Coming to Myself

The moment You Mingxu stepped through the door, she froze.

The living room was still the same living room, with no changes to the furnishings, yet it seemed much brighter, as if everything was faintly glowing. Upon closer inspection, she realized the floors, walls, tabletops, sofa armrests, and even the frame of her late mother’s portrait hanging on the wall had all been wiped spotless. That explained the subtle gleam filling the room.

Was Yin Feng treating this old, dilapidated house like a five-star hotel when it came to cleaning?

Beyond that, the room now featured a few small decorations and arrangements. For instance, a few small pig and rabbit plush toys had appeared on the display shelf. The wooden dining table was now covered with a warm-colored cartoon tablecloth. A red fabric had been draped over the upholstered sofa…

Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’d had a child. You Mingxu thought to herself silently.

Chen Feng still had that refined yet unscrupulous look about him, sitting stiffly in his shirt at the dining table. He set down the folder in his hand and said, "I was just reviewing this month’s investment returns from Teacher Yin’s assets. They’re all doing quite well. Now that you’re back, we can start dinner." With that, he went to the door to instruct the cook and nanny next door.

"A Xu, come see my room," Yin Feng said.

You Mingxu glanced at him. He wore an expression of innocent matter-of-factness. She couldn’t be bothered to argue about the nickname and was curious to see what his room looked like.

When Yin Feng pushed the door open, the first thing You Mingxu saw was the two-story blue castle slide bed. It was a common style of children’s bed found in furniture stores, but this one was undoubtedly more exquisite and magnificent. Blue wooden "castle walls" guarded the bed on the first floor, with a staircase beside it leading up to the castle’s second story. The top of the walls was edged in gold, and in the center stood a crown—symbolizing not a king, but rather a prince.

On the opposite side of the staircase was a meticulously crafted, sturdy yet lightweight slide.

You Mingxu fell silent.

Yin Feng’s expression remained composed. He glanced at her, took off his shoes, and climbed the stairs. Due to the room’s height limitations, the second floor of the castle felt somewhat cramped. At over six feet tall, he had to bend almost halfway to survey his domain from above. He walked to the slide and sat down. Though tall, his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and firm hips allowed him to settle into the slide with surprising ease.

He looked at You Mingxu, a flicker of laughter in his eyes. Then, he let go with both hands.

Whoosh—

He landed on the floor with a thud, his long legs kicking against the opposite wall. Unfazed, he immediately scrambled to his feet, walked over to You Mingxu, and said in a casual tone, "This is actually pretty fun. I won’t allow anyone else to go on it except you."

With that, he stepped aside to make way, his eyes fixed on her, gleaming faintly.

You Mingxu turned and walked away. "Thanks, but no." She didn’t need to look back to know how surprised and disappointed he would be. Sure enough, it took a few seconds before he caught up to her. As she walked, she couldn’t help but smile, but by the time he reached her side, she had already schooled her expression into a stern mask.

"Why?!" he pressed.

"Not telling," You Mingxu said, taking a seat at the dining table. Yin Feng immediately pulled out the chair beside her, nudging it closer with his hip until it was right next to hers.

You Mingxu asked, "Why are you sitting so close?"

Yin Feng propped his chin on one hand, pretending to gaze at the scenery nearby.The dinner was exceptionally sumptuous. You Mingxu realized it had been a long time since she last enjoyed such a comforting homemade meal. On ordinary days, she either ate out or ordered takeout. Occasionally, when she felt inspired to cook herself, the results were merely passable—enough to fill her stomach. But today's dishes were not only light and delicious, free from the greasy taste of restaurant food, but also perfectly complemented the rice. The soup, rich and aromatic, clearly hadn't relied on any MSG or seasonings—it had been simmered for a long time, allowing the flavors to meld deeply.

You Mingxu had always eaten quickly. By the time she set down her empty bowl, she noticed that Yin Feng and Chen Feng across from her were only halfway through their meals. They both looked up at her.

For a moment, You Mingxu felt a flicker of embarrassment. She said calmly, "Take your time. We police officers tend to eat fast." It was the truth.

Yin Feng remarked, "A Xu, you ate too little—just one bowl of rice. I usually have two."

Just as You Mingxu was about to say that women and men are different, he added, "I still remember the first time I held you in Tibet. There was hardly any flesh on your waist, and I could almost wrap one hand around your thigh. Your chest muscles were decently developed—some meat there—but still smaller than my hand. My hands are huge! Anyway, you're too thin. You should eat more so you can grow as strong as me someday."

Annoyed, You Mingxu first glanced at Chen Feng, who kept his head down, pretending to be uninvolved, though the corners of his mouth twitched as he suppressed a sly smile. Then she looked at Yin Feng, who had a meatball stuffed in his cheek, puffing it out as he smiled at her, his eyes clear and utterly innocent.

Swallowing her irritation, You Mingxu stood up without a word, returned to her room, and slammed the door shut.

By the time she emerged again, Chen Feng and the others had already cleaned up and left. Only Yin Feng remained in the living room, watching cartoons.

She mentioned she was going for a walk. Yin Feng turned off the TV and insisted on joining her. She didn't mind and led him out.

Just beyond the residential complex was a riverside greenway, lush with grass and shaded by trees. A sloping lawn nearby was filled with parents and children playing.

After walking for a while, You Mingxu noticed her companion lagging behind, frequently glancing toward the slope, completely captivated by the playing children.

"Walk faster, or how are we going to digest?" she said.

"Okay," he replied, catching up to walk beside her. You Mingxu was not short, but he still towered over her by almost a head. As they walked in silence, she gazed at the dark shimmer of the river, reminded of their first encounter in Tibet—when he had emerged from a sleeping bag like a wild man. And now, he was living in her home. The unpredictability of life felt both surreal and unbelievable.

And what was Yin Feng thinking at this moment?

The breeze by the river gently brushed their faces, while scattered stars glittered in the sky. Though he found the act of walking somewhat boring, being led by You Mingxu made it worthwhile. She seemed quiet and gentle now, not fierce at all. Yin Feng felt as if he had swallowed a piece of candy—a faint, comforting sweetness lingering in his throat. He felt a strong urge to do something—to her, or with her. The chaotic depths of his subconscious seemed to stir with anticipation, though he couldn't quite grasp what it meant.He only felt that You Mingxu was like a solitary beam of light that had drifted alone for a long time, so coincidentally settling right above his head. To him, the world remained a vast, hazy fog, with only faint outlines visible. So he wanted this light to keep shining solely on him—not to illuminate anyone else.

You Mingxu glanced again at the person beside her. Despite still wearing the ridiculous green Astro Boy costume, his excellent physique and handsome features—combined with a clean-shaven face and soft, casually styled hair that made him look younger—made the outfit somehow work.