Chapter 81: Living Together

Uncle Chen, the driver, took the items and placed them in the trunk. Bian Yang opened the car door for the young girl to get in, and with his other hand, he unceremoniously pushed Qin Mingyu’s smog-blue head back inside.

Qin Mingyu ruffled his now-messy hair and complained, “What’s wrong with just taking a look? Is that really necessary?”

Bian Yang glanced at him from the corner of his eye, not bothering to respond.

Qin Mingyu couldn’t sit still and turned to chat with Tang Yu. “Miss, are you still feeling unwell anywhere? If you are, just tell me—”

Before he could finish, there was a heavy thud against his back; he had been kicked again. Qin Mingyu nearly wrenched his waist.

Bian Yang lazily withdrew his foot, spreading his legs casually as he leaned back against the rear seat, his tone nonchalant and careless. “When are you going back? How much longer are you planning to stay here? Don’t you know this city isn’t exactly welcoming to you?”

“Who says? Seems to me it’s just you who’s not welcoming.” Qin Mingyu rolled his eyes. Just a few words with the girl, and he’s acting like someone is trying to steal his precious treasure.

Bian Yang’s eyes lifted slightly at the corners. “As long as you know.”

“No need to chase me off, I’ll be gone first thing tomorrow. I have an exam in the afternoon. Even if I wanted to stay, I couldn’t.” Qin Mingyu had wanted to leave earlier, but as soon as he arrived, he fell ill and spent a whole day throwing up in the hotel. Then he was caught in a downpour, came down with a fever and a cold, which delayed him until now. It just so happened he got caught up in Tang Yu’s affairs.

He said to Bian Yang, “By the way, the lawyer you asked me to find will be here the day after tomorrow. I’ve arranged his hotel already. As for the lawyer’s fee—”

“Ahem!” Bian Yang’s cough cut him off before he could finish.

Qin Mingyu looked at him in confusion. Bian Yang lifted the hand pressed to his lips, giving him a look that clearly signaled him to keep quiet. When he noticed Tang Yu glancing over, he quickly dropped his hand again, letting it rest nonchalantly on his knee as he gazed out the window.

Catching Tang Yu’s expectant gaze, Qin Mingyu quickly caught on. “What I mean is, the lawyer’s fee isn’t necessary…”

As soon as he said this, Bian Yang visibly relaxed.

Qin Mingyu guessed that Bian Yang must have told Tang Yu a different story. The lawyer in question was famous in the capital, undefeated in court, and if not for family connections, ordinary people would never be able to hire him—his fees were astronomical…

Qin Mingyu glanced at Bian Yang meaningfully. “This lawyer is known for his philanthropy and virtue. Especially when he encounters a beautiful young woman—his sense of justice takes over, and he’d rather starve in poverty than accept a single penny.”

Bian Yang shot him a warning look, the pressure in his gaze unmistakable.

Qin Mingyu coughed lightly, not daring to tease any further. He smiled at Tang Yu. “Most importantly, this lawyer specializes in divorce disputes and cases involving child support and alimony. You’ll be in good hands.”

Tang Yu was extremely grateful. “Thank you, Mingyu.”

That soft thank-you, calling him “brother,” was perfectly placed and made him feel utterly delighted.

Bian Yang’s face darkened. “Don’t call him ‘brother’—never again!”

Tang Yu hesitated, “...Then what should I call him?”

While she was in the hospital, Qin Mingyu had visited several times, always telling jokes and making both her and the nurses laugh.

Over time, they became familiar, and Qin Mingyu always had her secretly call him “brother” when Bian Yang wasn’t around. Since he was older than her, Tang Yu thought nothing of it, and soon it became a habit.

Bian Yang didn’t even bother lifting his eyelids, his voice devoid of emotion. “Call him ‘dead dog.’”

Tang Yu: “…”

Qin Mingyu: “…Could you try being a decent human being, brother?”

She was inexplicably tickled, lowering her head and laughing silently.

Bian Yang caught her smile from the corner of his eye, and though he turned to look out the window, the corners of his lips curled upward ever so slightly.

—

The car came to a smooth stop at the entrance of Bian Yang’s apartment building.

Qin Mingyu’s hotel was just across the street, very close by. He had wanted to go up and sit with them, but seeing how unwelcome he was, he could only stomp back to his hotel in frustration.

Opening the door, Bian Yang walked in first, opened the shoe cabinet, bent down, and took out her pink bunny slippers. His cool, pale fingers pinched the slippers as he lifted his chin, motioning for her to sit on the sofa.

