Chapter 4 – Close to the Water’s Edge

“Is it possible… that this is actually my own home?” Tang Xiaohe was still lost in her own inner monologue when she suddenly heard Ji Yanli’s voice, cool and calm.

She suddenly realized she had unknowingly spoken her thoughts out loud. Facing Ji Yanli’s teasing gaze, her toes curled in embarrassment, wishing she could dig out a three-bedroom apartment right there on the spot.

Actually, when Tang Xiaohe first entered the password outside the door, Ji Yanli had already heard her. At that time, he was in the living room drying his hair. Hearing someone entering the password, he checked the video doorbell and was surprised to see Tang Xiaohe outside.

He didn’t know why she was there. Watching her lower her head to carefully examine the lock, sometimes frowning, sometimes murmuring to herself, Ji Yanli smiled softly behind the door. He thought this girl was a bit strange, but also kind of cute.

Due to the angle, Ji Yanli’s gaze caught sight of Tang Xiaohe’s fair, smooth collarbone. Feeling awkward, he quickly looked away. After a moment, he turned the door handle and opened the door.

“I… I think I knocked on the wrong door,” Tang Xiaohe stammered. Just moments ago, she had noticed a small floor plaque on the wall facing the elevator door: “20F.” Looking at Ji Yanli’s neighbor’s doorplate, it was “2002!”

No doubt about it — she was on the wrong floor.

“My friend is on a business trip and asked me to look after her pets upstairs,” Tang Xiaohe said, pointing up, her eyes blinking like a startled fawn, ears-tinged red.

This was her second encounter with Ji Yanli — once she was scammed out of money, and now she had come to the wrong floor. She wondered what kind of impression she had made on him — probably just a clueless fool, right?

She thought about how to salvage her image, then suddenly had a bright idea. If she was the dumbest person Ji Yanli had met, then at least she could be the prettiest dumb person!

She was fairly confident about her looks — even Lin Qing, who was obsessed with Lin Qingxia-level beauties, had complimented her. Beauty is subjective. Maybe Ji Yanli liked pretty fools.

Her confidence lifted a bit.

“I’ll be staying here for a few days. I don’t know much about the local food delivery. Officer Ji, could you recommend some good places?”

“Sure, I’ll send you a message on WeChat later,” Ji Yanli replied briefly.

Tang Xiaohe was secretly thrilled but kept her expression neutral, nodding: “Then I’ll head upstairs first.”

After she left, Ji Yanli remained standing in place with one hand on the door handle and the other in his pocket. Though lost in thought, his eyes showed a trace of warmth. As if recalling something, he smiled slightly, then stepped inside and closed the door.

Tang Xiaohe opened the door. Zhaotaohua wagged his tail and came out to greet her.

When Zhaotaohua was born, Lin Qing had thought it cruel to dock his tail, so he still had his fluffy tail sticking out from his chubby little behind, which actually looked quite cute.

Laifu jumped down from the shoe cabinet by the entrance and rubbed against Tang Xiaohe’s legs, his soft head gently nudging her calves.
Surrounded by her furry “bodyguards,” Tang Xiaohe went inside to refill their food and water. Just as she opened the food container, Zhaocai, the orange tabby, suddenly appeared from somewhere, meowing pitifully as if to say, “I’m starving! Hurry up…”

Tang Xiaohe looked at the chubby cat with a complicated expression. He seemed even fatter than the last time she visited, once again proving the saying “Ten cats, nine are fat” was no lie.

After showering, Tang Xiaohe changed into cinnamon dog pajamas she brought from home. While applying a facial mask, she called Lin Qing on video.

“Forgot to tell you yesterday, I met a super handsome guy at the police station!”

“How handsome?” Lin Qing asked.

“Just a bit more handsome than Gu Jing,” Tang Xiaohe replied. Gu Jing was a popular handsome actor — Lin Qing’s new crush.

