Bab 7: Affectionate Gesture
In the end, Li Caiyi decided to follow Shen Qiang to his house. She could no longer go back to her family house or her wedding house, so aside from renting a room in a hotel, his place was the only choice left.
Li Caiyi was curious about how his house looked like, so she didn't refuse his invitation.
Then, Shen Qiang stopped a taxi and told the driver his address. He lived alone in an apartment room on the edge of S city on the 2nd floor.
Shen Qiang led the nervous Li Caiyi to his room. After he inputted the password number, the door was unlocked.
"Come in," He said as he opened the door for her.
Li Caiyi gulped as she moved her stiff limbs. Life is full of surprises. She would never have imagined that she would spend a night in another man's house like this. Apart from Meng Renshu and her older brother, she hadn't interacted much with the opposite sex, so her knowledge was minimal.
She stepped into Shen Qiang's place, and a clean and fresh scent immediately assaulted her nose. This scent was… a peppermint?
"Don't stand there. Take a seat first. I'll fetch a warm drink for you." Shen Qiang led her to the white couch in the middle of the room. She awkwardly sat down as she recorded every part of this place in mind. Meanwhile, he went away to make some drinks.
This apartment had a simple and modern design on it. She noticed that Shen Qiang seemed to prefer black and white, seeing how his furniture dominated in these colors. The wall was painted white, and the floor was covered with a soft white carpet. The kitchen cabinet, the kitchen counter, and the dining table were arranged to one side, and it looked pretty comfy. On the other side, there was another smaller couch with a medium-sized TV in front of it.
Li Caiyi didn't know if it was just her because although the room looked immaculate, it lacked a human warmth. It was almost like he used this space solely for shelter and not for living, considering how he kept the furniture to the bare minimum. There weren't any decorations you usually see at people's houses, such as desk lamps, flower vases, paintings on the wall, an aquarium, a clock, or other little trinkets. Aside from the necessary furniture, this apartment barely had anything.
'Does Shen Qiang like a house like this?'
While Li Caiyi was immersed in her thoughts, he heard footsteps coming. "Do you like this place?"
She smiled as she received the steaming mug from him. "It's a nice place. You choose a good place and area to live. Even though it was pretty far to the center of the city, this area is quiet and an ideal place for those who seek calm."
Shen Qiang sat across from her. "I'm glad you like it."
Li Caiyi followed his example and took a sip from her drink as well. It was a warm honey tea, perfect for a chilly night. She sighed pleasantly at the sweet taste on her tongue.
"This is very good. You make it so well."
"This is the only thing I can make correctly."
"Ah? Then how do you usually eat?"
"I ordered them online or bought takeaway on the way home from work."
Li Caiyi smiled. "Do you want to eat some light snack, then? I don't want to brag, but I'm pretty confident with my culinary skill."
Shen Qiang's eyes lit up hearing that. He looked at her eagerly with a soft smile on his face. "Yes, please. I'd love to taste your cooking!"
He was so happy and full of expectation that Li Caiyi couldn't help but feel pressure. She really had to do this seriously after setting his expectation so high!
"What do you want to eat?" She asked him.
"Anything is good for me. I'm not a picky eater."
"Then let me see what's in your refrigerator first. Can I go to your kitchen?"
"Yes. But I'm afraid I don't have many ingredients in it." Shen Qiang stood up and led Li Caiyi to the kitchen.
She noticed how his steps were lighter than before and how his whole body radiated joy and anticipation. She could almost imagine a wagging tail behind him. Li Caiyi covered her mouth while smiling in amusement.
Li Caiyi checked on the kitchen, and as she thought, the kitchen utensils looked very new, as though no one ever used them. Shen Qiang wasn't joking when he said the only thing he could make correctly was honey tea.
Next, she opened the refrigerator and her mouth opened in surprise.
Aside from a few bottles of mineral water on the side and a few cans of beer, there was only canned food inside. There were canned fruits, beans, ham, and many others. The amount of variety was terrific.
Li Caiyi got a bad feeling and opened the freezer compartment. Sure enough, there was only frozen food inside.
All the food in his refrigerator was the type you could eat with little effort. You only need to heat it in the microwave, and you can eat it in a few minutes.
"I'm asking just in case, but do you even have cooking oil in your cabinet?"
Shen Qiang looked blank for a second before he realized something. "Now that you mention it, I don't have any."
They said you could easily discern a person's personality from how they treated others and how they stocked their refrigerator; Li Caiyi was convinced now.
Shen Qiang was terrifyingly practical even for his diet!
"How can you live like this when you have such a good place? What a waste. A total waste." She massaged her temple.
"They are delicious and easy to make." He replied in a small voice like he was embarrassed.
"Are you so busy with work you didn't even have time to make something delicious for yourself?"
"I mostly don't have time," He hesitated a bit before he added, "But when I do, I don't do it. It's just too much of a hassle."
Li Caiyi decided it'd be useless to make something out of the ingredients from his kitchen, so she hurried to the couch to fetch her trench coat. "I'll run to the nearest store. I need at least cooking oil if I want to make something."
Shen Qiang hurriedly held her back. "Don't go. It's already so late."
"But you want to taste my cooking, right? This might be your last chance." She smiled meaningfully at him.
Shen Qiang's gaze softened, and he pushed Li Caiyi back to the couch. "You wait here, and I'll go. Just let me know what you need."
"What? But…"
"No, you can't." Shen Qiang refused stubbornly. He was steadfast in his decision that Li Caiyi couldn't help but give up and make a list of everything she needed.
He received the list with a nod. She sent him off to the door when she noticed that Shen Qiang had been looking at her fondly and intently.
She tilted her head in confusion when he suddenly reached out his hand to rub her head affectionately. "I'll be back soon. Stay warm and wait for me."
It happened so fast that Li Caiyi didn't have time to respond. By the time she came to her senses, Shen Qiang had run out of the apartment.
Li Caiyi's heart was beating loudly in her ribs. Shen Qiang was awfully affectionate to her, and she couldn't keep up with his pace at all!
His gentle gesture was one she had never received from her ex-husband before, and although she felt it was ironic, she couldn't help but feel happy. If other people saw that scene just now, wouldn't they think they are a genuine couple?
She fanned her face with her hand to calm herself down. Gradually, she calmed down and sighed somberly.
She knew very well that their relationship was purely out of desperation. They both were lonely people, so they unconsciously sought comfort from each other. Their relationship wasn't real, and it was fated to wither before it had a chance to bloom.
Li Caiyi knew it, yet her heart always reacted in the way she didn't want. She felt like her plan had gone awry before she knew it.
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