"...Long time no see." Jian Ran replied weakly. Even such a simple greeting in daily life made her inexplicably guilty. Indeed, one shouldn't be in the wrong first. Fortunately, Chu Lulin didn't seem intent on calling her out. After greeting her, he directly got into the passenger seat. Jian Ran silently breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she notice he was carrying a cat carrier on his back. Through the transparent cover, a pair of big round eyes suddenly met hers. "Whose kitten?" she asked in surprise. Chu Lulin adjusted the carrier's position, turning the transparent cover toward her, then briefly explained the kitten's origin. "It needs a full check-up before finding an adopter. My roommate had something urgent come up, so he handed it to me." After hearing about the kitten's abandonment, Jian Ran couldn't help but frown. She wasn't exactly a cat person, but seeing the pitiful little thing in the carrier stirred a sense of pity in her. "Alright, I'll search for a nearby pet hospital." There was one two kilometers from A University, less than a five-minute drive away. They went over, handed the kitten to the staff, explained the situation, and the kitten was taken in for an examination. The little thing was very well-behaved and cooperative throughout. Jian Ran and Chu Lulin waited outside, occasionally glancing through the glass window of the exam room. After a while, the veterinarian in charge came out. "The kitten is very healthy. It seems to have been abandoned not long ago. Aside from the obvious injuries, there are no other issues." Both of them sighed with relief. "However, the little one is quite dirty. Would you like us to bathe it here?" the doctor asked, looking directly at Jian Ran. Since the pet hospital was near the university, they often saw couples adopting stray cats together, usually the girl wanting to keep it, so he instinctively looked at Jian Ran. Jian Ran was taken aback, not expecting to be asked, but still voiced her concern: "Can its wounds get wet?" The doctor explained, "We just checked. Besides the scratch on its head, which is a bit deep, the other wounds are minor. Don't worry—we'll use a dry shampoo and avoid the wounds while cleaning." Jian Ran murmured an "mm," feeling relieved. But she didn't decide alone; she turned to Chu Lulin. "How about we give it a bath?" Chu Lulin nodded lightly, a smile in his eyes. "Whatever you say, Big Sister." Because of the kitten's injuries, bathing took a bit longer than usual. After cleaning, the staff re-applied medicine. When the kitten was brought out again, it had transformed from a dirty mess into a soft, fragrant little cake. The two of them and the cat left the pet hospital. For some reason, Chu Lulin didn't put the kitten back in the carrier but held it in his arms. Jian Ran took out her car keys, then, as if thinking of something, turned to look at the pair beside her. "Should we go eat first, or take it back to school?" Chu Lulin hesitated, looking at Jian Ran as if wanting to say something but holding back. "What's wrong?" Jian Ran asked, puzzled. Chu Lulin then explained the situation. It turned out that the school's stray cat care association's shelter was under renovation, and the dormitory didn't allow cats. Even if they returned the kitten to school now, there was nowhere to put it temporarily. Jian Ran didn't think much of it and instinctively turned to look at the pet hospital behind her. "What about boarding it here?" Most pet hospitals or pet stores offered boarding services. But Chu Lulin shook his head, glancing at the kitten in his arms. "I just asked. The doctor said it's showing some signs of stress and isn't suitable to share a cage with other cats. Unfortunately, the hospital doesn't have any empty individual cages right now." "I see." Jian Ran frowned as well. When they came over, she had checked and found no other pet hospitals or stores nearby. "So, before we find an adopter, could I trouble you to take it in for a few days?" Chu Lulin asked, looking a bit embarrassed. Jian Ran was taken aback. Looking at the pitiful kitten in his arms, a trace of hesitation flickered across her face. It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but the only living thing she had ever raised was a cactus, and she had even managed to kill it. She really didn't think she could take care of this little creature, even for just a few days. "I've never kept a cat. