Lin Qiao felt a bit conflicted, but still decided to take him home. After all, not taking advantage of such a great opportunity would make her a complete fool.
Feeling a bit conflicted, Lin Qiao still decided to bring him home. After all, it would be foolish to pass up such a huge bargain right in front of her.
Shen Qingzhou had been gazing absentmindedly out the window ever since receiving a satisfactory answer. As they passed a shopping mall, he turned to Lin Qiao and said, “Pull over.”
Puzzled, Lin Qiao asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I need to go there,” he replied, pointing toward the mall outside.
Though curious, Lin Qiao didn’t press further since it didn’t seem like a big deal. She obediently pulled the car over to the side.
“I’ll wait in the car,” she said.
Shen Qingzhou nodded. “Thank you.”
“No need to be so polite, Master Shen,” she replied, her tone exceedingly courteous.
He was being polite, but she was even more so—a realization that inexplicably annoyed him.
Shen Qingzhou opened the car door and stepped out, quickly making his way into the mall. Lin Qiao sat in the car with her arms crossed, waiting idly. To pass the time, she turned on the radio and happened to catch the weather forecast.
According to the forecast, there would be heavy rain that night. She glanced at the sky—it did look overcast.
Maybe she should ask Shen Qingzhou to come another day? Heavy rain would make traffic terrible, not to mention the risk of accidents.
As she hesitated, lost in thought, someone knocked on the car window. Lin Qiao turned to the passenger side and saw Shen Qingzhou. She immediately unlocked the doors.
Shen Qingzhou opened the door and got in, carrying three Armani paper bags. He had changed into a new outfit.
Lin Qiao looked at the refreshed man in surprise. The perfectly fitted black suit was incredibly sleek, and the collar of his white shirt was neatly arranged. His figure was especially well-suited for wearing suits—particularly his waist, which was slim, and his shoulders, which were broad. The sharp, sloping lines of the suit created a striking silhouette that made her feel a warmth spreading through her abdomen.
Perhaps sensing the intensity of her gaze, even the usually reticent Shen Qingzhou felt compelled to explain. “I spent a long time at the hospital this morning. My clothes inevitably picked up some odors. Changing is a basic courtesy.”
Lin Qiao silently reached over and took the cumbersome paper bags at his feet. Almost without thinking, she blurted out, “I can wash them for you.”
Shen Qingzhou was taken aback, frowning slightly as he looked at her with a complex expression.
Blushing, Lin Qiao hurriedly explained, “Master Shen gave me such a huge discount. It’s only right that I help with these small tasks—that is, if you don’t mind.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t seem to pay much attention to her explanation. He had his own way of thinking, and no amount of words from others could sway him.
He simply nodded slightly and said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Lin. There’s no need to be so polite with me—just call me by my name.”
Lin Qiao opened her mouth but found herself unable to say his name directly. To hide her embarrassment, she placed the paper bags in the back seat, straightened up, and focused on driving.
The car moved slowly through Beijing’s hazy, overcast weather toward the Lin family’s new home. It was already past six in the evening, and Shen Qingzhou would undoubtedly be staying for dinner. So, while driving, Lin Qiao quietly sent a text to her father, asking him to make arrangements. Unexpectedly, her father called back.
Feeling slightly guilty, Lin Qiao glanced at Shen Qingzhou, muttered an apology, and answered the call via Bluetooth. Her father’s voice came through immediately: “Qiaoqiao, why didn’t you tell me earlier that Master Shen was coming?”
“Is something wrong?” Lin Qiao asked uncertainly.
Her father replied, “I have a meeting with a client tonight to sign a contract. I’ll be dining out and probably won’t be back until very late. I can’t make arrangements.”
Frowning, Lin Qiao thought for a moment and said, “It’s fine, I’ll handle it. Dad, try not to drink too much.”
Her father agreed readily, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it light.”
After saying goodbye to her father and hanging up, Lin Qiao glanced uncomfortably at Shen Qingzhou. He wasn’t looking at her—his gaze was fixed outside the window, as if he hadn’t been paying attention to their conversation. This put her slightly at ease.
They drove quietly the rest of the way to the Lin residence. After parking the car in the garage, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou walked toward the house together. Just then, thunder rumbled across the gloomy sky. Lin Qiao looked up, a worried expression on her face.
