He finally kissed her, his movements as forceful as ever, yet with a hint of gentleness that surpassed previous times. She was unsure if it was a hallucination from her illness, or if he truly was being gentler with her because she had been sick.
... Deleted.
The spring sunlight in the capital was bright, casting upon the white bedsheets, making the scene as beautiful as a movie frame. Finally, the atmosphere was broken by the sound of Lin Mei’s stomach rumbling.
The man, who had been lost in the kiss, stopped upon hearing the sound. He still held her chin, but his eyes now held a hint of amusement.
Lin Mei was also very embarrassed. As she dodged, the man teased, "Hungry?"
Lin Mei felt inexplicably wronged by his mockery. When one is sick, their emotional resilience is often not as strong as usual. "I haven't eaten much these past few days..."
Although her voice was still hoarse, her tone was like a spoiled child's. Xing Zheng laughed, his hands roaming over her body. "You've lost weight. What should have shrunk and what shouldn't have, have all shrunk."
Lin Mei took his words seriously and blushed. "Let go!" She thought he was complaining she had shrunk, suggesting he should find someone who met his standards. He was taking advantage and then acting as if she were willing to be touched. "Where's my phone? I want to order takeout."
Xing Zheng didn't give her the phone. Instead, he carried her to the bathroom, telling her to wash up. Lin Mei hadn't cleaned herself the night before and felt uncomfortable, so she took a hot shower. After washing, she came out of the bedroom, took a brief look around the living room, and then went to the kitchen.
As soon as she entered, she saw Xing Zheng busy at the stove. Lin Mei was surprised; he could cook?
Toast and buns were already on the table, along with fried eggs and vegetables. Xing Zheng was currently making fermented glutinous rice with milk. When he brought the finished dishes to the table, Lin Mei's surprise deepened.
Seeing her standing frozen, the man urged, "Aren't you hungry? Come and eat."
Lin Mei walked over, and they sat facing each other. Looking at the food on the table, Lin Mei asked uncertainly, "Did you... make all of this?" Although they were simple home-cooked dishes, it wasn't something she expected him to do. Moreover, the food suited her usual taste perfectly.
Xing Zheng had intended to ask, "Otherwise, do you think there's a third person here?" but he remembered her earlier words and finally replied with a single word: "Yes."
Her expression became even more astonished. He thought she was surprised by his cooking skills, but Lin Mei was actually surprised by how readily he answered her question. She had expected him to retort with a question like "Otherwise?" as he usually did, which was more in line with his aggressive style.
"Not eating? Doesn't it suit your taste?" Xing Zheng's voice rang out again.
Lin Mei snapped back to attention and said to him, "I just didn't expect you to cook." With that, she began to eat.
Being hungry, she first drank the fermented glutinous rice with milk. It was sweet and warm as it went down, with goji berries inside. If Xing Zheng hadn't said anything, she might have thought it was store-bought. She had always loved drinking this since childhood, especially with small glutinous rice balls cooked in it, making it soft and chewy. On cold days, a bowl would be finished quickly.
Breakfast was very pleasant. After replenishing her energy, Lin Mei no longer felt as listless as before. She said to Xing Zheng, "Thank you."
Xing Zheng feigned ignorance, "Thank me for what?"
Lin Mei was not coy and said earnestly, "For breakfast today, and for the IV drip yesterday."
Regardless of his motives, her condition had indeed improved. The apartment was much warmer and more comfortable than the training hotel.
Xing Zheng smiled, seemingly in a good mood. He teased, "I don't like verbal thanks. Come here."
When he said this, Lin Mei knew what he wanted. It wasn't the first or second time. She walked over and was embraced by the man. She thought he would take advantage of the situation, but he merely held her, kissed her forehead, and made no further moves. His kiss was extremely gentle, as if treating her like a rare treasure.
Lin Mei enjoyed this treatment, and her mind became a little hazy. Why was Xing Zheng suddenly being so good to her? Last time, he had been so rough...
She had questions in her heart but held back from asking. Even if she did, she had no other choice before Xing Zheng let go. Since the outcome was the same, a wise person would choose a more harmonious process. A brief period of peace was still peace.
In the following days, Lin Mei stayed there. After three days of IV drips, her cold was gone, though her throat was still a bit itchy, which could be managed with medication.
During these days, Xing Zheng hardly left the apartment. Lin Mei’s three meals were all prepared by him. Although they weren't complex dishes, for him, cooking itself was a miracle.
One evening, Lin Mei sat at the dining table, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on Xing Zheng, who was cooking noodles. The warm yellow light shone on him, and at that moment, all his fierceness and intensity vanished. She even had the illusion that they were an ordinary couple.
Lost in thought, she heard his voice, "Come get the chopsticks."
Lin Mei said "Oh," went to get the chopsticks, and then fetched the noodles. Like the previous few days, they sat down to eat. Lin Mei held her chopsticks, looking at the man opposite her, hesitating to start. Perhaps it was because he had been so good to her these past few days that she found his face increasingly gentle, making it hard to look away.
She had many questions, such as why he was suddenly so good to her, treating her illness and cooking for her... She was curious about the reason but lacked the courage to ask.
"Why aren't you eating?" the man's voice interrupted her thoughts. Lin Mei quickly picked up her chopsticks and buried her head in the noodles. After a few bites, she asked, "How long will you be staying in Kyoto?"
"No definite plan," Xing Zheng put down his chopsticks. "You'll stay here until I leave."
Lin Mei: "Oh."
Now that Lin Mei had recovered, Xing Zheng naturally wouldn't let her off easily that night. They went to the bathroom together to bathe. Lin Mei walked into the bathroom, but she was carried out by him. However, this was not the end. As soon as they returned to the room, he initiated a new round of "campaign."
Having been so meticulously cared for in the past few days, Lin Mei didn't resist. She even proactively wrapped her arms around his neck. Perhaps it was because she had been very well-behaved and obedient today, that the man, despite being excited, was not as rough as before. Lin Mei tightened her grip around him, hugging him tighter, her nails digging into his shoulder blades, her head buried in his chest, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
After calming down, she still leaned in his arms. On the disheveled bed, their bodies were pressed tightly together. He was bare-chested, his well-defined fingers tangling with her hair. "Feeling good? In just over ten days, it's clear you've missed me terribly."
He deliberately emphasized the word "terribly." Lin Mei blushed and retorted, "Likewise. You act like you can't find a woman without me. Isn't Miss Jiang fulfilling her wifely duties?"
"What, are you very curious about my affairs with her?" He laughed. "Want me to show you next time? Hmm?"