Chapter 8 (2/2): Next Time

It was a very direct compliment, and Cen Yingshuang’s cheeks flushed.

She shrank her neck in embarrassment and coughed lightly, “Well… thank you for your support.”

She never would have thought that the famous He Yuzhou was her fan.

If Màn Jie found out, she’d probably shout it through a megaphone for three days straight.

His words were ambiguous, full of meaning, but she didn’t think any deeper.

He Yuzhou felt helpless but also amused.

That was fine.

The thrill of the hunt was in the process—the setup, the closing of the net—the sense of accomplishment when the prey was finally in hand was the greatest rush.

What he needed now was patience.

“What about you? Have you dated before?”

He Yuzhou’s gaze lingered on her, probing with seeming casualness.

At his words, the blush on the tips of Cen Yingshuang’s ears deepened, but the change was subtle, covered by her earlier embarrassment from his compliment.

Her tone was still slow, “I haven’t, either.”

But inside, she felt sweet.

She thought… it should be soon.

At this, Cen Yingshuang suddenly remembered something and asked excitedly, “Can you pick another apple for me?”

He Yuzhou agreed readily, “Of course.”

“Which one do you want?” he asked.

Cen Yingshuang lifted her chin, searched for a while, and finally pointed to the biggest one in sight.

He Yuzhou raised his arm—he didn’t even need to fully extend it—and easily picked it, handing it to her.

She compared it in her hands—this one was even bigger than the last.

She was easily satisfied, and just getting another apple made her beam with joy.

He Yuzhou’s pupils contracted, his gaze suddenly deepening, sharp and searching, but the look flickered away in a second.

He let out a casual chuckle, deliberately teasing, “Want double the extraordinary powers?”

He raised his eyebrows and nodded solemnly, “Mmm… looks like world peace is within reach.”

Cen Yingshuang broke down laughing, “I wasn’t cold before, but now I am!”

His joke was just too cold.

“Quick, forget that joke.”

Cen Yingshuang held two apples up to her eyes.

At that moment, Cen Yingshuang suddenly felt a vibration in the coat pocket.

It was his phone.

Cen Yingshuang immediately said, “Your phone’s ringing.”

She instinctively wanted to reach into the pocket to hand him his phone, but both hands were full of apples.

Just as she was trying to free one hand, a shadow fell over her.

A wave of masculine scent washed over her.

No trace of perfume, just a fresh, cool scent.

She looked up to find that the He Yuzhou, who’d kept a meter’s distance before, was now only a dozen centimeters away.

He bent over, reaching into the pocket for his phone.

The distance was so close, his steady, warm breath brushed her cheek like a feather, making her itch.

She didn’t dislike his closeness, but instinctively swallowed and tilted her head to escape the ticklish feeling.

He finally pulled out his phone, glanced at it for a second, then hung up without answering.

His fingers tapped quickly on the screen.

She was 168cm tall—already considered tall for a woman—but standing next to him, she couldn’t even reach his shoulder.

Wearing his coat, it nearly touched the ground, making her look like a tiny quail—so small and pitiful.

He was just too tall, like a towering mountain, exuding an overwhelming presence.

Instinctively, Cen Yingshuang wanted to step back and put some distance between them.

She had just lifted her foot, but before she could move, He Yuzhou caught her arm, stopping her.

He didn’t look up, his gaze still on his phone, typing with one hand.

Cen Yingshuang froze.

Even though he wasn’t looking at her, he seemed to know her confusion.

He tilted his chin, signaling her to look behind.

Cen Yingshuang turned to look, puzzled, and found a large stone post behind her.

So that’s why.

If not for him, she would have tripped over it just now.

But now that He Yuzhou was standing here, he didn’t seem to plan on moving away.

The distance between them was only a fist’s width.

His face was right in front of her—she could see the texture of his skin, his features so defined and sharp, truly a masterpiece of Nüwa, breathtaking to behold.

She swallowed unconsciously again.

When he finished his message and turned off the screen, Cen Yingshuang finally asked curiously, “How tall are you?”

“One ninety-four,” He Yuzhou answered.

“…”

She’d guessed it wouldn’t be a simple number, but hearing the exact figure still shocked her. Her mouth twitched, “How did you get so tall!”

At this close distance, it was even more obvious.

Her hair was thick and fluffy, her part barely visible, and the way she strained to look up at him was truly adorable.

“Inherited,” he said, lips curving slightly.

His phone lit up again, and as he sensed the vibration, an almost imperceptible flash of impatience and annoyance crossed his eyes.

It seemed his work really was busy.

She didn’t want to bother him and realized she’d been out for too long.

She had to get up early tomorrow, so she took the initiative to say goodbye, “I have to go, it’s getting late.”

“Mm.”

He Yuzhou finally stepped back a few paces, making way.

“Rest well.”

Cen Yingshuang replied, “You too.”

She held the apples, waved goodbye, walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back—He Yuzhou was still standing there.

She remembered.

“Your coat.”

“Keep it,” He Yuzhou said.

“Give it back to me next time.”

“Next time?”

Cen Yingshuang was puzzled.

Would they really meet again?

