Originally, Zhou Zhuofei had only intended to lean against him briefly.
But his embrace was far too warm and far too comforting—once she drew close, the thought of pulling away vanished entirely.
Since things had already come this far, why not indulge a little more?
Zhou Zhuofei felt a twinge of shame at her own selfish thoughts, yet her body showed no intention of moving.
She didn’t want to leave, not even a little. It wasn’t just the embrace—it was Xiao Wang too.
After resting against him for a long while, she finally lifted her head.
Her forehead, once cooled by the fever-reducing patch, was now warmed by Xiao Wang’s body heat, radiating comfort.
Zhou Zhuofei flexed her fingers, gradually reclaiming control over her limbs, then raised her arms and gently wrapped them around Xiao Wang, resting her hands at his waist.
At first, he instinctively tightened his hold, but soon relaxed, his pats slowing until his palm settled firmly against her back, the heat from his hand seeping through the thin fabric of her pajamas.
That warmth flowed through her, merging with the restless longing surging in her chest.
She wanted to claim this person entirely for herself.
"Aren’t you hungry? You’ve barely eaten all day, have you?"
Zhou Zhuofei let out a soft hum, her breath short, the tremor in her voice making Xiao Wang’s heart melt instantly.
Without hesitation, he pulled her tightly into his arms.
The scene felt familiar—only this time, instead of a dimly lit hallway, they stood in a brightly lit kitchen.
But his feelings were entirely different now.
Back then, seeing Zhou Zhuofei vulnerable and helpless had stirred a desire to help, even prompting him to act slightly out of character.
But when it came to principles, he’d still held back.
Now, though, there was no room for hesitation—he only wanted to give her his best, even if it meant bearing her burdens in her stead.
His motives had shifted too. Before, he’d simply wanted to support her, finding solace in doing so while subtly fulfilling some unspoken need of his own.
But now, he wanted more.
He wanted to stay by her side, to care for her, to protect her—and to have her rely on him completely.
Some realizations had long since dawned on him, and some actions were already in motion.
He lowered his head, brushing his lips against her burning ear—hot from fever—lingering in gentle, repeated touches, as if no amount of closeness could quell the longing in his chest.
After what felt like an eternity, the steamer’s whistle shattered the kitchen’s quiet.
Reluctant as he was to break the moment, Xiao Wang couldn’t ignore the stove. He gave Zhou Zhuofei a light pat and asked softly, "The egg custard’s ready. Do you want anything else?"
While she’d been asleep, he’d wandered around the apartment. The state of the living room didn’t surprise him—Zhou Zhuofei had always admitted she wasn’t one for tidying.
Her desk alone was enough to reveal her habits.
She divided it into zones: the area around her keyboard and mouse, her most frequently used space, was kept clear for work.
The rest? As long as things were roughly in their designated spots, she didn’t fuss over the details.
She’d deliberately stack her manga on the shelf above the couch, for instance, but wouldn’t bother keeping them in perfect order.
The kitchen, clearly seldom used, held mostly semi-prepared meals in the fridge, leaving him unsure what else to make.
"I’d like… something sweet to drink."
"Go sit down and rest. I’ll bring it to you in a bit."
Zhou Zhuofei nodded, lingering for a second before reluctantly letting go. She stepped out of the kitchen but couldn’t resist glancing back before settling onto the sofa.
Sitting upright proved exhausting, though—within seconds, she slumped bonelessly against the cushions.
At this point, maintaining any semblance of composure was pointless. Xiao Wang had already seen her at her most disheveled.
He returned with a glass of water first.
"Drink some water."
Then he set the egg custard in front of her before fetching a drink—a small can of soda, the smallest he could find.
"You’re still coughing, right? Too much sugar isn’t good for your throat. Just a little, okay?"
Zhou Zhuofei eyed the can. Normally, she’d finish this in a few gulps—being rationed didn’t sit well with her.
She muttered, "It’s so tiny."
Xiao Wang soothed her, "Once you’re better, you can have as much as you want."
Zhou Zhuofei stayed silent. She knew he was right.
If she were alone, she wouldn’t care—an extra sip or two wouldn’t matter, and she’d drink whatever she pleased.
But now, with someone willing to indulge her, to fuss over these small things, how could she not appreciate it?
So she pursed her lips, pushed the soda aside, and picked up the egg custard instead.
"Careful, it’s hot." Xiao Wang watched her expression closely. Though egg custard wasn’t complicated, he rarely cooked for others and worried she might not like his style.
"Is it too salty?"
"It’s good." Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t thought she was hungry, but the warmth of the food gradually revived her appetite.
Relieved to see her eating steadily, Xiao Wang finally relaxed.
"Take your time. I’ll clean up."
Zhou Zhuofei hurriedly protested, "No, leave it. I’ll do it later."
"I’m the one who insisted on cooking. Cleaning up is only fair."
With that, he headed back to the kitchen. As she ate, her attention drifted toward him, and she craned her neck to peek inside. The custard really was delicious—far better than anything she could make.
Who knew Xiao Wang was so good at household chores…?
Lost in thought, she finished the bowl quickly, then carried it to the kitchen. Xiao Wang was wiping down the stove, sleeves rolled up over his toned forearms, moving with effortless ease despite his dress shirt and slacks.
