sly turned to Xue Yiyang.Tang Wu suppressed the surprise that stirred within her heart like a calm lake as she recalled that day before graduation when they had walked together through the campus. Wit...Chapter 51: Managing the Household

On the other side of the street, two middle-aged men in wool coats saw Su Can and Tang Wu ahead, who had paused. They couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the young couple's tender farewell.

The woman noticed something, "Isn’t that girl an offspring of Old Tang"

The man peered through the bushes carefully before nodding, "Yes, I never thought that Tang Wu’s family background and looks are quite impressive. The Zhangs have always wanted her to be their daughter-in-law. When we first met her, she was just a little girl, but now she already has a boyfriend..."

The woman's eyes gleamed as she turned back, "Aunt Song is currently working at the provincial judicial department and can only come home two or three times a month. Old Tang is also frequently out of town due to business trips. She’s just a little girl; naturally she would feel lonely sometimes. Even if she’s outstanding, having a boyfriend is perfectly normal. Besides, I think this boy is quite nice too. The couple seems well-matched." You’re so sentimental now compared to before when you tricked me into going with you. By the way, does Aunt Song know that young Tang Wu already has a boyfriend

Su Can could ignore the strange looks from the security guard at the judicial bureau as he entered with Tang Wu but couldn't help but notice the several little kids staring at him in open hostility on the lawn within the residential compound. Among them, some boys even hid behind their peers when they saw Tang Wu and turned red. It seemed that just looking at her was an extremely frightening thing.

“Hello, Miss Tang!” A little girl called out a bit tremblingly. Her eyes were full of admiration but she scrutinized Su Can with a critical eye.

The girl then stuck out her tongue and made a silly face.

This brat! Su Can felt somewhat helpless; from the expressions on these kids’ faces, it was clear that Tang Wu was unique even among this residential compound. They were in awe of her but dared not approach her, likely making her one of their teenage fantasies for countless times already.

And now the goddess who no one could come close to was walking side by side with a boy. No matter what the relationship between them was, it would undoubtedly become a target for these “flower protectors” right away. Tang Wu smiled at the little girl; her eyes still held that faraway light but just this smile made those boys lower their heads even more, twisting their fingers nervously and turning red like apples. The girl’s face was full of joy.

Is it really necessary Su Can felt somewhat bitter as he looked at Tang Wu beside him. He guessed she seldom mixed with these teenagers, hence rarely giving them smiles too.

As for Tang Wu who had already become the dream and fantasy girl of all the girls and boys in this residential compound, walking out with a boy was leaving behind circles of blushing little kids outside.

The iron gate had an electronic lock and telephone. Tang Wu pressed some digits; the door banged open. She then pulled it open to enter the building.

Su Cen felt a slight tension when Tang Wu took out her key and opened the door on the fifth floor.

Had he really come to Tang Wu's home Was this all like a dream

The moment they entered, Su Cen smelled a refreshing fragrance. The foyer light turned on, drawing attention to an eye-catching aqua blue fish tank where kissing gouramis were locked in a battle with their mouths intertwined and spinning around. Tang Wu’s neatly arranged row of shoes sat above the shoe rack, each pair reflecting her delicate feet. After removing his own shoes, Tang Wu bent down to find him a pair of her father's cotton slippers before leading him into the living room, where the sound of footsteps made everything feel more real.

The size of this house’s living room was equivalent to double that of Su Cen’s home and it was lavishly decorated.

At first sight, Su Cen felt a bit dazed. The chandelier hung from the ceiling was grand with crystal, a Panasonic 80-inch rear-projection television stood in one corner, and two tall stereo speakers were placed beside them. On the walls hung some calligraphy pieces along with big flower vases that added to the elegance of the room, while an antique teapot and tea set rested on the coffee table, one side inscribed with half a scroll of "Mahaparinirvana Sutra" and the other with "Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra."

Tang Wu fetched water from the drinking machine for Su Cen. It was clear that Tang Wu's home didn't often receive visitors because she used a glass cup instead of disposable paper cups.

Her posture as she brought over the cup was like an elegant lady stepping out of a Chinese ink painting, giving Su Cen a sense of pride and superiority mixed with slight unease.

"Are your parents not back yet"

Apart from being richly traditional, this place also had a touch of elegance that made the neighborhood seem tranquil and deep like an orchid in a secluded valley. Coupled with Tang Wu's mysterious eyes beneath her long lashes, Su Cen felt inspired by poetic imagery.

"My mom works out of town and comes home sporadically for short periods. My dad left yesterday; he might not return until Wednesday," Tang Wu said with a smile.

So that meant the house was mostly empty recently, just her alone This thought made Su Cen's heart flutter unexpectedly.

