Zhang Xu’s frivolity felt like a butterfly effect. While Ruan Xi was angry about being let down, it also made her more cautious about her relationship with Cheng Daichuan.
But that night, Cheng Daichuan was undeniably too gentle.
He gently rubbed Ruan Xi’s hair and asked, “Do you want to go watch a movie?”
The tone was as if he was really asking, “Do you want to go on a date with me?”
It was hard not to be moved.
Ruan Xi said, “I… want to.”
Cheng Daichuan’s hand on top of her head gave another gentle rub. “Then get ready; we’re going out.”
Ruan Xi stood up from the sofa, holding her head— still warm from Cheng Daichuan’s touch— and muttered to herself, “Getting the Ais treatment again, huh.”
Cheng Daichuan paused. “Again?”
There was no way she would tell him that she stayed up late half the night, leaning over his bed to watch him sleep.
He’d think she was a weirdo.
She quickly changed the subject and asked what movie was playing tonight at Star Cinema.
Star Cinema didn’t require reservations; if there were seats available, anyone could just go.
Cheng Daichuan had decided on a whim and hadn’t checked the movie list before. He took out his phone, opened the Cruise Ship APP, and said he’d check it out first.
Ruan Xi, clutching her clothes, went into the bathroom. “Hope it’s not a scary one.”
Then, she heard Cheng Daichuan call her: “Ruan Xi.”
She stepped back two steps and leaned out of the bathroom doorway. “What is it?”
Cheng Daichuan said, “The tags are drama, thriller, suspense, and crime.”
Ruan Xi puffed out her cheeks. “Better not then…”
The movie plan fell through, and Ruan Xi assumed they’d just spend the rest of the time doing their own thing.
But Cheng Daichuan tilted his chin toward the TV. “Want to watch it on the TV?”
“Oh, sure.”
Ruan Xi hugged a pillow and lay on her single bed, swinging her legs in the air.
Her old habit remained— she was still a hopeless romantic, craving more sweet love stories.
The movie they finally picked was hard to describe. The plot wasn’t as sweet as she had imagined, but there were definitely a lot of intimate scenes…
The guest room lights were all off except for a dim spotlight near the entrance.
The lighting was dim, and the room was silent.
The long-awaited reunion between the leads began with an embrace. As they hugged, they quickly took off each other’s coats, their lips tangled, kissing so passionately it almost crackled…
Ruan Xi’s eyelashes trembled.
She was like a startled deer; her legs stopped swinging and froze on the bed.
Her skin gradually flushed, utterly embarrassed, and she didn’t dare look back at Cheng Daichuan.
She had chosen the movie herself…
Gripping the pillow’s edge, her palm was already damp.
When the leads stumbled through the barely open bedroom door and collapsed onto the large bed, she finally mustered courage and turned to say, “Cheng Daichuan…”
He looked calm and collected.
Leaning against the headboard, he calmly watched the two leads on the screen holding each other and biting. “What is it?”
Ruan Xi rested her cheek on the pillow. “Don’t you think this movie is a bit… not very good?”
“Just average.”
“I’m sleepy watching it…” That was a lie.
Her heart was pounding like she’d just run a marathon, and she wasn’t sleepy at all.
“Let’s stop watching then.”
She heard him say “Mm,” and quickly grabbed the remote, turning off the increasingly ambiguous scenes and sounds.
Silence returned to the guest room.
Cheng Daichuan didn’t say anything. He only finished the half-can of iced cola he had left.
Ruan Xi took out her phone and casually said to smooth things over, “Maybe free movies aren’t that good. I’ll check my Friend Circle for a bit, then sleep…”
But Cheng Daichuan had no intention of sleeping. He asked about the scenery around Ruan Xi’s hometown.
Ruan Xi thought for a moment. “There’s a mountain a few kilometers from my house by car. I used to go there a lot when I was little…”
They chatted along this topic, sharing stories from Ruan Xi’s childhood.
She talked about the Ayi her grandmother employed who cooked delicious meals, the activities she’d participated in last semester at university, and the students her private tutor taught who were especially cute…
They talked about everything under the sun.
After a while, Ruan Xi was truly getting sleepy. She covered her mouth and yawned.
Cheng Daichuan gently said, “Go to sleep.”
“Mm.”
He turned off the entrance light. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Ruan Xi had a bad habit— she always wanted to look at her phone before sleep.
After saying good night, she lit up her phone screen again.
In the dark, a faint glow appeared.
Cheng Daichuan noticed and called to her, “Ruan Xi.”
Sleepily, she replied, “Mm?”
“Still playing on your phone when you’re tired?”
“I’m just checking my Friend Circle, then I’ll sleep…”
“If you don’t want to sleep, send me some photos of the island.”
Ruan Xi said “Oh,” exited WeChat, browsed her photo album, and sent some.
After sending, she was really too sleepy to care, only remembering that she slipped her phone under the pillow.
Her hand hadn’t even relaxed—
She fell into a deep, restful sleep again.
When she opened her eyes, Ruan Xi was still basking in the good mood from the day before.
Cheng Daichuan left a note saying he’d gone to the gym.
She didn’t rush to get up and stayed wrapped in her blanket, savoring the feeling.
She was happy—
Not just because of the trip, but also because…
Yesterday, Cheng Daichuan seemed a little different.
Just like Shi Chao said on the phone, “Why is Cheng Daichuan so clingy today?”
Cheng Daichuan, you’re really clingy!
Ruan Xi thought this to herself, then buried her head in the quilt and sneaked a smile.
Her phone buzzed under the pillow— Ruan Xi’s mother was calling with video.
