Lu Nian was being served very comfortably, feeling extremely relaxed. Her eyelids were soon engaged in a battle, and in no time, she was about to fall into a sweet slumber.

However, before she could drift off to sleep, she was ruthlessly awakened.

It seemed to be a very familiar voice, cold and filled with a chilling tone. “Get up and tidy yourself.”

She habitually responded.

After her cheeks and hair were dried, she felt much better. The alcohol-numbed mind seemed to have cleared up a bit.

Struggling to half-sit up from the sofa, her mind was still muddled, and she hadn’t figured out the situation.

The living room was lit with a small lamp, casting a dim yellow light, while outside the rain had turned into a downpour, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder.

The dim light made it difficult for her to see clearly.

The young man across from her seemed to still be maintaining a half-crouching position, his face obscured by the night, and the dim light outlined his handsome profile, but his expression was unclear.

Her hair had been dried, but her clothes were still wet.

The outer layer was soaked and draped over her, making her very uncomfortable.

Lu Nian struggled to take off her coat, thankfully the long sweater she was wearing underneath wasn’t wet.

The room had the heater on, and after taking off the wet clothes, warmth returned to her.

“Qin Si…” Feeling a bit more sober, she murmured.

She also looked around where she was now, it was a very unfamiliar environment.

She was sure it was her first time here.

The surroundings were very quiet but obviously not the environment of a bar.

She rubbed her eyes. “Where is this place?” It didn’t seem like a hotel either.

After a while, Qin Si replied, “My home.”

In fact, it wasn’t fully tidied up yet, only the basic furnishings were added. If it wasn’t an accident, he didn’t plan to bring her here.

But compared to the small attic of the past, it was already a world of difference. It was the first time he had a home that entirely belonged to him.

“Your home?” After digesting the meaning of this sentence, the girl’s eyes widened, and a genuine joy was evident in her voice. “You’re amazing!”

Obviously, he was only a few years older than her, and she was still a useless freeloader relying on her family.

He was already able to set up his own home.

The young man lowered his eyelashes.

He didn’t elaborate on this topic any further, tossing something onto her, “Get up.”

It was a soft silk quilt, emitting a pleasant scent unique to new fabrics.

Lu Nian wrapped herself in the blanket, puzzled. “Get up and go where?”

He replied briefly, “I’ll take you back.”

Lu Nian shook her head. “I’m not going back tonight.”

The young man froze, as if he didn’t understand what she meant.

Lu Nian clearly said, “I’m not going back tonight.”

“Dad and Lu Yang are not at home today,” she said. “I already told Miaomiao that I’ll go back tomorrow at noon, so I won’t be found out.”

After all, it was the carefully chosen time and meticulously planned schedule.

Finally, Lu Nian suddenly realized that she seemed to have overlooked one thing: what if Qin Si didn’t agree to let her stay?

She asked cautiously, “Can I stay?”

She had no idea how he would respond. After all, Qin Si might not necessarily be willing to take her in.

Moreover… when she thought of Bai Xi, she didn’t want to admit it, but maybe she was also afraid of interrupting something good he might be doing.

After a long silence, he said, “Do whatever you want.”

Lu Nian hugged the blanket and finally felt relieved. But her stomach suddenly growled loudly in the quiet room.

Qin Si, “…”

Lu Nian rubbed her stomach and said pitifully, “I’m so hungry.”

She complained, “To sneak out, I told them I wasn’t feeling well and pretended to be sick, so I didn’t eat dinner.”

By now, it was no wonder she was hungry.

He asked expressionlessly, “So you went drinking?”

Lu Nian, “…”

She thought to herself, it was because of you… doing those things outside.

Drinking gave her courage, so she dared to confront him earlier. Now that she was sober, her anger had vanished like a popped balloon.

When she thought about what Bai Xi said, her face burned with embarrassment.

She didn’t dare to ask Qin Si directly about such things.

Besides, she was never really anyone to Qin Si, at most a childhood playmate.

Qin Si had already repaid all the money to her family, so they were even.

She had no right to interfere in his personal life.

It was already late at night.

Lu Nian planned to go hungry and sleep on the sofa for the night.

But the young man stood up, and soon, the lights turned on.

It seemed to be the kitchen…

Lu Nian got excited, slipped on her slippers, and ran to see.

It was indeed the kitchen.

The boy rolled up the sleeves of his black sweater, holding a knife, revealing his long, clean wrists.

In the cozy kitchen setting, his cold and indifferent aura softened, making him look even more handsome.

She leaned against the door, watching him without blinking, “Are you going to cook for me?”

The boy didn’t lift his eyelashes, “I’m hungry too.”

Lu Nian, “Oh.”

Although she had always thought that there was nothing Qin Si couldn’t do, seeing him in the kitchen still felt amazing.

Thinking about it, it made sense for him to cook.

After all, he had been living independently for a long time and had to learn to take care of himself.

Watching his skilled movements, she curiously asked, “When you’re at Ming’s place, do you also cook for Huang and Xiao Qu?”

Qin Si, “…” He didn’t say, this was his first time cooking for someone else.

Usually, the people at Ming’s place would cook for themselves if they wanted to eat or order takeout.

He hadn’t cooked before and didn’t plan to in the future.

But since it was late, and Lu Nian was on an empty stomach after drinking, he wasn’t going to make a big meal.

A few minutes later, Lu Nian finally saw what he was making. “Are you… making noodles?”

“It’s all I can make,” the boy replied coolly. “If you don’t want it, forget it.”

Lu Nian, “…” Of course she would eat it. Why wouldn’t she eat it?

