Chapter 10: An Unspoken Understanding
After signing the receipt and making the payment, a blue Balloon was fastened onto Lu Mengyao’s fair wrist.
Favorability +3
She hooked both arms around Cheng Yao’s, as if she wished to hang entirely from him.
“Cheng Yao, you’re so good to me.”
“As long as you’re happy…”
Tsk, tsk.
Buying things felt nearly like courting, and Cheng Yao wasn’t quite used to it. The sensation of having money was wonderful; there was no need to deliberately please the other person or care about their opinions. In fact, his own feelings depended on her attitude.
Spending money?
Could this even be called spending? The Balloon was merely an entry-level watch; there wasn’t anything more expensive in the Zifeng Tower. For Vacheron Constantin or Patek Philippe, they’d have to go to the flagship stores in Magic City.
They left the tower just past eight, strolling until they reached a small nearby park.
At this hour, the older women dancing in the square were already preparing to go home and rest.
The lights were dimming, but fortunately the wind was strong enough to keep mosquitoes away; otherwise, summer nights in the park would become a blood feast for the pests.
“Hmph…”
Unable to hold back, Cheng Yao laughed aloud.
Lu Mengyao looked at him suspiciously. “What’s so funny?”
“Just remembering a little thing.”
Cheng Yao recalled high school, when he tried to take advantage of Zhang Ya one evening by dragging her into the park. Yet before they’d even warmed the bench, his legs were covered in mosquito bites.
In the end, his plan utterly failed, and he became so frustrated that he killed every mosquito he saw. The whole summer, he must have slain at least a thousand.
Lu Mengyao glanced at the time on her wristwatch. She now understood why people checked their watches instead of their phones—it really was for appearances.
But it was nearly half past eight. Why had he brought her to the park?
Could it be…
No, surely going to a hotel would be better than the park.
Her cheeks burned as the crowd thinned, and she reminded him, “Cheng Yao, there are too many mosquitoes here.”
“The breeze is nice; let’s sit for a bit to digest. I’m not going to do anything to you.”
“Mm…”
Lu Mengyao murmured her doubts, inwardly thinking, “I don’t believe you.”
No sooner had they sat than Cheng Yao crossed his legs, one hand already encircling her slender waist.
Her nerves stretched taut, stiff with tension, her heart beating faster and faster.
In the dim light, Cheng Yao glanced at her. Despite her tea-like manner, when quiet she was indeed a striking beauty—innocent, yet capable of stirring a man’s desire.
He leaned in, and without hesitation pressed his lips to hers; after all, what sense was there in not enjoying what he’d paid for?
“Mmm…”
Lu Mengyao’s eyes widened, her hands braced against his chest.
Cheng Yao, though never engaged in anything bolder, was well-versed in kissing and cuddling. Zhang Ya’s lips had been swollen more than once by his kisses.
He had to admit, Lu Mengyao’s conscience was not small.
Her eyes stayed wide, cheeks flushed crimson, anxiously scanning the park for any passerby.
Half an hour later, they finally left the stone bench and walked out of the park.
Lu Mengyao straightened her clothes and whispered, “Cheng Yao, your hands are so unruly.”
“Heh, try riding a shared bike without holding the handlebars and see if you fall.”
“?”
At first, Lu Mengyao didn’t get it. When she did, her gaze was filled with embarrassed anger.
To him,
Am I just a shared bike!?
She felt a bit dejected, but then remembered a saying and perked up—cars are said to be a man’s second wife…
Second wife?
Cheng Yao no longer dwelled on the earlier events. Though he felt a bit suffocated, he’d endured nineteen years; a few more days wouldn’t matter.
Besides, Lu Mengyao wasn’t available tonight.
Otherwise, with a hotel nearby, he wouldn’t mind giving her a rubdown and wrestling till dawn.
“It’s getting late. Let me take you back.”
“Mm…”
Lu Mengyao quickly cast aside her frustrations. At least the guy before her was handsome, wealthy, and generous toward her—what more could she want?
They took the subway. Upon reaching Xianlin, Cheng Yao hailed a cab to drop Lu Mengyao at her campus gate.
Though their relationship was complex, Cheng Yao refused to act unscrupulously; sending her back was a small kindness, especially since it was unsafe at night.
Lu Mengyao slung her bag, gifts in hand, waved, and said, “Bye-bye. Message me when you get to campus.”
“Got it. Goodnight. Tomorrow’s military training—I might not be able to get away for a while.”
“Mm-hmm, you have to miss me!” Lu Mengyao kissed him on the cheek, grinned, and skipped into the school.
Only after she’d left did the cab driver remark, “Young man, your girlfriend is really beautiful.”
“She’s alright.”
Cheng Yao smiled. Lu Mengyao was pretty, but truly not fit to be a wife.
Their relationship began oddly, and Cheng Yao didn’t kid himself—he was definitely attracted to her body; otherwise, he’d have no motive.
But her personality built an invisible wall in his heart, making her impossible as a wife.
Girlfriend, perhaps.
Marriage, never.
She probably sensed it too, but was willing nonetheless. Both understood, tacitly agreeing not to speak of it.
Returning early, Cheng Yao bought a watermelon from a fruit shop near campus and rushed into the dormitory. “It’s stifling outside! Let me shower, the watermelon’s on the table—help yourselves.”
“Watermelon, I only eat Kirin melons…”
“Get lost, I want the center piece!”
“It’s mine!”
In the bathroom, Cheng Yao hummed as he scrubbed with shower gel, feeling content.
After his shower, seeing only two pieces left in the bag, he cursed, “You animals, only two pieces left for me?”
“Be glad you got any. Taking half an hour for a shower—what were you doing in there?!”
“Shut up!”
His cheeks darkened. “My skin’s thick—don’t you guys scrub?”
“Just a bit of shower gel and it’s gone,” Zhang Lei replied.
Wang Wenbo: “…”
Zhu Huiyang: “…”
Cheng Yao: “…”
Cheng Yao patted Zhang Lei’s shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Old Zhang, let’s hit the bathhouse sometime—don’t fuss over a few bucks. A back scrub costs twenty, and you can get a scraping while you’re at it.”
After the shower, he lounged in the air conditioning, wishing for a cold cola.
Since finishing “My Romance Simulation Game,” he’d locked it away in his Steam library.
“Log on, let’s team up!”
What’s dorm life without gaming? Cheng Yao logged into his account, playing and chatting.
He found himself busier now, replying not only to Zhang Ya’s messages but also to Lu Mengyao’s, though he only gave her perfunctory answers—her questions were always trivial.
Summer’s End: Do you have a childhood nickname?
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