“Don’t worry, I won’t overstay my welcome,” Shen Qingzhou said suddenly.
Startled, Lin Qiao looked at him and softened her voice. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just concerned that the rain might delay your journey home and make it too late for you.”
Shen Qingzhou’s refined profile was barely visible in the fading light, but his voice sounded gentler than before. “It’s fine. Du Xinling is also in Beijing. Xiao Ning is in his care.”
Lin Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’m reassured.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t respond. He remained silent and still, simply continuing forward.
As they walked through the gate together, he observed his surroundings carefully. He didn’t say anything, which likely meant everything was acceptable.
Once inside, before Lin Qiao could speak, a housemaid approached her anxiously and said, “Miss Lin, my son and daughter-in-law are working overtime today. With the rain, they might not make it home in time. My grandson is home alone, and I’m worried. Could I please take the night off?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback and frowned. Embarrassed, she looked at Shen Qingzhou. He, perceptive as ever, immediately said indifferently, “I’ll leave after a short while. There’s no need to trouble yourself.”
Although he said it was no trouble, courtesy still demanded some effort. After pondering for a moment, Lin Qiao agreed to the housemaid’s request. Her own cooking skills were decent, and she figured she could manage dinner for the two of them.
The housemaid hurried off, leaving the spacious house to just the two of them. Holding the paper bag with Shen Qingzhou’s clothes, Lin Qiao hesitated for a moment before saying to him, “Please have a seat, Master Shen. I’ll put these away and be right back. Stay for dinner tonight. There should be ingredients in the kitchen. If you don’t mind, I’ll cook.”
Shen Qingzhou sat on the sofa and looked up at her, a faint smile in his narrow eyes. She had expected him to politely decline, but he agreed without hesitation.
“Alright, thank you for your trouble.”
“…It’s the least I can do.”
Lin Qiao let out a sigh of relief, went upstairs to put her bag away, placed the paper bag next to the washing machine, changed clothes, and came back down.
When she returned downstairs, she noticed Shen Qingzhou wasn’t sitting on the sofa. Instead, he was strolling leisurely around the room with his hands in his pockets, carefully examining every corner and occasionally adjusting the position of various items.
Knowing he was “busy,” Lin Qiao didn’t disturb him and went straight into the kitchen to focus on preparing dinner.
At some point, the sound of rain began pattering against the windows. The drizzle, accompanied by thunder, grew heavier. The sound of rain brought a sense of calm but also a tinge of anxiety.
Lin Qiao spent nearly an hour preparing four dishes and a soup. When she brought them to the table, the meal looked, smelled, and tasted delightful—clearly made with care.
She invited Shen Qingzhou to the dining table, where they sat facing each other. The warm, honey-colored light of the dining room fell on her fair, delicate face, her flawless skin seeming to glow, making him feel an involuntary stir of appetite.
Clearly, his focus wasn’t on the food but on the person.
Lin Qiao subtly clenched her fist under the table, looking at him nervously. “I don’t cook often. If it doesn’t taste good, please don’t mind, Master Shen.”
Instead of responding to her comment, Shen Qingzhou corrected her form of address: “I already said—just call me by my name.”
Lin Qiao was momentarily dazed, then slowly uttered an “Oh,” her demeanor somewhat uneasy.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t press further. He raised his hand to the table, indicating he was ready to eat.
Lin Qiao quickly picked up her chopsticks and urged him to start. But just as they began eating, the light above them flickered with a sizzling sound. In the blink of an eye, all the lights in the two-story villa went out.
It seemed like a power outage.
Lin Qiao sat with a bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, staring awkwardly at Shen Qingzhou. His expression was indiscernible in the darkness. The sound of rain outside drowned out their breathing, sparing them the discomfort of complete silence.
“The power’s out,” Shen Qingzhou said softly. Then he asked, “Should we try to fix it?”
Lin Qiao’s voice was almost lost under the sound of rain. “Do you know how?”
Shen Qingzhou gave her an inexplicable glance, then stood up and walked outside.
Ten minutes later, Shen Qingzhou closed the circuit breaker door and said, “It’s not an issue here. Probably the heavy rain caused problems with the nearby power lines. The power will come back once they fix it.”
Lin Qiao nodded beside him. The pitch-black house made her feel insecure, and she unconsciously stood closer to him. “I’m really sorry. I invited you for a simple meal, and we ended up with a power outage.”
