After signing the contract, Qin Guanglin’s wallet shrank, but his heart was brimming with joy.
In the future, he thought, he could see Teacher He whenever he wanted, just by walking ten minutes to her place.
"Let’s go, to the Sha County Hotel," He Fang put away the room key, and stopped fussing about him paying the rent; after all, it would all be hers eventually, so it was unnecessary to split hairs.
Plus, she hadn’t started working yet. Paying the rent wouldn’t leave her strapped for cash, but it would be troublesome if something like getting sick came up — the previous talk about manuscript fees was for Qin Guanglin’s benefit. Not much time had passed since her submission, and she hadn’t received a cent, not to mention five thousand.
"How about I help you move in tomorrow?" Qin Guanglin couldn’t wait another day.
"No rush, we’ll wait till the weekend," He Fang shook her head. "I want to spend a few more days with my roommates."
"Alright."
"Why are you wearing that shirt again?" she looked at Qin Guanglin’s clothes with some disdain. "You switched back after just two days."
It seemed she had overestimated him; she thought he’d at least look dashing for a week, but here he was, back to his old self on the second day.
"Why should I dress up in such flowery clothes just to go to work?"
Qin Guanglin was indifferent, "Dressing up so handsomely, aren’t you afraid I’ll be snatched away by some other young girl?"
"You?" He Fang raised an eyebrow, "Thinking of being snatched away by young girls? Dream on."
"Aren’t you a young girl?"
"I’m blind."
"..."
Qin Guanglin was momentarily speechless.
He couldn’t win the argument.
It was only after they arrived downstairs at Sha County and sat down that he resumed the conversation: "My mom said it’s been days since she saw you."
"Didn’t I just sleep over at your place recently?"
"Err... that’s what she said." Qin Guanglin looked around, "Maybe you could sleep over again?"
He Fang gave him a moment’s consideration, "Sleep over again?"
"Yeah, yeah," he nodded eagerly.
"Hell no, we’ll have dinner and then you’ll take me back."
"That works too," Qin Guanglin smacked his lips, a bit disappointed.
Having experienced it once, he was eager for a second, a third time...
Holding the person he liked and sleeping together in his own home brought an indescribable sense of fulfillment.
A bowl of noodles and five trays of steamed dumplings later, it had grown dark outside. The two of them strolled leisurely back to Qin Guanglin’s place, sated and content, only to find that Qin’s Mom wasn’t at home.
"She’s probably gone to the night market with Aunt Wang. Do you want to go and take a look around?" Qin Guanglin felt a bit full and thought a walk might be good.
"Let’s go," He Fang agreed without hesitation.
When two people are together, they should experience as much as possible for the reminisces later on. Otherwise, years down the line when recalling their courtship, there would be nothing to remember but cuddles and embraces...
Yikes –
Not bad, but when the kids ask, "Dad, mom, how did you date each other?"
What would they answer?
There wouldn’t be an answer.
Just as Qin Guanglin was about to leave, he suddenly turned back to the bedroom, "Wait for me to change."
"Why shut the door? Afraid I’ll see?" He Fang leaned at the doorway, watching him, "We’ve already slept together..."
"If you want to watch, go ahead, anyway..." he stopped talking abruptly.
"Anyway, what?"
"Nothing."
He Fang narrowed her eyes suspiciously, and after a moment, she recalled the day when Qin forgot to bring clothes to the shower and bit her lip, "You did that on purpose that day!"
"Absolutely not!" Qin Guanglin instinctively denied it.
"How do you know which day I meant?" Seeing his reaction, she was even more convinced, "Pervert!"
"Really, it wasn’t..."
Qin Guanglin felt wronged, "I was asleep and you insisted on yelling for me..."
"You’re still talking?" He Fang glared at him, "Hurry up and forget it."
"Alright, already forgotten," he said, pulling out the clothes He Fang had bought for him from the wardrobe, "Watching me change makes it even, okay?"
"Even my ass, you’d be even if you stripped naked."
"Impossible," Qin Guanglin held his shirt hem firmly, "Watch closely now."
He Fang rolled her eyes, "I’m watching."
"Alright, we’re even now."
"Wait," she suddenly turned her head to look at the living room, then came in and shut the door, "Let me touch."
Such a youthful Fool Qin, not yet beginning to gain weight, belly not yet developed – it looked kind of fun.
"What the hell are you doing?" Qin Guanglin jumped, "Don’t come over."
"Just for a second, otherwise it’s not even," He Fang pointed a finger at him, shaking it slightly.
"Don’t be like this."
"It’s just touching your belly."
Qin Guanglin was uncomfortable under her stare, "Wait until I put my shirt on, and I’ll lift it for you."
"No, then it’s no fun."
"... "
"... "
"Just for a second?"
"Just for a second," He Fang rolled her eyes again, "You’re being stingy, weren’t you eager when you rubbed my belly?"
"It’s not... It’s just that you’re being..." Qin Guanglin hesitated, "... act normal."
"What’s not normal about me? Hurry up, we still have to hit the night market."
"Then come on," he gave up resisting.
He Fang, with a serious expression, poked his belly with her finger, then looked up at him, "Your belly is really hard."
"Happy now? Let’s hurry and go to the night market,"
Qin Guanglin grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head, feeling slightly panicked by He Fang’s behavior. It was like that indescribable day, yet somehow different.
It certainly didn’t seem normal.
"Let’s not go, okay? Poke me a couple more times," He Fang drew a few circles with her finger.
"..." Qin Guanglin felt ticklish and couldn’t help but grab her hand, "Come on, let’s go to the night market."
"Stingy."
"We agreed, just a second."
"I’ve already done that for you, and you won’t let me poke your belly," He Fang stood up grumbling, "So stingy."
She hadn’t paid attention before, but now she realized he had such an amusing trait.
"You..." Qin Guanglin was a bit embarrassed, "We’ll poke some other time."
"Hmph."
"Let’s go outside,"
"You’re going to start running," He Fang suddenly said, "Starting tomorrow, run a little every day."
"Huh?"
"To prevent getting fat, I’ll run with you."
"..."
Qin Guanglin didn’t know what she was thinking but nodded after a moment’s hesitation: "Alright, if you say run, we’ll run."
Running... he had been contemplating it for a while, just too lazy to start. Now with her company, he might actually follow through.
"Good boy, give me a kiss," He Fang, holding the doorknob, turned and tilted her face up.
Eh?
Qin Guanglin’s eyes lit up. Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity for a wall slam?
He finally caught it.