"Hmph, you stingy thing." Xiao Wan reluctantly pulled her hand back. Gazing at the darkening sky, she asked, "Hey, Chen Xiaoguai, how did you get such a great figure? Do you go to the gym often?"
Chen Xin steadied his breathing before answering, "No, but I practice martial arts."
"Wow, that's impressive." Xiao Wan propped her chin on her hands, her curiosity growing. "How long have you been doing it? What do you practice?"
"I started in elementary school, so more than ten years now," Chen Xin replied. "Mainly staff techniques, but I've dabbled in a bit of everything."
"You don't look like it at all. I thought you were just a nerd who only knows how to study." Xiao Wan pinched his cheek. "With a face as sweet as yours, I figured you'd be easy to bully."
Chen Xin chuckled awkwardly. "That's me now. When I was a kid, I was really naughty. I had a best friend who grew up with me, and we caused no end of trouble for our families."
"Oh? So, what made you settle down later?" Xiao Wan asked.
"I don't know, maybe I just grew up." Chen Xin sighed. "Work keeps me pretty busy, so I don't have the energy to mess around anymore. But my best friend? He hasn't changed. He's still as mischievous as ever."
Xiao Wan shook her head. "No, you didn't grow up—you just look like you did."
Chen Xin blinked. "What do you mean by that?"
"Because if you'd really grown up, you wouldn't be sitting here eating dinner and enjoying the night view with a street performer," Xiao Wan teased, flashing him a playful smile. Her words made Chen Xin blush again. He felt utterly defeated. Even with her heavy smoky eye makeup tonight, she still looked breathtakingly beautiful.
A cold wind swept along the riverbank, and Chen Xin noticed her shivering slightly. Xiao Wan was still wearing a skirt, even after changing outfits. He sighed, "Let's head back to the car. It's getting colder—you might catch a cold."
"Alright. Just drop me off at the tunnel," she replied.
Chen Xin froze. "You're living in a tunnel?"
"Of course. Do I look like someone who can afford a house?" Xiao Wan said casually.
Chen Xin frowned. "Didn't I give you money before? Maybe you could use that to rent a place—"
"Oh, you mean the sixteen hundred you gave me? I already spent it all on dinner for everyone," Xiao Wan admitted, kicking at the pebbles by her feet.
Chen Xin rubbed his temples in exasperation. "Fine, I'll give you more. Find a hotel to stay in—it's too cold outside. You'll freeze."
"No thanks. I don't like hotels. People come and go, and hotels can never keep anyone. It's just too sad," Xiao Wan replied thoughtfully.
Chen Xin chuckled at her whimsical reasoning. After a brief pause, he clenched his fists and finally voiced the thought buried deep in his heart. "Well… if you don't want a hotel, you could come stay at my place. My guest rooms are empty anyway—"
"Deal! It's settled then!" Before he could finish, Xiao Wan darted off toward his Koenigsegg, calling back impatiently, "Hurry up and unlock the car! It's freezing out here!"
Chen Xin shook his head with a laugh, pulling out the keys to unlock the door. Watching her hop into the car, he teased, "Were you just waiting for me to say that?"
Xiao Wan stuck out her tongue at him. "What do you think?"
Chen Xin started the car, suddenly struck by a thought. "Does this count as me riding in on a white horse to rescue you?"
Xiao Wan reached over to gently ruffle his hair. "Maybe. If there really are white knights in this world."
Back at the villa, Xiao Wan was like a child in an amusement park, exploring every corner excitedly. "I didn't get a good look at your place on Christmas Eve. Can I take my time looking around today?"
"Of course, feel free. You'll be living here from now on," Chen Xin said with a smile.
"So generous? Don't you have any off-limits areas?" she teased.
"Well, maybe the wine cellar. Best not go there. Everything else is fine," Chen Xin replied.
"Then the wine cellar it is! Lead the way!" Xiao Wan declared instantly.
It felt like a trap, but Chen Xin could only sigh and show her to the cellar. As he was about to introduce his collection, Xiao Wan gasped. She wandered among the shelves, muttering, "Romanée-Conti, Lafite, Petrus… and these rare vintages. Do you know, Chen Xiaoguai, if N City's wine enthusiasts found out about this, they'd break in and steal everything?"
Chen Xin wasn't concerned about wine enthusiasts. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised. "You know wine?"
"Why? Surprised a street performer like me knows something about wine?" Xiao Wan raised an eyebrow.
Chen Xin shook his head. "Not surprised—delighted."
"If you're so delighted, why not gift me a bottle as a souvenir?" Xiao Wan said coquettishly.
Chen Xin hesitated. Every bottle in this cellar had been painstakingly acquired. Even his best friend Ye Chen had to beg for days for one. But now, this girl…
After a brief pause, Chen Xin nodded. "Sure, take your pick."