Shen Qingzhou replied indifferently, “Don’t you have any emergency lights at home?”
“…We just moved and haven’t had time to buy them yet,” Lin Qiao said, blushing as she lowered her head.
Shen Qingzhou asked again, “Do you have candles?”
“Candles?”
So, several candles were placed on the dining table. Though not as bright as electric lights, they provided enough illumination to finish the meal.
Somehow, what was supposed to be a proper dinner turned into an ambiguously romantic candlelit meal. Lin Qiao couldn’t help but recall the day Shen Qingzhou fell ill. Her face, already flushed from the candlelight, grew even redder.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t look up, keeping his eyes downcast as he ate quietly. His long eyelashes cast lively shadows under his eyes, adding a touch of warmth to his demeanor and making him seem less cold and unapproachable.
They finished the meal intermittently. Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou each held a candle as they walked toward the living room.
By chance, Lin Qiao noticed the curtains fluttering in an inconspicuous corner and realized the windows were still open. She quickly said to Shen Qingzhou, “Please wait here, Master Shen. I’ll go close the windows.”
Shen Qingzhou watched as she rushed to the corner with her candle. The candle was quickly extinguished by the rain blowing in. The slender girl set the candle aside and struggled to close the windows against the wind and rain. The wet curtains occasionally slapped against her, leaving her in a disheveled state.
Sighing unconsciously, Shen Qingzhou placed his candle safely on the coffee table and went to close the windows from another direction. The windows on his side had no curtains, so he finished much faster. After closing two windows, she ran into him. His brand-new suit was splattered with rain.
Just then, the lights in the house came back on—the power had returned.
Not daring to look up, Lin Qiao kept her eyes on his chest and said cautiously, “Thank you, Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou took a step forward, bringing her face almost against his chest. The mud stains on his white shirt made her feel even guiltier.
“You’re welcome. As I said, just call me by my name.” He spoke softly, lowering his head gradually. His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending a tingling sensation through her. “Call me Qingzhou.”
Lin Qiao asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
“I need to go in there.” He pointed toward the mall.
Though puzzled, Lin Qiao didn’t think much of it and obediently pulled the car over.
“I’ll wait in the car,” she said.
Shen Qingzhou nodded. “Thank you.”
“Master Shen, no need to be so polite.” Her tone was very courteous.
He was polite, but she was even more so, a realization that strangely annoyed him.
Shen Qingzhou opened the car door and quickly walked into the mall. Lin Qiao sat in the car with her arms crossed, bored, and turned on the radio just in time to catch the weather forecast.
The forecast predicted heavy rain tonight. She glanced at the sky—it was indeed overcast.
Maybe she should ask Shen Qingzhou to come another day? Otherwise, the heavy rain in the evening would make traffic inconvenient. Traffic jams were one thing, but more concerning were potential accidents.
As she hesitated, the car window was suddenly tapped. Lin Qiao looked toward the passenger window and saw Shen Qingzhou, so she unlocked the door.
Shen Qingzhou opened the door and climbed in, carrying three Armani shopping bags. He was now wearing a completely new outfit.
Lin Qiao looked at the refreshed man in surprise. The black suit fit him perfectly, hugging his frame, and the collar of his white shirt was neatly arranged. His physique was ideal for wearing suits, especially his waist—it was narrow, his shoulders broad, the lines from his shoulders down particularly striking, making her feel a warmth rising in her abdomen.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, but even the usually uncommunicative Shen Qingzhou felt the need to explain: “I stayed at the hospital for a while this morning, and my clothes inevitably picked up some odors. Changing is a basic courtesy.”
Lin Qiao silently reached for the shopping bags at his feet and, almost unconsciously, said, “Let me wash them for you.”
Shen Qingzhou was momentarily stunned, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at her with a complex expression.
Lin Qiao blushed and quickly explained, “Master Shen gave me such a big discount. It’s only right that I do these small favors for you, if you don’t mind.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t seem to care much about her explanation. He had his own way of thinking, unmoved by others’ words.
He simply nodded slightly and said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Lin. There’s no need to be so formal. Just call me by my name.”
Lin Qiao opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say it. To cover her embarrassment, she moved the shopping bags to the back seat, adjusted herself, and focused on driving.
