Song Qingchun's mind was completely blank. She stared at Su Zhinian dumbly and unblinkingly like she was stunned into a mental shut down.

When Su Zhinian's gaze fell on her, his expression remained the same. He continued walking leisurely down the steps until he reached one meter in front of Song Qingchun and stopped.

He was much taller than she was, so he was looking down at her.

As if stirring from her daze, Song Qingchun slowly raised her eyes to look at him.

The afternoon sun filtered into the room through the living room's floor-length window. It fell right onto his face, lighting up his features with a golden hue.

Song Qingchun's heart skipped a beat, and after a half-second hesitation, she quickly lowered her head.

He stood immobile before her. Even though she didn't look at him, she knew that his eyes were boring into her as if quietly questioning her, Why are you still here?

She quivered under his gaze and reached out to grab at the end of her sleeves. Then she whispered an explanation. "You're still recovering, and too much take-out is bad for you, so I"

As Song Qingchun continued, her voice became smaller.

He already said we no longer share a relationship. I've lost the right to even cook for him The more I explain, the more bothered I will appear in his eyes. I should have just turned and left.

The feeling that had welled up in her heart that afternoon when she said her goodbye returned. She bit her lips and blurted out, "I'll go now."

Then she brushed past Su Zhinian and ran toward the entrance.

However, she merely took two steps when Su Zhinian suddenly reached out from behind her to grab at her fair arm, to stop her from moving.

Su Zhinian's palm was hot. It made Song Qingchun shiver involuntarily. Then she turned to zero in on his grasp on her arm.

What is he up to now?

As if the man could read her thoughts, the moment these few words popped up in her mind, he suddenly said in a light tone, the first word he uttered since he came downstairs, "Stay."

Song Qingchun didn't catch his meaning initially. She turned dumbly around to stare at Su Zhinian, who was standing behind her. She asked in return, "What?"

Su Zhinian was silent with his eyes closed for a long time, as if fighting an inner struggle. After some time, the man opened his eyes, and they settled on Song Qingchun's face. Then, he repeated the word he had said earlier with much more elaboration. "Stay for dinner."

Song Qingchun couldn't believe her ears. The eyes that stared at Su Zhinian were filled with disbelief.

Su Zhinian didn't elaborate. He released his hold on her arm. His eyes swept her dirtied dress that she had been wearing for one whole night and day. After a moment's silence, he turned and went up the stairs.

He told me to stay for dinner but now he's heading upstairs? What's going on? Is this a sign of regret? He's using his action to tell me to leave?

Just as Song Qingchun was coming up with a hypothesis, Su Zhinian returned. There was a white T-shirt in his hand. He passed it to her and said lightly, "Go take a bath first before dinner."