Some say alcohol emboldens cowards, but there's something even stronger than liquor—it's the rush of courage that follows an emotional rollercoaster.
His head heavy and muddled, Xu Bin slowly realized that everything that had just happened was real. For once, he threw caution to the wind. Fever or no fever, he reached out again and pulled Zhong Yu into his arms, lying down and holding her tightly, without saying a word. At first, Zhong Yu struggled slightly, but when she felt how tightly he held her, she gave up resisting.
She had feelings for him. At least during this time of interaction, Xu Bin had left a good impression. Today, he had completely shattered the image of being a timid man. Most women, in their hearts, have a figure of a protector—after the fairytale of the "prince on a white horse" fades, this image doesn't have to be wealthy or handsome, but he must have masculinity. A man who can stand up in critical moments, sheltering her from wind and rain. A man with a sense of responsibility, with shoulders strong enough to carry the burden of life.
With some affection in place, trying it out wasn't a big deal. Dating nowadays wasn't like the past, where it directly led to marriage. Even finding someone to lean on for comfort was worthwhile.
"You have a fever. You're burning up," Zhong Yu murmured after a few minutes. Seeing that Xu Bin didn't make any further moves, she shifted slightly to make herself more comfortable.
"I don't care..." Half-conscious, Xu Bin was enjoying the warmth of the soft jade in his arms. How could he care about a fever? No amount of flu discomfort could compare to the bruises and pain his body had suffered.
What Xu Bin didn't know was that as his body entered a sickly state, the residual heat energy within him slowed down, and his fever silently disappeared. When he opened his eyes again, the feeling in his arms was gone, but the faint fragrance on the pillow lingered. He sniffed and smiled with a faint sense of satisfaction.
What happened between men and women was innate knowledge. Xu Bin wasn't naive—after more than a year in society, he'd seen enough of the world. If a woman doesn't reject you, that usually means the opportunity is right in front of you. What you do with it is up to you.
When he got up and walked out, daylight had already filled the room. The rolling door was open, and it was clear someone had cleaned the floor and wiped the tables. Xu Bin, of course, understood—Zhong Yu had done it. If she wasn't interested, why help him tidy up? Why hide next door and pretend to be aloof?
For the first time, Xu Bin entered the neighboring room through the shared bathroom door. Hearing him come in, Zhong Yu deliberately didn't turn around. A mix of emotions—awkwardness, shyness, fear of misunderstanding—welled up in her. Their relationship had changed with that one hug. Once ambiguous feelings surface, it's impossible to go back to the calm and distance of the past.
"Your boyfriend didn't come by today?"
A clumsy attempt to start a conversation. The question didn't fit the occasion and barely masked the twinge of disappointment inside him. She had a boyfriend, didn't she? Was last night just a beautiful mistake? Or maybe just a little comfort she offered a struggling young man?
Zhong Yu turned around and glared at him fiercely. She scolded, "Xu Bin, you bastard! Which of your eyes saw me with a boyfriend? Did I ever introduce one to you? It was just a hug—what's the big deal? It's not like I'm going to eat you alive! Do you really need such a lame excuse?"
Xu Bin was dumbfounded. Scratching his head, he didn't know how to respond. Having never been in a real relationship, he was driven by instinct when it came to matters between men and women. But understanding the subtle complexities? Especially with women? That was another story altogether.
"Then... what about the guy who picks you up sometimes…"
"Going out to play makes us a couple? What's your brain made of? Glue? Pig brains?"
When a woman stops being polite, it usually means one of two things: either you're close enough that it doesn't matter anymore, or she's trying to get closer.
Xu Bin's face lit up. "So… you don't have a boyfriend?"
Zhong Yu snorted and replied with a hint of defiance, "I do."
Xu Bin understood now. Grinning, he pulled up a chair and sat next to her. "Say, what if we knock down the wall between us?"
Zhong Yu laughed and kicked the leg of his chair. "Get lost!"
There was definitely a spark. Xu Bin, inexperienced as he was, was still bashful despite occasionally daring to flirt. But when it came to action, he was still a total rookie. Zhong Yu didn't mind—being pursued was a nice feeling. They were just getting closer, bit by bit.