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to take good care of it," she said, thinking for a moment. "How about we look for a pet store farther away?" Chu Lulin raised another concern: "It's injured now. Sending it too far for boarding doesn't feel right." Jian Ran nodded; that made sense. This was indeed a bit troublesome. The kitten in Chu Lulin's arms seemed to sense something and let out a soft "meow." Held in his arms, it looked weak and pitiful, staring at Jian Ran with round eyes, seemingly worried about its own uncertain fate. Under the dim streetlight, both the man and the cat somehow gave off a sense of homelessness, stirring sympathy in one's heart. Chu Lulin soothingly patted the kitten's head, then forced a smile at Jian Ran. "It's okay. I'll think of another way." Seeing this, Jian Ran felt even more guilty. They had known each other for a while, and Chu Lulin had hardly ever asked anything of her. Now that he was finally asking, and she had refused, it seemed unreasonable. She thought for a moment and came up with a compromise. "How about this: it can stay at my place, and I'll hire a helper to take care of it during this time." Chu Lulin looked up with a surprised expression, but then a hint of apology flickered in his eyes. "You don't have to force yourself. I was being inconsiderate—I forgot some people might not be comfortable with pets at home. If it's really inconvenient..." "It's not inconvenient at all." Jian Ran directly interrupted him with a sigh. "Don't overthink it. I just think I wouldn't be able to take good care of it. That's the only reason." Chu Lulin seemed to finally let go of his concern and flashed a relaxed smile. "Then I'll trouble you, Big Sister. But you don't need to hire someone specially—I can take care of it." After saying this, as if realizing it might be inappropriate, he hesitated and added, "Or I can pay for the helper." Jian Ran was about to say no, that hiring a helper wouldn't cost much, but when she met his earnest gaze with a hint of apology, she swallowed her words. Young people had thin skin; he was already embarrassed to trouble her. If she didn't let him do something, he would probably feel worse. Although hiring a helper seemed like a small expense to her, Chu Lulin was a poor student; she didn't want him to spend money unnecessarily. She heard that kittens were easy to care for—just feed them a few times a day and scoop the litter once or twice. With a reasonable schedule, Chu Lulin could manage without too much trouble. And so it was decided. Jian Ran had nothing at home, so they went back to the pet hospital and bought cat food, a cat bed, a litter box, and cat litter—all the basic necessities. Back in the car, just as Jian Ran was about to start the engine to take the kitten home, she received a call from the restaurant. She remembered that the reservation time had arrived. That Japanese place was quite far; even if they drove straight there, it would take at least an hour. It was impossible to make it in time, so she had to cancel the reservation. As for choosing another restaurant, Jian Ran had no idea and had to turn to Chu Lulin. "Is there anything you'd like to eat?" Chu Lulin thought for a moment. "How about home-cooked food?" Jian Ran wasn't picky. Since she was treating him to a meal, it was only right to follow his preference. "I happen to know a home-style restaurant with good food. But it's a private kitchen—usually requires a reservation in advance. Hang on, let me check if they have a table." As she was about to call, Chu Lulin stopped her. "We don't need to eat out." Jian Ran blinked, confused. Not eat out? Then how? A smile played on Chu Lulin's lips. "If you don't mind, you could try my cooking." * Jian Ran's place wasn't far from A University. Because of the university town, there were many luxury residential complexes nearby. Among the properties left by her mother, there was a spacious apartment with a private elevator that was very close to A University. She had renovated it to be closer to her maternal grandparents and later moved in. After her grandparents went abroad, she got used to living there and didn't want to move again. On the way back, they passed a supermarket. Jian Ran pulled into the parking lot, intending to buy some ingredients with Chu Lulin. "Maybe we should just eat out. Wouldn't cooking be too much trouble?" she wavered at the entrance. For someone who rarely cooked at home, she would occasionally get the urge to cook for health reasons. But every time she thought about the long, tedious process of buying, washing, cutting, and cooking, only to end up with something barely edible, she lost all motivation. Maybe she just wasn't born with the cooking gene. Chu Lulin's eyes curved with laughter. "It's no trouble. Consider it a chance for me to thank you." Since he put it that way, Jian Ran couldn't say anything more. Chu Lulin had already planned the menu on the way. Once inside the supermarket, they went straight for the needed items and quickly finished shopping. Next, they headed to the seasoning section, because Jian Ran recalled that the last time she had a sudden urge to cook was over a year ago. If nothing had changed, the seasonings in her kitchen should be expired. Chu Lulin skillfully picked out various seasonings, looking very experienced. From