The rooftop was re-planted with fruits and vegetables, beautiful wooden shelves, and green strawberries. All the flower pots were of the same color. A new wooden coffee table was added in the center of the rooftop, with retractable parasols next to it, and even the walls. All repainted.
The originally dark rooftop has become completely new, and the hot air blowing through it has been baptized and becomes exceptionally fresh.
Saying goodbye to the gardening technicians and celebrating the New Year, I immediately took photos and sent them to Mr. Chu. I loved the small but exquisite and artistic rooftop no matter how I saw it.
I don't know since when, chat records have become frequent, most of them are trivial daily matters. Many times, messages are replied to at intervals of time, half an hour, two hours, or even longer...
But every message he sends will be replied to individually.
This feeling is as if all the heart that was carefully offered was gently received.
After the typhoon and rain, the high temperature returned to F City, even higher, and the business of Twilight Manor improved.
During the New Year greetings, I followed the video learning and made many new types of cakes. The peak hours in the store are still concentrated in the morning and noon. August is approaching in a blink of an eye. Many students who have applied for the college entrance examination and have applied for universities in City F come to visit the school.
"Hello, I would like two black forest cakes, two cups of passion fruit tea, and more ice, thank you!"
The two teenagers in the store were sweating profusely and their faces were filled with excitement. They were still discussing the size of the school and the dormitory environment. He Nian couldn't help but ask:
"Did you also come to visit the school after completing the college entrance examination this year?"
"Yes!" The two boys were very outgoing and couldn't help but share their joy generously:
"We all applied to F University, and we didn't expect to be admitted. Who knew that we didn't apply and actually won the grand prize? It's almost like we could wake up from our dreams with laughter!"
He Nian was infected by this passionate youth and couldn't help but smile and said with envy from the bottom of his heart:
"Congratulations on getting admitted to the university of your choice, I'll give you a 50% discount on your order!"
"Wow, thank you. Boss, you are so kind. We brothers will definitely come here often in the future!"
He put the cut cake on the table in the New Year, carefully lowered the temperature of the air conditioner, thought for a while and asked:
"Do you know what the lowest score line for F this year is?"
F University is one of the best double-first-class universities in the country. It is the best high school in the county. Not one student may be admitted to F University every year. A total score of 650 is already very impressive.
Because of this, when He Nian was admitted to a private high school in City F, He Cen and He Minglan supported him at all costs. Studying is not the only way out for children from ordinary families, but it is the best way.
"I don't know exactly." The taller boy said:
"Anyway, it's almost 680. I got 685 and my brother got 687, but our rankings are already at the bottom and we almost slipped."
He has mixed feelings in his heart during the New Year. He has gradually moved away from campus, but he yearns for a beautiful campus life, where he can learn more knowledge, hold his head on the desk, imagine his dreams, and describe the future.
In the afternoon, He Nian received a call from Chu Han, saying that he was invited to watch his debut game.
Chu Han took root in the team base, and the admission notice was signed by Chu Xijin. He filled in F major as his first choice, and was admitted as expected.
As early as his sophomore year in high school, Chu Han was invited by a professional team to participate in youth training.
Chu Han was only sixteen years old at the time, and almost all of the top ten players in the top 10 were anchors. He was the only pure passerby king, and he even became famous. With his outstanding operations and some hero teaching, he accumulated a lot of money on Weibo. Hundreds of thousands of fans.
Although Chu Han was focused on gaming, his arms couldn't twist his thighs. His brother had promised him that as long as he could get into F University, he would be allowed to realize his e-sports dream, even if he chose to take a year off from school.
In order to be admitted to F University, Chu Han endured a lot of hardships. It can be said that he read at night every day, his head was suspended from the beam and his butt was stabbed, and he struggled desperately to avoid drowning in the sea of questions. He could fill a basket with refills after he finished writing.
Fortunately, the results are satisfactory.
He Nian didn't know much about e-sports, so he was confused when he heard it. When he finally asked what time it was, Chu Han said next Wednesday at six o'clock in the evening.
Just after he hung up, Mr. Chu called again.
He Nian looked at the phone number and couldn't help but feel an ups and downs in his heart. He had been in confusion for the past two days, and the bud that he had buried in his heart was sprouting out of nowhere.
He clearly realized that he seemed to like Mr. Chu a little, which was a hidden secret.
By the time He Nian came to his senses, the other party had already hung up, so he dialed over with his heart beating:
"gentlemen."
Chu Xijin said: "We made an appointment yesterday. I will come to pick you up in the afternoon."
"I..." The hot dream suddenly appeared in front of He Nian's eyes, and his fair skin was stained with blush. He felt embarrassed about what happened in the dream, so he opened his mouth and said:
"I'm a little busy in the afternoon, I might not be able to make it..."
He really hasn't figured out how to face Mr. Chu, let alone how to adapt to spending time alone with the two of them. He almost can't speak.
"Then tomorrow afternoon."
"I'm a little busy tomorrow too." He Nian was so flustered that he had to choose to say:
"Really, a customer ordered a cake."
The other half of the phone was silent for a moment, Chu Xijin's brows raised and his tone was low:
"You're avoiding me, aren't you?"
He Nian shook his head subconsciously, and found that the other party could not see him at all. He retorted without any confidence, without any momentum at all, and even his voice was soft:
"...I didn't hide from you."
Chu Xijin said nothing.
After a while, He Nian whispered, a little cautiously:
"Sir, are you angry?"
"I'm not angry, I'm just thinking about what I did to make you avoid me like this."
Chu Xijin's tone was very calm, without any fluctuations, making it difficult to detect any emotion.
