Sheng Kuang clutched Chen Jing's phone, stood still for a while, and finally realized that all those late-night emotional posts he had just scrolled through were all for him.
"Sir, here are your items," the cashier said as she finished packing Sheng Kuang's purchases.
Sheng Kuang snapped back to attention, returned the phone to Chen Jing, took the large bag of items, and left without acknowledging Jiang Zui's invitation to return to the hotel together.
Back in the hotel room, Sheng Kuang casually tossed the bag onto the table and walked to the bedside. He picked up the charging cable and connected it to his phone.
Less than a minute later, the phone automatically powered on. As soon as he opened WeChat, he saw a new update on Lin Jing's Moments.
Xiao Jing Jiang: Goodnight, I'll turn off the moon for you [Moon]
This post had only been up for a few minutes. Sheng Kuang liked it and then tapped her avatar, entering their chat window.
Sheng Kuang indifferently hummed in acknowledgment. He placed the phone back on the bedside table to charge, then grabbed a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and walked back to the sofa, handing it to Lin Jing. "Why did you come over?"
Lin Jing took the water and noticed the price tag. "This water costs money."
Sheng Kuang: "Mhm."
The cap was already open, and payment was inevitable. Lin Jing took a sip of the water. "It's much more expensive at the hotel. Buy one tomorrow and put it back."
Sheng Kuang lowered his eyelids, smiled at her, and repeated his earlier question, "Why did you come over?"
Lin Jing saw that she couldn't avoid it any longer. She pursed her lips. "You know."
Sheng Kuang looked at her. "I don't know."
Lin Jing: "..."
Sheng Kuang, without a trace of annoyance, asked again, "Why did you come here?"
"..."
Lin Jing felt like hitting someone.
Sheng Kuang: "Hmm?"
Lin Jing closed her eyes, feeling an intense urge to retort with something more aggressive than just "Hmm."
Before the anger could fully ignite, Sheng Kuang's voice drifted down from above her head, "Xiao CP?"
Lin Jing opened her mouth, but the way he called her "Xiao CP" in such a light and gentle tone instantly extinguished her rising temper.
She lowered her head, fiddling with the bottle in her hand. After a few seconds of silence, she blinked as if conceding defeat, and slowly looked up. "Looking for you."
Sheng Kuang looked directly into her eyes. "What for?"
Lin Jing didn't look away, meeting his gaze. After a few more seconds of silence, she cleared her throat and said slowly, "I was worried about you, so I wanted to come and see you. I just felt uneasy if I didn't see you with my own eyes..."
Sheng Kuang suddenly leaned forward and hugged Lin Jing.
Lin Jing's eyes widened, her half-finished words cut short.
She hadn't even processed what was happening when Sheng Kuang's voice reached her, "Can I have a hug?"
Lin Jing's body felt as if it had been struck by acupuncture, stiff and immobile.
She stared straight ahead as if she hadn't understood his words.
Sheng Kuang tightened his arms, pulling her closer. "Lin Jing, let me have a hug."