Chapter 173
"I'm here".
It was past noon when I came out of the noodle shop.
Several more people were buying water at the convenience store near the park entrance.
When Lu Xing finished paying the bill and came out, Shen Qingyi was standing at the door waiting for him.
Upon seeing the person, she immediately reached out her hand.
Lu Xing took her hand and straightened the strap of her handbag that had been turned up.
"Where would you like to go this afternoon?"
Shen Qingyi shook her head.
"I don't want to go anywhere."
She moved closer to him.
"Shall we go back?"
"Hmm...back to school?"
The girl looked up and glanced at him.
"Go back over there."
Lu Xing paused for a moment, then understood.
"Oh... a guesthouse?"
Shen Qingyi pursed her lips and didn't reply.
Lu Xing looked down at her, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.
"Speaking of which, I haven't met that boss yet!"
"..."
"Tsk tsk, the boss's been away on vacation for quite a while now."
The girl's fingers tightened slightly.
Lu Xing smiled and continued to ask:
"Should we contact them in advance? That way, it won't be inconvenient for them if we go there."
Shen Qingyi finally stopped, her cheeks gradually turning red.
"You're bad!"
"Huh? How did I break?"
"Land journey!"
"Um."
"Stop pretending to be stupid."
Lu Xing laughed, but this time he didn't tease her anymore.
"Okay, okay."
He led the girl toward the bus stop.
After walking a few steps, Shen Qingyi asked softly:
"When did you find out?"
"Well... actually, I suspected it quite early on."
"How early?"
"...You know where everything in the kitchen is, but the landlord never sees it."
Lu Xing turned his head to look at her.
"And that spare key, you take it way too easily."
Shen Qingyi remained silent for a few seconds.
Why didn't you ask me then?
"You're working really hard on this; it looks kind of fun."
"..."
The girl stopped in her tracks.
Lu Xing also stopped and turned around, just in time to see those slightly narrowed eyes.
He immediately stopped smiling.
"The main reason is that it's comfortable to live here!"
"The house was very clean, and the decor was perfectly matched, both elegant and cozy..."
Shen Qingyi stared at him for two seconds.
"snort."
She tightened her grip on his hand again and took two steps forward.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned her head and added a sentence.
"From now on... you can stay whenever you want."
The girl's gaze was fixed on the bus stop sign. She didn't turn around, but her ears were bright red.
Lu Xing squeezed her hand.
"it is good."
……
There were more people on the bus on the way back than in the morning.
After getting on the bus, the two found seats in the back.
Shen Qingyi sat down inside, and as soon as she was settled, she hugged Lu Xing's arm.
She was leaning against him like this when she came in the morning.
Back then, we were still guessing where he was going that day and why he was acting strangely.
This will...
There's no need to guess anything anymore.
Lu Xing took her small bag and placed it on his lap.
"If you're sleepy, take a nap."
Shen Qingyi shook her head.
"I'm not sleepy."
Even though he said that, his head had already leaned in.
Lu Xing glanced down, then reached out and pulled the curtain by the window forward a little to block the light falling on her face.
After the car passed two intersections, the girl called out to him softly.
"Land travel..."
"Um?"
"Please let me know when you're busy."
Lu Xing turned his head to the side.
She didn't look up, only staring at his hand resting on his bag.
"When are we eating? When are we coming back?"
"Later is fine, but you have to let me know."
Lu Xing listened quietly and nodded.
"it is good."
Shen Qingyi grabbed one of his fingers.
"Also, you're not allowed to say things like 'It'll be soon, it'll be here soon'."
Lu Xing paused, finding it difficult to refute.
"Um."
He took the soft hand into his palm.
"From now on, the time will be the exact time. If I can't make it back in time, I'll definitely let you know in advance."
Shen Qingyi looked at him for a while before leaning back on his shoulder.
"...That's more like it."
Lu Xing looked down at her.
After a while, he chuckled softly.
The girl immediately looked up.
"What are you laughing at?"
"It's nothing."
He pulled her closer to his chest.
"But... everything feels familiar."
Shen Qingyi was taken aback.
Then, she lowered her head, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a smile.
Outside the car window, the trees along the street receded one by one.
The girl held his arm and remained silent for a long time.
Until the announcement of the next stop came over the loudspeaker inside the train…
"husband."
Lu Xing held her hand, his thumb slowly rubbing against her knuckles.
"Yes, I'm here."
……
The stairwells of the old residential building were slightly cool.
After all, the stairwell doesn't get much sun.
As the two went upstairs, Shen Qingyi walked in front.
When they reached the door, she reached for the small bag that Lu Xing was carrying.
The boy had already unzipped the outer zipper and taken out the key.
The girl paused for a moment.
He looked up at her.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Shen Qingyi shook her head and stepped aside.
"It's nothing."
The key was inserted into the lock and turned gently once.
The door opened.
Afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell on the living room floor.
Shen Qingyi bent down and took out two pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet.
She placed one pair at her feet and pushed the other pair in front of Lu Xing.
Lu Xing put their belongings away and changed his shoes.
Shen Qingyi took two steps inside, then turned back.
He was still standing in the entryway, reaching out to close the door.
The door lock clicked softly.
The girl looked at him and suddenly reached out her hand to him.
Lu walked over and naturally took his hand.
"Um?"
Shen Qingyi leaned closer and hugged his waist.
Lu Xing lowered his head and gently pulled the girl into his arms.
A soft voice came from my arms.
"We're home."
Lu Xing's hand stopped on her back, and after a while, it slowly tightened.
"Um."
"I'm home."