After spending the entire afternoon at Wang Yue's house, Chen Fan finally decided it was time to leave, much to Wang Mei's disappointment.
"Brother, promise you'll come back again, okay?" Wang Mei pleaded, her eyes filled with reluctance.
"Just like she said," Ye Lan chimed in with a warm smile. "Feel free to visit anytime—every day if you like."
"Of course, I'll come back," Chen Fan assured, gently ruffling Wang Mei's hair before turning to Ye Lan. "After tasting Auntie's cooking, I don't think I can enjoy anything else anymore."
Ye Lan chuckled at his compliment. "Then I'll have to make it even better so you won't want to leave."
"I'm looking forward to it," Chen Fan replied with a smile.
After saying their goodbyes, Chen Fan stepped outside, with Wang Yue walking him to the road. A quiet silence settled between them as they strolled, the only sound being the soft crunch of gravel under their feet.
"Thanks," Chen Fan said suddenly, breaking the stillness.
Wang Yue tilted her head, looking puzzled. "I didn't do anything, though, right?"
Seeing her confused expression, Chen Fan chuckled softly. "We're more alike than you think."
"What's that supposed to mean? Can you speak in a way I'll understand?" she retorted, frowning slightly.
Chen Fan laughed and, without warning, reached out to gently tousle her hair.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Wang Yue stammered, flustered by the sudden contact.
"You're really something else, you know? Truly silly," Chen Fan teased with a grin.
Wang Yue huffed, her cheeks puffing slightly in annoyance. When she glanced up at Chen Fan and saw the warmth in his smile, she froze for a moment, caught off guard.
"Definitely the silliest girl I've ever met," Chen Fan added, though he thought inwardly, Not that I've met many girls in my life.
"S-shut up! And don't touch my head again!" Wang Yue snapped, quickly shielding her head with her hands. She looked downward, hiding her flustered expression.
As Chen Fan noticed the faint redness creeping up Wang Yue's ears, he couldn't help but find her utterly endearing. She wore her emotions like an open book, every page laid bare for him to see. From the moment they met, she had been nothing but genuine—unfiltered in her gratitude, hesitation, guilt, and now this flustered state. It amused him how she didn't hide behind polite pretense or calculated reserve. Even inviting a near-stranger into her home, she acted with a kind of reckless sincerity that was both amusing and oddly disarming.
For Chen Fan, someone who had spent his life treading cautiously, this openness was both refreshing and unfamiliar. His own interactions were carefully measured, each word and gesture calculated to gauge the emotions of others while keeping his own guarded. His playful remarks, often delivered with a casual smile, were more than humor—they were tools to draw out honest reactions, helping him understand people's true intentions.
This habit had been ingrained in him long before his master took him away from the mountain. Back then, it had been a skill of survival, learned from interacting with traders or villagers who occasionally ventured into the wilderness. His perceptiveness, coupled with a sharp wit, had helped him navigate those rare social exchanges. Over time, it became second nature, shaping the man he was today—a man who rarely let his own emotions show.
Yet, despite his guarded demeanor, there had always been one exception: his master. With him, Chen Fan allowed his true self to emerge, finding solace in the bond they shared. But even there, his playful nature often tested the limits of his master's patience, earning him both stern reprimands and the occasional indulgent smile. Those memories, however rare, were among the few moments where Chen felt he could let his walls crumble.
As his thoughts drifted, Chen glanced at Wang Yue, who was still pouting and shielding her head from his playful teasing. Her sincerity, her unthinking trust—it stirred something within him. Perhaps, in her own unintentional way, she was challenging him to be just a little less cautious, to show just a little more of himself.
Noticing the sudden silence between them, Wang Yue glanced up at Chen Fan, her arms still covering her head defensively. To Chen Fan, the sight made her look... adorable. He had always admitted that Wang Yue was undeniably one of the most beautiful women he'd ever met, but that was all it had been—an objective observation, nothing more. Yet now, as he looked at her again, a strange and unfamiliar feeling stirred within him, catching him off guard.
