Sorry, I spaced out. It wasn’t intentional.

Chapter 40: 

Li Ting appeared surprised by Fang Huaining's sudden invitation, looking up to confirm its meaning.

At first, Fang Huaining found it difficult to articulate his thoughts, but once he began to express himself, he became resolute. Trying to maintain a natural demeanor without appearing overly awkward, he said enthusiastically to Li Ting, "There aren't any bathing facilities nearby, and it's about to rain. If you need, I can offer some convenience at my place. I live alone, so it's no problem."

After a moment's contemplation, he added, "If that's a bother, then forget it."

Why would a guy who desperately needed a shower mind going to another single man's house to bathe? Fang Huaining pondered this as he calmly awaited Li Ting's response.

As expected, Li Ting hesitated, his eyes darting beneath his thin eyelids. Meanwhile, a few thunderclaps enhanced the atmosphere, and flashes of lightning sliced through the night sky, signaling an impending downpour.

When Fang Huaining noticed Li Ting squeeze the bag in his hand, he turned and started walking toward his home. Shortly after, he heard quiet footsteps trailing behind him.

Fang Huaining suppressed a grin that he couldn't fully contain.

His apartment was on the twenty-eighth floor of a high-rise. Though it was in the same area, the overall environment of the community was much better than Youyou's, almost comparable to where Li Er Yang lived.

Li Ting silently accompanied Fang Huaining to the elevator, and Fang Huaining took out his keys to unlock the door. When the door opened, a very modern apartment was revealed before Li Ting. The layout consisted of two bedrooms and two living rooms, a relatively spacious residence that felt very open, well-decorated, and tasteful. Fang Huaining rarely had guests, apart from a few roommates who occasionally visited. So, he had never prepared house shoes for others. Just then, he was pondering whether to lend Li Ting his own pair when Li Ting had already stepped in barefoot. Li Ting's socks were a bit old but very clean, with two very conspicuous orange ducks printed on them, which made Fang Huaining a little concerned. It was easy to guess that they must be a discounted item from the supermarket. Fang Huaining glanced at them again before reluctantly shifting his gaze away and led Li Ting into the bathroom. "The bathtub and shower are both available for use, and the bathing supplies are here. This is the hot water tap, and this is the cold water tap…" Fang Huaining explained in detail to Li Ting, then looked at him to see if he understood.

Li Ting nodded lightly, unzipping his jacket with one hand and, after a few seconds, couldn't help but glance back. Fang Huaining quickly raised his eyes and realized he should leave, hurriedly backing out and firmly closing the door behind him.

The bathroom door featured a solid color patchwork design, with one half showcasing a white wood grain and the other half adorned with mosaic glass, making it difficult to see inside clearly. However, faint shadows could be discerned swaying around.

Fang Huaining lowered his head, and it was only then that he realized he had actually brought Li Ting home. In an attempt to distract himself and prevent his mind from wandering, he hastily sat down at his desk and turned on the computer.

The bathroom was situated adjacent to the study, with a large living room separating the two spaces. Under normal circumstances, Fang Huaining should not have been able to hear any sounds emanating from the bathroom. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he couldn't shake off the sensation of the sound of flowing water resonating loudly in his ears. Taking a deep breath, Fang Huaining increased the speaker volume and launched the game.

As it happened, Wang Fuliang was online and was thrilled to see [A Lemon] log in. He promptly sent a message, expressing his enthusiasm to team up with Fang Huaining to explore a dungeon using his newly registered account, [Big Snake King 100]. After exchanging a few messages, [Big Snake King 100] extended a group invitation.

Just as Fang Huaining was about to accept the invitation, a faint noise emerged from the bathroom, sounding as if something had been knocked over. Fang Huaining's body tensed, and he momentarily lifted himself off the chair. However, upon hearing no further movement, he quietly sat back down.

His gaze drifted blankly towards the screen, and he noticed Wang Fuliang's energetic messages flooding their private chat.

[Big Snake King 100]: Huaining, what's going on? Have you been hacked?

You & () & …… It turned out that Fang Huaining had just accidentally attacked him. Fang Huaining was speechless and typed out an apology. [A Lemon]: Sorry, I zoned out. It wasn't intentional. [Big Snake King 100] was frustrated: My new account has very low health; I couldn't withstand your damage, so please don't joke around like that. [A Lemon]: Understood, let's team up. Wang Fuliang quickly used several health potions, barely recovering, and sent a group invitation back. As Fang Huaining was about to accept it, the sound of water that had been bothering him suddenly stopped. Li Ting was quick in the bathroom, finishing up in no time. Fang Huaining caught a glimpse of a white silhouette flitting past the mosaic glass, likely getting dressed. Fang Huaining's heart skipped a beat, and his hand twitched uncontrollably. [Big Snake King 100] shouted in dismay. Fang Huaining quickly looked up and saw that the health bar on the other side was down to one percent; he thought to himself, this is bad.

[A Lemon] Sorry… [Big Snake King 100] ......... 

[A Lemon]: I'll heal you. Feeling guilty, Fang Huaining hurriedly healed the Big Snake King, even sending several health packs for him to regain some strength. The Big Snake King stood obediently there; he didn't use voice chat, but his text revealed his exhaustion. [Big Snake King 100]: …are you really… not hacked? [A Lemon]: No, I just slipped. [Big Snake King 100]: Of course I believe you.

As a good brother, even if what you say sounds like a lie, I still trust you. Don't worry.

