Chapter 37 – Let’s See How You Do
1120 Words
Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng University, Staff Apartments Building 5, Unit 4, Room 614.
Su Baizhou opened the door and let Luo Ye walk in with her.
She pointed at the empty room and said, “You can stay there, but only for today, tomorrow, and the day after.”
Curious, Luo Ye asked, “What happens when the break is over?”
“Then it depends on how you perform over these three days.”
Su Baizhou turned around and gave a faint smile.
The smile made Luo Ye pause for a moment, and a warm feeling washed over him. He realized that after his comment to the fairy senior at the bus, she wasn’t acting so aloof anymore.
But when she mentioned “performance,” Luo Ye’s expression hardened; he became seriously solemn. He knew he had to act like the perfect man for the next three days, or she’d kick him out.
Seeing him so straight‑laced, Su Baizhou thought it was kind of funny—like a mischievous kid trying to earn a gold star by pretending to be well‑behaved.
“Buy the dinner ingredients today,” Su Baizhou said suddenly.
“Me?”
Luo Ye looked puzzled.
“Yeah, you. Whatever you want to eat, go get it, bring it back, and I’ll cook.”
Understanding, Luo Ye gave an OK hand gesture and left the living room. He gently closed the door behind him, and Su Baizhou propped her chin on the sofa.
She turned on the TV, flipped to a random show, and stared pensively.
So… are they… living together?
No, no, it’s just a roommate situation.
Should they make some “three‑rule” pact like in a novel?
No way—he can only stay three days; after the break he has to go, and staying longer would be rude.
But this is his cousin’s place, and he only rented a room. Should they really send him packing? Su Baizhou’s face was a picture of indecision.
Just then, her phone rang.
She answered, and a girl’s voice came through.
“Baizhou, why haven’t you contacted me all holiday? Wanna come over these two days?”
“No.”
“Why not? Got something more important than me at Jiang University?” the girl teased.
It was Su Baizhou’s best friend, Li Xia, a medical intern at Jiang Cheng Medical University who’s also been her classmate since elementary school—sitting side‑by‑side, sharing desks, everything.
“Right now you’re definitely my top priority, but tomorrow… tomorrow I’ve got something, so I’ll see you the day after.”
Su Baizhou almost blurted it out. She remembered: tomorrow, October 6th, was Luo Ye’s birthday.
Li Xia sounded skeptical over the line. “What do you mean I’m the most important now? Does that mean I won’t be later? Baizhou, you feel different.”
“I haven’t changed.”
Su Baizhou’s tone stayed cool, just as Li Xia knew it. Yet Li Xia sensed something off.
All mysterious changes point to one conclusion.
Li Xia’s eyes narrowed. “Baizhou, if someone you know inside out suddenly acts like a completely different person, do you know why?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know.” Su Baizhou replied flatly.
“The truth is simple… the thing that makes people change fast is love.”
Bee‑beep‑beep…
The moment “love” left her lips, Su Baizhou hung up.
Bored… How could she possibly be in love? She was just helping Professor Gu look after her little brother.
Well… looking after… brother… Luo Ye?
Why does love make her think of Luo Ye right now? She found his face looping in her mind. Maybe she liked him a bit, but liking isn’t the same as loving. Even if she did love him, it didn’t mean they had to be together.
Exactly, that’s it.
The TV was playing an anime. A young hero unleashed a skill and shouted, “You already have a way to die.”
Su Baizhou frowned and switched channels.
The next program featured a character pointing at the screen, yelling, “Stubborn as a dead duck!”
She stood up, stared at the character, and declared solemnly, “I’m not.”
“The character replied, ‘You keep saying that, but you’re obviously falling for him!’ ”
Su Baizhou shook her head, changed to a third channel, then, bored by the sitcoms, turned the TV off.
She sat on the sofa, staring off for a moment, then muttered, “Where is he?”
Glancing at the clock, she realized only ten minutes had passed since Luo Ye left the house.
Why does time crawl like this?
—
Meanwhile, Luo Ye arrived at the market.
Since senior sister was cooking today, he needed to pick the best ingredients.
“King crab on sale, 588 yuan per jin, special price!”
He walked up to the seafood stall. “One king crab, please.”
The vendor, a cheerful lady, said, “Good lad, you’ve got a bright future—young and already affording king crab. Got a girlfriend?”
“No!” Luo Ye answered confidently, then lowered his head and whispered, “But I do have someone I like.”
“Too bad, I was about to set you up with my son.”
The vendor shook her head, looking regretful.
Luo Ye laughed, “Haha, you’re funny.” He patted his head, a cold sweat forming on his forehead.
What son… he must have misheard.
Soon a king crab, neatly packed in a box, was in his hands.
Should he add chicken? Maybe a leg of lamb. Beef is good—grab some. Two big lobsters, one each for him and senior sister.
What else…
—
Back at the staff apartments.
Su Baizhou looked at the table piled high with bags and boxes. Though her face stayed impassive, the sheer amount made Luo Ye uneasy.
She said calmly, “Looks like you’re not just clueless about cooking—you’ve got no idea about ingredients either.”
“Senior sister…” Luo Ye bowed his head like a guilty child.
“But with this much, we can make a lot of dishes.”
A faint smile tugged at Su Baizhou’s lips as she walked into the kitchen and tied an apron around her waist.
Luo Ye braced for a scolding, but it passed without incident.
Then, unexpectedly, Su Baizhou emerged from the kitchen wielding a kitchen knife, eyes a little fierce, and said flatly, “Next time, don’t buy such pricey stuff. I can make cheap ingredients taste amazing too.”
- Writer
