Chapter Fifty-One: Melting in Wind and Snow

"Where are you going?" Luo Qing stared directly into my eyes. "Is there something you absolutely must do right now? Something worth braving this heavy wind and snow for?"

I met her gaze, those beautiful eyes of hers, and forced a reassuring smile through the biting cold. "Yes. Something very important. Something I have to do even if it means facing this blizzard."

"I see..." A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then let me come with you."

"Heroine Luo, your current mission is to stay safely inside and wait for my return. Don't worry, it won't take long." I comforted her, then turned and ran toward the road. Through the wind and snow, I thought I heard her call out something behind me, but I couldn't make it out.

When I looked back, she was gone. She must have taken my advice and headed upstairs. Standing by the deserted street, I sometimes wondered what exactly our relationship was. Although we claimed to be just friends, I always felt there was something much closer between us—the kind of bond that transcends friendship but hasn't quite reached the level of lovers. Could it be that we had become what people call "soulmates"?

The entire neighborhood around our rental apartment consisted of dilapidated buildings. As more modern, smaller residential units were built elsewhere, people had gradually moved out, leaving an awkward situation where only Zhao Kewen and I occupied apartments on my floor. At the same time, it had become incredibly difficult to hail a taxi nearby, as no driver wanted to waste their fuel circling this area.

After waiting for over ten minutes without seeing a single taxi, I had no choice but to cover my ears with my hands and head toward the main street. About halfway there, I finally managed to flag one down.

"Driver, take me to the nearest fast-food place," I said, inhaling the warm air of the car greedily.

The rest went smoothly. I bought the fried chicken legs Luo Qing wanted, and on a whim, I also grabbed a box of chicken cutlet rice to take back.

When I arrived at the second floor, before I could even take out my keys, the apartment door swung open on its own. To my surprise, Luo Qing stood in the light, watching me silently.

"Did you hear my footsteps again? I tried to be extra quiet this time." I walked into the room, smiling, and set the food on the table. "Did you have dinner yet, Heroine Luo? Here... I know it’s late, but I got those fried chicken legs you wanted."

Luo Qing stared at the chicken on the table for a long time, saying nothing.

"What's wrong? You're the one who said you wanted them. Don't tell me you've changed your mind already." I nudged a chicken leg toward her, confused. "Did you eat?"

She didn't seem to hear me. She looked from the chicken to my face, her expression unreadable.

"If you really don't want them... then forget it." I sighed and set the chicken back down.

"Give it to me. Who said I didn't want it?" Before I could turn away, she snatched the chicken leg. "Yang Chen, you're a big idiot."

Watching her with her striking, bright red long hair, I sighed and sat on the bed, noticing a laptop bag lying on the quilt.

"Is this your computer, Heroine Luo?"

"Do you think it's yours?"

I was completely defeated by her answer. I opened the bag and took out a silver MacBook.

"Can I turn it on, Heroine Luo?"

"Don't ask me about such trivial things in the future." She was eating the chicken leg in small, delicate bites. "Did you buy the chicken cutlet rice for me too?"

"Don't ask me about such trivial things in the future."

"Tch."

I opened her laptop and was greeted by a striking screen. The wallpaper was a solemn church set against a cloudless, bright sky, with rays of sunlight streaming through. I felt a bit embarrassed for her—her desktop was a disaster. It was cluttered with icons for everything: travel, stocks, movies, music, shopping... If a computer desktop could be compared to a home, hers was a basement where everything was just dumped.

"Heroine Luo, can I clean up your desktop for you?"

She glared at me and said nothing, so I took that as permission. I plugged in the mouse and started organizing.

After clearing away half the clutter, I noticed a text file. I read the title aloud: "If You Are Well."

"Hey!" Luo Qing yelped as if stung. She dropped her half-eaten chicken leg, rushed over, and slammed the laptop shut. Her face flushed as she shouted, "You are not allowed to snoop on my private files!"

Her sudden reaction startled me. I clutched my chest and scoffed, "Who wants to look at your private files? Even if you begged me, I wouldn't."