Seeing him staring at her, Wang Yue felt her cheeks heat up instantly. "Wh-why are you staring at me like that?" she stammered, her voice a mix of confusion and embarrassment.
"Then should I look somewhere else?" Chen Fan teased, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
"Rogue! Pervert! Shameless man!" Wang Yue blurted out, her thoughts leaping to conclusions that made her even more flustered.
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled. "What exactly are you imagining in that head of yours?" he asked, his tone dripping with amusement as he gave her an exaggeratedly curious look.
"D-don't look at me!" Wang Yue muttered, turning her face away to hide the deepening flush on her cheeks. Then, under her breath, she grumbled, "You pervert."
"Alright, alright, I'll leave you alone," Chen Fan said, taking a small step back as if retreating.
"Wait!" Wang Yue called out suddenly, her voice stopping him in his tracks.
He turned back to face her, one brow raised, the playful glint still dancing in his eyes. "What is it now? Don't tell me you miss me already," he teased, a grin spreading across his face.
Wang Yue puffed her cheeks in frustration, determined to ignore his remark. Brushing aside her embarrassment, she took a small breath and asked directly, "What did you mean earlier? When you said 'thanks' and that we're the same?"
The question caught Chen Fan off guard. He hadn't expected her to press him on it. For a moment, he looked at her in silence, his expression softening as he thought about how to answer.
"You're really persistent, aren't you?" he said with a small chuckle.
Wang Yue frowned. "Just tell me already," she demanded, crossing her arms in front of her.
Chen Fan let out a soft sigh, a faint smile still lingering on his lips. "Well," he began, his tone quieter now, "just like you found my small gestures meaningful when you were at your lowest, I've found your way of being—your openness and sincerity—just as meaningful."
Wang Yue's confusion deepened, her expression clearly showing she didn't understand. Chen Fan chuckled softly and continued, "At first, I wanted to consider us even, but I changed my mind. You're so stubborn about repaying me, so I've decided to repay you too, in my own way."
He paused briefly, his tone turning thoughtful. "Though, to be honest, I'm not sure how I'll do it yet. But that's the gist of it."
Before Wang Yue could respond, Chen Fan turned on his heel and began walking away. Over his shoulder, he added with a teasing smile, "If you miss me, you can always call me, alright?"
Wang Yue stood frozen for a moment, the words sinking in. By the time she snapped out of it and tried to reply, Chen Fan was already out of sight.
"Who would miss you, you pervert!" she shouted into the empty street, her face still burning.
She stood there for a moment longer, her hands clenched at her sides as she stared down the road where he had disappeared. Finally, she muttered under her breath, "Idiot."
But despite herself, she couldn't stop a small smile from creeping onto her face.
----
Back at the hotel, Chen Fan immediately lay down on the soft bed, staring up at the ceiling. The events of the day replayed in his mind like a vivid reel, and before he realized it, a small smile crept onto his lips.
"It's really a miracle she's never been deceived with that personality of hers," he murmured to himself, the thought both amusing and oddly comforting.
The room was quiet, the faint hum of the air conditioning filling the stillness. Chen Fan exhaled slowly, the weight of the day's small yet meaningful moments settling over him like a warm blanket.
He closed his eyes, savoring the lingering warmth of the memory. The sound of Wang Yue's laughter, the sight of her flustered expression, and even Wang Mei's cheerful energy all seemed to follow him here, softening the usual sharp edges of his thoughts.
For once, he didn't feel the need to analyze or guard himself. He simply let the memories flow, allowing them to fill the quiet spaces of his mind.
A yawn escaped his lips, and the tension in his body began to fade. He turned onto his side, pulling the blanket up over his shoulders. "Maybe I'll drop by again tomorrow," he thought to himself with a faint chuckle, though he wasn't entirely sure if he was serious or not.
The softness of the bed, the warmth of the memories, and the gentle pull of sleep all worked together, coaxing him into rest. Before long, his breaths deepened, and the day's emotions carried him into a peaceful slumber.