"If you're not going home, come to my place. It's a bit small, but we can squeeze in if you don't mind."
"I can sleep on the sofa."
"How can you make the boss sleep on the sofa?"
Lin Zhi didn't say anything, just sat there obediently, which was strangely endearing.
This was Lin Zhi's third visit to Jiang Lai's house, and she was already quite familiar with the place. She knew which door to enter through, which floor to press in the elevator, and where to put her slippers, but she still let the host do these things for her.
As soon as she entered the room, Jiang Lai suddenly rushed inside and closed the door.
Lin Zhi had just taken off her shoes when Jiang Lai disappeared before she could even react. Helpless, she could only look for slippers in the shoe cabinet herself.
Lin Zhi changed into slippers, and Jiang Lai also came out of the room.
Lin Zhi teased, "What? Is your room a mess?"
Jiang Lai scratched her head: "No."
I'm just afraid that seeing the little dolphin nightlight might remind you of something...
This is what is known as a guilty conscience.
Jiang Lai rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen: "Haven't had dinner yet? What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."
Lin Zhi leaned against the kitchen door, watching Jiang Lai's retreating figure, and raised her lips in a smile: "You can cook?"
Jiang Lai looked at the empty refrigerator and became worried. There was nothing there. She had eaten almost everything before joining the crew. Now there was only yogurt in the refrigerator. She looked at the cabinet next to her and thought, "Great, two packs of instant noodles."
Jiang Lai ate a lot before leaving, afraid that it would spoil.
She turned to look at Lin Zhi, and pouted, "I can, but the circumstances don't allow it."
Lin Zhi covered her mouth and laughed, then took out her phone and waved it: "I'll order takeout and you cook for me, how about it?"
Jiang Lai nodded: "Okay, what do you want to eat?"
"Hmm... I don't want anything too oily, how about tomato and egg noodles? Do you know how to make them?"
"Of course! My noodles are delicious!"
Lin Zhi paused while swiping the screen, then pretended not to hear anything and continued browsing.
Jiang Lai blurted out her words without thinking, only realizing what she had said afterward. Blushing, she explained, "What I meant was that the noodles I made were delicious."
"puff."
Lin Zhi held back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. She looked up at her and asked, "I know, is there another meaning?"
Jiang Lai twitched her lips, wishing she could tape her mouth shut.
It's all my mom's fault! Why did she give me a mouth when she gave birth to me?!
Min Xuehua, far away in the villa: "Achoo!"
Half an hour later, the groceries Lin Zhi bought arrived. Jiang Lai took the groceries and hid in the kitchen, quickly escaping from Lin Zhi.
"Jiang Lai, can I borrow your computer? I need to process a file."
Jiang Lai, wearing an apron and holding a kitchen knife, walked out of the kitchen and pointed to the bedroom: "In my bedroom, there's a desktop computer; the password is my birthday."
After saying that, Jiang Lai realized that Lin Zhi might not know her birthday, and was about to add something when Lin Zhi interrupted her: "Thank you, I know your birthday."
Jiang Lai blushed, turned around and went back to the kitchen, immersed in the joy that Lin Zhi remembered her birthday.
Lin Zhi walked into the bedroom, pulled out a chair and sat down. The computer was a bit sluggish, and it looked like it had been bought a long time ago. There was nothing on it except for games.
She opened WeChat and sent a voice message: "Send it to my email."
The clock ticked away, and the aroma from the kitchen wafted slowly into the bedroom. Lin Zhi was a little hungry. She sent out an email, turned off her computer, and came out to find two bowls of steaming noodles on the dining table. Jiang Lai had also thoughtfully placed a carton of yogurt next to the noodles.
Jiang Lai was scrolling through Weibo when she saw Lin Zhi appear and immediately turned off her phone: "Are you done with your work?"
Lin Zhi nodded, washed her hands, and sat down opposite Jiang Lai. Looking at the colorful and fragrant noodles in front of her, she was very tempted. She took a bite and found it delicious.
Jiang Lai watched as she picked up her chopsticks, put the noodles in her mouth, chewed and swallowed, blinking her eyes, eagerly awaiting her evaluation.
Lin Zhi noticed the intense gaze and looked up: "It's so delicious."
Jiang Lai was satisfied after hearing the praise and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
The room suddenly fell silent. Even though the two of them were eating quietly, the sound of slurping noodles was amplified. Jiang Lai looked up and met Lin Zhi's eyes. A second later, the two of them smiled in unison.
"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Lai asked.
Lin Zhi bit off a piece of noodle and shook her head: "I didn't laugh."
"Nonsense, your smile is practically reaching your temples."
"From your description, the images that come to mind are terrifying."
Jiang Lai thought about it carefully, and it was indeed terrifying.
While eating, Lin Zhi said, "The company has a new project. We plan to form a girl group, tentatively a four-member group, and we are currently holding auditions."
