"Hey... I’m just complimenting you..."
"This is my first time in your room. Can’t you give me a little tour?"
"What’s there to tour?!"
His room, apart from a big bed, only had a nightstand and a wardrobe.
Most of his usual activities took place on the couch in the living room.
Did he need to introduce to Gan Yanyu:
Hello, I usually sit here to make coffee... and the head and foot of the bed... I sit and make coffee, stand and make coffee, spin and make coffee, make it while doing a handstand... this room is my sanctuary; feel free to tour and check in.
In fact, Gan Yanyu praised his room’s cleanliness.
This was a compliment for Lin Tian too, as he had tidied up the room well before bringing Gan Yanyu in.
After all, from Lin Tian’s perspective,
This was kind of like... helping the client get familiar with the battlefield in advance.
In the future, this would be the battleground where both of them would fight fiercely.
Of course, he wanted to make a good impression on Gan Yanyu.
after hearing Lin Tian’s retort.
Gan Yanyu said nothing.
Her gaze just kept wandering back and forth over Lin Tian’s pillow, blanket, and curtains.
A pair of eyes that were hard to read, wondering what she was thinking.
It felt a bit presumptuous.
Seeing his usual sleeping place being inspected really.
How was it different from harassment?
Lin Tian felt a bit embarrassed.
He suddenly started to miss the first time Gan Yanyu came to his place.
Back then, they were still quite formal; Gan Yanyu would ask before taking off her shoes... and before sitting on the sofa...
"Lin Tian, this blanket is a bit hard; do you have a pillow for me to use as a cushion?"
"Can you be any more demanding?!"
Lin Tian couldn’t help but retort.
Do you really have to sit on my sleeping pillow?!
Why not just sit on my face directly?!
"No... just a cushion or something... I have pillows specifically for sitting on at my place."
"... Well, then wait a moment."
Lin Tian stood up and took out a teddy bear from the top tier of the wardrobe.
It was so big that it reached up to half a person, soft and cuddly in his arms.
"You can use this as a cushion..."
Lin Tian handed the bear over.
"Why do you have a stuffed animal ?"
Gan Yanyu didn’t reach out to take it.
Instead, she tilted her head, blankly looking at Lin Tian.
Lin Tian saw a trace of grievance in Gan Yanyu’s eyes...
Clearly expressionless, yet it sent a chill down Lin Tian’s spine.
Realizing suddenly, he quickly explained,
"Xu Yong gave it to me."
"Oh, that Xu whatever classmate?"
"Yeah, I don’t know any girls. Who else would give me a stuffed animal other than him?"
"He gave it to me on 520* during our first year of high school. He said since neither of us had any luck with girls, we might as well exchange cute teddy bears on 520 for a bit of ceremony."
Gan Yanyu’s eyes widened, seemingly digesting the meaning of Lin Tian’s words.
"So did you give him one back?"
Lin Tian felt awkward.
He certainly wasn’t going to act goofy with Xu Yong, but he didn’t take the gift for nothing; he gave a pair of earphones in return.
However, after receiving the teddy bear, Lin Tian found it somewhat uncomfortable to keep on his bed.
At night, he always felt as if Xu Yong’s presence lingered on it—even though he knew it was brand new and unopened.
In the end, he stored it away in the cabinet.
Gan Yanyu thoughtfully accepted the bear and placed it on the carpet.
At the moment when she sat on the bear in her ultrashort shorts, Lin Tian silently let out an "Mhm~" inside his head.
The enchantment was successful.
Now it finally didn’t carry that annoying presence!
But why did Gan Yanyu initially seem so alert about him having such a teddy bear?
Can’t a guy have a stuffed animal?
Watching Gan Yanyu sitting on the bear, her curious eyes once again scanned Lin Tian’s room.
Lin Tian squinted his eyes in confusion.
Why was this girl so interested in his room?
Could she really be imagining the battlefield in advance?
Suddenly, Gan Yanyu spoke up, paused,
"Do you close the curtains when you sleep at night?"
"Depends. Sometimes if I remember, I will."
After all, Lin Tian had the habit of sleeping in.
If he didn’t close the curtains, he would wake up to the delightful surprise of being roasted by the morning sun on his rear.
Of course, lately, sleeping in was no longer an option because of starting the official college entrance exam review.
Though they were studying at home, they had to discipline themselves strictly.
It was almost May; most high school seniors at school were waking up before six o’clock.
Studying at home, Lin Tian certainly had to put in corresponding effort.
Gan Yanyu rested one hand on the table, supporting her chin with the other,
"I was just thinking... when you call me every morning, what kind of view is in your eyes..."
Lin Tian was stunned.
Indeed, he and Gan Yanyu had the habit of messaging each other right when they woke up.
If it was confirmed the other was already awake, they usually made a call.
They wouldn’t talk about much, just simply asking what the other had for breakfast, and whether to have lunch together... all just simple morning greetings.
Having gotten used to it, Lin Tian never paid it much mind.
However, he hadn’t expected.
That Gan Yanyu would pay attention to such details...
As he saw Gan Yanyu look up towards the window with a hint of a sweet expression.
Perhaps, for her... it was a cherished memory.
*520 is considered a day for showing love in China as the numbers phonetically sound like "I love you" in Chinese.