling, "It’s been almost four years."
As the light turned red, Cheng Zhirang freed a hand to hold hers.
"Anyone who perseveres in an industry for four years is truly remarkable."
"Then you must be incredibly remarkable."
The car was filled with Cheng Zhirang’s clear, gentle laughter.
Mu Qiu gazed at the road ahead, smiling with crinkled eyes. With few words, their emotions were in sync, finding a shared intimacy even as they watched the traffic flow in front of them.
Even though the journey led them on separate paths.
Due to recent safety concerns, coupled with the fact that they had just... Cheng Zhirang initially didn’t want her to move out alone.
A woman in a relationship, especially just after intimate monts, needs her partner to provide a sense of security the most.
This is perhaps a key distinction between a normal boyfriend-girlfriend relationship and a re casual physical arrangent.
He wanted to give her that sense of security.
Yet her perspectives differed. Compared to security coming from him, it was the "being kept in a golden cage" feeling that made her uncomfortable.
Living in his property all the ti indeed felt like being hidden away, like an unseen lover.
Putting aside the sense of security for the mont, the righteous and proper status of a girlfriend is what she should feel right now. That would make her feel respected.
So Cheng Zhirang ultimately had to abandon the idea of bringing her back to Half Mountain, personally seeing her out of his territory.
Delivering her to a place among other n whose intentions toward her were yet uncertain.
As the car entered the villa district, before they even got close, Mu Qiu saw a black car parked at the entrance of her villa. The person inside must have noticed them and got out.
It was a poised young man dressed in a black suit.
Mu Qiu rolled down the window, leaning out to call to him.
"Brother Lin."
Cheng Zhirang’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly braked behind the black car. While unbuckling his seatbelt, he said steadily, "Don’t rush, be careful."
Mu Qiu nodded, opening the passenger door and walking toward the man.
Zhou Jilin bypassed her, glancing at Cheng Zhirang who was closing the car door, nodded amicably, then looked down at the girl who had run up to him.
Perhaps it couldn’t quite be called "girl" anymore.
"I had the place checked again, it’s very safe. You can move in today."
"I know," Mu Qiu nodded, "Thank you, Brother Lin."
"You seldom ask for help. Do you like him a lot?"
"Yes, quite a lot."
Just then, Cheng Zhirang walked up. Zhou Jilin looked at him, and the two n politely shook hands.
Cheng Zhirang: "Hello, I’m Cheng Zhirang."
Zhou Jilin: "Nice to et you. I’m Zhou Jilin, sort of a brother to Mu Qiu."
It was just a polite handshake, introduced and imdiately released. Zhou Jilin looked down at Mu Qiu, saying again, "Teacher Mu was angry, but still called imdiately."
Mu Qiu pressed her lips, "I know."
"As long as you know, communicate well with them."
He spoke sparingly, advising her from the perspective of soone who’s been through it.
Mu Qiu was used to it.
Zhou Jilin asked again, "Is he coming over too?"
"No."
Cheng Zhirang stepped forward, "I’m just here to drop her off. I believe Yishan Villa District should be quite safe."
"Real estate and security are never absolutely safe. It’s people who cause trouble. As long as there are people, you can’t eliminate danger."
Mu Qiu rolled her eyes, "So should I find a cave and beco a hermit?"
Zhou Jilin gave her a glance.
"So try not to go out after ten at night."
"...I know."
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