âAre you hiding a man in your home?â The man watched her.
Feng Lingâs expression was cold. âNo.â
âIs there anything you canât show me at home?â
âNo.â
âThen why canât I go in to sleep?â
âYou can sleep anywhere you want, why do you insist on sleeping at my place.
âI stood outside for a whole night. You want me to go back to my car to sleep sitting up?â
âThatâs your business. Not mine.â
The man watched her for a while and coughed lightly: âAll right. Iâll go back to my car.â
The man before her seemed thinner than he had been two years ago. His figure was unaffected. Li Nanhengâs figure had always been perfect. However, overall, he seemed to have lost some weight. It was clear that he did not live well for the past two years. He also hadnât been sleeping well recently.
As Feng Ling watched his back, she did not find her heart softening. She scanned the cigarettes by the side, the manâs slightly messy face and his somewhat fatigued expression.
It was true that there was nothing to hide in her room. It was neat and tidy; there was nothing to be ashamed about.
Even if they were no longer lovers, even if she had moved on from everything that happened between them, he was still her ex-boss.
âDid you really stand here for a whole night?â she asked lightly.
The man paused before the elevator doors with his back facing her. He glanced at the cigarettes by the side and turned back to look at her from the corner of his eyes: âWhat do you think?â
He was already exhausted, what was the point in sounding sarcastic?
Feng Ling expressionlessly watched his back. She pushed her door open and stepped out: âGo in and sleep on your own. Iâll be back home by 6:30 p.m. Leave before then. Donât let me see you when I come back.â
Li Nanheng glanced back at her. Feng Ling continued: âIâm bringing the keys with me. Remember to close the door on your way out. Also, youâre only allowed to sleep on the couch. Donât touch anything else and donât leave a mess in my home.â
Li Nanheng turned around to face her properly. He glanced down at the woman approaching him. âAs someone with mysophobia, how do you suppose I will make a mess of your home?â
Feng Ling did not wish to say more. She glanced at him again. âArenât you tired? If you donât go in now, Iâm going to lock the door.â
Li Nanheng scanned the womenâs sportswear she was wearing and the bag she was carrying. âYouâre no longer dressed as a man. Must you still speak so impolitely?â
Feng Ling was too lazy to respond. She pressed the elevator and did not say more.
Li Nanheng saw that she seemed to be rushing for time and was clearly unwilling to engage in conversation. He did not rush to speak. After glancing at her impatient and cold expression, he turned to head in. Right before stepping in, he paused. âIs there breakfast in your house?â
âNo,â Feng Ling stood before the elevators to respond coldly.
âYou didnât eat earlier?â
âI ate.â
âYou didnât save any?â
âIâm not raising any cats or dogs in my house. I eat however much I can finish. Whatâs the point of saving food?â As she watched the number displayed slowly increase, she continued. âThereâs bread in the fridge. If you want to eat, toast it yourself.â
âEn. Iâll sleep first. Iâll eat when I wake up.â After answering, the man closed the door.
Feng Ling: â...â
She stared at the elevator in heavy silence and felt slightly unhappy.
She felt that she shouldnât have let him in.
Indeed, last night he wasnât as domineering as he used to be and he did not insist on barging in. He was mindful of etiquette as he stood outside her door; he did not beg for an opportunity for forgiveness nor did he insist on having her hear him out. He also did not forcefully do anything to her.
However, it was only after he shut the door that Feng Ling realized just how shameless he had been. What on earth was she thinking? Why did she let him in?
If he had insisted on his way, she definitely would have rejected him. However, he strangely seemed to be doing the opposite today.
The elevator doors opened and there was no point to contemplating this further. She entered the elevator and glanced back at the tightly shut doors. She furrowed her brows lightly and pressed the button to close the doors.
After stepping out of her condo building, she found that she had lost all interest in going for a morning run. She headed for her car. After climbing in, she felt the winter cold seeping into her bones and recalled the man saying that he had slept in his car for the past few days.
What on earth was he trying to do?
If he didnât understand her character well, no, there was no way he didnât understand her well.
He should be very aware; regardless of it all, it was impossible for the two of them to return to the way they were two years ago.
She refused to have an inappropriate relationship with a married man. She also wouldnât allow herself to develop inappropriate feelings for him.
He should understand this, and he should know that there was no need for him to be here; because it wouldnât lead to any outcomes.
ââ
Six in the evening.
âItâs time to get off work. Why are you still here?â The head coach had just finished his last class. He returned to the office to see that Feng Ling was sitting in front of her computer with a cup in her hands.
Feng Ling looked up at him: âI donât have anything planned, so I thought to sit here for a while.â
âThe weather is so cold. If you have nothing planned you shouldnât be sitting here. Go home and warm yourself up.â The head coach chuckled. âDid you drive here? Do you need me to send you back?â
âI did. I can head back on my own.â Feng Ling placed her cup down and checked the time. âIâll leave after 6:30 p.m.â
The head coach paused to look at her. âAre you feeling unwell?â
âNo.â
âYou usually head home on time after work ends. Why are you reluctant to go back today?â
Feng Ling did not answer. She only smiled lightly and did not explain.
She wasnât sure if Li Nanheng had left yet. It was possible that he was still asleep. She felt that it was better to leave later. This way, perhaps they would miss each other. However, she couldnât be too sure.
Either way, she would delay her return for as long as possible. She felt some regret for letting him in today. If it wasnât because the temperature was really too cold today, perhaps she would have chosen to stay out for the entire day.
By the time it was 6:40 p.m., all of the lights were turned off. Only the office she was in remained lit.
The area around here belonged to the school and was tightly managed. All of the martial arts clubs and the like needed to strictly abide by the fixed operating hours. If she stayed any longer, they would suspect that there werenât any more classes in operation and send someone over to see what was going on.
Feng Ling saw that she could not delay anymore time and stood up to pack her things. She then drove back home.
After parking her car, Feng Ling looked up to see that her apartment was unlit.
Did this mean that Li Nanheng had already left?
She looked up for a while and hesitated for a moment before alighting from her car.
She arrived at her apartment and unlocked her door to see that it was pitch black inside. She lifted her hand searchingly and with a soft âpaâ sound, the lights in the living room were turned on.