Chapter 6: Dinner Together
Lin Qin felt his whole body burning up. He stammered a few sounds, then hurriedly changed the subject, "Did the materials… get delivered yet?"
Yesterday, when they went to buy construction materials, the shop owner promised to deliver them first thing in the morning. They only had today to complete the renovation, so time was tight.
Meng Chao wisely decided to pull back for now to avoid embarrassing Lin Qin further. Taking half a step back, he said calmly, "Should be here soon. Let's wait a bit."
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Just as Meng Chao's words landed, the honk of a truck sounded at the door—the delivery from the construction materials market had arrived.
Lin Qin's face lit up as if he'd been pardoned. He bolted toward the entrance, saying, "I'll go check."
Meng Chao stared at Lin Qin's retreating figure, flustered and escaping hastily. No matter how he looked at it, Lin Qin resembled a little white rabbit that had just run into a big bad wolf—unexpectedly adorable. Meng Chao couldn't help but chuckle softly, then quickly followed.
Though Lin Qin had used the arrival of the truck as an excuse to run outside, when he was truly face-to-face with the delivery staff, he found himself a bit overwhelmed and unsure of how to approach them.
"Let me." Meng Chao walked past Lin Qin, his broad palm gently brushing over the top of Lin Qin's head—a light touch, then gone.
Lin Qin tilted his head to look at Meng Chao. His gaze followed the tall figure as it moved, watching Meng Chao skillfully interact with the workers. His demeanor was polite and refined, completely devoid of the aloofness expected of a film star.
Yesterday, they bought sofas, tables, chairs, and other furniture at the construction materials market, along with a complete set of kitchen appliances. All of these, under Meng Chao's coordination, were now being moved into the first floor of the villa.
Afterward, the two of them seamlessly transitioned into busy work. They had already discussed and divided the tasks in advance, and when the renovation began, their cooperation proved surprisingly harmonious, each completing their own part without interference—their efforts ultimately blending into a cohesive whole.
Time always flew by when one was engrossed in work.
Dusk gradually fell, accompanied by the gentle sound of waves. Golden sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the newly renovated villa in a warm glow.
Lin Qin's design sketches—whether due to their quality or the hands-on craftsmanship—now took tangible form. Sweeping his gaze across the space, Meng Chao felt a deep satisfaction with the villa's transformation. Its tranquil and cozy aesthetic seemed to quiet the soul.
After positioning the last piece of furniture, Meng Chao settled onto the sofa. He glanced toward Lin Qin, who was still busy in the kitchen, fiddling with something—what exactly, was uncertain.
The production team, noticing the pair's nonstop toil throughout the day, made an unprecedented act of kindness, ordering dinner and having it delivered to their newly added dining table.
"Mr. Meng, it's time for dinner," the recording producer reminded.
Meng Chao nodded, but instead of heading for the dining table, he walked toward Lin Qin.
The kitchen was open-plan, with an ivory-white bar counter serving as the partition between kitchen and dining area. As Meng Chao approached, Lin Qin was crouched beneath the bar, focused intently on his task, seemingly unaware of Meng Chao's arrival.
Meng Chao leaned over the bar counter, supporting himself on it, and asked, "What're you busy with?"
His deep, magnetic voice rang out just above Lin Qin's head, startling him. Lin Qin quickly stood up and looked at Meng Chao.
Meng Chao tilted his head upward, looking at Lin Qin, his smile faintly lingering at the corners of his mouth.
He repeated, "What're you busy with?"
Lin Qin instinctively avoided Meng Chao's probing gaze and replied, "I'm tidying up the kitchen so it'll be ready for use tomorrow."
"So, the reason you insisted on buying kitchenware—is it because you planned to cook personally for the coming days?" Meng Chao asked, sounding mildly surprised.
No wonder, yesterday, when they finalized the design sketches, Lin Qin refused to compromise on the kitchen's layout. Meng Chao had assumed it was merely for design continuity. It turned out, Lin Qin truly intended to use it.
Lin Qin responded modestly, "I can cook a little."
Meng Chao chuckled, "Then you'll have to capture my heart through my stomach in the future."
"Okay." Lin Qin nodded fervently. Though Meng Chao's comment, tinged with ambiguity, left him flustered and blushing, the thought of Meng Chao eating food prepared by his own hands filled him with an inexplicable excitement. His dark, shiny eyes sparkled brightly, as if lit by tiny lanterns.
Meng Chao's expression softened gradually. As Lin Qin prepared to resume his tasks, Meng Chao stopped him. "Don't rush. Let's eat first, and I'll help you afterward."
Lin Qin obediently complied, softly replying, "Okay."
His obedient, gentle demeanor nearly made Meng Chao want to pull him into his arms and give him a good squeeze.
He was just so sweet, so endearing.
During dinner, Lin Qin was very quiet, eating at a leisurely pace with elegant movements.
Both Meng Chao and Lin Qin possessed strikingly photogenic appearances, the kind that could hold their own. Even though cameras had been recording their every move, neither had bothered with makeup. They appeared on-screen completely bare-faced.
After finishing his meal, Meng Chao began watching Lin Qin intently. Lin Qin's skin was flawless—fair, smooth, and without visible pores. His lips were extraordinarily alluring—full and luscious, their natural reddish tint resembling the petals of a red rose. Isolated, his lips alone were sensual enough to make anyone desperately yearn for a taste.
But Lin Qin's wide eyes softened the impression left by his lips' sensuality. When he gazed at you with those doe-like eyes, he radiated an innocent charm.
His eyes often carried a shy hesitance. When happy, however, they sparkled like bright lanterns. When listening to Meng Chao, his gaze was focused and earnest, exuding a quiet trust. His fresh, bright eyes weren't hidden behind any masks, presenting an unvarnished array of emotions to Meng Chao. Long, dense lashes cast down shadows like tiny fans along his eyelids.
As Meng Chao continued to study Lin Qin, even someone as accustomed to the beauty of the entertainment world as he was, couldn't help but admit—Lin Qin possessed an utterly captivating kind of allure. The kind that made his own heart skip a beat.
Meng Chao's undisguised gaze landed on Lin Qin, causing Lin Qin to lower his head even further. The food in his mouth suddenly lost its flavor, as his cheeks bloomed with the pink of freshly budding flowers. Both feet fidgeted nervously, rubbing against the floor uncontrollably.
Senior Meng was staring at him.
Why was Senior Meng staring at him?
Lin Qin's heart raced with anxiety, like sitting on pins and needles. Yet deep within, a subtle sweetness unfurled.
"Keep eating like this, and you'll end up inhaling it through your nose." Meng Chao's gentle, playful voice skimmed Lin Qin's ear.
Lin Qin dropped his chopsticks like he'd been shocked by electricity and shot to his feet. "I'll clean up," he said abruptly.
But just as he reached out to pick up the takeaway containers, Meng Chao took hold of his hand and pulled him back into the seat. Before Lin Qin could react, Meng Chao had already let go, leaving only the lingering warmth of his touch behind.
"What's the rush?" Meng Chao withdrew his hand yet couldn't stop himself from rubbing his fingers together, savoring the silky sensation that lingered on his skin—as if a feather had brushed against his heart. When he spoke again, his voice was slightly hoarse. "We just finished eating. Let's talk for a bit and get to know each other better."
Lin Qin nodded obediently. "Okay." His gaze fell, unconsciously returning to the wrist that had recently been clasped by Meng Chao. The warmth from Meng Chao's touch seemed to spread from his wrist to every corner of his body, making his face flush, with the blush creeping all the way to his ears and neck.