LHKE Ch15

The meal wasn’t as relaxed as Lu Changting had imagined.

Although he was the guest, Shen Li seemed even more restrained at the dining table. He didn’t say much, ate quietly, and only smiled and responded when addressed—courteous but overly formal.

After the meal, Shen Li took the initiative to clear the table and retreated to the kitchen. Lu Changting felt like he was avoiding him. Though the reason was valid, Shen Li clearly made a point of keeping his distance.

Cheng Zhao put away the dishes in the fridge, watching as Shen Li started washing the dishes. She pinched his cheek in exasperation. “Why are you hiding? Go out and entertain the guest. I’ll do the dishes.”

Shen Li squeezed some dish soap into the sink, expertly scrubbing the dishes with a dishcloth. “You’ve always disliked washing dishes, saying the grease is slippery and uncomfortable to touch.”

“Why are you arguing with me?” Cheng Zhao said, both annoyed and amused. “Fine, hide if you want, but you’d better stay hidden until Lu Changting leaves.”

Shen Li focused on washing the dishes, rinsing off the soap, and suddenly asked, “Is there any chocolate left at home?”

“It’s on the coffee table,” Cheng Zhao said, opening a high cupboard. “I’ve taken it all out, it’s gone.”

Shen Li put the cleaned dishes away in the cupboard, the porcelain clinking softly. “What about the honey pomelo tea?”

“There are three jars left,” Cheng Zhao asked. “Did you use up the ones from the bar?”

“No,” Shen Li dried his hands and took out the jars of honey pomelo tea, explaining, “He likes this.”

Cheng Zhao raised an eyebrow. “I like it too.”

Shen Li hesitated. “I’ll go to the supermarket tomorrow to buy pomelo and make some for you.”

Cheng Zhao waved her hand generously. “Alright, go ahead.”

In the end, Lu Changting left with a bag full of honey pomelo tea and chocolate. Cheng Zhao had packed up all the chocolate from the coffee table for him, and he even secretly stuffed a few extra pieces into his pocket. Cheng Zhao enthusiastically invited him to visit more often, which made him feel particularly embarrassed.

He could only politely respond and exchange a few more pleasantries before saying goodbye.

Shen Li accompanied him downstairs. The car was parked in the basement level. As Lu Changting watched the floors change, he wondered absentmindedly, Was the elevator descending this quickly?

With a “ding,” the elevator reached the basement level and the door opened.

Even if he walked slowly, it was only a hundred steps to the parking spot. Shen Li watched as Lu Changting opened the car door and then said, “…Drive safely.”

Lu Changting didn’t rush to get in the car. He placed the paper bag on the seat and looked at Shen Li, reaching out to brush the hair from his forehead. “Your hair has gotten a bit long.”

Shen Li instinctively took a step back, awkwardly touching his hair. “Has it? I’ll find time to get it cut.”

Lu Changting continued, “I’ll be going on a business trip to City C next week.”

“Hm?” Shen Li looked momentarily stunned.

The conversation jumped from hair length to a business trip so abruptly it felt like small talk.

“I’ll bring back some local specialties for you.”

Shen Li was a bit surprised. “Ah… Okay, thank you.”

Lu Changting looked at him and smiled lightly. “Well, goodbye then?”

“Mm, goodbye,” Shen Li said, thinking for a moment before tentatively adding, “Send me a message when you get home?”

Lu Changting replied nonchalantly, “Last time I sent you a message, you replied with just ‘Mm.’”

Their chat history still showed that conversation, and Shen Li remembered clearly how his heart raced and he felt suffocated when he saw Lu Changting’s message.

The “Mm” was simple and cold.

But it was something he had revised repeatedly, with all his restrained affection and suppressed heartbeat.

It was a deep sea, hiding surging undercurrents known only to him.

“I won’t do that this time,” he heard himself say. “I’ll reply properly this time.”

Lu Changting looked at him, his expression inscrutable.

But he said nothing, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Every word and action of Shen Li was imbued with a seriousness that made Lu Changting’s heart race, making him feel that Shen Li’s treatment of him was extraordinarily special.

It was the kind of special that allowed for a certain arrogance.

After a long pause, Lu Changting let out a barely audible sigh. “Go home. I’m leaving.”

Shen Li watched the car disappear from view before turning and heading upstairs.

Cheng Zhao noticed his strange demeanor and, understanding that he needed some solitude, chose not to disturb him, watching him silently as he went upstairs.

Back in his room, Shen Li stretched out and lay down on the bed, exhaling deeply.

He felt frustrated, thinking he shouldn’t have pushed further with that message asking for confirmation of his arrival.

He had messed things up again.

After sulking for a while, he sat up, casually adjusting his hair. 

Then he picked up the keys and phone from the nightstand and went downstairs and outside.

“Heading to the bar so early today?” Cheng Zhao, who was watching TV in the living room, noticed his hurried demeanor and called out to him. “Come back early tonight and drink less.”