"As if I believe you." She seemed to remember something, pulled the laptop toward her, and grinned. "Yang Chen, let me show you something good."

"The way you're smiling, it doesn't look like anything good... don't tell me..." I leaned in as she rummaged through the files. "It isn't, is it?"

"It is, it is, it's your head!"

Seeing her so focused on searching for something, it didn't look like she'd be done anytime soon. I got off the bed and brought the lunchbox over to her. "Eat on the bed, but don't drop any rice grains."

"I'm not eating. I'm full." She didn't even glance at me, still busy with the computer.

"Fine, suit yourself." What kind of attitude was that? Had I become her servant? I pulled a cigarette from my pocket, lit it, and walked to the balcony. Leaning against the old wooden cabinet, I smoked in silence.

Just as I was idly practicing blowing smoke rings, Luo Qing ran in and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the exit.

"What are you doing?" I asked the "Heroine," who seemed to have lost her mind. "We're a man and a woman, stop pulling and tugging. Have you no sense of propriety?"

"Why are you smoking again?" She noticed the cigarette in my mouth, looking displeased. "If I see you smoking in this room again, you're moving out."

"Heroine Luo, if you're going to be that ruthless, I guess I'll have to move out." I held the cigarette high, afraid she'd try to snatch it again.

"You don't exercise, you drink, and you smoke. Your body will fall apart before you're even old."

I looked at her and laughed self-deprecatingly. "Are you worried about me? Sorry, I appreciate the concern, but this is really none of your business."

"No good deed goes unpunished."

"That's 'a dog biting Lu Dongbin.' What is 'a good dog doesn't bite Lu Dongbin'?" I was amazed by her ability to spout nonsense. No matter how absurd, she said it with such a serious face that it was hard to argue.

"You were able to quit before, why can't you now?"

"That's an interesting question. Why were you my girlfriend before, but you aren't now?"

The words slipped out before I could think. We both stopped looking at each other and fell silent. The cold air on the balcony seemed to erode the warmth in our hearts, making my once limber body feel stiff and numb.

"Anyway... it's too cold out here. Let's go back. You don't like the smoke, so I won't smoke anymore, okay?" I put out the cigarette and headed inside first. Honestly, I realized I was in the wrong. Regardless of our status—even if we were just ordinary friends—I shouldn't have been smoking in front of a girl... even if she was just my landlord and I was the tenant.

Luo Qing followed me back inside, head bowed, having lost her earlier spark. She seemed sluggish and distracted. I knew my careless words had hurt her, but what could I do? The truth had happened; was I not allowed to speak of it?

"It's okay..." I heard her whisper.

"Did you say something?"

"It's okay. If you like it, smoke. It's not like I don't know how. Maybe I'll smoke with you tomorrow." She gave me a bitter smile and sat on the bed. "Yang Chen, come look at this."

I didn't know why she said that. Was it revenge? Or a compromise? I didn't press it; I just sat beside her and looked at the video player on the computer. I'd just make sure not to smoke in front of her again. It was no big deal.

"What is this?"

"'Insidious.' They say it's super scary." She looked at me with a straight face. "Do you like horror movies, Yang Chen?"

"I... I guess." I looked at the movie with some trepidation. "Is this what you were so excited to find?"

"Yeah. What did you think it was?"

I thought it was something scandalous...

"It's boring just sitting here in this house. Watching movies when we have nothing to do is nice. It helps you sleep." She nonchalantly maximized the screen.

"Are you sure watching a horror movie in this old house helps you sleep? I don't see how that works."

"Yang Chen, don't tell me you're scared?" She shot me a look of disdain.

"Cut it out. Why would I be scared of a kid's game? Just make sure you don't get terrified halfway through and turn it off." I was a man; I wasn't going to be outdone by a young woman. It would be embarrassing if word got out.

"Alright then, here we go. Come on, sit closer, or it won't feel right." She reached out and turned off the wall switch. The room plunged into total darkness.

"This feeling..." I glanced around. Except for the faint light from the screen illuminating her bright red hair and her beautiful, pale face, I couldn't see a thing.

"What is it?"

"It's fine... it's fine..."