After about five more minutes of driving, the car finally slowed down at the entrance of a new residential complex.
Liu Xie had never been to this place before. The darkness outside the window, the almost invisible silhouettes, and the deathly silence all felt a bit frightening.
“This complex is newly built. The surrounding facilities aren’t set up yet, and there isn’t even a decent supermarket nearby, so hardly anyone comes here.”
Liu Anran offered a suitable explanation.
No wonder it looked a little eerie. Among the people she knew, probably only Gou Yu, the food delivery guy, and her good younger brother who rented a place here would come to this spot.
The car slowly entered the complex.
Strangely enough, every time Liu Xie saw her younger brother turning the steering wheel in circles, she would inexplicably feel a wave of drowsiness creeping over her.
“Little brother, you spoke too late. I already bought a yellow talisman and some black dog’s blood online just now. If you had said a couple more words earlier, I wouldn’t have thought you were possessed,” Liu Xie said, putting her hands together in apology, her face full of regret.
“You even bought a yellow talisman and black dog’s blood?” Liu Anran seemed surprised that just because he didn’t say two words, he was suspected of encountering something unclean.
“Yeah, and it cost me eight yuan.”
After parking, Liu Anran paused for a moment, her hand still on the seatbelt as she hesitated to unbuckle.
“You bought these kinds of things from Pinduoduo?”
“I realized you really don’t know how to manage daily life.” Liu Xie didn’t think she was wrong at all. “How does it go again? The head of the household doesn’t know the price of firewood and rice… or something like that?”
“That’s exactly how it goes,” Liu Anran confirmed, making the not-so-educated Liu Xie more certain of her phrase.
The two got out of the car, and Liu Xie obediently followed Liu Anran’s lead.
They entered one of the buildings, took the elevator, and stopped in front of a door.
After a few electronic beeps, the lock clicked open.
Liu Anran pulled the door open and stepped aside, seemingly indicating Liu Xie should go in first.
Not hesitating, Liu Xie took two strides and stepped over the threshold, standing on the rug at the entrance.
With a crisp sound, the living room lights were turned on first. The warm, yellowish light instantly illuminated what was in front of Liu Xie.
She froze.
Beside her was an open cabinet, each compartment holding one or two animal plush toys, either hanging or sitting.
In the living room stood a large smart TV. In front of it was a pure white coffee table, and behind the table were three or four sofas in different shades of gray and varying sizes.
By the window, seven or eight green plants were hung, instantly adding some warmth and life to the otherwise lifeless room.
Two clicks sounded—one was the door closing, and the other… Liu Xie wasn’t sure.
“What are you standing there for?” Liu Anran casually placed the keys in a small compartment on the cabinet by the door.
Though he put them a bit high, probably out of Liu Xie’s reach.
“Should I change shoes?”
Liu Xie glanced at the glossy tile floor, and her remaining sense of decency prevented her from stepping inside with outdoor shoes.
“I’ll get them for you.” Liu Anran squatted down and opened the shoe cabinet beside him.
Inside were two pairs of slippers: one black, and the other a golden-yellow fluffy pair.
He placed the golden-yellow slippers in front of Liu Xie, watching as she took off her canvas shoes and slipped her feet—still wearing black ankle socks—into the soft slippers.
“You actually have two pairs of slippers in this place. Do you usually have guests over?”
Liu Xie didn’t know why she suddenly asked that.
“You’re the first one to come here besides me.” Liu Anran put on his own slippers and stepped into the living room first.
Behind him, Liu Xie, like a curious child, kept inspecting this little home she was visiting for the first time.
By estimation, it was a little over 100 square meters. Even with Liu Xie as an occupant, the small home still felt somewhat empty.
Just then, she noticed a small wooden doghouse tucked in a corner of the living room.
It perfectly matched her childhood impression of a doghouse from watching Tom and Jerry.
“You even have a dog? Where is it?” She looked around while muttering, “Snuffle snuffle…”
“Not yet. Actually, there’s a cat house next to it.” Liu Anran pointed to the cat house partially blocked by the doghouse. “Whether I have pets or not doesn’t really depend on me. I don’t care either way.”
Liu Xie seemed not to listen at all. Failing to summon Liu Anran’s dog, she opened her mouth: “Snuffle snuffle…”
Liu Anran fell silent.
Just as Liu Xie was about to awkwardly laugh it off, the boy, taller than her, suddenly blurted out: “Woof.”
Liu Xie was stunned.
She took a couple of steps forward, reaching out to touch both her own and Liu Anran’s foreheads.
“No fever either.”
“I thought you wanted me to do that.” Liu Anran said apologetically, but Liu Xie saw no hint of regret in his eyes.
“You’re really strange. You know that? You’re really strange today.” Liu Xie had lost count of how many times she suspected Liu Anran was possessed. “Your behavior today is like a newborn baby coming out of the operating room after a difficult delivery asking me if they’re a doctor or a nurse.”
“Is it really that weird?”
“Ding Zhen.”
After staring at Liu Anran for a long while, Liu Xie still couldn’t figure it out and finally let go.
“Forget it. Tell me where the bedroom is.” She sighed.
Liu Anran then led her to a door and pushed it open.
Inside was a double bed with a fluffy comforter that looked incredibly comfortable, and a big teddy bear about the same height as Liu Xie.
It was the kind of room that would definitely please her.
“Not bad, the guest room is done really well.”
Although Liu Xie didn’t understand why Liu Anran went to such lengths.
Knowing Liu Anran’s personality, this place was probably just meant as a rest spot, not something he’d put so much effort into.
It felt like it was specially prepared for someone, as if planning to live together for a long time.
“Set up so nicely, this isn’t your bridal chamber, is it?” Liu Xie grinned and punched Liu Anran lightly, joking.
Then she sat on the bed, burying her head in the fluffy bear’s chest, took a deep breath, and looked up again.
“So where’s your room? Take me to see your room.”
She then saw Liu Anran walk in and close the door behind him with his hands behind his back.
“This is my room.”
“?”
Liu Anran is being very aggressive, as expected of the domineering CEO character