On the way back to the hotel, Chen Yuchen ended up buying the dress Chen Siqi had been eyeing. She was genuinely surprised, quickly insisting that she was only joking and that he didn't need to spend the money.
"Just take it," Chen Yuchen said calmly, handing her the shopping bag. "I don't like owing people. You treated me to dinner, so buying you a dress is only fair."
The straightforwardness of his response left Chen Siqi unsure how to reply. She pouted a little as she watched him walk ahead, feeling a bit perplexed. How could a guy this blunt write such tender, emotional novels?
Back at the hotel, Chen Yuchen went straight back to writing, while Chen Siqi quietly played on her phone. Every so often, she would sneak glances at his screen and even offer her unsolicited opinions. "You know, that part isn't great. You should change it like this."
Chen Yuchen shot her an annoyed look and handed her the pen. "If you think you can do better, you write it."
"I… I don't know how to write!" Chen Siqi mumbled, looking a bit embarrassed.
As night fell, Chen Yuchen got ready for bed after taking a shower. Without any hesitation, he told Chen Siqi to sleep on the sofa, leaving no room for negotiation. At thirty years old, he had long outgrown the habit of being overly considerate in minor situations like this. Chen Yuchen wasn't the type to give in.
Chen Siqi didn't argue further. She obediently curled up on the sofa. The hotel's large, soft couch was comfortable enough, and as she snuggled under a thin blanket, a hint of nervousness crept in. It was her first time being so far from home, facing the unknowns of college life all on her own.
"Chen Yuchen, are you asleep?" she asked softly.
"Mm-hmm," came his muffled response.
"How can you talk if you're asleep?" she pressed, puzzled.
"Sleep-talking," he answered flatly.
Chen Siqi burst into giggles. "Tomorrow's the start of school. Aren't you even a little nervous?"
"There's nothing to be nervous about. It's not my first time," Chen Yuchen said casually.
Chen Siqi thought he was joking, as if he had already been through college before. But the more she got to know him, the more curious she became about his past. They continued chatting idly, their conversation eventually fading into the quiet of the night as they both drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, when Chen Yuchen woke up, he was surprised to find Chen Siqi curled up next to him, tightly hugging his arm. She blinked groggily as she woke, her eyes widening in shock when she realized what she was doing. Her face flushed bright red, like a ripe apple.
"What… what did you do to me?!" Chen Siqi exclaimed, scrambling to sit up, her legs quickly tucking under the blanket as she nervously stared at him.
"I should be asking you that question," Chen Yuchen replied, his voice filled with exasperation. "I told you to sleep on the sofa. Take a look at where you are now."
"Huh?" Chen Siqi finally noticed she had somehow ended up in bed with him. Scratching her head awkwardly, she gave an embarrassed smile and said, "I guess I have a habit of crawling into bed at night…"
Chen Yuchen sighed. "You're a real piece of work."
"You didn't… do anything to me, right?" she asked cautiously, looking up at him.
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
Chen Siqi blinked, pouting a little as she muttered, "I mean, I'm not exactly ugly…"
"I like mature women," Chen Yuchen said, teasing her with a smirk.
"???" Chen Siqi stared at him, completely flustered and confused.
Chen Yuchen didn't dwell on the situation. After freshening up, he packed his things and got ready to check out. He didn't think much of the fact that they had ended up sharing the bed, but Chen Siqi couldn't stop her mind from spinning with thoughts of how it had happened.
As they left the hotel and made their way to the university, Chen Siqi kept wondering if she really had no charm. Her self-doubt gnawed at her until the passing scenery outside the cab window finally drew her out of her thoughts. Rows of sycamore trees lined the streets of Jinling, and the crisp morning air made her feel a bit more at ease.
"Chen Yuchen, what do you think of Jinling?" she asked with a bright smile, her curiosity fully reignited.
"It's nice," he replied succinctly, as usual.
The taxi driver, overhearing their conversation, chimed in, "Young lady, Jinling has a deep cultural history. Take your time exploring, and you'll fall in love with it."
"Mm! I think it's beautiful here," Chen Siqi said enthusiastically, sticking her head out the window to enjoy the gentle September breeze.
Watching her excitement, Chen Yuchen couldn't help but smile too. He rolled down his own window, letting the cool air wash over his face. In the early autumn of Jinling, everything felt unusually warm and peaceful.