Chapter 3: Encountered

Zhu Yu quickly shook his head and sniffled as he explained, “No, I’m crying because it’s so delicious. I really haven’t had Chinese food in so long.”

After eating Western food for three months, suddenly having such delicious free Chinese food, anyone would shed tears, right?

Bai Chen secretly sighed in relief. “Actually, I was worried you wouldn’t like it, because I’ve never cooked for anyone before.”

Zhu Yu, with his mouth full, couldn’t speak, but Liu Bo, who was eating by his feet, started meowing.

“Meow meow meow…”

Zhu Yu patted his chest to swallow the food that was blocking his throat and then explained, “Liu Bo means it’s really delicious.”

“I was about to say, you don’t have to worry, because it’s really delicious!” Zhu Yu handed over his empty bowl with a slightly embarrassed expression. “So… may I have another bowl of rice, please?”

“Of course,” Bai Chen didn’t expect Zhu Yu to finish his bowl of rice so quickly. The sense of satisfaction he felt was magnified, and he quietly suppressed this feeling that seemed a bit unusual.

He took the bowl and went back to the kitchen to fill another bowl of rice for Zhu Yu.

—

In less than twenty minutes, the food on the table and the rice in the kitchen were almost gone.

Bai Chen had already put down his bowl and chopsticks. He noticed that Zhu Yu’s pink hair looked surprisingly bright under the light. In the dim-toned room, it became the brightest and most vibrant color.

Zhu Yu seemed to have just recovered from his hunger.

He slowed down and looked into Bai Chen’s eyes as he asked, “I’ve never seen you before. When did you move in?”

Bai Chen answered honestly, “The day before yesterday morning.”

Zhu Yu gave a realizing look. No wonder he didn’t remember him—because he had been busy in the art studio the past two days, and he always came back around six or seven in the evening.

He wouldn’t leave the dormitory unless necessary, so it was perfectly normal that he hadn’t noticed a new neighbor moving in across the hall.

Zhu Yu stuffed the last piece of chicken into his mouth, swallowed it with warm water, and then said to Bai Chen, “Thank you for the hospitality! This is the first time I’ve had Chinese food this month. If it weren’t for you, Liu Bo and I would have really starved.”

Bai Chen actually wanted to say that it was also his first time seeing someone and a cat this hungry.

But Bai Chen only said, “No need to thank me.”

Then he stood up to clear the bowls from the table. Zhu Yu hurriedly stood up as well, “Are you going to wash the dishes? I’ll do it.”

He had already eaten someone else’s food, so he should at least help with something.

Bai Chen refused, “No need, I would have to wash the dishes anyway, even if I ate alone.”

“But I should help you with something, right?” Zhu Yu ran in front of Bai Chen, blocking his way with open arms. “After all, I ate the food you made.”

It must be said, Bai Chen’s physique was truly outstanding compared to his peers.

Zhu Yu stood in front of him, and the broad muscles of the other person’s chest perfectly blocked his line of sight. Those muscles were really so big and perfect…

Zhu Yu blinked, thinking about his own thin arms and legs, and for the first time, he felt a twinge of insecurity.

Bai Chen didn’t notice Zhu Yu’s small gesture. Hearing Zhu Yu’s tone so firm, he lowered his gaze and thought for a moment before saying, “Then help me dry the dishes.”

“Okay!”

Only then did Zhu Yu lower his arms and follow Bai Chen into the kitchen.

Although Zhu Yu had never washed dishes before, he had seen the housekeeper do it at home. Since this was his first time doing it, he was very careful and didn’t mess things up.

The kitchen fell silent.

Only the sound of running water and the clinking of porcelain bowls could be heard.

Zhu Yu found the silence a bit eerie.

When he was a child, his health wasn’t great, and he didn’t grow much. Even after various supplements in his youth, he only barely caught up to his peers’ height. Now, standing next to Bai Chen, he was almost a whole head shorter.

