I agreed to be a kept man, but I'm still being punished by the system.

Just after midnight, Lin Yang's stomach began to protest.

He glanced at Zhang Wei, who was still fiddling around in the living room, looking completely bewildered, and decided to address the most pressing issue concerning people's livelihood first.

Let's order takeout.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he remembered Chen Wanjun, who lived across the hall.

Lin Yang took out his phone, skillfully opened WeChat, and found the anime avatar.

Have you had lunch yet?

The message was sent out and received a reply almost instantly.

【No.】

Lin Yang's lips curled up, and his fingers flew across the screen.

【Come over to room 2403 and eat together, I ordered takeout.】

【OK. 】

Lin Yang was somewhat surprised by the other party's quick agreement. After thinking for a moment, he added a sentence.

[And my childhood friend, Zhang Wei.]

After the message was sent, there was a full half minute of silence on the other end.

Ah, I'm scared...

really.

Lin Yang sighed and patiently typed.

It's okay, he's my childhood friend. Just eat, you don't need to talk to him. Learn to overcome difficulties.

Another silence followed.

What about my feet...?

Lin Yang slapped his forehead, realizing he had almost forgotten about it.

I'll come pick you up later. After lunch, we need to go to the hospital for a follow-up check-up this afternoon.

【Oh. 】

It's still that familiar monosyllabic word, simple yet conveying an unconditional obedience.

Lin Yang put away his phone, picked a private kitchen restaurant on the food delivery app, and ordered three dishes and a soup, adding three boxes of rice in the order notes.

Not long after, the doorbell rang, and the takeout arrived.

"Brother Wei, put the food on the table. I'm going to pick someone up." Lin Yang handed the lunchbox to Zhang Wei and then turned to walk towards the door.

Zhang Wei watched as he skillfully opened the door, walked to the opposite door 2404, pressed a series of numbers on the keypad, and the security door opened with a click. The whole process was smooth and seamless, without the slightest pause.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, he swallowed back the words, "Damn, you even know the password to the apartment across the hall."

Lin Yang walked straight through the living room and headed towards the study.

He knew that at this time, Chen Wanjun must be wearing headphones, immersed in her world of code.

"Knock knock".

He knocked lightly twice on the study door.

The figure inside moved slightly, took off their headphones, and turned around.

Lin Yang pushed open the door and entered, a smile on his face.

"Dinner's ready."

He walked over, ignoring the hint of panic in the girl's eyes, and naturally took her arm, helping her up from the gaming chair.

Chen Wanjun followed behind him with a limp, being half-supported and half-carried by him, as they entered the living room of 2403.

Zhang Wei, who was taking the last dish out of the bag, looked up and froze.

The soup box in his hand tilted slightly, and the scalding soup almost spilled out.

The girl before me, even in her oversized grey hoodie, couldn't hide her breathtaking figure. Her delicate features were framed by eyes as clear as autumn water, and long eyelashes like butterfly wings, each blink carrying a hint of panic.

Is this...is a fairy descending to earth?

Zhang Wei's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his brain went blank for three seconds before he found his voice again.

"Xiao...Xiao Lin, who is this? Aren't you going to introduce him?"

Lin Yang helped Chen Wanjun sit down at the dining table and said without looking up.

"This is my girlfriend, Chen Wanjun."

After saying that, he pointed to Zhang Wei, who was still petrified, and said to Chen Wanjun.

"This is my childhood friend Zhang Wei; we grew up together."

The word "girlfriend" was like a pebble that created violent ripples in Chen Wanjun's calm heart.

Her cheeks instantly flushed, the blush spreading from her neck to her ears. She froze, her hands and feet, which she already didn't know where to put, now felt even more awkward. Her social anxiety had completely kicked in.

Seeing her almost crawling under the table, Lin Yang turned to Zhang Wei and said.

"Brother Wei, Wanjun has social anxiety, so don't talk to her too much. Just eat by yourself."

Then, he used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and put it into Chen Wanjun's bowl, softening his tone.

"Come, sit down and eat."

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat awkward.

Zhang Wei's gaze swept back and forth between Lin Yang and Chen Wanjun like a searchlight, his eyes filled with disbelief and a million whys.