Ruan Xi’s eyes still sparkled with joy as she lazily stayed in bed and acted spoiled, “Good morning, Mom. Are you busy today?”
Ruan Xi’s mother laughed and called out to Ruan Xi’s father, “Ruan Zhaoyuan, come look at your daughter. What time is it? She’s still not up.”
Ruan Xi giggled happily. “I stayed up late chatting with Cheng Daichuan last night. I’m so tired.”
“What were you chatting about so late?”
“Oh, just random stuff. We talked about when I was little, lining up to buy bread at the new bakery with my grandmother.”
Ruan Xi’s father teased, “You’re stirring the pot again, aren’t you?”
Ruan Xi wrinkled her nose. “Nope, I’m not making things up. Cheng Daichuan wanted to hear it.”
Last night, it was definitely Cheng Daichuan who was clingy.
Ruan Xi’s father asked again, “Xi Xi, have you been seriously talking some sense into Daichuan these past few days?”
Ruan Xi’s mother shook her head. “Kids nowadays handle things more flexibly than we did. I don’t think you need to talk so seriously. Going out to relax is good enough. Has Daichuan posted anything new?”
Ruan Xi just stretched and struggled out of bed.
Hearing this, she glanced back and saw the phone screen on the bedside table. “What did Cheng Daichuan post?”
“Some photos.”
“Where did he post?”
“Looks like Friend Circle.”
Ruan Xi was stunned.
Was the sun rising in the west? Cheng Daichuan, who rarely ever posts, actually posted on Friend Circle?
Her mother said, “I just had breakfast with Shang Auntie. She specifically mentioned this and seemed really happy for Daichuan.”
Ruan Xi obediently said, “Mom, please tell Shang Auntie not to worry. Cheng Daichuan and I have talked. After the Cruise Ship trip ends, Cheng Daichuan and Shi Chao will visit our hometown.”
“That’s great! I’ll ask Shang Auntie if she wants to come, and your father and I will host.”
“Tell Shang Auntie that Tour Guide Ruan will definitely make them happy.”
“Okay.”
Ruan Xi’s parents were busy with work, so after asking if her money would cover the Cruise Ship expenses, they hung up after a few caring words.
Ruan Xi eagerly opened her Friend Circle.
Scrolling down, there were only a few posts.
She saw Cheng Daichuan’s updates from several hours ago.
Why had he stayed up even later than she did last night?
The photos were the ones Ruan Xi had sent him— seagulls standing on rocks, tilting their heads as they watched a small crab.
She liked the post.
She casually scrolled down and found more posts by Cheng Daichuan, again and again…
Most people post a nine-grid of photos, or if there are too many pictures, they make collages.
Cheng Daichuan was different.
Last night, when Ruan Xi sent him photos, he posted multiple separate posts.
She was exhausted from liking them all…
When Cheng Daichuan returned from the gym, Ruan Xi had already gotten ready.
She was in a good mood, wearing makeup, her smile bright and radiant. “Good morning, good morning!”
Cheng Daichuan took off one Bluetooth earbud. “Morning. Just woke up and checked Friend Circle?”
“How did you know?”
“Who else do you think you were liking?”
“Hehe… Cheng Daichuan, I have to tell you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Friend Circle lets you post nine-grid pictures.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you only post one photo per post…”
Ruan Xi was a bit smug. “Oh, I get it—you can’t decide which to pick, right?”
Cheng Daichuan’s eyes gleamed with amusement, full of indulgence.
Ruan Xi continued proudly, “Am I really that good at it?”
Cheng Daichuan raised his eyebrows slightly.
Ruan Xi shook her head on the sofa, grinning. “You won’t admit it, huh? Otherwise, why would you post so many? It’s too many—I haven’t even finished scrolling.”
Cheng Daichuan seemed lost in thought and said, “That’s good.”
Ruan Xi asked, “What’s good?”
He casually changed the subject, pulling out his phone: “I took a nice one too.”
Her curiosity was piqued. She reached out, “When did you take it? Let me see.”
He handed her the phone. The screen showed a photo of Ruan Xi.
She was asleep!
Her head buried in the soft pillow, lips slightly parted, breathing through her mouth, short hair tousled over the white pillow…
Ruan Xi was about to burst. “Cheng Daichuan!”
Cheng Daichuan walked past her holding something, but Ruan Xi grabbed his shirt hem.
She sat kneeling on the sofa. “Don’t go.”
Cheng Daichuan smiled. “I’m just changing clothes.”
Ruan Xi ignored him. “Changing clothes? Tell me— did you post this photo anywhere?”
“Maybe Shi Chao posted it?”
Ruan Xi didn’t know where her strength came from, but she pulled Cheng Daichuan down onto the sofa.
He had trained for years and had dumbbells and an ab roller in his bedroom, yet she managed to drag him down.
She straddled his lap, hands gripping his neck. “I’m silencing you! Silencing you!”
Cheng Daichuan laughed lazily, leaning back into the sofa with no sign of resistance.
When she pressed on his phone, worried she might hurt him, he gently pulled it away from under her knees. “Don’t be so rough. Watch your ankle.”
“Stop playing the good guy!”
“I didn’t post it. Just kidding.”
“You… really didn’t post it?”
“Really.”
“Swear.”
Cheng Daichuan obediently held up three fingers. “Swear.”
Ruan Xi half-believed him and loosened her grip slightly.
But she suddenly felt his Adam’s apple gently slide under her palm, his pulse beating beneath her thumb—once, twice…
She immediately realized what she was doing, and her back stiffened sharply.
Cheng Daichuan still smiled. “Not letting go?”
He smiled, and the tiny vibration of his Adam’s apple under her palm sent a numbness through her hand.