42. The Date

The next morning, Lu Yinghuai gradually awakened, his head aching more than usual due to the previous night's hangover. He lay in bed for a while before sitting up, only to realize that the room before him was not the familiar layout of his own home. After drinking himself into oblivion, Lu Yinghuai had little recollection of what happened next, nor did he particularly care to remember.

He rose, slipped into slippers, and walked out of the room. At the corner of the stairs, he heard voices downstairs—there was a woman speaking, her tone familiar. Despite his suspicions, he could hardly believe it. He followed the sound and saw Pei Huan standing in the kitchen, cooking something. Her long hair was tied up, revealing her fair and slender nape. She seemed to be on a call, her voice easy and light.

He stood there, watching for who knows how long, before Pei Huan sensed his presence and glanced toward the kitchen door. Seeing Lu Yinghuai standing there, her smile deepened. "You're awake? Still feeling unwell?"

Tang Yue, on the other end of the call, noticed someone was at Pei Huan’s home and promptly hung up. With Tang Yue’s voice gone, only Pei Huan and Lu Yinghuai remained in the kitchen. Lu Yinghuai gazed at Pei Huan, his eyes deep and silent.

"I put a new toothbrush, cup, and towel in the first-floor bathroom," Pei Huan said with a smile, then continued busying herself.

Lu Yinghuai, hearing this, turned and went to the bathroom to wash up. As he brushed his teeth, he studied his reflection in the mirror. Aside from appearing a bit haggard and some newly sprouted stubble on his chin, nothing seemed out of place.

As he brushed his teeth, memories of the previous night suddenly flooded back. He recalled Pei Huan asking if he wanted to be together, how he had hugged her tightly, and, it seemed, even cried—cried with a strange happiness.

At this point in his recollection, Lu Yinghuai’s hand paused, a trace of joy flickered in his eyes, but then, thinking of something else, his expression returned to calm.

What if it was all just a scene conjured by his drunken mind?

Leaving the bathroom, he saw Pei Huan bringing breakfast to the dining table. Seeing him, she said, "Sit down and wait a bit, there’s still something not quite ready," before turning back to the kitchen.

Lu Yinghuai ignored her instructions and followed her to the kitchen. Pei Huan, standing at the stove, only then noticed he’d come along, half amused and half exasperated. "Why do you always follow me? I’ll be done here soon."

Lu Yinghuai still said nothing, his gaze dark and intense. Pei Huan felt a sudden, inexplicable tightness in her heart under his look.

After a long moment, Lu Yinghuai finally spoke. "We’re together now, aren’t we?"

"Yes," Pei Huan nodded.

"And then?" His tone was flat. "We’re together, and then you’ll leave me again, like before?"

Pei Huan’s hands froze, her smile stiffening.

He’d asked this question while drunk last night. Now, sober, his tone was even calmer than before. After a moment, Pei Huan turned to look at him. His gaze was cold, his voice as if asking a mundane question, which somehow made Pei Huan’s heart ache.

"Don’t you remember last night?" Pei Huan asked cautiously.

"I remember," said Lu Yinghuai.

Precisely because he remembered, the more it felt like a dream.

"Then why ask me? Do you think I’m still lying to you?" Pei Huan forced a smile.

Lu Yinghuai remained silent; Pei Huan had laid bare the doubts in his heart. He stared at her with a cold intensity.

Pei Huan didn’t mind whether he answered or not. She simply said, "Bow your head."

Lu Yinghuai didn’t move.

Pei Huan tiptoed, cupped his face in her hands, and placed a kiss on his lips. Her clear, bright eyes gazed at him, every fleeting movement beneath her feet falling under his gaze.

"And now?"

Pei Huan’s smile was confident, almost triumphant.

"Are you still suspicious that I’m deceiving you, Mr. Lu?"

Her tone rose slightly, stirring something in Lu Yinghuai’s heart. Even though he’d heard it once last night, now, sober, he felt his heartbeat accelerate, as if it might leap out of his throat. For a moment, he was completely at a loss.

Pei Huan didn’t move, just held his face and looked straight into his handsome eyes, as though she wanted to peer all the way into his heart.

After a while, Lu Yinghuai finally came to his senses. Like last night, he embraced Pei Huan, murmuring softly, "This is wonderful."

"What’s wonderful?" Pei Huan asked.

"I have you again," Lu Yinghuai replied in a muffled voice.

Pei Huan’s face bloomed with the same smile as last night. After a few moments of tenderness, Pei Huan asked, "Did you shower?"

"No," Lu Yinghuai shook his head.

"Go shower first; breakfast will be ready by the time you’re done," Pei Huan said.

"I don’t have any clothes," Lu Yinghuai replied.

Only then did Pei Huan remember, and after lowering the heat, she went upstairs to find him some clothes.

Lu Yinghuai looked at the men’s clothes handed to him and asked, "Have other men been here?"

"No," Pei Huan replied, still busy, "They’re my brother’s. He forgot them here before."

Hearing this, Lu Yinghuai felt at ease and went to shower. When he came out, Pei Huan had finished preparing breakfast and was waiting at the table.

