64: Chapter 64 A Morning for Two

April 26, 2025, Saturday, Rainy, 14 ~ 23 °.

When Qiao Yichen woke up, the window was still covered in a hazy curtain of rain.

Because it had been raining for several days, he hadn't been able to go for his morning run. However, after this period of exercise and dietary adjustments, his body had indeed changed—this morning, looking in the mirror, the lines of his shoulders and back were much more defined than three weeks ago.

He did a few sets of push-ups in the narrow room, then stretched for a while, only getting up to wash only after his body was slightly warm.

After changing his clothes, he picked up his phone and tapped on the pinned conversation.

"What do you want to eat this morning? I'll bring it over."

Sent.

He opened his umbrella and went downstairs. The drizzle was fine, making a faint rustling sound as it hit the umbrella surface.

When he reached the entrance of the residential complex, his phone vibrated.

Liu Yanran: "Why are you up so early?"

Qiao Yichen: "It's been this time recently. Exercise, I'm used to it."

The other party was typing... it flickered for a few seconds.

Then an emoji popped up—a cartoon kitten holding a red heart bigger than its face, tilting its head.

No text.

Qiao Yichen looked at the emoji, and the corners of his mouth curved up.

Liu Yanran: "I don't have much appetite; I want to drink congee."

Qiao Yichen: "Okay, I'll bring it to you in a bit."

He put away his phone and turned toward the congee shop on the street corner.

— —

Thirty minutes later, the taxi stopped at the entrance of Liu Yanran's residential complex.

Qiao Yichen held the umbrella with one hand and carried the insulated bag with the other. Inside were freshly packed pumpkin congee, two kinds of light pickles, a dish of dried meat floss, and two tea eggs.

The elevator ascended. He stopped in front of the familiar dark security door, freed a hand, and knocked three times.

Footsteps sounded from inside the door, coming closer.

The door lock clicked softly, and the door opened.

Liu Yanran stood inside.

Her hair was not tied up, falling loosely, somewhat messy, with a few strands hanging by her face.

She was wearing a deep black silk pajama set, the belt loosely tied, and the collar askew from sleep, revealing a section of her collarbone.

She squinted, clearly woken by the knocking. Having just gotten out of bed, her entire demeanor exuded the grogginess of just waking up.

Qiao Yichen stood at the doorway, not immediately entering.

Liu Yanran blinked, saw that it was him, moved aside, and said in the low, hoarse voice characteristic of just waking up: "...You're here. You're actually this early."

"It's not early," Qiao Yichen entered, placed the insulated bag on the entryway cabinet, changed his shoes, "It's almost nine o'clock."

Liu Yanran didn't reply, meandering toward the living room. Midway, her body swayed, and she collapsed onto the sofa.

He put down what he was holding and walked over, bending down in front of her.

"Why are you so listless?" He reached out, pulled her into his arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Liu Yanran didn't move, letting him hold her. Her voice was muffled, slightly nasal:

"Lin Wei and Su Qing kept me talking too long last night... I accidentally stayed up until the early morning."

She paused, then added another sentence: "It's been a long time since I slept that late."

Qiao Yichen didn't speak, only tightened his arms. Her body heat came through the thin pajamas—soft, warm, carrying the unique warmth of just waking up.

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Go wash up," he said. "The congee won't taste good if it gets cold."

Liu Yanran lingered in his embrace for a few more seconds before letting out a soft 'Mm,' breaking free from his arms. Her steps were still a bit unsteady as she walked toward the master bedroom.

Qiao Yichen watched her back, then turned and opened the insulated bag.

The pumpkin congee was still hot. He carefully poured it into two white porcelain bowls. He separated the pickles into small dishes, used a small spoon to fluff the dried meat floss, peeled the tea eggs, and collected the shells intact in an empty bowl.

He arranged everything on the dining table.

A little over ten minutes later, the door to the master bedroom opened.

Liu Yanran walked out, completely transformed from moments before.

Her hair was now all tied up at the back of her head, revealing a smooth forehead and the clear lines of her profile. Her face was refreshed; she wasn't wearing makeup, but her skin was clean and radiant, with only a thin layer of lip balm on her lips.

