"I've seen them?" Just moments ago praised for her cleverness, Yaxi now felt utterly stumped.
She couldn't recall any mutual acquaintances between herself and Chen Ling.
"Do you remember, long ago, when we returned here together from the airport?"
When Chen Ling had first come into her life, he'd deduced from the state of the room that her mother hadn't returned yet.
That was when Yaxi realized he'd always remembered their brief encounter at the airport.
It was a sore spot for her—she'd later tormented herself over her unrequited feelings, and his subsequent indifference at school only reinforced her belief that she meant little to him.
That night marked the beginning of her infatuation.
His kindness toward a stranger had spared her from reliving painful memories of spending a sleepless night at the airport, giving her one less reason to wake up feeling abandoned.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she feigned vague recollection. "Hmm… oh, that was our first conversation, right? Last year? It was winter too. What about it?"
"You should also remember the driver who picked us up. The person I met today was him."
Remember? How could she forget? He called him 'Young Master,' bowing respectfully. And Chen Ling addressed him as Uncle Zhang.
"Is he someone you trust?" Yaxi asked earnestly.
Perhaps it was her sincerity or the directness of her question, but warmth flooded Chen Ling's heart.
Though she'd never uttered the word "care," she worried about him carrying the heavy soup with one hand while limping, fretting silently about him meeting those who had once hurt him.
"Yes," he replied simply.
Relieved, Yaxi relaxed slightly.
But then, unexpectedly, Chen Ling set down his chopsticks and leaned forward. Instinctively, Yaxi stepped back—but his fingers closed gently yet firmly around her chin.
His fingertips were cool, lightly pinching before applying pressure to tilt her face upward.
"There's a scratch on your face," Chen Ling's voice grew urgent, his gaze darkening. "Who did this? Who hurt you? Have you disinfected it?"
It was nothing—a minor accident. Yaxi didn't understand why he reacted so strongly. For a moment, she marveled at his rare display of dominance.
His touch burned against her skin despite its gentleness.
"It's fine. It'll heal in a few days."
"A few days? You need medicine." Chen Ling used his thumb to trace the edge of the wound, his movements feather-light.
Yaxi stared at his lips, which were dangerously close, her pulse quickening. Irritated, she slapped his hand away. "I told you, it's fine. Let's eat."
She resumed drinking the soup, oblivious to the flicker of unease in Chen Ling's eyes.
At 10:30 PM, Yaxi wrapped up her livestream.
Lately, the wealthy woman with the white cat avatar had been throwing money around lavishly, gifting her extravagant virtual cruises each week and urging her to see a psychologist.
Thanks to these generous donations, Yaxi had earned enough to cover three months' worth of expenses.
Though she hadn't initially planned to visit a therapist, she decided she might as well go to the hospital soon to give the benefactor peace of mind.
Being rich sure has its perks!
Feeling pleased with her earnings, she grabbed her pajamas and headed to the bathroom.
As she opened the door, she spotted Chen Ling waiting outside, holding a bottle of medicine.
Quickly stepping out and closing the door behind her, Yaxi sighed inwardly.
Inside her locked room were walls covered in photos of him, drawers filled with cigarette butts she'd collected, and journals filled with sketches of his likeness.
She always locked her room precisely to keep him out.
Stumbling backward, she collided straight into Chen Ling's chest. With one arm, he caught her securely—his strength surprising despite his lean build.
She struggled briefly but couldn't break free. Placing her hands against his chest, she demanded, "What are you doing?"
She assumed he was there to apply the medicine, but his next words caught her off guard. "Where will you sleep tonight?"
"In my own room, obviously," Yaxi replied matter-of-factly.
Last weekend, she'd teased him and ended up sleeping in his room out of laziness. Last night had been an accident too.
Chen Ling cleared his throat lightly. "After your shower, come to my room. I'll apply the medicine for you."