“Really? I don’t believe you.” Lin Qing was skeptical but then added, “But actually, I met a guy in our neighborhood who’s even more handsome than Gu Jing.”

Tang Xiaohe had been casually tapping the face mask to make it fit better and absorb more, but after hearing Lin Qing’s words, she sat up straighter. Could it be that the handsome guy Lin Qing was talking about was Ji Yanli?

Lin Qing continued, “Too bad he’s way too good-looking, not my type. You know, I like those androgynous, mysterious types.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“Right downstairs in our building.”

Hearing the location, Tang Xiaohe was almost certain it was Ji Yanli.

Lin Qing added thoughtfully, “That guy was definitely good-looking, but really cold and aloof. I wanted to get his WeChat to introduce him to you, but he didn’t even acknowledge me.” She sighed softly. “You’re so pretty, my dear, perfect match for that kind of guy. Such a shame.”

“Hmm, I think it’s very likely we’re talking about the same person.”

“Really?”

“More than 90% sure…”

Tang Xiaohe told Lin Qing the whole story — how she met Ji Yanli at the police station and then went to the wrong floor, accidentally ending up at Ji Yanli’s place.

“Wow! Fate really can’t be stopped when it shows up. Honestly, you don’t have much money left for rent anyway, why not just quit your old place and move over here? Upstairs or downstairs, ‘close to the water’s edge,’ you get first pick!”

Lin Qing’s words made Tang Xiaohe consider seriously. She’d been struggling to figure out how to get closer to Ji Yanli. What’s the next step after meeting someone? Getting familiar, right? If they lived so close, after work, picking up packages, taking out the trash—they’d have plenty of chances to bump into each other. Just like Lin Qing said, “close to the water’s edge” — an easy way to increase presence.

She made up her mind immediately to take this opportunity and move in. Tang Xiaohe almost wanted to hug Lin Qing tightly and plant a big kiss: “Babe, you’re my strategist!”

On the video call, Lin Qing was full of gossip, looking even more excited: “Then let me wish my sister good luck in winning over the police officer! Don’t forget to credit me when you get married, so I can skip the gift money!”

The next morning

Tang Xiaohe surprisingly got up early. Knowing she might run into Ji Yanli anytime, she booked an appointment an hour earlier than usual, planning to dress up nicely.

Her phone buzzed with a new WeChat message.

Ji Yanli: “Liang’s Hand-Rolled Noodles, Baoqing Chicken Hotpot, Spicy Caowu Fish Noodles… Not sure if you have any dietary restrictions, but these are pretty good, worth trying.”

Tang Xiaohe scrolled down and saw another message.

“But it’s best not to eat too much takeout. If you have time, cooking yourself is healthier.”

Tang Xiaohe imagined Ji Yanli typing those words, rolled twice on her bed, and smiled so wide her mouth wouldn’t close. Ji Yanli wasn’t as cold as Lin Qing said — he was actually a handsome and warm-hearted guy.

She quickly replied: “Okay, I’ll try them all when I get the chance. Thanks, Officer Ji!”

Then she sent a cute “poached egg” cartoon emoji making a heart gesture — super adorable.

On the other end, Ji Yanli smiled as he looked at the cute emoji.

He usually ate at the office canteen and occasionally cooked for himself, rarely ordering takeout.

When Tang Xiaohe asked for good takeout recommendations yesterday, he agreed without hesitation. But when it came to choosing, he found it difficult. After browsing Meituan for a long time, considering distance, customer reviews, and other factors, he finally picked a few good places and recommended them to Tang Xiaohe.
His fingers then stopped at a message Tang Xiaohe sent on the day they met — a “weather report” message. At the time, he didn’t know how to reply and later got caught up in an emergency, forgetting about it. Though it wasn’t a big deal, he felt he should explain it the next time they met.

As for meeting Tang Xiaohe, he thought to himself that he hadn’t really understood what “quirky” meant before, but now he seemed to get it…