Chapter 16
I Live Here
“Wanwan, long time no see.” Huo Zheng greeted her with an easy familiarity.
Mu Wanwan smiled faintly, her gaze drifting past him toward the inside of the house, as if searching for someone.
“Lu Li isn’t here.”
Mu Wanwan withdrew her eyes, feeling an odd mixture of disappointment and relief.
“Do you live here too?”
Huo Zheng’s eyes flickered. “No, this place belongs to a friend of mine.”
“Your friend?” Mu Wanwan instinctively thought of Lu Li.
Seeing the question in her eyes, Huo Zheng didn’t bother explaining. Instead, he smoothly changed the topic. “By the way, when did you come back? Are you staying here now?”
It was a question he clearly already knew the answer to.
“I came back not long ago. I live right across the hall.” She pointed toward the opposite door.
Huo Zheng glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. I’ve got something to take care of—let’s talk next time.”
Mu Wanwan nodded. “Bye.”
After returning home, she took a nap. When she woke up, the sky outside was already dark.
She opened the refrigerator; it was packed with fresh ingredients.
Her movements were practiced—taking out ingredients, cooking rice, washing vegetables, lighting the stove. Before long, the delicious aroma filled the room.
She set the dishes on the table when her phone buzzed nearby.
It was an unfamiliar number.
“Hello, who’s this?”
“Delivery? Okay, got it. I’ll come down now.”
Mu Wanwan wiped her hands and stepped out still in her slippers.
The night sky was dark, with only a scattering of faint stars.
She was opening her package as she walked out of the elevator, her steps light.
“Meow, meow, meow—”
The high, thin sound came closer and closer.
Mu Wanwan’s fingers paused—she thought the sound seemed familiar.
She looked up just in time to see a furry ball launch itself at her. Startled, she dropped the half-opened package in her hands.
Thud—
“Meow, meow, meow—”
Mu Wanwan lowered her head. When she saw the furry little creature at her feet, her clear eyes lit up with delight.
“Cai Bao!”
A chubby orange cat sat cozily by her feet, its fluffy head tilted upward, big round eyes staring at her with excitement.
Its plump little paws scratched eagerly at her slipper as it meowed nonstop—as if saying, Wanwan, I missed you so much!
Mu Wanwan crouched down and scooped it into her arms, gently scratching under its chin with her pale fingers. “Cai Bao, how did you end up here, hmm?”
The cat squinted its eyes in pleasure and rubbed affectionately against her.
Yep, definitely the same spoiled cat.
“Cai Bao, it’s been so long—I missed you too. You’ve gotten even fatter! Keep this up and you’ll never find a girlfriend.” She nuzzled the cat, laughing softly, her expression tender.
“Cai Bao, Cai Bao…”
Girl and cat, reunited at last, wrapped in a moment of warmth.
Then suddenly, a low, magnetic voice cut through the air—
“Cai Bao, come here.”
Just four words, yet Mu Wanwan froze as if struck by lightning.
In that brief daze, Cai Bao had already jumped out of her arms and was trotting happily toward Lu Li.
Lu Li bent down to pick up the dropped package. The corner of the box was showing—
A puzzle set.
Something flickered in his eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted in a faint, unreadable smile.
By the time Mu Wanwan looked up at him, that smile was gone—his expression cool and distant again.
“You… why are you here?” Faced with his deep, dark eyes, Mu Wanwan could barely speak clearly.
Lu Li cast her a calm glance. “I live here.”
“W-what?” she stammered, her voice rising in disbelief. Then remembering Huo Zheng’s words from earlier, she looked toward the opposite door. “This house… it’s yours?”
