"Dinner is almost ready. Remember to wash your hands first! The bathroom is around the corner."

"Got it."

Tang Song returned the book to the shelf, walked to the bathroom, and turned on the light. The space was about four or five square meters, clean and tidy. The walls were lined with shelves neatly stocked with toiletries, skincare products, and towels. It was evident that Gao Mengting was a very meticulous and clean person. After washing his hands thoroughly, he returned to the living room.

Gao Mengting was just bringing over a steaming plate of buns. "The exhaust fan is a bit old. Stir-frying makes the whole house smell. Hope you don't mind."

"It smells great, I don't mind at all."

Gao Mengting smiled, placing the plate gently on the table, then pulled open the balcony curtains and opened the windows. The cool evening breeze blew in, instantly freshening the air. The simple wooden dining table had three dishes: tomato and scrambled eggs, shiitake mushrooms with bok choy, and smashed cucumbers. Under the warm light, it looked cozy.

"Come on, President Tang, try my cooking."

"Thank you for the effort. It looks very appetizing."

Taking the chopsticks handed to him by Gao Mengting, Tang Song tasted each dish in turn. The eggs coated in tomato sauce were savory, sweet, tender, and delicious. The shiitake mushrooms' rich aroma and the bok choy's fresh flavor blended well, creating a rich taste. The cucumbers were crisp, juicy, and refreshingly spicy. Although they were ordinary home-cooked dishes, they tasted exceptionally comforting.

Tang Song gave a thumbs-up and sincerely praised, "Super delicious!"

Gao Mengting, a bit embarrassed, said, "I don't know many dishes, but these three are my best, and they’re quite simple to make. Try the buns; my mom's pastry skills are excellent." Chapters first released on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

"Ouch, hot! So hot!" Tang Song took a bite, and his eyes lit up instantly. "So tasty! The spiciness is just right. Mengting, I feel like staying here and not leaving."

"We're partners. Are you trying to make me your nanny?" Gao Mengting's face turned slightly red as she instinctively avoided his gaze. "There are 8 more buns in the fridge. I'll pack them all for you to take home."

"Taking all of them is too much; just give me four."

At that moment, guitar music suddenly floated in from the balcony, accompanied by a magnetic singing voice.

BGM: "You are the rice, oil, and white porridge in the morning. You understand the changes of the seasons. You understand companionship. Your eyes are colorful..."

Gao Mengting smiled, pointing to the wall behind her. "It's the neighbor next door singing. Because the balconies are close, I often get to enjoy free live performances."

"He sings well and plays the guitar nicely, too."

Tang Song also enjoyed listening to music. He even tried learning the guitar to impress his first love, but he lacked the talent.

"He's a bar singer and an online celebrity. Quite impressive."

As the pleasant music continued, they chatted while eating, discussing cooking, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the fashion industry. During their conversation, Gao Mengting's phone frequently lit up with new messages. Most of the time, she just glanced at them without replying.

After dinner, they tidied up the kitchen. Gao Mengting brushed her teeth in the bathroom and then sliced a fruit platter, placing it in front of Tang Song. They lounged on the fabric sofa in the living room, chatting leisurely.

"Dun-dun-dun—" The WeChat call ringtone sounded. Gao Mengting hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello, Ruoruo."

"I'm fine, really, much better. Thanks for asking."

"How have you been lately?"

"Congratulations, congratulations! Looks like I should call you Manager Li from now on."

"Alright, if I go to Shanghai, I’ll visit. Don't mind me eating and drinking at your place."

...

"I have friends over now. Let's chat later. Bye."

After hanging up, Gao Mengting sighed and rubbed her forehead. Tang Song asked with concern, "Is everything okay?"

Gao Mengting leaned on the sofa's armrest, staring at the ceiling. "Maugham once said, 'It turns out a lot of concern is just to find out how miserable you are.' That's exactly my situation now. Those female classmates who haven't contacted me much since graduation are now reaching out, eager to know how I'm doing."

Shaking her head self-deprecatingly, she added, "Maybe I was too high-profile before, stood out too much, making them uncomfortable."

"That just shows how excellent you are. That's why I chose you as my partner." Tang Song moved closer, looking sincerely at her beautiful face.

Gao Mengting smiled, "Thank you, President Tang, for your recognition. I won’t let you down."

"Knock, knock, knock—" There was a sudden knock at the door.

Gao Mengting quickly stood up and raised her voice, "Who is it?"

"Miss Gao, it's me, returning a book." A familiar voice came from outside.

"Hold on."

Gao Mengting peered through the peephole and slowly opened the door. Standing outside was a handsome young man in his early twenties, with medium-length hair, dressed in black and looking very stylish.

"Thank you for the book. I finished the first volume of Gone with the Wind and had many thoughts." The young man handed over a blue-black book, saying softly, "Besides returning the book, I also wanted to borrow the second volume. Is that okay?"

"Sure, hold on." Gao Mengting took the book and walked towards the bookshelf. The young man’s gaze followed her, noticing Tang Song sitting on the sofa. When their eyes met, the young man's brows furrowed slightly.

"Thump, thump, thump—" Gao Mengting quickly fetched the book and returned to the door. "Here you go. Your singing earlier was great."

"Thank you." The young man took the book, glanced inside, and curiously asked, "Do you have friends over today?"

Gao Mengting beamed, "Yes, a good friend."

Seeing her smile, the young man nodded, "I'll head back then. Thank you for the book. Let me know if there are any songs you want to hear."

"Sure, bye."

"Bye."

Closing the door, Gao Mengting casually explained, "He’s the neighbor who was singing on the balcony earlier, Liu Wenning. He just moved in recently."

"A handsome young man." Tang Song had a hunch that Liu Wenning probably liked his partner. Borrowing books was likely just an excuse to visit more often. But that was normal. Gao Mengting, with her looks, figure, and temperament, would naturally attract many admirers.

Gao Mengting pursed her lips and said, "You're pretty handsome too."

Tang Song was taken aback, then replied earnestly, "I like dealing with people with such good taste."

Gao Mengting covered her mouth, laughing. She sat on the sofa armrest near the balcony, her long legs swinging lightly. Facing the cool evening breeze, they started talking about literature. Not very knowledgeable in this area, Tang Song mainly listened and watched.