Though Zhang Xianyu had said she’d just pick any place, in the end she chose a small restaurant with few customers but nice decor.
The snack street was right next to Jiangcheng University, lined with all sorts of shops, bustling with students coming and going from Jiangcheng University, lively and noisy.
The restaurant Zhang Xianyu picked was relatively empty.
The two found a quiet corner to sit down, each ordered a set meal, and the dishes arrived quickly.
Two plates of rice with toppings accompanied by corn and pork rib soup looked appetizing but tasted rather mediocre.
No wonder so few people came here.
Lin Wushui took only one bite before frowning.
He was always picky about food, but when he glanced at Zhang Xianyu in front of him, he somehow felt the meal wasn’t so bad.
So he looked at her briefly and took another bite, as if he could only eat it because she was there.
“I’ll make you something delicious when we get home,” Zhang Xianyu said.
Having lived with him for so long, she knew he definitely didn’t like the food.
Seeing him frown while eating and looking at her, she couldn’t help but want to treat him better.
Lin Wushui’s eyes darkened.
His gaze lingered a moment on the oil-stained corner of her lips.
In a low, hoarse voice, he said, “Okay.”
After finishing the meal, Lin Wushui walked Zhang Xianyu back to her dormitory.
After seeing her up the stairs, he stood at the bottom for a long while, reluctant to leave.
Once in the car, Lin Wushui remained expressionless but thought to himself that being in a relationship really did feel good.
No wonder his parents always urged him to find someone.
Back in the dorm, Zheng Pang immediately surrounded Zhang Xianyu, full of curiosity.
“Be honest and you’ll go easy on me, lie and I’ll be strict. Who did you have lunch with? Do you have someone on the side behind our backs?”
Zhang Xianyu hesitated for a moment between telling the truth or lying.
Thinking that if she denied it, Lin Wushui might get upset, she nodded honestly.
“Yeah, I have a boyfriend now.”
“Yu’er, you’ve betrayed the organization!”
Zheng Pang said, heartbroken.
He looked at her with sorrow.
“We promised to stay single together, be lonely dogs together, and now you’ve secretly got another dog.”
“Who is it? From our school?”
Zhang Xianyu smiled at the memory of the lunch companion.
“Not from our school. When I go back, I’ll tell him to invite you all for a meal and officially introduce you.”
“Is he good-looking? Better than our School Flower?”
Zheng Pang leaned closer, eyes gleaming mischievously.
Zhang Xianyu immediately thought of Wu Shui.
Although a bit taller, her face was delicate and beautiful, more refined than Lin Wushui’s current appearance.
Her slightly raised brows and straight nose made her a true beauty.
Even now, though Lin Wushui no longer wore female clothes and his features had hardened, his face was still exquisitely handsome.
So Zhang Xianyu nodded firmly. “Yes, he’s better looking than the School Flower.”
Although she barely remembered what the School Flower looked like, Lin Wushui was definitely the most handsome.
Zheng Pang instantly turned sour.
If Zhang Xianyu said the girl was pretty, she must be stunning.
The two close friends slung their arms around Zhang Xianyu’s shoulders, chuckling.
“Does your boyfriend have any girlfriends? Bring them along next time for a meal.”
Zhang Xianyu gave him a strange look but thought of Lin Wushui’s “girlfriends”—there was only Xie Dingxin, right?
If they invited him along and Zheng Pang saw him, he’d probably be terrified.
After chatting, it was getting late, so they each went to rest.
Zhang Xianyu climbed onto her bed and lay down.
Her gaze accidentally caught Luo Danqing’s phone screen, and her heart skipped a beat.
Though Luo Danqing sat with his back to her below, she clearly saw the message screen displaying the contact name “Aunt San.”
Since the semester started, Luo Danqing had become much quieter.
He used to be cheerful and outgoing—though not as socially adept as Zheng Pang, he was still very extroverted.
But ever since coming back this time, he seemed like a different person: taciturn, distant, even cold toward her and Zheng Pang.
He often spent time alone, fiddling with his phone.
Zhang Xianyu had been suspicious before but had been distracted by Lin Wushui.
Seeing this again now, a strong sense of unease returned.
She felt something was off, yet Luo Danqing showed no obvious signs of being controlled or replaced.
He was neither a puppet nor possessed.
She couldn’t figure out the source of that strange feeling.
Perhaps feeling watched, Luo Danqing glanced back once, his face still shadowed by a lingering dark expression.
Zhang Xianyu lowered her eyes and asked casually, “Not sleeping yet?”
Luo Danqing shook his head.
“No.”
She didn’t press further, watching him thoughtfully before lying down to sleep.
She recalled the address the Counselor mentioned last time and planned to find an opportunity to follow Luo Danqing home.
Luo Danqing’s home was a detached villa by the water in the outskirts of Jiangcheng.
He had said his parents and younger brother had passed away, and he’d lived there ever since.
Though Zhang Xianyu had never been, Luo Danqing occasionally mentioned it as the place where the family once lived—a place he was reluctant to leave.
