At nine in the evening, Andy and Yang Xiuyuan sent Xiaoming back to his room.

After settling Xiaoming, Yang Xiuyuan led Chen Cheng and Andy to the room arranged for them.

Located in a corner on the top floor of the nursing home, the door was somewhat dilapidated, and the nearby rooms were unlit; it was likely an empty room since the nursing home wasn't at full capacity.

"Mr. Chen, Miss Andy, our conditions are like this. You'll have to make do tonight," Yang Xiuyuan stood at the door, smiling apologetically.

"Director Yang, is there..." Andy glanced at the room's layout with two single beds and was about to ask if there were other rooms.

Scum Cheng was quick to react and pulled Andy back. He smiled at Yang Xiuyuan, "Director Yang, you're too polite. I should be the one thanking you for taking me in."

"Director Yang, you should also get some rest early."

Yang Xiuyuan glanced at their joined hands but didn't notice anything unusual. She nodded with a smile, "Alright then, Mr. Chen, Miss Andy, you two rest early as well."

"There are new toiletries in the room," Yang Xiuyuan pointed to the washbasin in the room.

Chen Cheng nodded, "Mm, thank you, Director Yang."

Yang Xiuyuan nodded to the two of them and went downstairs to her own room.

Andy stared into Chen Cheng's eyes and asked in confusion, "Why didn't you let me ask for another room? There are empty rooms right next door."

Chen Cheng replied without missing a beat, "Those empty rooms probably haven't been lived in for a long time."

"Asking for another one now would take a lot of effort to clean up."

"Aren't there two beds in the room? Let's just make do here for one night."

Andy looked at the two beds in the room, opened her mouth, and then swallowed her words.

"Alright then."

Andy was somewhat reluctantly pulled into the room by Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng took a look; Yang Xiuyuan was indeed very thoughtful, having prepared slippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and towels.

Pulling Andy to sit on the edge of the bed, Scum Cheng took the slippers and squatted in front of Andy, taking off her shoes for her.

"Next time you come out for personal matters, you should wear flat shoes."

Watching Chen Cheng's gentle actions, Andy's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Her face flushed slightly as she nodded.

"Okay."

After she changed into the slippers, Chen Cheng looked up and met her gaze with a smile, "Alright, go wash up."

Meeting Chen Cheng's affectionate gaze, Andy's heart was in turmoil. Her mouth opened and closed, and it took a long time before she managed to squeeze out an "okay."

The two of them went downstairs with the washbasin Yang Xiuyuan had prepared for them, their hands held together the entire time.

Andy's heart was a mess, and she allowed Chen Cheng to lead her like a walking corpse.

Perhaps she hadn't even noticed it herself, but ever since Chen Cheng told her that she actually liked him, her dependence on him had grown higher and higher. Whenever something happened, she would subconsciously tell him first.

Even for this trip to Daishan, it was Andy who had taken the initiative to ask Chen Cheng to accompany her.

While brushing her teeth, it was only when Chen Cheng reminded her to switch sides that she snapped back to reality and smiled awkwardly.

I've talked with Director Yang. As long as Xiaoming accepts you, she will go back with us."

"Huh?" Andy's eyes widened as she looked at Chen Cheng.

"Even if we take Xiaoming back, it's impossible for you to take care of him personally. Xiaoming can't be left alone, so we'd have to find a nanny anyway."

"Xiaoming's level of acceptance is another troublesome matter. The best way is to take Director Yang with us as well."

"She's taken care of Xiaoming for over ten years; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her his foster mother. Bringing her back to Shanghai with us is the best choice for Xiaoming."

Andy thought for two seconds and nodded in agreement, "I was thinking too simply. I only thought about bringing Xiaoming back, but not about life after he returns."

After the reminder, Andy also thought of many subsequent problems.

"If Xiaoming goes to Shanghai, he won't have a place to stay yet. My place probably won't fit everyone. I still need to buy a house for Xiaoming."

Chen Cheng smiled and handed his phone to Andy.

