Seeing the man suddenly step closer, Ruan Xingchen instinctively tried to step back.
"Don't move."
Under her stunned gaze, the man slowly raised his hand, his warm fingertips gently brushing past her temple.
"There was something in your hair… it's gone now."
Ruan Xingchen covered the spot he had touched, staring blankly at him. She opened her mouth, about to say something, but the man had already taken the small basket from her hands and turned to walk into the elevator.
Tonight, this uncle really seemed… a bit strange.
Ruan Xingchen thought about it for a moment but couldn't figure out what was strange, so she stopped thinking about it.
She closed the door and went back inside to continue drinking milk and eating eggs.
Finish early, sleep early—she still had school tomorrow.
…
After coming out of the shower, just as he was about to go to the kitchen for a glass of water, Lu Jingyuan suddenly thought of something and turned back to the living room.
His gaze fell on the small basket on the coffee table, then on the two boiled eggs inside. His eyes flickered slightly.
He couldn't remember how long it had been since he last ate a boiled egg.
The last time seemed to be in second grade—he had overslept, didn't have time for breakfast, and his mother had forcefully stuffed two eggs into his hands before letting him go to school.
On the way, he had been too hungry and ended up eating them… nearly choking in the process.
Since then, he had never touched boiled eggs again.
Lu Jingyuan sat down on the sofa, paused briefly, then picked up an egg from the basket. He tapped it lightly on the table, peeling it with one hand while grabbing his phone with the other.
There was an unread message.
Black Sesame Tangyuan: Jingyuan, what are you doing?
People who ask what others are doing are usually extremely bored.
Lu Jingyuan replied casually.
Tangyuan-Selling CEO: Peeling an egg.
Soon, the replies came flooding in.
Black Sesame Tangyuan: What egg are you peeling?
Black Sesame Tangyuan: Where did you get an egg?
Black Sesame Tangyuan: Be honest—male or female?
Seeing the conversation heading somewhere inappropriate, Lu Jingyuan simply ignored it. He put his phone down, quickly finished peeling the egg, and took a bite.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed another group chat suddenly becoming active. He tapped in casually.
Mid-chew, he froze… almost choking again.
Black Sesame Tangyuan: Brothers, come out quick—Jingyuan said he's peeling an egg!
Young Master Yu, Handsome Beyond Compare: What size? Lace or cotton?
Little Jin Jin: Smooth, delicate, silky to the touch~
Young Master Yu: What? Your boyfriend's chest has texture too?
Little Jin Jin: …Get lost!
Lu Jingyuan's mouth twitched. He flipped his phone face down and ignored them.
He intended to finish the remaining egg quickly, but looking at the smooth, tender egg white in his hand… his mind involuntarily drifted to a certain scene he had glimpsed that morning.
Size. Lace. Texture…
A surge of heat rushed up from his lower abdomen, his entire body tensing instantly.
After a long moment, he let out a heavy breath.
Looks like he'd need another shower.
…
On the first day back after the holiday, Ruan Xingchen got up early and headed downstairs with two boiled eggs in hand.
A luxurious-looking car was parked at the entrance of the apartment. She paused, feeling it looked familiar.
The car window slowly rolled down, revealing the man's handsome profile.
Ruan Xingchen stopped chewing. "Uncle?"
Lu Jingyuan looked at her.
The girl was still wearing her frilly princess dress, her hair in high twin ponytails, and pink flats with large bows. No school uniform, no bag, no books—just two eggs in her hand.
"You're going to school?" he asked after a pause.
Ruan Xingchen nodded. "Yeah."
"Get in. I'll take you."
"Huh?"
"On the way."
A free ride in a luxury car—why not?
Still, worried about gossip, she asked him to drop her off a little distance from school.
As she got out, she suddenly turned back.
"Uncle, did you have breakfast?"
Lu Jingyuan raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Ruan Xingchen smiled and handed him the remaining egg. "I still have one left. If you haven't eaten, you can have it."
Lu Jingyuan's eye twitched. "…I already ate."
Other people's eggs cost money.
The eggs Ruan Xingchen gave? They could cost him his life.
…
In the end, Ruan Xingchen brought the egg into class and traded it with Lu Xiaobai for a cabbage bun.
Before class started, the two of them sat there happily eating.
Lu Xiaobai casually asked, "Why are you so early today?"
Normally, taking the bus from Wutong Apartments to No. 1 High School took four stops, and Ruan Xingchen usually arrived just on time.
Ruan Xingchen swallowed her bite. "Your uncle gave me a ride."