Tang Yu looked puzzled. Bian Yang explained, “The doctor said you should try to bend over as little as possible for now. Sit on the sofa, and I’ll help you change.”

“No, no, it’s fine—I can do it myself!” How could she let Bian Yang change her shoes? She quickly waved her hands.

But Bian Yang took her arm and firmly pressed her down onto the sofa.

He set his backpack and the clothes he’d been carrying onto the carpet, knelt in front of her, and began untying her shoelaces.

Tang Yu bit her lip, pulling her foot back awkwardly, but his palm gently cupped her ankle.

The warmth of his hand seeped into her skin, almost burning. Her whole body tensed involuntarily.

“Hold still. Don’t move,” Bian Yang said quietly, his head lowered.

Tang Yu braced herself on the sofa with both hands, her gaze fixed on the crown of his head, a strange, uncontrollable feeling spreading inside her.

He removed her shoes and slipped on the pink slippers.

Bian Yang picked up her discarded shoes and put them back in the cabinet.

Tang Yu’s slippered feet touched the floor, her toes curling inside her socks as she glanced around the room.

She suddenly noticed that all the corners of the cabinets and tables were covered with foam padding—even the legs and edges of the not-so-large coffee table were carefully wrapped.

She suddenly recalled the last time she had tripped over the coffee table in the living room…

Unable to resist, she turned to look at Bian Yang, only catching the slender silhouette of the young man, one hand braced on the shoe cabinet as he changed his own shoes.

“Bian Yang.” Her lips moved as she called out, “Why did you pad all this?”

Bian Yang finished changing shoes and headed to the kitchen, washed his hands, and casually poured a glass of warm water.

He walked back with the glass in hand, glanced at the spot she pointed to, and replied offhandedly, “Just felt like it.”

He handed her the glass. Tang Yu thanked him and took it in both hands.

She wanted to ask if it was because of her, but if it wasn’t, wouldn’t that seem conceited? Besides, all this had been padded even before she decided to move in—surely, she was overthinking it.

Tang Yu touched the sofa. Last time he’d slept here, she’d already felt bad. She was just about to mention sleeping in the living room when—

It was as if Bian Yang could read her mind. “I bought a bed and put it in the bedroom. There wasn’t much time, so I separated it with a frosted glass partition. Do you want to take a look?”

In front of him, Tang Yu always seemed to be on the passive end of things.

She hugged the water glass and obediently followed him to the bedroom. When she saw the setup inside, she blinked in surprise.

The spacious bedroom was divided into two sections, separated by frosted glass and a hinged glass door.

The frosted glass was already opaque, but he’d added a layer of white curtains over the pane, as if to lay a soft, misty filter over the entire room. It allowed light through but no sight, preserving both privacy and aesthetic beauty.

“I’ll sleep outside, you sleep inside,” he said, reaching into his pocket to push open the glass door, stepping aside to let her in.

Tang Yu pressed her lips together and obediently stepped inside.

A cream-colored shag rug covered the floor. He’d given her the spot by the window, so the sunlight would pour across her bed every morning.

The bed was as big as his—three people could sleep on it comfortably. His bedding was in shades of gray, and hers was creamy white, looking soft and inviting in the sunlight.

She couldn’t help but walk in, spread her arms, and fall onto the soft bed, which smelled of fresh laundry, sun-dried, just like the scent on him.

It was a feeling of comfort and absolute safety.

“Is it okay?” he asked, leaning against the glass door, watching her roll around in the covers, a faint smile on his lips.

Tang Yu immediately sat up and nodded vigorously.

It was more than okay—it was perfect.

But as soon as she finished nodding, she realized something was off. These things were clearly prepared in advance.

And she was only moving in today. When did Bian Yang have the time…?

She stared at him suspiciously. “Did you set all this up beforehand?”

Bian Yang’s eyelids twitched, but he remained calm and unruffled. “Actually, there’s something I’ve been hiding from you.”

“Ah?” She looked up at him with clear, earnest eyes.

“Actually, I’m a god who’s just descended to the mortal world. With a snap of my fingers and a thought, I can have everything ready. So, after you agreed to move in, I just used a little celestial magic and set it all up.”

Tang Yu: “…”

Bian Yang’s smile was mischievous at the corners of his eyes. “What, you don’t believe me?”

She looked at him as if to say, “Do I look like an idiot to you?”