Chapter 12
While Anuo was still processing his actions, Chen Baifan withdrew his hand and shifted his gaze to a different direction, a slight awkwardness appearing in his eyes.
She lowered her head and put her phone back in her bag, her cheeks starting to flush.
Afterward, Anuo pretended to be calm and raised her hand to touch her head. It seemed like she could still feel the warmth of his fingertips there.
They walked side by side towards the direction of the residential area. As they reached a corner, they coincidentally ran into two people Chen Baifan knew.
Seeing Chen Baifan, one of the men draped his arm over his shoulder, greeted him with a "Brother Fan," and asked, "What are you up to?"
Chen Baifan removed the man's arm and asked indifferently, "What are you two doing?"
"We're going for drinks; want to join?"
"Why drink so late?"
"Isn't alcohol meant to be consumed at night?"
The other man suddenly noticed Anuo's presence and teased, "The eternal bachelor has finally found a flower?"
Upon hearing this, Anuo, who had been quietly waiting nearby, was momentarily stunned. "Eternal bachelor?" Did that mean he had never been in a relationship?
She glanced at Chen Baifan, who happened to look her way. Their eyes met. In the next moment, Chen Baifan said seriously, "Stop making things up."
On their way back, Chen Baifan cleared his throat and casually said, "Those two don't know how to keep their mouths shut."
Anuo turned her head and gave him a barely noticeable nod.
As they reached the vicinity of the residential area, they passed by a cake shop.
Chen Baifan cast a glance at the shop and suddenly remembered something, causing him to stop in his tracks.
Anuo hadn't noticed his reaction and continued walking with her head down.
Chen Baifan called out to her from behind, "Anuo."
Hearing this, Anuo turned back and looked at him, her expression questioning.
"Wait for me here," he said, then entered the cake shop.
Anuo watched his figure disappear into the shop and responded with an "Okay." She took out her phone and checked her Weibo. She opened her account, accessed her private messages, and sighed when she saw her isolated Weibo posts.
"Don't make things up, don't make things up, don't make things up... sigh."
When she looked up again, Chen Baifan had already exited the shop, holding a cake box.
Anuo naturally walked toward him and observed the item in his hands. "Is it your birthday?"
"No," he replied.
Anuo didn't inquire further. Once they reached the elevator, she said her goodbyes. But before she could take out her keys, Chen Baifan casually remarked, "Wait a moment."
He walked a couple of steps ahead and handed her the cake, saying, "I got this for you."
Anuo received it dumbfoundedly, embracing the large cake box with both hands, looking a bit foolish.
Chen Baifan lowered his head and lightly tapped the cake box with his fingertip. "Let's head back."
Anuo's mood had improved quite a bit due to his actions. Her eyebrows, which had been slightly downturned, now lifted.
"Chen..."
She uttered just one word before stopping. What should she call him? Dr. Chen? Chen Baifan?
She couldn't make up her mind in such a short time. Anuo looked away uncomfortably and spoke very softly, "Thank you."
Chen Baifan raised his eyes, and his dark and bright pupils focused on her. He half-jokingly said, "Anuo, already forgotten my name?"
He continued, "I'm Chen Baifan."
Anuo watched him walk into his home as she entered hers. As soon as she opened the door, she found Hexin Jia standing in the dimly lit corridor.
Chen Baifan furrowed his brows and asked, "What are you doing?"
Hexin Jia stared at him with a somewhat peculiar expression. "I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"Are you trying to pick up girls?"
Chen Baifan ignored him and entered the room after changing his shoes.
Hexin Jia suddenly remembered his dinner and asked, "Bro, didn't I ask you to bring back some fried rice for me? Where's the food?"
"I forgot."
"Oh, you remembered to buy a cake for someone else."
Anuo placed the cake in the refrigerator and then proceeded to remove her makeup and take a shower.
Afterward, she made a cup of milk and sat on the living room couch while turning on the TV.
She suddenly realized that she had been spending a lot of time reading a particular manga recently. It seemed that she hadn't worked on any new drafts for about two weeks.
With this in mind, she decided to open her Weibo and check it out.
She opened her messages, scrolled down quickly, and saw a particular message that caught her attention.
@ValleyWu: Hi Anuo, I'm Valley, an editor from "Cloud" magazine. I really love your illustration style and would like to discuss a potential collaboration with you. Can you share your contact information?