He pulled out the chair beside Pei Huan. Today’s breakfast was abundant, but Pei Huan ate rather hurriedly. Lu Yinghuai noticed and asked, "Why are you eating so quickly?"

"I was so caught up cuddling with you that I realized I’m about to be late for work," Pei Huan said, mouth full.

Lu Yinghuai looked somewhat disappointed. "On our first day together, you’re going to work?"

"Yes," Pei Huan nodded matter-of-factly. "Who’ll support me if I don’t earn money?"

"I will," Lu Yinghuai said crisply.

Pei Huan was so startled by his words she nearly choked. She took a sip of soy milk to steady herself.

"You like me that much?" Pei Huan teased.

"Yes," Lu Yinghuai nodded, admitting it without hesitation.

"But there’s no way. If I take a day off, I’ll lose my perfect attendance bonus this year," Pei Huan said, shrugging helplessly.

Lu Yinghuai responded with a quiet "Oh," and turned back to his breakfast in silence. Seeing his disappointed expression, Pei Huan felt a pang of sympathy.

After a few moments’ thought, Pei Huan was about to say she’d take the day off, but Lu Yinghuai spoke first. "I’ve already asked Lu Feng to grant you leave."

"Huh?" Pei Huan was caught off guard.

"I’m not going to the office today either," Lu Yinghuai said. "We can spend the whole day together."

Pei Huan stammered, "But what about my attendance bonus—"

Before she could finish, Lu Yinghuai interrupted, "I’ll make it up to you."

He took out his phone, ready to transfer her money, but soon realized he only had her work WeChat account, not her personal one. He looked up at Pei Huan. "I don’t have your WeChat."

Pei Huan, still dazed, handed him her QR code. After accepting his request, Lu Yinghuai immediately transferred her a sum. Pei Huan counted the zeros at the end and nearly fainted.

Truly, the head of Minghan was generous beyond compare.

"And now?" Lu Yinghuai asked.

"Of course I’m a thousand times willing," Pei Huan replied, grinning like a loyal little dog.

After breakfast, the two stood side by side at the sink to wash dishes. Halfway through, Pei Huan remembered she had a dishwasher, but seeing Lu Yinghuai next to her, suddenly hand-washing didn’t seem so bad.

After breakfast, they nestled together on the living room sofa, savoring their new-found togetherness. Lu Yinghuai was particularly fond of sticking close to Pei Huan; wherever she went, he followed. Pei Huan, about to use the restroom, laughed at his trailing steps. "Are you really going to follow me into the bathroom too?"

"I wouldn’t mind," Lu Yinghuai replied shamelessly.

In the end, Pei Huan had to reason and coax him out of the idea.

As she washed her hands, thinking of Lu Yinghuai, she was amused. The old Lu Yinghuai was never so clingy; perhaps the joy of regaining what was lost made him want to be with her constantly.

Coming out, Pei Huan asked, "Are we spending the whole day at home?"

"Where do you want to go?" Lu Yinghuai countered.

Pei Huan thought for a few seconds before answering, "Let’s go see a movie."

She’d noticed her friends, once in relationships, loved going to the cinema with their partners. She wanted the same.

Lu Yinghuai had no objections. Pei Huan opened an app to check what films were showing. "What kind of movies do you like?"

"Anything’s fine. Whatever you like," Lu Yinghuai replied without preference.

He’d always accommodated her, and Pei Huan smiled at the realization that nothing had changed.

She enjoyed foreign sci-fi blockbusters, and there happened to be a new one out she was interested in. Without hesitation, she bought two tickets, and after a bit of tidying, they headed out.

It was the weekend, and the cinema was busy. After collecting the tickets, Pei Huan returned to Lu Yinghuai’s side. She wasn’t fond of popcorn, but still asked, "Do you want some?"

"If you like it, buy it," Lu Yinghuai replied.

Pei Huan didn’t eat any, and when it was nearly showtime, the two entered after their tickets were checked. On the way to the auditorium, Pei Huan suddenly recalled the past and asked with a smile, "Did we ever watch movies together before?"

"We did," Lu Yinghuai answered. "But back then we were always studying, so it was rare."

"I see," Pei Huan said, her tone betraying a hint of regret.

Lu Yinghuai, sensing her mood, squeezed her hand tighter.

This movie was selling out fast; by the time it started, the theater was almost full. Pei Huan explained the previous installment to Lu Yinghuai with enthusiasm, detailing the plot. Lu Yinghuai liked listening to her and sat quietly, attentive.

The movie soon began, the atmosphere building to a crescendo. Pei Huan was so excited, she leaned over to discuss the plot with Lu Yinghuai. As she turned, Lu Yinghuai happened to turn, too—their noses nearly touched, and both froze.

The auditorium was dim, and Lu Yinghuai could only make out Pei Huan’s face by the light of the screen. She was more mature and beautiful than before; every time her lovely eyes gazed at him, he felt his heart stir and wanted to kiss her.

But the film’s mood was hardly suited for romance; both quickly turned away, pretending nothing had happened.

Pei Huan feigned concentration on the movie, though in truth, she was quietly steadying her breath.

It was utterly unexpected.