[A Lemon] … 

Health restored. [A Lemon]: Let's team up. In truth, he wasn't very eager to continue playing, but in a moment like this, he had to take responsibility; after all, the dungeon would only take a few minutes to clear. Gaining his composure, Fang Huaining prepared himself mentally. When Li Ting came out, he needed to stay calm, and he was always good at concentrating. However, [Big Snake King 100] hesitated: Never mind… I'll just take it slow… [A Lemon] proactively sent a group invitation. After some hesitation, [Big Snake King 100] accepted. Just as they were about to engage in battle, the bathroom door at Fang Huaining's home opened. As soon as the person behind the door appeared, everything Fang Huaining had mentally prepared was violently shattered. His gaze, which had been fixed on the screen, quickly turned around. He saw Li Ting standing there in a short-sleeve T-shirt and knee-length shorts, his hair still somewhat wet, a blush on his face, appearing enveloped in a soft and fresh mist. When Li Ting looked over while holding his clothes, Fang Huaining felt as though he heard the sound of his heart exploding with a thunderous noise. But in the next moment, he realized it wasn't that; it was [A Lemon] unleashing a powerful move. They hadn't even entered the dungeon yet, and across from him stood [Big Snake King 100].

It was a game where teammates could be killed. Fang Huaining felt as if a familiar shadow had been blown away by his big move, like a meteor flying off into the flames. Not waiting for the other party to react, he hastily chose to log off directly, shutting down the computer with determination and slamming shut the laptop screen. The cacophony of sound effects abruptly cut off, and the room fell silent once more. After a brief moment of silence, Fang Huaining acted as if nothing had happened, cleared his throat, and walked out of the study: "All done?" Li Ting nodded and came over, carefully inspecting the layout of the adjacent rooms. Fang Huaining's two-bedroom apartment had one room for sleeping and the other converted into a study, housing two workstations that each boasted two computers of great value. While Li Ting examined the apartment, Fang Huaining was observing him. Though they weren't extremely close, Li Ting's scent wafted over to him occasionally. This wasn't the fragrance of the imported shower gel that Fang Huaining had introduced him to; Li Ting used the plainest bar soap that he had left in the corner, which should have had a light lemon scent but at this moment, it smelled intoxicating enough to nearly leave Fang Huaining numb. After nervously fidgeting with his fingers along the edge of his pants a couple of times, Fang Huaining heard Li Ting thank him.

Fang Huaining felt a bit nervous, thinking he was about to say he planned to go back, so he forced himself to adjust his thoughts and said, "It's raining outside."

Indeed, he hadn't noticed when the rain had started, but it was coming down quite heavily. Li Ting walked to the balcony and looked outside, a slight frown on his face. "It's not easy to open an umbrella," Fang Huaining followed him and said slowly. Li Ting understood what he meant; after tidying up just now, if he left now, it would feel like all his efforts were in vain, and besides, the group in the dormitory probably still wasn't ready to leave. Li Ting glanced at Fang Huaining. Fang Huaining generously said, "Feel free to sit." After scanning the room, Li Ting chose a seat by the dining table. Fang Huaining observed him, temporarily setting aside his chaotic thoughts, and suddenly remembered that every time he went to Hexin Industrial, he never had a proper meal. He wondered if the little farmer had eaten after running this errand so late. Li Ting noticed Fang Huaining pacing strangely around the room; he looked over and found that Fang was seemingly searching for something. "What's wrong?" Li Ting asked. Fang Huaining suddenly recalled, "I seem to have forgotten my midnight snack." After saying that, he headed toward the door, appearing to intend to go back and get it. Li Ting stood up and suddenly asked, "Do you have anything here?"

Fang Huaining turned around in confusion, only to see Li Ting rummaging through the kitchen. There were hardly any ingredients in Fang Huaining's place; it was clear that someone like him wouldn't be the type to carry a basket to the vegetable market. However, the cooking tools were quite complete, with oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar readily available.

Li Ting searched the refrigerator and found a few eggs, a piece of ham, and two packets of instant noodles, then started cooking after taking out a pot. Fang Huaining followed him into the kitchen, silently observing Li Ting's movements, as if he were seeing him for the first time in the Hyacinth Cottage. Not only was Li Ting adept at making milk tea, but he was surprisingly skilled at cooking as well. Slicing, pouring oil, and adding noodles, his motions were straightforward and practiced, indicating he had real experience. The heavy stainless steel frying pan, which Fang Huaining could only lift with both hands, was effortlessly handled by Li Ting with one hand, easily flipping the food in a single motion.

Amidst the sizzling sound of frying, an enticing aroma gradually filled the small space. For all these years, Fang Huaining had been alone here, but now, there was another person standing at the stove, inexplicably bringing warmth and a strong sense of everyday life to this overly clean and quiet place.

It felt surreal.

Fang Huaining stared blankly at his own profile, Li Ting's expression serious, his lips pursed, occasionally shifting as he added seasonings to the food. Fang Huaining's gaze slowly drifted down, his attention drawn to Li Ting's loose-fitting loungewear T-shirt, which was somewhat worn and featured a small hole the size of a fingernail on his shoulder. This small tear revealed a bit of white skin.

His long and thin limbs seemed fragile and easily breakable, but Fang Huaining knew that they contained incredible energy. Following the slim calves, Fang Huaining's gaze landed on Li Ting's feet. He was wearing the slippers he had brought and had removed the eye-catching orange duck socks. Due to his height, Li Ting's feet appeared surprisingly small; Fang Huaining had never seen a boy with such small feet before. Wrapped loosely in oversized slippers, they looked even smaller and whiter, with Li Ting's long and round toes resembling those of a girl.

Li Ting, intently cooking the fried noodles, unexpectedly sensed two pairs of increasingly heated gazes behind him. Seizing an opportunity to plate the food, he suddenly turned around and saw Fang Huaining standing beside him, his head lowered, seemingly lost in thought. Fang Huaining's face was flushed with embarrassment, his ears red and his eyes, even redder.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Ting surmised that Fang Huaining might be feeling overwhelmed by the smoke and said, "Regardless of how hungry you are, you have to hold on; it'll be ready soon."

