Huang Xiaotao then sent me her home address. I got dressed and was about to head out when Wang Dali, who was playing on his phone while sitting on the bed, asked me, "Song Yang, where are you going at this hour?"
I said, "Huang Xiaotao found some clues over there, so I'm going to go take a look."
"Are you coming back tonight? Should I leave the door unlocked for you?" Wang Dali asked.
"No need, I'll probably be out all night," I replied.
"Do you want me to come along?"
"No need this time," I said.
With this back and forth, I really did feel like I was talking to my wife, just as Huang Xiaotao had said. I was a little embarrassed.
To keep up appearances, I grabbed my messenger bag and went downstairs to hail a taxi. Half an hour later, I arrived at the foot of Huang Xiaotao's building. I was suddenly nervous. Visiting a girl's home late at night was a first for me! As I climbed the stairs, my throat went dry from nerves. When I knocked on the door, my hands shook.
I waited quietly, and I could even hear my heart pounding wildly. What should I say when she opens the door?
Just as I was thinking about it, the door opened. Huang Xiaotao was wearing a loose dress, revealing two slender, fair legs. She had on a pair of little bear slippers, a towel wrapped around her head, and pore strips on her nose. I caught a whiff of the fragrant, damp scent on her body. Her skin was slightly flushed, as if she had just gotten out of the shower.
"Um... I'll head back after eating the dumplings," I said.
As I spoke, it was as if another me was mocking me in my mind. Coming to Huang Xiaotao's place in the middle of the night, and you're really here just for dumplings?
Seeing her casual attire, with a section of fair clavicle revealed, and the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra at home alone, I felt my tender face flush red again.
I scolded myself in my mind. Useless! Useless!
"Why are you staring into space? Come on in, don't forget to change your shoes," Huang Xiaotao said.
"Oh!"
I changed into the slippers and casually placed my messenger bag on the sofa. Huang Xiaotao's home wasn't big, but it felt quite cozy. There was a cartoon rug at the entrance to the living room. The sofa had some cute cartoon teddy bears on it. I didn't expect Huang Xiaotao to have such a girly side. There was an orange modular sofa that looked big and soft—it would probably feel great to sit on. The coffee table had a lot of fruit on it.
The room was filled with a fragrant scent particular to a girl's bedroom.
Just as I was about to head inside, Huang Xiaotao said, "Aren't you hot with that coat on? Or are you afraid of what I might do to you that you won't even take your coat off?"
I explained, "I'm leaving soon, what's the point of taking my coat off?"
Huang Xiaotao waved her hand in annoyance. "Then don't even come in. I'll just put the dumplings in a plastic bag for you to take away."
I actually considered it seriously for a moment. "Oh, that works too!"
"You idiot!" Huang Xiaotao laughed in exasperation. "Take off your coat!"
I had no choice but to obediently take off my coat and hang it up before following Huang Xiaotao into the kitchen. I saw the packaging from frozen dumplings in the trash can. She opened the pot and scooped me a bowl of dumplings, placing them on the dining table and asking if I wanted vinegar without waiting for my reply before putting out a saucer of it.
Huang Xiaotao said, "I feel like I'm about to get an eating disorder recently. No matter how hungry I am, I can't eat much. Sometimes I'll cook some instant noodles, eat half a bowl and throw away the rest."
"If you keep this up long term, you'll collapse from exhaustion," I advised.
"I know, but there's no helping it. All cops are more or less sub-healthy to some degree. *sigh* It's out of my control," Huang Xiaotao sighed softly.
"Do you want me to look up some medicinal recipes to help improve things when I get back?" I offered.
"Hehe, no need!" Huang Xiaotao shook her head.
The pork and chive dumplings were very fragrant. It had been a long time since I'd had dumplings, so I quickly polished off half the bowl. Suddenly I noticed Huang Xiaotao resting her chin on her hand, staring at me. My eating slowed. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Seeing you eat so enjoyingly, now I'm a little hungry too," Huang Xiaotao said.
"Then should I get you a bowl and chopsticks?" I made to get up.
"No need. I'd just have to wash them later. I'll just eat one from your bowl," she said.
Then she opened her mouth, revealing pearly white teeth like seashells. I was stunned for a moment. Was she asking me to feed her?
I didn't feel good about refusing, so I carefully picked up a dumpling and placed it in Huang Xiaotao's mouth. She chewed a few times and said, "So delicious, another one!"
In the end, I fed Huang Xiaotao five dumplings. With her small appetite, that was enough to fill her up. Then she pulled a napkin from the table and dabbed her mouth. "I'm full! As expected, the best cure for loss of appetite is watching someone else eat. Or you could come over and eat for me to watch often."
"But I'm busy," I said.
"Busy at night too?"
With that one line, Huang Xiaotao left me speechless. So I focused on polishing off the remaining dumplings, then offered to wash the dishes for her. Huang Xiaotao said, "No need, I'll wash them together later." I could only obediently comply.
After eating the dumplings, I felt it was time to head back. I told Huang Xiaotao so, and she glanced languidly at the clock in the living room. "It's almost eleven. Your dorm probably locks the doors by now, right? Why don't you just spend the night here?"
"That won't do," I said, shaking my head again and again.
"Don't get any ideas. You can sleep on the sofa while I take the bedroom. What's improper about that?"
"Um... to casually let a male student stay over, aren't you worried about letting a wolf into the house?" I asked.
"What are you saying? I've never let another man stay over before. You're a special exception because I trust your character," Huang Xiaotao said, then patted me on the shoulder and got up. "I'll go grab a blanket for you."
She then went into the bedroom and started rummaging around in the closet.
I took the chance to peek into her bedroom. Huang Xiaotao's bedroom was casually furnished to be comfortable and cozy. There was a big bed with pink sheets that looked soft enough to sink into upon lying down. Next to the bed was a computer desk with a white iMac, and I could even imagine her sitting cross-legged on the bed, typing away on the computer, surely a diligent and cute sight.
Soon, Huang Xiaotao brought me a light blanket. "Will this be warm enough at night?"
"It'll do," I nodded.
"If you want water, just go to the water dispenser in the kitchen. There are paper cups next to it. I assume you can find the bathroom yourself, right? Knock on my door if you need anything..." Here, Huang Xiaotao paused and gave a sly smile. "Though I guess you probably won't need anything from me."
"Oh!" I nodded woodenly.
"Well, good night then!"
"Good night!"
Just as she was about to go back to her room, she suddenly turned back with a crafty smile. "Isn't it still early? Want to do something fun?"
Imagine the scene at the time. Huang Xiaotao was simply dressed, revealing two long, tempting legs. One hand was on the door, the hem of her top pulled up on one shoulder. She said such things in a meaningful tone.
I could almost hear my own blood racing through my veins, surging straight to my head. I felt like my head had become a glowing 50-watt red lightbulb.
She moved closer and continued provocatively, "Do something thrilling?"
"What do you mean... thrilling things..." I felt my heart pounding, nearly 150 beats per minute. Huang Xiaotao was very close to me. That wisp of seductive fragrance wafted over, stimulating my nostrils. I was both nervous and expectant, my throat already so dry I couldn't speak.
Huang Xiaotao winked and said, "Wait here, I'm going to grab something."