"I've already made arrangements—a detached villa in the Western Suburbs. From the video, the environment looks quite good. There are many green spaces and parks nearby, and no dense high-rise buildings. It'll be good for Xiaoming's adaptation."

"Xiaoming is quite shy, and the population at Ode to Joy is still too dense."

Andy looked at the information Xu Wenchang had sent to Chen Cheng and nodded, "The environment does seem very suitable for Xiaoming's current situation, but..."

Chen Cheng saw her hesitation, took her hand, and comforted her, "Alright, as long as you think it's suitable. Don't worry about anything else."

A detached villa in Shanghai couldn't be cheap, and this particular courtyard was quite large.

She had some savings, but it was all in stocks and bonds; it was impossible to take out that much cash to buy a house immediately.

Regarding Xiaoming, she was also quite anxious.

Chen Cheng took back his phone and sent a message to Xu Wenchang, telling him to prepare for the move-in tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning, Company Name's legal team would go over to sign the contract and pay the money.

Andy felt a bit awkward, "Consider it a loan from you."

Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow, "Why not a rental? I spent money to buy it, so it should generate some returns, right?"

Andy couldn't help but smile, "Fine, I'll pay you rent monthly." A warm current flowed through her heart. As smart as she was, how could she not understand that Chen Cheng said that just to reduce her pressure?

Investing in unnecessary real estate was, for a stock market trader, practically no different from retiring.

[Andy's Favorability +2]

Chen Cheng was stunned for a moment looking at the prompt. Andy's favorability toward him had officially entered the 'Passionate Love' level.

The corners of his mouth curled up as he leaned in and kissed her lips.

The moment their lips touched, Andy's entire body froze. Her eyes widened, and she was at a loss.

Scum Cheng's hands weren't idle either, holding her tighter and tighter.

Andy gradually fell under Scum Cheng's masterful kissing skills. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck as she began to respond somewhat clumsily.

Everything else had long been forgotten; there was only the biological instinct to possess each other.

After a long while, feeling a bit suffocated, Scum Cheng finally let go of Andy.

Andy's face was flushed as she panted heavily, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

She was surprised that she seemed to have suddenly recovered; she didn't feel any discomfort or stress reaction to Chen Cheng's kiss at all.

Feeling someone watching them, Chen Cheng glanced over and met Yang Xiuyuan's gossipy eyes. He gave her a smile.

He turned back, took Andy's hand, and went upstairs.

Back in the room, Andy immediately became wary of Chen Cheng.

With a "keep away" expression, she didn't even take off her clothes before getting onto one of the beds.

Chen Cheng shrugged, feeling like he was being treated like a villain. He had no choice but to lie down on the other bed.

Closing his eyes to savor the feeling, Chen Cheng remarked, "It feels like it's been a long time since I've slept on a wooden board bed like this."

"The last time... should have been in university."

"A wooden board bed?" Andy asked curiously, "Were the conditions at your university that harsh?"

Chen Cheng couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head, "No, the conditions at my alma mater were actually quite good."

"It's just that there isn't such an obsession with mattresses domestically. Unlike abroad, you can go without a bed, but you must have a mattress."

"Oh, I see..."

"..."

After chatting for a while, Chen Cheng suddenly squeezed onto Andy's bed.

He reached out from behind and hugged her.

Andy's body trembled, and she swallowed nervously, "Chen Cheng, I don't want to hurt Xiao Guan."

Scum Cheng's wandering hands stopped, and he turned Andy around to face him.

Stroking her crimson, pretty face, he said softly, "Andy, you've never been someone who would be bound by traditional morality."

"If you love me, why not try to accept it?"

Andy's heart throbbed. Ever since she followed Chen Cheng upstairs, she had imagined this kind of scene.

Part of her wanted to accept it.

But she was also afraid—afraid of hurting Guan Juer.

Afraid of losing the friends she had just made.

Seeing her remain silent, Chen Cheng leaned in and kissed her lips.

After the kiss ended, with their noses touching, Scum Cheng said softly, "Let's be together, Andy."

Andy blushed and gave a soft "mm."

...

[Ding~ Andy's Favorability +5]

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