Hearing Li Ting's words, Fang Huaining's face turned completely red. Feeling too embarrassed to stay any longer, he hurriedly walked out of the kitchen.

However, Li Ting didn't give him much time to calm down; he soon emerged carrying two plates of fried noodles and sat down at the dining table with him.

He used instant noodles but did not include the seasoning packets that came with them; instead, he added his own spices. He pushed one plate in front of Fang Huaining and started eating from the other.

Fang Huaining looked at the bowl, noticing the red ham paired with golden eggs, along with the enticing aroma of the fried noodles, which made his appetite surge. After trying a bite, he felt that the takeout he had bought elsewhere was akin to pig food.

"The taste is pretty good," he said after swallowing a large mouthful, making a restrained comment about Li Ting's effort while trying to maintain a refined demeanor.

Li Ting replied, "You had too few ingredients here; I could only make it like this."

Fang Huaining almost followed up with "Then I'll buy more next time before you come," but he found it inappropriate and swallowed his words along with a bite of noodles.

Li Ting wasn't as reserved as he was; his little squirrel skills were fully activated, and he quickly polished off half a bowl. He slowed his chopsticks when only two bites remained, casually twirling the noodles before gently asking, "Did you wash your shoes?"

Fang Huaining was so engrossed in his food that he didn't immediately comprehend what Li Ting was saying. He turned around, looking confused, until Li Ting added, "They were on the small drying rack outside the bathroom."

Fang Huaining wondered if Li Ting could really see them, but he nodded in response. "Um... they got dirty from the rain the other day," he said.

Li Ting seemed perplexed: "Did it rain in City A the other day?" Fang Huaining chewed his noodles dazedly and replied, "It rained at Hexin Industrial; they dug up the roadside."

Li Ting blinked and said, "Oh." Fang Huaining looked back at him and asked, "Why?" Li Ting shook his head and finished off his noodles quickly: "These shoes have a good sole; I was just asking casually."

Fang Huaining let out a slight sigh of relief: "Really? I bought them abroad." He wanted to add, "If you like them, I can help you buy a pair," but he kept the thought to himself, knowing that even if he offered, Li Ting wouldn't accept.

After finishing his late-night snack, Li Ting sat there looking a bit bored, glancing around the room until his gaze finally rested on the box by the door that Fang Huaining had brought back in his arms that evening.

Noticing Li Ting's interest, Fang Huaining put down his chopsticks, walked over, and brought the box to show him. "I just happened to visit my grandfather's place and found these, so I brought them back," he explained.

Li Ting initially had little expression on his face, but when he saw the contents inside, his eyes widened in surprise and his posture straightened.

Fang Huai Ning noted that he genuinely cared about this. He had intended to mention that he had previously published a short article in this magazine but felt that it would come off as self-promotional and not reflective of his character, so he decided against it.

Unexpectedly, Li Ting reached in and pulled out a copy, casually flipping through a few pages until it landed squarely on Fang Huai Ning's story. The pen name he used was simply his real name, with the three characters Fang, Huai, and Ning glaringly prominent in the center, making it hard to overlook.

Noticing Li Ting's slightly playful expression and with no way to avoid it, Fang Huai Ning attempted to stay composed: "Uh... I just wrote it casually when I was younger."

After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "You wouldn't have... seen it, would you?"

Li Ting smiled ambiguously, and after a long pause under Fang Huai Ning's intense gaze, he replied with a nonchalant "No."

This piece was from a phase in Fang Huai Ning's youth that he felt quite embarrassed about now. Initially, he was worried that Li Ting might have actually read it, but hearing Li Ting's denial left him feeling unexpectedly disappointed.

After finishing their late-night snack, the rain outside continued to pour incessantly.

Not only was there no sign of the rain stopping, but it also began to thunder and lightning, reminiscent of the day they first encountered each other at He Xin Industrial. Li Ting stood silently by the window, and Fang Huai Ning couldn't tell if he was anxious. He was accustomed to staying up late, but he felt that Li Ting might not be. To Fang Huai Ning, it seemed like Li Ting worked too hard, expending so much energy every day. If Li Ting had to wake up early tomorrow, he would need enough rest; otherwise, he would definitely be exhausted the next day.

At this point, Fang Huai Ning set aside various romantic thoughts and seriously suggested, "You… can stay." After saying this, he realized he had been too direct, and his ears couldn't help but turn slightly red.

Li Ting turned his head, prompting Fang Huai Ning to hurriedly explain, "One person can sleep in the bed, and the other on the sofa." His study was definitely not suitable for sleeping, but fortunately, the sofa was large enough. In fact, Fang Huai Ning's bed was also quite spacious, easily accommodating two boys; the problem lay with Fang Huai Ning himself, who was concerned about his self-control both mentally and physically.

Li Ting understood his implication, glancing first at the bed in the inner room, then at the sofa, and finally back to the bed, his gaze drifting between the two as if weighing some unspoken distance.

Just as Fang Huai Ning was about to suggest that he could take the sofa, Li Ting generously sat down on it.