Jiang Lai wondered why she should tell her. Wasn't this considered "confidential"? Shouldn't she be asking for her opinion? But it wasn't even in her field of expertise...
As Jiang Lai was pondering, Lin Zhi pushed her phone towards her: "These are photos, take a look."
Jiang Lai pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, then looked at the photos on her phone: "You have a great figure."
She's not quite as good as Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhi asked, "And then?"
"And then?" Jiang Lai leaned closer to take a look. "Why is there one with short hair?"
“Yes.” Lin Zhi put her phone away and continued, “The company is preparing to create a brand new girl group that breaks the established definition of a girl group.”
Jiang Lai swallowed hard and exclaimed, "Your idea is too audacious."
"It is a bit bold, but the market research feedback is quite good, so it is feasible. If we do what others are doing, it will be difficult to stand out. The company must have a standout artist that people can think of as a rising star."
Having novel and bold ideas proves that one must fight against dissent.
"Sister Lin, didn't any of the other senior leaders in the company stop you?"
“We stopped them. We held countless meetings about it. Even if they face criticism after their debut, I will protect them.”
Jiang Lai felt a pang of sadness; she also longed to be protected by Lin Zhi.
"Sister Lin!"
Jiang Lai picked up her yogurt and tapped Lin Zhi's carton against it: "I support you. I will be the company's bulwark. With me here, you can do whatever you want."
"Little one, I will protect you too."
"Thank you, Sister Lin. I will protect you too."
After dinner, Lin Zhi offered to wash the dishes, but Jiang Lai ignored her and sat on the sofa watching TV. Lin Zhi washed the dishes and then the fruit, and the two of them snuggled up on the sofa to watch a variety show, enjoying the fleeting moment of relaxation.
Lin Zhi analyzed the words and actions of each artist in the variety show from a professional perspective for Jiang Lai, and Jiang Lai was shocked after listening.
"It's also possible that I'm just speculating."
"No, ever since you said that, I think they really are creating a CP (couple pairing)."
"This whole thing is just wishful thinking by CP fans. The celebrities themselves neither explain nor deny it, so they can keep profiting from the CP fans' fanbase."
"Isn't there anything real?"
"Yes, that's possible. For example, if the two people are really good friends, or... a top-tier celebrity might actively approach a relatively unknown celebrity."
"It's too complicated, even more complicated than guessing the teacher's feelings."
Lin Zhi smiled but didn't say anything.
At ten o'clock, the two of them took a shower. Jiang Lai found a set of loungewear for Lin Zhi. Although it had been worn before, it smelled very nice after washing. When Lin Zhi received it, she thought Jiang Lai had soaked it in milk. This person seemed to really like drinking milk... and on the bed too.
Lin Zhi blushed and turned on the tap to wash her face.
Lin Zhi started having wild thoughts every night, and even suspected that she had evolved a split personality.
When Lin Zhi came out, Jiang Lai was wiping her face. Her face was full of collagen, exuding youthful charm.
"Sister Lin, do you want some? I poured too much."
Lin Zhi said "Oh," walked over, and held out her hand: "Give it to me."
Jiang Lai's hand rested on Lin Zhi's palm, the soft touch sending a jolt of electricity through Lin Zhi's arm. After they separated, Lin Zhi looked at the liquid in her palm, her mind drifting back to that night at the hotel.
Jiang Lai proudly raised her hand. Moonlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating her well-defined hand. Her fingertips gleamed with a dazzling silver light, and the milky white between her fingers reflected the moonlight, just like now...
Are you crazy?!
Lin Zhi cursed herself inwardly, and seeing Jiang Lai's pure and innocent appearance after removing her makeup made her feel even more guilty.
Lin Zhi sat at the foot of the bed, wiping her face while mentally calculating: "Jiang Lai, you're 22 years old this year, right?"
"Um."
Jiang Lai is 22 years old, 6 years younger than Lin Zhi. So when Lin Zhi turns 18 and comes of age, Jiang Lai is only 12 years old. Is she a primary school student? Or a junior high school student?
Oh my god!
Guilt +99.
While Lin Zhi was still pondering whether to "turn herself in," Jiang Lai had already turned off the lights and gone to bed.
In the darkness, Lin Zhiru sat motionless at the foot of the bed, like a thinker statue.
"Sister Lin, it's time to sleep!"
"oh."
Lin Zhi groped her way into the dark and crawled into bed. As soon as she lay down, Jiang Lai embraced her from behind, his arm resting on Lin Zhi's lower abdomen, making her breath quicken.
"Jiang Lai." Lin Zhi said somewhat awkwardly.
"Um?"
I'm a little tired.
"I know."
Jiang Lai's warm breath brushed against Lin Zhi's earlobe, like a feather tickling her.
Lin Zhi took a deep breath: "I don't want to do it today."