The next morning, Ye Chen woke to the sound of knocking on his door. He groaned softly, still half-asleep.
"Ye Chen, wake up!" Meixiu's voice called from the other side.
"Coming," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He opened the door to find Meixiu standing there in workout gear, her arms crossed and a playful smirk on her lips.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said. "We're going for a morning jog. Get dressed."
"A jog?" Ye Chen asked, blinking.
"Yep. Jiayi's already stretching outside, and Lianyi's grabbing water bottles," Meixiu replied. "You don't get to skip out."
Before he could protest, she reached up and poked his cheek. "Hurry up, or I'll drag you out in your pajamas."
"All right, all right," Ye Chen said with a laugh. "Give me five minutes."
Ten minutes later, Ye Chen joined the three women outside. Jiayi was wearing a fitted tracksuit, her long hair tied neatly back. She smiled warmly at him as she stretched.
"Ready to go?" Jiayi asked.
"Not really," Ye Chen admitted.
"You'll survive," Meixiu said, patting his shoulder. "Besides, this is good for you."
Lianyi handed him a water bottle, her soft smile making him forget his reluctance. "It's a nice day. You'll enjoy it," she said.
The four of them started jogging along the quiet streets. Jiayi led the way, her pace steady and controlled. Meixiu jogged beside Ye Chen, occasionally teasing him about his form.
"You run like a baby deer," she joked.
"Thanks for the encouragement," Ye Chen replied dryly, earning a laugh from her.
Lianyi stayed close behind, her steps light and graceful. When they reached a small park, Jiayi stopped and turned to the group.
"Let's take a break," she said, her breathing even.
Ye Chen collapsed onto a bench, gulping down water. Meixiu plopped down beside him, leaning against his shoulder.
"Not bad, Ye Chen," she said. "You kept up better than I expected."
"Thanks, I think," he said, chuckling.
Jiayi joined them, sitting on Ye Chen's other side. She handed him a towel to wipe his face. "You did well for your first jog."
"Thanks, Sister Jiayi," he said, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Lianyi stood in front of them, looking at Ye Chen with concern. "Are you too tired?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he assured her.
She hesitated before stepping closer and kneeling in front of him. Before he could react, she gently dabbed his forehead with her handkerchief. Her touch was light, and her closeness made his heart race.
"Uh, thank you, Sister Lianyi," he said softly.
"You're welcome," she replied, her cheeks pink.
Meixiu watched the exchange with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Looks like you're getting special treatment, Ye Chen," she teased, leaning closer to him.
"Stop teasing," Jiayi said, though her tone was light.
After resting for a while, they headed back to the villa. As they entered, Jiayi spoke up.
"Why don't we make breakfast together?" she suggested. "It'll be fun."
"Great idea," Meixiu said. "But Ye Chen has to do most of the work."
"Why me?" Ye Chen asked, laughing.
"Because it's more fun to watch you struggle," Meixiu said, sticking her tongue out.
Jiayi chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll guide you."
In the kitchen, Jiayi showed Ye Chen how to mix pancake batter, her hands occasionally brushing against his as she corrected his technique. Meixiu took charge of cutting fruit, sneaking pieces into her mouth when she thought no one was looking. Lianyi set the table, her quiet efficiency keeping everything organized.
As they worked, Meixiu suddenly smeared a bit of whipped cream on Ye Chen's nose.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, startled.
Meixiu burst out laughing. "You look cute with cream on your face."
Jiayi sighed but smiled. "Meixiu, don't play with the food."
"Fine," Meixiu said, still grinning. She leaned in and wiped the cream off Ye Chen's nose with her finger, then licked it off. "See? No waste."
Ye Chen shook his head, laughing. "You're impossible."
"That's why you love me," Meixiu said, winking.
Breakfast turned out delicious, and the group enjoyed their meal together. As they sat around the table, Jiayi looked at Ye Chen.
"You're fitting in nicely," she said.
"Thanks, Sister Jiayi. It's been great so far," he replied.
Lianyi nodded. "We're happy you're here."
Meixiu leaned closer to him, her eyes sparkling. "Just don't get too comfortable. We'll keep you on your toes."