He Yuzhou happened to be standing in the dim light, his outline hidden in the dreamy night, mysterious and distant.

The darkness concealed his expression, but the predatory intent he’d suppressed in his eyes finally broke free.

She couldn’t see his face, only hear his voice.

“See you next time.”

His words were slow, each syllable pronounced clearly.

With that, he turned and walked away, finally answering the incessant phone call.

He quickly disappeared around the corner.

Cen Yingshuang was still thinking about his “see you next time,” dazed for a moment before coming to her senses.

She still felt it was inappropriate to walk off in his clothes, so she hurried to catch up.

But when she reached the corner, He Yuzhou was already gone.

In reality, He Yuzhou was just ten meters away from Cen Yingshuang, standing behind a yew tree, phone pressed to his ear, a freshly lit cigarette between his fingers.

He took a drag, most of it burning away.

Thin lips parted, eyes narrowed as he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

His gaze was fixed ahead.

He saw Cen Yingshuang looking around, searching for something.

After a moment, she gave up, turned, and left with two red apples in hand.

Her steps were so light and lively, her joy obvious.

She didn’t know that a pair of eyes in the darkness was watching her hungrily.

The dangerous aura surrounding her was already poised to strike, waiting to conquer the last stronghold.

Cen Yingshuang returned to her room.

The lollipop was finished, and she threw the chewed-up stick into the trash.

She took off the coat.

She thought, they surely wouldn’t meet again.

Maybe he was a germaphobe and didn’t want clothes that others had worn, so he said “see you next time” just to be polite.

After all, “see you next time” was just a standard courtesy phrase.

He Yuzhou wasn’t someone you could meet by chance.

But she still folded the coat neatly and put it in her suitcase.

She couldn’t just leave it here.

The little episode ended her bath early—the water was already cold.

She didn’t plan to soak again, so she brushed her teeth and did her skincare.

Only then did she get into bed.

When she turned on her phone, she saw two messages from Jiang Suian from twenty minutes ago.

[What are you doing?]

[Did you apply the ointment?]

Jiang Suian had said he’d remind her to apply the ointment every day, and he never missed a day.

She remembered her task for today and quickly applied the ointment to her knee.

Then she replied: [I did.]

Jiang Suian replied instantly with a cute “patting head” sticker.

Cen Yingshuang eagerly placed the two red apples on her bed, took a picture, and sent it: [Guess what kind of apples these are.]

Jiang Suian: [Red Fuji? No, Huaniu?]

Cen Yingshuang realized she didn’t know the variety either—she’d forgotten to ask He Yuzhou.

Cen Yingshuang: [Well, I don’t know either. [Heihe]]

Jiang Suian sent a “knock” sticker.

Cen Yingshuang replied: [You never let me finish! There’s a but!]

Right after, the “knock” sticker was withdrawn.

Cen Yingshuang burst out laughing: [But! Their mother is two hundred years old!]

Jiang Suian: [???]

And then: [You’re lying to me.]

Cen Yingshuang: [Really! You don’t believe me?!]

She put the apple in her palm and took another photo: [Do you see the difference now? I can’t even hold it in one hand!]

Jiang Suian sent a “thumbs up” sticker: [Impressive, I learned something new!]

Cen Yingshuang, delighted: [Perfect, one for each of us.]

As Cen Yingshuang lay on her bed chatting happily with Jiang Suian, He Yuzhou had already finished his cigarette and returned to his own room.

His room was on the fourth floor, Cen Yingshuang’s on the third—their rooms were aligned.

After his shower, he lay down on the bed.

The lights were off, and across from the bed, a giant screen was playing Cen Yingshuang’s perfume commercial.

He picked up a bottle of perfume from his bedside, spraying it into the air.

The mist slowly fell, and as it brushed his cheek, it merged into the air, leaving only the lingering scent.

He took a deep breath.

He smelled the salty sea breeze, fresh as if after rain, water vapor misting in the air.

It was like melting into the ocean.

He half-closed his eyes, watching the commercial on the screen.

He’d lost count of how many times he’d watched it.

No matter how many times, he never tired of it.

And each time, his reaction was the same.

He lay flat on the bed, the screen’s light flickering dimly, one part of him glaringly obvious.

The scene was familiar.

After that dream last time, he’d also lain like this, feeling both annoyed and troubled by his own physical reaction.

This time was the same, except for one difference—he didn’t just ignore it and wait for it to pass.

It was his first time doing this kind of thing.

As the pace quickened, the muscles on his thick arm bulged, veins twisting across the back of his hand, about to burst.

His jaw was clenched so tight it might crack.

No matter how ascetic he’d been before, now he realized—he was just as ordinary as any man.

Losing control, hungry and desperate for her.

All he could think about was Cen Yingshuang saying she hadn’t dated yet.

Hadn’t, yet.

Chinese is a profound language.

He’d already played word games with her and knew exactly what that word implied.

Including who she wanted to give the second apple to tonight.

Was it Chen Yanli, or someone else?

But to him, it didn’t matter who.

Because the game had already begun.

Just like the name of this perfume.

Echoes of fate.

Ripples of destiny.