"Ding-dong, ding-dong." The doorbell rang, interrupting Chen Tianming's practice. He glanced at the clock; it was eight o'clock. Who could be ringing the doorbell this early?
Chen Tianming stood up and noticed that his uncle was missing. He searched the entire house but couldn't find him. He had vanished without a word. Typical of a reclusive master, perhaps.
Muttering to himself, Chen Tianming opened the door and saw a beautiful young woman standing outside, dressed in a dress that revealed her two shapely white legs.
"Tianming, why did you take so long to answer the door? You sleep like a log," the beauty outside scolded him.
"Yanzi, I wasn't sleeping. It's Sunday, and it's good enough that I got up to answer the door for you. Don't you have a key? Why didn't you let yourself in?" Chen Tianming retorted when he saw it was his cousin, Li Yan, who worked as a doctor.
His cousin, Li Yan, was a doctor at the county's Third People's Hospital. Since her parents had died when she was young, Chen Tianming's mother had taken her in and raised her. Therefore, Yanzi had grown up with Chen Tianming, studying and playing together.
Moreover, Chen Tianming's mother was particularly fond of Yanzi, making him feel that his mother liked his cousin more than him. But he couldn't blame her. Most of the time, it was just the two elders at home. Chen Tianming was often at school and only came back occasionally. Even then, he would hang out with friends outside, spending little time at home.
"I left the key at the hospital dormitory and forgot to bring it. Tianming, have you had breakfast yet?" Yanzi asked with concern, her eyes full of tenderness.
"Breakfast? Not yet!" Chen Tianming replied. He hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, but he couldn't tell Yanzi that.
"Then go wash up quickly, and I'll get breakfast ready." Yanzi saw that Chen Tianming was about to reach into the breakfast bag and hurriedly pushed him into the bathroom.
Chen Tianming went in to take a shower, having not washed yesterday and sweated a lot from his practice.
"So comfortable." Chen Tianming exclaimed after his shower. "Yanzi, can I have breakfast now?"
"Tianming, you seem a bit different today," Yanzi observed. There was something different about Chen Tianming's aura, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Do I look more handsome?" Chen Tianming knew it was the effect of his martial arts practice and, to cover it up, he leaned his entire head towards Yanzi.
A strong masculine scent wafted into Yanzi's nose, making her heart race. She quickly put her hand on Chen Tianming's chest, her face flushing. "Stop joking around, you look awful."
Seeing Yanzi's blushing, adorable face, which made her even more attractive, Chen Tianming teased, "Yanzi, am I really that ugly?"
Yanzi had always been the one Chen Tianming wanted to pursue, though he hadn't dared to make a move before. Today, for some reason, he felt much bolder.
Yanzi's face, already red, turned even redder when Chen Tianming grabbed her hand. She lowered her head, too embarrassed to look up. "Ugly, very ugly."
"Tianming, sit properly," Yanzi said, noticing Chen Tianming moving closer and giving him a gentle push. Although they had played around like this when they were kids, they were now grown up.
Pushed away by Yanzi, Chen Tianming realized he might have gone too far. She was his cousin, and he shouldn't act recklessly. Why was he so impulsive today? Could it be the martial arts? But Yanzi was indeed very beautiful and charming. Fortunately, he had strong self-control; otherwise, any other man might have lost it.
Chen Tianming quickly stepped back and said, "Cousin, where's my breakfast?"
Yanzi also felt a bit reluctant but said, "It's on the table. Hurry up and eat."
Chen Tianming was starving. He hadn't eaten anything yesterday, but because of his practice, he hadn't felt hungry. Now, seeing the food, he devoured it like a hungry wolf.
Wiping his mouth, Chen Tianming asked, "Yanzi, do you have to work today?"
"No, I don't have to work today. Auntie called me yesterday, asking me to come over and check on you. She was worried about you being home alone," Yanzi explained. Although she had a dorm room at the hospital, she often stayed at Chen Tianming's place.
"Yanzi, can you go to the convenience store downstairs for me? I have some schoolwork to do," Chen Tianming asked, thinking he could use the time to practice and improve his skills.
"Exhausted!" After practicing all day, Chen Tianming came out of his room, hearing Yanzi's voice from her room.
"So many people today, I couldn't even take a break," Yanzi complained, dripping with sweat.
"Yanzi, go take a shower. I'll make dinner," Chen Tianming felt a bit guilty seeing her so tired.
"Alright, you start cooking. I'll stir-fry the dishes when I'm done," Yanzi knew Chen Tianming could handle cooking rice but preferred to do the stir-frying herself.
"Tianming, go shower. Dinner will be ready soon," Yanzi said, coming out of the bathroom.
Seeing her, Chen Tianming's heart raced. "Yanzi, are you testing my self-control by wearing so little?"
At that moment, Chen Tianming felt the heat from his practice dissipate, replaced by a cool, soothing sensation throughout his body. However, he didn't have time to ponder this. He needed to handle the situation well, or he'd be in trouble if Yanzi noticed.
"Tianming, why did you take so long? The food's getting cold," Yanzi scolded as she saw Chen Tianming emerge from the bathroom.
"It's so hot, I took a longer shower," Chen Tianming avoided her gaze, feeling like a child caught stealing.
"Hurry and eat before it gets cold," Yanzi urged.
"Cousin, do you have a boyfriend?" Chen Tianming asked while eating, puzzled why someone as beautiful as Yanzi, working at such a good place, didn't have a boyfriend.
"No, I'm old and unattractive. No one likes me," Yanzi laughed.
"Who says you're old? I'll beat them up," Chen Tianming said, raising his fist.
"Don't worry. If no one wants me, I'll stay here. Are you afraid?" Yanzi teased.
"I'm not afraid. If you don't have a boyfriend, I'll take care of you," Chen Tianming declared.
"Promise? Don't go back on your word. If I don't have a boyfriend, you'll take care of me," Yanzi said happily.
"I promise. I'll even swear," Chen Tianming said, unaware of Yanzi's sly smile, like a fool thumping his chest and making vows.