That morning, Xu Bin happily ran out to buy breakfast. This time, Zhong Yu enjoyed the VIP treatment—no need to pay him back like before. And neither of them made any move to close the door between their shops that led through the shared bathroom. The main entrance was closer, but it didn't matter—having a door open between them gave the feeling of being one household.
Word about Xu Bin had spread—first through his dramatic renovation, then his daring rescue. People in the appliance repair community and nearby businesses knew him now. Originally planning to restock the groceries he lost yesterday, Xu Bin had just returned with breakfast for Zhong Yu when a visitor showed up.
Not quite a customer, but an acquaintance—a repair shop owner Xu Bin had met during his year in the trade.
"Little Xu, heard you opened your own place. Been too busy to drop by." After some small talk, the man hinted at a deal. He had an old fridge and washing machine—both technically scrapped but patched up with used parts. Did Xu Bin want to buy them?
"As long as they're complete, not too dirty, and can start, I'll take them. If they can't be fixed, the price needs to be low. You know how it is these days—it's getting harder to make a living in this line of work. Even new parts aren't selling for much."
"Come on, Little Xu. I'm not trying to scam you. Give me 300 yuan for the pair. You could scrap them and still get nearly 200."
Xu Bin smiled. "I'm not paying for transport. Have your apprentice bring them over."
He transferred the money without even inspecting the goods. The other guy was a bit embarrassed, flattered even, and promised to send better stuff his way in the future.
Xu Bin wasn't worried about the quality—he only cared if the price was right. With his "restore old to new" skill, everything else was secondary. Zhong Yu, having overheard the deal, came in with a tone of gentle reprimand.
"You didn't even check the goods before paying? What if he cheats you? That's not how you do business—you'll get taken advantage of."
She was worried—because she cared. She was starting to treat Xu Bin's affairs like her own.
"It's fine. Don't worry."
Xu Bin blinked playfully. Even if things between them grew serious, he'd never reveal his secret. One slip, and he'd end up in some lab as a test subject.
"You… you're too soft-hearted."
The relationship wasn't close enough yet to control each other, but Zhong Yu was clearly happy to see his honesty and reliability. She liked this down-to-earth man—he wasn't flashy or tall, but he was dependable. At least, he wouldn't run around cheating on her. If he was short, she'd just stop wearing heels—simple as that.
"Ugh, Zhong Yu, what are you even thinking? Nothing's set in stone yet." She caught herself daydreaming, a little lovestruck, realizing she was falling for Xu Bin's courage the night before. It made her feel safe.
By noon, three more deliveries had arrived. Two groups of customers also stopped by—people who had heard about Xu Bin after his stock was bought out by a "boss Niu." They left their numbers, asking Xu Bin to call when new goods came in. Price wasn't an issue.
After dragging two fully automatic washing machines into the back room, Xu Bin looked at the clock—12:20. He had worked right through lunch. Just as he was about to ask Zhong Yu what she wanted to eat, he saw food already laid out on her desk, covered neatly with white paper. She sat at her computer browsing for supplies online, clearly waiting for him to eat together. Two pairs of chopsticks. Two boxed meals.
Emotion flooded over him—something he hadn't felt in over a year since being on his own. No one had ever waited for him with a meal before.
Driven by that emotion, Xu Bin impulsively ran over and hugged Zhong Yu from behind over her chair.
When she turned and saw it was him, her ears turned red. She poked his forehead with her finger, not rejecting the embrace: "Go wash your hands. Let's eat."
"Okay!"
Xu Bin was serious now—he wanted to take things further. But the memory of the man and car that often picked her up still nagged at him like a splinter in his throat.
Maybe she could sense it. Maybe women were just more intuitive. While they ate, Zhong Yu casually said between bites, "That guy—Lao San—we're just friends. We hang out, but he's the one chasing me. I haven't agreed to anything. We're not what you think."
"Huh?" Xu Bin was caught off guard.
"'Huh' what? Never mind. Forget I said anything. I'm full." Flustered, Zhong Yu slammed down her lunchbox, then angrily dumped all her food into Xu Bin's box without caring she'd already eaten from it.
"Hehe. Smells good." Xu Bin deliberately picked a bite from where her chopsticks had touched—an indirect kiss of sorts.
"Ugh, go away, you perv!"