His physiological preference

He remembered what his grandmother had just said, "You saw me when you went to pick up the cheongsam last time, right?"

seen.

Not only did I meet her, but I also added her on WeChat. Not only did I add her on WeChat, but I also went through all her Moments. Not only did I go through her Moments, but I also saw her countless times in my dreams.

Qin Yuzheng turned off the water, dried his hair with a towel, stood in front of the sink, and looked at his face in the mirror, which was slightly red from the steam.

I still have cold symptoms, such as a stuffy nose and a dry throat, but I feel much better than before.

He wore a white loungewear T-shirt and black casual pants. His hair was barely dried; he just towel-dried it and casually gathered it up, with a few strands falling across his forehead. He looked a few years younger and more relaxed than usual.

He stood in front of the mirror in the entryway and glanced at himself.

Then he opened the door, walked to the door next door, and knocked three times.

Knock, knock, knock. The rhythm was steady, but Qin Yuzheng felt uneasy as he knocked on a girl's door for the first time.

If his sister Qin Yuyan knew what he was thinking, she would definitely yell, "Aren't I a girl?"

There was a moment of silence inside the door. Then he heard footsteps, light and quick. The peephole in the door dimmed briefly, then brightened again; someone was looking out from behind that small pane of glass.

He stood straight outside the door. It was a feeling of wanting to make a good impression on the girl he loved.

The door opened.

Yang Zhiyan stood at the door, wearing a cream-colored cotton home dress with a small lace trim around the neckline.

Her hair was loose, draped over her shoulders, with slightly curled ends. Her face was clean and bare, without makeup; her lips were a light pinkish-white, and her eyebrows were naturally thick and light, already beautiful without needing any makeup.

"Mr. Qin?" Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty and probing.

Qin Yuzheng stood at the doorway, the morning light shining from behind him, casting his long shadow on the floor inside the doorway, stretching all the way to her feet.

"Miss Yang," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips, "good morning."

Yang Zhiyan's eyelashes fluttered twice quickly. She looked at him, then at the corridor behind him.

"Do you live across the street?" she asked.

Qin Yuzheng nodded, putting one hand in his pocket. His posture seemed casual, but he had actually thought through every detail. He couldn't be too formal, or it would seem distant; he couldn't be too casual, or it would seem disrespectful. He had been trying to find the right balance for a long time.

He never thought things through so meticulously when giving important speeches at meetings. Politics was his comfort zone, while romance was his blind spot. Only at the ripe old age of thirty-five did he become interested in romance, wanting to delve into it and win the favor of the girl he loved.

My grandma told me this morning that she rented out the house.

He said, with a hint of explanation in his tone, "I was wondering why she suddenly rented out the house. I was afraid she would be tricked into renting it to some shady people."

He paused for a moment, his gaze falling on her face.

"I'm relieved to see it's you."

Yang Zhiyan stood at the door, her hand still on the doorknob. When she heard the word "coax," her fingers slightly withdrew from the doorknob.

Isn't it true that she deceived the old lady?

Such a nice apartment, rented to her for 3,500 a month. They said it was to help her look after the apartment, that they were worried it would be empty and lifeless, but she knew those were just polite words.

Grandma Qin doesn't lack the money, nor does she need her to look after the house. The old lady just wanted to help her.

She lowered her eyes, her fingers unconsciously rubbing against the doorknob. It was metallic and cold.

"Mr. Qin, your voice..." She looked up at him briefly, then quickly looked away. "Are you suffering from a cold?"

Qin Yuzheng was waiting for this sentence.

He cleared his throat, not faking it, but because his throat was genuinely uncomfortable. However, he chose the perfect moment to clear his throat, right after she finished asking her question and right when she was looking at him.

"I drank some alcohol last night and caught a cold," he said, his voice a little hoarse than before, just the right amount of hoarseness, not seeming deliberate, but enough to tell that he was indeed not feeling well.

Yang Zhiyan hesitated for a moment.

She wasn't one to meddle in other people's business. Having lived in her old home for so many years, she had learned to mind her own business; if her sister-in-law and brother argued, she wouldn't interfere.

She doesn't care when her mother and father argue; she doesn't get involved in family matters or anything that has nothing to do with her.

But she always remembered the kindness of Grandma Qin for renting her the house so cheaply.

The person in front of me is Grandma Qin's grandson. He has a cold and his voice is so hoarse. If I didn't know, I would just let it go, but now that I know, it feels wrong to ignore it.

"I just made some ginger tea," Yang Zhiyan asked politely. "Would you like a bowl?"

She regretted it as soon as she said it; she was inviting a man she had only met a few times into her house.

She wanted to take back her words, but it was too late.

Qin Yuzheng looked at her, his smile widening.

"Will this bother you?" he asked.

His tone was soft, with just the right amount of hesitation. He wanted to go, but was afraid of causing her trouble; he wanted to drink the ginger tea, but was more concerned about her feelings.

Yang Zhiyan shook her head, opened the door wider, and stepped aside to let people in.

"No, please come in."

As Qin Yuzheng stepped across the threshold, he took a deep breath.

They went inside.

Her house. Her space. Her place, which she just moved into last night and hasn't had time to fully decorate yet.

"Please have a seat, I'll go get some ginger tea." She pointed to the sofa and turned to go into the kitchen.

Qin Yuzheng stood in the middle of the living room, his gaze slowly sweeping across the space.

It's the same layout as his place, but the feeling is completely different. His place is in cool colors, with a gray sofa, white walls, and a few simple pieces of furniture, like a temporary place to stay, without anything superfluous.

It's different here. The sofa cover has been changed; it's no longer the original gray and white fabric cover, but a beige cotton and linen cover, with a light brown knitted blanket draped over it.

A glass vase appeared on the coffee table, filled with a few daisies, white and pink, trembling slightly in the morning light.

The floor lamp in the corner was lit, casting a warm yellow glow on the floor and bathing the entire living room in a gentle apricot hue.

She only stayed one night, yet she had already imbued the house with her essence. The crispness of the cotton and linen fabrics and the delicate fragrance of daisies captivated him.

The sound of water being poured came from the kitchen, followed by the soft clinking of dishes, and then her footsteps.

Yang Zhiyan came out carrying a bowl. It was a white porcelain bowl with simple blue patterns printed on its surface. The ginger tea was freshly brewed, and steam rose from the rim, creating a hazy, white mist that blurred her face.

She walked very slowly, her eyes fixed on the water in the bowl, afraid of spilling it, taking each step with utmost care.

When she reached him, she stopped and handed him the bowl.

"Be careful, it's hot."

Qin Yuzheng reached out to take it.

As he reached out, she was offering him the bowl. Their fingers touched just below the rim of the bowl; her fingertips were cool, his were warm.

One is cool, the other is hot. When they come together, it's like two different temperatures meeting in water, swirling and merging.

Yang Zhiyan's fingers recoiled as if she had been electrocuted.

She moved so fast that the bowl almost tipped over. She quickly steadied the bowl with her other hand, then swiftly pulled her hand back and hid it behind her back.

"Did you get burned?" Qin Yuzheng asked.