Tang Wu nodded shyly. From what he understood, Tang Wu’s parents were often away, which explained why there would be plenty of instant noodle packets in the trash bin. It could only mean that Tang Wu was used to being alone at home. This girl might seem indifferent and cold on the surface, but her heart must also feel lonely.

He had never delved so deeply into understanding Tang Wu before; in his future life, he merely saw the brilliance she exuded with her aloof nature. People who didn’t know her might think of her as snobbish and arrogant, yet it was likely that her family environment and circumstances contributed to this character trait.

"Do you often eat instant noodles This way, your nutrition will be insufficient. Is there any food in the fridge I'll make a midnight snack for you later." Su Cen felt slightly heartbroken. However, this sentence implied that he could stay longer.

“Mm.” Tang Wu nodded gently, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly. The most awkward thing was when they fell into silence again, and the scene that had occurred at Tang Wu's workplace earlier began to resurface.

"Do you want to watch a movie" Unable to bear this escalating awkwardness, Tang Wu softly asked.

“Mm, okay.”

Tang Wu walked up and pulled out the DVD from its protective case, placing it into the three-disc rotating player. Then she sat back down next to Su Cen on the soft goose feather sofa.

What kind of feeling would watching the horror film, which was considered the most terrifying in this era, "Midnight Curse," on a 50-inch rear-projection TV be for someone now

Even though Xiao Tang Wu could usually regard everything with indifference, during the movie, she hugged her cushion tightly and trembled slightly.

Wishing to stop watching, yet finding Su Cen enjoying it so much, the scene then shifted, showing that half-a-person-tall Sadako actually crawled out of a TV set in the film!

Tang Wu was frightened enough to shut her eyes tightly.

Su Cen saw her reaction and promptly reached out to embrace her slender waist. The phrase came to mind, 'Horror films are actually the easiest way for women to relax their guard,' which could make many couples start things so naturally.

Seizing the moment, Su Cen jested, "If I just now had moved in and pushed her head back into the TV."

Even though Tang Wu was still frightened, she couldn't help but giggle at this moment. Of course, she wasn't as scared anymore and slowly leaned closer to Su Cen.

This indescribable heart-stopping feeling was more thrilling than "Midnight Curse" itself.

Before they knew it, the sky outside had darkened, and lights flickered on in the kitchen. After watching a horror movie, both of them felt a bit hungry. Su Cen kept his promise to cook something for them. He took out some vegetables and leftover rice from the fridge, heated up oil in the pan, sliced several pieces of ham from Tang Wu's house, added soy sauce and sugar with a pinch of salt, mixed the vegetables and ham with the rice, and stirred-fried everything together. When he served it on two large plates, they were filled with fragrant ham stir-fry over rice.

The European-style dining table in Tang Wu's house was warm and cozy under soft lighting as both of them sat across from each other. She opened a bottle of red wine, poured half a glass for each of them, and enjoyed the fried rice that looked plump and translucent. To her surprise, what Su Cen had prepared tasted several times better than anything she could cook herself.

The more Tang Wu interacted with Su Cen, the more amazed she was by his abilities.

Under the warm lighting at the dining table, looking at the gentle and elegant Tang Wu who ate gracefully in front of him, Su Cen felt that there was something between them. Yet both tacitly agreed not to break this unwritten rule. The sensation from hugging her earlier seemed to linger on his skin as a soft fragrance remained.

It even made him want to try again.

A call came in, and Tang Wu answered it. It must be her mother checking up on her; she nodded in response.

After a moment of silence, her mother asked from the other end of the line, "My dear, have you thought about that matter"

Her voice was low and solemn, carrying an air of authority due to years of work. She always spoke rationally, which reflected not only on herself but also on her daughter who inherited this trait. They were destined to be extraordinary women.

Tang Wu silently glanced at Su Cen in the restaurant; he was seated by the window looking out onto the green trees in their neighborhood compound against a deep black sky outside, making his face appear all the more warm and gentle—ordinary yet heart-stirring.

Hearing her daughter's silence on the other end of the line, Tang Wu’s mother sighed deeply. "You need to adjust yourself and make a decision soon."

After hanging up, in the unlit corner of the warm dining room, Tang Wu's eyes flashed with a hint of sadness. But when she stepped into the light-filled space, her face was sweet and radiant.

She picked up the plates to wash them quietly and then turned back to Su Cen, saying calmly yet causing his heart to race, "I'm going to take a shower."

First update of the day,e bullying fewer!"Zhao Lu's expression changed; this sentence implied that in the past at school, Zhao Lu and others were used to having numerical superiority when bullying others.Li Yuran was quite c...