Ruаn Siхiаn lеаnеd against thе kitсhеn dооrway, taking аdvаntage оf Fu Mingyu’s bасk bеing turnеd tо sсrutinize him freеly.
When he turned around tо fеtch thе bowls аnd сhорsticks, shе shiftеd hеr gаzе awаy.
“How did уоu know tоday is my birthdаy?”
“I’ve sеen yоur rеsumе,” Fu Мingуu sаid сasuallу. “Мy mеmоrу isn’t toо bad.”
Nоt tоo bad—whаt’s thеre tо show off abоut that?
Ruan Sixiаn snоrtеd softlу through her nosе. “Оh, I sеe. Sо уоu’rе this thоughtful tо all уоur emрloуees?”
Аctuаllу, еarliеr thаt аftеrnoon, Ruan Siхian had alreadу receivеd a birthdaу greеting tеxt frоm World Airlines’ HR department, along with a reminder to pick up her birthday gift when she had time.
It was a tradition at World Airlines—every employee received the same treatment on their birthday.
“Are you asking a question you already know the answer to?” Fu Mingyu didn’t look up as he turned on the faucet to rinse the vegetables. The faint sound of running water accompanied his reply. “If I made longevity noodles for every employee, would I be a director or a head chef?”
Oh, so she was getting special treatment.
Ruan Sixian lifted her chin, a slight smile curling her lips. “Then I want an egg added to mine.”
Without looking up, Fu Mingyu gave an “mm” of acknowledgment. He picked up two eggs already prepared beside him, cracked them, and watched as the glistening egg whites and yolks slid into the frying pan, sizzling softly.
A small pot of water simmered on the countertop, the frying pan sizzled with eggs, and a pile of vegetables sat in the sink. He handled it all with practiced ease—calm and deliberate, yet efficient and tidy.
So he wasn’t just boasting when he said he could cook.
It wasn’t until Fu Mingyu turned and glanced at her that Ruan Sixian realized she had been standing in the doorway watching for quite some time.
But now that their eyes had met, it felt a bit awkward not to say something.
She tentatively stepped forward. “Do you need any help?”
“No need. Go sit in the living room. Don’t stand here watching me.”
Ruan Sixian’s steps halted. She rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
Hmph, as if I want to watch you.
But the living room really was quite boring.
And Fu Mingyu was pretty boring too.
For such a large living room, aside from the essential furniture, there was nothing else—not even a single potted plant. The only living thing in there was probably Ruan Sixian herself.
The floor-to-ceiling windows were nice, though. If it weren’t pouring rain, it would probably be quite pleasant to stand there and watch the sunset on a normal day.
There was also a lounge chair and a glass table nearby. With some fruit in the evening, it would be nice to stargaze in the summer.
She glanced around at the other areas. All the bedroom doors were closed, so there wasn’t much else to see.
After wandering aimlessly around the living room for a while, Ruan Sixian found herself drifting back toward the kitchen.
She poked her head in. “Is it ready yet? Why are you so slow?”
“It’s ready. Go sit at the dining table.”
When Fu Mingyu came out carrying the bowls, Ruan Sixian was wiping off her lipstick with a tissue.
“What are you wiping off?”
Ruan Sixian shot him a glance, not particularly inclined to explain such things to a straightforward man like him.
“Should I eat lipstick as a side dish?”
Fu Mingyu: “It looks nice.”
Ruan Sixian: “…”
What was up with Fu Mingyu today?
Was he in heat or something?
Why was he complimenting her so bluntly, again and again?
She continued wiping her lipstick haphazardly.
“Even if it looks nice, I’m not showing it to you.”
Fu Mingyu chuckled and handed her the chopsticks. “Hurry up and eat.”
The bowl of noodles before her emitted a delicate fragrance. A golden fried egg and a few strands of vegetables steamed invitingly. Her stomach began to growl, but she couldn’t help saying, “There’s so much. I might not be able to finish it all.”
Fu Mingyu: “If you don’t finish it, I’ll deduct your year-end bonus.”His gaze clearly told Ruan Sixian: Don't pretend.
Ruan Sixian pursed her lips, raised an eyebrow, and nodded.
One second he was saying she looked good, the next he was treating her like a pig.
