"Sister Liu, Leng Yichen won’t be back tonight, why not stay and have dinner with me before you leave!" Bai Yiran really doesn’t like eating dinner alone at home.
In Sister Liu’s eyes, Bai Yiran is just a child. "Sure! So what shall we eat tonight?"
"Hmm... I want to eat braised pork!"
"Sure, I’ll make some braised pork and stir-fry a dish, that should be enough for the two of us!"
Sister Liu made an authentic Mao-style braised pork, and it was Bai Yiran’s first time eating such delicious braised pork. "Sister Liu, you’re so good at cooking! It’s better than mine! I didn’t know you were hiding such a skill!"
"Eat more if you like it, you’re too skinny!" Sister Liu giggled at Bai Yiran who was eating with great appetite, "Yiran, you look so blessed when you eat."
"Hehe, everyone has said that about me since I was little." She said, picking up another piece of braised pork to chew, "Hmm~ I’m going to save some of this delicious braised pork for Leng Yichen!"
"You’re really thinking about him."
"Am I?" Bai Yiran smiled awkwardly, "I’m just leaving some meat for him to eat..."
Sister Liu looked at Bai Yiran and smiled without saying a word.
After dinner, Sister Liu went home. She had a kid in middle school, so unless there was something special, she would go back early every night.
Bai Yiran was bored alone at home. After taking a shower and looking at the time, it was almost ten o’clock, and Leng Yichen still hadn’t returned. Even though she was already sleeping alone at night, having a man living next door was at least comforting. Now staying alone in this room, it was a bit intimidating.
Unable to sleep anyway, she decided to wait downstairs for Leng Yichen to come home. He seemed a bit angry in the morning though she didn’t know why exactly.
Bai Yiran threw on a jacket, took her phone downstairs, and turned on the TV in the living room, aimlessly changing channels, not even sure what she wanted to watch.
She looked out the window at the dark sky. It should be daytime in the United States now... Wait, wait! What’s there to think about! Don’t think about it! Don’t think about it! Watch TV...
When Leng Yichen got home, it was already one o’clock in the morning, only to find the TV in the living room still on, and he could vaguely see someone curled up on the sofa. As he walked over, he saw Bai Yiran had fallen asleep.
"Why are you sleeping here?" Leng Yichen’s voice was cold yet full of concern.
The sleeping Bai Yiran seemed to hear his voice, murmuring, "You’re back... I saved some braised pork for you... it’s so tasty..." However, Bai Yiran hadn’t woken up, it was as if she was talking in her sleep.
Leng Yichen couldn’t help but smile, picking up Bai Yiran and heading towards the hallway.
Bai Yiran’s room was right next to Leng Yichen’s. It wasn’t small, but it wasn’t as nice as Leng Yichen’s.
Leng Yichen carefully laid Bai Yiran onto her bed like she was a delicate porcelain doll.
Bai Yiran pursed her lips, suddenly grabbing Leng Yichen’s arm, "Don’t be angry..."
Thinking Bai Yiran had woken up, he realized she was still deep in sleep after speaking. So it was just sleep talk. Leng Yichen smiled dotingly and left the room.
Remembering the TV downstairs was still on, Leng Yichen left Bai Yiran’s room and headed downstairs. Turning off the TV, he noticed a phone flashing on the sofa.
It was Bai Yiran’s phone. Leng Yichen picked it up and saw a new WeChat message. He thought about it for a moment, then decided to open the message.
’Yiran, are you asleep? I can’t sleep and wanted to chat with you.’
The WeChat message was sent at 11:35, by which time Bai Yiran was likely already asleep so she didn’t see it. In the darkness, it was hard to tell Leng Yichen’s expression. He glanced upstairs, then tossed the phone back onto the sofa.