Chapter 6 - Crashed Helmet
I changed and started cooking, making enough for two.
“Eat.” I slid a bowl toward him.
He shook his head. “I’ll talk and leave.”
“Right now I only care about food.” I pushed chopsticks into his hand. “Eat, or leave right now. Your choice.”
He hesitated, then took them.
We ate in silence.
I glanced up and really looked at him for the first time.
Long, thick lashes. Straight nose. Beautiful lip shape. Even the slight puff of his cheeks while chewing screamed youth.
I hadn’t had the chance to notice before.
When we finished, I stood to clean up.
He shot up. “I’ll do it.”
“No need.”
“I don’t eat for free.” He grabbed the bowls and headed to the kitchen.
I leaned against the doorframe and watched.
His movements were practiced, fingers long and defined, skin pale against the water.
When he was done, we sat again.
“Go ahead,” I said.
He inhaled deeply, voice low. “If I come here… will you really leave my sister alone?”
I stared, then laughed despite myself. “How many times do I have to say it? I already told you I won’t touch her. Has she said anything about me bothering her these past few days?”
He stayed quiet.
I breathed in patiently. “That earlier thing was a joke. I don’t like guys. I swear I won’t harass your sister—ever.”
He lifted his gaze, dark eyes searching mine.
After a long moment, he nodded. “Okay.”
Silence fell.
I studied his tense profile, finding the whole thing pretty amusing.
The same guy who yanked my pants down in drag and held a knife to my throat now looked like a sulky kid.
He was a kid—barely twenty, still in college.
According to the book, his heart condition flared up, forcing him to take medical leave. Staying home, he noticed Lin Yan’s mood and learned about the original’s constant harassment.
I opened my mouth to speak.
He stood abruptly. “I’m going.”
“Wait.” I stopped him. “Has your sister mentioned how work’s been lately?”
He turned. “No. Why?”
“Just curious.” I shrugged. “If you’re still worried about her—or don’t trust me—you can drop by the company anytime. Or, if you really want, coming here again isn’t off the table.”
His ears went red. He shot me a glare and stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the frame.
I collapsed onto the sofa and laughed.
That pufferfish was actually pretty fun.
A month flew by. Lin Qi never showed up again.
One night I drank too much coffee and couldn’t sleep. I threw on a hoodie and went for a walk.
The villa was far out in the suburbs.
Cool wind bit at me. I hunched my shoulders.
Then—shrill brakes tore through the quiet.
Bang.
A motorcycle and car collided nearby.
The car sped off.
The bike lay in the road, wheel still spinning uselessly.
I sprinted over.
The helmet was cracked.
I lifted the visor.
My breath caught.
It was Lin Qi.