Does that mean... he agreed? Fang Huai Ning was surprised. Li Ting confirmed his speculation. "Then it's troubling." "Uh... not troubling," Fang Huai Ning replied sincerely. After calmly retrieving clean pillows and bedding to lay out on the sofa, Fang Huai Ning decisively went to the bathroom for a quick shower. When he came out, he was wearing loungewear similar to Li Ting's. Li Ting was already lying down on the sofa, a small bundle perfectly fitting that space, with his head and face completely buried in the pillow, his short hair fanned out around him. Fang Huai Ning took a quick glance but didn't dare to look longer and went into his room. He instinctively intended to close the door but somehow couldn't quite reach the door handle. In the end, he gave up and just flopped onto his bed. In the brightly lit room, the presence of that person felt overwhelming. Unexpectedly, in the pitch darkness after turning off the lights, this sensation became even more pronounced. Despite the distance, it felt as though every particle in the air was tinged with his essence, causing every breath Fang Huai Ning took to stir his spirit. He couldn't sleep at all. Fang Huai Ning tossed and turned for a long time and still couldn't help but raise his eyes toward the living room. From his angle, he couldn't fully see Li Ting's face and could only vaguely make out a small lump on the sofa. "What was the ending of Captain Crow?"

"The small lump suddenly spoke, startling Fang Huai Ning. "What?" It turned out Li Ting hadn't fallen asleep yet. What was Captain Crow? After a moment of thought, Fang Huai Ning finally remembered the name; it seemed to be the name of a character in a story he had published in "Mysteries of the World"? Fang Huai Ning was taken aback. Hadn't Li Ting mentioned before that he hadn't read his articles? Moreover, it had been more than ten years, and he himself couldn't recall all the details. How could Li Ting still remember? Did he have an exceptionally good memory?

With a rush of varied thoughts, Fang Huai Ning replied, "He died saving his teammates." He didn't actually remember the other details. This ending he did recall, though, because it was a rare tragedy he had conceived. Due to not fitting the style of youthful literature, he had been advised to change it to a joyful version, which made him quite unhappy at the time.

"He died..." Li Ting murmured. Fang Huai Ning said, "Yes, it's a tragedy. Don't you like tragedies?" After a while, Li Ting replied, "I don't care whether it's a tragedy or a comedy, as long as it's the appropriate ending for the character." Implication being, catering to everyone's happy endings is worse than not having it at all. Fang Huai Ning pondered what this phrase meant when he heard Li Ting say, "I've written a story too." "Oh?"

the alien boy was taken by the monster to the larger planet?" "Correct. He was taken there to survive, but it was not as easy as it seemed." Fang Huai Ning's forehead creased in thought, "What happened to the boy on the larger planet?" Li Ting's voice took on a reflective tone. "The larger planet was vastly different. It was filled with towering buildings and bright lights, but it was also harsh and unforgiving. The alien boy felt lost and out of place. He missed the beauty and simplicity of his small planet." Fang Huai Ning listened intently, picturing the alien boy's struggle. "Did he make friends there? Was he able to adapt?" "At first, he found it difficult to connect with others. The pace of life was frantic, and everyone seemed absorbed in their own struggles. But eventually, he met a group of other outcasts who understood him. Together, they formed a bond, learning to navigate their new reality." Fang Huai Ning felt a flutter of hope at that. "So, the alien boy found a sense of belonging?" "Yes," Li Ting said, his voice gentle. "He realized that while he had lost his home, he could create a new family and find happiness again. It showed him the resilience of spirit and the possibility of finding light even in dark times." A silence fell between them as Fang Huai Ning absorbed the story. The darkness around them seemed less daunting, filled with potential for new beginnings. "I like that. Everyone deserves a second chance, don't you think?" "Absolutely," Li Ting replied warmly. "That's the beauty of life—the ability to start anew."

"Is he no longer carefree with the monster?" Li Ting chuckled softly and said, "At first, it was like that, but later the boy came to realize it didn't matter. No matter where he is, he still has to live. He also discovered that the small planet was actually a health preservation warehouse. The virus that infected his companion was something she willingly succumbed to, having been bewitched by the monster many years ago. So, the outcome couldn't be changed from the very beginning." Fang Huaining fell silent for a long time, long enough for Li Ting to continue the conversation. "However, the boy's ending was different. He ultimately escaped from the monster's planet, built a new one for himself, and continued to live happily as before... Isn't that a perfect ending?" Fang Huaining asked supportively, "In which magazine is this story published?" The person on the other end answered readily, "In 'Li Ting's World'." Fang Huaining asked, "Can it still be subscribed to now?" Li Ting thought for a moment and replied, "The old one has ceased publication, and the new one hasn't been printed yet." Fang Huaining said, "I will wait." In the darkness, it seemed Li Ting let out a light laugh, appearing a bit cheerier this time. Li Ting didn't speak again, and neither did Fang Huaining. The two lay quietly together, the atmosphere unusually warm and soft.

Uncertain how long it had been, the person in the living room's breathing gradually became deep and steady, prompting the individual on the bed to finally move. After tossing aside the covers and pausing for a moment, he quietly walked out of the room and stood by the sofa in the living room.

In the dim light of night, one could vaguely see the figure on the sofa in a blurred posture, hands carefully clutching the edge of the blanket, his chest subtly rising and falling.

The standing person gazed at him for a moment, suddenly feeling an urge to lean slowly toward the sofa. Step by step, he drew closer, watching the features of the one lying before him gradually come into focus, feeling the other's breath brush more distinctly against his mouth and nose...

Just as their lips were about to touch, the person above abruptly stopped! His hand, which had been resting by his side, clenched and then relaxed, relaxed and then clenched again, repeating this several times before finally straightening up.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, he reluctantly retraced his steps and returned to the bed.

Once the movement in the room settled into silence again, the person on the sofa, who should have been sound asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

Chapter 42: Not Yet. Unbeknownst to him, the rain outside had ceased, and the sky was beginning to brighten slightly, a hint of morning light outlining the vast indoor space.

Li Ting, lying on the sofa and staring blankly at the ceiling, gradually sat up.

