Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Xu Ke checked the time; it was six o’clock, probably Lin Yao returning from work. She walked to the living room and opened the door. Standing outside was Shen Mu. Xu Ke, wearing an apron and holding a spoon, looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to actually come here. Was he here to witness her disappointment and sorrow? He would be disappointed then; she never valued money highly. Her sadness that afternoon wasn’t due to the stock market’s drop but was a reflection on past emotions and perhaps a slight disappointment in human nature. After all, she was the one hurt back then, and she had long since let go, but he seemed unwilling to do the same, still looking for ways to play games with her after six years. Oddly, at that moment, she saw no hint of triumph or mockery on his face; his expression was candid, even slightly concerned and anxious. He looked into her eyes deeply and asked, “Why didn’t you answer the phone?” Xu Ke replied calmly, “I thought we had nothing left to say to each other.”
He fell silent, his gaze intense and probing. Xu Ke was most uncomfortable with this kind of scrutiny, feeling as though she might be swept away by some unfathomable current. “Do you have anything else? I’m cooking.” She was eager to get back to stirring the porridge, hoping he would leave soon. Shen Mu didn’t reply, his gaze sweeping past her into the room. The aroma from the kitchen seemed to catch his attention, and he asked, “You’re cooking porridge?” Xu Ke nodded. “Then I’ll eat here.” With that, he stepped forward. Xu Ke hesitated; if she didn’t move, he would brush against her, but if she did, it would seem like she was agreeing to let him stay for dinner. Before she could decide, his chest was against her nose, a subtle, pleasant male scent filling her senses. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stepped back hastily. Shen Mu had already stepped inside.
