Star-Crossed Lovers: The Ex-Convict and the White Rabbit - Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Braised Pork 

Ba-dump, ba-dump– 

Lu Yin could only hear her own heartbeat in the darkness. 

He stood in front of her. The heat of his body embraced her tightly, his smell lingered on the tip of her nose, rendering her unable to breathe in fresh air. But the corridor was narrow, it seemed that this was the correct distance between the two of them. She couldn’t find a reason to push him away or scream. 

What he asked just now caused her to freeze for a moment, a thorn of discomfort stuck in her throat. She didn’t know how to answer. 

Lu Qiang had no intentions to step back. His chest rose and fell, breathing regularly. 

Lu Yin couldn’t stand it. She stepped back to the door on the right, trying to break the awkward deadlock. 

After taking half a step, she stopped in her tracks. The quiet space was disrupted by the abrupt sound of vibration. After a split-second pause, Lu Yin hurriedly took her phone from her bag and backed briskly towards the door.
 

She stopped at the door, one foot in and the other out. 

Lu Yin glanced at the caller and quickly answered it. 

“Hubby?” 

“…” Ye Fan hesitated, “Yinyin? It’s me…” 

“How far are you from home?” 

The other end was silent for two seconds and reminded her, “This is Ye Fan!” 

“You’re almost here? I just came in, too.”
 

“… Have you gone mad?” 

She bit her lip, scratched her scalp and asked, “What do you want to eat tonight? I’ll go buy it.” 

The reply she got was in the form of cursing her impatiently for not moving on, “How long has it been? Can you pull yourself together?” 

“Let’s have steamed sea bass, or sweet and sour short ribs or crispy chicken.” 

Ye Fan roared, “What’s so good about that bastard that you’ve turned yourself psychotic?!” 

Ye Fan’s tone was demeaning. Lu Yin listened and walked a few steps further while turning down the volume of the call. 

Lu Qiang snorted slightly and shook his head. He was still leaning against the door, turning his head to look at the blurry outline in the corridor. The floor was dead silent – he could hear the emotional rants of the other end. On the other hand, she spoke softly and gently, like a summer night’s breeze. Her tone when calling her ‘hubby’ made his bones turn limp and numb. 

Lu Qiang slid his hand in his pocket. He brushed his tongue on his lower lip several times. He was dehydrated and his lips were chapped. As he licked, his lips became moist, but he became thirstier, wishing that there was a cup of pure, refreshing water in front of him. 

Lu Yin said, “Is there anything else you want to eat?” 

“…What the hell is wrong with you?” Ye Fan calmed down and asked worriedly, “Are you sick?” 

“It’s okay… so it’s settled.” 

“Don’t scare me. How about you wait for me at home, I’ll go to yours…” 

“ No need, I’ll go buy it. I’ll see you later.” Before the other end could finish talking. Lu Yin hung up. 

Lu Qiang glanced at her again, removed his gaze and returned his hand to the wall, accurately pressing the light switch to the corridor light bulbs. 

Lu Yin was still standing tensely in the corridor. The sudden bright light made her eyes uncomfortable, but she finally felt a sense of her security and her heart finally settled. 

Lu Qiang asked, “Where do I put it?” 

She looked back and glanced at the box on his shoulder. “You can just put it on the floor.” 

He put the box down and took one final glance around the room before turning his body to exit. 

As he passed her, Lu Yin moved back half a step and whispered, “Thank you.” 

Lu Qiang stopped and looked down at her. 

Her pliable waist was resting on the railing of the staircase and her clavicles seemed straighter with her upper body leaning back. There was a deep dip on each of her shoulders that he was tempted to run a finger through and sketch the contours of. He lowered his gaze and he was faced with the outline of her front, prominent, ostentatious, yet she was unaware. 

Lu Qiang sniffed and rubbed the tip of his nose. He stepped back quietly, afraid she would fall down if he moved any more. 

After a moment of tension, Lu Yin repeated, “Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome.” 

“… Bye, then.” 

“Goodbye.” 

Lu Qiang turned and went downstairs. After two steps, he stopped in his tracks and raised his eyes back to her, two short lines gracing his forehead. “Can you cook?” 

Lu Yin was confused and didn’t reply. 

“You look like you can.” 

Lu Yin remained silent. 

“Can you make braised pork?” 

“… Never made it before.” 

“You should try it. It’s pretty delicious.” 

Done talking, he continued down the stairs. The noise-activated lights on the second floor turned on and he didn’t look back a second time. 

Lu Yin stood in the corridor for a moment. Her phone buzzed in her hand, it was a call from Ye Fan. She entered her room and closed the door backhandedly. Answering the phone, she explained what occurred.