After the Breakup, My Ex-Boyfriend’s "White Moonlight" Became Obsessed With Me - Chapter 22

“Come in!”

Yin Zheng opened the cabinet and placed a pair of brand-new slippers on the floor. Seeing He Ran hesitate, he said with a smile, “These are new. No one has worn them before.”

He Ran pursed his lips and stiffly changed into them. His hesitation was not because of the slippers. He had just rejected the man’s kindness earlier, and now he was turning around to stay for a meal. It felt somewhat awkward. If it were not for the fact that this place was too far from the city for delivery and going out was too much trouble, He Ran would never have stepped inside.

Yin Zheng led him in and said warmly, “You can look around while I cook. Are there any foods you avoid?”

“No.” After a pause, He Ran added, “Do you need help?”

Yin Zheng was slightly surprised and smiled. “Sure.”

In the kitchen, Yin Zheng handed him a small pink plastic basket. “Then help me peel some of this garlic.”

“Okay.”

He Ran took the basket, sat down at the kitchen island, and began peeling the garlic seriously. Yin Zheng watched his back and felt his heart soften. He instinctively reached out to ruffle He Ran’s hair, but fortunately, he stopped himself in time. Taking a deep breath, he put on an apron and began preparing the ingredients.

There was not much garlic, and He Ran finished peeling it in no time. He turned his head to ask what else he could do, but he suddenly froze. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, looking completely out of place in this domestic setting. Yet, there he was, wearing an apron with his sleeves rolled up, looking focused as he peeled shrimp. His slender fingers moved nimbly. Before He Ran could even react, a shrimp was already finished.

He Ran’s gaze lingered for a few seconds before following the man’s lean, powerful forearm upward. From this angle, he could see the man’s gentle profile, his lowered eyelids, his straight nose, and his slightly pursed lips.

He did not know how long he had been staring when Yin Zheng suddenly turned to look at him. He Ran was startled and instinctively looked away. Realizing his reaction, he naturally turned back and asked as if nothing happened, “What is it?”

Yin Zheng did not seem to notice he was being watched. He smiled and said, “Could you help me tie my hair back again? My hands are too messy right now.”

He Ran was stunned and looked at Yin Zheng’s hair. He saw that the hair, which had been tied neatly, had loosened at some point. A few strands had escaped the hair tie and were hanging against his face.

“Okay.”

The corners of Yin Zheng’s lips curved slightly. “Thank you.”

He Ran said nothing and stepped behind him. He was slightly taller than Yin Zheng, so Yin Zheng stayed still, only tilting his head back slightly to make it easier for him. He Ran pulled off the hair tie. Instantly, the long hair tumbled down, covering his hands. It felt cool and silky to the touch.

He gathered the hair together awkwardly, struggling for a long while before finally tying it up. When he stepped back to look, he was embarrassed. The hair was bulging here and there. A perfectly fine head of hair now looked as if a cat had been playing with it. Not only was it messy, but it was also crooked.

“I will redo it for you!”

“No need.” Yin Zheng knew it was not tied well without even looking. He smiled to reassure him. “As long as it does not block my view, it is fine. Go rest. It will be ready soon.”

He Ran sat on the sofa playing with his phone, feeling bored. Smelling the aroma of food coming from the kitchen, his stomach began to growl. He was finally feeling hungry. He put down his phone and walked back to the kitchen.

Yin Zheng had already prepared several dishes. The long stone dining table was fully covered. There were pineapple beef cubes, stir-fried shrimp with scallions, braised pork with abalone, sweet and sour ribs, stir-fried hearts of cabbage, and a cold sea cucumber salad.

He realized he had asked a stupid question as soon as the words left his mouth. Yin Zheng smiled. “How is it? Not bad, right?”

He Ran had nothing to say but to offer praise. “Impressive!”

Yin Zheng went back to get the bowls and chopsticks. He said to the still-amazed He Ran, “Sit down and eat. It will not taste as good once it gets cold.”

He Ran followed the instructions and pulled out a chair to sit. Yin Zheng placed a bowl of rice in front of him and handed him a pair of chopsticks.

“Give it a try.”

He Ran took them and first picked up a piece of shrimp to eat.

“How is it?” Yin Zheng looked at him with a smile, his eyes full of anticipation.

He Ran paused for a moment and then praised him sincerely. “It is delicious! Beyond my imagination!”

Yin Zheng was satisfied, his eyes crinkling slightly. “That is good. I have not cooked in a long time. I thought I might be out of practice.”

He Ran was stunned again. Before he could say anything, Yin Zheng stood up again, went to the bar to get a bottle of wine, and returned. “Do you want a drink?”

“Sure.”

Yin Zheng poured him a glass and pushed it toward him. “Taste this.”

The wine was reddish and transparent, looking beautiful against the glass. He Ran took a sip. His eyes lit up slightly, and he took another sip. “What kind of wine is this?”

“Do you like it?”

He Ran nodded and praised it. “It is great! What brand is it?”

Yin Zheng smiled and said casually, “I brewed it myself in my spare time. If you like it, I have a few more bottles. You can take them when you leave.”

“You know how to brew wine too?”

He Ran felt he had been shocked more times today than in an entire year combined. His gaze toward the man held a hint of admiration. Yin Zheng refilled his glass. “I know more than just that. You can discover it slowly in the future.”

He Ran lowered his gaze, avoiding the man’s intense stare. He picked up his glass and took another sip.

“Do not just drink. Eat some food, or your stomach will feel uncomfortable later.”

Although there were many dishes, the two healthy men finished everything. He Ran had quite a bit of wine. Although he looked normal, a closer look revealed he was actually a bit drunk. He rested his head on his hand, his gaze lowered, staring blankly at the patterns on the table.

Yin Zheng toyed with his wine glass, his gaze fixed on He Ran. After a while, he called out softly, “He Ran?”

It took several seconds for He Ran to blink and slowly move his gaze to Yin Zheng’s face.

Yin Zheng said again, “He Ran, you are drunk.”

He Ran hummed and shook his head. He stood up by leaning on the table. His body swayed slightly as he said vaguely, “Where is the bathroom?”

Yin Zheng put down his wine glass and stood up. “I will take you.”

Yin Zheng leaned against the door outside, listening to the movement inside. After the sound of rushing water came the sound of the toilet flushing. Then the sound of splashing water lasted for a while. He was likely washing his hands or face. After a moment, everything went quiet again.

Click.

Yin Zheng stood up straight as He Ran opened the door and walked out. He held onto the doorframe. His face and hands were wet, and some of his hair was also damp. Water droplets dripped from his hair and cheeks, creating dark marks on his black shirt.

“You”

He Ran closed his eyes, suddenly forgetting what he was about to say. He stared at Yin Zheng’s face blankly for a moment before continuing. “You, stop swaying.”

Yin Zheng let out a light laugh. His thin lips parted as he spoke two words. “Are you stupid?”

He Ran shook his head again and said belatedly, “Did you, did you drug me?”

Yin Zheng burst out laughing. He supported He Ran’s swaying body and teased him, “You have a vivid imagination, President He!”

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