He didn’t realize until he touched her just how cold she was, her body like ice, as if frozen stiff.
Xue Yang’s heart clenched. He couldn’t imagine how long she had been waiting for him at the door on such a cold day, wearing only her school uniform.
"Lin Xi, Lin Xi."
Xue Yang placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to get her to look up at him.
Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Xi finally stirred. She lifted her head, and seeing Xue Yang’s anxious expression, her eyes welled up with tears.
"Xue Yang, you’re finally back! I thought you weren’t coming ho tonight..." She flung herself into Xue Yang’s embrace, sobbing her heart out.
Lin Xi had no idea what she would have done if Xue Yang hadn’t returned that night. She had asked Si Wen to drop her off, thinking that since it was a holiday, she wouldn’t have to wait long. As it turned out, she had waited for hours. With no phone and no money, her only choice was to keep waiting here.
His heart ached for her. Comforting her as if she were a small child, he said, "Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m back now, it’s okay. Let’s get inside. You’re freezing. You’ll get sick if you stay out here any longer."
Xue Yang first used his key to open the door, then bent down to carefully pick her up.
He pushed the door open, entered the house, and carried her directly into the master bedroom. Just as he was about to lay her on the bed, Lin Xi’s frozen hands clumsily clutched his clothes. "Don’t go."
She looked just like a startled Xiao Naimao. It was even more heart-wrenching than the first ti he’d seen her under the big tree.
Xue Yang gathered her closer into his arms and soothed her.
"Be good. Let turn on the heat first. You’re too cold."
But Lin Xi refused to let go. "Don’t leave ."
"I won’t leave."
Lin Xi looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
Xue Yang had no choice but to hold her as he went to turn on the heating.
Once the heat was on, the temperature in the room slowly began to rise, but Lin Xi’s body was still frigid. He had to get her warm, or she would definitely catch a cold.
"Be good and wait for in the room. I’m going to get a basin of hot water for you to soak your feet in. Listen to , or you’ll get sick."
Only then did Lin Xi reluctantly let go of Xue Yang.
A few monts later, Xue Yang returned with a steaming footbath.
"Soak your feet first."
Xue Yang squatted in front of Lin Xi, still wearing his military greatcoat. He looked like a high-ranking general at her service. At that mont, it felt as though the entire evening’s wait had been worth it.
Her jade-like feet touched the warm water, and warmth spread from her soles throughout her entire body. The cold wasn’t entirely dispelled, but at least she no longer felt completely frozen stiff.
Lin Xi wiggled her feet in the hot water, and color gradually returned to her cheeks. However, her body still trembled slightly. It was clearly going to take her a while to recover.
"I’ll go make a bowl of ginger soup to warm you up."
Lin Xi nodded. Xue Yang went to the kitchen and quickly returned with a bowl of ginger soup. "Drink it while it’s hot."
Lin Xi obediently took the bowl and slowly drank it all.
With the warm ginger soup in her stomach and her feet soaking in hot water, Lin Xi finally felt like she was coming back to life.
"Lin Xi, tell , what happened tonight?"
"Xue Yang, can you please not ask?"
Lin Xi didn’t want to tell Xue Yang that she had run to his place again because her father had arranged a blind date for her. They had made a deal: if she got into Yanbei University, he would grant her one request. But then he pulled a stunt like this.
Hmph. Dad broke his promise, so I don’t have to keep mine either.
"Alright, I won’t ask."
He held her tightly, transferring his body heat to her.
Lin Xi quietly savored the warmth radiating from him. Although this apartnt couldn’t compare to her family’s courtyard ho, Xue Yang’s presence made it feel safe and warm, like a real ho.
After her foot soak, Xue Yang had her lie down, wrapping her in blankets until she resembled a zongzi rice dumpling.
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
RUMBLE...
Her stomach chose that mont to let out a rebellious growl.
Xue Yang chuckled, tapping her playfully on her pretty nose. "Looks like your stomach is more honest than you are. Be good and wait here. I’ll go make you sothing to eat. I haven’t been staying here lately, so I don’t have many ingredients. All I’ve got in the fridge are so eggs, so I’ll make you a bowl of egg noodles."
Not feeling the least bit embarrassed at being caught, Lin Xi just nodded. "Okay."
When Xue Yang left, she climbed out of bed, put on her shoes, and followed him out. "Why did you get up?"
"I want to be with you."
It had been a long ti since Lin Xi had been able to follow behind Xue Yang like this and watch him cook.
Xue Yang looked at her in her school uniform, a very different sight from her usual self. When not in her uniform, Lin Xi still looked young, but it was clear she was an adult. In her uniform, however, she looked completely underage. And yet, her figure was exceptionally developed—almost excessively so.
A term surfaced in his mind: "Childlike face, huge brea—" An outfit like this was a true test of a man’s self-control.
"Go put on another layer."
"Okay."
Lin Xi went to the guest bedroom, picked out a white fleece jacket, and returned to the kitchen.
Xue Yang was already putting the eggs in the pan.
The eggs hit the hot oil with a SIZZLE, and an enticing aroma imdiately filled the air.
Lin Xi felt even hungrier.
She licked her lips. "Are you frying eggs?"
"Yep. Do you like them runny or well-done?" Xue Yang asked.
"I like them well-done."
" too."
"What a coincidence!"
"It is, isn’t it?"
After frying the eggs, Xue Yang scooped them out onto a plate, set them aside, then added water to the wok and brought it to a boil before adding the noodles.
He cooked with intense focus, and Lin Xi watched him just as intently.
The night was very late. The lights on the other floors of the building had all gone out; only their apartnt on the eighth floor remained brightly lit. The moonlight above cast a cool, clear glow, forming a stark contrast with the warm light radiating from the apartnt. Eventually, the moonlight was outshone and retreated behind the clouds.
In the kitchen, the noodles were ready. Xue Yang served them in a large bowl, placing two round fried eggs on top. Steaming hot and wonderfully fragrant, it was a simple yet perfect delicacy.
"It slls so good."
Lin Xi couldn’t wait to dig in.
"Not so fast. Let bring it out to the table. Let it cool a little before you eat."
"Okay."
Like a little shadow, Lin Xi trailed Xue Yang out of the kitchen.
Because the apartnt hadn’t been lived in for a while, the table was a bit dusty. As Xue Yang was about to take the bowl back, Lin Xi quickly said, "I’ll wipe it. You wait here for a second."
Lin Xi ran to the kitchen, found a cloth, wet it, and hurried back to wipe the table clean. This was sothing else Xue Yang had taught her: a damp cloth was best for wiping tables.
Hmm, this really does work well.
"It’s clean now."
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