Hearing her approach, he turned naturally and reached out. "Give it here."
She handed over the bowl and spoon automatically, then blurted, "How are you good at everything?"
"Is that strange? I did a lot of housework as a kid." He kept working as he spoke.
Zhou Zhuofei hesitated, thinking of Xiao Wang’s complicated family background but unsure how to ask.
"My parents didn’t get along. They fought constantly before the divorce, so I spent a lot of time alone—that’s how I learned to handle chores. After they split, I was on my own even more."
Xiao Wang turned back and noticed Zhou Zhuofei listening intently, her curious gaze urging him to continue. His heart stirred slightly as he asked, "Are you that curious?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I’ve never heard you talk about these things before."
Xiao Wang smiled and went on, "When I was in university, I usually rented a short-term place near campus during breaks and often cooked for myself."
"You didn’t go home during holidays?"
"Mainly because I was interning at a studio back then, so I was pretty busy. I’d only go home occasionally."
"Talented people really are different even in college. All I thought about during breaks was where to have fun—I didn’t even consider career stuff until junior year."
"Having a fulfilling university life is great too. I don’t have much to reminisce about from mine, unlike you with friends like Miss Du."
"Ah, it wasn’t as perfect as you think. Life has its ups and downs." Zhou Zhuofei waved it off dismissively, then suddenly thought of Wang Zicheng, her tone faltering.
She shook her head, forcing herself to forget it.
Xiao Wang caught the brief pause and turned to see Zhou Zhuofei frowning slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant.
He hesitated before rephrasing his words: "The good parts are worth holding onto, while the bad ones are better off forgotten."
"You’re right." Zhou Zhuofei considered it—having someone like Miss Du easily outweighed ten Wang Zichengs. Just that alone made her college years worthwhile.
"So, what else?"
"What else what?"
"Is there nothing more about your university days worth sharing?" she pressed.
"What do you want to know?"
"I want…" Zhou Zhuofei paused, realizing there were too many things she was curious about. "Can’t you just tell me everything?"
"Of course, but I don’t think my college life was all that interesting." With that, Xiao Wang began recounting his memories from university.
He talked for a long time, continuing even as he finished cleaning the kitchen.
Finally, he said to Zhou Zhuofei, who was still engrossed, "It’s getting late. I should head back."
Only then did she snap out of it, glancing outside before replying naturally, "Yeah, it is late."
Though she knew he’d have to leave eventually, the thought of him going made her reluctant. Still, she couldn’t exactly stop him from going home, could she?
That thought crossed her mind, but she’d never say it out loud.
Zhou Zhuofei walked Xiao Wang to the door, where he reminded her, "I left the rest of the cooling patches in the first-aid kit. Use them if you still feel feverish."
"I’m fine, I’m already much better."
"Still, be careful."
Xiao Wang wasn’t reassured. Zhou Zhuofei had caught a cold just overnight—what if she got careless and relapsed? The thought alone worried him.
Seeing her standing there, peering at him, he instinctively raised his hand to check her temperature but hesitated mid-motion…
Earlier, he hadn’t thought twice because she’d been in such bad shape. But now that she seemed fine, reaching out so casually might be inappropriate.
Besides, they hadn’t defined anything between them yet. He shouldn’t be so forward.
Yet just as he wavered, Zhou Zhuofei leaned in, pressing her forehead against his palm. "See? Not hot anymore, right?"
The moment he lifted his hand, she’d guessed his intention. What puzzled her was why he stopped.
Seeing his hand suspended awkwardly, she didn’t overthink it and just moved closer.
It was just a touch to the forehead—somehow, she didn’t feel awkward at all anymore.
Xiao Wang carefully gauged the warmth against his palm, then touched his own forehead for comparison. "Still, don’t push your luck. Avoid getting cold."
Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand, though his gaze lingered on her face.
"Tomorrow… are you free?"
Zhou Zhuofei tilted her head. "Depends. What do you need?"
"I want to discuss something with you."
"Can’t we talk now?"
Xiao Wang met her eyes seriously. "You should rest now. This might take a while."
"Fair point." She nodded. The idea sounded simple, but the details would require real thought. "See you tomorrow, then."
Xiao Wang opened the door to leave, one foot already outside, when he couldn’t resist looking back. Zhou Zhuofei leaned against the shoe cabinet, watching him with wide, expectant eyes.
Her face, framed by tousled hair, wore an expression like a wronged puppy’s.
For a second, Xiao Wang didn’t want to leave at all.
The thought of returning to an empty apartment only made it worse.
But he’d already made plans with her. Overstaying might just annoy her.
Boundaries were the first thing he’d learned in relationships—how to earn goodwill without overstepping or inviting trouble.
Yet none of those rules seemed to apply with Zhou Zhuofei.
He sighed inwardly, forcing himself to step away.
"Wait, you—"
The moment she spoke, he spun around eagerly. "Yes?"
"You didn’t say what time you’re coming tomorrow."
Realizing his oversight, he asked, "When are you free?"
"If I go to bed early tonight…" Zhou Zhuofei glanced at him, her tone tentative but her eyes brimming with hope. "Could you come a little earlier?"
Under her gaze, Xiao Wang felt something he’d never experienced before—a heart suddenly full.