the moment they entered the supermarket, Jian Ran felt completely useless—she couldn't get a word in, let alone help, so she just silently followed. Finally, at the checkout, she found her role and quickly stepped ahead of Chu Lulin to pay. "Let me handle this. I said I'd treat you." Jian Ran's movement was a bit rushed, which was understandable. Given their current relationship, it wouldn't make sense for Chu Lulin to pay when they were out. But at the pet hospital, Chu Lulin had already paid twice before she could. Once for the kitten's check-up, claiming the school's stray animal association could reimburse it. The other time for the cat supplies, arguing that he was already troubling her and shouldn't let her spend more. It wasn't a lot of money, but still, Jian Ran felt a bit uncomfortable. After all, from the perspective of a 'rich woman's' self-cultivation, not being able to flaunt her purchasing power was somewhat frustrating. This time, Jian Ran was determined to win the chance to pay. Besides being quick, she also had to put on the right attitude. Even before the cashier finished processing, she had already presented her payment QR code. However, this time Chu Lulin didn't seem to compete with her. Seeing the successful payment screen, Jian Ran put her phone away with satisfaction. Noticing her small triumph, Chu Lulin's eyes sparkled with a barely concealed smile. The car drove into the residential area, and the two of them and the cat took the elevator straight to the 17th floor. Entering the password, unlocking the door, opening the door, and turning on the lights—all in one smooth motion. They changed into slippers at the entrance. Jian Ran gestured for him to come in. "Make yourself at home. You can let the kitten out. There's plenty of space for it to be comfortable." She walked over to the sofa, folding a throw blanket that had been carelessly tossed aside. Luckily, before her trip, she had hired a cleaner, so the place wasn't too messy or dirty. Admittedly, compared to before, Jian Ran now had a subtle psychological shift when interacting with Chu Lulin—she felt a bit of an 'idol' complex. But it made sense; suddenly being placed in a role that wasn't hers made her a bit stiff. Jian Ran's home was quite large—a nearly 200-square-meter apartment. From the entrance, the living room opened up with a broad view. Chu Lulin's gaze slowly swept across the room, almost greedily taking everything in. Jian Ran turned around and found him still standing there. She raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" Why are you just standing there? Come in. Chu Lulin snapped back to reality and shook his head with a smile, lowering his eyes to hide his emotions. "Nothing. I was just thinking where to set up the cat bed." Jian Ran 'oh-ed,' not thinking much of it, and casually pointed to an empty space by the floor-to-ceiling window. "Over there." Near the window, plenty of space, and a good view. Chu Lulin hummed in agreement and walked over with the cat carrier. Jian Ran also went to help. They quickly set up the cat bed and litter box, then finally opened the carrier to take out the little one. But faced with an unfamiliar environment, the kitten shrank back into the carrier as soon as it was taken out. They tried to soothe it for a while, put out food and water, but after several attempts, it still refused to come out. "Don't force it. Let it be," Jian Ran said. She had just searched online and found that hiding is a natural self-protective behavior for kittens in a new environment. No need to interfere—let it adjust on its own. Chu Lulin nodded. "Alright. It's getting late; I'll start cooking." The groceries had been left at the entrance. Chu Lulin picked them up and headed to the kitchen. Jian Ran's kitchen looked like it was rarely used, clean as a showroom. After quickly familiarizing himself with the environment, Chu Lulin began to work. Jian Ran felt it was only right to help, so she offered to assist, saying she could at least wash the vegetables. But Chu Lulin smiled and declined. "It's just a few simple home-cooked dishes. No trouble at all. Don't dirty your hands." Unable to help, Jian Ran could only stand at the kitchen door and watch. Chu Lulin efficiently took out the ingredients, arranged them on the counter, and began processing them methodically. His movements were very practiced—clearly someone who cooked often. When it came to washing the vegetables, he turned on the tap, rolled up the sleeves of his black hoodie, and water splashed, leaving a few droplets on his clothes. Seeing this, Jian Ran seemed to remember something and suddenly ran to the living room. A moment later, she returned with a blue apron. "Put this on, so you don't get your clothes dirty." Water stains were one thing, but if he got oil spots, it would be troublesome. Chu Lulin glanced at the apron in her hand