The car slowly made its way toward Lin Qiao’s new house under Beijing’s smoggy and gloomy sky. It was already past six in the evening, so Shen Qingzhou would inevitably have dinner at the Lin residence. Lin Qiao quietly sent a text to her father to make arrangements. But to her surprise, he called her back.
Lin Qiao glanced nervously at Shen Qingzhou, muttered an apology, and answered the call via Bluetooth. Her father’s voice came through the speaker: “Qiaoqiao, why didn’t you tell me earlier that Master Shen is coming?”
“What’s wrong?” Lin Qiao asked uncertainly.
Her father replied, “I have a client meeting tonight to sign a contract and will be out for dinner, probably coming back late. I can’t make arrangements.”
Lin Qiao frowned slightly, then said after a moment’s thought, “It’s okay, I’ll handle it myself. Dad, don’t drink too much.”
Her father readily agreed, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely drink less.”
A bit conflicted, Lin Qiao still decided to bring him home. After all, it would be foolish to pass up such a huge bargain right in front of her.
Satisfied with her answer, Shen Qingzhou had been casually gazing out the window. As they passed a shopping mall, he turned to Lin Qiao and said, “Pull over for a moment.”
Lin Qiao asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
“I need to go there,” he said, pointing toward the mall outside.
Though confused, Lin Qiao didn’t think it was a big deal and didn’t press further. She obediently pulled the car over.
“I’ll wait in the car,” she said.
Shen Qingzhou nodded. “Thank you.”
“No need to be so polite, Master Shen,” she replied, her tone exceedingly courteous.
He was being polite, but she was even more polite than him—a realization that somehow annoyed him.
Shen Qingzhou got out of the car and quickly walked into the mall. Lin Qiao sat in the car with her arms crossed, waiting. Bored, she turned on the radio and happened to catch the weather forecast.
According to the forecast, there would be heavy rain that night. She glanced at the sky—it did look overcast.
Maybe she should ask Shen Qingzhou to come another day? If it rained heavily later, traffic would be a nightmare. Traffic jams were one thing, but accidents were another.
As she hesitated, lost in thought, someone knocked on the car window. Lin Qiao turned to the passenger side and saw Shen Qingzhou. She quickly unlocked the door.
Shen Qingzhou opened the door and got in, carrying three Armani paper bags. He had changed into a new outfit.
Lin Qiao looked at the refreshed man in surprise. The perfectly fitted black suit was very slim-cut, and the collar of his white shirt was neatly arranged. His figure was especially well-suited for wearing suits, particularly his waist—it was slim, while his shoulders were broad. The sloping lines of the suit gave off a particularly appealing vibe, one that made her feel a warmth in her lower abdomen.
Perhaps because Lin Qiao’s gaze was too intense, even Shen Qingzhou, who usually disliked explaining himself, felt compelled to speak up. “I spent a long time at the hospital this morning. My clothes inevitably picked up some odors. Changing is the most basic courtesy.”
Lin Qiao silently reached over and took the cumbersome paper bags at his feet. Almost involuntarily, she blurted out, “Let me wash them for you.”
Shen Qingzhou was taken aback, frowning slightly as he looked at her with a complicated expression.
Lin Qiao’s face flushed, and she hurriedly explained, “Master Shen gave me such a huge discount. It’s only right that I help you with these small tasks—that is, if you don’t mind.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t seem to pay much attention to her explanation. He had his own way of thinking, and no amount of words from others could sway him.
He simply nodded slightly and said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Lin. There’s no need to be so polite with me. You can call me by my name.”
Lin Qiao opened her mouth but found herself unable to say it. To hide her embarrassment, she placed the paper bags in the back seat, straightened up, and focused on driving.
The car slowly made its way through Beijing’s hazy, overcast weather toward the Lin family’s new home. It was already past six in the evening, and Shen Qingzhou would undoubtedly stay for dinner. So, while driving, Lin Qiao quietly sent a text to her dad, asking him to make arrangements. Unexpectedly, her dad called back.
Feeling slightly guilty, Lin Qiao glanced at Shen Qingzhou, apologized, and answered the call via Bluetooth. Her father’s voice came through immediately: “Qiaoqiao, why didn’t you tell me earlier that Master Shen was coming?”
“Is something wrong?” Lin Qiao asked uncertainly.
Her father replied, “I have a meeting with a client tonight to sign a contract. I’ll be eating out and probably won’t be back until very late. I can’t make arrangements.”
