How Many Times Have You Been in Love? (Continued)

"Then how about I pursue you?" Lou Yu asked seriously. "You said yourself that I'm handsome. Do you want to be pursued by a handsome guy?"

"Okay? Ah." Tao Qiu reached out and cupped his face, gently stroking it like a little rogue teasing an innocent man. "I happen to be single, so you can try and see if you can win me over."

His words were also an answer to Lou Yu; he hadn't found another partner.

Lou Yu grasped his hand and gently rubbed it against his palm. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Tao Qiu had a strange feeling of petting a puppy. He couldn't help but smile and asked, "Handsome guy, you're going to pursue me, but you still haven't told me your name."

Lou Yu answered decisively, "My name is Lou Yu, Lou as in tall building, Yu as in reputation."

"Good name. Since I asked you, it wouldn't be right to keep it from you. My name is Tao Qiu, Tao as in pottery, Qiu as in autumn."

Your name is also very nice.

Tao Qiu stared at him, her eyes deep and unfathomable. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

Tao Qiu made no attempt to conceal his identity. He had a name, had attended school, and spoke in a manner befitting someone who had lived in human society for a long time; his human identity was practically obvious.

But Lou Yu didn't seem to have any intention of inquiring about his background.

Lou Yu understood what he meant, but since Tao Qiu wouldn't say, he didn't need to pry. Once he gained Tao Qiu's trust enough, Tao Qiu would naturally tell him the truth.

Tao Qiu didn't expose him, and he pretended to be clueless as well.

"Yes? Oh." Lou Yu turned his gaze to the back. "I brought you some things. I came in a hurry, so the preparations aren't very complete. Please take a look and see if there's anything else you need. If the base has any, I'll bring it to you next time."

Tao Qiu and the kids were just complaining about running out of supplies this morning when Lou Yu arrived in the afternoon.

Perhaps it's true, as Lou Yu said, that they are a match made in heaven, and that even God wants them to be together.

Tao Qiu felt a little smug, got up, knelt on the chair, and looked behind her.

Unlike the front seats, the back seats are the opposite type, facing the car wall, with a fairly wide aisle in the middle. Lou Yu's belongings were piled up on the seats and in the aisle.

"I saw it as soon as I came in; it's almost full. What have you prepared?"

Tao Qiu was genuinely curious; why did giving a gift turn into such a complicated process, like moving house?

Lou Yu said, "They're all just daily necessities, not worth much."

The two stepped to the back, and Lou Yu began to open the packaging bag and introduce it to Tao Qiu.

First, there was the largest woven bag. Lou Yu unsealed it and said, "Inside is a set of pillows and bedding, made of mutated cotton, sourced from the Central Base. It's very soft and warm."

Tao Qiu reached out and pressed it; the feel? It was indeed very soft.

Lou Yu: "Two sets of pillowcases, sheets, and duvet covers are inside. You'll see them when you get back."

After putting down the bedding, Lou Yu picked up another, smaller bag.

"Inside are four complete outfits, all spring/summer styles. I originally wanted to buy more, but the rest aren't very nice. I'll get you more when they get new stock."

"This box contains three pairs of shoes and socks. I saw your feet that night, though it was just a fleeting glance, but I roughly remembered your size. You shouldn't have bought the wrong ones."

"They're all new. Wear them if you like, or use them as bedding if you don't."

When Lou Yu said these things, was he looking at Tao Qiu with an open and honest expression?

Tao Qiu had only wrapped a circle of feathers around her waist to cover her private parts, leaving the rest of her body naked, as if she were about to jump into the water for a swim at any moment.

He didn't seem embarrassed at all; on the contrary, Lou Yu's ears turned slightly red.

Tao Qiu was probably used to this, so Lou Yu said that if he didn't like wearing clothes, he didn't have to.

"This box contains small items like soap, toiletries, a comb, and hair ties; you should find them useful."

"This stack of books includes some from before the Great Catastrophe and some published in recent years. You can take a look when you're bored."

"This box contains a cell phone, a product from before the disaster. It was dug out and repaired, but it can't make calls. However, it contains a lot of movies, TV series, and animations. I also included a high-capacity power bank. When the battery runs out, I'll take it back to charge it for you."

Lou Yu is lying when he says he didn't spend much money. Books from before the catastrophe, and these electronic devices containing [resources], are very expensive, both in the regular market and on the black market.

He spent several months' salary to buy these things.

"This last box contains some snacks my teammates made. If stored properly, they can last for a long time, so you can eat them slowly, but it's best not to wait until they expire."

After the items were inventoried, Lou Yu finished speaking. For a long time, there was no other sound from inside the car; only the two of them breathing could be heard.

Tao Qiu stared intently at Lou Yu, her gaze somewhat strange.

Finally, Lou Yu spoke first, "What's wrong? Is there something inside that you're not happy about?"

