Chapter 9
Lu Liubai and I had somehow ended up in an awkward limbo.
Dad had taken Mom off for some couple time.
I was home alone.
And of course, the power went out.
Everything outside was brightly lit. Maybe Dad had forgotten the electricity bill again.
I was afraid of bumping into the coffee table.
For a while, I didn’t dare move.
So I posted on WeChat Moments.
[The power’s out at home. Checked my vision, and would you look at that? Zero!]
My friends’ comforting replies came flooding in.
Until Lu Liubai messaged me.
“What’s your door code?”
Tsk.
I’d forgotten we’d added each other on WeChat.
Apart from that message, the chat contained only the automatic notification from when we’d become friends.
It felt a little unfamiliar.
He kept messaging.
“He Cheng.”
“The code.”
I sent it.
With the door’s recorded “Welcome home” and the faint spill of light, I saw his tall figure.
“Lu Liubai?”
The door closed, taking that faint light with it.
My world was almost entirely dark again.
“Is your power out too?”
He paused. “Yeah.”
“Then I guess Dad didn’t forget the bill.”
“Right.”
He came over.
“Want me to take your hand and walk you to your room?”
“Yes.”
But the moment I stood, my knee hit the corner of the coffee table.
Pain shot through me. Instinctively, I lifted my leg, lost my balance, and dragged Lu Liubai down onto the couch with me.
This time, I actually got my hands on his abs.
I gave them a little scratch. Real.
Not a dream.
At last, Lu Liubai laughed. “He Cheng?”
“Hmm?”
He bent one leg, his voice rich with amusement.
“Behave.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
I looked up, bewildered. “But didn’t you say you wanted to show off your beautiful body to your heart’s content?”
“I’m following my heart too. Enjoying it to my heart’s content.”
As I spoke,
I gave his firm pecs a squeeze.
This time, he caught my wandering hand in a firm grip.
“Seriously. Behave.”
Fine.
“Men are so sensitive,” I grumbled.
Lu Liubai pinched my cheek.
“You little menace.”
Then he squeezed a little harder.
It hurt.
“I really did hit my knee just now. There’s definitely going to be a huge bruise tomorrow.”
He hummed, slipped an arm around my waist, and scooped me up.
“This’ll do it.”
He carried me into my bedroom.
Set me on the bed and knelt on one knee on the floor.
Then switched on the bedside lamp.
His gentle smile came into view.
“Not angry anymore?”
“No.”
Maybe Dad’s influence had colored my judgment of him.
And my first impression hadn’t been good, so I’d been a little unfair.
He thought for a moment.
“I wasn’t entirely honest.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve liked you for a lot longer than you’ve liked me.”
I pressed my lips together.
“I wasn’t entirely honest either.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
Smiling, I looped my arms around his neck.
“Actually, I switched off the breaker.”
I kissed his cheek.
“Because I missed you. A little.”
Actually, more than a little.