Lin Qiao frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “It’s fine, I’ll handle it. Dad, try not to drink too much.”
Her father agreed readily, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it light.”
After saying goodbye to her father and hanging up, Lin Qiao glanced uncomfortably at Shen Qingzhou. He wasn’t looking at her—his gaze was fixed outside the window, as if he hadn’t paid attention to their conversation. This eased her mind a little.
They drove quietly all the way to the Lin residence. After parking the car in the garage, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou walked toward the house together. Just then, thunder rumbled across the gloomy sky. Lin Qiao looked up, a worried expression on her face.
“Don’t worry, I won’t overstay my welcome,” Shen Qingzhou suddenly said.
Lin Qiao looked at him in surprise and softened her voice. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just worried the rain might delay your journey and make you return too late.”
Shen Qingzhou’s exquisite profile was barely visible in the fading light, but his voice was noticeably softer than before. “It’s fine. Du Xinling is also in Beijing. Xiao Ning is in his care.”
Lin Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’m reassured.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t respond. He remained silent and motionless, simply walking forward.
As they entered the house together, he observed his surroundings carefully. He only looked without commenting, likely because nothing seemed amiss.
Once inside, before Lin Qiao could say anything, a housemaid approached her anxiously and said, “Miss Lin, my son and daughter-in-law are working overtime today. If it rains later, they might not make it home in time. My grandson is home alone, and I’m worried. Could I please take the night off?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback and frowned. She glanced awkwardly at Shen Qingzhou, who, perceptive as ever, immediately said indifferently, “I’ll leave after a short while. No need to trouble yourself.”
Although he said it was no trouble, courtesy still demanded some effort. After pondering for a moment, Lin Qiao agreed to the housemaid’s request. Her own cooking skills were decent, and she should be able to manage a meal for the two of them.
The housemaid hurried off, leaving the spacious house to just the two of them. Lin Qiao held the paper bag containing Shen Qingzhou’s clothes, hesitated for a moment, and said to him, “Please have a seat, Master Shen. I’ll put these away and be right back. Stay for dinner tonight. There should be ingredients in the kitchen. If you don’t mind, I’ll cook.”
Shen Qingzhou sat on the sofa and looked up at her, a faint smile in his narrow eyes. She had expected him to politely decline, but he agreed without hesitation.
“Alright, thank you for the trouble.”
“…It’s the least I can do.”
Lin Qiao let out a sigh of relief, went upstairs to put her bag away, placed the paper bag next to the washing machine, changed clothes, and came back down.
When she returned downstairs, she noticed Shen Qingzhou wasn’t sitting on the sofa. Instead, he was strolling leisurely around the room with his hands in his pockets, carefully examining every corner and occasionally adjusting the position of various items.
Knowing he was “busy,” Lin Qiao didn’t disturb him and went straight into the kitchen to focus on preparing dinner.
At some point, the sound of rain began pattering against the window, growing heavier with the thunder. The sound of rain was both calming and slightly unsettling.
Lin Qiao spent nearly an hour preparing four dishes and a soup. When she brought them to the table, they looked, smelled, and tasted delicious—a testament to her effort.
She invited Shen Qingzhou to the dining table, where they sat facing each other. The warm, honey-colored light of the dining room fell on her fair, delicate face, her flawless skin seeming to glow, making him feel an involuntary stir of appetite.
Clearly, his focus wasn’t on the food but on the person.
Lin Qiao subtly clenched her fist under the table and looked at him nervously. “I don’t cook often. If it doesn’t taste good, please don’t mind, Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t respond to her comment but instead corrected how she addressed him: “I’ve said it before—just call me by my name.”
Lin Qiao was momentarily dazed, then slowly said, “Oh,” her demeanor somewhat unnatural.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t press further. He raised his hand to the table, indicating he was ready to eat.
Lin Qiao quickly picked up her chopsticks and urged him to start. Just as they began eating, the light above them flickered with a sizzling sound. In the blink of an eye, all the lights in the two-story villa went out.
It seemed like a power outage.
Lin Qiao held her rice bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, staring blankly and awkwardly at Shen Qingzhou. His expression was indiscernible in the darkness. The sound of rain outside overshadowed their breathing, sparing them the discomfort of complete silence.
“The power’s out,” Shen Qingzhou said softly. Then he asked, “Should we try to fix it?”