Deciding to act, Zhang Xianyu pretended to treat them to a meal on the way to class that afternoon and asked Zheng Pang and Luo Danqing if they were free over the weekend.
Zheng Pang had been looking forward to this meal for days, so he naturally said yes.
Luo Danqing didn’t disappoint either, shaking his head and saying he was going home that weekend.
“Then let’s plan for another time,” Zhang Xianyu smiled, seeming unbothered.
Zheng Pang frowned, eyeing Luo Danqing for a moment, then secretly asked Zhang Xianyu, “Do you think Danqing’s got caught up with some bad stuff? I feel like he’s become a different person lately.”
Zhang Xianyu had been pondering the same but hadn’t found anything wrong so far.
Either Luo Danqing was hiding it well or the cause of his change wasn’t what they suspected.
“Nothing’s wrong, maybe something happened at home,” she said casually, not wanting to drag Zheng Pang into it.
After class, Lin Wushui was already home, having bought groceries.
Zhang Xianyu had wanted to tell him about Luo Danqing but before she could speak, he pinned her onto the sofa.
Their noses almost touched, Lin Wushui’s eyes burning as he said, “I learned a new kissing technique. Let’s try it.”
Zhang Xianyu had no chance to refuse before his lips captured hers.
Bodies pressed together, Zhang Xianyu felt the vibration of his chest and heavy breaths against his face.
Lin Wushui held her firmly, his palms at the back of her head, completely focused on practicing the new kissing method.
Their lips and tongues tangled, the wet sounds of their mouths filled the room.
Zhang Xianyu was dizzy from the kisses.
It was the first time he realized kissing could make someone feel so lightheaded, like drunk on clouds.
Lin Wushui kissed hard, nibbling and sucking intensely.
A soft hum escaped Zhang Xianyu’s throat as his beautiful neck arched, revealing a tender Adam’s apple.
They kissed for a long time, both feeling the other’s desire.
Lin Wushui held him tight, his breath rough and eyes full of overwhelming longing.
Zhang Xianyu’s cheeks flushed, his pale eyes moist.
He pressed his lips together and, not one to be shy, whispered hoarsely, “Do you want…that?”
“Don’t speak!”
Lin Wushui suddenly covered his mouth.
He looked away with difficulty and said hoarsely, “I’m not prepared yet.”
He hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly.
They’d just confirmed their relationship.
Though his mind had raced to the final step, out of consideration for Zhang Xianyu, he wanted to take things slow and not seem too eager.
But two young men living together, liking each other—one kiss could easily spark a fire beyond control.
The two, caught off guard, awkwardly looked at each other until Zhang Xianyu pushed him slightly.
“Then forget it, you go to the bathroom yourself.”
He calmed his breath, suppressing the aroused desire.
Lin Wushui, however, wasn’t so easily pacified and still pressed against him.
Taking two deep breaths, Lin Wushui struggled to get up and headed for the bathroom.
Zhang Xianyu sat up, patted his flushed cheeks, and went to cook.
Xiaonanhai followed at his feet, sniffing the air as if sensing the scent of spring.
When Zhang Xianyu finished cooking, Lin Wushui came out of the bathroom.
He must have showered—the tips of his damp hair stuck casually to his cheeks, framing eyes so burning they were impossible to look away from.
Zhang Xianyu stared at him a moment before snapping back to reality.
She placed the dishes on the table and urged him, “Dry your hair before eating.”
Lin Wushui pouted in reluctance.
He was still upset about earlier, feeling frustrated he hadn’t prepared the right tools despite perfect timing and conditions.
He stared at Zhang Xianyu, his eyes darkening.
“I’ll go buy some later.”
Zhang Xianyu paused, her ears turning red.
She slowly walked back to the kitchen.
“Whatever you want.”
Only then did Lin Wushui brighten and sit down to eat.
True to her word, Zhang Xianyu cooked dishes he liked.
Lin Wushui had eaten little at lunch and lost much energy earlier, so he was hungry now.
He picked up his chopsticks and ate earnestly, clearing most of the food from the table.
For the cook, seeing her food devoured was immensely satisfying—especially since the person was her boyfriend.
Zhang Xianyu only ate one bowl of rice, spending the rest of the time watching Lin Wushui eat.
His eating was elegant yet steady.
He finished three dishes and soup without leaving a scrap.
This time, Lin Wushui didn’t rush to wash the dishes.
Instead, he helped Zhang Xianyu clear the table, then slipped downstairs while she went to wash the dishes.
There was a 24-hour convenience store just downstairs.
With a serious face, he went to the cashier and stared at the small shelf displaying condoms and lubricants.
There were so many varieties, he frowned, unsure which to pick, and decided to take them all.
The cashier, a young woman, looked horrified at the pile on the counter.
“Sir, you really…want all of these?”
“Yes.”
Lin Wushui nodded slightly and opened his payment app, urging, “Pack them all up for me.”
Good or bad, he’d find out when he got home.