He quietly glanced at Bai Chen’s knuckles, which had turned slightly red from the cold water, then broke the silence between them by speaking up. “Bai Chen, what are you studying?”

“Architectural design,” Bai Chen replied.

Zhu Yu seemed to have found a topic to talk about between them and continued, “I’m studying art, so in a way, we do have some connection.”

“There was only one Chinese person on the fifth floor, and now there’s another one—me. We’re neighbors, what a coincidence.”

“And then you just moved in, and we met. So I guess we’re friends now, right?” Zhu Yu kept his head down while drying the dishes, mumbling a lot of things.

Bai Chen tilted his head and looked at Zhu Yu’s pink hair, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, we’re friends now.”

Zhu Yu pursed his lips and looked up at Bai Chen, but their eyes met for a moment before Bai Chen quickly looked away.

Zhu Yu didn’t think much of it and curiously asked, “Bai Chen, did you agree to let me eat at your place because I’m also Chinese?”

When he was hungry, his mind had gone blank, and he hadn’t thought of so many things. Now that he was full, he was wondering why Bai Chen had agreed to let him come over for a meal.

Bai Chen’s hand paused while washing the dishes, and he turned his head to look at Zhu Yu.

His eyes were a bit deep, with irises that seemed like spreading ink, light gray, carrying an inexplicable mysteriousness. Zhu Yu tilted his head slightly, his expression full of confusion.

Bai Chen hesitated for a moment before suddenly asking, “Did you have blond hair the day before yesterday?”

Zhu Yu widened his eyes at his words and quickly asked, “How did you know?!”

“I only just changed my hair color yesterday,” It was obvious that Zhu Yu’s hair color was freshly changed, as the roots were still pink.

Bai Chen explained, “I saw you the day before yesterday when I went to register. You had blond hair back then.”

Zhu Yu recalled what he had done that day. He had spent almost the entire day in the art studio, only going to the playground for a short badminton game with a classmate during the lunch break.

If he had seen Bai Chen, given Zhu Yu’s personality, he wouldn’t have failed to remember such a handsome guy, so he asked for details, “The day before yesterday? When exactly was that?”

Bai Chen thought for a moment before answering, “It was probably around noon. You and your friend were playing badminton, and I saw you when I passed by. Your hair color was really nice, so I remembered you.”

After a pause, he added, “That’s why I agreed to let you come to my house today.”

Bai Chen was telling the truth—he had agreed to let Zhu Yu come over because he had a slight impression of him.

“Really?” But Zhu Yu’s attention had clearly shifted.

He only heard Bai Chen praise his previous hair color, so as soon as Bai Chen finished speaking, he turned to face him, raised his hand in a ‘V’ gesture, and smiled at Bai Chen. “So, what do you think of my current hair color?”

Zhu Yu’s skin was fair and delicate, and his features were exquisite. Because of his face, many people would overlook his ear studs and tongue piercing.

Their attention was always on Zhu Yu’s face, which was the kind of face that could make it to the top tier in the entertainment industry just based on looks.

Bai Chen retracted his gaze and seriously said, “It looks good too.”

In reality, it was Zhu Yu’s face that looked good, so no matter how bright or extravagant the hair color was, it wouldn’t affect his attractiveness.

Zhu Yu immediately got excited and said, “I originally thought this hair color didn’t look good, and I was planning to dye it blue next month!”

“Since you think it looks good, I’ll keep it for a while longer!” Zhu Yu’s soft pink hair was gently tousled by the evening breeze coming through the window gap.

While Zhu Yu was speaking, Bai Chen had silently wiped the remaining dishes and put them away.

“Anyway, I really appreciate your hospitality tonight. If you need anything, you can come find me at 515! I’ll definitely help you!” Zhu Yu picked up Liu Bo, who had been circling around their feet, and promised Bai Chen.

Bai Chen turned off the faucet and nodded. “Okay, thank you, Zhu Yu.”

