Hooked?

"Yun Xiaoran added me on WeChat?" Zhou Yanqi stared at the new friend request, her eyes alight with surprise and delight.

After all her longing and waiting, he had finally come to her. Apparently, Yun Xiaoran had taken that business card after all. If he was adding her on WeChat, she must already be close to success.

Zhou Yanqi took her time accepting his friend request, then sent a nonchalant message: "Xiaoran, thanks for adding me on WeChat."

The moment Yun Xiaoran saw her reply, he felt certain he could get her to sing his song. Delighted, he sent another message:

"Miss Zhou, could I ask you out to sing?" Zhou Yanqi stared at his message in astonishment for quite a while. She had never expected Yun Xiaoran, who seemed so aloof in person, to be this enthusiastic in private. He wanted to meet up as soon as they had added each other.

Sure enough, Zhou Yanqi had guessed right. Yun Xiaoran really was interested in her! He was even inviting her out for karaoke.

"I wrote a song. Would you sing it for me?"

When Zhou Yanqi did not reply, Yun Xiaoran added that message. Mostly, he thought she was perfect for the song, with that same fiery passion. If Zhou Yanqi had been a quiet, reserved girl, he would not have approached her.

"What time, exactly?" By now, Zhou Yanqi believed her advances at the restaurant that day had been extremely effective. She had practically won Yun Xiaoran's heart already, or he would not have been in such a hurry.

"Tomorrow. I'll treat you to a meal after we're done singing." Seeing that Zhou Yanqi had actually agreed, Yun Xiaoran happily sent her a smiling emoji.

Since Zhou Yanqi had agreed so readily, there was little left for him to do. Yun Xiaoran started writing the love poem and lyrics Zhou Zeyu had requested.

Unfortunately, this world's entertainment culture was far too underdeveloped. Whenever Yun Xiaoran added so much as a kiss or anything unsuitable for children to his novel, it drew a flood of comments warning that the author was getting far too racy.

Yun Xiaoran's handwriting was neat and elegant, and very pleasing to the eye. After weighing everything for quite a while, he decided to keep it simple:

"I once thought a tranquil sea was the final destination for a ship like me. But only after meeting you did I realize that even the calmest sea could never compare to a harbor."

"I never knew what love looked like, but ever since you came into my life, my love has taken shape."

"Everything I never sent you ended up in my WeChat Moments."

This was Yun Xiaoran's first time writing a love letter. Although it was for his friend, he took it seriously, and almost every word came from the heart. It was a little cheesy, but paired with the song he would write shortly, it would be on an entirely different level.

While feeding the cat at noon, Shen Jin told Yun Xiaoran she would be going to Sister Hua's that afternoon. So after a simple lunch, Yun Xiaoran finished writing out the lyrics and sheet music. This time, he chose "Gentleman."

He personally liked the song quite a lot, and its style suited Zhou Zeyu particularly well, making it the best choice. When he glanced at the time, it was already six thirty in the evening.

Yun Xiaoran actually found this kind of life rather pleasant: quietly cooking every day, a cat lying beside his desk, and no outsiders disturbing him.

Seven that evening.

Yun Xiaoran had just finished making dinner.

He had originally cooked only for himself, but Shen Jin had unexpectedly messaged him on WeChat to say she would be home for dinner. He had made a little extra and simmered a pot of soup as well.

When Shen Jin arrived home, she found Yun Xiaoran at the dining table, leisurely getting that evening's dinner ready.

"You're back." Seeing Shen Jin return, Yun Xiaoran quickly took off his apron and went over to her.

Shen Jin merely glanced at him and murmured a reply before stepping inside.

She took off her light jacket. Catching the aroma of food, she looked toward the dining room and, distracted, instinctively handed her jacket to Yun Xiaoran.

It was a habit ingrained in her body over many years.

She spent most of her time on set. Usually, all she had to do was hold out her clothes or whatever she was carrying, and an assistant would take it.

Yun Xiaoran froze briefly at her gesture. Once he understood, he hesitated, then accepted his wife's sheer jacket. A faint fragrance lingered on it.

Only when Yun Xiaoran reached out to take the jacket did Shen Jin realize that the person beside her was not her assistant, but her husband...

Since she had already handed it to Yun Xiaoran, there was little she could say. She strode farther into the house on her long legs and smoothly changed the subject. "Dinner looks quite lavish today. I'm in for a treat."

Yun Xiaoran hung up Shen Jin's light jacket and followed her. "I stir-fried a few dishes and made silkie chicken soup. Since you don't like eating meat, have some extra soup."

"No, I can't drink too much soup at night. I'll gain weight." Shen Jin walked up to the dining table and firmly rejected Yun Xiaoran's suggestion.

She had to maintain her figure. It was already rather late for dinner, and drinking extra soup could easily make her gain weight.

Yun Xiaoran did not insist. "Sure, then I'll have more."

He was not a girl, so he was not afraid of gaining weight.

If Shen Jin was not having any, the entire pot of chicken soup was his today.

Shen Jin watched the man deftly ladle himself a bowl of chicken soup, then pull the entire pot closer to his side of the table. "..."

After a moment of silence, she said, "Never mind. I'll have a little."

Seeing Yun Xiaoran move the pot over so decisively suddenly left her feeling rather displeased. Now she had to have a bowl.

After living with her for so long, Yun Xiaoran had come to feel that this young woman was rather changeable. He said little, merely acknowledging her and moving the soup a little closer to her.

The young married couple began their dinner.

Fu Bao received a chicken drumstick too, eating with eyes narrowed in contentment. Looking up at the two-legged creatures at the table, Fu Bao rubbed against Yun Xiaoran's leg.

Shen Jin finished a bowl of soup and found it delicious. Although she wanted more, she refrained from taking another serving, mindful of her figure.

Her self-control had always been excellent.

With a man of few words sitting across from her who spent all day at home, and Shen Jin not being one to initiate conversation, she picked up her phone to check the gossip about Lone Cloud.

Only after picking up her phone did she remember that her husband sitting opposite her was also an author. She had been meaning to ask him about the details today.

She put down her phone and asked Yun Xiaoran, "By the way, Yun Xiaoran, what exactly are the videos you post on VA Site like?"

Yun Xiaoran had spent the past few days dreading this question from Shen Jin. Caught off guard, he nearly choked on a mouthful of soup.

"Well, I'd rather not say."

He could not reveal his online identity in front of Shen Jin. Just that morning, she had eagerly asked him about the gossip involving Lone Cloud and Audrey Cat.

Shen Jin took in his reaction and asked probingly, "If it isn't pornography or violence, can't you at least tell me that much?"

Yun Xiaoran already felt a little guilty, and Shen Jin's question left him even more unsettled. He wanted to deny it, but the words stalled on his lips.

There was absolutely no way Yun Xiaoran could expose himself in front of Shen Jin. He could only employ the great Section Chief Ma Tactic.

Seeing how unnatural Yun Xiaoran looked, Shen Jin already understood everything perfectly. A barely perceptible smile appeared on her lips before she said:

"If you like music, you should watch more of Lone Cloud's videos. He only has a guitar, but he's already gained two hundred thousand followers. I've seen all that recording and music equipment in your room. You should put in a little more effort..."