Chapter 35: Tease

“Yang Fan, do you live across from Li Qiuya?” Mo Chenxi asked excitedly.

The person who had just gone out was indeed Li Qiuya; Mo Chenxi was certain she hadn't mistaken her. She hadn't expected that the famous star Li Qiuya would live here. It was her first time interacting so closely with a celebrity—even though they hadn't spoken, her heart brimmed with excitement.

“It’s just a celebrity. What’s so thrilling about that?” Yang Fan replied indifferently.

“Oh my god, Yang Fan, do you mean you don’t know who Li Qiuya is?” Mo Chenxi stared at him as though he were some strange creature.

In Yanhuang Country, not knowing the superstar Li Qiuya was enough to make people wonder if you were even from Yanhuang. Yet seeing Yang Fan’s calm expression, unaffected by the fact that he lived next to Li Qiuya, Mo Chenxi couldn’t help but feel envious.

If she could become neighbors with the famous Li Qiuya, she’d be smiling in her dreams.

“I just found out. I heard she’s a singer,” Yang Fan said.

Mo Chenxi was utterly speechless.

Yang Fan had no intention of chatting further. He said, “Alright, hurry home now. I want to get some more sleep.”

Mo Chenxi pouted, a bit displeased, but didn’t insist on entering his apartment. Now that she knew where he lived, she was already satisfied.

“Yang Fan, what’s your phone number?” Mo Chenxi asked, looking at him.

She hadn’t succeeded in getting it last time; now she was determined. She refused to believe Yang Fan didn’t have a phone.

To hasten Mo Chenxi’s departure, Yang Fan recited his number. Mo Chenxi dialed it immediately, and only after confirming it connected did she leave contentedly.

Yang Fan returned to his apartment and took a shower. He ate a refined pill, then sat cross-legged to cultivate. With nothing pressing at the moment, he seized the opportunity to train, hoping to leave this world sooner.

Time slipped by unnoticed. When Yang Fan finished cultivating, it was already past four in the afternoon.

He went out to buy groceries, then returned home to cook. As he finished preparing the meal, he heard a knock at the door.

With a hint of curiosity, Yang Fan opened the door, and saw Li Qiuya standing there.

“Hehe, dinner’s ready, I see,” Li Qiuya said with a smile, then walked right in.

Watching her head straight for the dining table, Yang Fan wondered, “Is this woman part dog?”

He’d just finished cooking, and Li Qiuya was at his door—was it coincidence? Yang Fan doubted it; she must have been drawn by the aroma of the food.

“I’m here for a meal. You don’t mind, do you?” Li Qiuya flashed him a sweet smile.

“You’ve already sat down. How could I possibly send you away now?” Yang Fan replied, not hiding his annoyance.

“Hee hee, your cooking is just irresistible,” Li Qiuya giggled. She took a bowl and started eating.

Yang Fan fetched his own bowl and utensils from the kitchen, then sat down to eat.

As she tasted the dishes, Li Qiuya said, “From now on, I’ll come eat at your place every day. You don’t mind, right? Don’t worry, I can pay you.”

After eating Yang Fan’s food, Li Qiuya felt she couldn’t stomach anything made elsewhere. As for cooking herself, she had no confidence in her skills.

“I do mind,” Yang Fan replied.

“Don’t be so heartless! Come on, I’m a big star. Having me eat at your place is an honor, isn’t it?” Li Qiuya said in a coy, playful voice.

“I don’t need that kind of honor,” Yang Fan responded bluntly.

To him, celebrities were just people like anyone else. Though Li Qiuya was beautiful, she didn’t stir his heart in the slightest.

“I don’t care. I’m just going to eat at your place,” Li Qiuya waved her fist at him.

After these two days of interaction, she found that although Yang Fan appeared cold on the surface, he was actually quite warm inside.

“Then pay up,” Yang Fan said, fixing his gaze on her.

Speechless, Li Qiuya felt the urge to give him a good beating. Suddenly recalling the girl she’d seen earlier, Li Qiuya looked at him and asked, “Tell me honestly, did you call for an escort today?”

Yang Fan nearly choked at her question.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Nothing of the sort,” Yang Fan retorted irritably.

“Don’t bother denying it,” Li Qiuya waved dismissively. “Men living alone sometimes can’t resist loneliness—it’s normal to call for company. But you brought in a girl barely seventeen or eighteen, that’s not right. She’s still a student.”

Yang Fan was exasperated with Li Qiuya’s presumptions.

“Don’t you realize how self-righteous you are?” he said, annoyed. “That girl is just a friend; it’s nothing like you think. If I were truly lonely, I would have dealt with you last night.”

Li Qiuya laughed and asked, “So why didn’t you make a move on me?”

“No interest,” Yang Fan said flatly.

Hearing his answer, Li Qiuya felt as if she’d suffered a thousand wounds.

“Am I not even a little attractive to you?” she said, disgruntled.

She had dressed especially sexy today, yet Yang Fan hadn’t even spared her a glance, focusing solely on his meal. His words now struck her hard.

She felt as though Yang Fan was utterly indifferent.

“Do you not understand plain language?” Yang Fan looked up at her.

Seeing his expression, Li Qiuya felt a surge of irritation. Her lips curled mischievously as she tugged at her collar, revealing her snowy shoulder and a glimpse of her fair skin.

Yang Fan nearly spat out his food at the sight.

“Cough, cough. Couldn’t you be a bit more restrained?” Yang Fan cleared his throat, suddenly awkward.

To say he was unmoved would be a lie; after all, he was a young man with blood running hot. Especially when Li Qiuya acted so provocatively right in front of him.

Seeing Yang Fan’s embarrassed face, Li Qiuya grinned triumphantly. “Hee hee, I thought you were completely indifferent. Turns out you do react.”

“Enough. If you keep this up, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do next,” Yang Fan shot her a glare. “Finish eating and go home.”

Li Qiuya stuck out her tongue playfully, then resumed eating.

Once they’d finished, Yang Fan hurried her out.

“Hey, how can you treat a beautiful woman like this? Not to mention, I’m a superstar!” Li Qiuya complained, unhappy at being sent away.

She was a celebrity, after all—being chased out was outrageous. Anyone else would jump at the chance to share a meal with her.

As she stepped outside, Li Qiuya saw a middle-aged man standing at her own door.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” she asked, frowning, showing no sign of joy at her father’s arrival.

Li Qingren saw his daughter emerge from another man’s apartment and paused, then smiled.

“Qiuya, is this your boyfriend? Which wealthy family’s young master is he?” Li Qingren stared at Yang Fan, curiosity in his eyes.