He glanced at the figure in the room who had also tossed and turned throughout the night, finally falling into a sleepy haze before dawn. Li Ting walked over to the dining table, picked up the bag resting there, and headed into the kitchen. After a while, he returned holding a large bowl.

After placing it down, he noticed several magazines still spread out beside him. Li Ting quietly stared at them for a moment, then couldn't help but reach out to gently stroke the open page in the center before turning to grab a jacket and putting it on. He glanced once more at the sleeping person before stepping into the pre-dawn darkness and quietly leaving.

When he returned to the Youyou community, the house was calm, but the entire hall was a mess. Beer bottles and cigarette butts were strewn everywhere, and the room was filled with a pungent odor that hadn't dissipated, forming a stark contrast to the clean space Li Ting had just been in.

He frowned and headed to another room, stepping on a drunken person sleeping under a folding chair along the way, which elicited a muffled curse from the latter, before he hurriedly went back to sleep.

Li Ting didn't stop. He pushed open the door and saw Tian Dian, who was groggily getting up.

Tian Dian had been awakened by the ghostly noise. His sleepy eyes snapped wide open the moment he saw Li Ting, and he jumped up anxiously, rushing forward.

"Li Zi, where did you go all night?"

"I came back and didn't see you; it scared me to death! I called your phone for so long—why didn't you answer?" The previous day, Tian Dian had to work late, and when he returned to the dorm, he found a lively crowd, but Li Ting, who should have been resting, was nowhere to be seen. Tian Dian immediately connected the dots and, furious, chased everyone out with a commanding air.

"I didn't hear it." Li Ting didn't answer the earlier questions, only addressing the last one.

A workaholic used to various part-time jobs wouldn't miss hearing his phone ring, Tian Dian thought, finding it strange. Seeing Li Ting carrying a bag filled with clothes only added to his surprise. "Did you sleep outside? And you even took a shower?!"

Typically muddled in such matters, Tian Dian had an extraordinary sensitivity to this kind of situation. He stared closely at Li Ting, sweeping his gaze over him. He realized Li Ting was wearing old clothes he used to wear as pajamas, and the bag contained dirty clothes and... slippers?

Based on his understanding of Li Ting, even if he had spent the whole night outside, he wouldn't easily splurge on a hotel room to sleep and wash up. He wouldn't even go to a guesthouse; firstly, because he's thrifty, and secondly, because Li Ting had a strong sense of insecurity and was very guarded against people and situations. He was casual about clothing and food, but when it came to sleeping, it was a different matter.

Li Ting yearned for a familiar environment, familiar housemates, and familiar beds. After the incident in the precarious building, when they moved here, Li Ting had spent several sleepless nights, only recently starting to feel better. It's hard to forget how long it took for him to get used to Tian Dian's presence when they initially lived together. And yet, this Li Ting had actually ventured out to stay the night on his own? How could Tian Dian not be curious, a curiosity that seemed about to spill out of his mouth?

Did he have acquaintances nearby? If he really did, who could let Li Ting drop his guard?

Tian Dian was hesitant, and Li Ting was also a bit doubtful; he was more perceptive than Tian Dian was.

Why would Tian Da Kai be scared half to death just because he didn't return home for one night? It was common for him to not come back all night during his night shifts.

"Is someone looking for me?" Tian Dian was startled, "Huh? What did you say?" Li Ting looked at him, "Cai Yang? Did he get discharged from the hospital? Or did he look for you first?" Tian Dian denied it, "No, no, he didn't look for me; I just heard about it… He's still mad at you, so you should be careful." Li Ting was unconvinced.

Tian Dian looked at him and suddenly asked, "Li Zi, you don't have a girlfriend, do you?" This guess seemed ridiculous at first, but as an expert on love, Tian Dian felt something was off.

"No," Li Ting replied without turning his head.

Tian Dian reconfirmed, "Really?!" Li Ting paused for a moment, turned around, and added, "Not yet." Tian Dian was bewildered; what difference did that make?!

Fang Huaining had a muddled sleep filled with bizarre dreams. In his dream, he became Captain Crow, piloting a spaceship through the universe. While flying, he encountered a giant stray cat on a planet. In the pouring rain, the stray cat curled up in a patch of grass, wagging its tail pitifully with big eyes full of longing. The captain's heart was immediately touched, and he cleared out everything on the ship to invite the large cat aboard. With no bed available on the ship, he could only cuddle up with the big cat to sleep. For some reason, the rain-soaked cat suddenly became dry and warm, and as soon as he got close, a sweet fragrance filled the ship's interior. Just as the captain couldn't resist leaning in to hug the big cat's neck, a splash suddenly erupted; when he blinked, he found the big cat had vanished, replaced instead by an alien boy in his arms. The boy's hair was wet, and he looked as if he had just been pulled from boiling water, with pinkish-white skin glistening with droplets and big watery eyes staring at him innocently. The captain was instantly electrified. As he listened to the alien boy's soft voice asking if he could help drive away the monsters invading his planet, the captain made a promise without a second thought.

I will protect you forever, my darling! The captain's words sent shivers down his spine, and then he tightened his grip on the boy with one hand while the other grasped his chin, suddenly lowering his head toward those cherry blossom-colored lips. The boy didn't dodge or avoid; the captain didn't flinch either, and their lips met for the first time. Captain Crow felt that the touch under his lips was warm and soft, slippery and bouncy, making him almost tempted to devour it whole. At the same time, another kind of fragrant essence erupted, instantly overwhelming the captain. When the captain opened his eyes, he found that the boy was no longer in front of him; instead, a gigantic bowl of fried noodles was all that remained. His lips, and even his entire face, were buried in the bowl, resting against a heap of ham and eggs, covering him from head to toe. No wonder it smelled so good and felt so soft… Fang Huaining awoke with a start and finally opened his eyes. He was increasingly aware of the downsides of his overly broad and active thinking; the main program kept malfunctioning, as if infected with a virus of excitement. It seemed he needed to find time to clean out the clutter in his brain. Sitting on the bed, he rubbed his face vigorously, then checked the time and realized it was already nearly ten o'clock.

