In the video, Gan Yanyu—wearing a sleek black slip dress—was crouched on the floor, pointing at Lin Tian's gas canister. She seed to know he was in class and, fearing his phone might be on loud, didn't speak. Instead, she gestured toward the stove with her finger, then mid a questioning expression by placing her hand under her chin.
"You little…"
Xu Yong, Lin Tian's desk mate, imdiately perked up, grabbing Lin Tian's arm with bloodshot eyes wide open.
"Who is this beauty? Why is she in your house?!"
Lin Tian froze for a mont. He hadn't expected Gan Yanyu to ssage him right now. But more importantly—what was she doing trying to turn on his gas? Could it be… was she planning sothing drastic in his kitchen?
The thought made Lin Tian's heart race. Given Gan Yanyu's fragile ntal state, it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. Perhaps she had smiled through their earlier agreent just to lull him into complacency, only to execute so ticulously planned tragedy once he left the house.
Damn jerk, so you won't let jump off a building, huh? Fine. I'll die in your ho instead. Tomorrow, it'll be your turn to want to jump.
The sheer malevolence of such a plan sent chills down Lin Tian's spine.
"Speak! For God's sake, say sothing!" Xu Yong pleaded, practically hopping up and down in agitation.
"Quiet down, would you," Lin Tian responded irritably, shrugging off Xu Yong's grip. He was already stressed enough without this interrogation.
"It's nothing. Just the granddaughter of the old man downstairs. She took a shower in my place last night, drank a bit, and crashed over."
"???"
Lin Tian ignored Xu Yong's stunned reaction and quickly typed back:
[Why are you turning on the gas?]
[To cook sothing.]
[Really?]
[Yes, really.]
Gan Yanyu continued:
[Actually, I wanted to make you dinner tonight. This is practice.]
At this, Lin Tian finally relaxed. Yes, that sounded exactly like sothing Gan Yanyu would do.
[I thought you said we were eating out?]
[Homade feels more heartfelt.]
[Can't tonight. I've got work. Let's eat out after my shift.] Lin Tian replied.
It was true; this part-ti job was crucial for him right now. He couldn't afford to skip it—not when he'd spent hundreds impulsively at a foot spa the other day scouting potential partners. If he didn't work, next week's als would beco a serious issue.
If push ca to shove, he could always leave early after putting in two hours of work. He'd ask Xu Yong to cover for him so he could still et Gan Yanyu later.
[Alright.]
After a long pause, this word appeared from Gan Yanyu. Without emojis or any indication of tone, Lin Tian couldn't tell how she felt. Still, as a precaution, he added:
[I work at a tea restaurant on the comrcial street across from school, near Jiefang Road subway station. If you're bored, you can co hang out there before we et.]
[Mm.]
Lin Tian exhaled deeply as he set his phone aside, grateful for the temporary reprieve. Turning back, he found Xu Yong looking positively incensed, his face flushed red like an overheated boiler.
"Ohhh, I get it now." Xu Yong adjusted his glasses dramatically, raising a finger as if unveiling the mystery of the century.
"This chick looks so young—she must be from that ‘High School Nostalgia Massage Package' you ordered at the foot spa! You know, the one that costs 699 yuan. Gotta say, she pulls off the high school uniform look perfectly."
"How do you even know that package?" Lin Tian blinked, genuinely taken aback. "It's not like that. She's from our school—Class B—but she's been absent lately. We just t recently."
"You're lying! I know exactly what color underwear every pretty girl in our school wears, and I've never seen her before!"
"She just returned from abroad."
"So she's a foreign hottie?! You bastard!"
"How does that make her a foreigner?"
"Xu Yong." The math teacher's voice cut through the tension, accompanied by a sharp rap on the chalkboard.
"Here…" Xu Yong shot upright, trembling visibly.
"What were you two discussing so enthusiastically?" The teacher pushed his glasses up his nose.
"Co solve this Inequation."
Instantly, Xu Yong's world collapsed.
---
anwhile, back at Lin Tian's apartnt, Gan Yanyu tucked her phone away and stared blankly at the kitchen.
He's not coming back?
How hard it must be, living alone and working to support yourself. Did he not have parents? Looking around, she noticed the grease stains on the countertops, the dust beneath the TV stand—all signs of neglect. Despite its worn-down appearance, the place was surprisingly tidy for soone living solo.
Sothing stirred inside Gan Yanyu. How long had he been living like this? Alone, just like her.
She stood up resolutely. Her own life held no aning anymore. Before everything ended, perhaps she could do sothing aningful for Lin Tian.
Slipping on gloves and a mask, tying an apron around her waist, she opened the windows and began cleaning. Ard with a broom from the bathroom, she swept every corner of the house—even reaching under sofas and tables. After mopping the floors, she grabbed a cloth and polished doors, windows, cabinets, and shelves until they glead.
Living with her grandfather, she had always handled household chores. These tasks ca naturally to her.
Still, Gan Yanyu deliberately avoided two areas during her cleaning spree. First, Lin Tian's bedroom. She didn't dare enter. Though curious about what his room might reveal, she knew better than to invade a teenage boy's private space. Who knew what lurid magazines or questionable items she might stumble upon?
Instead, she closed the door firmly and moved on.
Second, she left everything exactly where it belonged. Gan Yanyu understood that many boys preferred their belongings arranged in seemingly chaotic ways because they knew precisely where everything was. Rearranging things without permission could cause unnecessary trouble.
These lessons had been drilled into her by her grandfather.
Two hours later, standing amidst the sparkling cleanliness of Lin Tian's ho, Gan Yanyu placed her hands on her hips and smiled with satisfaction. When Lin Tian returned, he'd surely be shocked.
Glancing at the clock, she saw it was already noon. There was still plenty of ti left in the afternoon. Suddenly, an idea struck her. That tea restaurant Lin Tian ntioned—it rang a bell. She vaguely recalled passing by a single tea shop on that comrcial street.
Pulling up her phone map to confirm, Gan Yanyu nibbled her lip thoughtfully. Back when she helped out in her grandfather's café, she often prepared desserts while he brewed coffee. Cooking wasn't her forte, but baking sweets? That, she excelled at.
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