Anuo clicked into the message and read it.
"Cloud" seems fine.
She didn't think too much and sent her QQ number directly.
After adding it, Anuo didn't continue scrolling through Weibo.
She exited Weibo and opened QQ for a quick look.
Then, she picked up the remote control and switched to a variety show to watch.
During a commercial break, a friend request from the editor came in.
Anuo lazily tapped "Accept."
ValleyWu: Hello, I'm Valley.
Anuo: Hello.
ValleyWu: I wonder if you have time for a new project?
Anuo: I do.
ValleyWu: Here's the thing, we're preparing a re-release of Xinshu's "Dark Love Stories" for our magazine. It's a suspenseful romance genre.
Anuo looked at the name that seemed demonic and hardly took half a second to decide.
Anuo: Sorry, I'm not skilled in this style. I hope we can collaborate in the future.
After saying this, Anuo exited QQ.
It seemed like things were off to a bad start. How come right after she got out of a previous project, another one came knocking?
Anuo scooped a spoonful of cake into her mouth and grumbled.
Is this Xinshu person being funny? They still want her to do their cover?
No way.
When Hexin Jia was about to start a video game, he received a message from the new editor.
ValleyWu: Anuo says she's not skilled in this style and isn't willing to take it on.
ValleyWu: Do you have other artists you like?
ValleyWu: If not, I can select one for you~
Hexin Jia scratched his head, feeling somewhat annoyed. How could she not be skilled in this style?
He had checked Anuo's Weibo and saw illustrations in this style. Besides, ignoring the color palette, the artwork was quite good.
It seemed like she was holding a grudge against him... big brother.
Hexin Jia got up, left his room, and heard the sound of water from the bathroom.
He went straight into Chen Baifan's room and sat cross-legged on the bed.
After a while, Chen Baifan twisted the doorknob, entered the room, and walked in.
He had a white towel on his head, and drops of water were still falling from the tips of his hair.
As soon as he walked in, he spotted Hexin Jia, glanced at him, and ignored him.
Hexin Jia couldn't hold back and asked, "Bro, when are you moving out?"
Hearing this, Chen Baifan seemed to recall something and paused. "In a few more days, I guess."
"In that case, can you still help me with my cover?"
Chen Baifan replied, "Sure."
Hexin Jia relaxed a bit but still looked worried. "But the artist she recommended turned me down."
It suddenly felt like he'd have to change artists for every book he published.
"Then find another one," Chen Baifan replied as he picked up his phone from the table.
Since he was still willing to help with the cover, Hexin Jia didn't have much to say. He nodded and returned to his room.
Chen Baifan opened WeChat and replied to Anuo's message: "Sure, should I come over?"
Upon seeing the message, Anuo thought for a moment and replied: "I'll come over. There are two people on your side, and I'm alone on mine. I'll bring it over."
Anuo put on a jacket, grabbed her keys, and the cake, then left her apartment.
Before she reached Chen Baifan's door, it opened.
Chen Baifan, wearing slippers, stood in the entryway, extending his hand to take the cake from her.
He had just finished showering, and his body emitted the fresh scent of shower gel. His T-shirt fit snugly, faintly revealing the contours of his abdominal muscles, and his neck was gracefully exposed.
In that instant, the space seemed to grow smaller.
Anuo averted her gaze and hesitated for a few seconds before telling him, "I don't know if you and your friend will be able to finish it tonight, but if not, remember to put it in the fridge, or it might go bad."
Chen Baifan watched her and suddenly remembered what Hexin Jia had said earlier.
Anuo's profession and the offer she had turned down, illustrating.
Working on a cover for Xingshu should be a good job, right?
Anuo stepped back, whispered, "I'll head back now."
"Wait a moment," Chen Baifan called out to her, his voice calm. "Come inside and have a seat. I'd like to talk to you about something."
Anuo made an "ah" sound, followed by an "okay."
She stepped into the house, looking slightly uncomfortable, and glanced around the room.
Chen Baifan pointed to the sofa. "Sit there for now. I'll go put on a jacket."
After that, Chen Baifan went back to his room and put on a jacket.
He noticed his phone on the table out of the corner of his eye, hesitated for a moment, and sent a message to Hexin Jia.
"Don't come out."
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