In the early morning, a loud knocking reverberated against Kang Chen's door.
Having barely slept for a few hours, he was pulled from his dreams, rubbing his brow as he rose to open the door.
Outside stood Xu Xing, her hair in disarray, shoes on the wrong feet, and her clothes hastily thrown together, resembling a wild spirit.
Upon seeing Kang Chen, her eyes lit up as if she had grasped a lifeline. "Kang Chen! It's an emergency, an emergency! Lend me your computer, quick!"
Kang Chen furrowed his brow. "What for?"
"I don't have time to explain—just hurry!"
He hesitated briefly, then turned back into the room. "Come in."
Xu Xing didn't hesitate, darting in after him.
The computer lay carelessly on the bedside table. Kang Chen entered his password and handed it to Xu Xing.
"Thanks, thanks!" she exclaimed.
Xu Xing took the computer and plopped down at the edge of the bed, placing it on her lap and focusing intently on the screen.
As she scanned a QR code, she explained, "I need to log into WeChat. I accidentally sent a message to the wrong group and hit delete instead of retract."
Kang Chen stood nearby with his hands in his pockets, stealing a glance at the time. "It's been two minutes and thirteen seconds since you knocked. Messages can't be retracted after two minutes, and you logged into my computer only after sending it. Do you really think the messages would sync?"
Just as Kang Chen finished speaking, Xu Xing managed to log into WeChat.
As he had predicted, none of the previous messages had synced to this computer; the chat interface was a blank slate.
Xu Xing's mind mirrored the emptiness of the screen.
As she sat frozen on Kang Chen's bed, the WeChat chat suddenly came alive with a barrage of messages from Li Yuanjun.
Li Yuanjun: [Image]
Li Yuanjun: [Image]
Li Yuanjun: What the hell? Did you send that by mistake? I was just about to use your computer to edit some photos when I saw this!
Li Yuanjun: Luckily, your sister is quick and retracted it for you. What were you thinking? Do you even care about your job anymore?
Xu Xing blinked, magnifying the images Li Yuanjun sent.
The first image revealed her WeChat chat interface, including the embarrassing message she had mistakenly sent to the group: "I slept at my sugar daddy's place, haha."
The second image displayed the same chat background, but the message was gone, replaced by a gray notification: You have retracted a message.
Xu Xing's mind exploded with realization!
Oh my! Li Zhaodi retracted it for her?!
Li Zhaodi must be a goddess!
Suddenly, she set the computer aside, paused for a moment, and without warning, leaped up to embrace Kang Chen in a frenzy.
"Ahhh! This is amazing! She retracted it! My best friend helped me out!"
Earlier, she had wanted to borrow Kang Chen's computer to log into WeChat because she usually synced her computer with her phone, knowing that deleting messages on her phone would not affect the computer.
In her haste, she had forgotten to call Li Yuanjun to ask her to delete it on her own computer.
Fortunately, Li Yuanjun happened to need to use the computer and, quick-thinking, noticed the odd messages on the computer interface and retracted them for her.
Li Yuanjun continued to send a flurry of messages.
Li Yuanjun: What's going on over there? Why did your computer suddenly go offline?
Li Yuanjun: Where are you?!
Li Yuanjun: Seriously, you need to explain what you meant by sleeping at your sugar daddy's place!!!
Xu Xing had no time to respond, lost in the whirlwind of emotions, caught between despair and elation, as she clung to Kang Chen joyfully.
Kang Chen stood there, motionless, like a tree stump as she bounced around him.
"What's this? This is called fate giving you another chance, you know? Hahaha..."
Xu Xing was so ecstatic that her shoes, worn improperly, became a liability. As she bounced about, one flew off, the other turned sideways, and she stumbled backward, landing on Kang Chen's bed with a soft thud.
The mattress quivered slightly from the sudden impact.
---
Xu Xing was dazed.
The cold metallic surface of the computer by her side contrasted with the faint scent of bergamot wafting through the air, snapping her back to reality.
What had she done?
Had she really disturbed Kang Chen so early, used his computer, and treated him like a tree stump?
Kang Chen had been jolted forward by her earlier exuberance. Now, steadying himself, he leaned down slightly, looking down at Xu Xing from above.
The air suddenly grew still.
Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a tapestry of shadows across the bed.
When their gazes met, the emotions in their eyes remained ambiguous.
Xu Xing's mind raced, but Kang Chen inexplicably leaned closer, raising his hand to gently tilt her chin.
His facial features became increasingly defined as he leaned over Xu Xing, causing her to avert her gaze, her heart racing uncontrollably.
They held this position for what felt like an eternity, Xu Xing frozen, her body tense.
Strangely, amidst her nervousness, she felt a sense of familiarity.
Using his computer, sitting on his bed, even lying on it seemed so natural, as if it had happened before.
Xu Xing startled at her own thoughts, goosebumps prickling her skin.
At that moment, Kang Chen inexplicably stood up.
As he walked toward the bathroom, he said, "Your hair looks greasy; wash it before you head to work."
???
Xu Xing was momentarily thrown off, quickly pulling out her phone to check.
…It was a bit greasy indeed.
The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Xu Xing sat up from the bed, staring blankly for a few seconds before placing the computer on her lap to explain to Li Yuanjun.
After finishing, she closed WeChat.
As she prepared to shut the computer, a "ding" resonated, and a notification popped up indicating a new email.
