“…Alright, I’ll bother you a little longer then.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I’m just glad you don’t mind,” Gu Yu said politely as he turned toward the cramped kitchen, which could only fit one person. He tied on a grease-stained apron.
He felt a twinge of regret. In his haste to be polite, he had forgotten that his culinary skills weren’t exactly something to show off.
He carefully controlled the amount of oil and salt, sticking to the dishes he was best at. He was cautious, abandoning his usual stinginess with ingredients to ensure the upcoming meal wouldn’t be too embarrassing.
That itchy feeling of being watched never seemed to stop. He felt as if Luo Ming were staring at him, but whenever he looked up, her reflection in the window showed her focused on her book.
‘I can’t be getting ahead of myself,’ Gu Yu thought, dismissing the feeling as a delusion. He concentrated on the food in the pan.
It had been a long time since a guest had visited his home, and he couldn’t be lax with his hospitality. Fortunately, he had spent a bit extra on some meat recently, so the meal wouldn’t be too meager.
Over ten minutes later, three dishes were served on the table. Gu Yu brought out two bowls of rice and placed one in front of Luo Ming with a pair of chopsticks.
The girl didn’t move; she was still reading her textbook. When she was focused, she possessed a breathtaking beauty. Her posture was elegant and refined, the kind that naturally inspired admiration.
“Time to eat. My cooking isn’t great, so please bear with me.”
Gu Yu felt a bit self-conscious, lacking confidence in his seasoning.
“It’s fine.” Luo Ming closed her book and took a bite. It was a little salty, but not bad.
Usually, Gu Yu was reluctant to use too much oil or salt, but in his excitement, he had poured in a bit too much.
“It’s actually quite good. You’re a decent cook, Gu Yu.”
“No need to flatter me. I know my own level. I was actually worried it would taste terrible.”
Gu Yu didn’t hide his feelings, speaking candidly about his initial concerns. He felt he could be completely honest with Luo Ming. Her warmth and acceptance made him feel there was no need to hide anything.
The dining table fell quiet again. Luo Ming chewed her food slowly, and Gu Yu followed suit, discarding his usual messy eating habits to eat at a more measured pace.
Having the prettiest girl in school over as a guest for a meal was enough to make any adolescent boy’s heart race. Gu Yu was no exception, but the underlying restlessness in his mind didn’t seem to stem solely from that.
He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. This strange feeling that made it hard to settle down was blurry, its source impossible to find. It was as if he were being held in someone’s gaze—he was in the light, and she was in the dark.
He stole a glance at Luo Ming while reaching for more food. She was the only thing different about this room, yet there were no signs that anything strange originated from her.
“Do you usually cook for yourself?” Luo Ming asked suddenly, putting down her chopsticks after finishing her meal.
“Yeah. I’m used to my own cooking. As long as it’s edible, I’m happy.”
“Then… how about I teach you? I’m quite confident in my cooking. It should be enough to teach you.”
This sudden yet reasonable offer of kindness caught Gu Yu off guard. He thought about it for a moment before politely declining. “Thanks for the offer. Maybe some other time when I’m free.”
“Alright. Just let me know when you need me.”
“Okay.” Gu Yu nodded, noticing her empty bowl. “Would you like another?”
“No, I’m full.”
Gu Yu swallowed the last bite of his own rice. His appetite was also small. He set down his chopsticks and scanned the table.
There were some leftovers, which would be enough to cover dinner tonight.
“I’ll do the dishes.” Luo Ming reached for the empty bowl in front of him.
“No, no. You’re the guest. I’ll handle it.”
Gu Yu cleared the table, covered the leftovers with plastic wrap, and went into the kitchen.
The clear water felt cool as it slid over the back of his hand and through his fingers, eventually washing the grease down the drain.
He was practiced at this. Life had forced him to learn various household chores early on. These hands, with their distinct bone structure, had touched all sorts of grime and were occasionally calloused or cracked.
By the time he came out, Luo Ming had already helped clear the table. The stray grains of rice and oil stains were wiped away, and her books were neatly packed.
“I’ll be going now. If you need help with tutoring next time, just let me know.”
“Sure, thank you.” Gu Yu dried his hands and watched her head toward the door, following her for two or three steps. “Should I walk you out?”
“No need. The path is easy, and I know the way.”
Luo Ming waved at him, then turned and headed down the stairs, her figure disappearing around the corner.
She truly deserved her popularity. Just because of a casual friendship, she was willing to show so much kindness to someone like him, without crossing any lines. It was just right, making one feel comfortable.
As he pulled the door shut, Gu Yu noticed the door opposite his was tightly closed. The black surface was covered in advertisements, and the Spring Festival couplets were tattered and peeling.
He remembered that no one had lived there for almost ten years. She had simply vanished into thin air, leaving behind an empty room that felt cut off from the world, waiting to be swallowed by time and turned into ruins.
He closed his door and returned to his room. Feeling a wave of exhaustion, Gu Yu collapsed onto his bed and closed his eyes, intending to make up for his lost nap.
Between his part-time job at night and finishing homework during school breaks, he had been short on sleep for a while. Today was his first chance to catch up.
He slept soundly. That feather-light sense of unease seemed to have vanished, departing with Luo Ming. This only added to his suspicions of her.
Gu Yu wasn’t sure what the feeling was. It was a vague teasing, as ethereal as dust in the air, preventing him from feeling steady.
The evidence pointed toward Luo Ming, but he had no proof and no motive. Moreover, her kindness suggested she truly considered him a friend. It felt incredibly rude to speculate about her like this.
Setting aside his wandering thoughts, his consciousness drifted, and he felt himself on the verge of sleep.
The notification sound of his phone interrupted his rest. Feeling somewhat annoyed, he picked it up and pressed the screen. It was a message from the Class Group Chat, sent by the Class Monitor and tagging everyone.
[Class Group Chat]
Class Monitor He Yu: “@Everyone, there’s a basketball tournament next Wednesday to help Senior Three relax. We can participate too. If you’re interested, send me a private message to sign up, or you can find me at school. Everyone, please participate actively!”
A flurry of discussion followed. Most of it came from the boys, who were joking around and nominating their friends.
It was an activity that had little to do with Gu Yu. He rarely participated in such things, and his basketball skills were average at best; he usually only played during gym class to make up the numbers.
He turned off the screen and set the phone aside, but another notification woke him up just as he was about to drift off.
Chen Yang, his mischievous desk-mate, had tagged him, dragging him into the conversation. Several other boys he knew joined in with joking praise.
“Gu Yu looks like a good fit. Does he have any interest in this?”
This message was from the Class Monitor, He Yu. Her approval made it even harder for him to decline.
“Yeah, Gu Yu is so handsome. If he shows off his skills, it’ll definitely make our class look good.”
“Gu Yu rarely says no when asked, and his skills aren’t bad. It’ll be fine.”
“Monitor, just sign him up. He definitely won’t mind.”
…The messages continued in a chaotic mess of mock-praise. It was the typical way boys dealt with their friends when an event came up, and Gu Yu had unfortunately become the center of attention.
“Really? @Gu Yu, should I sign you up then?”
“Sign him up, sign him up. It’s fine, Monitor. Even if he doesn’t want to go, we’ll push him onto the court ourselves.”
Gu Yu tapped on the screen and sent his response. “Give the opportunity to other classmates first. If we can’t find enough people, then you can call me.”
“Alright, I’ll put you down for now. Anyone else? Anyone else want to go?”