Suddenly remembering that there was still someone in the house, Fang Huaining hurriedly jumped out of bed and went outside, only to find the bedding on the sofa neatly folded and the living room restored to its emptiness. …Did they leave? When did they leave? Fang Huaining felt annoyed and stood there for a moment before reluctantly entering the bathroom to wash up. While brushing his teeth in front of the mirror, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious—what if his behavior last night was discovered by the other person? Did he scare the alien boy away? Sigh, his self-control still wasn't sufficient. As he emerged feeling downcast, he noticed an extra item on the dining table… it was a bowl of big, red strawberries, fresh and tender, carefully piled into a small mountain. Fang Huaining's heart stirred; he quickly walked over, picked one up to inspect it, and after a moment, cautiously put it in his mouth. Unlike the reckless ones he had picked before, these in the bowl were clearly carefully selected premium fruits—juicy and full of flavor, bursting with sweetness. They really smelled sweet, and they truly were sweet… Was this a thank-you gift for his overnight stay? What a thoughtful little cat.

His heart inexplicably relaxed, and Fang Huaining thought, brushing aside his earlier frustration at not seeing anyone, he couldn't help but break into a broad smile, revealing a sweet expression he would never show in front of others...

Because he had stayed up too late, Fang Huaining didn't have the opportunity to wander around the school vicinity and could only rush to the research institute. Lao Ni was there today, and upon seeing him arrive late, he didn't scold him but instead patted Fang Huaining's head and asked with concern, "Look at those dark circles. Have you been lacking sleep and having vivid dreams? But your spirit looks fine; you seem quite cheerful."

Fang Huaining then realized his lips had been slightly upturned the whole time; he quickly straightened his expression, adopting a serious and composed demeanor.

Wu Yi, standing to the side, came over and said, "Junior, take the chance to catch up on some sleep this month; next month is probably going to be busy."

Fang Huaining asked in puzzlement.

Wu Yi explained, "The project our group applied for has been approved, and we've also found a generous sponsor. However, their requirement is that we meet Lao Ni in person, which he values highly; he actually agreed to it, so we'll probably have to accompany him on a trip to U City soon."

Fang Huaining thought for a moment: "When is this trip?"

Wu Yi shrugged, "Not certain yet; it could be in a week, two weeks, or three weeks. Are you worried about your classes?"

"I don't have any other plans, so if you can't get out, let me know, and I'll help find your teacher."

Fang Huaining thought to himself, "There's really nothing you can help with here."

After finishing his tasks, Fang Huaining received a call from the Computer Science Association, asking him to drop by when he had a chance. He glanced at his watch; it was still not too late, so he decided to head down to the Computer Science Association before visiting the hyacinth.

As he left the laboratory, Fang Huaining unexpectedly encountered Li Han in the corridor.

Li Han, carrying a stack of items, was laughing and chatting with a senior student. When he noticed the senior student looking up, he turned to her with a cheerful smile.

"Senior Fang... uh, I just came to visit everyone."

The senior student replied, "Han Han is really too considerate. Even after leaving, he still thinks of us and brought so much food."

"No way," Li Han said, "during my internship, you all took such good care of me; how could I forget?"

Fang Huaining listened to their exchange without intending to join in, merely nodding before preparing to leave. However, as he stepped into the elevator, Li Han followed him.

"Are you going to the Computer Science Association, Senior Fang? I happen to be going there too..."

Fang Huaining didn't respond. For some reason, he felt there was something odd about Li Han's attitude.

Li Han spoke nonchalantly, "I heard that Teacher Song Chuping is going to give university lectures, and our school is one of the locations. I didn't expect to learn from him, even after leaving A University – it's quite good."

"Really..." Fang Huaining replied politely, making a move to leave as soon as possible when the elevator doors opened. However, Li Han added, "My brother's school will also have one."

Fang Huaining slightly turned his head and couldn't help but ask, "When is that?"

The elevator doors opened, and Li Han walked out with him: "It seems like at the end of this month; our school's will be at the beginning of next month. With so many lectures, Teacher Song's students should be involved in the organization, right?"

Fang Huaining nodded, deep in thought, "They're needed to sort out the materials."

Li Han cautiously looked at him: "It's a pity that Teacher Ni Weinian hasn't given lectures much in recent years..."

Liu Lei called Li Ting in a somewhat worried tone, mentioning that the A Library had reminded him that two of the books on his borrowing card had reached their due date. These were heavy, hardcover books, and if they weren't returned, the fines would pile up.

After hearing this, Li Ting went to the A Library. Sure enough, he found that the books were indeed still there, and several others were nearing their due dates. Considering the borrower's reading speed, Li Ting didn't think he would be that slow... He thought to himself, "If that's the case, it must be intentional."

A farmer, a thief, and a snake.