and said, "Sure." But instead of taking it immediately, he turned off the tap, shook the water off his hands, and then slowly turned around, half-raising his arms toward Jian Ran. "Trouble you, Big Sister." Jian Ran blinked, looked at the apron, then at Chu Lulin. It dawned on her that he thought she was going to help him put it on. Seeing her hesitate, Chu Lulin raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" Jian Ran 'ah-ed,' quickly shook her head, and replied, "Nothing." His hands were wet; it would be inconvenient for him to do it himself. Helping him was no big deal. The apron Jian Ran had brought was a neck-hanging and waist-tying type—not the cross-back kind, so it was easier to put on. She spread it open, held the neck strap on both sides, and stood on tiptoes. Chu Lulin cooperated by bending down toward her. Almost at the same moment—one stood on tiptoes, the other leaned down—the neck strap successfully slipped over his head. But the next second, their noses lightly touched, completely unexpectedly. Jian Ran's pupils trembled. In her field of vision, only his eyebrows and eyes were close at hand. Their gazes tangled in mid-air. The slight coolness on the tip of her nose gradually turned hot, carrying a maddening itch. Under the warm yellow light, a silent but stirring ambiguity slowly spread through the kitchen. Suddenly, the phone Jian Ran had casually placed on the counter rang. Like a stone thrown into a still lake, it instantly broke the ripples. Jian Ran snapped back to reality, quickly released the neck strap, turned around, and grabbed the phone. "I—I need to take this call. You can tie the rest yourself." Without even waiting for a reply, she hurriedly left the kitchen, almost fleeing. Chu Lulin watched her retreating figure, rubbed the tip of his own nose with his knuckles, and a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth. Jian Ran rushed straight into the bedroom, hung up on the spam call, and let out a long sigh. She instinctively touched her nose, then couldn't help but rub her forehead. Why did such awkward things keep happening between her and Chu Lulin? The last time with the medicine application aside, now even putting on an apron had caused such a mishap. What a ghost. Given her personality, Jian Ran wasn't one to believe in such coincidences. After all, many seemingly accidental coincidences were actually carefully planned intentions, like when she pursued Zhou Yu, she had created plenty of those 'coincidences.' But when it came to Chu Lulin doing it on purpose, Jian Ran shook her head vigorously. Impossible! With his simple and honest nature, even when being kept, he needed a process. How could he have so many tricks up his sleeve? Besides, those little flirtatious moves people use when pursuing someone—given their current relationship, Chu Lulin had no reason to do such things. It must have been just an accident, she thought. However, thinking about her own reaction, she felt a bit annoyed. She was supposed to be the sugar mama—the one taking the initiative. Reacting so strongly was unbecoming, like she'd never seen anything before. Completely lacking the calm composure expected of a rich woman. Jian Ran was good at self-reflection, but even better at self-forgiveness. After some self-criticism, she quickly found a suitable excuse. Ultimately, it was because she hadn't yet adjusted her mindset. That wouldn't do. Since she had taken this step, being too shy would seem hypocritical. Even if it was just an accident, given the current situation, it wouldn't be unreasonable for her to intentionally take advantage of Chu Lulin a bit. She silently told herself that she needed to feel a sense of entitlement—to be more confident and bolder. * In the kitchen, Chu Lulin, in stark contrast, appeared much more composed, completely unfazed by the little incident. He moved skillfully—washing, cutting, and cooking all in one fluid motion. Using both stove burners simultaneously, he soon had four dishes and a soup served on the dining table. Just then, Jian Ran came out of the bedroom after finishing her self-reflection. Chu Lulin had just set the bowls and chopsticks when he heard the bedroom door open. Smiling, he turned to look at her. "All done with your call, Big Sister?" Jian Ran was momentarily taken aback before remembering the excuse she had used. Clearing her throat, she replied, "Yeah, it was work-related, took a bit longer." To make her excuse more believable, she raised her chin slightly, like a proud kitten. A flicker of amusement passed through Chu Lulin's eyes, but he maintained a convincingly trustful expression. "Good that you're done. Just in time for dinner." Seeing that he didn't seem suspicious, Jian Ran relaxed. At the same time, she was surprised that Chu Lulin had finished cooking so quickly. Steamed sea bass, tomato-braised beef brisket, kung pao