41: Chapter 41 You pinned my chat window to the top?

Before Xu Wanning could pick up, the call was hung up. She called back, and after three rings, it was answered.

"Pressed the wrong button." Lu Chengyue's voice was low. There was wind in the background; he was clearly outdoors.

"What are you doing?" Xu Wanning didn't believe he had pressed the wrong button; it was clear he just missed her.

"Outside, just got back from night training." Lu Chengyue's voice wasn't shaking at all; his stamina was truly impressive.

"Why did you press the wrong button?" Xu Wanning ambushed him.

"..." There was a three-second silence on the other end. "Your chat box was at the top, I accidentally tapped it."

Xu Wanning giggled. "So, you pinned my chat box?"

"..." Lu Chengyue didn't speak, he just let out a light laugh, carrying the helplessness of someone who had given up after being exposed.

"Lu Chengyue." Xu Wanning called him by his full name again.

"Hm." His Adam's apple bobbed, squeezing out a response.

Xu Wanning turned up the sweetness. "Will you press the wrong button often in the future? I really like it when you do."

Lu Chengyue's heart pounded wildly. He didn't know how to respond. "Sleep, go to sleep."

"Hm." Xu Wanning didn't object, but at a time like this, it was time to play hard to get. "You hang up first."

Lu Chengyue didn't hang up, and neither did Xu Wanning.

The two of them just stayed silent like that, listening to each other's breathing, their heartbeats providing the accompaniment.

Xu Wanning couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Can't bear to part with me?"

Lu Chengyue remained silent for about another thirty seconds before hanging up the phone.

Xu Wanning took a look; the call duration was only four minutes and thirty-two seconds, with silence probably accounting for three and a half minutes of it.

Lu Zhiyu rolled over on the bed and stared at Xu Wanning. "Ningning, were you on the phone with my brother? You guys are already this lovey-dovey? It's truly rare that my brother is actually dating someone."

Song Yunqing and Wen Shuyang also sat up, looking at her with gossip-filled faces, wanting to hear the inside scoop.

Xu Wanning dried her hair and crawled into the covers. "Right now, it only counts as being in the ambiguous stage; neither of us has officially confessed."

Wen Shuyang lay back down flat. "That's close enough. You two clearly have feelings for each other; I really don't know what you're waiting for."

Xu Wanning stared blankly at the ceiling. "I firmly believe I can love him for a lifetime, but he isn't ready to commit to a long-term future with me yet. I can wait."

Song Yunqing spoke up in a small voice. "Then what if he eventually decides you two aren't a good match?"

"Then I'll set him free." Xu Wanning turned over and lay on her side. "Moral blackmail is pointless, which is also why I haven't told him that we were a couple in our past life."

Lu Zhiyu sighed. "Ningning, regardless of whether you become my sister-in-law in the future, you will always be my good best friend."

"Hm." Xu Wanning smiled at Lu Zhiyu; their sisterly bond wasn't so easily broken. "In this life, we must live well and see The Apocalypse through to the end."

"We will!" Lu Zhiyu, Wen Shuyang, and Song Yunqing all raised their fists.

The next morning, as Xu Wanning was eating breakfast with her friends, her phone rang. Lu Chengyue sent a message: [You left your bag in my car. I'm outside right now, can you come out and get it?]

Xu Wanning held back a laugh. Her bag had been in his car for several days; she had intentionally left it there when he picked her up at the airport, and he only discovered it today?

[Are you at the school?] She glanced at her outfit for the day: a black knit dress that fell just below her knees and little leather boots. Yes, yes, very nice.

[At the gate.] Lu Chengyue's message came through.

Xu Wanning stood up and handed her coat to Lu Zhiyu. "Zhiyu, your brother is here to see me; can you take my coat to the classroom for me?" After saying that, she hurried away.

The three best friends looked at each other; things were progressing rapidly.

The early spring wind was chilly. She had intentionally not worn a coat, and by the time she reached the gate, she couldn't help but rub her arms.

From his car window, Lu Chengyue saw Xu Wanning walking over from a distance. Seeing her dressed so lightly, he was in no mood to appreciate her beauty. He quickly grabbed his jacket, got out of the car, and walked over to her. "Put this on." His tone was unquestionable.

"There's no need..." What was the point if she put it on herself?

Lu Chengyue frowned and quickly draped the jacket over Xu Wanning's shoulders. He hadn't thought much while doing it, but once it was on, his hand made contact with her shoulder, and he paused.

His fingers recoiled as if burned, and he took a step back, but his eyes were unwilling to look away from her.

His jacket was too big; on Xu Wanning, it looked like a dress. The sleeves were too long, and she had to roll them up three times to reveal her hands.

The jacket smelled of laundry detergent and a faint trace of sweat. Xu Wanning pulled the collar up, burying half her face inside.

Lu Chengyue's Adam's apple bobbed. This image was too impactful; he needed a moment to steady himself.

"Brother Chengyue, where's my bag?" Seeing that Lu Chengyue had no intention of moving and that his gaze was becoming increasingly intense, Xu Wanning reminded him innocently.

Lu Chengyue withdrew his gaze. "It's in the car, I'll go get it."

He turned and walked toward the car. His training uniform clung to his back in the wind, clearly outlining the muscles of his solid, broad back.

In her past life, she had grabbed onto them countless times. Recalling it now, the sensation was still very vivid.

Lu Chengyue returned with the bag and handed it to her. "Go back now."

Xu Wanning took the bag. "Brother Chengyue, have you eaten?"

Lu Chengyue nodded. "I've eaten."

Xu Wanning reached out and tapped his lips with her fingertip. "You're lying; you still have toothpaste on your lips."

Startled, Lu Chengyue took a step back, his ear tips turning red, and he vigorously wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

Xu Wanning burst into laughter. "I was lying to you."

Lu Chengyue was stunned for a moment, then turned his head away.

Xu Wanning saw him smile—it was very brief, the corners of his mouth only curving for a split second before stopping, maintaining his poker-faced persona.

After composing himself, Lu Chengyue turned back. "Go back, it's cold."

Xu Wanning wouldn't have it. "I haven't eaten yet. Let's eat together, my treat."

Lu Chengyue immediately refused. "No need."

She shook the bag in her hand. "Just consider it a thank you for bringing me my bag."

Lu Chengyue opened his mouth, "..."

Xu Wanning knew he was going to refuse, so she immediately cut him off. "I'm hungry. Even if you don't eat, I still have to. Eating alone is boring; you're keeping me company."

Lu Chengyue looked at her, his eyes full of the helplessness of 'there's no dealing with you.' "Let's go."

Five minutes later, the two of them were seated in a small restaurant near the school. They ordered two bowls of noodles, and Lu Chengyue insisted on paying.

While waiting for the noodles, he used a napkin to wipe the chopsticks clean, then handed them to Xu Wanning after he finished, before wiping his own.

Watching his movements as he wiped the chopsticks, Xu Wanning asked a question she had been wanting to ask. "Brother Chengyue."

"Hm?" Lu Chengyue raised an eyebrow at her.

She tapped the table. "Why didn't you join the military?"

"I wanted to be closer to home." Lu Chengyue had always wanted to join the military, but later, considering his family, he ultimately chose to become a Firefighter. Either way, he was serving the people and could still see his family often.

Lu Chengyue paused. "Many people think that a Firefighter isn't as good as a soldier. Do you think so too?"