"Fine, whatever the boss says."
Ten minutes later, the bowl of noodles was gone.
Faced with the empty bowl and Fu Mingyu's gaze, Ruan Sixian didn't know what to say.
Maybe she was too hungry, or maybe the noodles really were delicious—she had just contradicted herself spectacularly.
Fortunately, just as she was feeling awkward, her phone rang.
But when she answered, Ruan Sixian's expression visibly changed.
Her tone was stiff.
"How did you know I live here?"
"No need, I've already eaten."
"It's already dark and still raining, you should go back."
After hearing something else from the other end, Ruan Sixian sighed, glanced at the heavy rain outside the window, and frowned. "Alright, wait a moment."
After hanging up, her frown didn't ease.
She didn't want to go down to get it, but Dong Xian made it clear she wouldn't leave unless Ruan Sixian went to pick it up.
This was so annoying.
Ruan Sixian's gaze finally landed on Fu Mingyu. She sized him up for a moment and whispered, "Boss, do you have an umbrella?"
"What do you need it for?"
"To go downstairs and get something."
Fu Mingyu looked out the window.
The sky was dark and heavy, with raindrops as big as beans mercilessly pelting the window, swirling wildly in the wind.
"You're going out in this rain?"
"Yeah, so I was hoping you could go get it for me."
"..."
After two seconds of silence, Fu Mingyu stood up with a hint of resignation. "Go wash the dishes."
"Sure thing." Ruan Sixian agreed almost without hesitation, but seeing the rain outside, she felt a bit guilty. "Take your time, boss."
With that, they went their separate ways.
Apart from the two bowls and chopsticks, Fu Mingyu had already washed everything else in the kitchen, so it took Ruan Sixian less than three minutes.
She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down. The floor was too high, and with the heavy rain, it was almost impossible to see what was happening on the ground.
She didn't know how much time had passed before Fu Mingyu returned.
His white shirt was almost completely soaked, clinging tightly to his body, faintly revealing the lines of his muscles.
He closed the umbrella, placed the cake on the nearby table, and looked over with his dark eyes, his eyelashes damp with moisture, staring intently at Ruan Sixian.
"You really know how to make things difficult."
Ruan Sixian stood in front of him with her hands behind her back, feeling a bit flustered under his gaze. She immediately threw the towel she had hidden behind her at him.
"Hurry up and dry yourself."
Fu Mingyu caught the towel and wiped his arms, casually saying, "I saw her when I came back earlier. Do you know her?"
"Oh, that's my mom." Ruan Sixian paused. "You know her too, right?"
Fu Mingyu: "Yeah."
Ruan Sixian wasn't surprised. If Fu Mingyu knew Zheng You'an, he must know Dong Xian too.
She didn't say anything more.
Fu Mingyu added, "She just asked what our relationship is."
Ruan Sixian froze, suddenly feeling nervous. "What did you say?"
Even if it weren't Dong Xian, anyone else who saw Fu Mingyu going to get the cake for her would be curious about their relationship.
"I said we're..." He tilted his head slightly, as if deliberately hesitating. "Friends?"
"Right." Ruan Sixian nodded along with his words, as if speaking to herself. "We're friends."Fu Mingyu tossed the towel aside, walked to a room door, grasped the handle, and tilted his head toward Ruan Sixian. "Come here."
His damp appearance, combined with his low, deep voice, inexplicably gave off the feeling of an invitation into a refrigerator.
Ruan Sixian stood still.
"What?"
Fu Mingyu: "Since we're friends, if I give you a birthday gift, you'll accept it, right?"
Ruan Sixian felt Fu Mingyu was acting strange today.
First, he quietly celebrated her birthday, then straightforwardly complimented her on her beauty, and now he wanted to give her a birthday gift.
If he wanted to give a gift, why make her enter the room?
Given his usual nature, could it be he wanted to give himself as the gift?
Ruan Sixian slowly walked toward him. "What is it? An airplane?"
Fu Mingyu didn’t answer, pushing the door open instead. Ruan Sixian’s eyes lit up, and her breath caught for a second or two.
In the fifty-square-meter study stood four two-meter-tall display shelves, neatly arranged with at least two hundred model airplanes.