Curiosity piqued, but her rational mind warned her against meddling with Kang Chen's computer, especially since he had been programming long before she could even turn one on.
Don't be reckless, don't be reckless…
Quietly reminding herself, Xu Xing carefully placed the computer back on the bed and called out, "Kang Chen, you have a new email. I left the computer on the bed."
A moment later, the bathroom door swung open, and Kang Chen emerged, still clad in the same gray pajamas, droplets of water clinging to his chin.
He casually remarked, "You can check that email; it's your advisor's contact information."
Xu Xing blinked in astonishment.
Was it really that efficient? She had asked him to look it up just yesterday afternoon, and here it was, already this morning.
She hesitated. "So… should I really check it?"
Kang Chen nodded, emphasizing, "Remember to wash your hair."
With that, he turned and stepped back into the bathroom.
"..."
Wash, wash, wash—wash a hundred and eighty times!
Xu Xing perplexedly touched her hair, recalling his repeated reminders, and realized her hands felt somewhat oily. Disgusted, she grabbed a wet tissue and began wiping them.
Turning back to the email, she found its content straightforward, just as Kang Chen had said: her advisor's contact information.
Zheng Yang.
So her advisor was named Zheng Yang.
Xu Xing repeated the name in her mind several times, feeling no particular emotion.
Aside from the name, the email also contained his mobile number, office phone, and a brief itinerary for upcoming lectures.
She diligently saved the details to her phone, particularly noting the lecture at Xingcheng Normal University in three days, setting a reminder alarm for it.
Having finished reading the email, Xu Xing didn't dare dwell on other thoughts. She quietly set the computer down and went to wash her hair.
What Xu Xing didn't know was that just ten seconds after she closed the door, Kang Chen emerged from the bathroom.
He glanced at the computer, and whether it was self-mockery or something else, a faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. His expression suggested he was slightly, perhaps, pained.
***
Considering herself a conscientious guest, Xu Xing finished washing her hair, tidied up Luo Xiaoke's room to its former state, and then headed downstairs to prepare breakfast.
Kang Chen preferred his fried eggs cooked to perfection—not just tossed into a frying pan haphazardly, but rather, the yolk should be fully set without becoming dry, yielding a soft, tender bite.
Holding her breath, Xu Xing finally produced a beautifully cooked egg, letting out a sigh of relief.
She thought to herself that her husband would only ever receive such treatment.
After plating the egg, she placed it on the table.
Xu Xing shivered slightly. Why was she comparing Kang Chen to her future husband?
How terrifying! How terrifying!
Just then, Kang Chen came down the stairs. She snapped back to reality, calling out, "I made you a fried egg, and the coffee is ready. Come eat!"
Kang Chen nodded, sitting down and unexpectedly saying, "Thank you."
Xu Xing nearly choked on her drink at his gratitude.
Stealing glances at Kang Chen, she recalled their earlier position on the bed, feeling something was amiss, a bit strange.
After a lengthy pause, she slowly replied, "What do you have to thank me for? You've done so much for me; I'm not sure how to repay you."
Initially a mere polite phrase, she looked up just as she met Kang Chen's gaze.
Through the thin lenses, his eyes appeared calm yet profound, enigmatic yet somehow raw.
Suddenly, a line from a period drama flashed through her mind: "Your great kindness, I can only repay with my body; I hope you will not think me unworthy."
At that moment, Kang Chen happened to smirk.
She stared, puzzled, sensing an undercurrent of intimacy in his expression.
Goodness, surely she was imagining things!
Flustered, Xu Xing hastily bit into a piece of toast, concocting an excuse: "I just remembered—I have something important at work, so I need to leave early. You enjoy your meal; I'm off now."
With that, she grabbed her bag and dashed out.
Once she had run a short distance, the frantic feeling began to fade.
***
On the bus back to the office, Xu Xing gazed out the window, lost in thought.
One moment she recalled Kang Chen's expression; the next, she thought of the awkward position she had found herself in on his bed.
Annoyed, she pulled out her phone.
The screen lingered on her reminders, drawing her attention back to her advisor, who had slipped from her mind.
In truth, she hadn't anticipated receiving her advisor's contact details so quickly and was uncertain about what to do next.
She had heard some graduate advisors could be quite stern. Was calling him this early appropriate? Should she wait for him to arrive at Xingcheng for the lecture and approach him then? But what if he had other commitments?
Xu Xing wrestled with her thoughts throughout the ride.
Arriving at the office, she clocked in as usual, greeted by her colleagues.
Seeing that everyone seemed normal, she felt a wave of relief—no one appeared to have noticed the messages sent early that morning. Wonderful.
She exhaled, quickly locating her keys on the desk and stuffing them into her bag.
Just then, someone called her from behind, "Xiao Xing?"
Turning around, she saw Teacher Zhou, who was about to greet her.
However, Teacher Zhou's expression was peculiar.
Xu Xing's heart sank with anxiety. Had she somehow been found out regarding her earlier message to the group?
Before she could explain, Teacher Zhou stepped closer and asked, "Aren't you on leave today? Why are you at work?"
"..."
Xu Xing's face froze.
Leave? Yes, she had remembered that she was supposed to be off today when she woke up this morning.
Oh no, how had she ended up at work?
Her mind flashed back to Kang Chen's remark: "Your hair looks greasy; wash it before you head to work."
#%～#%@!
She had been thrown off track by that devilishly insightful comment!