He Nian immediately regretted it. His heartstrings were always touched easily by his husband, and he instinctively wanted to give up resistance. He completely lost control of his rationality and said quickly:
"Actually, I can also make the cake in advance."
"Today or tomorrow?"
"...It can all be done in advance." Xu Shi felt that the lie was too clumsy, and He Nian was eager to make amends, but what he said was full of loopholes.
"Sir, I want to read the book One Hundred Years of Solitude. Could you please pick me up this afternoon?"
Chu Xijin smiled. He understood why He Nian would avoid him, but he didn't expect to figure it out so quickly. He seemed to be able to see all kinds of cute little expressions on He Nian's face through the phone.
"Okay, then it will be at five o'clock this afternoon."
Since he knew he was going to meet in the afternoon, he often got distracted while making New Year's cakes. This cake is a recent new style. He deliberately neutralized the sweetness, and the cream was filled with fresh strawberries.
Strictly speaking, this is the first milk cake he has made for Mr. Chu, so it is very important.
After making the cake to celebrate the New Year, he still couldn't calm down. He ran up to the rooftop, and the wind rustled the leaves.
The strawberries were growing well on the wooden stand. He picked the most beautiful one and packed it up. He noticed last time that there were no green plants on the computer table in Mr. Chu's study, so it was just right next to the computer.
It was approaching five o'clock. He Nian was sitting on a high stool, nervous and looking forward to it. His legs were dangling. A bold idea suddenly popped into his mind.
If he and Mr. Chu are like this, does this count as a date?
The phone on the table lit up, and he received a concise text message.
[Mr. Chu]: Sorry, there is an impromptu meeting.
He took a long breath and his heartbeat gradually slowed down.
He was a little confused about what he was really thinking. He wanted to escape but also longed to meet. He would feel depressed when he couldn't see people. Ever since that little thought broke out, even speaking became awkward and stupid.
He looked at the packaged fresh milk cake and the pot of strawberries on the table, and the hair on his head fell down softly.
Until six o'clock, there was no message on the phone.
He Nian quietly fiddled with the leaves of the strawberries, drew a smiley face on the flower pot with a marker, and finally put the strawberries back on the wooden stand on the rooftop.
The cream on the cake had begun to melt a little, so he simply opened the package and scooped out a large piece with a spoon. The dense cream had a silky texture, and the strawberries were sour and sweet.
Looking up again, the black car stopped steadily at the door. He Nian looked at the man in a suit and leather shoes, licked the cream from the corner of his mouth, and said blankly:
"Sir, I thought you wouldn't come, so...I just ate the cake."
Chu Xijin was amused by him: "The temporary meeting, I'm not sure when it will end, I'm afraid you'll wait too long."
The previous depression was gone, and he felt uncomfortable after the New Year greetings. In the afternoon, he even changed his clothes. The one that his husband bought last time had soft fabrics that stuck to every inch of his skin, making it a little itchy.
He swallowed and tried to calm down:
"Sir, do you want to eat the cake?"
Chu Xijin's eyes fell on the piece of cake, then slowly moved upward, and finally stopped at the corner of the mouth covered in butter during the New Year greetings.
Like a cute little greedy cat, he reluctantly shared his food generously and raised his eyebrows:
"Of course, if you're willing to give me half."
He Nian jumped off the high stool and ran to cut the cake. When he came out with the cake, he saw Mr. Chu sitting by the window, wearing a pressed suit and straight trousers.
The setting sun shines through the glass, and the halo hits that perfect side face, as if the whole world is empty.
Chu Xijin turned his head as if feeling something. The two looked at each other. He was stunned for a moment before he stepped forward and put down the cake in his hand.
"Sir, please try it."
The corners of Chu Xijin's lips curled up slightly. He Nian was afraid that he would be bored, so he ran to make a cup of refreshing lemon tea.
In the evening, Chu Xijin ordered a meal and it was delivered directly to the River View Villa. There was a casserole of chicken soup on the table. The soup was filled with wolfberry and nourishing wild ginseng, and it tasted delicious.
"Come over for dinner."
He Nian ran to the kitchen to get clean bowls and chopsticks, filled two bowls of soup, and sat across from the dining table.
"Sir, this chicken soup is so delicious!"
He lowered his head and sipped the soup in small sips. The moment the man raised his hand, he took out a napkin.
Chu Xijin paused slightly, taking in all the subtle changes. He realized that He Nian had become cautious again. When he got in the car in the afternoon, he fastened his seat belt first thing without waiting for him to remind him.
There are various signs that this is a deliberate attempt to maintain physical distance.
He was still too hasty. He Nian was showing kindness to him but was also afraid. He should give him more space and sense of security to let him think clearly before going further instead of causing psychological burden.
Maybe he didn't sleep well last night, and was frightened by the lightning and thunder. Not long after eating, he felt sleepy. Chu Xijin put down the computer and watched the people on the sofa open and close their eyes for a while.
He walked closer and bent down to take away the book from He Nian's hand. Unexpectedly, the person on the sofa suddenly woke up. The two were so close that their noses were almost touching. He Nian supported his arms and moved back slightly.
Chu Xijin's expression did not change, but he said warmly:
"Don't be anxious. Go to bed when you feel sleepy. You can read whenever you want."
He Nian was so sleepy that he couldn't open his eyes. It was completely dark outside the window. He got up from the sofa and subconsciously wanted to go upstairs. Suddenly he heard the man say:
"Let's go, I'll see you off."
He Nian's back stiffened unconsciously, his steady breathing suddenly tightened, and the tip of his nose was slightly sour, wondering if he had messed up again.