"No." Tao Qiu shook her head, then suddenly smiled. "Lou Yu, you look just like my grandma."

Lou Yu looked puzzled.

"I lived in the dorms for a while during school, and she would help me pack while giving me instructions, worried that I might get cold, hungry, or bullied at school..."

As she spoke, Tao Qiu's voice trailed off.

If his grandparents were still alive, he wouldn't have been bullied by his parents so much later on.

Lou Yu stepped forward and pulled Tao Qiu into his arms. Tao Qiu stiffened for a moment, but quickly relaxed and buried her face in Lou Yu's shoulder.

"Sorry for taking the liberty, but I think you might need a hug." Lou Yu gently patted his back and said softly, "I'm happy to be like family to you, to make you feel cared for and loved."

Tao Qiu hugged his waist and said in a muffled voice, "You have such a sweet tongue. What did you eat before you came?"

Breakfast was porridge and pancakes.

Tao Qiu looked up at this question, "What about lunch?"

"I didn't eat."

Tao Qiu thought about it and realized that if they set off after lunch, they wouldn't be able to get here by this time.

"Didn't you bring snacks? Why don't you eat something first?"

Lou Yu sincerely, "Those are for you."

"..." Tao Qiu stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze, coldly revealing the truth, "You did this on purpose, didn't you? Trying to play the victim in front of me."

Lou Yu smiled, "We've been discovered."

This man, who usually seems so reliable, actually has such a childish side.

Tao Qiu snorted and reached for the snacks, saying, "Since we've been exposed, let's eat now."

"No." Lou Yu stopped him. "I was just joking. I brought food, but I didn't have an appetite, so I didn't eat."

"Even if you don't have an appetite, you should still eat. What if you ruin your stomach by starving? Where's your lunch?"

Lou Yu took out a food box from the corner, opened it, and inside were two rice balls filled with meat and vegetables.

Tao Qiu frowned. "It's all cold."

"It's alright, the meat is braised, it'll still be edible even when it's cold."

Lou Yu picked up a piece with his chopsticks, took a bite, and then handed the lunchbox to Tao Qiu, asking, "Want to try some?"

Tao Qiu shook her head. "I ate a big lunch, I don't want to eat now."

After he finished speaking, he remembered something and asked, "How long have you been waiting for me here?"

Lou Yu said, "About an hour."

Tao Qiu's feelings were complicated; she felt heartache and a little angry—angry that Lou Yu cared too much about him, thus neglecting her.

"I don't come out every day, and my time is not fixed. What if I don't come out today?"

Lou Yu said matter-of-factly, "Wait, this is your territory anyway, no mutated monsters will dare to come here. If I don't see you today, I'll wait until tomorrow, and if I still don't see you by tomorrow, I'll wait until the day after."

Tao Qiu sighed, "You really are..."

Lou Yu's eyes lit up. "You were moved by me?"

"No way!!" Tao Qiu retorted stubbornly. "Just eat your food and stop talking."

It's as if he wasn't the one asking questions while people were eating?

Despite Tao Qiu's "unreasonable behavior," Lou Yu wasn't displeased. Instead, he looked at Tao Qiu with a smile, his gaze never leaving him, as if he were eating with Tao Qiu.

Lou Yu ate extremely quickly, finishing a rice ball in just two or three bites and clearing it out in a few minutes.

Tao Qiu noticed a kettle on the front seat, picked it up, and handed it to Lou Yu.

Lou Yu accepted it, "Thank you."

Tao Qiu watched him drink water and said, "Next time you come to find me, if I don't come out for a long time, you can drive the car a little further in. The closer you are to the valley where I live, the safer it will be. But you can't drive to the entrance of the valley or go inside; that's my private space."

The main concern was that the baby birds might be discovered prematurely.

Lou Yu nodded in agreement, "I'll keep track of the days and come back when you've used up most of these things. But I'm sorry I can't set a specific date; there's a lot going on at the base, and I might not be able to come on time."

"I understand." Tao Qiu understood Lou Yu's predicament.

Tao Qiu glanced at the sky outside and said to Lou Yu, "It's getting late. You've delivered the goods and met the person; it's time to go back. The mutated monsters will be more active after dark, and I'm worried about you being alone, even with your special abilities."

Upon hearing this, Lou Yu's bright eyes immediately dimmed, and he said pitifully, "Can't we stay a little longer?"

"Okay," Tao Qiu readily agreed, but before Lou Yu could regain his composure, he added, "Then you have to promise me you'll let me take you back."

Lou Yu was caught in a dilemma, but then he thought that if Tao Qiu were to send him, he would have to fly back and forth, which would definitely tire him out.

"Then I'll go back right away..."

Before Lou Yu could finish speaking, Tao Qiu deliberately interrupted him, "Fine, it's settled then, I'll take you back."

Lou Yu in surprise, "No way?!"

"Why not? You're the one chasing me now, I'm in control, you have to listen to me."