Would you be willing to come home with me?

Ye Mian felt a complicated mix of emotions.

How to put it? She felt heartache, helplessness, and sadness. There was even a tiny, lingering trace of being moved. All these feelings swirled together, like a seasoning tray that had been knocked over.

The resentment she had felt earlier dissipated. Facing Jiang Chen, who looked like a bedraggled puppy, Ye Mian’s heart gave a heavy thud, and then she nodded.

"If I'm not angry anymore, will you come home with me?"

Silence descended. Ye Mian hadn't expected to say that, and she hadn't even thought to soften her words. She felt exactly like a wealthy woman trying to lure a wayward young man. And as for Jiang Chen... Ye Mian glanced at the cast on his leg.

Well, he certainly was "wayward."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen kept his gaze fixed on her, his eyes dark and inscrutable. After a long moment, he broke the silence with a smile.

"Fine. I'll go home with you."

***

Two days later, in the evening, the hospital gave the notice that he could be discharged. Ye Mian immediately arranged a car to pick Jiang Chen up. Because of the cast on his leg, she had specifically bought an electric wheelchair online. It had black leather upholstery, and the shopkeeper had—in a fit of adolescent whimsy—stuck a sticker of a fierce dragon on it. Ye Mian thought it suited Jiang Chen’s temperament perfectly, so she left it, thinking she could just peel it off if he didn't like it.

Surprisingly, Jiang Chen didn't resist sitting in such a flashy wheelchair. In fact, when he sat in it, he rested his elbows on the armrests with natural, languid elegance, looking entirely at ease as if letting others take charge. The "invalid" vibe Ye Mian had imagined was completely absent. She realized that some people are just like that: even when sitting in a wheelchair, their presence remains imposing.

In Wencheng, the snow had stopped falling over the past few days, and the roads were much cleaner. Thick piles of snow remained along the green belts, looking like soft, white clouds. In the biting winter wind, Jiang Chen lifted his gaze, meeting Ye Mian’s beautiful, bright almond-shaped eyes. He thought vaguely that it had been a very, very long time since anyone had told him they would take him home.

The drive from the hospital to the residential complex wasn't far. Once they reached the parking lot, Ye Mian pushed Jiang Chen toward Building 30. Her apartment wasn't on a low floor, but fortunately, there was a spacious elevator, so she could reach the door with the wheelchair without any trouble.

The chilly wind swirled in the corridor. Ye Mian quickly took out her keys to unlock the door and carefully pushed Jiang Chen inside. The apartment was kept at a constant temperature by the air conditioning; Ye Mian, who had felt cold outside, suddenly felt a bit warm. She guided the chair past the entryway and toward the guest bedroom where Jiang Chen would be staying.

Although it was the guest room, it was no smaller than the master bedroom and the bed was even softer, though it lacked the bay window of the master. She turned to the side to let Jiang Chen look, then asked with a gentle smile, "Is this room okay? If not, I can give you the master bedroom."

Jiang Chen scanned the room. A young woman’s living space was predictably tidy, with every item neatly organized. Perhaps because of his arrival, the bedsheets had been changed to a darker color, and the air was filled with the scent of the perfume he had once given her.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "This is fine."

Ye Mian let out a sigh of relief as she brought in the clothes, medicine, and slippers she had prepared. She didn't forget to praise herself for her foresight in hiring a cleaning service to tidy up the place beforehand. She used to stack all her miscellaneous items in the guest room, making it look like a dog's den. If Jiang Chen had seen that... he probably would have abandoned the chair and fled.

Jiang Chen’s wound had stabilized significantly over the last two days. The doctor said that as long as he didn't make any strenuous movements, he would be fine. He could move around slowly in the wheelchair, meaning he could take care of himself to some extent without needing Ye Mian to worry too much.

Ye Mian didn't want to disturb his rest, so she gave a few brief instructions before heading to her own room to work.

In the evening, Ye Mian personally cooked a pot of pork liver porridge and prepared a few light side dishes. She went to the guest bedroom and knocked on the door. After waiting a while and hearing no response, she pushed the door open.

In the winter light, the man wasn't resting; he was sitting at the desk reading. He appeared cold and aloof, his brows and eyes seemingly luminous. From every angle, his face was flawless, and he carried an aura entirely devoid of mundane concerns. Even the sound of his fingertips turning the pages of the book was strangely melodic.

A draft drifted through the room. Ye Mian stood frozen, stunned. The breathtaking sight before her made her forget why she had come, leaving her only able to stare blankly at Jiang Chen’s profile.

Hearing movement, the man turned his head. He saw the young girl in her loungewear, her hair tied in a bun, staring at him in a daze. There was even a hint of... infatuation in her gaze.

His fingers, resting on the page, paused. He gave a low chuckle, his eyes softening as they caught the warm light from the desk lamp, and he asked gently, "What's the matter?"

The clear, cool voice snapped Ye Mian back to reality. Realizing she had been caught swooning, her heart hammered like a drum. She hurriedly composed her expression and said, "It's time to eat."

"Alright." Jiang Chen nodded slightly and closed the book.

As he turned the wheelchair to come over, he saw that the girl was still staring at him, unblinking. He raised an eyebrow and asked with a playful smile, "What are you looking at? Why are you blushing?"

"..."

Ye Mian touched her face with her cold fingertips. "It's hot."

Jiang Chen lifted his hand, feeling the temperature from the air conditioning. About 25 degrees. From a few meters away, he smiled and said, "Mm, it is quite hot."

"..."

For some reason, Ye Mian felt like Jiang Chen was mocking her. Fearing she might make another fool of herself, she wrung her hands and muttered, "I'll wait for you outside."

She turned and left. A low laugh seemed to follow her from behind, and she walked even faster.

After fleeing to the dining room, Ye Mian sighed softly. What was she to do? She suddenly felt that the days ahead wouldn't be easy. Having Jiang Chen’s face—which hit every single one of her aesthetic preferences—at such close range, and living together on top of that... she really would find it hard to keep that "infatuated" look off her face!

***

After dinner that night, Jiang Chen noticed the girl's reddened fingers and suggested hiring a day worker to come and cook. Ye Mian, of course, had no objections to getting to share in nutritious meals prepared by someone else. Besides, she had already been thinking about hiring help. She wasn't much of a cook, and an invalid’s dietary needs required attention.

Outside, the winter wind howled, buffeting the glass windows. After showering that night, Ye Mian retreated to her small room. Lying on her familiar, large bed, her nerves, which had been tight all day, finally relaxed. Thinking of Jiang Chen just next door, her breath hitched. She nervously pulled the quilt up to cover her nose and mouth, leaving only her eyes visible as she stared at the ceiling.

She truly never thought that one day she would be able to "lure" him into her home. It felt like a daydream. In her once-solitary space, there was suddenly the breath of another person. It felt strange, yet amidst that strangeness, there was a glimmer of happiness.

After lying in bed for a while, Ye Mian sat up and reached for her phone to message Jiang Chen.

[GoodSleep: If you're hungry or thirsty tonight, remember to call me. Don't try to turn on the lights yourself; you might fall.]

Jiang Chen’s reply came quickly.

[Jiang Chen: Alright. Goodnight.]

Ye Mian checked the time—9:00 PM—and her eyes widened.

[GoodSleep: Wait, do you always go to sleep this early?]