“Hey! I should be thanking you!” Zhu Yu waved his hand, looking around and realizing there was nothing more he could do to help. He then said goodbye to Bai Chen, “If there’s nothing you need me to do, then I’ll head back now, okay?”

“Okay.” Bai Chen took the apron Zhu Yu had taken off.

Bai Chen walked him to the door. After Zhu Yu stepped out, he turned around, waved at Bai Chen, and said, “Goodnight, Bai Chen, thank you.”

He patted Liu Bo’s rear end in his arms and commanded, “Liu Bo.”

Liu Bo, full from the meal, was now dozing in Zhu Yu’s arms. After hearing Zhu Yu’s words, it raised its head and meowed at Bai Chen.

“Meow.”

It was the first time Bai Chen saw a cat’s face show such an ingratiating expression. He smiled and responded, “Alright.”

Looking closely at Bai Chen’s face, Zhu Yu noticed that when he smiled, there was a tiny dimple on his right cheek.

There was an inexplicable contrast.

Zhu Yu, content as he cuddled the cat, opened the door and returned to the dorm. Just as he was about to close the door, he suddenly remembered something. He quickly turned around and stepped outside, intending to call out to Bai Chen.

However, the door to dorm 514 was already firmly shut.

Zhu Yu stood silently in front of the door. He had forgotten to ask Bai Chen for his contact information.

They had at least gotten to know each other, so how could he forget something so important?

But it was fine, Zhu Yu reassured himself.

After all, they were neighbors now. They would definitely have more chances to meet in the future, and then he could ask for Bai Chen’s contact information.

Thinking this, Zhu Yu felt much happier.

Once back at his room, Zhu Yu finally looked at the message from Zhu Ting.

It basically said that August was a friend he had met years ago when he came to the UK on a business trip, and they had kept in touch all these years.

Zhu Ting had told him about Zhu Yu’s current situation and expressed understanding, saying that he would be willing to help him.

He asked Zhu Yu to go to the café for an interview at nine o’clock the next day.

After washing up, Zhu Yu lay back on his bed. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he somehow thought of Bai Chen again.

He opened his eyes, turned over, and pulled the dozing Liu Bo into his arms, murmuring to himself, “He’s so nice.”

“He’s also really good-looking.” He didn’t expect the face behind the ID “Bai Ze” to be so handsome, with such a gentle personality.

Zhu Yu buried his face in Liu Bo’s belly and quietly chuckled.

It wasn’t until Liu Bo gave him a swat on the face that he finally calmed down.

—

The smell of braised chicken still lingered in the room.

Zhu Yu hadn’t been able to bring himself to open the window before going to bed to let the smell out.

As a result, he dreamt of eating braised chicken all night.

It wasn’t until the alarm clock on his bedside table rang that it broke his pleasant dream.

A pale hand emerged from the blanket, groping for the alarm clock on the nightstand and turning off the irritating sound.

Ten minutes later, the alarm went off again, and this time the blanket on the bed was finally lifted.

The person on the bed, with pink hair in disarray, still had that little tuft of hair on top standing up straight.

Zhu Yu rubbed his sleepy eyes and stared at the ceiling, quietly comforting himself in his mind for a long time.

Finally, he dragged Liu Bo, who had been pressing on his chest, to the other side and reluctantly climbed out of the bed.

Then, after washing up, tying his hair, eating bread, and changing clothes, he took his time as usual. By the time he left, more than half an hour had passed.

When locking the door, he subconsciously turned and glanced at dorm 514. The door was still shut. He wasn’t sure if Bai Chen had already gone out or was still asleep.

As Zhu Yu locked the door and looked at his wristwatch, the sleepiness in his head vanished in an instant—It was 8:42!!

The café wasn’t far from the school, but the international student dormitory was more than ten minutes away from the school, and the interview was at nine o’clock sharp. Without even properly putting on his backpack, Zhu Yu started running toward the school.