Xia Wantang saved his name as a contact and then sent a message: "Are you coming back for dinner tonight?"
After typing, she hesitated to send it.
She wondered if asking like this was a bit strange, as they didn't live together.
After much deliberation, she deleted the message.
She put down her phone and ate. After a few bites, she picked up her phone again.
It was just dinner, she thought, a way to thank him.
If he ate early, he probably wouldn't stay the night.
With this thought, she still sent the message.
After sending it, she put her phone aside and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating.
However, she kept waiting for her phone to beep, waiting for his reply.
Meanwhile, Ling Yucheng looked at the message on his phone, his eyes full of tenderness.
He had originally planned to have lunch with her, but found out she was already eating.
Since that was the case, he decided against it, planning to pick her up from work in the afternoon and have dinner together then.
Unexpectedly, she had refused. Ling Yucheng felt a little uncomfortable.
He always felt like she was rejecting him, yet she had agreed to be his girlfriend.
Now, his mood brightened considerably, and he replied with a smile: "Okay."
Xia Wantang was also waiting for a reply. Seeing his "Okay," she instinctively curved her lips.
While eating, she was already pondering what dishes to make for dinner.
They were like ordinary couples just starting out, cautious yet very attentive to each other's replies, filled with anticipation.
Time flew by.
Xia Wantang finished her class and got off work.
She took a shared bicycle to the nearby vegetable market, bought a fish, some greens, and some meat.
She planned to make three dishes: braised crucian carp, stir-fried greens, and stir-fried pork with chili.
Three dishes were enough for two people.
Back home, she started busy. She first washed the greens, chili, and scallions, then chopped them and put them on plates.
Next, she washed the meat and fish. The meat was washed and cut into pieces, the fish scored, and ginger slices and scallions placed inside its belly.
After preparing everything, she checked the time; it was only half past four.
At this point, she realized she had nothing here, so she went downstairs again to buy oil, salt, chicken essence, light soy sauce, and cooking wine.
After buying the items, she sat on the sofa and browsed her phone, waiting until nearly half past five to start cooking.
First, she heated oil in a pan, added ginger, garlic, and then fried the fish until golden brown on both sides. She added water and let it simmer for a while, then sprinkled with chopped scallions and served it on a plate.
Xia Wantang tasted it; the soup was fresh and tasted good.
Stir-fried pork with chili and stir-fried greens were simple and done in no time.
She arranged the dishes on the table. It was already past six o'clock.
Ling Yucheng hadn't returned yet. She took out her phone and opened the message interface.
Xia Wantang asked: "Are you back? I've cooked the dishes."
A quick reply came: "On my way."
Xia Wantang sat on the sofa, looking at her phone and glancing at the door from time to time, waiting for Ling Yucheng to return.
She didn't realize how much she cared about Ling Yucheng now.
Perhaps it was because their relationship had just begun, and her feelings had changed.
...
Ling Yucheng opened the door and walked in. The first thing he saw was Xia Wantang on the sofa.
At the same time, a fragrant aroma wafted into his nostrils, whetting his appetite and making him feel hungry.
"You're back."
They looked at each other. Xia Wantang quickly stood up, feeling a little nervous and a little delighted.
Looking at her sparkling eyes, Ling Yucheng's mood instantly lifted.
He curved his lips and gave a soft "Mm," then bent down, opened the shoe cabinet, and put on the pair of gray slippers.
There was a gray Pikachu on the slippers, looking very much like a couple's set with Xia Wantang's.
After changing his shoes, Ling Yucheng walked towards Xia Wantang.
Xia Wantang's heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head, her heart pounding.
Seeing her shy expression, Ling Yucheng's eyes were full of laughter. He changed direction and went straight to the bathroom.
Xia Wantang peeked up and, seeing this, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
She pursed her lips and smiled lightly, touching her flushed cheeks, still feeling happy in her heart.
Perhaps this was what liking someone felt like! But they had only known each other for less than two days.
While lost in thought, Ling Yucheng came out of the bathroom after washing his hands and walked directly in front of Xia Wantang.
Xia Wantang was still in a daze. By the time she came to her senses, a tall figure was standing before her.
"What are you thinking about? Hmm?"
Ling Yucheng lowered his head slightly. As Xia Wantang looked up, she fell directly into his deep eyes.
The distance between them was very close, so close that one more step would bring them into contact.
His voice was magnetic and sexy, like a gravitational pull, alluring.
Ling Yucheng looked at the small face in front of him, unable to resist thinking again of her rosy cheeks and slightly parted soft lips...
His gaze gradually deepened, and he slowly lowered his head, moving towards that soft sweetness.
Xia Wantang's breath hitched. She dared not move. Just as his thin lips were a few centimeters away from her, she took a step back.
"I, I'll go serve the rice. The dishes will get cold." She practically fled, afraid to look at Ling Yucheng's expression.
Ling Yucheng felt a slight disappointment, but looking at the figure who had run into the kitchen, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Hiding in the kitchen, Xia Wantang gently patted her pounding chest, feeling both shy and flustered.
She didn't feel repulsed by Ling Yucheng's closeness, but she wasn't ready yet.
Although this was normal between boyfriends and girlfriends.
After calming her restless heart, Xia Wantang took out bowls and chopsticks, preparing to serve rice. Only then did she realize that she hadn't cooked any rice.
Her face turned crimson again, and she couldn't help but tap her forehead, scolding herself for being so foolish.
No rice, what was she cooking? How could she make such a basic mistake?
Ling Yucheng sat at the dining table, waiting for a long time without seeing Xia Wantang come out of the kitchen. He got up and walked towards the kitchen.
As he reached the kitchen door, Xia Wantang came out. They almost bumped into each other, and Ling Yucheng quickly stopped.
However, Xia Wantang, who was looking down, didn't react and stumbled straight into Ling Yucheng's arms.
Ling Yucheng quickly caught her, a smile flashing in his eyes, and asked, "What are you doing?"
Xia Wantang merely snorted, feeling like she had bumped into a hard wall of flesh. Her nose instantly stung.
When she looked up, her eyes were red and teary, like a startled little rabbit.
"I, I forgot to cook rice." After saying that, her face turned red with embarrassment.
Ling Yucheng let out a low laugh, his magnetic, pleasant voice possessing a unique sexiness.
Xia Wantang said awkwardly, "I, I'll go downstairs to buy some rice."
Just as she was about to leave, she realized she was held tightly in his arms, unable to move.
Her heart began to race again. She looked up, wanting to say something, but before she could, her lips were sealed.
His lips were cool, gently kissing her.
One hand wrapped around her waist, the other cupped the back of her head, his long fingers buried in her hair.
Xia Wantang frantically pushed him away, her red lips becoming even more alluring.
Ling Yucheng pursed his thin lips, as if still savoring that softness.