Lin Wan had been living quite "comfortably" these past few days because someone was away on a business trip. Before he left, he even briefly mentioned his itinerary, so she decided to move back to her place. The busier he was, the more relaxed she became. If he happened to die of overwork, she'd definitely buy a string of firecrackers to celebrate as soon as she heard the news.
After drinking a little alcohol, she felt slightly tipsy, so she laid down on the sofa for a nap. Half asleep, half awake, she suddenly heard her phone ringing loudly. She closed her eyes, fumbled for her phone, and answered. As soon as she heard the voice on the other end, she immediately snapped awake.
"It's so late, and you're still out?"
Lin Wan glanced at the clock on the wall—it was just past 7 PM. Not too late, right? What was he suddenly fussing about? Wait, how did he know she wasn't at the apartment? Did he come back early?
She hung up the phone, then hurried to get busy—taking a shower, brushing her teeth, eating some ice cream, and then going downstairs to wait for the driver.
When she returned to the apartment, the moment she entered, she saw Chen Jin sitting in the living room, his face dark, with a suitcase by the door. It seemed like he had just gotten back. Seeing his damp hair and his neatly dressed appearance, it was obvious that he had just taken a shower. What a taskmaster, Lin Wan cursed silently in her mind.
"Why did you go back there again?" His voice sounded like it was mixed with gunpowder.
"Oh, I went back to grab a few things," Lin Wan casually lifted the bag she was holding, which was hastily packed with some clothes before she left.
"Come here." Chen Jin's tone softened a little as he beckoned her over.
Lin Wan walked over, but before she could even get close, he pulled her into his arms and immediately began kissing her like a wild animal. When he was finally satisfied, he touched her lips with a smile and said, "Strawberry flavor."
Lin Wan was out of breath and didn't respond to him. This was the first time she had sat on his lap, and she was very uncomfortable, constantly shifting. Chen Jin firmly held her in place and said, "Stop squirming. I haven't had a taste of anything fresh in a while. I can't handle your teasing."
Lin Wan immediately stiffened, rolling her eyes secretly. What does he mean by "a while"? It's only been a few days. Do they have a different concept of time in his family?
Chen Jin had sharp eyes and immediately caught the eye roll. He interpreted it as a playful pout. Maybe it was because rare things were more valuable, but he really loved her little expressions. He pressed his forehead against hers and, in a low voice, asked, "Tell me, am I not good to you?"
Lin Wan was baffled by this sudden display of affection. It felt more like a shock than anything else. She tilted her head back to avoid his advances.
"If you want something, just say it. Didn't I give you a card?" Chen Jin smiled and added, "As long as you don't buy things like refrigerators or TVs, it's fine."
Mentioning that failed shopping trip, Lin Wan couldn't help but huff in embarrassment.
Chen Jin was amused by her little temper. He gently rubbed her earlobe and teased, "You're so silly. Don't you know that smaller things are more valuable? People buy diamonds and real gold, but you're here buying cheap stuff for my company."
Lin Wan was feeling down. This man really seemed to have switched his brain out after his trip. She had only heard of people swapping hearts, livers, and kidneys, but never brain transplants. Annoyed, she broke free and got up. "I'm a little tired. I'll go rest now."
"Wait," Chen Jin grabbed her wrist and looked at his watch. "You've got three and a half hours left. What do you want to do? I'll stay with you the whole time."
Lin Wan could now be sure of one thing: Chen Jin really had switched his brain.
Chen Jin noticed the confused look on her face and felt a little annoyed. His voice turned a bit sharper. "Today's your birthday. You didn't forget, did you?"
"Ah?" Lin Wan gasped, quickly pulling out her phone to check the date. Chen Jin watched her, utterly amused by her cluelessness.
"I really forgot," Lin Wan muttered to herself.
Chen Jin pulled her up, his tone slightly annoyed. "It's okay. Post-concussion syndrome. Looks like I'll need to take you for an examination soon." Then he looked at her again. "Have you decided what to do? Or do you have any wishes? But if it's something like an overseas trip, forget it. There's no time for that. We can go for a quick stroll, though."
Lin Wan was a little lost in thought. A birthday wish? Of course, she used to have them, but the person who was supposed to share those wishes was no longer around, so all those wishes had turned into illusions. Honestly, no wish was more important than a person. If there was really an Aladdin's lamp in the world, she would want to try it out. She'd wish for Wang Xiao to return to the way he was, or—she glanced at the man beside her—she could wish for him to disappear.
Chen Jin, being an efficiency-oriented person, couldn't stand anyone dawdling. He pulled Lin Wan outside, letting her decide on the way.
In the elevator, Lin Wan's stomach suddenly growled. She looked at herself in the mirror, giving a self-deprecating laugh. "I'm hungry. Let's go eat."
Chen Jin looked at her smiling face, slightly distracted, then said, "No problem. What do you want to eat? How about Sichuan food?" He noticed Lin Wan liked spicy food, and every time she ate, her lips would turn red and puffy. It made him dizzy when he kissed her afterward.
Lin Wan hesitated for a moment before asking, "How about ramen?"
When they arrived at the place and got out of the car, seeing the small, humble storefront with its simple sign, Chen Jin immediately frowned. He grabbed Lin Wan's chin and smiled, "Are you kidding me?"
Lin Wan looked at the shop, then at him in his expensive suit, suddenly feeling a mischievous sense of satisfaction. She looked innocent and said, "Isn't it traditional to eat noodles on your birthday?" Without waiting for his response, she pushed open the door and walked in.
Half a minute later, Chen Jin entered, his face dark. Although the shop was small, it was quite busy. It seemed clean enough, though. He scanned the room: workers, students, and Lin Wan.
He was about to sit across from her, but Lin Wan quickly stopped him and, loud enough for everyone to hear, said, "Let me take off my jacket and put it on your chair, so your custom-made Paris suit doesn't get dirty." Instantly, countless eyes turned toward Chen Jin's expensive suit, with looks of surprise, disdain, and the owner's annoyed expression.
Chen Jin was fuming, but he laughed in the end. He stopped Lin Wan from continuing her exaggerated slow-motion routine of taking off her coat. With a loud voice, he said, It's fine. If it gets dirty, we'll just throw it away. We have plenty of clothes at home. Clearly, calmly sat down.
Lin Wan's little prank was easily defused. She shrugged indifferently, then greeted the grumpy waiter with a smile: "I'll have a bowl of beef noodles."
"Wide noodles," Chen Jin added.
"Huh?" Lin Wan looked at him. Chen Jin explained slowly, "It's your birthday, right? You should eat broad noodles, and—" he looked up and said to the waiter, "Oh, and add a fried egg."
Lin Wan's heart warmed. She remembered when her grandmother was still around, her birthday meals were always this simple but so warm. Thinking about her grandmother, her eyes welled up, but when she looked at the man across from her, that brief flicker of warmth immediately retreated. Still, she asked, "Do you want a bowl?"