Boeing’s full range, Airbus’s full range, Bombardier Aerospace’s Challenger series, Dassault Aviation’s Falcon series, Hawker Siddeley Trident…
All of them!
And as Ruan Sixian stepped closer, she could tell these weren’t the kind sold on the market. They were all exclusive, high-end custom models with ultra-high precision, so detailed that even the instrument panels in the cockpits were clearly visible through the glass.
Ruan Sixian reached out a trembling hand to touch the material—the texture, the feel, the level of detail… These model airplanes could probably rival a turtle in lifespan.
"Do you like them?"
Fu Mingyu’s voice sounded beside her ear.
Ruan Sixian shivered all over.
He did it on purpose! He absolutely did it on purpose!
But she really liked them! Loved them! Absolutely adored them!
The little person inside Ruan Sixian’s heart was already spinning and jumping wildly, but she had to restrain herself. She couldn’t act like she’d never seen anything impressive in front of Fu Mingyu.
"I thought you were giving me a real airplane."
"That’s not impossible." Fu Mingyu lowered his head, a faint smile on his lips. "But there are conditions."
This man’s eyes seemed to speak. When Ruan Sixian met his gaze, her heart skipped a beat, sensing hidden meaning in his words.
No, there was definitely hidden meaning.
Ruan Sixian turned her back to him, looking at another display shelf.
"Are these all your collection?"
"Yes."
"You’re really giving them to me?"
"Choose."
Then I won’t hold back.
Ruan Sixian touched one model, then another, hesitating for a long time.
Fu Mingyu stood by the door watching her. After a while, seeing her struggle, he added, "I didn’t say you could only choose one."
Ruan Sixian turned to look at him. "Really?"
Fu Mingyu: "In this room, whatever you like, I can give it to you."
I like them all! Every single one in this room!
This dog man is really being human today!
He asked, "You like them all?"
Ruan Sixian looked at him with starry eyes, wanting to be reserved but also honest, so she nodded slightly.
Fu Mingyu: "But not me."
It took Ruan Sixian two seconds to realize what he meant.
—Whatever you like in this room, I can give it to you.
—But not including me.
—I can’t give myself to you.
Seeing Ruan Sixian instantly turn cold again, Fu Mingyu paused for a moment, then started laughing.
Still laughing?
He deserves a beating.
Ruan Sixian couldn’t help it—she swiped a claw toward his shoulder.But though she was angry, she hadn't actually used much force. When her hand made contact, he instead caught it and pressed it against his chest.
"Trying to hit me again?"
Ruan Sixian didn't plan to speak. She struggled twice but couldn't free her hand, so she moved her leg.
Just as she intended to kick him, he sensed her intention and preemptively extended his leg to pin down her calf.
"Still want to move your legs?"
Ruan Sixian was someone who responded better to softness than force. The more Fu Mingyu resisted, the more she wanted to fight back.
But wearing a dress and high heels, she was easily subdued by him.
Both hands were held, her thigh was pinned by his leg, and with a press of his body, Ruan Sixian was completely restrained.
At that moment, the two suddenly fell into an eerie silence, staring at each other in this strange posture, motionless.
Outside the window, the rain poured down, pattering loudly, clear and intense.
Inside the room, the light was gentle, the air was quiet, and the sounds of breathing and heartbeats intertwined, drowning out the rain in their ears.
She saw Fu Mingyu's gaze deepen, appearing even darker under the light.
And his breath was gradually drawing closer.
Ruan Sixian frowned, her breathing tightened, and her palms slowly grew warm.
She didn't want to appear unusual, so she met his gaze without flinching until Fu Mingyu slightly turned his face and leaned close to her ear to say something.
His voice was very soft, almost a whisper. If anyone else were present, they would never have heard what he said.
"You look really beautiful today."
The rain was heavy, the room was quiet, and such direct words paired with his deep voice made the atmosphere even stranger.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder accompanied by a flash of lightning pierced the night sky, and the room abruptly brightened.
As if snapping back to reality, the two released their hands simultaneously. At the same time, Fu Mingyu took a step back and looked toward the window.
Ruan Sixian casually picked up a nearby de Havilland Comet model and pressed it against her chest to suppress her heartbeat.
"I'm going back."
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