The two ate breakfast in silence. Zhan Jingrui washed and cut fruit, placed it before her, and then opened the television for her before squatting down in front of her.
"I'm going to work. Stay home and behave, call me if anything comes up."
He Yao thought to herself, "I don't have your WeChat, nor have I saved your phone number. If something really happens, I won't be able to call."
As if reading her mind, Zhan Jingrui continued, "After you fell asleep last night, I used your fingerprint to unlock your phone and saved my WeChat and phone number. I'll send you a message later. If you don't reply, I'll come back for you."
He Yao hurried him along, finally seeing him off to work.
Looking at everything he had created for her, even choosing a movie they had watched together years ago, her heart felt as sweet as honey, and she couldn't help but smile secretly.
As soon as Zhan Jingrui arrived at the office, he messaged her, "I'm here. Are you okay?"
He Yao dared not not reply, "I'm fine. You go to work."
"Okay."
Ten minutes later, Zhan Jingrui sent her another message.
"Have you had water?"
He Yao replied that she had.
"Was it the water I poured for you, or did you boil more yourself? The doctor said your head shouldn't be shaken. I forgot to prepare more for you when I left. You absolutely must not boil water yourself. If you're thirsty, tell me, and I'll come back to make it for you."
He Yao thought to herself, "Am I really that delicate? I need you to rush back to boil water for me just to have a drink?"
"I haven't finished the water you poured yet, I'm not thirsty."
"Then I'll get back to work."
Less than an hour later, another message arrived.
"Have you used the restroom? The bathroom floor is a bit slippery, and you have a wound on your head. Be very careful when you go, try to hold onto something so you don't fall again."
Being cared for by him made her feel like a seventy or eighty-year-old grandmother.
He Yao even found it a bit amusing.
After watching one movie, less than two and a half hours later, Zhan Jingrui returned.
Hearing movement at the door, He Yao was startled.
She always felt their relationship was illicit, and she was afraid someone might suddenly burst in and expose them.
Instinctively, she grabbed a cushion to shield her chest. The person who entered was Zhan Jingrui.
He Yao breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but scold him.
"Why are you back at this hour? You scared me! I thought a thief had broken in."
"You haven't fully recovered yet. I was really worried after rushing you out. Anyway, I don't have much to do this morning, so I came back to keep you company for a while."
He was holding a delicate cake box.
"I picked this up at a bakery on the way. You should like it. Durian mille-feuille. Try it quickly."
He had a cleanliness obsession and never ate anything with a strange smell.
He Yao used to tease him about durian, even trying to shove it into his mouth, nearly making him gag.
Now, he had actually bought her durian mille-feuille.
As she ate, He Yao playfully said, "Have you changed your ways? Can you tolerate the smell of durian now? Want a bite?"
"No, you eat more."
He endured the smell with effort, watching He Yao eat with relish. He gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue.
"Look how thin you are. If you like it, I'll buy it for you every day from now on."
Not long after finishing two pieces of durian mille-feuille, it was time for lunch.
There were pre-prepared ingredients in the refrigerator, and Zhan Jingrui was going to cook for her.
He Yao's head was already spinning.
"Let me rest for a while. My mouth hasn't been idle all morning. I haven't exercised, how can I eat so much?"
"But I'm hungry. Just consider it accompanying me to eat. Besides, this is the first time I'm really cooking. Don't you want to taste my skills?"
He Yao was indeed curious about his cooking. Since they had nothing else to do, she figured it was fine if he wanted to cook.
They decided to make garlic stir-fried greens and diced mixed vegetables.
Zhan Jingrui brought the ingredients and placed them in front of He Yao. While chatting, they picked vegetables together.
What was called "quiet years" was nothing more than the present moment.
Neither of them brought up past events, and they talked about trivial things with tacit understanding.
Yet, it was engaging, and they had endless things to talk about.
A part of her heart felt filled, with a sense of happiness she hadn't experienced in a very long time.
While stir-frying, Zhan Jingrui watched tutorials on his phone and kept asking He Yao to taste the dishes.
It was the first time he discovered cooking was such an interesting thing.
After working hard for half the day, He Yao didn't want to disappoint him and generously ate another half bowl.
Full and content, she just wanted to sleep.
"I'm going to take a nap. You should go back to work."
"Why leave so early for work? I have a meeting at three in the afternoon, I'll leave at half-past two. I'll sleep with you."
Sleep together?
Before He Yao could protest, Zhan Jingrui scooped her up and carried her towards the bedroom.
The room was clean and bright, with beige floral bedding.
Warm sunlight streamed in through the window, making the room incredibly cozy.
He Yao's eyes lit up as she looked around.
"When did you buy this? This sheet, this quilt, it's exactly my taste."
Zhan Jingrui knew that He Yao liked practical, everyday things.
She wasn't like Chu Xi, who pursued perfection and refinement in everything.
Being with her was truly relaxing.
Perhaps this was why he truly enjoyed spending time with her.
He gently placed her on the bed, not letting her move at all, afraid of touching her wound. He then lay down beside her on his side.
They exchanged a knowing glance, as if drawn by magnets, and instinctively moved closer to each other.
Zhan Jingrui habitually reached out to place his arm under her head, intending to hold her while they slept.
But he stopped himself.
He had He Yao extend one leg to rest on him. He lay on his side, looking at her, gently patting her shoulder with one hand.
"Sleep."
He Yao closed her eyelids, but she felt Zhan Jingrui's gaze fixed on her, which made her feel pressured. She couldn't help but open her eyes again.
"What are you staring at me like that for? How can I sleep?"
Zhan Jingrui's eyes curved into crescents. "Because you're beautiful? I can't get enough of looking at you."
He Yao rolled her eyes. "Don't talk nonsense. Can I be as beautiful as Chu Xi?"
Zhan Jingrui's smile faded.
"Can we make an agreement? Don't mention her during these few days."
He Yao also felt she was being a bit of a spoilsport. Since she had decided to enjoy these last few days, she should make the most of them.
"Then stop looking at me like that. You sleep too."
Zhan Jingrui immediately brought his head close to her face, instantly amplifying the intimate atmosphere. He Yao could feel his breath.
"What is it?"
"I want to kiss you. Is that okay?"
To be honest, she hadn't had intimate contact with a man in years. Facing the man she liked, her mind was filled with so many thoughts.
But He Yao had to maintain her composure. "You don't want to do anything else, do you?"
Zhan Jingrui couldn't help but laugh.
"Actually, I do. But I won't. You're like this, and I'd be a beast if I did anything more, wouldn't I?"
He Yao also smiled and closed her eyes. "Alright then. Kiss me."
Zhan Jingrui's movements were very gentle, yet even so, the moment their skin touched, a chemical reaction occurred.