Cheng Zhirang put down his chopsticks and knife, reached across the dining table to hold her hand, looked at her with Lian Yan’s beautiful eyes, and gently asked, "Then can you promise me?"

Mu Qiu, hit in the heart by his good looks: "... It’s not impossible."

If last night when she was pushing and hitting him, Cheng Zhirang had used this face as a shield, she probably wouldn’t have been able to continue hitting him.

Good thing he used his hand to block her at the time.

But as for promising him...

"How about this, you’re busy anyway, we spend two or three days a week living together, the rest of the time we can focus on our own stuff, is that okay?"

She could treat those days like going to attend a hobby class, happily going and happily coming back.

Cheng Zhirang lowered his eyes, picked up his chopsticks and knife to continue slicing the sweet pepper pancake, his expression visibly forlorn and vulnerable.

Mu Qiu: "?"

When did he learn this trick?

But this trick really was right up her alley, making her heart itch, and she gritted her teeth and upped the count.

"Three to four days, besides I already spend weekends with the program team, it’s unlikely we’ll live together."

The sweet pepper pancake was cut, Cheng Zhirang placed the knife on the edge of the plate, with the elegance of having just sliced thirty pounds of steak.

"You have to keep your promised words too."

"...Okay."

She took a bite of the pancake, pulled over the shopping bag she had just placed on the table, trying to take out the sticky notes that were squished underneath, casually flipping through, she pulled out a box of something blue.

"Cough, cough, cough—"

Almost choked, she immediately clenched the thing, couldn’t stop coughing violently.

Cheng Zhirang put down his chopsticks, walked over and gently patted her back: "What’s wrong? Drink some water."

Mu Qiu, while coughing, raised the item in her hand to show him.

Cheng Zhirang clearly saw the item, the strikingly obvious three numbers 001 on the blue box, along with the brand name.

"...Maybe the cashier took the wrong item."

"It must have been taken by mistake."

There’s no way that one of his fans saw them out grocery shopping and got so excited they decided to give them this, right?

What kind of maniacal fan does this take? Not even a ten-year CP fan would do this.

Cheng Zhirang put the box aside, unfazed, his expression unchanged, and still went to bring water to her mouth.

"Drink some water."

Mu Qiu took a couple of gulps, finally managing to swallow the bite of pancake.

"Too much too early in the day."

Cheng Zhirang: "It’s almost noon now."

"...Brother Cheng, you’re not being cute. You were mean to me yesterday and now you’re undermining me."

At the mention of yesterday, thinking of how he made her cry, Cheng Zhirang softened, cooperating with her again.

"Yes, compared to many people, it actually is quite early."

He paused, then said: "Since it’s still early, how about we go out later to handle the transfer?"

"Are you serious?" Mu Qiu leaned over the dining table a little, saying:

"I want promises, not property. Besides, we’ve only been dating for a month, why are you transferring property? Moreover, it could easily turn into media reporting that I schemed my way to you for the house."

And they could concoct a sensational heartbreaking story out of it.

"But I promised," Cheng Zhirang sat back down, looking at her as he said, "It’s close to the city center here, convenient to go anywhere, let’s just transfer it to your name. Half Mountain..."

"Half Mountain is like a pile of gold, I don’t want it."

"Then take this place. I have other properties elsewhere, if you don’t like this one either, we can look at another one."

Mu Qiu pursed her lips: "There’s no need."

Cheng Zhirang looked into her eyes, seeing she truly didn’t like the idea, he added:

"Then let’s just keep the property deed with you, you can transfer it whenever you want, or not, it’s yours anyway."

"Aren’t you worried if we break up in the future, this house won’t come back to you?"

"If I’m already considering breaking up now, then I’d be reluctant to give anything. If we don’t give anything, how can we stay together? Even if you don’t want to be with me later, the house will still be yours, once given, it shouldn’t be taken back."

"Then... I’ll give you something too."

"What?"

Mu Qiu bit her lip corner, opened a picture on her phone, and pushed it to him.

"I’ll give you my little villa. Don’t be in a rush to refuse, I want a fair exchange, otherwise I always feel like I’m at a disadvantage.

Even though it’s not as expensive as this place, it’s my hard-earned work from my manuscript fees, I value it. I’ll leave the deed with you, if we break up in the future... we can exchange the houses back, deal?"

She just couldn’t let it go.

Cheng Zhirang leaned in closer, softly saying: "I’m afraid that’s not possible."

"......"

He curved his lips into a smile, his laughter relaxed and rare.

Mu Qiu took another bite of her pancake, speechless, but she couldn’t help joining his laughter.

The sun outside was at its brightest, filtering through a layer of glass, softening a little.

The long-lasting gentle warmth melted the ice, leaving only a trickling clear spring. With a willing heart, any obstacle was insignificant.

Just like Mu Qiu.

The afternoon was a time of individual pursuits; Mu Qiu nestled next to Cheng Zhirang reading her third angst novel, while Cheng Zhirang continued with his script.

Initially, Mu Qiu intended to return to her small villa to pack up some belongings, but seeing the sun was strong enough to blister skin, she decided otherwise and chose to go back for them in the evening.

Thus, finding nothing else to do in the afternoon, she snuggled beside him reading her angst novel, keeping a stack of white sticky notes on her curled-up legs, occasionally jotting down something with a pen.

Whenever she reached an unbearably sad part, tears wouldn’t stop flowing, and she’d jab Cheng Zhirang, asking him to hand her some tissues.

Concerned that the novel might depress her, Cheng Zhirang handed her tissues and lightly patted her head as a means of comfort.

After several tissue passes, he simply put his script down, asking her, "Can I watch with you?"

Mu Qiu thought about it, the novel’s writing was good and devoid of brainless plotlines, so he probably wouldn’t find it intolerable. She generously shared her phone screen with him.

"You’re not going to cry, right?"

"... I won’t."

And he meant it, not feeling any discomfort throughout to the ending, whereas Mu Qiu went through many more tissues wiping her eyes.

"Didn’t you find it sad?"

Cheng Zhirang shook his head: "I think it’s okay."

"They never got together in three whole lifetimes, even though they loved each other so deeply, they had no chance of being together just because of worldly restrictions."

Cheng Zhirang opened his mouth to comment somewhat calmly: "Sibling incest is quite difficult."

The subject was very bold, he spent the entire time focused on the emotional and inner expressions, which was helpful for understanding a character’s psyche.

As a result, he couldn’t always respond to her concerns—what if it led to more questions he couldn’t handle?

Mu Qiu didn’t feel there was any issue with the material, her tears flowed for the protagonists who kept missing each other for three lives.

"It’s heartbreaking, using his last bit of time to do one last thing for her, and she will never know."

"..." He handed her a tissue to wipe her eye corners and suggested, "After finishing this one, how about we look at my script? Could you use your expertise to help me analyze it?"

————

ps:

① There will be a theater act during New Year~

② A friend started a topic about this book, but without changing the avatar, it looks a bit rushed... I’m working hard to fix it, you can check it out if you’re interested.