Thinking about it, she realized she had come to celebrate Qin Si’s birthday, but she hadn’t brought any gifts.

Now, she was the one being taken care of by the birthday boy.

But then she thought, this is Qin Si. There’s no need to be polite with him.

With the smell of food tempting her, Lu Nian’s stomach growled loudly. She quickly accepted the reality and settled into the situation.

The bowl of noodles smelled amazing, topped with a perfectly cooked fried egg.

The taste and presentation were both excellent.

Lu Nian ate heartily, savoring every bite.

She even drank the last bit of soup, feeling a warm sensation spread through her body, completely satisfied.

He had only made one bowl.

After Lu Nian finished eating and came back from a quick wash, Qin Si had already cleaned up the dishes.

Lu Nian whispered, “I don’t really want to sleep right now…” She wasn’t sure if it was because she had napped earlier or because she had just eaten, but she didn’t feel tired at all.

“Do whatever you want,” he said.

“Can we keep the living room light on?” Lu Nian asked. “I’m scared…” She had been afraid of the dark since she was a child.

Qin Si, “… Okay.”

“Qin Si, what were you doing earlier tonight?” she asked.

He replied briefly, “Working.”

Lu Nian suddenly felt a bit guilty. He had been out working… that must have been tiring.

Now, in the middle of the night, she was bothering him, making him take care of her and cook for her.

“Why don’t you go rest?” Lu Nian decided. “I’ll be fine on my own. I’ll sleep when I get tired.”

Qin Si, “…”

“I’m not tired,” he said. “I still have some things to read.”

Seeing him really take out a book to read, Lu Nian felt relieved and less guilty.

As he read beside her, Lu Nian lay on the sofa, playing with her phone.

She was wearing a loose white sweater, and in that position, a small part of her collarbone was visible.

Her skin was fair and smooth, and every inch seemed as delicate as jade.

Her slender, snow-white ankles were also exposed, with her slippers barely hanging on her feet, looking like they might fall off at any moment.

He felt his ears heating up uncontrollably. He didn’t want to look or think about it, trying hard to suppress those thoughts.

He just wanted to focus on his book.

…Predictably, his self-control failed miserably.

Especially since she kept talking to him and even leaned over to watch him write, “Why do you write so fast!”

His slender fingers moved smoothly as he wrote, making it look exceptionally pleasing.

She watched him for a while, propping her chin on her hand, and mumbled, “Are you just scribbling randomly?”

The boy moved away and, without lifting his eyes, coldly said, “You’re just stupid.”

“Yes, I am,” Lu Nian admitted readily. “Not everyone is as smart as you.”

She knew herself well. It’s not that she didn’t try hard or that the Lu family didn’t find good teachers for her.

The problem was that everyone’s talents and interests were different. No matter how hard she tried, this was the best she could do in her studies.

Talking about herself again, Qin Si fell silent.

“Can I come over to play sometimes?” she asked.

He didn’t answer, so Lu Nian continued.

“My home environment is too stifling,” Lu Nian said. “Besides being able to hang out at the Zhao family’s place, my days at home are really unbearable.”

She tilted her head to look at his book, getting closer.

Her dark hair fell beside her fair cheeks, making her look innocent and sweet.

Hearing that name, the warmth on his cheeks gradually faded.

He thought of the rumors at school, remembered that day, and the casual way that person had acted, so familiar and intimate with her.

At the Zhao family’s place, did she behave the same way with that Zhao Yayan, or even more so…

Just imagining those scenes made him almost mad with jealousy.

The boy’s side profile was clean and sharp, a familiar sight after so long.

It had been a while since he’d seen the eighteen-year-old Qin Si.

She tilted her head, feeling a strange urge to get even closer.

When she was drunk, had he held her…

But the boy pulled away, his beautiful phoenix eyes revealing no emotion. “Are you like this with everyone?”

Lu Nian was stunned. “What?”

He already regretted saying it, pressing his lips together and saying nothing more, making her almost think she’d misheard.

“Qin Si, where do you want to go to college?” she asked, bringing up another topic.

After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know.”

Lu Nian, “Hmm… I figured you wouldn’t want to tell me.”

“I might go abroad,” she said, tilting her head.

After all, in these matters, she had no say and could only follow Lu Zhihong’s instructions.

Qin Si didn’t respond.

Anyway, he probably wasn’t interested in where she went.

After chatting on and off for a while, Lu Nian finally felt a bit sleepy.

“Qin Si, where should I sleep tonight? Can I use your guest room… or should I sleep on the sofa?” she asked, her voice growing quieter and more pitiful as she mentioned the sofa.

The boy stood up silently, and Lu Nian followed him.

He led her to a bedroom door.

He hesitated, which was rare.

So Lu Nian opened the door herself. “Should I sleep here?”

She expected the room to be messy.

Unexpectedly, the bedroom had a bed that was already made.

The clean sheets and quilt were beige, neat and tidy, with a matching duvet cover.

It looked a bit like her bedroom, with a simple and elegant color scheme that many girls would choose.

Lu Nian, “…”

Why did Qin Si’s home have a room like this?

She wouldn’t have thought much of it before, but now she suddenly thought of Bai Xi and felt sad.

She didn’t want to argue with Qin Si again, so she kept her feelings in check, feeling a bit disheartened.

“Can you wake me up tomorrow?” she asked.

The boy’s ears were already burning.

He avoided her gaze, looking a bit flustered. “Set an alarm yourself.”

… His delusions were exposed nakedly in front of the object of his imagination.

He felt utterly ashamed and couldn’t stand staying there any longer.