I woke up in a half-conscious state again, only to see Ránjìng standing before me with two suitcases, muttering, "Hurry, help me out here, these are so heavy." I assisted her in dragging the suitcases into the room, then looked at them with a puzzled expression, then back at her. She just smiled at me without saying a word. I knew her smile could melt my heart completely, and I would accept any unreasonable request from her, but she should at least articulate her demands first. Otherwise, I'd remain skeptical, and my mind would start racing again.
Without uttering a word, Ránjìng ventured into my room and looked around, then wandered into my study. I rented a two-bedroom apartment with about 100 square meters in total. It was a bit extravagant for one person, but I liked this kind of extravagance. It made me feel like I had a home in this city rather than just a place to crash. Especially my kitchen, which was fully equipped, although I never used it. But it looked comforting.
"You'll sleep in this room from now on," Ránjìng pointed to my study. I knew she was beginning to make unreasonable demands. "Why?" I asked, surprised and slightly confused. My acting skills could easily land me roles in domestic idol dramas, far superior to those pretty faces without much intellect in those shows.
"Can't I?" This girl wasn't cooperating with my script at all. She should've shown more assertiveness, rather than sounding like she was ready to give up. Just a little more stubbornness, ending that sentence with a "Can't I?" would have made a stronger statement, and I would've willingly agreed, citing the principle of "a good man doesn't fight with a woman."
"Of course you can," I hastily interjected, realizing my earlier excellent acting was all for naught. "But, one, you need to tell me why you want to live here, and two, you must abide by the rules of living with me." I was quite impressed with myself for quickly regaining my momentum. Actually, it was unnecessary to mention any rules; I could've just said I owed her a favor.
Ránjìng then explained her reasons: her rented place was about to be sold, leaving her temporarily without a place to stay. I wasn't sure if her reasons were genuine, nor did I care. As long as the beauty was willing to live with me, even if she just said, "I want to stay here," I'd gladly agree.
"Okay, let me list the rules you need to follow while living with me," I said, though I didn't really have any rules to mention. I've always lived an irregular life, and I'm indifferent to the affairs of the household. As long as it's a woman staying over (I indeed have a strong preference for women over men), I'd agree to almost anything. Should I tell her not to knock on my door at night?
"Wait a minute... Let me go first," Ránjìng interrupted, then proceeded to list her rules: "One, personal items stay separate, no using each other's belongings without permission; two, keep the common areas clean; no smoking when I'm home; three, remember to close the door when you use the bathroom because I always forget to knock; four, if I want to watch TV, you can't use the remote; five, don't let dirty laundry pile up in the washer; six, if I cook for you and I'm in a good mood, you must eat it and say it's delicious; seven, when at home, clothes must cover at least 60% of your skin; eight, no guests allowed without my permission; nine, when I don't want to talk, don't talk to me; when I want to talk, you must talk; ten..."