chicken, sautéed broccoli, and a mushroom tofu soup. Four dishes and a soup—balanced with meat and veggies—all her favorites. Jian Ran raised an eyebrow and looked at Chu Lulin questioningly. Chu Lulin didn't hide it. He frankly admitted, "Back in Yuncheng, whenever we ate together, I paid attention to your preferences." Jian Ran 'oh-ed.' That explained it. When it came to eating, she was quite one-sided. If she liked something, she'd keep eating it; if not, she wouldn't touch it. Even so, the fact that Chu Lulin noticed showed he was thoughtful. They sat across from each other at the table. While Chu Lulin was serving soup, Jian Ran had already picked up her chopsticks and started eating. The moment she put a piece of beef in her mouth, her eyes lit up. "How is it? Does it suit your taste, Big Sister?" Chu Lulin asked. Jian Ran nodded vigorously. "Delicious! Very delicious!" She had been surprised that Chu Lulin could cook at all—few young people nowadays could. But she never expected it to be this good! What couldn't he do? Chu Lulin smiled. "Glad you like it. Eat more." Jian Ran wasn't the type to be polite. She dug in. After all, taking the kitten to the pet hospital had delayed dinner, and she was definitely hungry. But more than that, it had been a long time since she had home-cooked food that suited her taste so well. These were dishes that used to be regulars on her family's table—food she grew up with. But since her maternal grandparents went abroad, she rarely ate them anymore. Strangely, even when she occasionally went to home-style restaurants, something always seemed off. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what was missing, but it just didn't taste right. Tonight's meal from Chu Lulin, however, seemed to bring back that familiar taste. Could it be that cooking at home made the difference? It was really strange. Nevertheless, Jian Ran was thoroughly satisfied with the meal. She grabbed a tissue and wiped her mouth. "How come you cook so well? Did you take lessons?" Chu Lulin smiled and nodded, tossing the fish bones into the trash. "Yeah, I took a cooking class." "A class?" Jian Ran's eyes widened. "When?" It couldn't be that he did it specifically to find a sugar mama, could it? That would be too dedicated. "The summer I turned fifteen." Fifteen? That definitely wasn't the reason. But Jian Ran found it a bit odd. A fifteen-year-old boy, just a middle schooler, what made him like cooking enough to take a class? Chu Lulin gave her an enigmatic look but didn't speak. Clearly, there was a story. Jian Ran's interest was piqued, and she began to press him for details. Chu Lulin looked at her for a moment, seemed to sigh, and said helplessly, "I was young and got tricked. Someone said that boys who can't cook won't find a girlfriend." Jian Ran blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. Wait, he actually believed that? "Who was it? A family member?" Chu Lulin shook his head. "Someone... I didn't know." Jian Ran raised an eyebrow. "A girl?" Chu Lulin's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, then he nodded. Jian Ran wore an 'I knew it' expression. A fifteen-year-old boy wasn't that young—how could he have been easily fooled by such a line? There must have been a reason. "She must have been pretty," she couldn't help but gossip. Chu Lulin hesitated, then lightly hummed. "Yeah, she was pretty." Jian Ran chuckled. She hadn't expected him to be a looks guy. But it was normal—everyone loves beauty; who doesn't like good looks? No one has a fetish for ugliness. After the meal, Chu Lulin started cleaning up. He cleared the table, put the dishes in the dishwasher, and bagged the kitchen trash, placing it by the entrance to take out when he left. Jian Ran sat on the sofa, watching Chu Lulin's busy figure in the kitchen. A phrase suddenly popped into her head: 'suitable for home and hearth.' At that moment, she felt that the girl hadn't lied to Chu Lulin after all. A guy who could cook really was a plus, at least in her opinion. By the time Chu Lulin was done, it was getting late. He had to head back to school. Before leaving, they checked on the kitten. It was still hiding in the carrier, but the food and water had decreased, which reassured them. Jian Ran drove him to the entrance of A University. Chu Lulin unbuckled his seatbelt. "Thank you for the ride, Big Sister." Jian Ran waved her hand. Picking up and dropping off were the basics—she understood that. Chu Lulin smiled and said nothing more. But just as he was about to open the passenger door and get out, Jian Ran suddenly remembered something important. "Wait a moment!" Chu Lulin's hand paused on the door handle. He turned back, puzzled. "What's wrong, Big Sister?" Jian Ran pursed her lips, as if organizing her words. "About that... I was careless last time. Since you're with me now, shouldn't we discuss the money aspect?"