Autumn's Passing, Rainy Night (2)

Although it was just a bathroom in a one-bedroom apartment, the overall luxurious and exquisite style remained unchanged. The bathroom featured a dry and wet separation design, with a wardrobe in the outer area and a 37-inch Sharp plasma LCD TV on the side. The sink boasted a Swarovski natural crystal faucet and a B&D brand washbasin, exuding opulence. Inside, there were Jaewear series underwear and loungewear from Italy. Looking at the white striped boxer shorts and the black velvet robe in his hand, Murong Feng almost fainted. This was too extravagant! Dressing like this for dinner? He couldn't bring himself to do it!

"Janney, why is it sleepwear? Don't you have any normal clothes here?" Murong Feng called out loudly through the door. After asking, he suddenly realized that Tang Qing lived alone in the apartment, how would she have men's underwear? He looked at the clothes in his hand doubtfully and found they were all new, which put him at ease.

Tang Qing's cheerful voice came through: "Just wear that. I bought it specially. Who wears a full suit at home? Come out quickly, the food is almost ready!" She casually mentioned "home," clearly not treating Murong Feng as an outsider.

Murong Feng looked at his own clothes he had taken off and tossed aside. Before getting out of the car and entering the door, he had walked a short distance, holding Tang Qing to shield her from the rain. His shoulder and half of his body were wet, and his pants were unwearable. With no choice, he smiled bitterly, shook his head, and put on the black velvet robe. Looking in the mirror, Murong Feng discovered that this robe had a large lapel design, front insert pockets, and the waist and sleeves were uniquely tailored, making it very comfortable to wear and not bulky. It looked full of aristocratic style. This robe was somewhat similar to his cigar robe, probably both originating from the design concept of evening dress.

As soon as Murong Feng came out of the bathroom door, Tang Qing turned her head and was immediately stunned.

Women are like this. When she doesn't love you, she looks at you with a critical, condescending gaze. But when her heart is set on you, she looks at you with admiration and appreciation no matter what. Moreover, after Murong Feng put on this classic and elegant black robe, his originally handsome and calm temperament gained a kind of implicit authority. When Tang Qing looked at him, she suddenly felt a sense of awe as if looking up at a majestic mountain, and her love grew even stronger.

She smiled brightly and said, "Wait for me a moment, it'll be ready soon!"

Murong Feng calmed himself down and walked over with a smile, peering in. "Can you really cook? Do you actually know how?" He had been traumatized by Ye Zi's "brilliant" culinary skills and no longer had confidence in women's cooking. 

In the open kitchen, several dishes were already laid out on the white jade counter. Murong Feng's eyes almost popped out in shock. Pointing at the dishes, he asked, "Did you just make all this?"

Tang Qing's eyes turned into crescents as she smiled, "Yes."

"How did you make this so quickly?" Murong Feng thought it had only been half an hour since he came in and took a shower, but Tang Qing had already made Mapo Tofu, steamed fish, stir-fried shrimp with green peppers, and judging by the aroma from the pot, could it be the legendary... shredded pork with garlic sauce?

It was surprising to see Tang Qing, this privileged girl, who had studied abroad and worked in foreign companies for many years, was not making Western food but was actually cooking authentic Chinese dishes. However, remembering her obsession with Sichuan cuisine, it became understandable.

Murong Feng smiled, "Do you need any help?" He made a move to roll up his sleeves and assist, but Tang Qing quickly stopped him. "Murong, you just took a shower. Don't get the smell of cooking oil on you.. Go to the living room and look at some magazines while you wait. Dinner will be ready soon." With that, she pushed Murong Feng into the living room and hurried back to the kitchen to continue cooking.

Murong Feng sat on the sofa, quite moved, feeling Tang Qing's joyful mood as she cooked in the kitchen. This warm feeling intoxicated his mind and spirit. In the past, it was always he who cooked for Ye Zi. He never expected that here with Tang Qing, it would be Tang Qing cooking for him. This enjoyment of having a woman he liked cooking for him was quite rare for Murong Feng.

Outside, thunder still rumbled and rain poured. Inside, however, it was romantic and cozy.

Candles were lit, and on the table were delicious dishes full of color, fragrance, and flavor. Red wine gently swirled. Looking up at each other, as their eyes met, the flickering candlelight reflected their deep affection. At this moment, facing Tang Qing who loved him wholeheartedly, if Murong Feng continued to retreat and avoid, he would be too unmanly. At least in terms of love, Tang Qing was far braver than him!

Murong Feng raised his glass first and smiled, "To this wonderful dinner!" Tang Qing also raised her glass and smiled, "To the hero who rescued me from the gutter tonight!" Murong Feng laughed, gently clinked glasses with Tang Qing, and drank the wine in his glass.

This kind of tacit understanding between the two was almost constant. While eating, they would suddenly reach for the same dish at the same time, pause for a moment, then Murong Feng would pick up the food and put it on Tang Qing's plate, and they would look at each other and smile. In their joking conversation, after one person said something, the other would immediately follow up with the next line, and then they would exclaim in surprise, "I was just about to say that!" They raised their glasses frequently, toasting to this thunderstorm, to that poor sports car, laughing and joking. Before they knew it, they had finished a bottle of wine, yet they were just getting into the swing of their conversation. Tang Qing went to open another bottle, and they talked about fencing, politics, Little Wolf and Zhong Xi in Hong Kong, horseback riding, Night Wind, chatting and laughing. Suddenly, Murong Feng, slightly tipsy, absently laughed and said, "Yeah, yeah, Ye Zi likes that too..."

