Yan Heqing changed into new slippers; the soles were so soft they felt like walking on cotton, and the size was just right. He walked into the living room.
Lu Lin doesn't come back to this house often. The furnishings are almost the same as when Yan Heqing left last time, the only difference being that there are snacks on the coffee table.
Two large, transparent glass plates; one plate contains small packages of dried pineapple, and the other contains small packages of beef jerky.
Yan Heqing sat down and opened a packet of beef jerky.
He's not a picky eater, but he does have a particular fondness for beef.
The sounds of cooking came from the kitchen. Yan Heqing chewed on beef jerky, rubbing his slightly sore neck, when he received a phone call. It was from one of his side gigs, asking him to rush a report.
[My tutor suddenly needs my help! It's extremely urgent, I can only rely on you. It has to be submitted before midnight tonight, and I'll pay an extra 500 for express processing!]
500 yuan is a lot, and it would only take Yan Heqing an hour or two, but there's a problem: he doesn't have a computer right now. He didn't agree immediately and hung up the phone to go to the kitchen.
The kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of meat, which Lu Lin had stewed before they returned.
There was also a plate of fried fish on the counter.
Lu Lin was chopping potatoes. Yan Heqing waited until he finished before asking, "Do you have a laptop?"
Yan Heqing knew there was a desktop computer in the study, but Lu Lin's computer must have a lot of work files on it, so it would be more suitable for him to use another computer.
Lu Lin mixed the sauce. "It's in the study. The password is six 1s."
He heard no footsteps and stirred his chopsticks. "The files are all encrypted."
Yan Heqing wasn't trying to boast; he was simply stating a fact. "I can crack it."
Lu Lin put down the bowl of seasonings and arranged the prepared potatoes one by one on the baking tray, still without turning around. "That's good. In the future, if we need to hack into an opponent's computer, we won't need to ask for outside help."
Yan Heqing then went to the study.
*
Lu Lin's top-of-the-line computer ran much smoother than Yan Heqing's secondhand laptop, and with the same internet speed as the internet cafe, Yan Heqing finished in just one hour.
The money was sent to the boss's email, Yan Heqing received a text message notification that 1200 yuan had been deposited into his account.
He shut down his computer and stood up. As soon as he turned around, he met Lu Lin's dark eyes.
Lu Lin had arrived at some point and was leaning against the doorframe, watching him.
Yan Heqing was exceptionally vigilant and perceptive, yet he never noticed Lu Lin's appearance. Yan Heqing's eyes flickered slightly. "Is dinner ready?"
"Alright." Lu Lin withdrew his gaze, turned around, and left first.
Lu Lin prepared squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, cherry pork, shepherd's purse and bamboo shoot stew with mushrooms, three-shrimp noodles, Mediterranean potato salad, and two cups of mint mung bean soup.
Yan Heqing thought of the reward Lu Lin had mentioned. "Is this a reward?"
When he searched for Twenty Bridges, he saw local specialties such as mandarin fish, cherry pork, and three-shrimp noodles.
And during his last phone call with Lu Lin, he mentioned that the improved potatoes at the base weren't very tasty.
"Hmm." Lu Lin placed a piece of cherry meat onto Yan Heqing's plate. "It's my first time making this, and it tastes alright."
Yan Heqing had eaten cherry meat once, at the small restaurant where he worked. The owner was very generous with the ingredients, making it so sweet it was cloying.
Lu Lin's cherry pork was light and subtly sweet, the meat stewed until tender and melt-in-your-mouth. Yan Heqing hadn't eaten well for several days, but he had a good appetite this time and ate two bowls of rice.
Lu Lin finished off the leftovers.
After clearing the table, Lu Lin spoke first, "Want to see a movie?"
This apartment has a home theater room. Yan Heqing wasn't sure if Lu Lin was going to the movies or staying home, but he had no objection. "Okay."
I'm at home.
The home theater wasn't very big, but it was twice the size of the apartment Yan Heqing rented. The furnishings were simple: besides the audio-visual equipment, there was only a two-seater sofa, a coffee table, a fruit platter with pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, some snacks, Lu Lin two cups of coffee.
Lu Lin rarely uses the home theater system. The last time he watched one was a year ago, a suspenseful mystery film.
He found the remote and handed it to Yan Heqing, saying, "Don't worry about me, pick what interests you." He paused and added, "I occasionally watch comedies, teen romances, and animated films too."
Yan Heqing didn't take it, but curled the corners of her lips into a smile, "Then you choose. I don't watch many movies, so I don't know much about them."
Lu Lin's eyes darkened slightly as he casually clicked on a suspense film.
The room dimmed instantly. The movie started, showing a lush green lawn. The protagonist was narrating, and soft light fell on Yan Heqing's face. He was staring intently at the screen, and Lu Lin was watching him.
As the movie ended and the end credits sang, Yan Heqing turned to meet Lu Lin's gaze. He smiled and said, "Not bad, it's a different feeling from reading the novel."
Lu Lin's voice was deep, "Still want to watch?"
Yan Heqing took out his phone to check the time; it was 11:30. It wasn't convenient to leave at this hour, so he shook his head. "No, thank you."
He got up to go to the bathroom, but just as he stood up, Lu Lin suddenly reached out and pulled him back down onto the sofa.
"Let's check the wound." Lu Lin turned on the lights with the remote, instantly illuminating the room. He then released Yan Heqing's hand, squatted down, and rolled up Yan Heqing's left trouser leg.
The gauze has been removed, and with the light on, it's clearer. Yan Heqing has fair skin, but he always wears long pants, so the skin on his legs is a shade lighter than his face, almost sickly white. Besides the bite wound from last time, he also has a long, old scar on his left calf.
Its shape is winding and ugly, like a piece of translucent white jade that has been smashed and cracked, which is particularly glaring.
Lu Lin's gaze froze.
Yan Heqing initially didn't remember his old injury on his left leg. Lu Lin remained silent for a while before he remembered. He tried to pull his leg back, but Lu Lin pulled down his trouser leg first, stood up, and said, "New flesh is growing. Apply some ointment before bed and it won't itch."
Lu Lin appeared calm. Yan Heqing wasn't sure if Lu Lin had seen anything. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "It's too late. Can I stay here tonight?"
"That room from last time," Lu Lin said, tidying the coffee table. "Have the laundry done; the apartment manager will come to pick it up in a bit."
Yan Heqing didn't refuse. He went to the entryway to tidy up the clothes he had worn, and then took a change of clothes to take a shower.
After he finished showering, Lu Lin was on the phone in the living room.