When both of them sat stiffly on the sofa...
Ou Yunchen was the first to speak, as only he could break the awkward silence.
Ou Yunchen: "You just now..."
Mo Qingyun quickly clutched her bathrobe tighter.
Ou Yunchen: "No, don't misunderstand. I meant, why did you suddenly rush out of the bathroom just now."
Mo Qingyun extended her index and thumb, then rotated her wrist, followed by using her index and middle fingers, moving them back and forth, one after the other. She performed the movements slowly, hoping Ou Yunchen would understand.
Ou Yunchen: "You were afraid I would leave?"
Mo Qingyun nodded vigorously.
Ou Yunchen: "Idiot!"
Mo Qingyun retaliated with sign language, calling Ou Yunchen the idiot.
Ou Yunchen quickly memorized the gestures and mimicked them back to Mo Qingyun.
Seeing Ou Yunchen perform the gestures perfectly, Mo Qingyun was initially pleased, but as soon as she was about to praise him, she realized she had been tricked again!
He was calling her an idiot!
Angrily, Mo Qingyun turned away, refusing to speak to Ou Yunchen any longer.
Ou Yunchen: "Then I'll leave?"
Mo Qingyun's neck craned even higher.
Ou Yunchen actually stood up and walked a few steps.
Mo Qingyun quickly turned back, truly afraid Ou Yunchen would leave again.
But the moment she turned, Ou Yunchen's towering figure loomed over her!
He propped one hand on the sofa, the other cupping Mo Qingyun's chin...
As their eyes met, Mo Qingyun's heart pounded louder and louder.
Ou Yunchen: "Have you ever heard the saying that when someone has a cold, if they infect someone else, they'll get better faster?"
Mo Qingyun nodded. She seemed to recall hearing something like that.
Ou Yunchen: "So, do you want me to get better quickly?"
Mo Qingyun nodded again.
Then...
Ou Yunchen leaned down and kissed Mo Qingyun!
As he gently supported her head, laying her back on the sofa, the blush on Mo Qingyun's face was like a budding pink rose. The scent of her intoxicated Ou Yunchen.
Mo Qingyun slowly opened her eyes. Ou Yunchen was gently stroking the little mute girl's cheek. He longed to possess this girl right now, but he dared not. He feared she wouldn't consent, and even more, he feared he couldn't bear the responsibility.
Ou Yunchen kissed Mo Qingyun's forehead again, then quickly stood up.
In less than twenty-four hours, he had restrained himself twice for this fool!
Damn it, this must be what people call love!
True love isn't about possession, but about reluctance to let go.
***
Taozi used her room card to open the hotel room. As the door clicked shut, Wang Ziran's voice called out from the bathroom.
Wang Ziran shouted: "Taozi? Is that you?"
Taozi also shouted: "It's me, what are you doing?"
Wang Ziran: "I'm showering, you can sit for a while."
The ensuing rush of water drowned out Taozi's soft reply.
As Taozi walked into the room, a very large gift box was placed on the table.
Taozi felt a bit happy. This wasn't the first time she had received a gift from Wang Ziran in recent days.
Seeing such a large gift box, she assumed its contents must be very valuable!
But when she excitedly opened the gift box, she found an oversized metal figurine of a woman inside.
Wang Ziran walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair.
Although Taozi didn't particularly like it, she exaggeratedly said: "It's so beautiful."
Wang Ziran: "Do you like it?"
Taozi nodded, then reached out to touch the figurine.
Wang Ziran quickly walked over and stopped her.
Wang Ziran: "Don't touch it, this is a Kōsan-Ki mecha girl figure, limited to 100 worldwide!"
Taozi: "It must be very expensive then."
Wang Ziran: "Not too bad, it was just hard to get. Look here, there's even an ID card, this is the 20th."
Taozi: "But it's so big, where will I put it?"
Wang Ziran: "How should I know where Yi Yi wants to put it? But this is indeed an artist she likes. I can't really appreciate it."
Taozi: "You, you were planning to give it to Su Ruiyi?"
Taozi felt a pang of disappointment but didn't dare to show it.
Wang Ziran closed the gift box again and tied the ribbon into a bow.
Wang Ziran: "Yes, I specifically chose the 20th, it's the same as her birthday. Most importantly, it's also the 20th year since I met her!"
Taozi: "How lucky! Su Ruiyi will be very happy to receive it."
Wang Ziran: "She had better be happy!"
Wang Ziran glanced at the time and then pulled Taozi to the bedside.
Since that incident in the hospital, Wang Ziran and Taozi seemed to have reached an understanding.
As long as Wang Ziran needed or wanted something, he only had to give Taozi a call or a message, and she would come to accompany him.
Of course, this time was no exception.
After an hour of activity, Taozi lay in Wang Ziran's arms. Her obedient demeanor evoked a sense of protectiveness in Wang Ziran that he had never felt before.
Wang Ziran: "Taozi."
Taozi: "Hmm?"
Wang Ziran: "Do you ever feel like I'm deceiving you?"
Taozi: "No, why would you think that?"
Wang Ziran: "My heart truly likes Su Ruiyi, yet I'm still with you..."
Taozi's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She propped herself up and rested her head on Wang Ziran's chest.
Taozi: "Are you going to leave me?"
Wang Ziran: "No, no, I was just afraid you'd feel wronged."
Taozi: "I told you, as long as you let me stay by your side, I'm content."
Wang Ziran embraced Taozi again, stroking her back.
Wang Ziran: "Thank you, Taozi. You are truly the most innocent and kind girl I have ever met."
Just then, Wang Ziran's phone rang.
—Wang Ziran on the phone—
Wang Ziran: "Dad, what is it?"
Mayor Wang: "Where are you?"
Wang Ziran: "I'm out."
Mayor Wang: "Come home quickly, your mother fell. It looks like she broke a bone. Hurry back and see her."
—End of call—
Wang Ziran hung up the phone and immediately got up to get dressed. He rushed around, leaving Taozi flustered.
Taozi: "What's wrong?"
Wang Ziran: "My mother fell. I need to go back and see her."
Taozi: "Ah? Is it serious? Then hurry and go."
Wang Ziran: "I don't know!"
Taozi also stood up to help Wang Ziran dress, but Wang Ziran's gaze fell on the large gift box on the table, and he hesitated.
Wang Ziran: "Oh no! Why now of all times!"
Taozi: "What is it?"
Wang Ziran: "I promised to meet Su Ruiyi! Our appointment time is almost here."
Taozi: "Is it to give this gift?"
Wang Ziran: "Yes, she must be arriving soon. If I tell her I have something and can't come now, she'll be angry with me again!"
Taozi: "Then, how about I deliver it for you?"
Wang Ziran paused for a moment, but then he quickly thought it was a good idea. He was lucky Taozi was here!
Wang Ziran gave her the time and place, then left in a hurry.
Now, only Taozi, whose expression had instantly changed, remained in the room...
When she turned back to look at the luxurious gift box, the obedient and cute demeanor she had shown Wang Ziran was gone, replaced by jealousy and disgust.