Back then, he would act like a rogue, pretending to untie the bath towel around his waist, letting it fall loosely down, and looking at Zhao Xiyin innocently, saying, "Wife, wipe me down."
Zhao Xiyin covered his hand, "How can you be so shameless!"
Perhaps recalling similar past events, Zhao Xiyin's face flushed slightly in the video. Zhou Qishen wasn't in a hurry, nor did he make any suggestive remarks. He obediently found a robe and put it on. The robe was dark blue, with an open front and no buttons. It was loose and long, and when worn by Zhou Qishen, it looked both wicked and wanton.
Zhao Xiyin pretended not to look, occasionally glancing at the screen. Zhou Qishen was frighteningly self-disciplined. He had been indulging in debauchery for over a decade, yet his physique remained as impressive as ever. Needless to say, he had a strong waist, narrow hips, and the outline of his six-pack abs was clearly visible. Even with a slight exertion, his back muscles were clearly defined.
Zhou Qishen returned to the video call, "Is Uncle Zhao feeling better?"
"I took my medicine and just fell asleep."
Zhao Wenchun had been suffering from a cold and low-grade fever for the past two days, and she was feeling listless. Zhao Xiyin went home after rehearsals to cook and take care of her, and didn't have time to think about anything else. She quite liked this situation; she and Zhou Qishen had reconciled, but they were taking things slowly and giving each other space.
It wasn't their first time dating, and they were past the impulsive age of young boys. They both knew perfectly well that getting back together was hard-won.
Zhao Xiyin looked worried. "I feel that Dad's health is not as good as it used to be this year. This is the fourth time he has been sick."
Zhou Qishen comforted him, "After all, he's getting older, and we can't compare him to before. Just remind him to take care of his health."
After some discussion, Zhao Xiyin, with her sharp eyes, asked, "What's on the table?"
Zhou Qishen subconsciously shifted his body to block them.
Zhao Xiyin drawled, "Zhou Qishen."
He suddenly smiled, stopped hiding it, and showed it to her.
Zhao Xiyin was taken aback. "You play with Rubik's Cubes too?"
"Yeah, I learned a little."
"Then try to piece it together for me." Zhao Xiyin became interested, propped her chin up, and gave a lazy look.
Zhou Qishen is a very generous man. He never haggles or makes demands. He simply says, "Don't look at me like that."
Zhao Xiyin: "Hmm?"
"To seduce."
Seeing her remain silent for a while, head bowed in deep thought, Zhou Qishen raised an eyebrow and began playing with the Rubik's Cube with an air of seriousness. The man's fingers were long, and when he intertwined and turned the cube, it resembled a soft net. Zhao Xiyin was a little stunned; this was not just "learning a little," it was already flowing smoothly.
It takes about a minute to complete the puzzle with all six sides in different colors.
Zhao Xiyin asked in surprise, "I remember you've never played with a Rubik's Cube before. When did you learn?"
Zhou Qishen thought for a moment, "The day I hold you."
"..." Zhao Xiyin was speechless for a moment.
He grinned mischievously, "Don't remember which time we hugged? Let me help you remember. You hugged me at the hospital, you hugged me in the neighborhood, and you hugged me at my house."
Zhao Xiyin angrily retorted, "What do you mean 'I hugged you'? It was clearly you who hugged me."
Zhou Qishen laughed heartily.
"You scoundrel!" Zhao Xiyin wanted to scratch him even through the screen.
Instead of making a fuss, Zhou Qishen replied, "That night you were raving about your little brother Ye, saying he could solve a Rubik's Cube and that he was a charming math teacher. How many seconds does it take to solve a Rubik's Cube? Twenty seconds. You're really making me angry! Do you think I dare not take further courses to catch up?"
Zhao Xiyin was stunned for a long time after hearing this long string of words. After she came to her senses, she whistled playfully and said, "Just say you're jealous."
Zhou Qishen put down the Rubik's Cube. "You're pretty arrogant. Believe me or not, I'll come over right now and teach you a lesson."
Zhao Xiyin turned her head and raised her voice, "Dad! Zhou Qishen said he's coming to deal with me!"
He got so angry, he said, "You have no conscience!"
Teacher Zhao finds fault with everything about him now, so she wouldn't dare lower her opinion of him. Zhao Xiyin's mischievous grin was no less intense than his earlier. She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on him. The two stared at each other on the screen, then fell silent, neither of them speaking.
"Sleeping?"
"Sleep?"
When they spoke again, they spoke almost simultaneously.
Zhou Qishen held the phone closer, his almond-shaped eyes tilting upwards as if deliberately letting her see more clearly, their gaze deep and unfathomable. They could convey emotions, and they could also be captivating. After a long while, he whispered, "Hmm, I want to sleep."
The explanation was ambiguous, yet Zhao Xiyin found it unsettling.
Zhou Qishen said, "Xiao west, can you not hang up?"
Zhao Xiyin's first reaction was, "What's wrong? Is your head hurting again?"
He hummed in agreement, his expression perfectly mimicking the gesture. He lowered his head, rested it on his arm, and gazed expectantly. Zhao Xiyin couldn't resist, and stiffly nodded, "Then you have to sleep with your clothes on."
So, Zhou Qishen placed his phone next to his pillow, leaving the video call on so she could see half of his body. They chatted about food, drinks, and games, and once the conversation started, they couldn't stop. Zhao Xiyin told him that during the two years she was away from Beijing, she had traveled to many places in China. She mentioned that when she was at Chaka Salt Lake in Qinghai, she met a group of backpackers—three men and one woman—who shared a room at night.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qishen perked up, "Oh?"
Just as she was getting into the mood, Zhao Xiyin stopped talking and changed the subject, saying that she had gone to see the lake alone and missed her bus on the way back. Just as a strong wind and hail were about to start, a kind driver saved her.
Zhou Qishen asked in a flat tone, "Male driver?"
"She's a woman in her fifties with a son in high school. We're still in touch."
Zhao Xiyin could talk non-stop for a long time. Zhou Qishen didn't say anything, he was listening, but he seemed to be preoccupied.
Zhao Xiyin stopped talking after a while and asked, "Zhou Qishen, are you going to sleep or not?"