The property manager quickly waved off Ming Yutong's offer, "Oh, that's not necessary."
Ming Yutong insisted, "It's fine. Because of my... boyfriend's issue," she hesitated before using the word "boyfriend," "everyone had to be alarmed. I feel very sorry about it. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."
After some back and forth, the property manager finally accepted the tea.
As they left, they were in better spirits, feeling their trip was not in vain despite the cold wind.
Mrs. Zhang gave one last glance at the inflatable mattress and sleeping bag, clearly thinking, "You young people really know how to have fun."
"..." Ming Yutong watched them leave and turned her attention back to the man still lying outside her door.
When Mrs. Zhang and Mr. Zhang were gone, only Ming Yutong and Fu Yinxiu were left in the corridor.
Fu Yinxiu's expression changed immediately upon seeing Ming Yutong's thin pajamas.
"Why are you wearing such light pajamas? You should have at least put on a coat; it's freezing out here!"
"..." Ming Yutong's expression was a mix of confusion and frustration as she looked at the inflatable mattress and sleeping bag on the floor. "What's all this about?"
Fu Yinxiu smiled and said, "Since you wouldn't let me in, but I still wanted to stay close to you, I came up with this plan."
He paused for a moment, his smile growing even sweeter. "From now on, I'll just sleep here."
"..." Ming Yutong thought, Is he out of his mind?
Instead of staying in his luxurious villa at Langyuan, he's chosen to sleep in the corridor of her home?
The marble floor was unbearably cold, even with an inflatable mattress. And no amount of insulation could compensate for the lack of central heating in the corridor.
Fu Yinxiu, clearly intent on making a point, didn't care what Ming Yutong thought. He quickly settled into the sleeping bag.
Ming Yutong watched from above, feeling a mix of discomfort and a strange sense of amusement at how Fu Yinxiu looked like a cocooned bug in the sleeping bag.
Fu Yinxiu pulled the sleeping bag up to his chin, revealing his bright, twinkling eyes. "I'll sleep here. You should go inside."
"..." Ming Yutong felt awkward about leaving him outside like this, especially with his pitiable expression.
"I'm fine here," Fu Yinxiu continued, "It's a bit cold, but I can handle it. You, on the other hand, are dressed so lightly."
Ming Yutong felt that she couldn't leave him out there, even though she knew he was putting on an act to make her feel guilty.
"You really don't have to sleep out here." Ming Yutong said helplessly.
"I can handle it," Fu Yinxiu reassured her, "Even though it's cold, I'll manage. But you shouldn't stay out here, you might get sick."
"Really? In that case, I suppose I don't need to ask you to come inside?" Ming Yutong raised an eyebrow.
Fu Yinxiu, hearing this, quickly tried to get up, but in his haste, he hadn't fully extricated himself from the sleeping bag. His legs were tangled up, and he tripped, rolling off the mattress and onto the floor.
Ming Yutong couldn't help but find his clumsy tumble amusing.
Fu Yinxiu scrambled to free himself from the sleeping bag and stood up. "It's actually important. I want to come inside with you."
Seeing Ming Yutong's silence, Fu Yinxiu grasped her hand urgently, "Tong Tong, you're not... reconsidering again, are you?"
Ming Yutong sighed. "Fine, pack this up and come inside."
She bent down to pick up the sleeping bag, but Fu Yinxiu quickly stopped her. "Don't move, I'll handle it."
Fu Yinxiu efficiently deflated the air mattress and gathered the sleeping bag, rolling them up and putting them into the bag before carrying it inside.
"You'll still sleep on the floor," Ming Yutong said, pointing to the carpet in the living room. Remembering this morning, she shot him a glare. "Don't even think about sleeping at my door again."
Fu Yinxiu fell silent. He didn't say anything but seemed to convey that he preferred to sleep inside rather than at her door.
"If you end up sleeping at my door again, just sleep in your sleeping bag outside. I won't care." Ming Yutong said irritably.
She turned to walk away, but Fu Yinxiu quickly grabbed her. "Where are you going?"
Ming Yutong's mind wandered as she stood still, staring at the closet in her walk-in wardrobe.
The sudden change in Fu Yinxiu's demeanor had left her unsettled. Before, Fu Yinxiu's assertive and domineering attitude would have led him to grab her forcefully, demanding answers or showing anger.
Yet now, he seemed to be exhibiting vulnerability, almost like a lost child, begging not to be abandoned.
Her heart ached as she reflected on this change. She felt a pang of empathy for the man who had become so unlike his usual proud self when he was around her.
Seeing him act so meek and desperate, uncharacteristically submissive, stirred something within her.
Suddenly, Fu Yinxiu's voice broke through her thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"
Startled, Ming Yutong wondered if her preoccupation with him had made her imagine his voice. However, she then felt an intense warmth pressing against her back.
Initially, the warmth was just a gentle presence, but it quickly grew more intense as Fu Yinxiu closed the distance.
She realized that Fu Yinxiu had approached her silently and now stood directly behind her.
The heat radiating from his body was undeniable, making her feel even more aware of his closeness.
Ming Yutong's back tensed, unsure of how to react. The warmth of his body against hers was both surprising and unsettling.
Fu Yinxiu's voice, soft and close to her ear, held a trace of concern. "Are you okay?"
Ming Yutong's heart raced. The contrast between his previous self and this vulnerable, earnest version of him was striking.
She turned slowly, finding herself face to face with Fu Yinxiu, whose expression was a mixture of hope and trepidation.
In that moment, the walls she had carefully constructed seemed to waver. The once clear boundaries between them now felt less defined.