Tang Qing suddenly fell silent, and so did Murong Feng. After a long while, Murong Feng suddenly saw something flash across from him, then another flash. He actually found he could clearly see the trajectory of tears sliding down Tang Qing's cheeks in the air and the details of each splash as they fell onto the porcelain plate on the table.

A thousand tender feelings surged in his heart instantly. Murong Feng couldn't help but stand up, walk over, half-crouch, and slowly embrace Tang Qing, holding her tighter and tighter, as if wanting to melt her into his own body.

"Janney, I know you feel wronged in your heart. I'm sorry! Really, I'm sorry, it's all my fault!" Murong Feng murmured softly. He had always thought Tang Qing was a strong and mature woman who could manage her emotions well and maintain a distance that wouldn't hurt herself. Seeing her tears now made him realize she was deeply in love too. In truth, over the past three years, Murong Feng had also developed feelings for her. They had known each other even before he met Ye Zi, but it was Ye Zi who first expressed her feelings.

Tang Qing was also momentarily heartbroken, but she quickly composed herself. She nestled into Murong Feng's arms and said softly, "Murong, I never intended to compete with Ye Zi. I told you, I like you, that's my business. I'm very happy today, really!" At this moment, Tang Qing showed not a trace of her usual coquettishness and charm, as pure as a white lotus. Her beautiful face without makeup made Murong Feng's heart swell with even more love and pity!

He smiled gently and said, "Qing'er, I'm very happy too!"

Tang Qing rose from his arms in surprise, looking at him with joy in her eyes: "You called me Qing'er?" Murong Feng nodded and smiled, "Yes, from now on, when it's just the two of us, I'll call you Qing'er." All along, only Tang Qing's closest people, like her family members or her best friend Ouyang Lanruo, called her Qing'er. Murong Feng had called her by her English name from the beginning, and even when their relationship became closer, he didn't change it. Now that Murong Feng suddenly changed it, Tang Qing felt indescribable hearing him call her this way. It was as if he had suddenly truly become a part of her life, just like her parents and siblings, becoming one of her closest people!

"Murong!..., I like hearing you call me that." Tang Qing once again showed her bewitching smile, her delicate face with tears glistening in the candlelight was indescribably beautiful.

After dinner, the two cuddled on the sofa, still without turning on the lights. Candle shadows flickered, red wine and beauty, a subtle fragrance floated. Outside, thunder rumbled. Tang Qing curled up in Murong Feng's broad, warm embrace, held by his strong arms, feeling extremely secure and joyful.

"Murong, do you know? When I was very young, we still lived in the military district. At that time, the old man was still a commander in the military, busy every day and rarely at home. My brothers were much older than me, and they were already working then. Once there was heavy rain, I hid alone in my room, crying in fear. Later, the old man suddenly came back and held me in his arms to comfort me. That time was just like now, I felt especially warm and safe..."

She adjusted her position, finding a more comfortable spot, nestling in Murong Feng's arms as she smiled.

Murong Feng held her slender waist with one hand, and lovingly combed through her beautiful hair with his other hand, smiling in response: "As long as you're willing, my embrace is at your service anytime." Tang Qing laughed coyly: "You wish!"

The two embraced, whispering, finding a sweet little happiness amidst the lightning and thunder outside the window.

Tang Qing's alcohol tolerance wasn't as high as she imagined. Before long, the effects of the alcohol hit her and she dozily fell asleep. Murong Feng felt her breathing become steady and gently carried her to the bedroom, placing her on the soft large bed. Tang Qing kept holding onto his arm, murmuring his name in her hazy state.

Murong Feng couldn't bear to leave her alone on such a rainy, thunderous night. What if she woke up in the middle of the night and found him gone? How heartbroken would she be? So he stayed by her side, holding her, and soon fell into a deep sleep himself.

The next day, Murong Feng woke up early. Tang Qing was still sweetly nestled in his arms, sound asleep. Thinking about how nothing had happened that night, Murong Feng didn't know whether to be happy or sad. He gently kissed Tang Qing's forehead and prepared to quietly get out of bed, but unexpectedly, Tang Qing also woke up.

"You're awake? It's still early, you sleep a bit more. I have a forum conference and need to fly to Sanya this morning, so I'm leaving first!" Murong Feng said with a smile as he kissed her cheek. Tang Qing then recalled the previous night, and a strange expression appeared on her face. She secretly regretted drinking too much wine and said with a smile, "Have a smooth journey, call me when you get to Sanya."

Watching Murong Feng walk out of the bedroom, a faint smile of happiness appeared on Tang Qing's face. What kind of man was this! The fact that Murong Feng hadn't done anything last night now seemed to her a display of his gentlemanly behavior and respect for her.

Murong Feng's inner turmoil was his alone. When he called Guo Yong to pick him up for the airport, Guo Yong's envious look said it all. Unable to explain, Murong Feng silently chided himself.

"Murong Feng, you were less than a beast last night!"