Chapter 19

Was she the only one doing ambiguous things? Could Cheng Lang give clear explanations for each of his actions? Was he so innocent and unwavering?
Shuangyun shot her series of arrows at this moment.
Of course, he caught them.
Her goal wasn't to drive him away.
"Cheng Lang, it's hard for anyone to resist what just happened." Shuangyun looked at Cheng Lang. "You remembered my calf was fractured and came up the stairs against the flow to find me."
Shuangyun's words now were both scripted and carried some sincerity.
"I'm always the first person to rush downstairs when I hear fire alarms, so you can perhaps understand how panicked I felt just now going down alone. But you came to find me. No matter why you came to find me, it has a different meaning to me."
The hallway lights were very bright. So was Cheng Lang's gaze looking at her.
Shuangyun held onto the door and moved one step closer to him.
"You asked me why. I can also answer you very simply."
Shuangyun said: "Because I like you. I've liked you since the first moment I saw you. Losing the game was real, but it was just an excuse to ask for your WeChat. I think you know you're a very cold person. I didn't dare pursue you too closely. Last time you gave me a ride home, did I hug you?"
Shuangyun looked at Cheng Lang. He didn't respond, but he didn't leave either.
"After that, I was also somewhat worried, not sure if you'd feel offended. I hug close friends when we meet and part. When I'm near you, I sometimes also feel you're a close friend."
Shuangyun stopped here. The hallway was very quiet. Cheng Lang's breathing could be heard.
He said: "I wasn't offended. Hugging between friends is a very normal behavior."
Shuangyun laughed lightly. She said: "Anyway, thank you. No matter what, you saved me today."
"It wasn't that serious. You probably would have been fine if you hadn't come down."
Shuangyun shook her head. "No, I definitely would have come down."
"Why?"
"Next time," Shuangyun said. "I'll tell you next time when there's a chance."
Shuangyun slightly withdrew her body. She said: "Thank you. Good night. Goodbye."
This time, Shuangyun delivered her farewell.
Cheng Lang also turned and watched the apartment door close in front of him.
She still liked him.
But she said that hug was just a hug between friends.
But she also said she considered him a close friend.
But only occasionally.
She also said he was a cold person.
Was he cold? Did she think he was cold?
Then why exactly had he gone upstairs to find her today?
Doing the right thing? Would he have gone up for anyone?
Cheng Lang thought, if it were anyone he knew, he would still have gone up.
But if it were Shuangyun, was the meaning only that?
Cheng Lang didn't remember how he got back to his floor. When opening the door, he was clearly somewhat distracted, inserting the key wrong three times. Back in the apartment, he didn't work anymore, but showered and went to the bedroom.
Shuangyun's apartment was very dark, but the sofa near the floor lamp was very bright, and on it was her toy.
He shouldn't have seen that.
The closer he got to Shuangyun, the closer he got to a vivid, vibrant force. The volume was huge, and even his quiet place seemed affected.
Liking beautiful appearances was of course everyone's nature and instinct, but people weren't animals. Beyond instinct, reason also controlled the body. When he was a student, he was always criticized at home for having a group of girls following him. Cheng Lang couldn't choose his appearance. What outsiders saw as enviable and lovable became the reason his parents scolded him at home.
Traditional, strict Asian parents, placing huge expectations on him. But they thought he wasn't studying seriously, relying on his good looks to indulge in relationships with girls.
But Cheng Lang's nature wasn't like that, so he increasingly looked down on people's appearances and suppressed many of his desires, focusing only on study and work. He would of course be attracted to Shuangyun's appearance, like many people. But Cheng Lang also instinctively became alert.
He mistakenly thought Shuangyun was a beautiful woman in the worldly sense—unwrapping colorful candy wrappers to find only cheap sugar that brought momentary pleasure.
But the closer he got, the more he saw her inner world, as wonderful as a fantasy world.
She had strength, fearlessness, cunning, and also real desires.
She didn't suppress herself, nor was she afraid of anything.
She always left mysteries, telling him: "I'll tell you next time."
Cheng Lang heard his own heartbeat in the quiet night. He sat up and went to the kitchen to pour water.
Shuangyun returned to the office the following Friday. Her cast had been removed, and she was using a crutch to help her walk. Cheng Lang told her to work from home, no need to come to the office. Shuangyun waved her hand and said the doctor also told her to exercise moderately.
After lying at home for over half a month, Shuangyun was indeed tired of being cooped up. The fracture was basically healed. Actually, normal walking wasn't a problem. But the doctor still told her to rest and not walk too much.
Back at the office, she could see Cheng Lang again.