She walked to the dining table and paused when she saw the neatly arranged bowls and dishes.

Qiao Yichen was already seated and nodded toward her: "Come over. The pumpkin congee is still hot."

Liu Yanran sat down opposite him, picked up her congee bowl, and took a small sip.

"How is it?" Qiao Yichen asked.

"...Mm," she didn't look up and took another sip.

Qiao Yichen didn't ask again and started eating his portion.

After finishing breakfast, Qiao Yichen tidied up all the dishes in the kitchen.

When he walked back into the living room, Liu Yanran was already curled up on the sofa, a tablet resting on her lap, the screen lit up, showing an unfinished drama episode.

She looked up at him and shifted to make room.

Qiao Yichen understood, sat down next to her, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

She leaned into his embrace as expected, adjusted the angle of the tablet so they could both see it.

The scene on the screen was halfway through; it was a slow-paced Xianxia drama.

Qiao Yichen actually wasn't paying much attention to it.

His entire focus was on the person in his arms—her hair still retained the scent of shampoo, and her back gently rose and fell with her breathing.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Yanran suddenly spoke, asking a question out of the blue:

"That cabinet... what are you planning to do with it?"

Qiao Yichen's arm tightened slightly.

"I can go take a look at Old Street in the next couple of days," he said. "If there's no prospect there, I'll commission an auction house. But there's no need to rush this."

Liu Yanran 'Mm'-ed, and didn't press further.

The rain outside was still falling.

At 10:20, Liu Yanran's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and swiped to answer.

"Hello... Yes, it's me... Mm, he's at the house, just send it straight up."

The call was short, less than a minute.

She put down her phone and said to Qiao Yichen: "The cabinet, they said it will arrive in about an hour."

Then she stood up and walked toward the master bedroom.

"I'm going to wash my hair." She pushed the door open, glanced back at him, said nothing, and went inside.

Qiao Yichen remained on the sofa. The drama on the screen continued, but he had completely lost track of what was happening.

He simply put down the tablet, leaned back against the sofa, and stared blankly out at the hazy, rainy view.

About twenty minutes later, the master bedroom door opened again.

Liu Yanran walked out, her hair wet and draped over her shoulders, the ends still dripping water, dampening a small area on the shoulder of her pajamas.

She saw Qiao Yichen still sitting on the sofa, didn't stop her steps, and walked straight back into the master bedroom.

She stopped at the doorway and turned her head.

"Come and blow dry my hair."

Qiao Yichen got up and followed her into the master bedroom.

The hairdryer was in the bedside table drawer. He took it out, plugged it in, and she was already sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to him.

He turned on the warm air and slowly blew her hair dry, threading his fingers through her strands.

The hot air carried away the moisture, and the scent of shampoo became more intense as it was steamed by the heat, filling the entire room with that faint scent belonging to her.

Her hair went from heavy and wet to fluffy and soft, sliding through his fingers.

He turned off the hairdryer.

Liu Yanran stood up and turned around.

Qiao Yichen looked at her bare face, her hair fluffy around her, her cheeks slightly flushed from the hot air.

Suddenly, an urge surged in his heart. He couldn't resist reaching out, pulling her directly into his arms, and lowering his head to kiss her.

The kiss was deep; he held the back of her head, pressing her against the edge of the bed.

In the space between their interlocking lips, his hand explored upward along the side seam of her pajamas.

She didn't push him away.

He even heard an extremely faint moan escape her throat.

After an unknown amount of time, he pulled back slightly, his lips still touching the corner of hers.

Her eyes were lowered, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her breathing uneven.

Later, Qiao Yichen kissed her collarbone.

Liu Yanran's hands moved up to the back of his head, her fingertips brushing through his hair. Her voice was very low, carrying a hint of hoarseness.

"I'll change my clothes... and put on some makeup. Something is supposed to be delivered soon."

Qiao Yichen didn't move.

He stayed pressed against her collarbone for a few more seconds before slowly straightening up.

"...I'll go out first." His voice was also hoarse.

Liu Yanran looked at him, saying nothing.

Instead, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

The kiss was light, like a dragonfly touching water.

Qiao Yichen looked at her, the corners of his mouth curving up.

Then he turned, walked out of the master bedroom, and closed the door.