Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

"But... Professor Xie, if we just keep doing this, you holding me, me letting you hold me, sitting like this all night? Doesn't that seem a bit strange?"

He was too embarrassed to say it, but Xie Jing's current state was like that of a kindergarten child who had snatched their favorite toy and refused to let go of it.

No, it's even worse than what children do.

At least a child who gets a toy will be smug, but Xie Jing is different. He keeps a straight face, doesn't say a word, and just holds on tightly.

It was as if they had grasped the entire world.

Xie Jing seemed taken aback by the question. He frowned slightly, his gaze shifting from Shang Song's face to sweeping across the dimly lit space around him with a hint of helplessness, before returning to the sleeve of his shirt that was tightly gripping Shang Song's wrist. He seemed to be quickly thinking about what to do next so as not to let go without appearing too strange.

A few seconds later, his gaze returned to Shang Song's face, and he said very seriously, "It's time for you to eat dinner."

Shang Song was taken aback by his serious tone, but immediately her stomach, which hadn't eaten a single grain of rice since breakfast, let out a clear protest.

Shang Song's face flushed bright red instantly, and he awkwardly shrank back.

Xie Jing's gaze unconsciously swept over Shang Song's stomach before quickly looking up and asking, "What do you want to eat?"

Shang Song was both hungry and tired, and only wanted the simplest things. He replied somewhat pitifully, "...I want noodles. Hot soup noodles, with vegetables, and preferably an egg..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but swallow, feeling even hungrier.

Xie Jing nodded, not looking at him again, and instructed the person in front, "Go to the top of the mountain."

Genting Highlands?

Shang Song was stunned.

He had heard of the name before; it was the legendary top-tier luxury residence in the city center, a building that, as its name suggested, soared into the clouds, overlooking the entire city, where every inch of land was incredibly valuable.

It is said that the people who live there are all either rich or noble.

So, Xie Jing also had a place to live in the city, right there?

The convoy glided out of the First Municipal Hospital parking lot, drove through streets with fewer vehicles at night, and finally passed the iconic main entrance of Genting Highlands before gliding into an inconspicuous underground passage entrance on the east side.

The corridor was softly lit, and they eventually stopped in front of a private elevator lobby.

The elevator requires special permissions to start.

Xie Jing still held onto Shang Song's wrist, refusing to let go, and led him forward, placing his other hand on the sensor area. Only then did the heavy elevator doors slide open silently to both sides.

The elevator is spacious and simply decorated, with only a few floor buttons.

Xie Jing pressed the highest button.

The elevator ascended smoothly, and when the doors opened again, the sight before Shang Song made his eyes widen slightly.

The elevator doors open directly into a spacious living room with an astonishingly high ceiling, and directly in front of your view is an entire wall.

No, it's a giant floor-to-ceiling glass wall with an ultra-wide-angle view.

At this moment, the night was as dark as ink, and the entire city outside the window unfolded like a dazzling starry sky at his feet.

Neon lights outlined the crisscrossing streets, skyscrapers stood like lampposts, and further away, the winding river reflected the lights on both banks, like a black ribbon shimmering with fragmented light.

The visually stunning experience, as if standing on a cloud overlooking an endless galaxy, left Shang Song speechless for a moment.

While Shang Song was gazing absently at the night view, Xie Jing finally released him, gesturing for him to sit down for a while: "Sit down. The noodles will be ready soon."

As he spoke, he turned and walked toward the open kitchen that connected to the living room.

Shang Song then walked somewhat awkwardly to the sofa in the living room that one could completely sink into, and sat down carefully.

He looked around at everything.

There is no main light, only hidden light strips and a few carefully placed spotlights, which divide the space into layers of light and shadow; there are very few pieces of furniture, but each piece has clean lines and is full of strong design sense; the floor is covered with a soft light-colored carpet, which neutralizes the cold space with a touch of warmth.

The entire space was clean and empty, without a trace of human activity, and did not look like anyone lived there permanently.

Everything here is completely different from Xishan.

Xishan is understated, profound, and full of historical charm; it is "hidden" and conforms to the Shang Song's imagination of Xie Jing.

Calm, traditional, ancient.