“Got it,” Shen Li responded while changing his shoes. “You should go to bed early and don’t worry about preparing a late-night snack for me.”

Driving to his usual hair salon, Shen Li greeted the receptionist and quickly chose a stylist, requesting a simple cut. “Just do whatever you like, just make it short.”

After a complete wash, cut, and blow-dry, it took over half an hour.

His hair, which had been permed before, was now a bit long and blocking his eyes. Usually, a bit of gel would suffice, but today he hadn’t styled it intentionally, so it felt too long. The stylist straightforwardly trimmed the sides short and styled the longer bangs into a fluffy look, which looked quite cool.

Good-looking people always seem to enhance their appearance even more with a fresh haircut. The stylist admired their work in the mirror, itching to take a picture and display it in the shop.

Shen Li lowered his head, holding his phone, and nervously took a photo of himself in the mirror.

Then he paid and left, completely ignoring the stylist’s lingering gaze.

His WeChat was quiet—Lu Changting might be home and hadn’t messaged him, or perhaps he hadn’t arrived yet.

After a moment’s thought, Shen Li opened the chat window and sent a message: “Are you home?”

Lu Changting had been home for a while. He intentionally hadn’t messaged Shen Li because he wanted to see if Shen Li would reach out first.

So when he received the message, he cheerfully made himself a cup of honey pomelo tea and then replied, “I’m home.”

The “typing” indicator appeared and disappeared a few times, and after a few seconds, a new message popped up.

[Liquor Seller: I got a haircut.]

The next moment, Shen Li closed his eyes, made up his mind, and sent the photo.

In the picture, the young man’s head was lowered, eyes on his phone screen, with a slight smile on his lips, as if he might look up and smile any second.

Lu Changting stared at the phone screen for a while, saving the image.

He took a sip of the sweet honey pomelo tea, slowly calming the flutter in his chest.

He had never seen Shen Li like this before.

In the years he’d spent abroad, he’d seen all sorts of reckless, fickle, and heartless people—but he’d never seen someone like Shen Li. While he dealt with many people who were insincere and pretentious, Shen Li, in his presence, was as innocent as a child.

He opened Shen Li’s profile picture and found himself lost in thought.

Shen Li’s profile picture was of a Shiba Inu wrapped in a blanket, one ear hidden under the blanket and the other exposed, looking snug and comfortable, reminiscent of Shen Li’s own sleeping appearance.

Shen Li’s Moments were rarely updated; the last post was from their vacation, a picture stolen from Lu Changting’s Moments.

Seeing Shen Li’s signature line, Lu Changting felt an intense irritation.

“Liking you, more than yesterday, lacking for tomorrow.”

Liking whom? That little brother?

Why provoke him then? Was he just a fleeting fancy or a substitute?

The room was filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere as Lu Changting obsessively scrolled through Shen Li’s Moments, trying to find any trace of that little brother.

There was none.

Shen Li’s Moments were clean and simple, with nothing more.

Was he an ex or a crush?

Lu Changting lay on the bed, tossing his phone aside, letting the frustration and oppressive feelings rage in his chest.

After a long, suffocating silence in the room, the phone rang. Lu Changting picked it up and saw it was his mother calling…

He took a moment to compose himself and answered the call, “Mom…”

“Have you eaten, Changting?” His mother, Liu Xiezhi, spoke warmly with a smile on the other end.

“Yes,” Lu Changting closed his eyes, adjusting his mood and tone. “What about you and Dad?”

“Just finished eating,” Liu Xiezhi chatted with him for a bit before gently introducing the main topic. “Do you have time tomorrow? If so, let’s have a meal together. Your dad arranged for you to meet with your uncle’s family.”

Their family’s approach to matchmaking had always prioritized the children’s wishes, never using deceit or coaxing, laying everything out openly.

“Your uncle’s daughter recently returned from abroad; you might remember her from when you were young.”

Lu Changting listened quietly and replied calmly, “I don’t remember.”

Liu Xiezhi was not surprised by his indifference but gently advised, “It’s just a meal, a chance to meet. You’re not young anymore; you should start considering settling down.”

“Understood,” Lu Changting’s tone was weary. “When?”

“Tomorrow noon, at Wangjiang Tower.”

After hanging up, Lu Changting reopened the chat with Shen Li, thinking for a moment before sending several messages.

[L: Just got a call.]

[L: My parents arranged a matchmaking dinner.]

[L: Boss Shen, have you ever been on a blind date? Any tips to share?]

Shen Li responded almost immediately, sending a slew of links about “what to talk about on a first date,” “essential things to note about blind dates,” “how to keep the conversation going,” and “how to win over a girl you like.”

[Liquor Seller: I’ve never been on a blind date. These might be helpful.]

Lu Changting scoffed and threw his phone.

Fine, if it’s a blind date, then so be it.