No, not a snake, but a large crocodile with a huge appetite. Li Ting walked slowly along the shaded path, tapping his library card in his hand. Suddenly sensing something, he looked across the street and saw two people talking as they walked towards the other end amidst the mottled tree branches. One tall figure had his back to him, obscuring his expression. The other shorter person, however, was clearly visible, beaming with a smile, looking up with eagerness and admiration at the person in front of him. This demeanor was familiar to Li Ting. He paused for a moment, watching the two disappear around the corner, and slowly frowned. ... Meanwhile, out of Li Ting's sight, Fang Huaining was also frowning. Drawing from his childhood experience of being chased, he gradually sensed something unusual about Li Han's attitude. He initially didn't make the connection because Li Han was Li Ting's brother. However, he suddenly recalled the scene of a male couple breaking up that day outside the restaurant and silently chastised himself for being careless. Consequently, their pace slowed even further. Finally, Fang Huaining couldn't help but interrupt Li Han's chatter and directly said, "I suddenly remembered I have something to do, so I won't be going to the Computer Science Association." After saying that, he ignored whatever Li Han had to say next and turned to leave. As he walked away, he secretly sighed, reluctant to explore the reasons behind his actions.

Thankfully, he noticed early; otherwise, it would have been a disaster. Next time he saw this brother, he would have to take a detour!

Chapter 43: What else does the alien boy not know? After a one-sided farewell with Li Han, Fang Huaining took a shortcut through a small path to the shopping street. However, upon arriving at Hyacinth Cottage, he didn't see the person he had been thinking about. Wei Ping was there, and although Fang Huaining still appeared aloof as before, since learning about her youthful affections, Wei Ping had developed an extraordinary sense of insight. Upon seeing his unfocused gaze, she could tell what he was thinking. Wei Ping said, "He hasn't come; our class schedule has been adjusted." Fang Huaining frowned, "When?" "In the last couple of days, because the store has hired quite a few new servers. See? They are all freshmen this year with excellent overall qualities. We have to thank the A University Forum for suddenly being kind and not deleting our store's advertisement in time; it only took a few days to fill all the positions." Fang Huaining's lips subtly twitched: "So what?" "So, from now on, our working hours will be shorter, and it will be much more convenient for shifts and time off. Just let us know if you want to take a leave; the senior students are really great!" Unable to listen any longer, Fang Huaining turned and left. His original intention was to hope that the little money-grubber wouldn't be so busy and could relax more.

Instead, he ended up having even less time to see him. Fang Huaining genuinely didn't know whether to feel happy or sad.

The next day, he woke up early again to wait at the entrance of Youyou Community, but after waiting for a long time, he realized he would be late for class if he didn't hurry, yet he still hadn't seen the person.

Where is the little money-grubber? Did he take a different route to avoid work again? But he never slacked off for two consecutive days?

With such doubts, Fang Huaining waited in vain for the next two days, but he never encountered the other. Clearly, they used to run into each other occasionally, yet recently, they seemed to miss each other frequently. Even at the small ranch, the account memos, and the game, the other had not added any new content; was it a coincidence or a deliberate action by the little money-grubber?

The former speculation annoyed Fang Huaining, while the latter made him anxious.

He initially thought that after eating the little farmer's strawberries that morning, he could enjoy that night's close call without Li Ting noticing. But now, Fang Huaining wasn't so sure. What if Li Ting hadn't actually been asleep at that time? So he knew, he cared, and thus he became distant?

His racing thoughts made Fang Huaining increasingly uneasy, leading him to use the only chat software he had exchanged with the other.

After thinking it over, he sent a polite yet unenthusiastic message saying, "Thank you for the strawberries."

The little cat didn't come back. I don't know if it didn't see me or was just acting like it didn't. Either way, the little cat simply didn't return. Fang Huaining turned her phone over and over, examined it thoroughly, then lay on the bed, annoyed, covering her head with the blanket and sighing heavily. How could I lose someone right under my nose? Fang Huaining thought helplessly; I truly am useless.

In the elective computer class, Fang Huaining was daydreaming while Wang Fuliang chatted enthusiastically with Zhao Bang. "Did you really lose your gear just because you died once?!" Zhao Bang scoffed. Wang Fuliang looked at Fang Huaining's back with grievance, "It was just once that I died, but I was chopped three times before that! That's the crucial point! Three big chops! Ahhh! Do you think I'm pitiful?"

Without windflowers, without a little pasture, without replies in the chat app, what else could Fang Huaining use to contact that person? Fang Huaining racked her brains. Ah, there's also Lemon Tree! The Lemon Tree where I downloaded materials for Li Ting. He's probably gone through those electronic documents by now. If Li Ting still needs them, he might go there to retrieve something.

"Right!" Fang Huaining slapped her thigh and quickly closed the coding page to open Lemon Tree. "You think I'm pitiful too, right?"

Wang Fuliang still had a spark of conscience left, and her words brought him a sense of comfort.

At first, Fang Huaining was happy to share her experiences on Lemon Tree, but it wasn't long before more and more strangers started to wander in due to some unknown channels of information dissemination. Among them were people who didn't even have an interest in computers, but were drawn in by unrelated external factors. As a result, Fang Huaining grew increasingly exhausted from dealing with them, so she decided to lock up a significant portion of her private content; only half of it remained public, and she logged in sporadically.

It was therefore no surprise that when she entered Lemon Tree and discovered that the viewing numbers for that private space had increased by five or six hundred clicks over the past two months, Fang Huaining was taken aback. Sixty days, and it had gone up by that much?! She even began to wonder whether she had accidentally made that area public again.

However, the password hadn't been leaked, and there were no signs of it being cracked. And the only person who knew the password was...

Fang Huaining's heart skipped a beat. She hurried to check the visitor records in the backend and found that someone had been logging in almost every couple of days, but the IP addresses were all different. With her expertise, she could tell that they were all due to proxy software.

So... There's a little cat that appears to be indifferent to you, occasionally becomes annoyed and scratches you, but secretly hides every day to peek into your life and your private space.

If he openly visited her every day, Fang Huaining wouldn't think twice; she would simply assume Li Ting genuinely appreciated her documentation and writing style. However, the deliberate IP changes clearly indicated that he believed he wouldn't get caught.