"Xiaolin, when did you get such a beautiful girlfriend? How come I didn't know?" He finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

Lin Yang picked up a piece of food and chewed it slowly.

"Tch, do I have to report everything to you?" He glanced at Zhang Wei. "But what about you? Do Uncle Zhang and Aunt Huang know you're still writing novels instead of doing anything productive? Go find a job!"

One sentence precisely hit Zhang Wei's sore spot.

"You think I don't want to find a job? I can't!" Zhang Wei's voice was tinged with grievance. "With my lousy school and lousy degree, what company would hire me?"

"Sigh, you're right." Lin Yang sighed. "How about this, once I've made it big, I'll take you with me."

"You're already much better than me!" Zhang Wei's gaze drifted uncontrollably to Chen Wanjun again. "And your girlfriend is so beautiful."

Chen Wanjun was eating rice with her head down, and when she heard that they were talking about her again, her ears turned even redder, and she lowered her head even further, almost not daring to touch her chopsticks.

"Don't even mention Wanjun, she's shy. You just eat your food." Lin Yang glared at Zhang Wei.

"Oh," Zhang Wei replied sullenly, burying his head in his food and turning his grief and anger into a desire to eat.

Lin Yang served Chen Wanjun some more food.

"You'll need to tidy up your room this afternoon. Order the bed online yourself; I need to take Wanjun to the hospital for a check-up."

Zhang Wei then noticed the heavy white brace on Chen Wanjun's foot.

"Oh, what happened to her foot?"

"I sprained my ankle," Lin Yang said succinctly.

The meal was finished in silence and awkwardness.

Zhang Wei stood up and cleared the dishes, while Lin Yang led Chen Wanjun back to room 2404.

Knowing she was going to the hospital, Chen Wanjun quietly went into the bedroom to change her clothes.

A few minutes later, when she reappeared, she had already completed her "transformation ritual" before leaving the house.

Oversized black hoodie, black face mask, black athletic shorts.

Her all-black outfit made her already fair skin appear even more dazzling.

Because of her foot injury, she didn't wear her signature black stockings this time, leaving her smooth and slender legs exposed to the air.

Lin Yang helped her downstairs, got into the dark blue Cayenne, and headed straight for St. Anne's International Hospital.

I received VIP full-process service again, with no waiting, and met the chief physician with gold-rimmed glasses from last time.

The old doctor looked at the new X-ray and then examined Chen Wanjun's ankle.

"The recovery is going well; the stent can be removed now."

He put down the medical record and wrote a prescription.

"I'll prescribe some ointment to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Apply it twice a day, morning and evening. The pain should subside by next week, but you should still be careful and avoid strenuous exercise."

"Okay, thank you, doctor." Lin Yang took the prescription.

When I left the hospital, the setting sun had already dyed half the sky red.

Lin Yang didn't drive straight back to Tianyue Huafu, but stopped at a nearby market and bought some fresh ingredients.

When I returned to 2404, it was already close to evening.

Lin Yang had just put the ingredients into the kitchen refrigerator when his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Su Man.

【I'm still at the company, I have to work overtime tonight, can you come pick me up later?】

Lin Yang looked at his phone screen, then glanced at the groceries he had just bought in the kitchen, and made some mental calculations.

He walked into the living room, where Chen Wanjun was sitting quietly on the sofa, hugging a cushion and scrolling through her phone.

"My boss asked me to pick her up from get off work, so I won't be able to have dinner with you tonight."

Lin Yang spoke frankly.

The girl looked up, a hint of disappointment flashing in her clear eyes, but she still nodded obediently.

"Um."

Seeing her like this, Lin Yang felt a sudden softening in his heart.

"I'll make dinner for you first, remember to eat."

He turned and went into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and quickly washed, chopped, and started cooking.

Amidst the symphony of pots and pans, two dishes and a soup were quickly and freshly prepared.

Sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a tomato and egg drop soup.

Simple home-style dishes, yet their aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.

Lin Yang placed the food on the table and served a bowl of rice.

"Alright, I'm leaving now. Eat it while it's hot."

He took off his apron, washed his hands, and turned to leave room 2404.

He didn't reply to the apartment across the hall, 2403; he simply sent Zhang Wei a message from inside the elevator.

【Take care of things yourself tonight; I need to pick up the boss from get off work.】