After hearing Qin Yuchuan's words, Feng Qingyi nodded slightly.
He had easily discerned her dissembling, and kindly offered advice, truly demonstrating great emotional intelligence.
"Okay, then I'll go back to my room first. I'll be in the first room upstairs. You can knock on my door if you need anything."
"You can switch channels on this TV freely by pressing these two buttons."
"This is mineral water, drink it if you get thirsty. I'll come down around eleven o'clock or so."
Qin Yuchuan: "Alright, I'll wait for you."
"I'll go up then."
After Feng Qingyi went upstairs, Yan Chi spoke up, "General, when can we return?"
"Wait." He wasn't clear on when they could return either. For now, all they could do was wait.
Yan Yang picked up the remote control, "General, can I switch to another channel?"
"Mm." Qin Yuchuan gave an affirmative reply.
Earlier when Feng Qingyi had demonstrated, Yan Yang had also seen how to operate it, so he used the remote to change channels.
After switching through many channels, Yan Yang eventually stopped on a food program.
Seeing that neither Qin Yuchuan nor Yan Chi had any comments, Yan Yang put down the remote.
He hadn't expected there to be people actually cooking on TV. Though they couldn't taste the food, watching was still enjoyable.
Before long, the doorbell of the villa rang. Qin Yuchuan looked toward the entrance.
Yan Chi and Yan Yang took the initiative to open the door.
Delivery person: "Miss Feng, right? Your delivery has arrived. Please sign for it."
Yan Chi and Yan Yang exchanged a glance, both somewhat puzzled.
"Sign?"
The delivery person looked at their outfits, "Just sign your name, no need for more. You guys look pretty into your cosplay costumes. Are you role-playing or something?"
"..." Yan Chi looked at the delivery person blankly, and Yan Yang was equally at a loss.
What was this 'cosplay' thing?
Seeing the two unresponsive at the door for a while, Qin Yuchuan got up and walked over.
The delivery person looked at Yan Chi and Yan Yang, then at Qin Yuchuan.
This most handsome one must be the one in charge. The other two seemed a bit slow.
"Buddy, are you going to sign for this delivery or not?"
Qin Yuchuan took the pen and signed his name on the form.
The delivery person pointed to the three boxes outside the door, "The items are here. You'll need to bring them inside yourselves."
Yan Chi and Yan Yang volunteered to help carry the boxes into the living room.
"What are these things? They're so heavy!"
After all the boxes were in the living room, Yan Yang grew curious about their contents.
Yan Chi: "They're Miss Qingyi's belongings. It's better not to tamper with them carelessly."
After finishing her two-hour online guqin lesson, Feng Qingyi checked the time - it was already eleven o'clock.
Walking into the living room, she saw Qin Yuchuan, Yan Chi and Yan Yang intently watching a food program.
These three couldn't possibly be hungry, could they?
"What would you all like for lunch? I can order it for you."
At the mention of food, Yan Yang perked up with interest, "Miss Qingyi, I just saw they had Buddha's Delight, Saliva Chicken, shrimp dumplings, and water-boiled fish on this show."
Feng Qingyi nodded at Yan Yang, then looked to Qin Yuchuan, "Is there anything in particular you'd like?"
"Order whatever you like. I'm fine with anything."
Feng Qingyi turned toward Yan Chi, "Yan Chi, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"I'm also fine with anything."
"Alright then!" Feng Qingyi took out her phone to order takeout.
Thanks to Shen Hanyue, Feng Qingyi was somewhat familiar with the restaurants in the area and quickly placed the order.
Watching Feng Qingyi's actions, Yan Yang asked, "Miss Qingyi, don't we need to go out and buy it?"
"No need. We're just ordering delivery. Someone will bring it here soon," Feng Qingyi replied.
Putting her phone down on the coffee table, Feng Qingyi noticed the three large cardboard boxes in the corner.
"Are these the ones you helped sign for earlier?"
Yan Yang: "Someone came to deliver these for you earlier. The General signed the name."
"Thank you!" Feng Qingyi tried to move the boxes upstairs to the study, but found she couldn't even lift them.
Qin Yuchuan walked over, "Where do you need them moved to? I can help."
Feng Qingyi: "To the study upstairs."
"Got it, lead the way." Qin Yuchuan easily lifted the boxes.
Seeing the remaining two boxes, Yan Chi and Yan Yang proactively helped carry them.
Feng Qingyi walked ahead, occasionally reminding them, "Be careful, don't drop them."
Upstairs, Feng Qingyi opened the study door. The three brought the boxes inside.
Since they'd just moved in, the study was still empty aside from a desk, chairs and bookshelves.
Qin Yuchuan: "Did you buy books?"
"Mm-hm, how did you know?"
Feng Qingyi realized after speaking that it was a silly question - they'd brought the boxes to the study, so of course they contained books.
"I'll help you unpack them."
Feng Qingyi met Qin Yuchuan's gaze and somehow found herself agreeing, "Sure!"
Yan Yang also spoke up, "Miss Qingyi, we can help too."
Qin Yuchuan: "..." These two didn't seem to understand anything.
Feng Qingyi: "No need, you two wait in the living room. Remember to open the door when the food arrives."
After Yan Chi and Yan Yang left, Feng Qingyi found a small knife and opened the boxes.
Qin Yuchuan stood behind her, silently observing.
Once all three boxes were open, Feng Qingyi turned and bumped into Qin Yuchuan's deep eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Instead of answering, Qin Yuchuan asked, "Are you afraid of me?"
"...No."
Qin Yuchuan chuckled lightly, "Qingyi, your eyes shift evasively when you lie."
"...I, I just can't quite believe it."
Seeing this wouldn't do, Qin Yuchuan knew he had to seize this hard-won opportunity to meet her.
Who knew when he might return, so he had to act quickly.
"Can't believe what?"
Feng Qingyi grew somewhat flustered, "Can't...can't believe that you've actually appeared before me."
Qin Yuchuan stepped closer, reaching out to tuck the loose strands of hair behind her ear.
"And now? Do you feel it's real?"
Feng Qingyi felt her heart pounding rapidly, unsure if from nerves or something else. This close proximity felt a bit too intimate.
Feng Qingyi took two steps back, "You..."
"Me what?" Qin Yuchuan's voice was especially deep and alluring, with an almost spellbinding power.
"Don't stand so close to me." Feng Qingyi said, lowering her head as she felt nervous and awkward facing him, though she didn't know why.
Qin Yuchuan didn't move closer. "Qingyi, don't be afraid of me."
"I'm the same Qin Yuchuan you chat with and video call every day."
"So, treat me the same way you did before, even now."
"I'm glad to see you in person."
Qin Yuchuan's gentle tone dispelled Feng Qingyi's unease and nervousness.
"Actually, I'm glad to see you too," she replied.