Xiao Wan was momentarily stunned before breaking into a mischievous grin. "Any bottle? Don't mind if I do." She scanned the shelves. "Lafite? Nah. Mouton? Not the right vintage… Oh! A 1976 Romanée-Conti! I'll take this one!"
She picked up the bottle, hugging it to her chest.
Chen Xin almost coughed up blood. Of all bottles, she chose his favorite! But looking into her bright, starry eyes, he nodded reluctantly. "Fine… it's yours."
"Let's drink it now!" Xiao Wan said, reaching for a corkscrew.
"Wait! No!" Chen Xin shouted, panicking.
Xiao Wan paused mid-action, then burst into laughter. "Do you know how pitiful you look right now? Like a little puppy who just lost its toy!"
She handed the bottle back, pinching his cheek. "Just messing with you. I wouldn't actually take your favorite wine, silly."
Chen Xin let out a breath of relief before muttering, "You're so—"
"So bad? Too late to realize that now!" Xiao Wan giggled, darting out of the cellar. "I'm stuck to you now. Don't even think about shaking me off!"
As Chen Xin shook his head helplessly, he carefully placed the wine back. When he returned to the living room, Xiao Wan was sprawled on the couch, watching TV with his three dogs eagerly gathered around her.
Despite his exasperation, a small smile formed on Chen Xin's lips. For the first time in a while, the big, empty house didn't feel quite so lonely.
Chen Xin smiled and said, "I'm going to the study to work. You can do whatever you want. Call me if you need anything."
"Go, go." Xiao Wan waved a small hand from the back of the sofa.
Chen Xin walked into the study to work, but within half an hour, Xiao Wan called him from downstairs: "Chen Xiaoguai, I'm hungry."
"There's plenty of food in the kitchen. Just grab something and heat it in the microwave."
"No, no, I don't want to move. Can you bring me something?"
Is she really this lazy? Not only was he giving her a place to stay as a landlord, but now he had to serve her food? Chen Xin sighed as he went downstairs and asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"Yogurt and apple pie."
"There's no apple pie, but there's pineapple pie. Is that okay?"
"Sure, sure."
Chen Xin handed her the food and was about to go back upstairs when Xiao Wan grabbed him. "Stay and watch TV with me. This horror movie is so scary."
"I still have work to do…"
"You can work later. The movie isn't that long. Stay with me. I'm so scared," Xiao Wan tugged at his sleeve, looking pitiful as she pouted.
Chen Xin had no choice but to sit down beside her. His lap became Xiao Wan's pillow. Yet no matter how he looked at her, she didn't seem scared at all.
When a side character in the movie got killed, she rolled her eyes and commented, "What an idiot! Why walk into the dark like that? Just turn on the light, and you'd see the boss standing there!"
When the main villain was defeated, she said with a knowing look, "You have to finish them off! See? He didn't, and now the guy's back up again!"
Chen Xin couldn't help but laugh at her. "Is this what you mean by being scared?"
Xiao Wan grabbed his hand and placed it on her chest, saying seriously, "I was scared at first. But since you're here, I'm not afraid anymore."
Her hand holding his made Chen Xin's palm feel hot. He cleared his throat and said, "Alright, the movie's over. I really need to get back to work."
"Hmph, fine, go."
Because of the movie, Chen Xin worked until eleven o'clock before he finally finished his tasks. After a quick wash, he greeted Xiao Wan and went to bed.
About ten minutes later, Lin Xiaowan quietly pushed open his door and sneaked in. Chen Xin wasn't yet asleep, and when he opened his eyes, he saw her crouching by his bed. He sighed helplessly and rubbed his eyes. "I'll definitely remember to lock the door next time. What is it now?"
Xiao Wan's eyes sparkled as she whispered, "Nothing much. I just suddenly realized you don't know my name yet."
Fully awake now, Chen Xin turned to her. "Oh? What's your name?"
She leaned close to his ear and whispered, her voice sultry and teasing, "Lin. Xiao. Miao."
Chen Xin felt all the blood rush to his ears. He tried to keep his composure. "Uh… That's a… very nice name. It suits you, like a little cat."
In the dark, Xiao Wan smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously like a cat's. "Do you know how a cat catches its prey?"
Chen Xin thought for a moment. "It quietly waits on the side and pounces when the prey isn't paying attention?"
"That's a wild cat. I'm talking about pet cats," Xiao Wan corrected. "They set traps without you realizing it, making their prey willingly walk into them."
Chen Xin chuckled. "Are you talking about me? Did you set a trap for me to fall into?"
"Foolish Xiaoguai." Xiao Wan reached out to stroke his face and said softly, "You've already fallen in."