Here, it is outward-looking, modern, and possesses a powerful, commanding presence; it is blatant, a direct declaration of wealth and power.

Shang Song was just an ordinary office worker, living in a rented apartment and commuting to work by subway. The most luxurious place he had ever seen was probably the banquet hall of a five-star hotel for the company's annual meeting.

Sitting atop this city, facing the visual and psychological impact of the overwhelming material wealth, his first feeling was not envy or longing, but a kind of dazedness that belongs to ordinary people.

So, it turns out, some people really do live like this.

Then, he felt something was unreal, even...incongruous.

Is this really where Xie Jing lives?

He imagined that Xie Jing should belong to a place like Xishan.

Every brick and tile, every blade of grass and tree, even the scent of ink floating in the air, perfectly complemented Xie Jing.

Xie Jing, dressed simply, sat in a side room reading or silently walked through the corridor, like an ancient ink painting—cold, aloof, yet uniquely his own.

As he was lost in thought, trying to connect this cold, luxurious cloud-top residence with Xie Jing's scholarly air, Xie Jing's voice came from the kitchen.

"Shang Song"

Shang Song snapped out of his daze and looked over, only to see two sets of bowls and chopsticks already set out on the central island, with Xie Jing standing beside him watching him.

He got up and walked over, and obediently sat down at Xie Jing's prompting.

In the white porcelain bowl in front of me, the soup was clear and bright, with a few green leaves and a perfectly round soft-boiled egg nestled inside. Steam rose from the bowl, its simplicity incongruous with the extremely luxurious environment.

Xie Jing sat down opposite him and started eating.

Shang Song also picked up a spoon and tasted the soup first.

It's very fresh; it's the clean, fresh flavor that comes from the food itself during cooking.

As he ate his noodles, the slight unease and discomfort in his heart seemed to be suppressed by the bowl of hot soup noodles.

He couldn't help but look up at Xie Jing, who was eating with impeccable manners, and asked, "This noodle dish... did you make it?"

He found it hard to imagine Xie Jing wearing an apron and standing in the kitchen cooking noodles.

Xie Jing swallowed the food in his mouth before replying, "No. I had the kitchen prepare it on the way here. The noodles were freshly made, and the soup was already prepared. I only cooked the noodles and vegetables."

Shang Song nodded blankly, then asked, "Do you usually live here?"

Xie Jing shook his head, "I live in Xishan."

He put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and glanced indifferently at the huge, cold living room, adding, "There are too many people here; I'm not used to it."

A lot of people?

Shang Song was stunned for a moment before he realized that Xie Jing meant that there were too many people in the city center and he wasn't used to it.

Shang Song stopped asking questions and began to eat intently.

After eating the noodles, my body warmed up, and I felt much more relaxed.

He put down his chopsticks and let out a satisfied sigh.

Xie Jing pushed the napkin towards him, "Stay here tonight, and tomorrow someone will take you back to get your necessary things, and then you can move to Xishan."

His tone was natural, as if it were only natural for Shang Song to move to Xishan.

Shang Song paused for a moment, then shook her head: "No need, I'll just go back to my own apartment. I have to go to work tomorrow, and it's convenient to take the subway to the hospital to see Lao San."

Xie Jing frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer, but he didn't immediately refute it. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "I can arrange for someone to look after your roommate. As for your work... I can arrange transportation for your commute."

"It's not a car problem," Shang Song shook his head. "Xie Jing, Xishan is too far. My commute to and from get off work takes at least two hours every day, it's too much of a hassle. Besides... that's your place, what kind of situation would it be if I lived there?"

He looked at Xie Jing's slightly darkened eyes and softened his tone: "Didn't we agree to take it slow and try things in a normal way? Who moves into their partner's house right from the start of a relationship? Especially not... in some remote mountain forest."

He tried to keep his tone light and joking, attempting to ease Xie Jing's emotions.

Xie Jing pursed his lips, almost forming a straight line. He looked at Shang Song, his deep, ocean-like eyes churning with something, which he ultimately suppressed.

He spoke, his voice lower than before, as if he were somewhat aggrieved:

"...But I only have six months."