Chu Yi slightly raised her eyebrows, but the next second, she dismissed her thoughts, figuring that with Qiao Anchen’s straightforward nature, he probably meant exactly what he said.

She pushed the whole plate of strawberries next to her over to him.

“Then eat more.”

Chu Yi lay on the sofa playing, while Qiao Anchen quietly sat beside her, eating until the plate was empty.

“You finished them all!” After reading a few chapters of her comic, Chu Yi looked up and noticed the empty plate, surprised.

“I thought you didn’t really like strawberries.”

On the way back, Chu Yi had casually asked him, and Qiao Anchen had mentioned that he wasn’t fond of these soft, berry-like fruits. At the time, she had been a little shocked.

It turned out that the tastes of men and women could indeed be worlds apart.

Hearing her confusion, Qiao Anchen paused as he put down the plate and said calmly, “I just suddenly found them pretty tasty.”

“Right! I told you! Strawberries are the most delicious fruit in the world!”

“What about cherries?” Qiao Anchen asked, eyeing the plate of cherries she had already finished.

Chu Yi fell silent, her eyes unconsciously looking elsewhere as her brain raced.

“Well… cherries are the most unique fruit in the world!”

Qiao Anchen: “Hm…?”

“No other fruit can compare!”

“…Alright then.”

As usual, they stayed there for dinner. Tian Wan’s cooking was excellent, and Qiao Anchen had likely inherited her talent.

Chu Yi accidentally ate too much, so she and Qiao Anchen went for a walk in the evening, circling the neighborhood twice.

Qiao’s father and Tian Wan lived in an old residential area, the buildings now appearing somewhat vintage, with red walls and black tiles hidden among thick trees, making the area very quiet.

The people who lived here were mostly retired professors, and the house was one that Qiao’s father’s workplace had assigned to them when they got married. Although it wasn’t large, its value had increased several times over due to its prime location.

Chu Yi liked the atmosphere here very much. It exuded a tranquility different from the fast-paced modern city.

She looked at Qiao Anchen, who was walking beside her, their hands casually intertwined. It was comfortable even without talking.

For some reason, although Qiao Anchen hadn’t done anything, the dissatisfaction and grievances Chu Yi had felt toward him last night had already dissipated.

This might be the norm in married life—always moving forward through conflicts and reconciliations, and often, before you realize it, a lifetime has passed.

Later that evening, something unexpected happened. After her shower, Chu Yi accidentally dropped her nightgown on the floor while grabbing it. Even though she quickly picked it up, a large part of the hem still got wet.

She reluctantly put it on, then rushed out of the bathroom and headed straight for Qiao Anchen’s room.

He was packing their suitcases, as they were leaving the next day.

“Qiao Anchen, my clothes got wet!” Chu Yi’s voice carried a hint of a sob, and she anxiously tugged at the wet hem of her gown, her feet still damp as she nervously stepped on the floor.

“Should I find you some old clothes?” Qiao Anchen thought for a moment and suggested. Since they were only staying for two days, Chu Yi had only brought one nightgown, and the rest were not washed.

“Okay, hurry up.” Chu Yi urged.

Qiao Anchen stood up and walked over to the wooden wardrobe, which he had since his school days. Even after going to high school and university, he hadn’t replaced it. Compared to the current styles, it looked quite old, carrying a sense of history.

He rummaged through the wardrobe for a while and finally found an old white cotton T-shirt with gray graphics featuring characters from the Slam Dunk manga.

He vaguely remembered buying it in his second year of college when he was already quite tall. The shirt would probably just reach Chu Yi’s thighs.

He handed it to her, and Chu Yi, not minding, had him turn around while she quickly changed into it.

She hung the damp nightgown on the balcony to dry overnight and felt quite satisfied wearing the clean, dry T-shirt.

But Qiao Anchen wasn’t as calm. He watched Chu Yi walking around the room, her slender white legs swaying in front of him, her petite body wrapped in his oversized T-shirt.

As thoughts began to form in his mind, he remembered last night. Qiao Anchen took a deep breath, exhaled, and tried to calm his growing restlessness.

He lowered his head and continued packing, a rare hint of frustration crossing his usually composed face.

Maybe because the annoyance in her heart had faded, Chu Yi no longer kept a deliberate distance from him. The bed was only so big, so their bodies inevitably touched.

Since he had moved into the house when he was young, Qiao Anchen’s bed was a small one. Later, Tian Wan had suggested replacing it with a larger one, but Qiao Anchen hadn’t wanted the hassle. Besides, he slept alone and didn’t feel uncomfortable.

However, now, as Qiao Anchen stared at the ceiling in the dark, he found himself thinking that he should probably get a new bed. Otherwise, he’d just continue being uncomfortable every time they visited.

While his thoughts wandered, Chu Yi moved beside him, her hair brushing against his neck, tickling him with its familiar fragrance.

Her arm touched his.

Without thinking, Qiao Anchen turned and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Chu Yi…”

“Mm?” Chu Yi had originally been closing her eyes but opened them when she felt the warmth of his hand on her waist, noticing that it seemed hotter than usual.

“Tonight…,” Qiao Anchen began, wanting to ask if it was convenient, but he feared her refusal. For the first time, he found himself facing a tricky dilemma, frowning unconsciously.

But Chu Yi suddenly understood. His hesitant gaze and suggestive actions made it clear.

It seemed that someone hadn’t been satisfied last night and was still thinking about it.

She realized that she was starting to feel the same. When he had been sitting on the floor earlier, fixing the small fan in his old plaid shirt, Chu Yi had been thinking about the Qiao Anchen she knew from their school days—a tall, handsome, serious, and cool young man who rarely smiled.