She was wearing his T-shirt, which was long enough to serve as a dress for her. She stood by the door watching him, her smile somewhat restrained. "...You're back?"
Shen Yanchen averted his gaze, uttered a brief "Mm," and lowered his head to change his shoes.
"I just took a shower, didn't have any clothes, so I wore your..."
He didn't understand why she was so cautious around him.
Seeing that he didn't respond, Gu Qimiao quickly added, "I'll wash it clean for you later."
Shen Yanchen finished changing his shoes before laying his eyes on her. Her long hair was slightly damp, draped over her shoulders. She looked more vibrant in person than in photos. Those eyes, just as clear and bright as when she was young, drew one deeply in.
She wasn't very tall, probably around 1.6 meters. Standing next to him, she looked really petite; he wondered how she had been taking care of herself all these years.
Gu Qimiao stood in front of him, somewhat at a loss. When he didn't speak, she felt the most uneasy. She didn't know if he was unhappy or if she had done something wrong to upset him.
Just as she was feeling anxious, he handed her a bag, "Go tidy up and find a jacket to wear." Although the house was heated, he was still worried she'd catch a cold.
Gu Qimiao took the bags from his hands and peeked inside; they were filled with daily necessities and clothes. She was about to thank him when he carried the groceries into the kitchen.
Is he cooking himself? Gu Qimiao smiled as she watched his back. He was getting more impressive, but still as cold as before.
She took the items into the bedroom and organized everything from the bags.
Putting her belongings around his place made her happy. The feeling was like newlyweds tidying up their new home.
Looking at the two cups and toothbrushes on the sink, Gu Qimiao blushed and chuckled to herself.
After organizing, she walked out of the room, and the dishes were already on the table. The aroma made her mouth water, but she didn't dare act too freely in front of him.
Seeing that she couldn't help with anything, she opened the cabinet and took out the bowls and chopsticks.
Shen Yanchen had his sleeves rolled up, revealing his lean forearms. Every movement exuded charm.
Stirring the food in the pot, his gaze flickered to Gu Qimiao, who was standing on tiptoe to reach the bowls from the cabinet and then bending over to wash them under the tap.
This harmonious atmosphere made Shen Yanchen's lips curve into a smile.
At the dining table, the two sat facing each other. Gu Qimiao sneaked glances at him as she ate.
She was curious. They hadn't seen each other for eighteen years, yet he didn't ask about her situation. How she had been, whether she was doing well, whether she was studying or working...
He didn't ask anything. Did he not care?
Little did she know, in these eighteen years, he had already learned every detail of her life. He didn't ask because he already knew.
"Shen... Yanchen." It was the first time she addressed him by his full name. Gu Qimiao looked at his expression, and seeing that he wasn't displeased, she continued, "Is this matter very difficult for you? If it's inconvenient... you can just let me leave."
After chewing and swallowing the food in his mouth, he looked up at her and said, "Aren't you afraid the Lu family will come after you?"
Gu Qimiao swallowed hard. Of course she was afraid, but she was even more afraid of implicating him.
Seeing her unease, Shen Yanchen said, "Just stay here peacefully. Where are you working now?"
"...At a gallery in Zihua Lane," Gu Qimiao added quickly, worried he wouldn't know her profession, "I'm a painter now."
Shen Yanchen nodded, "Continue working as you did before. Don't worry about anything else."
"Can I go back tomorrow?"
"Mm. But you should still live here for now. There are some things that haven't been settled yet." In truth, this was just his excuse to keep her around.
Since he had found her, he wouldn't let her leave so easily.