Lin Qiao’s voice was almost drowned out by the rain. “Do you know how?”
Shen Qingzhou gave her an inexplicable glance, stood up, and walked outside.
Ten minutes later, Shen Qingzhou closed the circuit breaker door and said, “It’s not an issue here. Probably the heavy rain caused problems with the nearby power lines. The power will come back once they fix it.”
Lin Qiao stood beside him and nodded. The pitch-black house made her feel insecure, and she unconsciously stood closer to him. “I’m really sorry. I invited you for a simple meal, and we ended up with a power outage.”
Shen Qingzhou replied indifferently, “Don’t you have any emergency lights at home?”
“…We just moved and haven’t had time to buy any,” Lin Qiao said, blushing as she lowered her head.
Shen Qingzhou asked again, “Do you have candles?”
“Candles?”
And so, a few candles were placed on the dining table. Though not as bright as electric lights, they provided enough light to finish the meal.
Somehow, what was supposed to be a proper dinner turned into an ambiguously romantic candlelit meal. Lin Qiao couldn’t help but recall the day Shen Qingzhou fell ill. Her face, already flushed from the candlelight, grew even redder.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t look up, keeping his eyes downcast as he ate quietly. His long eyelashes cast a vivid shadow under his eyes, adding a touch of warmth to his demeanor and making him seem less cold and distant.
After intermittently finishing dinner, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou each held a candle and walked toward the living room.
She accidentally noticed the curtains fluttering in an inconspicuous corner and realized the windows were still open. She quickly said to Shen Qingzhou, “Please wait here, Master Shen. I’ll go close the windows.”
Shen Qingzhou watched as she rushed to the corner with her candle. The candle was quickly extinguished by the rain blowing in. The slender girl simply set the candle aside and struggled to close the windows against the wind and rain. The wet curtains occasionally slapped against her, leaving her in a disheveled state.
Shen Qingzhou sighed unconsciously. He placed his candle safely on the coffee table and went to help her close the windows from another direction. The windows on his side had no curtains, so he closed them much faster. After closing two windows, she ran into him, his brand-new suit now splattered with rainwater.
Just then, the lights in the house came back on—the power had returned.
Lin Qiao didn’t dare look up, keeping her eyes fixed on his chest. She said cautiously, “Thank you, Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou took a step forward, bringing her face almost against his chest. The mud stains on his white shirt made her feel even guiltier.
“You’re welcome. I’ve said it before—just call me by my name,” he said, slowly lowering his head. His soft voice drifted near her ear, his warm breath making her ears tingle. “Call me Qingzhou.”
She drove the rest of the way in silence. After parking in the garage, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou walked toward the house. At that moment, thunder rumbled across the darkening sky. Lin Qiao looked up, a hint of worry crossing her face.
“There’s no need to worry. I won’t overstay my welcome,” Shen Qingzhou suddenly said.
Lin Qiao looked at him in surprise, then softened her tone: “That’s not what I meant. I just fear the rain might delay your journey back.”
In the dimming light, his delicate profile was hard to make out clearly. His voice, however, was softer than before: “It’s fine. Du Xinling is also in Beijing. Xiao Ning will be taken care of.”
Lin Qiao sighed in relief: “Then I feel better.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t respond, remaining silent as he walked ahead.
As they entered the house, he was constantly observing his surroundings. He didn’t say anything, but his expression suggested there was nothing amiss.
Inside, before Lin Qiao could speak, the maid approached anxiously: “Miss Lin, my son and daughter-in-law are working late tonight. If it rains, they might not make it back. I’m worried about my grandson being alone. May I take the night off?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback, her brows furrowing. She glanced at Shen Qingzhou, who immediately and indifferently said, “I’ll stay briefly and then leave. No need for any trouble.”
Though he said it was no trouble, etiquette dictated otherwise. After thinking it over, Lin Qiao agreed to the maid’s request. Her cooking skills were decent enough to manage dinner for two.
The maid hurried out, leaving the large house empty except for the two of them. Holding the shopping bags with Shen Qingzhou’s clothes, Lin Qiao hesitated slightly before saying, “Master Shen, please have a seat. I’ll go put these away and be right back. Stay for dinner. There should be ingredients in the kitchen. If you don’t mind, I’ll cook.”
