Chapter 63: Hello, New Neighbor

Gu Ci glanced at Lu Qinghuan. “Alright, go upstairs and get some sleep.”
Lu Qinghuan yawned, his hair a tangled mess, and trudged up the stairs.

Gu Ci opened the package. Inside was a silver metal case. After entering her fingerprint, she unlocked it to reveal a precision instrument of unknown purpose. At the center of the device lay a square, paper-thin piece of silver metal. Gu Ci switched on the device, adjusted the parameters according to Xiao Yang’s current condition, then closed the case.

As she turned around, she noticed her backpack was moving. The corners of her lips twitched; opening the bag, she fished out a little creature intent on gnawing at the wooden box inside.

Pulled out, Radish protested with a disgruntled squeak, wriggling as if to say, “Let me go, I’m not finished chewing.” Gu Ci flicked its tiny forehead. “Be good. This isn’t for chewing.”

As she was about to unlock the seven interlinked mechanisms on the wooden box, the doorbell rang.

Gu Ci went to answer it. When she saw the devilishly handsome man at her door—the one she had just fought the night before—her eyelid twitched instinctively. She immediately tried to shut the door.

Rong Ye reached out from the side, blocking the doorway. He smiled, his expression half amused, half inscrutable. “What’s this? Not going to invite me in?”

Gu Ci cleared her throat. “No, it’s just a bit messy inside.” She stepped aside, making room at the entrance with deliberate composure, determined not to betray the slightest hint of guilt.

She regarded Rong Ye calmly, keeping her face serene. Rong Ye’s gaze briefly lingered on a pair of men’s sneakers by the door. His tone was light, almost casual. “You have company?”

Gu Ci didn’t deny it. “A friend,” she replied.

But then Rong Ye’s eyes landed on the sofa. Following his gaze, Gu Ci saw her backpack moving again. Her mind reeled—damn that little creature.

She strode swiftly over, tossed the backpack onto the carpet, and patted the sofa. “Come, have a seat.”

Rong Ye raised an eyebrow, his attention momentarily shifting from the backpack. He sat down where she indicated.

“I noticed you like eating black glutinous rice pudding with milk, so I had someone make some for you. Try it?” When they were up in the mountains, this was the dessert she would have after every meal.

As he spoke, Rong Ye opened the food container and pushed it toward her.

“Thank you,” Gu Ci relaxed a little, scooping a spoonful into her mouth—just as Rong Ye continued, “You’re welcome. Consider it a housewarming gift for your new neighbor.”

Gu Ci choked on her mouthful, coughing violently. She looked up, confusion and bewilderment flickering in her usually cool eyes. “What did you say?”

Rong Ye chuckled, took a tissue, and gently wiped the milk from her lips, a smile playing at his mouth. “I just moved in across the hall. I’m your new neighbor. Please take care of me.”

Gu Ci felt a headache coming on. Normally, she wouldn’t care where Rong Ye lived, but of all places... Her expression grew complicated. Her gaze involuntarily shifted to the backpack on the carpet.

And there it was: the little creature’s backside wiggling as it tried to drag the wooden box out of her bag.

Gu Ci’s temples throbbed.

Rong Ye asked, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Ci shot to her feet, blocking his line of sight, and in a panic, shoved a spoonful of black rice pudding into his mouth. “It tastes good, you try it.”

Rong Ye’s eyes darkened slightly, the tips of his ears tinged red. “It is quite good,” he replied.

Gu Ci was too busy watching the little rascal to notice her own actions. Distracted, she made small talk, eyes never leaving the sneaky creature. “Didn’t you say you lived at Crown Garden before? What made you want to move here?”

Rong Ye responded smoothly, using Huo Shuyue as an excuse. “My niece is a handful. I moved here so I can keep an eye on her.”

His gaze shifted to the kitten perched on Gu Ci’s shoulder. “Is this yours? The little thing is pretty cute.”

Dou Ding clung to Gu Ci’s shoulder. Upon hearing Rong Ye’s words, she let out a feisty mewl, tail swishing from side to side.

Gu Ci picked her up, gently stroking her fur. “Dou Ding doesn’t like being called cute.”

On the carpet, Radish had already dragged the wooden box to the other side of the room.

Rong Ye laughed, intrigued. “Then what does she like to be called?”

Gu Ci hesitated for a moment. “Rich.”

Rong Ye blinked. “What?”

“She likes people to say she looks rich,” Gu Ci said, rubbing her forehead, embarrassed by the admission.

Rong Ye couldn’t help but laugh. Looking at the little kitten flailing in Gu Ci’s palm, he said solemnly, “She really does look rather wealthy.”

Dou Ding’s fierce little face instantly softened. She let out a delighted, soft meow at Rong Ye.

Rong Ye scratched under her chin, making Dou Ding squint contentedly and nuzzle closer.

In that brief moment of distraction, Gu Ci glanced over and saw Radish sitting on the floor, poised and ready to sink its teeth into the wooden box.

Alarmed, Gu Ci quickly set Dou Ding aside and, in one swift motion, threw herself over Rong Ye on the sofa. At the same time, she reached out and grabbed the unruly little creature.

Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, a low, slightly sighing male voice sounded above her. “Gu Ci...”

Startled, Gu Ci looked up—just as the man lowered his head, and her lips bumped into his chin.

The air fell instantly silent.

Realizing what had happened, Gu Ci sprang up, pointing at the wriggling Dou Ding in her hand. “Sorry, I was just catching this little troublemaker.”

As she spoke, she discreetly nudged the wooden box under the sofa with her foot.

Rong Ye didn’t seem suspicious. Smiling, he asked, “What’s its name? Can I pet it?”

Gu Ci replied, “She’s called Radish. She bites strangers.”

“That’s not necessarily true. I’m usually good with animals.”

But just as Rong Ye reached out to pet Radish, Gu Ci suddenly noticed the black, very familiar hair tie on his wrist.