Huo Yuzhou clearly sensed that the handsome boy, who had been chattering away, seemed to freeze for a second.
Panic flashed in those clear eyes, mixed with confusion and resistance.
It easily evokes the image of a character hiding in a closet in a horror movie, listening to the increasingly loud footsteps outside until the closet door creaks open—
"OK."
After a moment of stunned silence, Nan Qing smiled gently.
He seemed to have returned to his previous demeanor, smiling at Huo Yuzhou.
"Let's wait until after dinner, Huo Yuzhou. I'm going to take a shower, can you wait for me?"
A wind rose at night, and fallen leaves from the branches covered the entire town. Heavy black clouds obscured the moon, and a loud rumble echoed across the horizon.
It looks like it's going to rain.
The assistant packed up the sweet fermented rice balls from that well-known shop and delivered them to the hotel.
Nan Qing drank another bowl of ginger soup.
The sweet and spicy flavor was a bit pungent. He pinched his nose, and Huo Yuzhou habitually popped a piece of fruit gummies into his mouth.
The warm light shone on the two of them. The sweet fermented rice balls were simply packaged, yet they steamed under the warm light, emitting a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
The hotel dinner was exquisite, served behind two bowls of sweet fermented rice balls.
Neither of them moved. Nan Qing held the spoon in her hand, the metal handle turning in the light and shadow, and a faint fragrance of osmanthus wafted in the air.
After an unknown amount of time, Nan Qing finally found a way to start the conversation.
" Huo Yuzhou, have you ever read online novels?"
"The protagonists in every novel are called 'chosen ones,' receiving all the favor of the heavens and possessing an unbreakable halo that allows them to easily win everyone's love. Even if they experience a brief period of low spirits in their lives, they quickly prove others wrong and reach the pinnacle of success."
Huo Yuzhou pondered for a moment, then said seriously:
" Baby, are you introducing yourself?"
Nan Qing opened her eyes wide, then quickly shook her head.
"Look at my background, the fake young master who was switched at birth, arrogant and domineering, hated by everyone. I must be the most vicious and wicked little villain."
Huo Yuzhou hesitated for a second.
"According to your understanding, I'm not a good person either."
He seemed very interested in such fantastical topics, or rather, he was interested in whatever came out of Nan Qing's mouth.
He mimicked Nan Qing's tone, raising an eyebrow to summarize.
"Then I'm the ruthless, vicious, and vengeful villain who bullies and oppresses men."
Suddenly, Huo Yuzhou asked again:
"According to this logic, Bai Ruanruan, who is related to the Bai Family by blood, is the protagonist you're talking about?"
Nan Qing was taken aback.
"Who is the other main character? Xi Juan?"
Nan Qing's eyes widened in astonishment.
Seeing his expression, Huo Yuzhou's phoenix eyes curved into a smile.
" Baby, it's just casual conversation, don't be nervous."
Nan Qing had been troubled since the afternoon. He was worried that Huo Yuzhou would not take his words seriously, and he was also worried that Huo Yuzhou would think that he was being unrealistic. He pondered over every word for a long time.
But now that they've only just started, Huo Yuzhou has already guessed everything that's to come.
Huo Yuzhou is incredibly intelligent, almost frighteningly so.
Nan Qing silently popped a spoonful of sweet fermented rice balls into her mouth. With each chew, her cheeks puffed out, making her look like a cute little hamster.
He needs to calm down.
Seeing that he had started eating, Huo Yuzhou thoughtfully pushed a freshly squeezed juice towards him, his deep, clear voice carrying a gentle melody through the air.
"Why are you suddenly talking to me about these things, Baby?"
The light and shadow in the room illuminated Huo Yuzhou's sharply defined profile, his handsome features shifting with the play of light and shadow, his eyes holding a smile.
"Is it because Bai Ruanruan's feelings have been acting strangely lately, making you feel like his protagonist aura is working, thus affecting me?"
Nan Qing coughed slightly, choked by the sudden remark.
The man's large hand landed on his back, gently helping him catch his breath, and then he gave him a sip of water.
Just as Nan Qing had finally calmed down, Huo Yuzhou suddenly spoke again.
Was my ending really that bad?
Will I lose you?
Huo Yuzhou's fluent reasoning finally paused on this question, and he asked him again:
" Baby, what about you?"
Nan Qing choked on her food, her eyes welling up with tears and red-rimmed, and she looked up at him.
Huo Yuzhou's eyes darkened for a moment, then he said, "I understand."
Nan Qing: "!"
How could they know that?!
Damn it! What on earth is he thinking?!
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and for a moment the sky outside the window seemed to be torn apart, like a match being lit, illuminating the entire world.
Huo Yuzhou had a slightly enigmatic smile on his lips. He habitually pulled the man into his arms and kissed his forehead.
"My husband knows."
"With her husband around, Qingqing has nothing to fear."
His calm tone was particularly persuasive, and Nan Qing's anxious heart gradually settled down.
It seems that Huo Yuzhou always possesses this kind of courage, no matter the situation.
He speaks with unwavering conviction and handles everything with ease.
With him around, I'm not afraid even if the sky falls.
But the next second, the other person's voice came through the air again, its tone tender and lingering.
"No one can hurt you, and no one can separate us. Your Qingqing will always be with us, until the ends of the earth."
The handsome boy sitting on Huo Yuzhou's lap paused for a moment, then raised his hand and patted Huo Yuzhou's face, correcting him:
"We're not playing the role of a doomed couple."
Huo Yuzhou is great in every way, except he's a bit too much of a romantic.
Huo Yuzhou kissed his hand.
"Of course, we're playing the childhood sweetheart, innocent and carefree role."
Nan Qing was shocked:
" Huo Yuzhou, we've been childhood sweethearts, inseparable since we were little. You're seven years older than me, you're already mature enough to understand things, while I'm still just an embryo, okay?"
Huo Yuzhou's lips curved slightly, his voice neither hurried nor slow.
" Qingqing, do you know what people in feudal society would usually call someone like me, who was brought to a wealthy family like yours at a young age, is a few years older than you, and has been taking care of you and doing housework since I was little?"
A three-character phrase flashed through her mind, Nan Qing quickly raised her hand to cover Huo Yuzhou's mouth.
"Shut up Huo Yuzhou, you're shameless."
The man's long, slender fingers caressed his wrist, then slowly clasped it, trapping it in his palm.
He then gripped those slender, pale wrists inch by inch and pulled them down.
"Just kidding, I won't take it seriously."
"But Baby, why are you blushing?"