Shen Qingzhou sat on the sofa, looking up at her with a faint smile in his long, narrow eyes. She had expected him to protest slightly, but he agreed without hesitation.
“Alright, thank you.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Lin Qiao exhaled, went upstairs to place the bags in the room, put the shopping bags next to the washing machine, changed clothes, and came back down.
When she came downstairs, she found that Shen Qingzhou was no longer sitting on the sofa. Instead, he was leisurely walking around the house with his hands in his pockets, carefully examining every corner of the room, occasionally adjusting the position of some items.
Lin Qiao knew he was “occupied,” so she didn’t disturb him and went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
At some point, the sound of rain began tapping against the windows. The steady rain, accompanied by thunder, gradually grew heavier. The sound was both calming and slightly worrying.
After about an hour, Lin Qiao finished preparing a simple four-dish meal with soup. The food was beautifully presented and smelled delicious, clearly made with great care.
She invited Shen Qingzhou to the dining table, where they sat facing each other. The amber-colored light from the dining room illuminated her fair face. Her flawless skin looked as if it could drip with moisture, making him feel a sudden surge of appetite.
Clearly, his attention wasn’t on the food but on her.
Lin Qiao subtly clenched her fist under the table, nervously looking at him and saying, “I don’t cook often. If the food isn’t good, please don’t mind, Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t respond directly but corrected her address of him: “I told you, just call me by my name.”
Lin Qiao was momentarily distracted, slowly uttering an “Okay,” clearly feeling awkward.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t push further. He placed his hands on the table, signaling he was ready to eat.
Lin Qiao quickly picked up her chopsticks and invited him to eat. As they were about to start, the overhead light emitted a buzzing sound. Within a few blinks, the lights throughout the two-story villa were gone.
It seemed like a power outage.
Lin Qiao held her rice bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, exchanging a stunned and awkward glance with Shen Qingzhou. In the darkness, she couldn’t see his expression clearly. The sound of the rain masked their breathing, offering a small comfort in the situation.
“It’s a power outage,” Shen Qingzhou said softly, then asked, “Should we fix it?”
Lin Qiao’s voice was barely audible over the rain: “Can you?”
Shen Qingzhou gave her a strange look and walked outside.
Ten minutes later, Shen Qingzhou closed the circuit breaker box and said, “It’s not the breaker. Probably due to the heavy rain, there’s a problem with the nearby lines. The power should come back once they fix it.”
Lin Qiao nodded beside him. The dark, large house made her feel uneasy, and unconsciously, she stood closer to him: “I’m really sorry. I invited you for a simple meal, and now this happens.”
Shen Qingzhou said indifferently, “Don’t you have emergency lights at home?”
“…We just moved in and haven’t had time to buy any.” Lin Qiao lowered her head, blushing.
Shen Qingzhou added, “How about candles?”
“Candles?”
So, a few candles were placed on the dining table. Although the light wasn’t as bright as electric lights, it was enough to finish the meal.
Unexpectedly, what was supposed to be a normal dinner turned into a romantic candlelight dinner. Lin Qiao couldn’t help but recall the day Shen Qingzhou was sick. Her face, already flushed from the candlelight, grew even redder.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t lift his head, quietly eating with his long eyelashes casting delicate shadows on his face, making him seem more approachable, less cold and distant.
They finished dinner intermittently and each took a candle, heading toward the living room.
By chance, Lin Qiao noticed the curtains fluttering in a corner. She immediately realized the windows were still open and quickly said to Shen Qingzhou, “Master Shen, wait a moment. I’ll go close the window.”
Shen Qingzhou watched her rush to the corner with the candle. The rain swept in, quickly extinguishing the flame. The slender girl placed the candle aside and braved the rain to shut the window. The wet curtains flapped against her with the wind, making her look quite disheveled.
Sighing unconsciously, Shen Qingzhou placed his candle steadily on the coffee table and went to help her close the windows from another direction. These windows had no curtains, so he could close them much faster. After she shut two windows, she encountered him. His brand-new suit was now soaked.
At that moment, the lights in the house came back on.
Lin Qiao dared not look up, only staring at his chest, and carefully said, “Thank you, Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou took a step forward, her face nearly pressed against his chest. The mud spots on his white shirt made her feel even more guilty.
“You’re welcome,” he said, stepping closer. His voice was low and soft as he leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her ear, sending tingles down her spine. “Call me, Qingzhou.”
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