What was this little trickster up to? Was he curious about Fang Huaining? Did he want to know more about her? Or was he afraid of her discovering that he cared about her?

This line of thought left Fang Huaining increasingly excited, causing her to feel a rush of heat to her head. If her CPU load wasn't so high, she might have exploded right then and there.

At that moment, her phone received a message. Fang Huaining told herself to calm down – calm down – it was just the beginning. An issue like this couldn't rely solely on assumptions; she needed to confirm it again and again to avoid being too impulsive.

She had once said that her relationship with Li Ting was like being separated by doors and walls. What lay beyond was either a lush garden or a deep abyss, and only by walking over could she find out. Now, though the wall hadn't fallen, a door had been removed, allowing a faint ray of sunlight to stream through, illuminating a slightly clearer path ahead.

Taking a deep breath and seeking a distraction, Fang Huaining opened her phone. The message caught her attention – it was from Qian Kun.

—Guess where I saw whom?! You'll definitely draw a complete blank! If you still can't guess it, what's the point? I've already figured it out but didn't dare to casually make a guess.

Fang Huaining tossed her phone aside, nearly losing her cool again. No, she had to remain composed and think everything through to plan her next steps. After taking a couple of deep breaths, Fang Huaining picked up her phone again to reply to Qian Kun. —Where? Who? "Ding dong!" Qian Kun sent a photo directly, accompanied by the caption: —Right now! Distracted, Fang Huaining opened the photo and took a quick look, but the content almost made her gasp in shock! Wang Fuliang hadn't heard from his companion for a long time and assumed the other person was also feeling embarrassed, so he continued, "Even though I'm really unfortunate, I don't blame that culprit at all... Good brothers only have this life, not the next. How could I let my teammate casually kill me over and over again in the game, make my little account explode with ultra-rare gear, and then sneak offline without even a word of apology for such a trivial matter? That's just too ungrateful! Don't you think?" Zhao Bang looked at him. Wang Fuliang repeated, "Don't you think?" Zhao Bang replied, "Who are you asking?" Wang Fuliang locked eyes with him, then slowly turned his head back, only to find that the person who was supposed to be reflecting seriously behind him had vanished. "Fang Huaining?!" Wang Fuliang exclaimed in shock. Zhao Bang was speechless: "She left in quite the hurry just now." Wang Fuliang couldn't believe what had just happened. "The head actually skipped class?!"

Li Ting worked eight hours a day, taking a break every four hours. He stood at the corner, talking on the phone. "You don't need to worry about those books. If they incur late fees, someone will cover you." Liu Lei firmly believed that the money for the late fees would definitely not come from the stingy Li Ting: "Who will cover?" The books were borrowed by Fang Huaining; surely, it wouldn't be him.

Liu Lei still remembered the time he ran into Fang Xue Ni at the library. After that, Li Ting had privately explained that he borrowed so many books to help someone pursue Fang Xue Ni. But what if Fang Xue Ni didn't want to be pursued like that? After all, Liu Lei had heard rumors about the head of the department having many admirers, but she was quite averse to overly enthusiastic pursuit.

"If he gets angry and refuses to return the book, what will happen?" Liu Lei asked again. "You're the one who will end up losing."

"Do you really think he would do that?" Li Ting retorted. "Don't worry, if he refuses to return your book, I can also choose not to return his." Last time, Fang Xue Ni had used his library card to borrow several original texts for Li Ting, which were still in Li Ting's possession.

Initially, Liu Lei was convinced that Fang Xue Ni wouldn't do such a thing, but he soon became confused by the complicated relationships involved.

"How did you help Fang Xue Ni borrow books, and how did Fang Xue Ni help you borrow books?" Liu Lei asked, puzzled.

Li Ting naturally wouldn't answer. If he hadn't explained things to Liu Lei to ease his mind and prevent him from going to find Fang Xue Ni to talk, he wouldn't have explained anything at all.

However, Liu Lei still felt uneasy. "It's only a few weeks until the mid-term exam, and I'm going to need to borrow books."

Li Ting thought for a moment and replied, "If you need to borrow them, I can lend them to you using someone else's library card."

"Whose card?" Liu Lei asked anxiously. "Is it someone with a shady background?"

Li Ting answered, "Fang Xue Ni's."

Liu Lei: "——"

Liu Lei: "I mean... You two have a relationship, don't you?"

He was utterly baffled by the complexities of the world.

Li Ting's patience had worn thin, and after that, he hung up the phone.

After locking his phone in the employee break room cabinet, Li Ting straightened his clothes and walked out of the long corridor.

...

Fang Xue Ni quickly changed clothes and followed Money-kun's instructions to enter the swimming pool. He looked around but couldn't find the person he was looking for.

"What? How did you get here so fast?!" Money-kun suddenly rushed up from behind and grabbed Fang Xue Ni's feet, pulling him out of the water. "Come on, swim two laps with me. You said you wanted to keep up with me, but this week you've been slacking off."

Fang Xue Ni followed Money-kun in the water for a few laps before floating back up to catch his breath.

Just as he wiped his face with his hand, he looked up and saw someone staring back at him.

It was Li Ting, sitting on the observation deck above him, wearing a whistle around his neck and holding a small flag in his hand. He was standing exactly like the figure in Money-kun's photo.

Wasn't that just a little too coincidental?

Fang Xue Ni couldn't believe it.

The extraterrestrial boy seemed to have no limits.

Li Ting's gaze swept across Fang Xue Ni's face and then down his body before returning to his face again. He raised an eyebrow and looked at him with disdain.

Fang Xue Ni: "———"

...